Philippine Asian News Today Vol 19 no .14 | Page 13

July 16 - 31, 2017
PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY
13
Canadian Pinoy named head of Army Royal Regiment
By Mary Ann R. Mandap
(Reprinted
from
Canadian Filipino Net,
Canadianfilipino.net)
Newly
minted
Lt.
Colonel Joseph Nonato,
commanding general of the
Royal Regiment of Canada
is the latest source of pride
of the Canadian Filipino
community.
Last June, Nonato
officially took the reins of the
Canadian Army’s primary
reserve regiment, one of the
oldest army regiments in
the Canadian Forces, which
traces its roots to 1862. The
Royal Regiment of Canada
counts the Prince of Wales as
honourary colonel-in-chief.
“Being commanding
officer, I feel proud, honoured
and at the same time humbled
by this appointment,” Nonato
said in a phone interview.
“I’m proud that many of our
kababayans are doing their
best and reaping the fruits of
their labour,” he added.
The son of Filipino
immigrants, Nonato, 44, is
the eldest of four children and
the only one in the military.
“All four of us are teachers,”
he said. The military reservist
considers his appointment as
“a full-time job on part-time
hours.” He is glad he has his
day job as a teacher at De la
Salle College.
He grew up in the
largely immigrant enclave of
Brampton, Ont. There, his
budding interest in becoming
a soldier was reinforced by
stories of relatives who served
in the Philippine Armed
Forces.
“When I was young, my
cousins and uncles would
regale me with stories about
their cadetships. They would
show me pictures of them
training. Even as a small child,
I remember dressing up like
a soldier,” he chuckled.
Nonato
considers
his father, Rod, a huge
influence, too. Rod took
up nautical science in the
Philippines hoping to be a
Marine someday, but Canada
beckoned in 1971.
Rod’s military dream was
fulfilled by his eldest, who
after finishing high school
at Cardinal Leger, joined the
cadet program and made it to
the prestigious Royal Military
College (RMC) in Kingston.
“RMC is the counterpart
of the Philippine Military
Academy,” he explained.
“We were so proud of
him when he graduated
from the military college
because he worked so
hard and accomplished
what he always wanted
to accomplish. And there
were very few minorities
there,” Rod told The Star in
a previous interview.
Nonato’s interest in the
military grew out of a sense
of adventure and patriotism,
as well as a desire to give
back to Canada through
his service.
His time at the military
college was tough because
it’s highly disciplined and
students must perform Lt. Col. Joseph Nonato (L), takes command of the Royal Regiment of
well in their academics, Canada from outgoing Lt. Col. Tom Payne (R) in formal ceremonies
fitness, military training held at the Fort York Armoury in Toronto last June. Canadian
and a second language, or Filipino Senator Tobias Enverga (centre) was on hand to witness
they get kicked out, Nonato the Change of Command ceremony. (Photo from Senator Enverga’s
FB).
once said in his blog.
After
graduation,
South Sudan.
experience.” He described
Nonato
worked
for
Being at the heart of both his stints as “eye-
Scotiabank while serving as a conflict is a far cry from
opening spiritual journeys.”
primary reservist. In 2008, he
teaching Social Studies,
Nonato is married to
experienced being at the war Church History and Religion
Sheila Dabu Nonato, a
zones in Afghanistan, and in
at a private Catholic school former journalist, with whom
2012, was part of Canada’s in Toronto. But according
he has two daughters, aged
peacekeeping mission in to Nonato, “you can’t lead
one and three.
troops without the frontline
UFCABC ON THE GO!
UFCABC officers headed by the President Joel Castillo, VP Rey Fortaleza, Secretary Janice Lozano Juatco, Cliff Belgica & Babes Newland dining at Bao Down
Restaurant in 2nd Avenue & Manitoba, Vancouver with our Presenter sponsor & special guest Agnes Pasaporte Miranda (seated 2nd from right, left photo) from
Toronto. She is the over all coordinator of Renee Salud’s Philippine Tapestry Fashion Show on August 20 at Pipe Shop in North Vancouver and we are lucky to
join us is the Pinoy owner of Bao Down Matt Adolfo( left photo 2nd from left ,standing). Other guests are Danny & Suzy Felices (seated 1st and 2nd left).
More brainstorming of UFCABC officers, headed by Joel Castillo, at Josephine’s
Restaurant in Vancouver.
One day visit in Vancouver of our Business Consultant from the
Philippines, Cecille Patricio. We drove her back at YVR 1:30am for her
5:00am PAL flight with my business partner Rommel Emata and our
Vancouver Consultant my kumare, Edna Corrales.
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