
by Carlota Ader
The 34th United Filipino Council of Hawaii (UFCH) Foundation recognized several illustrious Filipinos for their dedication to community service at its annual Progress Awards Gala and Re-Affirmation of Commitment Ceremony held November 16, 2024 at the FilCom Center.
Benymar Sadumiano, newly-elected president of the UFCH Foundation, described the honorees as Filipino men and women who are “steeled and fortified with patience, fortitude, ambition and the burning desire for achievement and service to the Filipino community.”
Named in honor of the pioneer sakadas, the Progress Awards is geared towards raising funds for young scholars.
“The Foundation aims to perpetuate their memory by touching the lives of our youth with these scholarships and to also challenge them to emulate and transcend,” Sadumiano said. “It’s our way of passing the torch to this generation and to prepare them for the time when they will assume leadership.”
Sadumiano is looking forward to working with the Foundation’s newly-elected officers to fulfill their duties to Filipino communities from all six island councils.
He said that upholding the principles on which the organization is founded upon will require the utmost dedication and collective will.
“My vision is for all of the officers and Island Councils to work as one to prioritize the financial stability of the Foundation, to provide more scholarships, and to magnify the voice of the Filipino communities in the State,” he said.
The 2024-2026 UFCH Foundation leadership slate is as follows:
President – Benymar Sadumiano
Vice President – Gladys Mae Menor
Secretary – Zhoydell Magaoay
Treasurer – Adela Salacup
Auditor – Hermie Pagaduan
Executive Secretary – Ardel Salacup
Asst. Secretary – Eva Valenzuela
Asst. Treasurer – Chulet Paco
Esq. Legal Counsel – Norma Doctor Sparks
Island Council Presidents
BIFCC – Gerico Caban
KFCC – Nancy Apalla
LFCC – Noemi Barbadillo
MFCC – Madelyne Pascua
MIFCC – Robert Stephenson
OFCC – Calvin Bagaoisan
Board of Governors
Big Island – Edita Castro
Kauai – Roy Mendaro &Tito Villanueva
Maui – Lawrence Pascua & Emerita Cortez
Oahu – Rey Aguda, Froebel Garcia & Trini Sanga
Mrs. Hawaii Filipina 2024-2025 – Glorey McCaleb
Miss Hawaii Filipina 2024-2025 – Jaslen Valdez
Little Miss HI Filipina 2023 – Cialina Dawn Agpoon
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