By Janice Lozano
The United Filipino Canadian Associations in British Columbia successfully held its 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on a beautiful sunny day at SELC College, bringing together officers, member organizations, community leaders, volunteers, and supporters for an afternoon filled with reflection, accountability, gratitude, and renewed commitment to serving the Filipino Canadian community across British Columbia.
The atmosphere throughout the AGM was one of unity, sincerity, and deep appreciation as members gathered to look back on one of the most emotionally challenging yet impactful years in UFCABC history.
One of the most moving moments of the afternoon came during the President’s Report delivered by outgoing UFCABC President Arcie Lim. His heartfelt and deeply reflective speech resonated strongly throughout the room, leaving many attendees emotional and visibly moved.
Speaking with humility, honesty, and compassion, Lim thanked the officers, volunteers, partners, and member organizations who stood beside UFCABC “through thick and thin” during a year marked by both triumph and tragedy.
He acknowledged the immense challenges faced by the organization over the past year, particularly following the devastating Lapu-Lapu tragedy that deeply impacted the Filipino community. Despite those hardships, Lim emphasized how UFCABC remained steadfast in its mission to serve with integrity, compassion, and genuine concern for the people.
“There was not a dry eye in the room,” one attendee shared following the speech. “President Arcie Lim spoke from the heart. You could truly feel his love for the organization and for the community.”
Among the major highlights of his report was UFCABC’s direct involvement in supporting victims and families affected by the Lapu-Lapu tragedy through financial assistance initiatives in partnership with the United Way Kapwa Strong Fund and community-led efforts including Pinoy Vancouver Strong and Sagip Kababayan initiatives.
Lim emphasized that helping victims directly was one of the most meaningful decisions the Board had ever made — a decision he said the organization could proudly look back on knowing they made a real difference in people’s lives during their darkest moments.
He also reflected on the difficult but necessary decision to cancel the organization’s Pista ng Bayan celebrations in the aftermath of the tragedy, noting that the decision came only after multiple meetings and careful consideration out of respect for grieving families and the broader community.
The President also touched on several key areas including:
* Financial stability and organizational growth
* Increased collaborations with community partners
* Membership retention and expansion
* The importance of transparency and relevance
* Strengthening communication systems
* Preventing volunteer burnout through shared leadership
* Reviewing and modernizing UFCABC’s Constitution and By-Laws
* Continuing servant leadership rooted in faith, unity, and integrity
Throughout his address, Lim repeatedly emphasized the importance of remaining united as one community and continuing to move forward with purpose, humility, and compassion.
Many members expressed sadness upon learning that Arcie Lim would not be seeking another leadership position in this year’s elections due to important family matters in the Philippines that will require him to spend significant time abroad.
Community members and fellow officers described him as a deeply respected, calm, and selfless leader whose dedication, wisdom, and steady guidance helped UFCABC navigate some of its most difficult moments.
A very special and heartfelt thank you was also extended during the AGM to all outgoing officers and board members for their countless hours of volunteer service, sacrifices, dedication, and unwavering commitment to helping guide and navigate UFCABC through one of the most difficult and emotionally trying periods in the organization’s history.
Members acknowledged that the challenges faced over the past year were unlike anything the organization had previously experienced. From responding to the devastating aftermath of the Lapu-Lapu tragedy, assisting grieving families and victims, making difficult organizational decisions, managing community expectations, coordinating relief initiatives, and ensuring the organization continued operating effectively during uncertain times — the responsibilities carried by the outgoing officers were immense.
Despite the emotional toll, long hours, pressures behind the scenes, and personal sacrifices made along the way, the outgoing leadership remained committed to serving with compassion, professionalism, integrity, and genuine care for the community.
Many officers worked tirelessly behind the scenes with little recognition — attending meetings late into the evening, organizing initiatives, responding to urgent community needs, building partnerships, supporting victims and families, and ensuring UFCABC continued moving forward during one of the most challenging chapters in its history.
