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The College of the Holy Spirit in Mendiola may have closed down, but for the Alumnae in Canada, “the Spirit lives on”. Such was the spirit displayed when the Alumnae from CHSNAF(College of the Holy Spirit North American Foundation) Canada held its annual picnic at Milne Park, Markham last July 19, 2025.
While one major highway(the 401) was closed due to an accident and another major highway (the 407) had closed some lines due to construction, the members nevertheless managed to arrive – albeit late.
It was a hot sunny day so the resourceful members and guests of the College of the Holy Spirit (namely Dette Aquino, Phil and Charie Magtulis and Noel Cruz) brought and set up not one, not two, but three large tents to provide the necessary shades for the members to enjoy.
And so they did: there were foods galore, long-time friends greeting each other after the long winter months, new members being welcomed, members sharing their latest travel experiences, some sharing the latest health information they just learned from the internet or their doctors, others joining in playing games, others dancing to the background music, and lots of chit-chats over the latest news in the Philippines, in Canada and the US. CHS officers provided kites for the young and young once to fly the colourful kites.
Incoming CHSNAF Canada East President, Melissa Fajardo-Unidad ( 2026-2028) was also introduced to the group. She succeeds Maribel Lorayes, President (2023-2025) and Acting President Malou Parcero.
Shortly after the sumptuous meal, Charie’s husband, Phil Magtulis led the group in exercise and line dancing. Malou Parcero then led the group in a game where a team of 5 members were to name parts of one’s body (either in English or Tagalog) that starts with the letter “b” within 5 minutes. The team of Marissa Torralba and Elizabeth Santos won.
The CHSNAF Canada Chapter is an active organization, where its members get together every night by Zoom to pray the Rosary with other members from the USA and the Philippines. It has also been responsible for raising funds for the scholarship of needing Aetas and Mangyans in mission schools, as well as the provision of a clean water project in Capas, Tarlac .
Indeed, the College of the Holy Spirit in Mendiola may have closed down, but for the Alumnae in Canada, “the Spirit still strongly lives on!!!”
CHSNAF Canada members posing at the July 19th Picnic at Milne Conservation Park in Markham
CHSians Marissa Toralba, Ethel Laxa, Mila Syme, Melissa Unidad, Puso Baldos and Lydia Bernardino
CHSians Seated: Ethel Laza, Puso Baldos, Jocay Eleazar, Evelyn Lobrin, Lydia Bernardino; Standing L-R: Malou Parcero, Melissa Unidad, Mila Syme, Yam Esmele
CHSians doing some dance-exercises led by Phil Magtulis.
CHSian Ethel Laxa became a human blackboard for the game ” Name the body part starting with Letter ‘B’
— Mila Syme
