December 2022

                                          

                SIX KNIGHTS OF RIZAL FROM  WESTERN  USA RECEIVE  HONORS  OF DISTINCTION

                 PRESS RELEASE At the recent concluded 23rd Knights of Rizal international Assembly held at the historic Manila Hotel in the City of Manila, on January 29-31, 2023 - four Knights of Rizal from the Western Region were conferred with the fourth degree with the rank of Knight Grant Officer of Rizal (KGOR) and two were conferred with the highest degree (fifth degree) with the rank of Knight Grand Cross of Rizal (KGCR). The Knights of Rizal, complete with ranks and insignia are recognized by the Honors Code of the Philippines as official awards of the Republic. The Honors Code was established by Executive Order #236, s. 2003 by the then President Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo on September 19, 2023. The Order of the Knights of Rizal was created by an Act of Philippine Congress, Republic Act 646 on June 14, 1951. Sir Arnold R. Villafuerte, the Regional Commander for Western USA that encompasses the States of Arizona, Nevada, California, Hawaii and Alaska – received the conferment of the highest degree with the rank of KGCR from the Supreme Commander Sir Gerardo V. Calderon, KGCR. Sir Karim-Azar A. Grajo, of Magilas Chapter, Nevada also was conferred with the rank of KGCR. Any Knight of Rizal or any person who has performed an outstanding achievement for the Philippines or for the Order, may be conferred the degree of KGCR by the Supreme Council at a Regular or Special General Assembly called for the purpose. Sir Emmanuel “Manny” Torres of the Knights of Rizal Arizona Chapter and Sir Bartolome “Bart” Ganon of the Knights of Rizal Goodyear Chapter both were conferred with the fourth degree with the rank of KGOR. Sir Orlando Cagampan of the California Chapter and Sir Michael Berueda of the Hawaii Chapter were also the recipients of the distinction of having conferred with the rank of KGOR. In a brief, the International Assembly is a biennial gathering of Knights, Ladies, and affiliates from different parts of the world, The aims of the event are (a) to gather all knights and affiliates from different regions of the world and unite in revering the memory of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal; (b) share and explore best practices from different chapters, areas, and regions in the continuous propagation of Rizalism to Filipinos and citizens of the world; and (c) present the strategic goals and thrusts of the present council to further strengthen the KOR and promote collaboration with parallel agencies and organizations. Sir Arnold R. Villafuerte was a passionate public health officer with 40+ years of experience. He worked as Director of two Chronic Disease Branch Programs at the Hawaii State Department of Health assisting immigrants, migrants, limited and Non-English speaking patients to access health and other health related services in the community. Sir Arnold completed his post graduate courses from Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, New Jersey. He took his Masters in Public Health (M.P.H.) with emphasis in health promotion and education from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii USA. He obtained his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from the Far Eastern University, Manila Philippines, and his Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Psychology at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines. He was the past president of the Philippine Medical Association of Hawaii, past president of the Oahu (Hawaii) Filipino Community Council, past president of the Ilocos Nortenians of America (INA), and president of the Pasuquin (Ilocos Norte) International Association. Sir Arnold is a multi-awardee having received the Knights of Rizal Medal of Recognition, Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Star Award, and the Distinguished Service Cross. He was a past commander of Hawaii chapter for 2013-2015, Western USA Hawaii Area Commander for 2016-201, and Deputy Regional Commander Western USA for2018-2021. He was born in Davao City, raised in Makati City and Ilocos Norte. He is married to Teodora A. Villafuerte, an accountant by trade and blessed with 3 grown up sons, Jonathan, Oliver and Justin. Sir Emmanuel “Manny” Torres, on the other hand, who was the Area Commander for Arizona Western USA for the year 2018-2010, the Deputy Area Commander for Arizona Western USA for 2014-2016, the chapter Commander of the Arizona Knights of Rizal for 2012-2014, and the Deputy Chapter Commander of AZKOR for 2010-2014, was one of those leaders who was conferred with the fourth degree with the rank of Knight Grand Officer of Rizal (KGOR). He finished his Bachelor of Science in Commerce, major in accounting from the University of Cebu (formerly Ceby City College), and took up advance accounting studies at the University of San Jose Recoletos in 1960 – 1961. Before coming to the United States, Sir Manny worked at the Philippines Airlines (PAL) for 21 years from 1956-1985 in Bacolod City. For the year 2004-2014, he was a customer service agent with the American Airlines in Phoenix, Arizona. Sir Manny is also the recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal (8/31/2014), the Distinguished Service Star (6/24/2018), and the Distinguished Service Cross (9/2/2018) from the Supreme Council in Manila. He was born in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental but grew up in Bantayan Island, Cebu. He met his wife Carolina Lopez Torres while working as a station agent at the Philippine Airlines in Bacolod City. His wife Carol hails from Escalante, Negros Occidental and is a graduate from the West Negros Occidental University with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. She taught at the same university on Rizal, Social Studies and History. Sir Manny said, “My wife and I are blessed with four children, and as with any parents, our greatest achievement are our four children who by the grace of God have achieved the following: Mary Jay Torres-Martin who is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business wih a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and is now a management consultant; Caroline Torres-Menta who obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Temple University in Philidelphia and is now a family nurse practitioner-clinician, specialty in cardiac care; Paul Torres, who finished a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering technology at Temple University, and a master of business administration degree from the same university, and is the director of cyber security at KPMG (Global Accounting and Consulting Firm; Philipp Torres, a graduate of Temple University School of Medicine and is now working at the Piedmont Emergency Hospital in Athens, Georgia.” Another Knight of Rizal who was conferred with the rank of Knight Grand Officer of Rizal (KGOR) was Sir Bart E. Ganon who was the first commander of Goodyear Knights of Rizal chapter. He became the Deputy Area Commander for Arizona Western USA for the year 2018-2021. Sir Bart obtained his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Mapua Institute of Technology in 1991. He got his professional license as a registered electrical engineer (R.E.E) in the Philippines on Jan. 30, 1997 and professional engineer (P.E.) electrical – USA on June 24, 2014. He worked at the United States Department of Defense from 2015-2017, then at the U.S. Department of Energy from 2017 to the present as a professional electrical engineer for the Western Area Power Administration. He was also the recipient from the Supreme Council of the Distinguished Service Medal in December 2015, Distinguished Service Star in June 2017 and the Distinguished Service Cross on Sep. 2, 2018 which he received during the 7th USA Regional Assembly, held at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sir Bart was born in Baguio City and came to Arizona in October 2005. He is married to Millicent “Millie” Montes who hails from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, and who obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from De La Salle University in Bacolod City. They have two lovely daughters, Arielle who graduated from ASU summa cum laude with a degree in BS Psychology, and Danielle who also finished her degree on Computer Science cum laude from the same university. Sir Judge Tom Rodriguez, KGCR

                 Sir Judge Tom Rodriguez, KGCR

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