Edmonton-Rhoda S.J. Abada is no stranger to undertakings of magnitudes and leading the Centennial Celebrations in Alberta and Northern Territories for a year long events and activities would be just another work for this indefatigable person. A long time volunteer and community worker in the local and national scenes, Rhoda Abada chaired the first ever Philippine Festival some ten years ago for the duration of six weeks in association with the City of Edmonton, bringing Philippine Heritage and Culture into the City of Edmonton and sorrounding areas. Through this festival by events and demonstrations of the Philippine Performing Arts, the Philippine Martial Arts, Arts Exhibitions, Woodworking, Food Fair and Religious Festivals like Flores de Mayo and even an authentic Nipa Hut in one of the pavilions of Muttart conservatory, the Philippine community has reached out to the community of Edmonton who have, through these efforts, developed an understanding of and respect of who we are as a community and as a vibrant part of this country's diverse society.
Co-Founder of four associations and one Council in Edmonton, President of two and Chairperson of two other organizations, Abada also served on Boards and directorships not only on Filipino Canadian organizations but with the mainstream and multicultural Canadian as well. She is currently on the Board of Directors of the Catholic Social Services. Her involvement in the development of the Filipino Canadian Community is not confined to the local and regional scenes. Abada has been Vice-President for eight years (4 terms) and now National Secretary of The National Council of Canadian Filipino Associations across Canada. Abada has earned the respect of her peers by working quietly and diligently, never to flaunt and " fan fare" every project done and achievement reached . "when you are a community volunteer or a part of any undertaking, you only feel good when you acknowledge that results of undertakings have been achieved as a team effort.", Abada would always say.
Always concerned with the respect and understanding of the diverse population of our society, Abada with a host of community members had facilitated Philippine Touring Cultural shows, promoting Philippine culture, customs and traditions. "We are citizens of Canada that allows us to celebrate our differences and we must build on this so other citizens will understand this country's diversity", Abada would emphasize. Through her efforts, the late Professor Felipe Padilla de Leon's Himig Ng Lahi came to Alberta three times. One of the Sopranos with Himig Ng Lahi, Leila Florentino continued on to play the lead role of Miss Saigon in Broadway after Lea Salonga. Also, Leila's sister, Lisa Florentino Kernan is an Opera Singer who had performed at Carnegie Hall and at Recitals in New York and operas in Portland Oregon. Albertans learned the history of Filipino music from the pre-historic Philippines to modern and Contemporary times. The famed University of the Philippines Madrigal singers headed by Ms. Iluminda Panlilio and two other groups of the Madrigal Singers brought music education and pleasure to Filipinos and Albertans alike. Opera singers Fides Santos Cuyugan Asencio and Jimmy Melendres with pianist Sonia Valencia brought surprises and awe and wonder to Filipinos and Canadians in Edmonton and Red Deer. The famous Baranggay Dance company would be in Alberta three times after their triumphant tour of Europe and the United States. Most recently, through Abada's guidance, the world wide famous Children's Choir and the Kontra Gapi (Gamelan), resident musicians of the University of the Philippines came with resounding success in Edmonton and Calgary.
Her other involvement with Philippine assistance included Consulting for a Twinning Project of the Home Economics Department of the University of Alberta and colleges and Universities in Negros Occidental, facilitating donations of disposable needles to hospitals in the Philippines. Most recently, the organization of Canadian Filipino Professional, Trade and Business Association with whom she is associated has initiated an annual project of donation of used eye glasses to the Philippines.
Abada publishes and edits The Philippine Canadian Times, a quarterly newsmagazine. Before this, she was a contributing writer of the Ethnic Review and was Bureau Chief for Alberta of The Philippine Chronicle., Vancouver.
Her awards included that from The Philippine General Consulate of Vancouver, The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa, the Red Cross, The Rotary Club of Bacolod City, the Secretary of State, Canada.
As Vice-President of Alberta of The National Council of Canadian Filipino Associations, Abada was on the national scene more often. She is now the National Secretary of the National Council. The President of the National Council, Salvador B. Cabugao, sums it all for her when he wrote to the National Centennial Commission in Manila and said, "no other person in Alberta (referring to Rhoda) has equalled her devotion and the length and depth of her community service. That Mr. Eddie Lee, Overall Coordinator of the Philippine Centennial Movement in Canada, has appointed Ms. Abada is testimony to the integrity and credibility of the process of selecting Chairpersons who are beyond reproach, honest, industrious and well loved by most members of the community."