Lito Taruc PAM’s denouement and transition

by Levy Abad

While spending my free time in the parking lot of the Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba (PCCM), thinking of what dish to buy at Salakaot, I thought of Kuya Lito Taruc. He was the last president of the Philippine Association of Manitoba (PAM), the mother organization of the PCCM. PAM was organized in 1969, and Dr. Rey Pagtakhan became its first president in 1970.

Lito Taruc led PAM when the organization was winding down, and he was there to witness its transition to the PCCM. I recall my conversation with him and the late Kuya Fred De Villa at Salakot Restaurant when I was still working as the executive assistant of then-Minister of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, Florfina Marcelino. We discussed the latest political developments in Winnipeg and the Filipino community, party politics, community dynamics and Philippine history over coffee.

Known by his moniker Lito (real name is Pablo Malgapo Taruc), he was born on June 29, 1958, in Gapan, Nueva Ecija (The Free Press Passages). He arrived in Winnipeg in 1979 and, like earlier members of our local diaspora, found a job in Versatile Industries, a company known for building farm equipment, where he worked for almost two decades. Lito Taruc passed away on November 17, 2020 (Manitoba Historical Society).

When I arrived in Winnipeg, Lito was well known as the news director of CKJS 810 AM radio. From time to time, he would play my song, Dito sa Winnipeg, during the morning program. I knew him as a kind person. He was better known as a radio commentator than as PAM president. Later, in my digging through the archives, I learned that PAM has no online presence. This prompted me to write articles about PAM so the community can reflect and learn from its history (1969 to 2015).

In my research about PAM’s leadership, I found that Lito Taruc became the Vice-President for Finance during the Presidency of Fred Arrojado in 1997 (Filipino Journal, February 1-15, 1997). The following year, during the first term of President Gildred Aloro, Lito became the Vice-President for Administration and Finance. Interestingly, a Political Science classmate of mine, Leonardo Aniceto, was the Vice-President for Community Relations (Filipino Journal, January 1-15,1998). Lito continued in this capacity during the second term of Gildred Aloro.

During the swearing-in ceremony of PAM on December 31, 1999, Lito Taruc was inducted as President, Tony Ilano (VP for Admin and Finance), Robert Viray (VP for Community Outreach), Conrad Almazan (VP for Program and Service), Ador Ancheta (Treasurer), and Leah Magsino (Executive Secretary). The Board Members were the following: Nathaniel Imperial, Joe Leyda, Les Crisostomo, Gildred Aloro, Philip Pascual, Edda Pangilinan, and Jing Asperin. Lito continued to lead PAM until the organization’s cessation in 2015 (L. Abad, Philippine Association of Manitoba: Revisited 1969-2015).

It is worthy to note that the Nayong Pilipino Pavilion, the long-term cultural arm of PAM since the early 70s, had its final show in 2013. PAM, aside from promoting Filipino Culture and heritage, also helped with community casework as people go to the PAM’s office for advice and assistance for different issues. PAM’s role would eventually recede to the background as the PCCM (founded on January 19, 1998) took a greater role. According to Resty Taruc, the older sibling of Lito, and the founding chair of the PCCM, the election was held at 88 Juno St., where the old Philippine Centre was located. Resty was PCCM’s President from 1998 to 2003, with Dr. Magsino as the Vice-Chair. Thus, completing the transition from PAM to the PCCM (Resty Taruc’s FB message, October 1, 2026). It is also worthwhile to mention that Resty was PAM’s President from 1980 to 1981.

There is so much to share about Pablo “Lito” Taruc’s leadership, but this article’s focus is his role as the president of PAM from 1999 to 2015. In addition, it is my goal to put PAM’s narrative online, pay tribute to community pioneers, and provide a timeline for future community summaries.