ShareThisRosemont, IL – The Philippine Engineers and Scientists Organization, more popularly known as PESO, will be led by its current president and first lady, respectively, Wilbur and Juliet Ligutam, in its 37th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, November 13, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, IL.
THE PESO PRESIDENT AND HIS FIRST LADY. President Wilbur S. Ligutam, with his lovely wife and PESO First Lady, Juliet Ligutam.
PESO is reputedly one of the most viable and oldest Filipino American professional organizations in Chicago, with its growing membership, professional enrichment activities and programs to discover, cultivate, develop and enhance talents in science and technology. To name a few such programs are TOKTEN (Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriate Nationals), adopted by PESO in 1990 under the sponsorship of the United Nations Organization and STAC (Science & Technology Advisory Council), established in 1992 through the sponsorship of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. Both programs have utilized PESO member talents, among them: Dr. Edgar Buyco, Dr. Agustin Jumawan, Dr. Arnaldo Derecho and Mrs. Edith Ardiente, all of whom went to the Philippines to speak in universities and meet with government and private businesses with the end in view of contributing their know how in devising solutions to the problems within their respective fields of expertise. There are many other programs and works of charity that the PESO has pursued and is currently pursuing that are in its website: pesoworld.com.
“Nation Building Through Socio-Economic Engineering,” is the theme of the current PESO administration, namely: President: Wilbur S. Ligutam, President –Elect: Ferdinand Alido, 1st Vice-Pres: Fely Bayona, 2nd Vice-Pres: Manding Algas, Secretary: Mila Bensing, Asst. Secretary: Dones Mayhay, Treasurer: Pete Reyes, Asst. Treasurer: Anita Sladek, Auditor: Vic Bayona, Asst. Auditor: Arvin Villanueva, Bus. Manager: Rem Sienes and Nell Frias, P.R.O.: Marilin Solomon and Lito Lomahan Jr., Marshals: Marge Vasquez and Robert Santarromana.
Fourteen First Ladies and First Gentlemen, to be escorted by their spouse presidents, comprise the honorees in this evening’s celebration, viz: Edith Castro (Tito Castro, 2005-07), Julie Lomahan (Lito Lomahan, Sr. 2002-03), Merril Casquejo (Gal Casquejo 2001-2002), Lina Garcia (Fidel Garcia, 1999-2000), Cindy Padilla (Frank Padilla, 1998-99), Zeny Tagamolila (Tante Tagamolila, 1997-98), Linda Liwag (Sergio Liwag, 1993-94), Edith Ardiente (Nestor Ardiente, 1992-93), Gigi Celis (George Celis, 1991-92), Betty Villalobos (Mel Villalobos, 1989-90), Amparo Bautista (Jovy Bautista, 1988-89), Cora Mindo (Gem Mindo, 1987-88), Nestor Ardiente (Edith Ardiente, 1986-87) and Dolly Castanares (Lino Castanares, 1983-84).
Despite a very tough competition in Manny Pacquiao’s bout with Antonio Margarito that night, PESO officers are positive they will still get their usual couple hundred guests into the Hyatt Regency O’Hare ballroom. Known for their punctuality, PESO officers, members and guests expect to start their program on the dot, leaving those who want to catch the Pacquiao-Margarito fight at the hotel bar enough time to do so while dancing is going on. After the fight, these same guests often go back to the ballroom and pick up the remainder of the celebration. YT