2015 ANNUAL REPORT The Filipino Community Center, Inc. Contents Center’s History ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Center Location ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Sobering Historical Facts ........................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Donors ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Rental Facilities ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Executive Director Message ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Board of Directors Chairman Message .................................................................................................................................. 5 Financial Summary ................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Programs and Events .............................................................................................................................................................. 6 Aloha For Philippines ............................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Bayanihan Gala 2014 ............................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Bayanihan Gala 2015 “Remembering Our Plantation Legacy” .............................................................................................................. 9 Special Events Management and Production Training (SEMPT) .......................................................................................................... 12 Mother’s Day Luncheon ....................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Filipino For Kids Summer Program ...................................................................................................................................................... 12 Nursing Review Classes ........................................................................................................................................................................ 13 U.S. Citizenship Classes and Immigration Outreach Program .............................................................................................................. 13 Computer Enrichment and Workforce Training Program .................................................................................................................... 14 Banda Kawayan .................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Ballroom Dance Classes ....................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Dance, Music and Art Workshops ........................................................................................................................................................ 14 Philippine Art and History Exhibits ...................................................................................................................................................... 14 Zumbathon .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 FilCom Sundays .................................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Pasko sa FilCom ................................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Filipino Fiesta and Parade (Flores De Mayo) ........................................................................................................................................ 16 Government Grants .............................................................................................................................................................. 17 Board of Directors ................................................................................................................................................................ 17 Board of Governors .............................................................................................................................................................. 18 Contact Information ............................................................................................................................................................. 18 Company Information .......................................................................................................................................................... 19 pg. 1 Center’s History CENTER LOCATION By J.P. Orias Sprawling over two acres by the old Oahu Sugar Mill in suburban Waipahu, the three-story Filipino Community Center covers 50,000 square feet. It is the biggest Filipino Community Center outside of the Philippines and is architecturally designed to imitate the Filipino’s penchant for Spanish inspired buildings. Although it is in every aspect Filipino, it is also multi-cultural in that the renters, guests, caterers and community members belong to different ethnic origins. It is a building built on Filipino pride and the bayanihan spirit yet still retains enough spirit of aloha to everyone who wants to work, rent, learn and enjoy the daily activities without regard to ethnicity. The FilCom Center was formally inaugurated in June 2002, almost a century after the first 15 Filipino farmers sailed for Hawai’i on board the SS Doric in 1906, which legitimized the Filipino migration to the western hemisphere. By the turn of the century, there were 200,000 Americans of Filipino ancestry in Hawai’i making up more than 15% of the state’s population, enough to gain a powerful identity in the community through culture, entertainment, education, business and politics. The need for a place to showcase its culture and traditions became apparent. This became the symbol of the Filipinos’ achievements, the elegant structure that now stands on the corner of Mokuola and Waipahu Streets. SOBERING HISTORICAL FACTS By Belinda A. Aquino, Ph.D. The dream started back in the 1960s when the late Soledad Arre Alconcel, spouse of then Philippine Consul Trinidad Alconcel, ran the Philippine Handcrafts shop at Ala Moana. It was the meeting place for Filipinos at the time, including newly arrived Filipino grantees of the East-West Center who were eager to catch up on news from home. Mrs. Alconcel always dreamed about someday having a true gathering place for Filipinos in Hawaii, something like a “home away from home.” But the vision and energy to push the dream forward came many years later as a younger group of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans came of age. Roland Casamina, President of House of Finance, always spoke about visiting a Filipino center, where he believed to be in Canada, and had been inspired by it. The idea stuck in his head for a similar venture in Hawaii. Soon after, Casamina convinced Eddie Flores Jr. to help out with the potential building project. Flores, owner of L&L Drive Inn and a well-known real state entrepreneur in Hawaii initiated a project in 1992 that would soon evolve into the annual Filipino Fiesta and Parade in May. An essential component of the Fiesta is the traditional Flores de Mayo festival which is very close to Flores’ heart. At this time, Anacleto “Lito” Alcantra, President of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii (FCCH) and Group Builders Inc., a local construction firm, became interested in the proposed FilCom building project. A planning committee was formed with Casamina as chair and Alcantra and Flores as members. In 1993, the Filipino Community Center, Inc. was given a nonprofit 501(c)(3) status intended to “develop, own, and operate a community center,” which would be self- sustaining. This meant undertaking and recruiting volunteers for the ambitious project. The programs envisioned for the future Center included a computer technology center, business and non-profit incubation areas, retail spaces, a thrift shop and a commercial kitchen. All available rooms would be rented out to generate revenue for the center. Flores delivered a speech at the Philippine American Chambers of Commerce convention in Anaheim, California in 1998 and said, “To build the Filipino Community Center (in Honolulu), my decision