Paloanos of Southern California (PASOCA)
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PASOCA HISTORY
By Danny Petilla
One day in the fall of 1981, eight homesick Paloanos gathered in the home of James Barber for an informal ‘inum-inum’.
Their meeting of minds that day proved to be the breaking ground for the holding of an annual town fiesta in their adopted homeland – the United States – specifically in Southern California. The collective yearning for celebration away from home had finally taken root. The pioneering eight were Douglas Barber, James Barber, Ike and Jimmy Espeleta, Intoy Moreto, Orly Villacorte, Freddie Salipuran, and Tony Viray. The group’s enthusiasm would later rub off on 17 other town mates who gathered in the first organizational meeting on November 19, 1981. From its infancy the group’s prime movers were the families of the Barbers, Espeletas, Villacortes, Moretos, Abucejos, Ofalias, Pinedas, Sevillas, Olivers and Virays. They agreed to hold their first fiesta on the last Saturday of July 1982. All members were automatically fiesta sponsors that year. For their first feast, held at the Columban Church in downtown Los Angeles, everybody brought something. It proved to be the start of something that has not ceased since: the annual celebration of Palo’s fiesta in a foreign land in honor of our Lord’s Transfiguration. Orly Villacorte, one of the group’s founding fathers, donated in 1982 a miniature statue of San Salvador, which up to this day is used in the mobile monthly novenas. Jose Espeleta, Jr., the clan’s patriarch, donated a bigger and life-like statue the following year. This statue is traditionally enshrined in the home of the fiesta sponsor for the duration of the host year. The late great radio commentator Andres Sevilla, Sr., coined the name of the budding organization, which would be known since then as the Paloanos of Southern California, PASOCA for short. In 1983, Remedios Moreto, the family’s matriarch, made history by becoming the first individual or family to become fiesta sponsor. The annual merrymaking and spiritual reflection has carried on PASOCA’s aim of assuring the continuity of the yearly celebration. More important, the yearly event has also strengthened ties with the group’s beloved hometown by donating worthwhile projects like the ornate woodcarving of one of the Stations of the Cross that now adorn the Palo Cathedral, or amassing substantial contributions from its members to finance the Cathedral’s major structural repairs after it was ravaged by a series of typhoons early this decade. PASOCA’s membership has grown through the years, now unofficially listed at over 80 families. It has continued to draw new arrivals from Palo who want to keep their hometown’s rich cultural heritage alive in the U.S. From its modest beginnings, the group has survived all sorts of organizational challenges through the years to become one of the most vibrant hometown organizations in Southern California.
06/09/2026
8.29.2026 - PASOCA 45th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION -
Part 2 of 3
THE FUN PART …
Curacha … line dancing … and more
💃🕺💃🕺
Our fiesta was made even more fun by our Curacha partners and volunteers — Hon. Enna Monge Torres (former Councilor of Palo) and Dr. Joel Gamo (married to Ethel Petilla-Tan), Marylou Zosa (AnTaclobanon) and Neil Colinayo (WIN- Waraynon Initiative Network). 💃🕺 And, of course, the so beautiful special number from Zach and Madsie (grandchildren of Ninang Dinda Moreto-Lising) added another lovely and memorable moment to the evening. ❤️
And thank you to our dance instructor,
Nonie Belarmino, for helping us put our best foot forward on the dance floor! 💃🕺
Viva Señor San Salvador!
Señor San Salvador, talwasa kami! 🙏💛
06/09/2026
8.29.2026 - PASOCA 45th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION -
Part 1 of 3 …
A week late, but the wonderful memories are still fresh! 💛🤍 Sharing some special moments from our PaSoCa 45th Anniversary Celebration last Saturday, August 29. What a beautiful evening of faith, friendship, fellowship, and fun! 🎉🙏
And now, a long-overdue but heartfelt message of gratitude to everyone who helped make our celebration so special…
Dear PaSoCa Family,
What a wonderful and memorable 45th Anniversary Celebration we had. 💛🤍 On behalf of everyone, my deepest gratitude to ALL who helped make our celebration such a beautiful success.
So much happened behind the scenes long before the big day — from the initial preparations and scouting for the right venue (thank you, Pie and Boy Danny Ortega), to reaching out for volunteers, donations, and helping hands (thank you, Maribel Montejo Kirkham). Every effort, whether big or small, helped make the evening come together so beautifully.
Our Holy Mass was especially meaningful. We are grateful to our celebrant, Fr. Rey Matunog, whose own connection to Palo made the Mass even more special. And thank you, Mana Meldy Diamante, for sharing the music and those lovely, familiar hymns from back home. Hearing them brought back wonderful memories and made our celebration of Señor San Salvador even more heartfelt. 🙏💛
The hall looked so festive and welcoming. Chelitte Ilagan-Villacorte’s
beautiful backdrop and banderitas perfectly captured our yellow-and-white fiesta theme, and the lovely centerpieces prepared by Babie Moreto-Velasco and her team completed the setting beautifully. 🌼
And, of course, what would a PaSoCa fiesta be without FOOD? 😁 As always, it was sumptuous, delicious, and plentiful. Thank you, Lynna Moreto-Kempis - for coordinating and reaching out for food donations, and thank you to everyone who lovingly prepared and generously shared all those delicious dishes.
Our evening was made even more fun by our Curacha partners and volunteers — Hon. Enna Monge Torres and Dr. Joel Gamo, Marylou Zosa and Neil Colinayo. 💃🕺 And, of course, the so beautiful special number from Zach Wandalowski and Madsie Lising (grandchildren of Ninang Linda Lising) added another lovely and memorable moment to the evening. ❤️
To everyone who generously gave monetary donations, raffle prizes, food, time, talent, and helping hands — THANK YOU. To those who came early to set up, stayed to clean up, helped with the Mass, program, food, raffle, decorations, music, and everything in between — and especially those who simply saw something that needed to be done and stepped in without even being asked — we are deeply grateful. That spirit of bayanihan is truly what makes PaSoCa special. ❤️
There are simply too many of you to mention individually, and I would hate to unintentionally leave anyone out. Please know that every contribution, every gesture, and every helping hand was deeply appreciated.
Most of all, thank you to everyone who came and celebrated with us. The beautiful venue, delicious food, and lovely decorations were made even more special because we shared them with friends and families — with laughter, fellowship, dancing, and the familiar faces of our fellow Paloanos.
45 years is truly a milestone. May we continue to keep our Palo traditions, friendships, faith, and sense of community alive for many more years and pass them on to the generations that follow. 💛🤍
And to those who weren’t able to join us — we missed many of you, and yes, you missed a lovely celebration! 🥰 We hope that next time, we can all be together again.
Congratulations to ALL OF US on a truly successful and memorable PaSoCa 45th Anniversary Celebration. 🎉
From the bottom of our hearts, damo nga salamat ha iyo ngatanan! ❤️🙏
Viva Señor San Salvador!
Señor San Salvador, talwasa kami! 🙏💛
Jennie Urbina Kriz
23/08/2026
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