About LANC
It started as a vision. In 1976, out of sheer nostalgia and homesickness, the late Larry T. Beltran, a community leader, was supervising the youth club, composed mostly of Filipino youngsters in the upper Mission area of San Francisco. Larry assisted the boys to be in the summer job program; helped them to be involved in sports, especially basketball and swimming; encouraged them to read books in the public libraries rather than roaming around the streets. The team members playing basketball were Larry’s son Sammy Beltran, Jojo Orcena, Sandy and William Watson and other boys. Another guy, Mr. Ansay, assisting Larry asked Sandy if his father’s name is Willie Watson who was then residing in Guam. Mr. Ansay happened to be a first cousin of Sandy and William’s father, from Cavinte, Laguna. Larry upon hearing the conversation asked them if they are from Lucban, Quezon. Larry Beltran asked the three boys who their parents were and where they lived. Larry accompanied by his wife, the late Connie Beltran, immediately paid a visit to Sandy’s home, a few blocks away from their house. He met their grandmother, the late Maria Racelis-Obana and his mother, Vener who gave him several other Lucbanin names in the Bay Area. Beltran's vision became a mission: to organize a Lucbanin club. Larry was able to gather a handful of Lucbanin families residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. During the first organized picnic meeting at Rinconada Park in Palo Alto, the following families: Bajar, Beltran, Casino, Ella, Maderal, Obana-Watson, Orcena, Palenzuela, Quevada, Racelis, Suarez, Terciano, Veluz and Villasenor founded the organization. The new organization was called "Lucbanin of the Bay Area," since no one among the members lived farther than Oakland. From these fourteen original member families, seven individuals have become presidents of the organization: Art Ella, Rosalind Quevada-Coquia, Clara Ella, Ben Bajar, Araceli Obana-Orcena, Wilson Terciano, and Vener Obana-Mirabel.
As doting parents of growing children, the first four presidents, Art Ella, Rosalind Coquia, Clara Ella, and Ben Bajar nurtured the organization. They provided the stepping stones for the succeeding presidents to tread. Reno trips, annual fiesta picnics, "paskuhan" and other fun family activities were regularly held. In the 1978 paskuhan, Redem Casino, the daughter of Bienvenido and Pacencia Macaraan Casino was elected as the first Mutya Ng Lucban, and Jojo Orcena, the son of Dioning and Araceli Obana Orcena, was her escort. Noticeably, each year the membership roster kept growing.
In 1986, on the club's tenth year, President Araceli Orcena, spearheaded the publication of the first souvenir journal. In 1987, still under Orcena's presidency, the club held its first semi-formal dinner dance.
With Lope Ranola as president, in 1988, the first formal dinner dance happened. Then, in the following year, the club was able to donate to the construction of the "Casa del Nino Jesus," an elementary school in Lucban. This same year, the club's membership has boomed so much that the name was changed to the "Lucban Association of Northern California."
The year 1990 ushered in a newer and younger era for the Lucbanin when Wilson Terciano was elected president. A scholarship program was initiated and was fully implemented the following year. LANC donated to the Convent of Missionary Catechists in Lucban and to the UP Alumni's "Eyeglasses for Quezon Province" project. To keep in tune with the modern times, activities were plugged in through various media, the television, and the newspaper. For the first time in the club's history, two consecutive formal dinner dances were held in 1990 and 1991.
Rollie Babiera was elected President for the year 1992-1993. As an individual with various affiliations, Babiera's networking benefited the organization. He set the record in 1992 for holding the dinner dance with the most number of attendees. During his term, the association was able to donate a brand new piano to the Lucban Elementary School with the scholarship program continued to flourish.
Vener Obana-Mirabel's term provided a colorful calendar for LANC. In 1994, there was the June Disco Night, the joint Summer Picnic between the Lucbanin of Southern and Northern California, and a fabulous November Masquerade Costume Ball. In addition, a "Balik-Lucban" trip was held and participants were able to present donations from LANC, and witness part of the 400th Year celebration of the Lucban Parish Church. During Mirabel's tenure, funds were raised for the construction of the Lucban Elementary School Gym, the graduation from college, and board exams review of two LANC scholars. Mirabel, together with the "Baling Rikit, Yanung Saya!" committee, laid the foundation for the Lucbanin International Reunion in July 1996.
Efren Salvaleon was elected the 10th President in 1996, which marked the 20th Anniversary of the LANC. That year unfolded our organization with the monumental and successful task of reuniting Lucbanins from all over the world during an event in San Francisco, which we aptly called Baling Rikit Yanung Saya. The second Mutya Ng Lucban was Rona Esquieres, the daughter of Romy and Sibi Sajona Esquieres, through a voting process by all the past presidents of LANC. Richard Yumul, the son of Ric and Florence Deapera Munuz Yumul was Rona’s escort. During the reunion, Salvaleon launched the successful Book to Lookban Project made possible thru Books for the Barrios Inc. In 1997, rather than putting on the usual formal dinner dance, LANC hosted a "Disco Fever" fund raising event, which relived the music and the genre of the '60s and '70s. A raffle drawing to raise additional funds for the ongoing scholarship program highlighted the affair. The LANC youngsters began coming together during his tenure to form their own youth group. So far, they've planned fund-raising events and activities such as the first LANC camping trip, a "Bowlarama", Blockbuster Nights and the development of this website.
Romy Esquieres strives to continue the tradition of worthy accomplishments as the President for the 1998-1999 term. He reiterates the mission of the LANC well in his January acceptance letter by writing: "Let us enrich the social interaction, camaraderie and unity among our kababayan here in America and continue in our efforts to serve our beloved hometown of Lucban. Together, we will preserve our Lucbanin heritage and pass it down to future generations."
Rudy Villaverde’s 2000-2001 terms as president coincided the “Balik-Lucban 2000” and the “4rd Lucbanin International Grand Reunion” in Lucban hosted by the Banahaw Blues, with full cooperation of Letty Villasenor, president of the Banahaw Blues in Lucban and in California, Araceli Obana Orcena, over-all-chairperson of the Balik-Lucban 2000, was able to invite and encourage a great number of Lucbanins from all over the world and the United States to go back home to attend the grand reunion. The weeklong celebration was a resounding success. Another big and successful event during Rudy’s term was the celebration of the Lucban Association of Northern California’s Silver Anniversary with a dinner and dance at the Marriott Hotel in Burlingame, CA. On the eve of the 25th Anniversary celebration, the 3rd Mutya Ng Lucban, Valerie Casino Orcena, daughter of Jojo and Cristina Casino Orcena, was crowned and Rowell Vincent Terciano, son of Wilson and Sally Villaverde Terciano as her escort.
Dionisio Jojo Orcena, Jr., LANC current president is on his first year for the 2002-2003 term. He was able to encourage a big delegation of Lucbanin in Northern California to attend the 5th International Lucbanin Grand Reunion in Anaheim, California on July 5, 6, & 7, 2001. LANC came well prepared to the reunion in Southern California, during the Salubungan, LANC’s presentation of The Hunk and the Spicy Girls was the most applauded and during the Lunesan the Hip Hop Routine was also a favorite number of the program performed by the youth group. A dinner and dance entitled “Disco Night” which was highlighted by the Raffle drawing was a big success socially and financially.
Today, over 25 years and growing stronger, we are the Lucban Association of Northern California.
