Grateful to GACIBO

Grateful to GACIBO

Levy Abad (Migrant Perspective ) The Korea Times 2015

I was driving southbound McPhillips Street and Jefferson Avenue listening to my song “Through the Changing of the Seasons,” a cut from my CD album, Rhythms of Compassion-Canadian Experience Vol. 3:

While the storms of life are raging

I’ve seen the hunger in your eyes

I will sing about your vision

To be free

And all the mountains you must climb

And your countless sacrifice

Through it all, I will sing your story

On and on

While listening to the groove of this song, which I wrote as a tribute for the Filipinos in the diaspora, thoughts about my mom and my late dad ran through my mind and I was thinking that most of the seniors whom I met at Garden City are the same generation as my parents. At the Food Court, I interviewed some of them for the article that I am writing, an article about the different seniors group that hang out at malls. They asked why I am writing the article. I explained that I am doing it to give tribute to the GACIBO (Garden City Boys) who became my community advisers when I arrived in Winnipeg from Mississauga, Ontario. They were the ones who told me about the do’s and don’ts in the community. What would our lives be without them?

The first seniors whom I met were Tito (Uncle) Victor Biluan, Eduardo “Popoy” Adriosula, Romeo Davila (Iloilo), Romy Tabanera (Aklan), Raul Ibabaw (Aklan), Manny Joven   and many more.  Tito Vic and I came from the same town in Laguna.  I asked him about the founding of GACIBO and who coined the name of this group.  He said that he can’t remember anymore and added that it just evolved.  He explained to me that GACIBO is a non-political group. It is a purely fun informal association of seniors.  Their goal is to hang out after 30 minutes of exercise around the mall. Minutes later, he remembered that the group was founded around year 2000. Tito Vic added that there are also GACIBO Ladies - the GACIBO`s wives who usually does 30 minute walk around the mall just like their husbands. The ladies would have their own circle and would talk among themselves, by 11:30 a.m., they leave the place with their husbands.

Tito Vic asked me, “What is this Levy? Are you doing this interview as a material for a new song like the one being played on GMP-CKJS, Dito sa (Here in ) Winnipeg?” I answered: “It is not. I just want to write an article about the community from the ordinary folks' point of view, sort of a narrative of Filipinos of North End.” It was Tito Popoy`s turn to ask, ʺHow is this different from others already written?”  I explained, “The difference is, I will not edit the information or answers you gave me. What I hear from you is what will appear in my article. The conversations I had with you when I first arrived, I will just share them with my readers or those who will take interest in my writings. It is not my intention to be profound or scholarly. I just want to express my gratefulness that you guys are here and you provide a great sense of community to newcomers like me. What can be more deep than that?ʺ Tito Vic told me that what I am doing is good, chronicling the stories of ordinary people. I asked him if he can tell me a joke that I can use. He responded by giving me a quote: “If you live on what you are yesterday, you are limiting what you can be today.” I thanked Tito Vic for sharing this insightful quote that I can use as a guide in my community work. On my way home, these words from Tito Vic reminded me of the quote from Lao Tzu (360 B.C.) that my mother ask me to memorize when I was in the university: “Go in search of people, love them, learn from them, plan with them, serve them, begin with what they know, build on what they have, but of the best leaders, when their task is accomplished, their work is done, the people all remark -we`ve done it ourselves.”

Kuya Popoy Adriosula added that GACIBO is fond of organizing birthday parties and picnics like the one I attended at Kildonan Park. It is purely for camaraderie like helping one another in times of problems. They also helped out with advising newcomers about the life in Manitoba. Tito Vic said everybody is welcome in GACIBO, whether you belong to any of the political parties. We want to discuss ideas like the latest events in the old country, have coffee and talk about what is happening in the city.  He continued that his group wants to share jokes, have a good laugh and go home happy.

I also inquired about Kuya Rolly Togado who was one of the first persons who helped me out when I arrived and drove me around the Maples. He introduced me to a lot of residents of Maples. Kuya Rolly is from Magdalena, Laguna which shares boundary with my hometown in the Philippines. They told me that he already passed away couple of years ago. What a shocking news and this explains why I have never seen him lately at Garden City where he usually hangs out. Kuya Vic sadly told me that they have a lot of members who already passed away. He mentioned names of members that they miss like Virgilio Manalili and many more. I remember Tito Virgilio when he was still alive. We used to have chats about the struggles of the people back home and the comparison with what goes on here in the Peg.  May God rest his soul. He was one of the good members of GACIBO. Guess, he is still with us at the mall although we can’t see him anymore. Made me hum the song of Mary Hopkins, “Those were the days my friend, we thought they’d never end, we’d sing and dance forever in a day.”

I hopped to the next table and talked to Manoy Romeo Davila, Romeo Calanza, Samuel Artuz and Manoy Prudencio Gamayaw.  They were talking to Manoy Prudencio since he was going home the next day. I asked them about the different groups that hang-out at the Food Court. They listed several groups like Ilaw (Ilocano Association of Winnipeg); Timpuyog Ti Ilocano (Tito Nemi Juan and Tita Cory were the pioneers of this group); and Manong Pablo Dizor, 2014-2015 President. AIM (Association of Ilocanos of Manitoba), which was founded by Kuya Manny Joven who also hangs-out there. They added that there is also a group of seniors from Cavite that gathers near the Vietnamese food stall of the Food Court.

I remember the days when I did not have a car. Manoy Romy Tabanera would take me from La Merage Restaurant at Isabel to Garden City and talk to the Boys re: different community events and issues. The seniors discussed the issues in the community and I just listened.  I learned a lot from their stories because they have been here since the 60s. In a way, they know the dynamics of the community.

I remember the events that I became a part of, like the formative period of the Manitoba Filipino Street Festival as its first secretary. After some time, my wife Cherry replaced me as secretary. It was first launched at the grounds of Garden City on August 25, 2012.  I also performed at the second Street Festival (August 24, 2013). A musician friend of mine, Bobie Nepomuceno, also organized a singing event at this place, “Lahat Panalo sa Musika” (November 23, 2013). I was a part of the program and sung a couple of my songs.

Garden City houses one of my favourite Filipino fast food - Casarap, a stall operated by a friend, Josephine Gutierrez. It offers food like Lumpia, Okoy, Arrozcaldo and Tokwa't Baboy, Pritong Pusit, Tuyo and many more. I also frequent A & W during those times, especially when I have to meet up with somebody about community matters. Thanks to the multicultural nature of the city and the strong presence of the Filipino community. Surely, it makes it easier to blend in with the warmth that community members provide through the changing of the seasons. To the members of GACIBO, “maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat at mabuhay kayo mga Tito at Tita” (thanks to everybody and long live!).