PRESS RELEASE NO. 21-2023
8 March 2023 - Consul General Emil Fernandez was warmly received in Maui over the weekend by members of the Filipino community in the island and various local government officials, including its newly elected mayor, Hon. Richard Bissen. A reception was hosted by the Binhi at Ani Filipino Community Center in the Consul General’s honor in the evening of March 5, where community leaders and several prominent officials were present including Mayor Bissen, former Mayor Mike Victorino, State Senator Gilbert Keith-Agaran, Councilmember Shane Sinenci, Mr. Leon Bolosan, the Hawaii Governor’s Representative in Maui, and Judge Artemio Baxa (retd.). Some 300 guests enjoyed sumptuous Philippine cuisine and were entertained with a variety of the country’s most popular dances by local cultural troupes.
Earlier in the day, Consul General Fernandez joined 143 other Filipino and Filipino-American golfers to support this year’s Binhi at Ani golf tournament at The Dunes at Maui Lani. The event has been staged annually by the Center to raise funds for its scholarship program for deserving Filipino-American students in the island. Among the sponsors of the activity was Philippine Airlines, which raffled off roundtrip tickets to Manila.
Shown in the left photo above is Consul General Fernandez (middle) with other participants in the Binhi at Ani fundraising golf tournament at The Dunes at Maui Lani. Photo in the right shows Mr. Jim Diegel (2nd from right), Chief Strategy Officer of the Maui Health System, happily receiving his roundtrip ticket from Philippine Airlines Area Manager, Ms. Sol Solleza (rightmost).
Consul General Fernandez’ visit was capped with a formal meeting with Mayor Bissen on March 6. He was accompanied by several Filipino leaders in the island, including Atty. Alfredo Evangelista, Ms. Melen Agcolicol – President of Binhi at Ani, and Mr. Domingo Gumpal – President of the Maui Filipino Community Council, who raised issues of importance to the community. The newly elected mayor pledged to address their concerns and committed to remain open to their needs. (END)
(Photo credit: Atty. Alfredo Evangelista)
