PH Consulate General Lauds Heroism of Hawaii’s Foreign Fishermen, Hawaii Seafarers Ministry

Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu Consul Grace Anne G. Bulos addresses the foreign fishermen and volunteers of the Hawaii Seafarers Ministry. (Honolulu PCG photo)

HONOLULU 19 September 2019 — The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, represented by Consul Grace Anne G. Bulos, Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) Officer Rodel Tejada, and Protocol and Community Relations Officer Joel C. Bulos, graced the Hawaii Seafarers Ministry inaugural Volunteers Appreciation Night on 30 August 2019 at Honolulu’s Pier 36. 

In her address to the foreign fishermen and volunteers, Consul Bulos mentioned how ATN is one of the core functions of the Consulate General, and expressed her appreciation to the many volunteers who share their time, talent and treasure with the foreign fishermen who ply Hawaii’s oceans. 

With overseas Filipino workers dubbed as the Philippines’ modern day heroes, Consul Bulos said that the Volunteers Appreciation Night is a gathering of heroes.  “Whether you are here as a fisherman or a volunteer, you are all heroes. The noteworthy work of the Hawaii Seafarers Ministry and the sacrifices of our fishermen helps bring out the hero in all of us,” she said. The Consul even proposed that the occasion be renamed Heroes Appreciation Night, instead of Volunteers Night.

Pastor Jerry Saludez of the Waipio Community Baptist Church spearheads the Hawaii Seafarers Ministry, which marks its fifth anniversary this September.  The Ministry is an important partner of the Consulate General in attending to the welfare of the Filipino fishermen in Hawaii.  It holds weekly Bible study sessions for the fishermen, conducts free medical missions, and gives donations of clothes, tools, vegetables and personal items.

An estimated 90 percent of the more than 300 foreign fishermen working in Hawaii’s long-line fishing industry are Filipinos.  The others are nationals of Vietnam, Indonesia and Polynesian Islands.  END

Pastor Jerry Saludez shares his stories of how the Hawaii Seafarers Ministry and the foreign seafarers have been blessings to each other through the years. (Honolulu PCG photo)

For more information, visit  https://www.honolulupcg.dfa.gov.ph, or https://www.facebook.com/PHinHonolulu/.