OFCC: A council with a positive direction and good intentions

October 12, 2014 has been set as the date for the installation and re-affirmation of the newly elected officers and directors of the Oahu Filipino Community Council (OFCC) at the Ala Moana Hotel. 

OFCC is an island-wide umbrella organization of the 44 units affiliated members. The event is expected to draw 300-plus guests representing the cross section of the community.

Officers to be reaffirmed are: Rev. Alex Vergara, first vice pres. Baybee Hufana Ablan, second vice pres. Ancog, secretary Loida Yamamoto, assistant secretary Davelyn Quijano, treasurer Erlinda Abuel, assistant treasurer Rossi Patton, auditor Armi Farinas, directors: Conrad Abuel, Letecia Ancog, Lydia Agustin, Cesar Bonilla, Dennis Bunda, Salvador Obaldo, Hermie Pagaduan, Julius Soria Jean Jeremiah, Immediate Past President. Legal Counsel Daisy Balais Hartsfield. 

These officers were elected at the annual convention in June at the Philippine Consulate General by the delegates from various unit organizations. The annual convention is being chaired by Jake Manegdeg, and co-chaired by Amado Yoro, John Ramos, Larry Ramirez and Danny Villaruz. Oahu Filipino Community Council (OFCC) was organized in 1959 by a group of community-minded citizens. The purpose of the OFCC are the following:

1. To perpetuate the Filipino cultural heritage 

2. To unite all Filipino-oriented organizations for the common welfare of the whole community; 

3. To enhance individual and group worth to encourage all Filipinos and/or Americans of Filipino ancestry

4. To develop a stronger sense of individual and collective responsibility and a greater participation in the affairs of the community of Hawaii as a whole. 

OFCC was led by various community leaders with individual styles of leadership wherein they played their role as a stewards for the council with different challenges and resolutions, and to keep it moving as years go by. Majority of these 43 leaders were men and nine are women being Matilda Molina as first, and Jean Jeremiah, immediate past president [Matilda Molina, Marlene Manzano, Maggie Domingo, Edith Pascua, Jenny Quezon, Lynne Gutierrez, Cirvalina Longboy, Maria Etrata and Jean Jeremiah.]  

OFCC runs various civic and community projects including but not limited to Adopt a Hi-way/Park, Feeding the Homeless, Hawaii Food Bank, Census, various worthy fundraisers for typhoon, natural disasters and calamities. Youth program, social programs, voters registrations and many others. It plays an active role with the United Filipino Council of Hawaii and various community groups and helps provide different community service and for the betterment of the general community. 

As a new president, Mr. Vergara's plans for the new OFCC administration: 

1. To continue the work of the OFCC through social action that include feeding the homeless, adopt a highway and adopt a park. 

2. To be in partnership with the Aloha Medical Mission and Ohana Medical Mission, among others, in sending teams, medical supplies and equipment to the Philippines. 

3. To initiate "Aklat Sa Mga Bata" in sending educational books like Math, Reading and Writing to the Philippines for grade school children.

4. To be in partnership with the Honolulu Police Department and the United Public Workers in dealing with community action projects. 

5. To get Unit Member Organizations of the OFCC become active in the life and work of the OFCC; to make the OFCC responsive to the needs of the Unit Member Organizations.

6. To strengthen and make relevant the Miss Oahu Filipina Scholarship Pageant.

7. To encourage Unit Member Organizations to sponsor deserving Filipino students in Hawaii as well as in the Philippines. 

8. To navigate a positive direction and good intentions for OFCC and the Oahu community as a whole. Dinner ticket is $ 60.00. Advertisements for our Souvenir Book is $ 100 full page (black and white). 

The Council of Past Presidents also has a vital role as an advisory body comprised of the surviving past president who are still very active in the life and activities of the Council. OFCC Past Presidents: Justo Dela Cruz+ 1959-1961; Adelino Valentin+ 1961-1961; Diosdado Avecilla+ 1961-1962; Jesus O. Cayaban+ 1962-1963; Dr. Marcelino Avecilla+ 1963-1964; Gelacio Daoang+ 1964-1965; Moises Claveria+ 1965-1966; Pedro Oducayen+ 1966-1967; Emilio Alcon+ 1967-1967; Victor Agmata 1967-1968; Justo Dela Cruz+ 1968-1969; Bart Alcaraz+ 1969-1970;

Pol Ragasa + 1970-1971; Gene Albano 1971-1973; Pete Racelis, Jr.+ 1973-1974; Mel Europa+ 1974-1975; Mel Agag, Jr.+ 1975-1976; Ilalo Parayno 1976-1977; Fred Aspree+ 1977-1978; Matilda Molina+ 1978-1979; Ricardo Labez+ 1979-1981;

Mario Albalos+ 1981-1982; Amado Yoro 1982-1982; Nunelon Medallon+ 1982-1983; Victor Guillermo 1983-1984; Gerry Rojo 1984-1986; Don Alvarez+ 1986-1990;

