Meet Our Team

Our hardworking officers are all volunteers who are passionate of making this club as one big happy family. Young Dynamic Filipino family and friends all brought together with the same purpose, of community, spirituality, charity, solidarity, love, friendship and most of all to celebrate the Filipino culture.

Irene Mamgue Naballin

President

My family was introduced to CFT by friends who were then already members of the club. At first we had reservations in joining the club being that majority of the members were Bisaya and we felt that, coming from the far Northern part of Luzon. we were outsiders.

But we were wrong. When we joined the club, the officers were so warm and welcoming and they embraced us whole-heartedly in to the family, the CFT family. We felt we belonged.We realized that this club is for all Filipinos whether you are from Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao.We also felt that we can contribute something meaningful and to this club that would make a difference to the Filipino community. And I so hope we did.

Now, CFT is our second family. We have forged strong friendship along the way, treating each other as family. We laughed, we cried, we disagreed at times,but we also supported and lifted each other up. We rejoiced over our successes and we learned from some failures.Some have left and we felt their absence but we also welcomed new members and we hope that they too will feel welcomed and loved. We may not be perfect but then again, no Family is.

And so this is my prayer. That our CFT family will not only grow in numbers but in strength..Rise and Shine beautiful people of CFT that we will continue to inspire, motivate and influence others, make a positive impact that would make a difference in our community. Be a proud CFTinian.

Vice-President

Simple lang, gusto ko lang tumulong na magkaisa tayong mga Filipino . Sino sino pa bang magtutulungan kundi tayo tayo lang.

Noel Salenga

Carol Galamiton

Public Relations and Communications Officer

2 years ago I was invited by one of the co founders of the club to attend their launching...

I hardly go to any Filipino meetings/events but luckily this time I did, otherwise I wouldn't

have had the chance to know and work with the very creative, committed, happy, funny,

and talented group...It's the BELONGINGNESS and the FRIENDSHIP that persuaded me to join the club...Some of our dear officers have left and wherever they are ,they're still a big part of the club and I can definitely say I am proud to have had the chance to

work with them Thank you and God Bless CFT !

Jecka Paden

Budget and Planning Officer

We all pine for a time in life when things were simpler.Just a small family ,few friends dining together,watching movies, etc,etc, when they weren't necessarily a lot of things to deal with, ,hindsight makes them look a lot simpler.The reality of it was that it wasn't.You loss few good friends you wish they would have stayed.

I am now ready to tell my story .When my sister went back to Philippines for good, it was a big blow to my family especially to me coming from a huge family background ,I feel like im all by myself in this foreign land . The fear kicked in at back my mind "how am I gonna survive?". I have no one to turn on especially when I need a break from the children? That's when the AMAZING friends from CFT came to me. What seems like a crazy idea today eventually grows. The happy environment with a lot of positive people are so contagious and its more than what i can ask for. Family doesn't need to be blood related .There are some people in life that make you laugh a little bit louder, smile a little bigger and live just A little bit better CFT for have it all! One day someone will turn around and say " that was a genius!!!

Orlando Olvina

Information Technology Officer

With awesome, fantastic filipinos I know? CFTi is the greatest! Through all these years CFTi has shown not just to me but to many filipnos who cares more to preserve the NOYPI , PINOY AKO! style, thats the word! CFTi has the filipino style that even wherever you are PANGO parin ang ilong mo! lol Anyway... having said that, being here in this group for 2 years now and counting I feel the excitement, joy and challenges not just into the great events that we've succeeded but most of all are times meeting new friends and helping them through inspriation. CFT is known as young group of filipinos actively pursued its unique characteristics and talents that who's wanting to be present into other ethnic communities, " eh kung sa tagalog pa kung kaya nila yan mas kaya naten yan! ". I am very proud to be in this group! As we continues our journey on behalf of this group I'd like to invite you to join and share your stories.

Logistics and Support Committee

Fee De Jong

As the saying goes, Follow your heart and I am glad I did..

There was a big hesitation on my part in coming to join my husband here in Tauranga. We were living in Christchurch at that time where most of my friends were. I tried to convince him to come back home to ChCh but I failed so left with no choice I came here instead. I was so homesick and lonely staying at home all the time and so tired of speaking to my husband in English, I wanted to talk Bisaya. He tried his best to introduce me to Filipinos from work. I met a lovely couple who introduced me to Chim Diaz who was heavily pregnant like me at that time. I gave birth 2 wks later and out of desperation I rung her. And there started the family outings and parties. I felt like I was home again. Then more Filipino friends came along.

We love our culture, we love to party and we love our food.I attended so many children's parties and it was in one of these parties that CFT was born. Maricon Saducas rung me the next day to join and the rest is history.

Ivy Olvina

Neo Salenga / Sound System In-Charge

Jan Michael Apsay / Sound System In-Charge

Adelaido " Bords " Herrera | Chairman of Sports

Sports Committee

Benz Gomez

Jan Michael Apsay OIC

Health and Fitness Committee

IVO Pardillo

Chairman

As a military man, I am skeptical about joining a group using the democratic way of leadership because I am used to the autocratic style but as a nurse and a Fitness coach, "motivation" is my passion. Through this I know I could share to our kababayans concerning healthy life style and in my own little way I know I could lend a hand in transforming minds and touching hearts through Fitness

Ivy Viduya

Co-Chairman

I am a busy working mum that my life only evolves in my family, my adorable kids, my loving husband, and a few close circle of friends. An opportunity came up to help more people and to be more part of the Filipino community in Tauranga when a friend has invited me to join. I have made new friends and felt that I have made a difference to people who are in need more of a caring heart.

