THE ACUSA HISTORY

The Antique Circle USA was founded in San Diego, California in November,1991 when a number of members of the, then, premier organization of Antiqueños in America, the Antique Association of Southern California (AASC), decided to chart a course different from that of its 'mother' organization. (By then, the AASC had been in existence for 18 years.) The following year, on January 22, 1992, the first organizational meeting of the ACUSA was held. Both of these historic events took place at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Angel (nee Nena Omagad from Sibalom, Antique) Rodriguez in Del Mar county in California. 

On April 18, 1992, the ACUSA held its first formal installation of officers and anniversary ball at the Holiday Inn in Long Beach. This event was highly successful. Approximately 300 guests attended, many coming from San Francisco and as far as Canada. From then on, the founding anniversary  became an annual, very much eagerly awaited gathering of Antiqueños in North America. 

Mrs. Rosario Martinez-Nietes served as ACUSA's first president and founding president. She served two consecutive 2-year terms, from 1991 to 1994, marked by so many 'firsts' for the ACUSA. Mrs. Nietes or "Manang Charing" hailed from San Jose de Buenavista, Antique and was married to the late Epetacio Nietes. She was in the teaching profession for many years. She is currently living in Long Beach, California. Photo: Rosario Nietes

Mr. Francis Estaris served as ACUSA's second president. Prior to being ACUSA's president, he served as the Vice-President for Internal Affairs and Auditor of the AASC. Like Manang Charing, he also served two consecutive 2-year terms, this time from 1994 to 1997. Francis hailed from Culasi, Antique and is married to Dalisay (Dolly) Moscoso-Estaris of Mati, Davao Oriental. They have two children, namely, Earl and Greg. Francis is in the accounting profession, serving for many years as the Comptroller of a prominent corporation. Lately, he has also entered the real-estate business in the high-end market around Los Angeles and its suburbs. His family resides in Orange county, California. Photo: Francis Estaris

The third president of the ACUSA is Felizardo 'Fel' Moscoso. He also once served as the AASC Recording Secretary. He is now serving the last year of his two 2-year term - the next ACUSA presidential election is scheduled in November, 2001. Fel hailed from Barangay (Barrio) San Pedro, San Jose de Buenavista, Antique and is married to Herminia 'Hermie' Yuching-Moscoso of Bicol. Fel is a former teacher of the Antique National School in the Philippines. He practices the same profession here in America. Fel and Hermie currently reside in San Diego, California. Photo: Felizardo Moscoso

QUIRICO M. ESCAÑO is the fourth president of the ACUSA. Rics (the sobriquet which he acquired here in America) was born in Patnongon, Antique, Philippines on June 16, 1924. While he was pursuing his high school education, the Philippines was unwillingly drawn into the vortex of World War II. As a result, his high school education was abruptly interrupted. At the very young age of eighteen, he was already imbued with a high sense of patriotism. Thus, for the love of country and in the noble aspiration to defend freedom and democracy, he put his life on the line by joining the guerilla forces in 1943 to fight the well-equipped occupying Japanese forces. He was assigned as S-2 in the 3rd Battalion, 65th Infantry Regiment ”6th” Military District in Panay Island. He passed the crucible as a guerilla fighter and survived the horrors and perils of war. His services in the guerilla forces ended in 1945 when the Philippines was liberated by the American Forces under the superb command of the legendary General Douglas MacArthur. “Rics” came out of the war a wiser man. He kept this resolve to do better in life by resuming his high school education. He graduated from the Antique High School (now Antique National School) in 1947. Upon graduation from high school, he enrolled in the College of Dentistry at the National University in Manila and graduated there with the degree of Doctor of Dental Medicine in 1953. He passed the dental board examination and immediately thereafter he returned to his hometown in Patnongon and in San Jose, Antique to practice dental medicine. He became successful in the practice of his profession and in due course earned the respect and admiration of his townspeople. Before long, he succumb to the urges of his friends, relatives and numerous patients to seek the public office. He ran for Vice-Mayor and was elected and served as Vice-Mayor of the municipality of Patnongon for two terms. The political bigwigs of the Province of Antique took notice of the popularity of the rising political star of Patnongon. Consequently, he ran as member of the Provincial Board of Antique in the 1963 election as an independent candidate and launched a novel campaign by riding a bicycle practically the entire stretch of Antique from south to north. He literally pedaled his way to victory in that election and served as member of the Provincial Board of Antique from 1964 to 1967. Since the beginning, he opposed the Martial Law rule imposed by President Marcos. His abhorrence to the continued imposition of Martial Law in the Philippines impelled him to immigrate to the United States in 1977, taking advantage of the old U.S. law which allowed citizenship to recognized Filipino guerillas who desire to become U.S. citizens during the U.S. liberation of the Philippines from the occupying Japanese forces. He came to the United States in 1977, wasted no time and started to work as Dental X-ray and Laboratory Specialist in Lynwood, CA from 1977 to 1984. Later, he became an instructor, Dental Assisting and Laboratory at Southfield College in Gardena. Then, he worked as a part-time Dental X-ray & Laboratory Specialist in Long Beach from 1987-1989. A man of Ric's character will not sulk in the corner. He became active as officer and/or member of several Filipino-American associations of Southern California since 1977 up to the present. From 1992 to the present, he has been the chairman, Commission of Elections of Filipino Community of Los Angeles, Harbor area and Wilmington, CA. There was even one instance in the past when he was a member, officer or president of more than ten organizations all at the same time! He is now enjoying his retirement years by dancing his way in almost all dancing affairs of Filipino-Americans here in Southern California. He is happily married to Inday Salud Regoniel who retired as a school teacher of Patnongon, Antique. She continued her education in Long Beach City College and eventually was employed to teach in Long Beach Unified School District. They have seven children who are all professionals. According to Rics, dancing is like a balm that relieves the body of pains, lifts the spirit and inspires him to go on living, refusing to surrender to the onrush of old age. Rics is also the father of the ACUSA constitution.

Related Link: United Antiqueños of Northern California

BACK TO ACUSA HOME