NUKOLI‘I — The Kaua‘i Filipino Women’s Club has been “hibernating” for a while, but on Sunday, got up during its first luncheon at the Kaua‘i Beach Resort. “This year, when we host the Terno Ball in September, it will be
NUKOLI‘I — The Kaua‘i Filipino Women’s Club has been “hibernating” for a while, but on Sunday, got up during its first luncheon at the Kaua‘i Beach Resort.
“This year, when we host the Terno Ball in September, it will be our 49th,” said Hannah Timbol, the club’s president. “The club is older than that.”
The Terno Ball, a gala event which serves to raise funds for scholarships and other community projects, is a signature event for the Kaua‘i Filipino Women’s Club, Timbol said.
But the organization was quiet and low key, similar to a state of hibernation.
“When I talked to the Filipino Jaycees about the possibility of them taking over the Terno Ball, I was scolded,” said Liza Trinidad, hostess for the luncheon themed “Ladies in Red.”
“I was told this was our event and we are going to do it,” she said.
Among the more than 70 guests appearing for the luncheon where the color was predominantly red, sisters Bobbie Franklin, Millie Wellington and Jean Odo said their mother, Guadalupe Bulatao, started the Kaua‘i Filipino Women’s Club, although none were sure of when it was launched.
“I think it was back in the 1940s or 1950s,” Franklin said. “Mom wanted a way to get women to get out of homemaking and get more involved with the community, to provide scholarships to help Filipino women, and do some community work.”
Franklin said the organization was active for awhile, but then dropped into inactivity.
“This type of activity was on my list of priorities when I was elected president,” Timbol said. “We needed to update and increase the club list of members and become a more active part of the community.”
Currently, the club has a membership of about 75 ladies, many turning out for the first luncheon, and Timbol hopes more ladies will join in during the club meetings which are held on the first Sunday of each month at the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center.
Charlemaine Bulosan, the club’s vice president, said the Sunday luncheon, was inspired in part by the Red Hat Society where “ladies get together to help other ladies in times of need.”
Timbol said the day’s itinerary included a variety of activities for the ladies to enjoy — a dessert contest, a hat contest, a fashion show, numerous guessing games, a food drive to help those in need and lots of prizes.
“This is for ladies, only,” said Trinidad. “When you wear red, you feel young, happy and relaxed. We had a hard time trying to plan on when to do this because in November and December, there are the holidays. But in February, it is the beginning of the year, and we can all wear red and be happy.”
Besides Timbol as president and Bulosan as vice president for the Kaua‘i Filipino Women’s Club, Solidad Negrillo serves as the club’s secretary, Shirley Negrillo is the club’s treasurer and Claudia Antonio serves as the auditor.
“Although we are not a movement like the Red Hat Society, today’s event is a step forward,” Bulosan said. “Everyone needs to get a red dress for next year’s event.”
For more information on the Kaua‘i Filipino Women’s Club, call Timbol at 822-4534.
