The man of all seasons !!!

 
By Romy Zetazate
Toronto-Canada
August 21, 2018
 


It has been for quite sometime that I together with long time friends were talking about Filipinos in our community who may excel in some of his volunteer works not only here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, but even during his time in the Philippines.We have picked Joaquin (Jojo) T. Taduran, Jr. who has been around specificaly in majority of the Filipino events in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

We remember him a few years ago while supporting and helping the husband and wife team of Ramon and Teresa Torralba at the Dundas Square in downtown Toronto, Ontario. He was also very visible at the Pillars Seniors Association and the Silayan Community Centre, Ancop, Philippine Canadian Community Association, and other events specifically those supported by the Philippine Consul General's Office of Toronto, and among others.

Taduran was trained by his late uncle, Col. Edmundo Naldo Isaac, to write while the put-up a newspaper in Iriga City which was the Bicol Midweek whose editor was the late Ben Hur Salcedo, a professor in the University of Nueva Caceres and eventually became an Undersecretary of Energy in the Philippines. When his uncle, Col. Isaac, went to Manila to teach at the Manuel Luis Quezon University, Bicol Midweek community newspaper stop circulating and then he was taken in by the late Ramon S. Tolaram, then the publisher-editor of the Naga Times in Naga City. After 3 years he decided to work in Mindanao and then in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.

He learned the art of public service from his Godfather, the late Camarines Sur Rep. Felix A. Fuentebella and his uncle, the late  Camarines Sur  Governor Felix O. Alfelor, Sr.

Taduran used to write with the defunct Manila Chronicle through Chronicle News Service with the late Rey Jaleco who became the President of the National Press Club then the Philippines Herald with his editors namely Tony Partido, Nemesio Dacanay, and Tony Nieva. While in the Evening News his editors include Neal Cruz, Charlie Castaneda, and Gabby Manalac Pace Magazine. He also joined the Philippine Graphic Magazine during the editorship of the late Lawyer Manuel Almario and with big boss editor-in-chief Nick Joaquin,

When Martial Law was declared, he joined the Media National Production Center which now called Philippine Information Agency and produced a nationwide radio program.

At 76, Taduran is still very active although he slow down because he jokingly said that he is no longer a "SPRING CHICKEN."

(St. Jamestown News Service)********