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The Filipino Association of Nova Scotia was
founded on August 9,1968 @ precisely 7:35 pm A.S.T. and was incorporated as a SOCIETY on June 10, 1974.
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IN THE BEGINNING
The Year was 1964.
On a hot,humid Sunday, after the MASS, I
went for a short stroll at the Halifax Harbor
Front to enjoy the occasional breeze. My
hope was to see and meet a Filipino/s. My
hope faded. I went home and spent my time
with my family. That was July, 1964.
Then winter came.
The Filipino pioneers of Nova Scotia met
informally for the very first time at the residence of Dr. & Mrs. Jacobo R. & Erlinda O. Asuncion, Jr. in Halifax, N.S. in celebration of Christmas on December 24, 1964. The pioneer Filipino families in Nova Scotia were: (1) Dr. & Mrs. Jacobo R. & Erlinda O. Asuncion,Jr. ; (2) Dr.&Mrs. Jose & Lydia Aquino ;(3) Drs. Sushil & Nellie Sarkar; (4) Dr.&Mrs. Virgilio & Gloria Sangalang; (5) Drs. Araw & Emy Felismino; (6) Dr.&Mrs. Gregorio & Siony Sayat ;(7) Dr.&Mrs.Bayani & Cora Ignacio ; (8) Dr.& Mrs.Jaime & Neri Belen; (9) Dr. & Mrs. Jessie & Margie de Villa ; (10) Dr.& Mrs. Hong.
Following the Christmas Eve Holy Mass , we enjoyed
the FESTIVE CHRISTMAS DINNER previously prepared by our wives. It was Smorgasboard
style . We feasted on the following main courses : Beef Morcon , Apritada, Pochero ,
Chicken Adobo, Baked Ham , Caldereta ,Pancit
Log-log , Linaga Beef Short Ribs , Pinakbit, Spare Ribs , Vegetable Salad , Fruit Salad ,White & Fried Rice.
For dessert we had Ginatan ,Puto , Cochinta leche plan , Suman , Bico ,Hot Chocolate , Coffee & Tea .
It was indeed a festive Dinner and a MEMORABLE GASTRONOMIC DELIGHT ! It was
Christmas Celebration - just like home,---away from home ! Thank you CANADA !
Everyone enjoyed the company. So, every Christmas since then, the Filipinos continued celebrating together from 1965 to 1967 at the residence of Drs. Sushil & Nellie Sarkar in Dartmouth, N.S. We had a sing-a-along of the
Christmas Carols. The EIGHT FILIPINO COUPLES usually warmed themselves by the fireplace. And as their faces glowed in the reflection of the woodfire, they thought of their native land-the Philippines, and ALL THE
CHALLENGES AND ADVENTURES facing them in this new adopted country-Canada. They reminisced about their cherished festive customs and traditions that they left behind.
"Why don't we relive these in our new homeland?"
"Why not indeed!"
" And so , we did !!!..."
* The Pioneers. *
