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Honolulu-Candon
ties. (From left) Honolulu Council
Chairman Ernie Martin, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Candon City Mayor Ericson
Singson, and Candon City Council Chairwoman Rhodana Cortez Abrero sign the
agreement.
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In witness of this significant and historical event in the life and
history of both cities, the signing of the Sister City Agreement was held at
the Mission Memorial Auditorium in Honolulu, Hawaii, on May 7 at 2:30 in the
afternoon.
The
program was emceed by Executive Director Nicole A. Velasco of the Mayor’s
Office of Economic Development.
The
signing ceremony was well-attended—attendees included the Honolulu City
Council, Caldwell Administration cabinet, Congressman Mark Takai and
representatives of the Hawai‘i Congressional Delegation, members of the State
Legislature, and officials from the Philippines Consulate They were
joined by members of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i, Filipino
Business Women’s Association, Candonians of Hawai‘i, United Filipino Council of
Hawai‘i, Ilocos Surian Association of Hawai‘i, Filipino Nurses Organization of
Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Filipino Women’s Club, Filipino Women’s Civic Club, Gumil
Hawai‘i, and other Hawai‘i Filipino organizations.
As
part of his welcome remarks Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell acknowledged and
recognized some distinguished leaders in attendance like Councilmen Ron Menor, son of the late Ben Menor, first
Filipino Senator and first Filipino Justice to the Hawaii Supreme, followed by
Mario Ramil, Simeon Acoba. Brandon Elefante, youngest member of the Council,
has a root from Santiago, Ilocos Sur. Joey Manahan, root from Tagudin
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Members
of the Hawaii State Legislature: Romy Cachola, John Mizuno, State Senate
Clarence Nishihara, US Congressman Mark Takai were also in attendance.
Some
community organizations were also represented like Danny Villaruz Ilocos
Surian, Davelyn Quijano Sinait National High School Alumni Association of
Hawaii; Maria Cristina White Santiaguenians Association of Hawaii; Arnold
Villafuerte Knights of Rizal, Atty. Franz Donnie Juan FilComCenter, Paul
Alimbuyao Filipino Chamber of Commerce, Maria Etrata United Filipino Council of
Hawaii and many others,
Mayor
Caldwell’s speech traced the historical journey and arrival of the first 15 Ilokano
sakada from Candon. It went
like this:
“A journey that began when the
first 15 sakada boarded
the S.S. Doric and
left Candon for Hawai‘i back in 1906 came full circle today,” said Mayor
Caldwell. “With the formal recognition of the deep ties between Honolulu
and Candon City, our two cities now begin a new chapter in a partnership that
dates back over a century.”
Honolulu and
Candon City have a significant history. The first sakada (Filipino
plantation laborers) came from Candon and arrived in Hawai‘i on December 20,
1906 to work in the sugarcane plantations, beginning the first wave of Filipino
immigration to the islands.
During his trade mission to the
Philippines with the Hawai‘i Filipino Chamber of Commerce in February, 2014,
Mayor Caldwell visited Candon City where he discussed the Sister City Agreement
with Mayor Singson. That May 7, 2015 signing made Candon City Honolulu 32nd established
sister-city.
In addition to Mayor Singson,
Candon City Councilmembers, including Chair Rhodana C. Abrero, came to Honolulu
for the historic event.
Mayor
Caldwell also recognized other FIRST FILIPINO LEADERS in government as Atty.
Peter Aduja [Vigan], as first Filipino legislator; Ben Menor [San Nicolas, IN]
as first Filipino Senator and First Justice of the Supreme Court; Benjamin
Cayetano [his father from Urdaneta] as first Filipino Hawaii Governor.
Below
is the complete version of the agreement as signed by Kirk Caldwell, Ericson
Singson, Ernie Martin, and Rhodana Abrero:
“AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY NAD COUNTY OF HONOLULU, STATE OF HAWAII, UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA AND CITY OF CANDON, PROVINCE OF ILOCOS SUR, REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
TO ESTABLISH A SISTER-CITY RELATIONSHIP
The
City and County of Honolulu, State of Hawaii, United States of America and the
City of Candon, Province of Ilocos Sur, Republic of the Philippines, hereby
agree to establish a Sister-City Relationship in an effort to strengthen the
mutual understanding of between our cities.
The
two cities share similar topography, cultural ancestry, and commitment to
excellence and advancement. They both are blessed with abundant, social,
cultural and economic ties. The goal of establishing this Sister-City
Relationship is to deepen the mutual regard, respect, and understanding between
our two cities, and to pass this relationship on to future generations
especially with Honolulu citizens who still identify themselves as Candonians.
In
the spirit of bilateral collaboration and cooperation, the two cities agree to
develop and strengthen sisterly lies between their people by promoting the
social, cultural, agricultural, and economic development on a broad range of
programs like tourism, education, science and technology, and inter-island
communications.
In
the spirit of friendship, the leaders and citizens of our cities agree to
maintain regular contact to achieve mutually beneficial actions.
Signed
on May 7, 2015 in the City and County of Honolulu.”
That
day, we had the opportunity to meet a youngest Council member Brandon Elefante,
in person who, according to him, has a root from Santiago, Ilocos Sur. He has a
promising future in politics in Hawaii.
Mayor
Singson remarks is an expression of his sincere appreciation and gratitude to
all persons involved in the preparation of the agreement and also their travel
and itineraries.
The
two council chairs also greeted the audience.
After
the program, there was a sumptuous dinner with Filipino lechon and other delicacies that everybody enjoyed.
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