Resty Taruc From PAM to PCCM

by Levy Abad

Last February 18, I was fortunate to interview Resty Taruc for an article on the leaders of the Philippine Association of Manitoba from 1969 to 1999. This project is my attempt to put PAM online and give tribute to all the leaders who were a part of it. Furthermore, by creating a timeline and a simple summing up of said period, I hope this will be useful for anybody who wants to learn from the strengths and weaknesses of our community’s narrative.

Roots and education

Resty Taruc was born on June 10, 1948, in Gapan, Nueva Ecija, north of Manila, Philippines. Nueva Ecija is considered the rice granary of the Philippines and a hotbed of the peasant revolt during the Spanish period, American occupation, and the anti-Japanese resistance. Resty obtained his bachelor’s degree in commerce at Jose P. Rizal University, majoring in Economics and Management. He also had his postgraduate studies in Management and Administration at the University of Manitoba.

Context of migration

Resty emigrated to Canada on July 21, 1974. Given his educational achievements, Resty, and other intellectuals who left the old country embody the brain drain as more people moved away from the pre-industrial and agricultural condition of Philippine society during the time of the Marcos rule when the labour export policy began.

Community leadership

Resty Taruc became the president of the Philippine Association of Manitoba (PAM) from 1980 to 82 during the first community schism involving the formation and breakaway of the Barangay Federation Organization of Manitoba (BFOM) (L. Abad, “Philippine Association of Manitoba revisited,” Pilipino Express). The other officers of PAM were Dr. Conrad Santos and Antonio Navasca (vice-presidents); Maggie Jularbal (secretary); Jean Guiang (assistant secretary); Oscar Tobias (treasurer); Willie Nebre (auditor); and Glynn Davis (PRO). PAM’s board members were Danny Fuentespina, Sonny Hernaez, Rene Aquino, and Suzie Regacho (Silangan, January 1982, p. 25).

Resty endured the community controversy of the 80s and eventually became the founding president of the Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba (PCCM) from 2000 to 2003. The statement that Virginia Gayot delivered during PCCM’s 25th Anniversary affirmed what Resty Taruc and other leaders envisioned. She remained optimistic and committed “that the centre will collaborate with various groups and community associations, serving our community through outreach programs, immigrant services, youth leadership training, fundraising events, community festivals, and musical events,” (“PCCM celebrates 25 years, Pilipino Express, December 1, 2023). This proves that the efforts of Resty Taruc other PCCM presidents bore fruit.

Other significant contributions

According to my interview notes with Kaka Rey Pacheco (Kapihan sa La Merage), I learned that Resty was one of the early volunteers in the Filipino evening show at CKJS. The show was only aired whenever the volunteer hosts were available – Kaka Rey Pacheco, Jose Sulit, Flor Cadigal, and Resty. Furthermore, a senior friend at Garden City Mall fondly recalls Resty playing Victor Wood and Eddie Peregrina’s songs in his time slot. Resty’s younger sibling, the late Lito Taruc, subsequently became a part of that program.

Resty played a significant role in initiating and chairing the revival of the United Council of Filipino Associations in Canada (UCFAC) – the name was later changed to the National Council of Canadian Filipino Association (NCCFA) – in June 1982 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. Resty was also a pioneer of the Federation of Filipino Workers of Manitoba (FFWM), part of the early attempt of the community to form a workers’ organization (L. Abad, Giving Back Paying Forward, pp. 31-32). Likewise, Resty was instrumental in the formation of the United Filipino Canadian Seniors of Manitoba. He was also the Executive Director of the Manitoba Multicultural Grants Advisory Council for a decade.

There are other milestones of Resty Taruc worth sharing, not only as the fifth president of the Philippine Association of Manitoba but also his contributions to the community, which hopefully will be published in a book about PAM.

Resty is married to Rose Aurelio Sindayen from Piddig, Ilocos Norte. They are blessed with two sons, Mac and Donald Taruc. Resty and Rose are both retired and are now residing in Toronto, Ontario. They are looking forward to celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary this year.

Levy Abad is the author of Rhythms and Resistance: Narrative of Filipino Musicians and Activists (1972-1994). He is also a singer-songwriter, poet, and migrant rights activist who has released four albums centred on the life and struggles of migrants.