Community… in action

Editor’s note: Send your community briefs to info@filamvoice.com. This month’s column was compiled by Alfredo G. Evangelista.

Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Preparations are underway for the celebration of the month of October as Filipino-American History Month (Act 15, 2008). The Philippine Flag Raising Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, October 1 at 10 a.m. at the County Building.

The Philippine Flag will fly at the County Building for the whole month of October. Maui is the only County in Hawai‘i that celebrates Filipino-American History Month in this fashion. The 2019 Maui Fil-Am Heritage Festival® will be held on Saturday, October 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center. Aside from Filipino restaurants selling Filipino foods and Maui businesses promoting their services, the Festival will present back to back entertainment featuring Filipino folk dances, songs, and music. Plus the following popular activities will return: The Master P-Noy Chef Cook-Off®, The Speedy Balut Eating Contest®, The Pinoy Artist Contest®, The Any Kine Adobo® Contest, The We Got History Exhibit®, The Oh Wow! Parol Making Contest®, The Polvoron Challenge: Eat & Tweet®, Pabitin at the Fest!, and Your Name in Baybayin.

The planning committee is chaired by Melen Agcolicol (telephone 205-7981). Please contact her if you want to be a food vendor or sponsor or if you want to be involved in the planning committee.

Maui Filipino Community Council

The Annual Meeting of the Maui Filipino Community Council will be held on December 14 at 11:30 a.m. at Binhi at Ani Conference Room. A new president will be elected as current president Marilyn Oura is term limited. The nominations committee is led by Elmer Tolentino (telephone 283-8145) and Greg Peros (telephone 276-8771).

The 2019 Rizal Day celebration will be held on December 28 at Binhi at Ani. The program is expected to begin at 6 p.m. Included in the program will be the installation of the new Board of Directors as well as Maria Clara and Bar-ong Tagalog contests.

Miss Hawai‘i Filipina Pageant

60th Miss Maui Filipina Mary Grace Basig will be competing for the title of Miss Hawai‘i Filipina 2019 along with Isabel Gampon of Kaua‘i, Nicole Kawahara of O‘ahu and Sarah Barry of Hawai‘i Island. Our very own Miss Hawai‘i Filipina 2018–19, Joylene Nina Tabon will be giving up her title as Queen at that pageant. The Fil-Am Voice wishes Mary Grace best wishes, good luck and Mabuhay!

The 60th Annual Miss Hawai‘i Filipina Pageant will be held on Saturday, July 27 at Kaua‘i Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e, Kaua‘i. The program will start at 7 p.m. Tickets for the Pageant are $25. Representing Maui as the 2019 Miss Maui Filipina is Mary Grace Basig, who was crowned Miss Maui Filipina on June 29. Basig, who won the Terno Speech, Pre-Pageant Interview, and Swimsuit phases in the Miss Maui Filipina Pageant, will attempt to be the sixth-in-a-row Miss Maui Filipina to win the Miss Hawai‘i Filipina crown.

Tante & Araceli urban Foundation

The 1st Annual Tante’s Maui Doubles Tennis Classic Fundraising Tournament will be held on August 31 and September 1 at the Wells Park Tennis Courts from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day. (If needed, the tournament will continue on September 2). The Tournament is sponsored by the Tante & Araceli Urban Foundation, Wailuku Junior Tennis Club, and the County of Maui. Events will include Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Doubles (6.0/7.0/8.0/9.0 Combined levels). The deadline is Tuesday, August 20 at 6 p.m. with a suggested donation of $60 for one or two events. A Silent Auction will be held on August 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the Players Appreciation Kaukau held on September 1 at 6 p.m. Proceeds from the Tournament will help fund the Foundation’s scholarship programs.


United Filipino Council of Hawaii

The 60th Annual Convention of the United Filipino Council of Hawai‘i, of which Maui Filipino Community Council is an island council member, will be held from Friday, July 26 through Sunday, July 28 at Kaua‘i Beach Resort. Elections will be held on Sunday morning. The current UFCH president Leo Gozar from O‘ahu is expected to run for re-election. Nominations will be accepted from the floor.

Disclosures: Alfredo G. Evangelista is Legal Counsel for the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce Foundation and created the Maui Fil-Am Heritage Festival®. He is also Legal Counsel for the Tante & Araceli Urban Foundation. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the Maui Filipino Community Council (1975-1976) and the Board of Governors of the United Filipino Council of Hawai‘i (1992–1994). His niece Mary Grace Basig is the current Miss Maui Filipina.