WAIPOULI — Engracia Aguzar VDA de Baris of Hanama‘ulu celebrated her 93rd birthday in late April. She was one of the senior women enjoying the Kaua‘i Filipino Women’s Club Mother’s Day luncheon, Sunday with her eldest daughter, Naty Bali of
WAIPOULI — Engracia Aguzar VDA de Baris of Hanama‘ulu celebrated her 93rd birthday in late April.
She was one of the senior women enjoying the Kaua‘i Filipino Women’s Club Mother’s Day luncheon, Sunday with her eldest daughter, Naty Bali of Hanama‘ulu.
“She’s got 10 children, plus one,” Bali said. “Ten are hers, and the one is adopted.”
More than 130 people filled the Paddle Room of the Courtyard by Marriott at the Coconut Beach for the event, including the five contestants vying for the Miss Kaua‘i Filipina scholarship title.
Liza Trinidad, founder of the KFWC Mother’s Day luncheon, said the first event was held in 1991 at the Po‘ipu Beach Park Main Pavilion.
“That was before the hurricane hit us,” Trinidad said. “Since then, we’ve been to several different places like Lydgate Park and the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center before getting to the hotels.”
Trinidad said as mothers get on in age, children leave for college and careers.
“We just want to make sure our mothers are taken care of,” Trinidad said. “Sometimes, the children, after they leave, cannot always come home to share their love with mothers. We just want to make sure mothers know they are loved.”
She they put on the Mother’s Day luncheon so mothers won’t have to work so hard on their special day.
“We’re going to have a ‘Mother of the Day’ through a special drawing following the inspirational talk by Millie Wellington,” said Marynel Valenzuela, the luncheon emcee.
KFWC President Hannah Timbol, a great grandmother, was joined at the luncheon by her granddaughter, Cascade Mayer, who will be graduating Kaua‘i High School next week.
“This is one of the big events the Kaua‘i Filipino Women’s Club hosts in the year,” Timbol said. “It helps us gear up for our signature event, The Terno Ball which takes place later in September.”.
Charlmaine Bulosan said in addition to her recognition, the Mother of the Day will receive a tiara she fashioned along with a pendant, a special hand-fashioned bouquet and other prizes.
The Courtyard by Marriott was also enjoying a full house in its Voyager restaurant, the special Mother’s Day buffet being entertained by Leilani Low and her sister Lurline Fernandez while guests enjoyed the day.
“We provide the regular entertainment at the Courtyard,” said Darrell Low, Leilani’s husband. “We’re just doing a special for all the mothers, today.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