Attendees recognized that UFCABC’s accomplishments, resilience, and continued strength today were made possible because of the collective efforts, teamwork, and servant leadership demonstrated by the outgoing officers and volunteers who continuously stepped up whenever the community needed them most.
Following the President’s Report, Treasurer Bert Parungao presented the organization’s Financial Report alongside fellow Treasurer Merlina Fayusal.
Members commended both Parungao and Fayusal for their outstanding financial stewardship, professionalism, and meticulous bookkeeping practices. Attendees praised the organization’s financial records as highly detailed, transparent, organized, and exemplary — setting a strong standard for nonprofit and community organization financial reporting.
Special recognition was given to the finance team for ensuring UFCABC maintained healthy financial standing despite the many challenges faced throughout the year.
The AGM also highlighted the many accomplishments achieved collectively by the organization over the past year, including:
* Lapu-Lapu community relief and victim support initiatives
* Pinoy Vancouver Strong efforts
* Sagip Kababayan initiatives
* Community collaborations and outreach programs
* Cultural and heritage events
* Fundraising and victim assistance distributions
* Volunteer mobilization and humanitarian support efforts
* UFCABC’s successful 10th Anniversary milestone celebrations
Members reflected proudly on how the organization stepped up during one of the Filipino community’s darkest moments, proving once again the power of unity, compassion, volunteerism, and collective action.
Throughout the afternoon, speakers repeatedly echoed the sentiment that “Teamwork makes the dream work,” recognizing the countless volunteers, officers, member organizations, and community partners whose sacrifices and tireless efforts continue to strengthen UFCABC’s impact throughout British Columbia.
The AGM also officially announced the newly elected 2026 UFCABC Board of Directors:
2026 NEWLY ELECTED UFCABC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Joel Castillo
Vice Presidents
Rene Alcantara
Rey Fortaleza
Secretaries
Janice Lozano
Kamila Del Rosario
Treasurers
Merlina Fayusal
Bert Parungao
Auditors
Shailene Caparas
Ernesto Ong
Public Relations Officer
Allan Fernandez
Business Managers
Esther Cheer
Rosette Correa
Virgil Hilario
Edith Montemayor
Rudy Tuliao
Agnes Uguil
Sergeant-at-Arms
James Villamor
Congratulations were extended to everyone elected to serve the Filipino community through UFCABC. Members expressed optimism and excitement for the incoming Board, wishing them a successful term filled with unity, integrity, collaboration, compassion, and meaningful service to the community.
Special recognition and heartfelt appreciation were also given to the COMELEC Committee led by Mary Anne Velayo and Via Fernly for their hard work, fairness, professionalism, and dedication in helping ensure a smooth, organized, and successful election process.
Newly elected incoming President Joel Castillo also delivered brief but heartfelt remarks following the election results, reflecting on the organization’s growth, resilience, and the importance of unity moving forward.
Castillo acknowledged longtime members and supporters who remained loyal to the organization through difficult years and praised UFCABC’s evolution into one of the leading umbrella Filipino organizations in the province.
“We should not be in competition with other organizations,” Castillo shared. “We should continue working steadily the way we should be working because we always believe that we should do the right thing because it is the right thing to do.”
He also emphasized the growing trust and confidence being placed in UFCABC by organizations such as United Way, the City, and various levels of government, noting that the way UFCABC conducts itself continues to shape how the broader community views Filipino leadership and community collaboration in British Columbia.
Castillo concluded his remarks by thanking members for their continued support and encouraging everyone to continue the journey together as one united organization.
The gathering concluded with optimism, gratitude, and renewed inspiration as members prepared to move forward into another year of service, leadership, and community-building.
As President Arcie Lim stated during his closing remarks:
“The moment we lose relevance is the moment we lose the trust of the community we serve.
The moment we lose relevance is the moment we stop making a difference.”
The 2026 UFCABC AGM served not only as a formal organizational meeting, but as a powerful reminder of resilience, servant leadership, unity, accountability, and the enduring strength of the Filipino Canadian community.
*Thank you Patrick Dang Ai Takahashi and SELC College for hosting us 
ReyFort Media 
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