Lone candidate Prospero Lim is a shoo-in for PIDCI presidency

An enduring presence in the community: from Knights of Rizal to medical missions. Photo by Violeta Manarang-McGough

Staten Island psychiatrist Prospero Lim is almost certain to be elected president of the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI), but until votes are cast and counted on October 3, nothing is final.

Lim is the lone candidate for the position after accountant Albert Diala withdrew from the race because, he said, his mother’s health requires his “close and full attention.”

“It is with deep regret that I inform you all of my decision to withdraw my candidacy for the presidency of the PIDCI,” Diala said in a September 15 Facebook message to his followers. “This is not an easy decision for me to make but recent family events have forced me to do so. My mother’s health has recently turned precarious and will, of course, require my close and full attention and time that will inevitably affect an effective campaign on my part for the PIDCI presidency.”

Another potential candidate, Angie Molina, flirted with the idea of becoming president but did not pursue it seriously.

Lim, 73, is currently the vice president of PIDCI. He joined the organization in 2012 as Grand Marshal. He rose to become vice president in 2014 and is likely to succeed three-term President Fe Martinez. Although retired since 2006 from his position as director of psychiatry at Cumberland Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Brooklyn, Lim continues his private practice in Staten Island.

He is an enduring presence in the community, having led organizations, such as the Philippine Medical Association in America, the Knights of Rizal, and the Katbaloganon Association, USA, just to name some of his affiliations. He is known to organize medical missions to the Philippines.

Diala and Molina are currently members of the board. The composition of the board will change depending on who gets elected on October 3. So far, there are 10 candidates vying for seven seats, according to PIDCI Elections Committee Chair Raul Estrellado.

Estrellado identified the candidates as Sofia Abad (Past Over-all Chair PIDC 1994), Joycelyn Aligarbes (President, The Filipino Ladies Development), Olivia David (President, Tarlaquenos, USA), Rely Manacay (President Cagayan De Oro-Misamis Oriental New York, Inc.), Beth Manalo (President, Carinosa, USA), Ronie Mataquel (President, Unified Federation of Fil-Am Educators), Violeta McGough (President, JASHS ’78 USA), Fernando Mendez (President, Philippine Fiesta USA), Edilberto Olimpo (Past President, Philippine-American Civic and Cultural Community of Staten Island) and Shiran Ybanez (Charter President, Cebuanos Engaging in Building Unity).

The PIDCI elections are scheduled at the Philippine Center on October 3, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. PIDCI organizes the annual Philippine Independence Day parade on Madison Avenue.