Katipunan

KATIPUNAN, 30 YEARS
by Ray Magno , M.D. (first President, of the Katipunan,
1969-1971)

THE BEGINNING

Thirty years ago, huddled in a small room at the Fil-Am Building
on Broadway Street, Baltimore, 20 Filipinos discussed the idea of
a Filipino-American Philippine Association in Maryland.

The Katipunan was born. Goals were defined - to unify the
Filipino American community of Maryland, to foster and enhance the
social, educational, charitable and cultural needs of the
Filipino. The name Katipunan (used by our forefathers in their
quest for freedom from Spanish bondage) was a unanimous choice not
only for its historical significance but also seemed to express a
strong sentiment for "Filipinoism."

THE EARLY YEARS

The strategy was to involve all the Filipinos in the community. A
letter written in poetic Tagalog was circulated. Reynaldo Reyes
said he was impressed so he came to the first general meeting.
And so did hundreds of others. The place was Towson YMCA and the
crowd was standing room only.

The first set of officers were elected: Ray Magno, Ferdie
Rodriguez, Ben Lazaro, Ludy Oteyza, Vangie Ramos, Col. Ramos, Gus and Naty de Leon, Toni Grandea, Jim Cinedella, Real Lyle among
others.

Legal papers were drawn. Incorporation, Constitution and By-laws,
other goals and objectives were set. Meetings were held in
hospitals, schools, houses and basements. "Get-togethers" were
organized on every occasion - New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day,
Easter, summer picnics, Thanksgiving and Christmas. One New
Year's Eve celebration at the Towson State University was attended
by almost everybody. They brought in their Lolos and Lolas,
children, cousins, and friends.

The Santacruzan was showcased to the community. Maria Elena and
her sagalas, replete with their colorful costumes, paraded along
York Road and downtown Baltimore. On Christmas time, the younger
members waded through the snow and sleet to carol and bring
holiday cheers to the rest of the community.

Sport tournaments were sponsored. Bowling were held every Sunday,
and tennis tournaments two or three times a year. The Bowling
champions for the first four straight years called themselves "
Tigs-Tits" (short for Tigas "titi"). Members of this team included Teody Paglinauan, Jun Aquino, Terry Retona, and Maribel and Ray Magno. When this team finally lost, they changed their name to "Lambs Tits."

Other events began to happen. The first fund raising activity was
a piano recital given by Reynaldo Reyes. This raised more than a
thousand dollars that was given to the Philippine Red Cross.
Katipunan started a program to adopt children in the Philippines.
Linda Pio Roda established a music scholarship that was later
extended to other fields. Aning Castillo organized cooking and
Tagalog classes.

Cultural groups from the Philippines such as the Bayanihan Dance
Troupe, The UP Choir, Madrigal Singers, Himig Ng Lahi were
sponsored and hosted by the Katipunan.

A Newsletter, The Katipunan Record, edited by Bayani Elma and
Edgar de Jesus, was published quarterly and became a forum of
information anticipated by many. Edna Gan's ads for Filipino
services and business, Ferdie Rodriguez Maryland Scene, Luis
Florendo's Youth Section and Ray Magno's To Your Health wer
regular features.

Christmas parties were organized for the children. Santa was
always present giving gifts to all the kids. The braver kids
sang, played instruments, presented skits about the Nativity
scene. The yearly Easter Egg hunt at the Oregon Ridge Park, which
the kids enjoyed most, was always crowded. As the kids grew up,
they participated in debutantes ball, and under the direction of
Marcia Aquino, it became a very well attended and traditional
event complete with rigodon de honor and all its trimmings.

THE LATER YEARS

The late 80's and the 90's saw a decline in the social activities
of the Katipunan. Gone were the frequent get-togethers and the
potlucks held in basements and garages. The Anniversary and
Debutantes' ball, celebrated on the weekend of Thanksgiving became
the one big lavish affair that remained. And the venue has
shifted to the Stouffers (now called The Renaissance), the Hyatts
and the Hiltons.

And this is predictable. As its members gained stature in life,
as the family grew in size, more urgent priorities arose.
Grappling with college tuition, managed care medicine, golf
tournaments, ballroom dancing, etc. superceded the need for social
functions. The emergence of many new associations - alumni,
religious, foundations - all with different goals - have also
diluted the members' attention.

There is one Katipunan tradition that has never faltered and over
the years has grown into a big community affair. It is its yearly
cultural presentations to the American community. Sanctioned by
the Maryland Governor's Office as the Filipino-American Friendship
Week, it also became a celebration of the Philippine Independence
Day. It started in 1970 as a small event. Remember the years
when Zeny Winterling and Pat Patalinghug sang a duet of Bulaklak
at Paro-Paro, and Eddie Aquino and Aning Castillo staged a
Balagtasan? There were skits about life in the Philippines as
well as ethnic dances performed by Grace Milras and Nieva Burce.
These presentations were held in places like churches, elementary
schools and auditoriums.

When Sony Florendo came and used her influenced with the City of
Baltimore, the event was showcased in the heart of downtown
Baltimore, the Hopkins Plaza. Cultural booths, food delicacies,
arts and crafts display and a day long presentation of native
dances and costumes became part of the celebration.

Pete SySantos, later, shifted the venue to the Baltimore County
Courtyard in Towson. The cultural celebration continues to grow,
and is now attended by thousands all attracted by and in search of
a culture that is uniquely Filipino.

THE FUTURE

The Katipunan has accomplished most of the things it has set to
do, and more. It has become a standard for Filipino organizations
in the Maryland area. It has unified the Filipino community of
Baltimore. (In most cities, it is usual to have hundreds of
Filipino organizations in one locality fractured and defined
mostly by regionalism and ethnicity, Bicolano, Ilocano, Cebuano,
etc.). The Katipunan has contributed immensely to the cultivation
of friendship among its members and has served as a link between
the Filipino and the American community.

Perhaps its most lasting legacy is its unwavering effort to
perpetuate and showcase the Filipino heritage in our adopted land.
The Filipino heritage is blessed with rich tradition and beautiful
history, and we all seek to relive and recreate it. It is now
incumbent upon us to pass it on to our children so that they, in
turn, can pass it on to their children and their children's
children.

This may not be an easy task since the second generation is
concerned with assimilation in their new culture, and they
may not share the deep rooted "longing" for the traditions that we
cherish so much. But let us make the extra effort to acquaint
them with the Philippine culture, its language, history, heroes,
politics, and its land. A series of symposium perhaps?

The Katipunan must also continue its efforts to create a
"community service oriented organization." Let us emulate our
Asian neighbors who not only support each other morally and
financially, but also patronize their own businesses. A directory
of Filipino business and services, distributed to all Filipinos in
the community is a start.

This year, 1999, the Katipunan is celebrating its 30th
anniversary. It remains as a paragon for all organizations in the
Baltimore metropolitan area. Let us all salute the officers and
members who selflessly donated thousands of hours of volunteerism,
dedication, and commitment and made Katipunan an organization for
all ages.