15 September 2014 – Philippine Consul General Gina Jamoralin called on the Ilocano community in Hawaii to give solid support for the candidature of Vigan City in its campaign as one of the “New Seven Wonder Cities of the World.” During the 2nd Queen of Queens Coronation Ball organized by the “Annak Ti Batac International” held in downtown Honolulu, Consul General Jamoralin remarked in her inspirational speech that “The fact that majority of the Filipinos in Hawaii are Ilocanos should assure that Vigan City would get solid support not only from the Ilocano community but from all the Filipinos in Hawaii because Vigan City is not only the pride of the Ilocano region but also the pride of the whole Philippines.”
Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell was also invited as guest of honor as well as visiting Batac Mayor Jeffrey Nalupta and the Council Members of Batac, Ilocos Norte.
Mayor Caldwell in his speech praised the Filipinos for their “exceptional and friendly” hospitality especially during the Mayor’s visit to Vigan City early this year on the occasion Philippines-Hawaii Trade Mission to the Philippines which visited Vigan City.
Mayor Nalupta in his speech delivered in Ilocano dialect thanked and praised the Fiipino community in Hawaii for their scholarship assistance to poor students and charitable projects meant to help the underprivileged in his community.
The Philippine Consul General also took the opportunity to invite the Filipino community to participate in next year’s Ambassadors, Consuls General, Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTDT) which will be celebrating its 10th year anniversary. END