13 October 2014 - More than 400 individuals comprising the various sectors of the community in Hawaii – government, business, academe, media, civic groups – gathered at the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu on October 02 to warmly welcome Philippine Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin who arrived in Honolulu on July 15.
Respected and seasoned Filipino community leaders Reverend and Madam Joe Lazo organized the Aloha party for the Consul General which included messages of welcome from leaders of Filipino umbrella organizations in Hawaii such as the United Filipino Council of Hawaii (UFCH), Congress of Visayan Organizations (COVO) and the Philippine Celebrations Coordinating Committee of Hawaii (PCCCH), and Mr. Glenn Bento of the Hawaii Baptist Academy. Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann also serenaded Consul General Jamoralin on stage with song numbers while community leaders presented their gifts of leis to the Consul General.
Hawaii State officials also graced the occasion and presented Certificates of Welcome to the Consul General from Governor Neil Abercrombie, Hawaii State Senate, Hawaii State House of Representatives and the Honolulu City Council. State Senate President Donna Mercado Kim represented the Hawaii Senate while Vice Speaker John Mizuno represented the Hawaii House of Representatives. The highlight of the evening was a presentation by Vice Speaker Mizuno of a draft House resolution proclaiming the month of December as the Sakada Month in honor of the first group of plantation workers who came to Hawaii in December 1906. The resolution was made upon the recommendation of Consul General Jamoralin in a meeting she had with Speaker Joseph Souki Vice Speaker Mizuno.
Visiting Filipino legislators, namely House Representatives Eric Singson (2nd District Ilocos Sur) and Victor Ortega (1st District La Union) were also present.
In her remarks, Consul General Jamoralin said that she was deeply honored and overwhelmed by the rapturous welcome. For the first time, the Filipino community from various organizations representing geographical regions of the country were present. The Consul General said that the Philippine Consulate General, under her leadership, will continue to promote the interests of the Philippines and Filipinos, to foster unity among Filipinos in the state, and to strengthen Philippines-United States partnership. END