Compiled by Assistant Editor Alfredo G. Evangelista. Send your community briefs to info@filamvoicemaui.com.
Binhi At Ani
Celebrate your special events at Binhi at Ani Filipino Community Center. The Center can be rented on Mondays through Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. for $1,400 (which includes the cleaning fee) plus GET and a $500 security deposit or from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. for $1,200 (which includes the cleaning fee) plus GET and a $500 security deposit.
On Sundays, the Center can be rented from 1:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. for $1,050 (which includes the cleaning fee) plus GET and a $500 security deposit.
If alcohol is provided and/or served, there is an additional fee of $300 and you must hire two licensed bartenders.
If alcohol is BYOB or placed in coolers, there is an additional fee of $500.
The office is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays by appointment only. Telephone (808) 877-7880.
A Bayanihan Christmas: Aggie Cabebe Scholarship Fundraiser was held on December 21. The event is held to honor the legacy of the late Agrifina “Aggie” Cabebe, a trailblazer in Maui’s Filipino community who was known for her pioneer efforts in promoting the Bayanihan Spirit and preserving the Filipino culture. Cabebe was the first president of Binhi at Ani and known as the “Mother of Filipino Folk Dance” on Maui. The net proceeds from the event fund the Agrifina Cabebe/Binhi at Ani Scholarship. To date, eight scholars have received a total of $16,000. Hedy Udarbe was presented the “Promoting the Bayanihan Spirit Award” by Binhi at Ani. Udarbe volunteers not only for Binhi at Ani but also for her church, senior citizens and other organizations. Udarbe’s continuous volunteer leadership helps to sustain and improve Maui’s Filipino community.
Bayanihan Feeding Program provides a Sunday lunch to Hale Mahaolu Residents in Central Maui (Hale Mahaolu Elua and Hale Mahaolu Akahi) and Maui Adult Day Care.
Through November 30, 2025, a total of 40,407 lunches have been distributed.
Teams serving during the month of November 2025 include Central Pacific Bank, Confederation International Association of Samahang Ilocano Group, Maui County Federal Credit Union, Philippine Nurses Association Maui Hawai‘i and Seventh Day Adventist (Kīhei and Lahaina).
There is a need for additional teams of volunteers to prepare the free lunches. Create a Team by contacting Melen Agcolicol at (808) 205-7981. Tax-deductible donations are accepted via Paypal or a Credit/Debit card or by mailing a check payable to Binhi at Ani, 780 Onehe‘e Avenue, Kahului, HI 96732 [Memo: Feeding Program].
The Bayanihan Feeding Program is a partnership with Maui Food Bank and is supported by grants from Bayer Crop Science Hawai‘i and Nareit Hawai‘i.
Enhance®Fitness for Kupuna at Binhi at Ani Filipino Community Center classes are continuing. Offered in partnership with the County of Maui, Office on Aging, classes are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6:15 a.m. to 7:15 a.m.; from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.; from 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Enhance®Fitness is an exercise program for those over 50 years of age that improves cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility and balance. Since July 2022 and through May 2025, there have been 944 classes with seventy-five participants. For more information on Enhance®Fitness, contact Enhance®Fitness Coordinator Ginny Kiick (808) 280-6251 or gkiick@hotmail.com or Wellness Coordinator Claudettte Medeiros (808) 463-3166 or claudette.b.medeiros@co.maui.hi.us.
Maui Filipino Community Council and Maui Filipino Community Council Foundation
The Maui Filipino Community Council and the Maui Filipino Community Council Foundation will present the Dr. José P. Rizal Leadership Awards on January 10, 2026 at the Maui Beach Hotel Ballroom, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The event will honor individuals who exemplify the courage, intellect and compassion of the Philippines’ national hero, Dr. José P. Rizal. Beyond celebrating leadership, the evening serves as a fundraiser for the MFCC Foundation, a Hawai‘i nonprofit corporation with a 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, dedicated to providing scholarships for deserving high school graduates pursuing higher education.
The honorees represent a diverse cross-section of excellence in Maui’s Filipino community. Distinguished Service: Tante Urban; Outstanding Citizen: Nestor Ugale, Jr.; Outstanding Youth: Angel Alba; Outstanding Member: Perlita Manlansing; Excellence in the Arts: Lance Collins, Ph.D.; Excellence in Education: Sydney Villegas, Ph.D.; Excellence in Medicine: Dr. Gloria Rongcal Gage; Excellence in Literature & Media: Vince G. Bagoyo, Jr. and Excellence in Science: Alvin “Kai” Pelayo.
“By honoring these nine remarkable leaders, we not only celebrate the legacy of Dr. José Rizal but also invest in the next generation of visionaries through our scholarship program,” said Madelyne Pascua, MFCC President. In addition to the awards ceremony, the evening will feature a Filipiniana Attire Gala and the formal installation of the 2026 MFCC Board of Directors.
The MFCC Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Filipino heritage, fostering community leadership, and supporting educational advancement for students on Maui. Through cultural events and advocacy, the Maui Filipino Community Council strives to empower the Filipino community and contribute to the vibrant diversity of Maui County. For further information, contact CJ Ancheta at corncheta@gmail.com.
