KBNZ elects new set officers, but retains Sendo for two more years.

Rosendo  “Sendo”  Menchavez,  founder and pioneer president of KBNZ, has been re- elected to a second term.  He will serve another two years. 

About 61% of the registered member-voters turned up to make their choice during the Annual General Meeting held at the New Lynn Community Centre, on 26 June.  The freezing cold  did not prevent members from showing up to cast their votes and to party with fellow Visayan-speaking Filipinos.

The new set of officers for 2010-2011 are:  Rex Yap, Vice President; Maylaine Cerna, Secretary; Jilma Camaongay,Treasurer; Alvin Soneiga, PRO; Jojo Taghoy, Auditor, Mel Libre, Community Service Committee Chair; Lita Lee, Fundraising Committee Chair; Ching Mandawe, Cultural Committee Chair; Erwin Doctora, Finance Committee Chair;Dexter Ycong, Website Committee Chair; Fiel Albinto, Membership Committee Chair; and Kimberly Guido, Youth Committee Chair.

Of the 13 elected positions,

The election process was managed smoothly by the able leadership of Comelec Chairperson Minda Villaver.  Kudos to her Committee members:  Beth & Vic Cala, Alma Alfante and John Revalde.

KBNZ Divas and Zumba for all

Just like any other KBNZ event, the night was a showcase of the inherent Visayan talent as entertainers.   The evening was spiced up by performances from KIS (Kayth, Ina, and Shaine) the all girls band who sang and danced to a medley of Justin Biever  and Usher’s latest hits, who featured Jayboi.   An all time KBNZ talent favourite, Alex Gadionco, belted out Broadway hit, I Dream a Dream, and a Katy Perry song.  Gail Cooke sang the melodious and inspirational song Hallelujah.  Other performances were rendered by Kim Guido and  Deehan Morgado.   KBNZ officers also performed Butskekik, which they recently presented during the Independence Day celebration.   The accompaniment stopped in the middle of their performance, but they gamely and gracefully continued to the end, much to the delight of everyone. 

The audience was not to be left out.  They had their chance to swing, sweat, and dance to Zumba, the Latin dance/aerobic craze of the moment.  Jam, Mel Libre’s unica hija, led the Zumba dance which had everyone grasping their breath at the end.

It was a well planned program of serious and light moments.  In between the accomplishment reports (by Outgoing VP Omar Albinto)  and constitutional amendments (by Mel Libre), there were karaoke contests, games, and raffle draws, among which were  four tickets for the Piolo Pascual concert on 17 July.

Other Highlights

The new sets of officers were inducted into office by Rev. Fr. Reno Alima, who hails from Caminguin and is presently assigned at Our Lady of Lourdes, Glen Eden Catholic Parish Church.

The night’s other highlight was, of course, the dinner.  A long table that extended  from one end of the hall to the other side displayed sumptuous and mouth-watering dishes and  carried the night’s  scene stealer, not the performers nor the newly elected officers. What else, but the two crispy and succulent lechon. Paborito sa mga bisaya.

Irene and Ronald Bate certainly were the hosts of the program, too.  

Approved Grant

Congratulations to all outgoing officers of KBNZ who worked hard for the grant application with the Lottery Auckland Committee.  KBNZ has been granted $9K for its regional and community projects.   A week before the AGM, Erwin Doctora, Committee Chair on Finance announced the good news.  Just a few days after the AGM, KBNZ president Sendo Menchavez announced the release of the cheque.

It can be recalled that KBNZ applied for a grant application of $40,000 in February this year for its major projects.

KBNZ Updates welcomes new PRO

Starting August, KBNZ Updates will be written by the newly-elected Public Relations Officer, Alvin Soniega.  I will move on to my new role as Secretary.  For one year, I have served as the appointed PRO after the resignation of elected PRO, Arne Go in May 2009.  Thank you for this opportunity to work with wonderful people at the KBNZ website, Cherry Fernandez, editor and Website Committee Chair, Dexter Ycong.  To Chichi Abadingo and Ferdie Esclamado: thank you because you two are the reason behind these. Ug sa bisaya pa, salamat kay kamong duha gyud ang naka-ingon.   Seriously, thank you gyud.