Remembering Bataan

FAUW honored the sacrifices and valor of WWII’s Bataan soldiers with two events:

FAUW laid a wreath for fallen soldiers at the National Memorial Cemetery at Punchbowl during Bataan Day, Araw ng Kagitingan, celebrated by the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu on April 7, 2018 (see pictures below).

Guest speakers at our March meeting were Sgt. Ilka Z. Luna, who was preparing her team for the Bataan Memorial March at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico; and member Pepi Nieva, editor of her father’s book on his experiences in Bataan and the Death March, “Cadet, Soldier, Guerrilla Fighter.” Pepi shared an overview of the book plus the efforts of four groups to remember Bataan. Click links for more info and to support these groups’ very important work!

• Bataan Legacy has succeeded in including Bataan and the Filipinos’ contributions in WWII in California public high school curricula;
• Philippine-based FAME, which maintains the Bataan Death March markers at each kilometer of the Death March, as well as other monuments to the “Battling Bastards of Bataan”;
• The Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project, which fought for approval of the Congressional Gold Medal for Filipino WWII veterans; and
• Philippine Veterans Bank’s commemorative Bataan Freedom Run and Trail.

Here are pictures at the Araw ng Kagitingan, commemorating the 76th anniversary of the Fall of Bataan. Consul General Joselito Jimeno, Rear Admiral Piercey, Governor David Ige, Sen. Brian Schatz, elected officials, military leaders, and members of the Hawaii Consular Corps and the Filipino community joined WWII veterans in the commemoration at Punchbowl.

 

 

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President’s Report

President’s  Report

By Rhoda Yabes Alvarez, Esq.

FAUW Celebrates its Pearl with Calendar of Activities

FAUW was founded in 1987 and this year marks its 30^th or pearl anniversary. From a speck of idea, the organization has turned to a gem.

To celebrate, we are off to a great start!

March saw us celebrating International Women’s Day with twin events, the “Baro at Habi Exhibit: Visual Clues to the Filipino Culture” by artist Iris Viacrucis and the launch of our latest publication “Pinay: Culture Bearers of the Filipino Diaspora”, an anthology at the Hawaii State Library.

April was celebrated with a laugh, pray and eat  trip to the farm HoaʻĀina O Mākaha with Gigi Cocquio, formerly of Tondo. Members, family and friends participated in sharing Lenten reflections capped by a farm to table luncheon fellowship by our host and participants. FAUW is also a proud sponsor of Parangal Dance Troop performing at the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival 2017 happening on April 20.

Next month May, we are off to the Book & Music Festival on May 6 and  7 to market our anthology at the Honolulu Civic Center . Can’t wait for May? Purchase the print version at Amazon.com or the digital version at Kindle.com or email us at fauw1987@outlook.com.

Mark your calendars for June 9 to 16, 2017 as we return to the Doris Duke Theatre for the annual Filipino Film Festival.  Stay tuned for opening night details as the Film Festival Committee members curate the slate for our next movie week.

If scrolling through our half year calendar of activities gets you excited, it’s high time to join FAUW. Can’t join? Consider attending our events or donate to us. FAUW is a 501©3 non-profit committed to the promotion of Filipino culture, history and the arts in the State of Hawaii.

Here are images of our latest fun-filled activities.  Enjoy and see you then!

Baro at Habi Exhibit:  Visual Clues to the Filipino Culture

Hoa ʻĀina O Mākaha with Gigi Cocquio

President’s Year End Report

President’s Year End Report

-By Rhoda Yabes Alvarez

It has been a  prolific year for FAUW members and friends and  2016 is not over.

This year, we shifted through various art forms, from pop-culture through film with the Filipino Film Festival at the Doris Duke Theatre,  to pre-colonial and colonial history,  as we trained as docents and presented Encounters, a walking tour linking the Renaissance and Philippine galleries at the Museum.

The FAUW members get trained as docents for the ENCOUNTERS project

Authors of the anthology PINAY: Culture Bearers of the Filipino Diaspora pose for a group picture with workshop participants

We wrote with our anthology, “Pinay:  Culture Bearers of the Diaspora”, now in its finishing touches. We dug deep in our own ethnology with sounds and songs of the Grace Nono concert.  Together with the Center for Philippine Studies and the Philippine Celebrations Coordinating Committee of Hawaii, we co-sponsored  a lecture with “Finding our Heroes”, book launch and reception  on Philippine WW2 history in the eve of  the 75^th anniversary of Pearl Harbor bombing.  We showcased our renowned Philippine hospitality as we welcomed the officers and crew of the BRP Andres Bonifacio as it called on Pearl Harbor enroute to its new home in the Philippine seas.

