July 2020

                                                                 

             

                 PRESS RELEASE Arizona Knights of Rizal Elects New Chapter Commander The Arizona Knights of Rizal (AZKOR) has elected Sir Robert “Bob” Nobis as its new Chapter Commanderfor the Rizalian year 2020-2022. He was exalted to the third degree with the rank of Chapter Commander (KCR) on July 18, 2020 by Sir Tom D. Rodriguez, KGCR, past USA Regional Commander 2012-2014 via virtual Zoom meeting, assisted by Sir Manny Torres KCR, the Area Commander for Western USA, with 12 officers and members in attendance. Sir Bob is the 7th elected chapter commander of AZKOR. The first chapter commander of AZKOR was Sir Conrad Ballecer, Jr. KGOR, followed by Sir Emmanuel Torres KCR, then Sir Herman Mendoza KCR, Sir Warren Cruz KCR, Sir Frandioben “Jun” Saez KCR, and Sir James Campbell, Jr. KCR. The newly elected officers for the Rizalian year 2020-2022 were inducted and installed into office via a virtual zoom meeting on June 18, 2020 by Sir Tom Rodriguez, KGCR. The officers are Sir Robert Nobis, KCR- Chapter Commander; Sir Aureo Macaraeg, KOR – Deputy Chapter Commander; Sir Elpidio Gabriel, KOR – Chapter Chancellor; Sir Romeo Balasta, KCR – Chapter Pursuivant; Sir Rafael Ablao, Jr., KOR - Chapter Exchequer; Sir Oliver Tagura, KOR - Chapter Auditor; Sir Ramon Quema, KOR – Chapter Archivist; Sir Craig Smith, KOR – Deputy Chapter Pursuivant; Sir Frank Rosales, KOR – Deputy Chapter Exchequer. Sir Oliver and Sir Craig will be inducted on a later date because they were not able to attend the virtual zoom meeting on June 18, 2020. Sir Bob Nobis is a graduate electrical engineer who obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from North Dakota State University in 1966 and his Master’s degree in Electronics Engineering in 1971 from the same university. He retired in 2014, after working for over 40 years in engineering, contract administration, and marketing in the telecommunications industry, primarily in the Asia Pacific region. Since retiring, he has been actively involved in his community, Estrella Mountain Ranch, Goodyear, in various volunteer roles. Part of the process of his getting involved has been to learn more about the Goodyear community. In 2016, he completed the City of Goodyear Citizen's Academy and in early 2017 the 12-week Goodyear Leadership Enrichment and Development (LEAD) training program. He has also actively participated in several city-sponsored training seminars. Additionally, Sir Bob had completed CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training with the city in 2016. This group supports the city in the event of a disaster. He is currently serving on the Estrella Mountain Ranch HOA Board of Directors as Secretary/treasurer. This is a community of about 6,000 homes that tends to keep him quite busy. In addition to his activities at Estrella, he had also previously served as a Small Claims Court Hearing Officer for the Supreme Court of Arizona, for two years. He is also the president of a non-profit emergency communications (Ham Radio) organization, working with the cities of Goodyear, Avondale, and Litchfield Park to provide emergency back-up communications. Sir Bob is very active at his church, Christ Presbyterian Church of Goodyear. He is currently serving on the church board (Session) and is responsible for church administration. Additionally, he does the bookkeeping for his Church. He has been an active member of the Arizona Knights of Rizal (AZKoR) for three years, and has served as the AZKoR Pursuivant for the past two years. He is married to his beautiful Filipina wife, Nelly Baclaya Nobis for 52-years.They have three children and seven grand-children. They moved to Goodyear, AZ in 2008, after living in Mesa, AZ for 25 years. Lady Nelly graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education, majoring in Health and Physical Education, with a minor in English Literature from the Philippine Women’s University in 1963, and in 1997 Masters with Distinction in Elementary Education from the Northern Arizona University. She is now a retired educator but has been a substitute teacher at Liberty School District, Goodyear, AZ since May 2017 to the present. From 1986 to 2016 she was an Elementary classroom teacher at Greenfield School, then Houston Elementary School; Gilbert School District . She tutored English in Hong Kong and Japan, and was a substitute teacher in Japan in 1979 thru 1983. In 1977-78 Lady Nelly taught Elementary and Science in Junior High at Round Rock School District, Texas. In 1976 she taught Intermediate 6th grade at Kennedy Middle School in Roosevelt School District, Phoenix. Lady Nelly worked as a Secretary at NATCO (Navy Air Transportation Command) in Makati, Manila, and then at Clark Air Force Base, Pampanga, Philippines in 1966-68, and it was there where she met her future husband, Sir Bob Nobis. She taught Health Education for girls and Physical Education in Cavite National High School, Cavite, Philippines in 1964-66. She also taught English, Choir (Music), Drama, Health Education and Physical Education, in St. James Junior College, Tagbilaran, Bohol Philippines in 1963. Lady Nelly believes in the importance of continuing education, and so wherever the family moves, she took Education courses at different colleges and universities of the different states like Grand Canyon University, Arizona in 1988; Round Rock Community College, Texas in 1976; Arizona State University, in 1975; in 1974 at Mesa Community College, Arizona , and in 1973 at Elgin Community College, Illinois. Not only that Lady Nelly was active in the field of education but she was and still is involved in many extra-curricular activities such AZ Lions, Ladies for Rizal, Filipiniana Cultural Dance Group of Arizona, PWU Junior Bayanihan. She participated as a judge for dance contests, oratorical contests, declamation and debate contests. She was involved in drama, operetta, hands & hearts sign language choir group (through songs and hymns) and singing in church choirs. The Arizona Knights of Rizal was organized in February 2008, and is one of the chapters in the State of Arizona, USA, of the global Order of the Knights of Rizal. The Order was chartered by a legislative act of Philippine Congress, Republic Act 646 in June 1951. Independently, the Arizona Knights of Rizal (AZKOR, INC.) is an Arizona non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) accreditation with the United States Internal Revenue Code as a tax-exempt organization. As such, AZKOR, Inc. (Arizona Knights of Rizal, Inc) is a positive contribution of Filipino-Americans in Arizona to the enrichment of the communities where we live. The Knights exist to keep alive and afresh the ideals and principles of Dr. Jose Rizal, national hero of the Philippines. These noble ideals seek the full fruition of human potentials giving rise to self-respect and respect for others. As a non-profit, AZKOR, INC. pursues charitable, scientific, educational and literary purposes. The incumbent Supreme Commander of the Knights of Rizal is Sir Elihu A. Ybanez KGCR, an Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals in the Philippines.

                 Sir Judge Tom Rodriguez, KGCR

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~