Mabalaqueños in southern California are set to gather October 16 for an organizational meeting and discussion of plans and programs, particularly those that would uplift welfare of schoolchildren in their beloved hometown.
Eduard David, the recognized head of Mabalacat Residents of Southern California (MRSC) said that the activity is aimed at “fostering camaraderie and cooperation among compatriots.”
He said the organizational meeting would also help in identifying potential future leaders of the MRSC while at the same time outlining plans and programs for town mates in Pampanga.
The whole day event will take place at William Mason Regional Park in Irvine, California.
“We have been helping some schoolchildren in public schools from way back and we hope to sustain this in the future. Education is one major aspect where we feel we could help individually and collectively,” said David.
David, now living in Torrance, California grew up in Barangay Poblacion where the former Mabalacat Central Elementary School has been founded right after World War II. Some of the scholars that MRSC has helped are successful graduates of this school.
David estimates that there are about 300 member families of Mabalaqueños living in Southern California that stretches from San Diego to Los Angeles. He also expects compatriots from other states.
One of the pioneer Mabalaqueños in Southern California is David’s mother Inez Cuyugan David, a former educator in the Philippines who has had teaching stints at Mabalacat Institute, Mabalacat Elementary School, Holy Angel College. She retired as Superintendent at the Department of Education.
Cuyugan-David was also a former exchange student in the 1960s. She was a contemporary of Los Angeles Laker great Kareem Amdul Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor) at the University of California in Los Angeles.