Helping kids create sips–at the Honolulu Museum of Art’s Family Sunday

Opening night of the 2016 Filipino Film Festival at the HoMA’s Doris Duke Theater

2016 Filipino Film Festival at HoMAPhilippine Ambassador Cuisa pose with students of Chaminade University after the ENCOUNTERS tour at HoMA

FAUW members at the reception for the crew of a visiting Philippine Navy ship

Filipina WWII guerrilla recounts her experiences at the book launch of two books on World War II sponsored by FAUW. Shown are authors Marie Vallejo and Pepi Nieva with UHM’s Center for Philippines director Jojo Abinales

As 2016 comes to an end, we return to the Honolulu Museum of Art as we Celebrate Pasko! along with other holiday themed activities. Come join us December 18, 2016 at the Bank of Hawaii Family Sunday, Honolulu Museum of Art from 11 AM to 3 PM as FAUW and friends share the art of parol-making,  A parol is the star-shaped Christmas symbolizing the star that led the shepherds and the maji to baby Jesus.  The same parol will be at the forefront of our docent led Christmas Encounters tour as we bring life to the story of Christmas, FAUW style.

Preparing parol frames for Celebrate Pasko! held December 18 at HoMA’s Family Sunday

Click the link and go!

https://honolulumuseum.org/events/bank_of_hawaii_sunday/15969-solstice_celebrations

Hope to see you there and to one and all, Maligayang Pasko!

FAUW Balitaan: President’s Report

 

President’s Report

Patronage of the Arts

Aloha FAUW Ladies and Friends,

Happy Women’s Month!

This March, our projects in partnership with the Honolulu Museum of Arts (HMA) are moving full steam ahead.

Mark your calendars:

1. This April is Filipino Festival Month at the Doris Duke Theatre at the HMA.  FAUW is a community partner.  Time to air out your Filipiniana attire as we dress up on Opening Night to the theme of a presidential inauguration dinner reception for the Hawaii premiere of “Bonifacio:  Ang Unang Pangulo”.  Opening night is on April 2, 2016, 6 to 7:30 PM with dinner reception.

2. FAUW is hosting an evening with a double billing of “Portrait of an Artist” and “My Dahling Nick” with merrienda on April 9, 2016 starting at 4 pm.  Nick Joaquin is Philippine National Artist for Literature whose centennial the Filipino global community is celebrating next year.  His descendant and FAUW member Cecille Joaquin Yasay will speak of his continuing legacy. Tickets for all showing are available at the Museum website. http://honolulumuseum.org/15635-filipino_film_festival_2016 

Cecile Joaquin Yasay, Nick Joaquin’s niece, will talk about his enduring legacy

3. Do you want to learn more about our European heritage through art?  What links Ferdinand Magellan, Captain Cook, Santo Nino and Queen Juana?  The Encounters Tours on the linkage of European and Philippine art opens this April at the HMA.   Participate in the FAUW docent led tours of the Renaissance and Philippine Galleries and learn about more about religious and cultural understanding through art.

FAUW Guided Tours run every Sunday from April to August 2016

Ava Alvarez as Queen Juana, holding the Santo Nino at the Philippine Gallery

 

 

Pepi Nieva welcomes the first group who signed-up for the Encounters Tour

Ethel Ward at the Renaissance Gallery

 

Choleng Rogers gives a brief history of the Philippines

Bernie Clark and the santos exhibits at the Philippine Gallery

.   http://honolulumuseum.org/15597-encounters_sunday_tours

For more information on the film festival and how to sign up and request for the tour, please press Control and click on the links, or copy and paste the links to your browser.   

Many thanks to the FAUW Film Festival Committee members and the Museum Guide Volunteers and all members for your participation, patronage and propagation of the arts.

Come join us!

Rhoda Yabes Alvarez

FAUW leads Encounters-Sunday Tours

Grades:  All ages

Tour length:  1.5 hours

Location:  Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 S. Beretania Street

Days :  Sundays, April to August 2016

Times:  1:30 pm to 3:00 pm

Group size :  15 minimum

Fee:  FREE

Request this tour:

https://honolulumuseum.org/pages/15597

 

Meeting Agenda (02/20/2016)

February 20, 2016 at Max of Manila at Dillingham Blvd.; 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

