26 August 2014 – Philippine Consul General in Honolulu Gina A. Jamoralin was the guest speaker at the 27th Statewide Convention and the 7th Biennial Lapu-Lapu Awards Gala of the Congress of Visayan Organizations (COVO) held on August 16 at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu, and urged the Filipino community in Hawaii to “take pride in your Filipino heritage and strive for unity in your diversity”.
Speaking to a crowd of about 300 individuals, Consul General Jamoralin in her remarks said, “When we are united, we become a strong community. We are empowered and are able to use our power as a community to effect change that would benefit us.”
She also commended the COVO, the umbrella of Visayan organizations in the State of Hawaii, for being inclusive of all Visayan organizations, while maintaining close ties with other groups. She expressed appreciation for COVO’s efforts in raising millions of dollars to help the victims of Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan which struck the Visayas in November 2013.
Distinguished guests during the COVO Convention include US Senator Mazie Hirono, State Representative and Democratic nominee for US Representative representing Hawaii’s 1st Distict Mark Takai, and Hawaii Vice Speaker John Mizuno.
Founded in 1985, COVO has about 15 organizations from Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Lanai and the Big Island representing the Visayas and Mindanao. Its goals are to unite all Visayan organizations in Hawaii, preserve and promote the Visayan language and culture, and assist in the socio-economic uplift of Filipinos, particularly those of Visayan ancestry.
Because of its active involvement in the community and its relevant projects and activities, COVO received the Presidential Award (Banaag) for outstanding Filipino organizations overseas from President Benigno S. Aquino III in 2010. END