The Philippine Cabinet Secretary Joins Fellow Boholanos In Toronto

Souvenir photo of Cabinet Secretary's visit at Senator Enverga Jr. Senate Office

If I am given an empty paper to write the life of the now Philippine Cabinet Secretary Hon. LEONCIO EVASCO JR., I will come up with a book. If I am to read his biography in social media and other credible sources of informations of who he is, I may become knowledgeable on his life as a former priest accused of being a communist, pushed to the wall and eventually joined the movement until caught, thrown in jail,  tortured and prosecuted by the very person he draws the blueprint to become the 16th President of the Republic of the Philippines. But will never knew his inner self, his true nature until you come face to face with the man.

His journey towards where he is now is a manifestation of a well orchestrated destiny. His colourful life built in principles and strong convictions is now reaping its success with grandeur. A picture of how doing service to the people you serve looks like. All these narratives of what seems like a tumultuous journey pale in comparison of the man who happened to come up close and personal with his own people in Canada, who most of them, from the province of Bohol or simply knew him from the news and the members of the community who eagerly met with him everywhere.

When his cousin requested me to help augment his visit and give him media exposure, although I am simply a speck in the eyes of the world, I will not be saying no.  Because this is a massive opportunity to know, to hear from the mouth of someone directly involve in the process of making my ancestral country, better.

The Philippine Cabinet Secretary for a visit? For a writer who always want a story to inspire, to inform, to share, I was up for it. So the Secretary's cousin and I burnt wires and internet connections to ensure his visit is fruitful. We work behind the scenes; him from within the borders between B.C. and Alberta updating me on every details, and me on the obscurity of my private room in Durham Region firing sporadic postings in social media about the Secretary.

OUR FIRST ENCOUNTER, July 7th 2017
Chelsea Hotel Toronto
Ontario, Canada

The  Churchill  Ballroom at Chelsea Hotel Toronto was already in full swing and guests were already full of energy as the Awardee and Family evening event  of the Conbusac 17th Biennial Congress hosted by Boholano Association of Canada unfolds. I knew what time he was expected to arrive. Early in the evening, the first Filipino-Canadian Senator Tobias Enverga Jr. with wife Rosemer came and met with the Holy See Permanent Observer to the United Nations in New York. Also seated on the same table was the entourage of the Governor of Bohol Gov. Edgardo Chatto whose wife is the mayor of the town of Balilihan.

I was keeping an eye,  as Senator Enverga Jr. has to wait for the Cabinet Secretary to arrive at the hotel. Then sometime later, a tall man was mingling on the VIP table, wearing jeans and a green tee. The Philippine Cabinet Secretary Hon. Leoncio Evasco Jr. has arrived at Chelsea Hotel where eager guests were coming up to him for the notorious selfie moment.

I find the Secretary very polite with a ready smile to those who came to greet him. Soft spoken and the aura of humility stirs around him.There was not a hint of his magnitude as the Philippine President's point man and Cabinet Secretary.

THE PRESS CONFERENCE WITH CANADIAN FILIPINO MEDIA

Chelsea Hotel Toronto, July 9th 2017

The press conference at Chelsea Hotel  was meant to be quick and informal. His visit was unofficial, however, he allowed himself to meet the local media in Toronto to answer questions. I am brainwashed by the concept of social media and find it very effective than the ones where coffee and snacks are serve and formalities play centerstage. Not this one and I detest spending a dime for the media because in the real sense, our focal point to have him in the room are the updates he was giving us. Media, by heart, are there to hear him and ask him.

The venue of the press con was just supposedly anywhere in the lobby.  We thanked  Chelsea Hotel's Day Manager, Mr. Eric Frenzel, Director of Banquets where he provided us a small room big enough to accommodate everyone. The Consulate's Office in Toronto helped follow up the media attendance.

The Cabinet Secretary Hon. Leoncio Evasco Jr. was flanked by the Philippine Ambassador of Ottawa and the Consul- General of Toronto. It went well and I'm sure members of the press attending will run their own stories about their encounter with the Secretary. Let me take this opportunity to thank the members of the Philippine Press Club of Ontario who were there, especially its president, Mrs. Rose Tijam and Mr. Jojo Taduran, to name these two I knew a little well.

AN EVENING WITH BOHOLANOS
The CONBUSAC Gala Night
Chelsea Hotel Toronto, July 8, 2017

This was why he came...to join his fellow Boholanos celebrating CONBUSAC 17th Biennial Congress hosted by the Boholano Association of Canada. The Confederation of Boholanos of USA-Canada (CONBUSAC) has been helping Bohol on various projects alleviating the lives of the poor. They've been a source of strength in many calamities that befall the province.

The Cabinet Secretary was the honoured guest that evening, joined by the Governor of Bohol with his wife, the mayor of the town of Balilihan, Bohol,  the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York, Archbishop Bernardino Auza and many others.

The Cabinet Secretary was giving Boholanos an update of what's happening in the Philippines, the way Boholanos speak with each other. He is a towering person, physically tall,  yet his humility and humbleness resonates throughout the room. He had this fatherly charm, still, and knows how to light up everyone's faces as he recalled his past life. He was seen mingling with fellow Boholanos before and after the event who were too eager to meet him.

SECRETARY LEONCIO EVASCO JR. RECEIVED WARMLY BY SENATOR TOBIAS ENVERGA JR. AT HIS OFFICE IN PARLIAMENT
Ottawa, Canada- July 10, 2017

There were eleven of us going with the Philippine Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. in this private visit to Ottawa hosted by no other than the first Filipino-Canadian Senator Tobias Enverrga Jr. with his wife Rosemer Enverga helping out welcoming Hon. Evasco Jr. with his wife in tow.

Senator Enverga's Senate Office is big enough to accommodate a couple of guests. The Secretary and his wife were comfortably seated and engaged in a pleasant conversation with the Senator and his wife. I haven't seen them very relax with the Enverga's. The Secretary and party was then toured inside the Senate Chamber where the Senator walked them through the Senate formalities of how things are done, in briefs.

The Cabinet Secretary and his wife were really enthusiastic of the tour at the Parliament. Senator Enverga took the party to the House of Commons and have a peek. I can see the inquisitiveness of the Secretary because Parliamentary kind of government, similar to Canada, is what the Duterte government is campaigning for the Philippines.

Senator Tobias Enverga Jr. and his wife were excellent hosts to the visiting Philippine Cabinet Secretary and his wife.

Photo by Li ERON: Mrs. Enverga pinning the badge for Canada 150 years to Mrs. Evasco.

Photo by Li ERON: The Honorables with their wives inside the Senate Chamber