CFO Secretary Visits Honolulu for Ugnayan sa Hawaii

Commission on Filipinos Overseas Chairperson Francisco P. Acosta (left) with Hawaii Lt. Gov. Josh Green (right) at the Hawaii State Capitol. (Honolulu PCG photo)

HONOLULU 29 October 2019 — Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Chairperson and former Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals Secretary Francisco P. Acosta went to Honolulu for the CFO’s Ugnayan sa Hawaii from 20 to 27 October 2019.

The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, led by Consul General Joselito A. Jimeno, organized a series of engagements for the Secretary’s week-long visit including meetings with Filipino community leaders, Filipino-American students and young professionals, government officials, as well as members of the media.

On 21 October 2019, Secretary Acosta and his delegation—composed of Head Executive Assistant of the Secretary and Legal Counsel Atty. Xerxes E. Cortel, Chief of Staff and Head of Communications and Media Michelle Dawn C. Bande, Supervising Emigrant Services Officer and  Point Person for the Interagency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) Janet B. Ramos, and Senior Emigrant Services Officer, PESO Sense Officer, and Social Media Head Warner A. Dawal—called on Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Josh Green, who represented Governor David Ige who was out of the country.  Accompanying the CFO officials were Consul General Jimeno and Deputy Consul General Angelica C. Escalona.

The Lieutenant Governor warmly received Secretary Acosta, while the latter thanked him for Hawaii’s support to the Filipino community. Both officials agreed to work on matters of mutual benefit to the peoples of the Philippines and Hawaii.

The Ugnayan sa Hawaii is the second leg of the CFO’s series of Ugnayan missions to the United States for dialogues and consultations with Filipino communities and other stakeholders who play a role in promoting the welfare and well-being of overseas Filipinos.

According to the US Census Bureau, the total population of Hawaii in 2017 was 1,421,658.  Filipinos and those of Filipino descent are estimated at 355,000 or 25 percent of the total population, making the Filipino community the second largest migrant group in the State. END 

From left: Protocol Officer Joel Bulos, Mr. Warner A. Dawal, Atty. Xerxes E. Cortel, Consul General Joselito A. Jimeno, Secretary Francisco P. Acosta, Hawaii Lt. Gov. Josh Green, Deputy Consul General Angelica C. Escalona, Ms. Michelle Dawn C. Bande, and Ms. Janet B. Ramos. (Honolulu PCG photo)

Secretary Acosta and the CFO delegation with Consul General Jimeno and Deputy Consul General Escalona during the call on Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Josh Green. (Honolulu PCG photo)

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