Marieta Lamar: Finding fulfillment on her own terms

By Cristina DC Pastor

Marieta Lamar, the exiting president of the Pan American Concerned Citizens Action League (PACCAL), is ending her term on a high note.

While modest about her accomplishments, she said her presidency followed through on the PACCAL mandate of assisting seniors, veterans and indigent Filipinos with services as envisioned by its founders and pioneers Linda Mayo and the late Col. Mariano Aureus.

“I just continued what had been started like helping veterans and seniors apply for housing, medical checkups, voter registration,” she said when interviewed by The FilAm. “We helped people get social security benefits, food vouchers, access to educational workshops and fitness activities.”

She said, “PACCAL holds the distinction of being the only charity with a yearly grant from the Hudson County for our ongoing program. We have an office at 380 Monmouth Avenue, Jersey City in New Jersey.”

She spoke how after two years (2022-2024) as the sixth president of the organization that originated in Jersey City, she managed to streamline some of the group’s operations and how she stood her ground on financial transparency.

“For the first time, we joined PIDCI (Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc.),” she declared.  

As a member of PIDCI,  PACCAL gets to be part of an influential not-for-profit umbrella association that organizes the yearly Philippine Independence Day Parade on Madison Avenue. PACCAL gets to elect the officers who will call the shots for the biggest Independence Day gathering outside of Manila. The famed event is attended by an estimated 25,000 people assembled in Manhattan yearly. Joining PIDCI is certain to give PACCAL greater visibility across the Tri-State.

A true Staten Islander

The Majayjay, Laguna-born Marieta came to the United States in April 15, 1972. The slender, young bride of 24

left her family – parents and siblings —  to join her husband who had settled in Staten Island. She never left New York City.  

Her husband Timi Tala-Tala, a CPA who had worked in a large bank, had arrived three years prior.  The family stayed put in the “Forgotten Borough” long after being blessed with two children, Carol French and Robert Tala-Tala, and three grandchildren.

“Our house now has five bedrooms, we just kept adding and expanding over the years,” she said.

Timi passed away from a stroke, and Marieta had been widowed more than a decade. She still lives in the same family house with her son, Robert, a police officer at Staten Island, and his family. Her daughter Carol Tala-Tala French lives with her Irish American husband in Manhattan.

She is the youngest in a family of four siblings. Her father was in the construction business and her mother stayed home to look after the children.

A ‘close friend’

This vivacious gal is not exactly companionless. She is often seen at gatherings finely dressed with prominent doctor, poet and arts enthusiast Lestrino Baquiran.

“He’s a close friend,” she said of a friendship that has endured nine years. “We were on a medical mission in Laoag 12 years ago when we first met.”

Marieta worked as a health care administrator for 39 years at a company called AdvantageCare Physicians of Staten Island. She was hired with a bachelor’s degree in Education major in Mathematics but was trained to be a medical assistant. She went up the ranks, stayed with the company until she had reached senior executive status and had a part-time job as medical analyst for Staten Island Hospital North. She has been in the real estate business, investing in properties in Manhattan and Staten Island.

“Looking back since I was a working professional until retirement, I worked hard to supplement the family income. I managed a consignment business and other investments which enabled me to acquire income-producing property,” she added.

“I also attribute my ability to remain strong even during stressful times to my fervent faith in God,” she said. She has been active in church-based organizations such as the Lord’s Flock Prayer Group and the San Lorenzo Ruiz Organization and Ecumenical Group.

In prior years, she was a frequent beauty titlist for married FilAm women. Mrs. PAFCOM 2010; Mrs. Binibining Pilipinas 2014 of PACCAL; Mrs. Glambassador of Friends Indeed were just some of her pageant honors.

With nonchalance, she said, “We were young and beautiful, why not?” More laughter from this woman described by friends as one who knows how to live her life in style. “We are older now but still beautiful.”

“I’m a happy person and funny,” she said. “My friends say they’re happy when they see me. What can I say? It’s in the genes.”