Durham Leaders Honoured The Late Senator Enverga Jr. At Memorial Mass

With Evie Poliarco-FCHRD, Mely Titus and her VP- Bayanihan Club of Simcoe County, Rose Malott, Pres. FilCan Barrie

Barrie, Ontario is quite far but for always, our dear friend, Mely Titus, the President of Bayanihan Club of Simcoe County, along with her VP travelled that long stretch of road to join our mass in honour of our first Filipino-Canadian Senator, Tobias Enverga Jr. They weren't alone as another organization president rode with them, Rose Malott of FILCAN Barrie.

FCHRD Executive Officers with Evie Poliarco

The plan to hold the memorial mass at the Daughters of St. Mary of Leuca Chapel was pre-empted by the Mother Superior as it only hold 30 people. The response by active community leaders and friends swelled making it impossible to hold the mass at the chapel. Sister Flora talked to the St. Therese pastor if we can hold the mass in the church instead after the regular 7pm mass and the pastor agreed. True enough, closed to a hundred people showed up and join the memorial for our Senator.

Why are these notable members of our community braved the cold and the rain to honour him? Because the SEnator was passionate about building a strong community in Durham Region. In all my events that he attended, you won't see him sitting on his chair or table. He will stand up and walked around shaking hands and posing for photos.That was his most prevalent character. I don't have to walked with him and introduced him to people, he will do it himself.

Rev. Fr. Ase Podelino, Mass Celebrant

Everyone in the church at this evening's mass knew him at our events. FCHRD Founder, Evie Poliarco came with her Executive Officers. Minerva Hilado-Garcia whom I asked to give a eulogy, is a long time friend of the Senator. Lorna Marzo-Joson was a former colleague of the Senator, attended the mass with his son Gabie who was one of the altar servers.

DFCS- Durham Filipino-Canadian Society was represented by two of its members of the Board of Directors. Eve Calma, who provided the flowers for the Senator was on hand for the Prayers of the Faithful and bringing foods for potluck as well.

Nanz who is a cousin of the Senator also came despite her busy schedules. Keeana Cerezo who delivered the song "Hindi Kita Malilimutan" came with her mom. She delivered the Tagalog song in acapella and what a powerful voice.

There were so many of our friends who came and my heart is so grateful. Claire De La Gana did the First Reading. Imagine these people who spent their time driving to St. Therese Church to honour our late Senator. This was his dream of always working together, always collaborating.

With our youth as altar servers

I cannot mention all the names. All those who came, and all those who can read this blog, note the photos you see here. These are some of the bests from our community. Some of them failed to come because of work. But these are the people who tirelessly volunteered their time and resources at any given opportunity. Let us thanked them, most especially our Sisters who are always our guiding light. Behind the scene they work for the songs, the beautiful materials they've shown at the screen. Everything was a success and all of us deserves a pat on the back.

Our active community members...

Durham has paid its tribute to our beloved Senator Tobias Enverga Jr. We pray for his deliverance and peaceful transient to eternal life. The picture frame we used during the mass which was blessed by Rev. Fr. Ase Podelino will be given to the bereaved family as we pay our tribute at the scheduled public viewing this weekend.

Our Durham artist, Keeana Cerezo