Maggie Domingo 1990-1990; Romualdo Agustin 1990-1992; Marlene Manzano+ 1992-1994; Jun Abinsay 1994-1996; Ernie Pascua 1996-1997; Ben Cabreros 1997-1999; Edith Pascua 1999-2001—best year;

Eddie Agas, Sr. 2001-2003; Jenny Quezon 2003-2004; Dr. Arnold Villafuerte 2004-2005; Lynne Gutierrez 2005-2007—worst year; Franklin Borromeo 2007-2008—period of survival and recovery; Cirvalina “Lina” Longboy 2008-2009; Danny Villaruz 2009-2010; Maria Etrata 2010-2012; Jean Jeremiah 2012-2014—best after the survival period

(+) deceased denotes rest in peace

Miss Oahu Filipina Scholarship Pageant have started in 1973 as one of the major fundraising projects. Miss Oahu Filipina was conceived and started as an annual Fiesta project in 1973. First crowned Miss Oahu was Carmela Barut, and succeeded by Ludivina De Castro, as the former won the Miss Hawaii Filipina title. The asterisk (*) denote first crowned as Miss Oahu Filipina and won Miss Hawaii Filipina statewide UFCH Fiesta Filipina Pageant that was started in 1959. Once the Miss Oahu Filipina been crowned as Miss Hawaii Filipina, the Miss Oahu Filipina first runner-up is automatically elevated as Miss Oahu Filipina.

1973 Carmela Barut*; 1973 Ludivina De Castro; 1974 Celita De Castro*; 1974 Robin Cabiles; 1975 Jackery Tejada*; 1975 Sharilyn Baqui; 1976 Sharon Robles*; 1976 Erlinda Meneses; 1977 Lourdes Felipe*; 1977 Teresa Fernandez; 1978 Theresa Ribaya; 1979 Elsa Perlas;

1980 Juli-Ann Nalani Sagum; 1981 Cynthia Lapenia; 1982 Coralei Rivera; 1983 Melinda Gaborno*; 1983 Maribel Esteban; 1984 Dodie Viquelia*; 1984 Ginger Davenport; 1985 Gladys Primero; 1986 Joyce Mina; 1987 Ligaya Stice*; 1987 Marie Ann Agustin; 1988 Melissa De La Cruz; 1989 Romelia Broas*; 1989 Ania Lei Davalos;

1990 Kathy Duhaylongsod*; 1991 Lori Ann Messina; 1992 Gayle Valdez; 1993 Raquel Bueno; 1994 Corazon Dumlao; 1995 Pamela Domingo*; 1995 Cheryl Fernandez; 1996 Lori Butay*; 1996 Lynn Bagasol; 1997 Angelica Batin*; 1997 Lesley Ann Paglinawan; 1998 Jessica Corpuz*; 1998 Pamela Lavlilla; 1999 Arnalde Dedee Melchor*; 1999 Fe Albano;

2000 Jennifer Vea*; 2000 Sheri-Lynn Baclig; 2001 Maribel Apuya*; 2001 Lori Lamug; 2002 Agnes Calderon*; 2002 Liana Green; 2003 Andrea Tseu*; 2003 Glenda Salvador; 2004 Ruth Aguinaldo; 2005 Jermel Lynn Quillopo; 2006 Mary Jo Bautista; 2007 Jerryca Gasmen; 2008 Krystle M. Acido*; 2008 Bianca Castillo [2^nd runner-up elevated]; 2009 Margaret Pascual*;

2010 Marnelli Joy Castillo; 2011 Leoveni Mabiog; 2012 Heavenly Fines; 2013 Erika Joy Ordonez*; 2013 Chereylene Reyes

(*Won Miss Oahu Filipina, then crowned Miss Hawaii Filipina Title)

Oahu Filipino Community Council (OFCC) reaffirmation of officers 2014-2015 09/29/2014 Honolulu, Hawaii. The Oahu Filipino Community Council [OFCC] Installation and Reaffirmation of Officers and Directors for 2014-2015 will be held at the Ala Moana Hotel, Hibiscus Ballroom on October 12 [Sunday] 2014. Officers to be reaffirmed and installed are the following: Rev. Alex Vergara, president; Baybee Hufana Ablan, first vice president; Richard Ancog, second vice president; Loida Yamamoto, secretary; Davelyn Quijano, assistant secretary; Erlinda Abuel, treasurer; Rossi Patton, assistant treasurer; Armi Oliver Farinas, auditor; Directors: Conrad Abuel, Lydia Agustin, Letecia Ancog, Cesar Bonilla, Dennis Bunda, Salvador Obaldo, Hermie Pagaduan, Julius Soria, Immediate Past President Jean Jeremiah and Daisy Harstfield, legal counsel. This year's team: Positive Directions and good intentions $65.00 dinner donation.