COMMUNITY… IN ACTION

Editor’s note: We start a new column this month which features brief news from Maui’s Filipino community organizations. Send your community briefs to info@filamvoice.com. This month’s column is compiled by Alfredo G. Evangelista.

Bahay Kubo Heritage Foundation

The Foundation reports that last August’s fundraiser netted over $10,000. Mahalo to all those who participated and raised the funds. The Foundation is waiting for approval from the County Council to accept its donation to rehabilitate the Bahay Kubo at Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens.
In the interim, the Foundation is soliciting donations to help defray the costs of the original Bahay Kubo painting by reknowned artist Philip Sabado, which will be displayed at the Binhi at Ani Filipino Community Center. For a minimum $200 tax deductible donation received by May 1, 2018, your name (or your entity’s name) will be included in a permanent plaque.
Mail your donations to Bahay Kubo Heritage Foundation, c/o Zaldy Ugalino, President, 3274 Akala Drive, Kīhei, HI 96753. The painting will be unveiled at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 26 during the 49th Annual Barrio Fiesta.

Binhi at Ani Filipino Community Center

The Center is in the midst of preparations of the 49th Annual Barrio Fiesta, to be held at Binhi at Ani Filipino Community Center in Kahului on Friday, May 25 (from 5 p.m. through 10 p.m.) and Saturday, May 26 (from 10 a.m. through 10 p.m.).

Many fan favorities will return such as the food, cultural entertainment, and pageantry—a new Miss Barrio Fiesta will be crowned and the Little Miss Barrio Fiesta pageant will also be held on Friday night. The highly successful Barrio Fiesta Experience consisting of villages and sponsor tables will again be housed inside the Center.

The program is packed with activities for kids and adults: Pabitin, Zumba, Barrio wear contest, Greased Pole contest, Keiki Art Party, the International Housekeeping Awards, and Amateur Karaoke contest.

Returning this year is the Santa Cruzan on Friday night. New items on the program this year are Da Pansit Eating Contest sponsored by RG Electric, the Any Kine Sisig Challenge sponsored by Tante’s Island Grill, and the TFC Hour sponsored by The Filipino Channel. And yes, you don’t want to miss a chance for a free drawing for airfare to the Philippines courtesy Philippine Airlines.

Graduating high school seniors are reminded of the May 1, 2018 deadline to submit your scholarship application, which can be downloaded at www.binhiatani.org.
For more information on the Barrio Fiesta, visit www.facebook.com/BarrioFiestaMaui. #barriofiestamaui2018

Dance International Foundation

The Foundation is in the midst of preparing for its annual Mrs. Ambassador of Culture fundraiser, which will be held on Sunday, May 6, at the Binhi at Ani Filipino Community Center. The admission fee of $25 includes dinner at 6 p.m., followed by an evening of pageantry.

From July 18–23, the Foundation and WEKAF Hawai‘i will play host to the Unity in Diversity: Honoring Hawai‘i’s International Culture and Arts and 15th World Escrima Kali Arnis Federation Championships at the Lahaina Civic Center. The cultural displays, international performances and dance lessons will feature and honor Hawai‘i’s immigrants and plantation legacy. The WEKAF championships will include Forms, Padded Stick, Padded Daga, Single Stick, and Double Stick. For more information, contact Madelyne Pascua at 268-0686.

Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce/Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce Foundation

The Chamber is preparing for its Annual Gintong Pamana Leadership and Scholarship Awards Banquet which will be held on Wednesday, June 13 at the Maui Beach Hotel, at 5:30 p.m. According to Chamber president Jorge Tirona, nominations were extended until April 21. Sponsorship information and dinner tickets may be obtained from Event Chairperson Elsa Segal at (808) 276-6946 or Event Co-Chairperson Jeanice Paa at (808) 357-2303.

The Foundation’s Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, April 21 at The Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course. The net proceeds from the golf tournament will fund the Foundation’s annual scholarship programs. The Foundation’s scholarship recipients will be presented at the Chamber’s Gintong Pamana. While the Golf Tournament is expected to be a sell-out, you may contact Bill Ruidas, Golf Tournament Chairperson at (808) 873-8605 or Alfredo Evangelista, Co-chairperson at (808) 242-8100, for more information.

Maui Filipino Community Council

The Council announced a new date (June 30) for the 2018 Miss Maui Filipina Scholarship Pageant at Wailea Marriott. The Miss Maui Filipina pageant is the longest runing pageant on Maui and in its 59th year and will feature six contestants this year. Pageant tickets (no dinner) cost at $30 presale, $35 at the door. Contact Event chairpersons Michelle Santos at 264-0871 and Dolores Perreira at 283-1605 for more information.

Disclosures: Alfredo G. Evangelista is Legal Counsel for the Bahay Kubo Heritage Foundation and the Dance International Foundation. He is the Golf Tournament Co-Chairperson for the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce Foundation, for which he previously served as Legal Counsel (2011–2017). He is also chairperson for The Barrio Fiesta Experience and previously served on the Board of Directors of the Maui Filipino Community Council (1975–1976).