As a part of this club, my passion is to inspire people to be fit and have a healthy lifestyle. I also help in in the execution of our social and fundraising events.

Thank you Club Filipino Tauranga and my friends for making me feel belonged to a group and a community that genuinely reach out and help people. Mabuhay!

Socio Civic and Religious

Vic Villegas | Chairman

Socio Civic and Religious Committees

Lydia Sandoval

It is my honour to be a part of this Club Filipino Tauranga. The officers and the members is friendly and energetic. They are all amazing with their loyalty and dedication to the club.

CFT is full of young active group of nurses which I knew them before I joined the club. Initially, I was informed by Chim Diaz when I saw her one day at Bayfair that I was elected to be one of the officer of Religious Committee and followed by a phone call by Cres Staniford who's also elected as head of the said committee . "Thank you Cres for trusting me " and thank you all to the member of the club.

The club has so much fun to offer from Bayanihan to charity works headed by courageous and active Pres. Irene Irene Mamgue Naballin and the Vice Pres. Noel Salenga. We are proud of you guys!

This club inspired me a lot to meet talented people like our gorgeous and sexy sister Nikka Bautista .Thank you ! for letting me in to be one of those promising " dream girl" like you . The club has built me more confidence to meet new member of the club . I am a proud Filipino with my CFTinians family .

Mabuhay and More power to us all!!!

Anna Elphic

Beautiful city,lovely weather and new circle of friends.Moving here inTauranga from Christchuch was a huge adventure for me.It was a difficult time, I was lost, stressed and I have no friends.I met Fee de Jong and she introduced me to this club CFT. I'm proud to be a CFT family and a part of the religious committee. Be Happy,be good , be kind and always do the best of what you can. Mabuhay and be proud to our club CFTi.

Crestine Carson

A year ago, we moved down to Tauranga from Auckland. I felt so sad to leave many of our closest friends in Auckland and decided to start a new life in Tauranga because Auckland house prices are crazily high and we wanted to buy our first home. We have few close friends in Tauranga which is a great start. One day, we were invited to join a Filipino gathering organized by the Club Filipino Tauranga. At first, I was even hesitant to attend , I just did not want to involve myself too much with many Filipinos and I got so many things to do as well but for some reason, I joined the event. Everyone seems friendly and welcoming . Then we found ourselves getting more involve with the group and it feels like I found a new family here in Tauranga. We felt like we were just strangers few months ago but now, I’ve developed a special bond with them. I started to appreciate the beauty of Filipino culture. Our helpfulness and generosity, strong family ties and genuine deep love for our families, our cheerfulness , fun loving, and optimism where we can still laugh even in the most trying of times. I’m now a proud and happy member of this club. Not just I found a new family in this foreign country, I also get a chance to eat a lot of Filipino food that I truly miss . TGIF! Thank God I’m Filipino.

Love Eridiano

I have always had a healthy distance with Filipino groups since I came to New Zealand. I have limited myself to a few good friends, I have associated myself with the same people. I never joined a Filipino community, not because I didn't want to be around them but because there has always been the fear in me, the apprehension of being involved in issues and unfavorable circumstance that sometimes a social group can create. When I moved to Tauranga I was introduced to CFTi, a small Filipino community. It was not difficult to warm up with the people in the group, everyone was nice and

accommodating, I felt that I was a part of a family. A caring and a genuine one, not to mention fun and happy. These people have managed to run a steam roller down every barrier I have painstakingly put up over the last years. All my apprehensions and inhibitions were cancelled by the crazy beautiful relationships I have experienced over the months of being with them. I want to thank everyone in CFTi for being awesome, Kuya Nel and Ate Maricon for seeing the potential in me to help better the group, the previous and the present officers who have been working very hard to serve and make the group better. The Ate's and The Kuya's of the group who served as our guide, our co-members who became friends and the kids who give a special kind of energy and inspiration. CFTi certainly has been a very great venue for unity and camaraderie. I'm looking forward to more years with the family I have chosen for myself in this foreign country. Way to go CFTi.

There was a time when all I could think of was work, family, few friends, and party. Then it came the sudden realisation that the world is not perfect anymore. Reading and watching the news about the disastrous calamities that affected and claimed the lives of many Filipino men, women, the elderlies, and especially the children had woken me up from a deep sleep of not caring except to the people that I love and close to me. The on-going humanitarian hardship and suffering affected me in a big way where I can no longer pretend that everything is going to be ok. I had always been donating money to Salvation Army, the Red Cross, and other great charities but it felt this wasn’t enough. When I found out that a new Filipino Club was established to try and reach out to the Filipino community in Tauranga that was the time when I decided to join them and donate my time instead. I have realised that one person can do more when it is part of something big, together we can inspire and make a difference to people’s lives..

My part in the club is to recruit people who have the charisma, motivation, compassion, inspiration, care, and the passion to help people. I also help in the decision making and implementation of our social or fundraising events.

Thank you Club Filipino Tauranga and friends for giving me a chance to shine and to make the world a better place