Sakada Offspring

Pam Henderson

Lucy Peros | All photos courtesy Hernderson ‘Ohana

Humility and good work ethics run deep through the veins of this month’s Sakada Offspring and her Sakada grandparents, Filomeno and Teresa Domingo and parents, Greg and Petra Peros.

Pam Henderson was born on December 27, 1974 in Wailuku, Hawai‘i. She attended Lāna‘i High and Elementary School, pre–fourth grade, Kahului School, fifth–eighth grade, and St. Anthony High School, ninth–twelfth grade.

Pam Henderson

Pam received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Political Science at the University of Portland. She received her Master Degree in Social Work at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and a Master of Science Degree in Management and Organizational Behavior from Benedictine University.

Pam’s husband, Corey Henderson is a U.S. Army retired Combat veteran with twenty years of service; currently employed as an instructor at the Department of Homeland Security Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. He also owns a personal fitness training business. Pam and Corey have two sons, Cole, seventh grade and Cameron, fourth grade. Both are in Beta Club in school and are active in travel football and soccer.

Pam has two siblings, Gregory “Jay” Peros and Peggy Andes. Jay is the General Manager of the Maui Beach Hotel on Maui. His wife Lorelle Peros is a Professor at the University of Hawai‘i, Maui College. She is the Department Chair of the Hospitality and Tourism Program. They have two sons: Jeremy, first year college at the University of California at Irvine. Jarred is in the eleventh grade at Maui High School.

Filomeno & Teresa Domingo
Filomeno’s Retirement Party with Grandchildren

Peggy Andes works for Hawai‘i Pacific Health as a Physician Recruiter. Her husband Paul Andes works in mortgage and finance. They have one son, Paxton who is in the seventh grade at Maryknoll School.

Pam worked as a Mental Health Therapist for over twenty-two years. Initially, she was working with teens and their families on O‘ahu. She then worked with the Department of Defense with service members and their families on various military installation posts throughout the country. Because Corey was in the military, they moved every two to three years as Corey was assigned to different duty stations. Pam has been working in private practice for nine years, first on O‘ahu, while Corey was stationed at Schofield Barracks prior to retirement, and currently in Savannah, Georgia.

Filomeno’s Retirement Party. (Front) Petra Peros, Teresa and Filomeno Domingo, Clara Domingo. (Back) Chris Domingo, Monica Domingo, Pacifico Domingo
Cameron, Pam, Cole, and Corey Henderson

Pam’s maternal grandparents, Filomeno Pascual and Teresa Domingo, came from Casili, Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. Filomeno was one of the thousands of Filipinos who came to Hawai‘i recruited to come and work on the sugar and pineapple plantations, known as the 1946 Sakadas. Like most of the Sakadas, he came to find a better life for himself and his young family he left behind.

Filomeno left the Philippines on board the S.S. Maunawili from Port Salomague, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. Brave, ambitious, determined and adventurous of a man, Filomeno left his young pregnant wife, Teresa Mandac Domingo and his four young children: Chris (9 years old), Clara (7 years old), Monica (5 years old), Petra (2 years old), and the late Pacifico was unborn yet. It must have been exceedingly difficult for Filomeno to leave such young family. It must have been hard for Teresa also to let him go but with the understanding of both, it was worth the sacrifices.

Filomeno landed at the Kahului Harbor after a month of rough ocean journey. Upon arrival, HC&S personnel transported Filomeno and the other Sakadas to Skill Village, a camp located in Pā‘ia. He lived with his brother, Juan Domingo for a while, then on his own with a friend, the late Catalino Delos Reyes. At HC&S, he worked as a harvester, sprayer (poisoned weeds) and finally as an irrigator until he retired in 1978 at age 65.

Corey, Cameron, Cole, and Pam Henderson
Cole, Corey, and Cameron Henderson

Although Filomeno only received a Grade 3 education and was unable to read and write proficiently in English, he was determined to learn. In fact, he was so determined he did not mind his good friends, Maximo Pacleb and Jose Paguirigan tutored him whenever they had time after work and on weekends. He also attended adult education in the evening. His writing and reading improved dramatically.

Filomeno was a very industrious man. His family in the Philippines was always on his mind. He worked part-time as a yardman in Kula together with his friend, the late Felix Agustin after work at HC&S. He sent the money he earned to his family in the Philippines. His wife Teresa was also a very thrifty, industrious and business minded type of a woman. She would use part of that money sent by Filomeno to buy rice field lands in Laoag. Rice produced from these lands helped support the family and a great supplement of the money sent by Filomeno from Hawai‘i. Filomeno was also self-sufficient. He had a garden with a variety of vegetables. He was a generous man. He shared his produce with his friends and neighbors.

Pam, Cameron, Cole, and Corey Henderson

In April 1967, Filomeno moved to a new home closer to Pā‘ia town. It was also around that same time that his family followed him to Hawai‘i. Chris arrived in April 1966, Monica and Petra arrived in December 1966, Teresa, Clara and Pacifico arrived in August 1967. In November 1976, they moved to Kahului, at West Hawai‘i Street. Unfortunately, Teresa passed away on January 5, 1997 and Filomeno passed away on April 25, 1999.

Filomeno and Teresa Domingo were blessed with five children. Chris, the oldest was married to Suzie Ranchero Domingo (both deceased). They have two children and four grandchildren. Their second child was Clara Domingo, single (deceased). Monica, their third child was married to David Domingo (deceased). Petra, their fourth child is married to Greg Peros. They have three children and five grandchildren. Their fifth child was Pacifico (deceased), married to Evelyn Reantillo Domingo. They have one child and two grandchildren.

Corey and Pam Henderson
Pam, Cole, Cameron and Corey Henderson

Monica, Petra, and the late Clara shared these heart-warming words about their Dad, Filomeno: Dad was a very loving Dad to us his children and especially to his grandchildren. He was very generous to them. He was thrifty, a good gardener, and a good barber. He was a Jack of all trades. He was able to do plumbing and fix things around the house that needed fixing or carpentry work. He was a strong-willed man but humble and meek. He was loyal to our mom and to us children especially when he left us back in the Philippines when we were children.

Pam also shared her reflection on her grandpa, Filomeno Domingo: The words that come to mind when I think of my grandfather are virtuous, humble, dedicated and assiduous. He was a quiet man. He expressed his love for his family through his hard work. Grandpa had an amazing work ethic, working out in the yard, fixing things, in his shed or tending to his garden. He was a man of faith. He prayed and read his bible every night. We truly love our grandpa and we missed him terribly.

Lucy Peros is a retired schoolteacher, having taught at St. Anthony Grade School and Waihe‘e Elementary School. Both of her late parents, Elpidio Cachero Cabalo (a 1946 Sakada) and Alejandra Cabudoy Cabalo of Hāli‘imaile, worked for Maui Land and Pine Company. Lucy now enjoys retirement and has time to join other seniors in the Enhance Fitness Program under the Department of Aging three times a week. She also attends the line dancing class and other activities at Kaunoa Senior Center and joins other Waihe‘e School retirees when help is needed at the school. Lucy also devotes some of her time to activities at Christ The King Catholic Church. She enjoys writing and reading in her spare time.