LATHROP – Lathrop Mayor Sonny Dhaliwal was the installing officer at the annual general membership and election of officers of the United Bacarreneos of America.

The event, which was preceded by the organization’s potluck picnic, was held at the Manuel Valverde Park on Fifth Street.

The new officers installed were Gerry Cid of Redwood City, president; Lou Acoba of San Jose, vice president; Emerson Castillo of Manteca, secretary; assistant secretary, Lydia Castillo of Manteca; Andrea Vallesteros of Lathrop, treasurer; and Marcelina Tacotaco, assistant treasurer, of Lathrop. Members of the incoming board of directors were installed along with the new officers.

The outgoing president is Nerie Acosta of Lathrop. Emerson Castillo and Vallesteros are reprising their former posts.

One of the agenda items discussed involved the possibility of sponsoring the mayor of Lathrop to visit the town of Bacarra as part of the cultural exchange between the two sister cities. The municipality of Bacarra in northern Philippines and the city of Lathrop became sister cities about a decade ago.

In addition to the awarding of scholarships to selected high school seniors going to college, the UBA organization also provides monetary donations to the families of deceased members.