1.0 Call to Order
2.0 Minutes of Last Meeting
3.0 Treasure’s Report
4.0 Membership Chair Report
4.1 Acknowledgment of new members
4.2 Membership count as of January 2016
4.3 Membership dues renewal deadline
5 Old Business:
5.1 Results of Election
5.2 Ratification of Constitution and By-laws
5.3 Transition and turn-over of existing projects
5.3.1 PINAY project (Virgie Chattergy)
5.3.2 Docent training at HMA for Phil.Gallery (Lee Tamoria)
5.3.3 Filipino Film Festival (Pepi Nieva)
5.3.4 Tatarin: 3-act play by Nick Joaquin (Cecile Yasay)
5.3.5 Collaboration with YWCA’s Dress for Success (Cecile Yasay)
5.3.6 PASKO!
6.0 New Business:
6.1 Letter of Invitation from ConGen Gina Jamoralin for participation at symposium     on Filipino migration: New Orleans—October 8 & 9
6.2 Recruitment of new members and Luncheon in May
6.3 Increase membership dues from $25 to $30
6.4 Creation of FAUW Administrative Rules to cover dues collection, election and           other matters.
6.5 Fresh off the Boat (FOB) Project (Norman Macadangdang)
7.0 Announcements
7.1 Food Festival
7.2 Flores de Mayo/Filipino Fiesta (May 14)

 

FAUW Newsletter #2

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

FAUW:  A Cultural Stewardship

Culture, to my mind,  is the tie that binds and connects us to our common cause.

My introduction to FAUW was as witness to a production of “Pasko!” at the Honolulu Museum of Art (HMA) a good eight years ago on one Bank of Hawaii Sunday.  I remember being impressed with the event, but more importantly, with the meticulous passion and energy of the women behind it who aimed at sharing Filipino culture not only to Filipino-Americans but to all of Hawaii’s ethnic groups.   It was a source of pride and joy to participate in the Filipino’s celebration of faith and fiesta that is “Pasko!”.

This year, as I find myself at the helm of FAUW, I continue to be amazed at the wisdom of the women who pioneered this group and who continue to thrive and strive to make their collective vision a reality, i.e. that Filipino culture and traditional values can be shared to next generations and the greater community in ways that are educational, fun and engaging.

L-R–Evelyn Llenap–Past President, Vickie Bunye–Membership Chair; Rhoda Yabes Alvarez–President; Roberta Sullivan–Director; Rose Churma–Secretary; Lee Tamoria–Director. The leadership reins of the FAUW were turned over at MW Restaurant last January 18 after the elections on January 16 the FAUW’s January meeting.

As a continuing testament to the initiative, commitment and hardwork of FAUW members, this year’s calendar is packed with activities of existing as well as new projects ready to roll.  This February, save the date, February 26, 2016, Friday from 2 to 5 P.M. as we hold our first FAUW Museum Training at the HMA.  The HMA has received a grant from the Kress Foundation and is set to launch a forthcoming exhibit connecting Philippine Art to European Art to run from April to August 2016.  If you’ve always wanted to be a docent and want to get started, join us, learn and share.  In unison with Filipino communities all over the world in celebration of the centennial of Nick Joaquin, National Artist of the Philippines for Literature, we have an eye on the co-production of a play, “Tatarin”, from the story “Summer Solstice”.  We are steadfast with our co-sponsorships of the Filipino Film Festival and our contributions to various YWCA programs such as Dress for Success.  And in this year’s celebration of “Pasko!”, we aspire to launch “Pinay: Culture Bearers of the Filipino Diaspora”, our venture into publication.  These worthy and ambitious projects can only be made possible under the solid stewardship of FAUW members in cooperation with its willing and able partners.

As we rev up with our roster of activities, I invite you to join us in our events, as participants, sponsors, partners or members.  “Tuloy po kayo!”  Welcome!

 

Rhoda Yabes Alvarez

2016 FAUW President

Rhoda Yabes Alvarez, Esq.

Rhoda is an attorney with offices in Honolulu and the Philippines.  She is licensed to practice law in Hawaii, New York and the Philippines.  Her practice areas include immigration law, family law, commercial law and Philippine law.

She served as the founding dean of  St. Louis College, College of Law, a non-profit private educational institution in the Philippines concurrently as a member of the board of a water utility representing women and children.  She regularly hosts  “Legal Pinoy” a bi-weekly radio show that addresses the intertwine of Philippine law, U.S. immigration law and Hawaii state law as it affects Filipino -Americans today.  She was a lecturer-in-law on the “Law of the Philippines” at the University of Hawaii, William Richardson Law School.   In 2011, she was recognized as one among “100 Most Influential Filipina Americans” by San Francisco based Filipina Women’s Network.   In 2013, “Legal Pinoy” was recognized as Best Radio Program in the Migration Advocacy and Media Award conferred by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. 

Rhoda obtained her  Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the Ateneo de Manila University in 1990 and her JD in the Ateneo de Manila School of Law in 1994.  In 1997, she obtained her Master of Laws in Commercial and Corporate Law from the University of London, Centre for Commercial Law Studies.  Visit her website at http://www.filamlaw.com.