LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Filipino Chamber of Commerce held its annual Awards and Installation Gala on Saturday, placing new board officers and honoring outstanding membership at the Kaua‘i Beach Resort. Chamber President Marynel Palalay Valenzuela begins her second term, leading
LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Filipino Chamber of Commerce held its annual Awards and Installation Gala on Saturday, placing new board officers and honoring outstanding membership at the Kaua‘i Beach Resort.
Chamber President Marynel Palalay Valenzuela begins her second term, leading the 12-year-old nonprofit organization with a mission to promote, advance and business-related interests to the Filipino community. She welcomed several new members and presented awards to honorees.
Valenzuela went over the annual events, from the scholarship golf tournament fundraisers and various workshops aimed at attracting youth entrepreneurs, to technology training for seniors. She also mentioned the importance of informal “Business on the Weekend” networking events and recognition awards for successful Filipino business people.
The Chamber is now putting together “Business in the Box” events that are designed to bring others to learn what businesses are doing on location. It is a way to include people who don’t have the time to leave the work environment and be involved, she said.
As part of the mission to attract more young people and to bring in the design and beauty industry, the Chamber will hold its first-ever Kaua‘i Fashion week event will be held Feb. 9, she said.
“What we do wouldn’t be possible without everyone’s participation,” Valenzuela said. “We work together in unity and teamwork is the key.”
Kaua‘i Filipino Chamber Director Teofilo “Phil” Tacbian offered a presentation as one of two Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative members that were invited to the Philippines in July to attend an event encompassing the 120 rural electric cooperatives. He traveled with Peter Yukimura.
They were invited by Dita Bueno, the administrator of the National Electrification Administration of the Philippines. It was a peer-to-peer event in Manilla that was followed by a conference of the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III was in attendance, he said, and set a goal to be 100 percent electrified nationwide by the year 2020. The president pledged support to fund the project, he added.
“Our sister co-op in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, is all 100 percent electrified,” Tacbian said.
KIUC Communications Manager Jim Kelly offered the keynote presentation on “Kicking the habit: Kaua‘i’s progress in getting off oil.”
Not enough people in the community are aware that KIUC is reaching its goal of near 50 percent solar electric power during the seven-hour sunshine day. That is not being done at this level anywhere in the country and in most places around the world, he said.
The planned hydro and biomass plants will help meet the demand during the non-sunshine hours, he said. He said the consumer should see a reflection on their bill within a couple of years.
“Keep in mind the number one way that you can make your bill go down is what you do at home,” he said.
That will help stabilize the oil dependency issue with an ultimate goal of complete independence from fossil fuels in 20 years, he said. Kaua‘i is different because its taking big steps toward that goal, he added.
Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho said identifying resources and connecting them will keep Kaua‘i the best place in the world. “That is the only way that we can move forward, especially during these challenging times,” he said.
While attending the National Mayor’s conference, Carvalho said he learned that similarly-sized communities around the country are all facing the same economic, environment and resource issues, he said. The message was about protecting our kids and helping them to pursue their dreams, he said.
“Overall, I believe that if all members of government continue to dialogue, share our resources and work toward common goals then we can accomplish really big, big things,” Carvalho said. “I believe that same holds true for all of us here in this room tonight and all the organizations, I commend you all for what you have done.”
Carvalho said the collaborative effort from the entire community to support the Philippine Cultural Center is coming from a place and a spirit that will make it uniquely Kaua‘i.
Prior to installing the new Chamber officers, the mayor said the leadership has a task to build on the solid foundation of people that came before them.
“I wish you all much success as you embark on this new endeavor as you install new officers, and I hope that you have a productive and rewarding year,” he added.
The 2013 Chamber Board officers include: Valenzuela as president; Eddie Topenio, vice president; Cyndi Ayonon, secretary; Connie Balisacan, assistant secretary; Cristeta Owan, treasurer; and Emil Remigio, assistant treasurer. The directors include: Angel Acorda, Robert Ayonon, Lesther Calipjo, Ted Daligdig, Dr. Arnulfo Diaz, Eugene Jiminez, Mike Martinez, Scott McFarland, Michael Miranda, Vonnel Ramos, Tacbian, and Sonja Topenio.
Special consultants to the board include Willy Ortal, special assistant; Mike Dahilig, legal counsel; and Ernie Pasion, past president.
The Chamber Executive Director is Oscar Portugal.
The event closed with a video of the “Opo Pinoy Style” Filipino version of the popular Gangnam Style YouTube video. A few brave souls joined him in front of the room where they attempted to follow the choreography. Vocalist Christine Calzado provided the dinner entertainment.
For more information visit www.kauaifilipinochamber.org.
