PRESS RELEASE - 18 - 2019

(Photo L-R) Ms. Akiko Giambelluca, Mr. Christopher Mallanao, Ms. Cindy Werkmeister, Dr. Rochelle MaHoe, Ms. Phyllis Unebasami, Consul General Joselito A. Jimeno, Principal Alfredo Carganilla, Deputy Consul General Angelica C. Escalona, Mr. Normal Sales, Ms. Elarie Ranido, Ms. Judy Nagasako

(1 April 2019, Honolulu, Hawaii) – Faculty members of the Governor Wallace Farrington High School led by Principal Alfredo Carganilla called on Consul General Joselito A. Jimeno at the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu on 29 March 2019 to report on the results of their visit to the Philippines on 17 to 24 March 2019 to meet with Philippine counterparts and explore the possibility of establishing an exchange program between Farrington High School and a high school in the Philippines.

The Farrington High School faculty members were accompanied by Hawaii Department of Education (HDOE) Complex Area Superintendent Dr. Rochelle Mahoe, Deputy Superintendent Phyllis Unebasami, and Education Specialist Judy Nagasako.

The Philippine Consulate worked with the HDOE and Farrington High School in arranging courtesy calls on local officials and visits to high schools and universities in the National Capital Region and Ilocos Norte. Hawaii has a Sister State relationship with Ilocos Norte while Honolulu has a Sister City relationship with Laoag City.

During their week-long visit, the Farrington faculty team consisting of Principal Carganilla, Mrs. Cindy Werkmeister, Mr. Christopher Mallano, Ms. Evangelyn Pammit Guittap, and Mrs. Akiko Giambelluca were able to visit Taguig City University and Signal Village National High School in Taguig City; the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) in Quezon City; Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), Nueva Era National High School, and San Nicolas National High School in Ilocos Norte; as well as Ilocos Norte National High School, Ilocos Regional School of Fisheries, and Balatong Intergated School in Laoag City.

Principal Carganilla gave a summary of the distinctive features of each school they visited, and provided observations on their similarities with or differences from schools in Hawaii. He also noted the warm hospitality the Farrington faculty team received in each place they visited. According to Principal Carganilla, the visit has provided ideas on student and faculty exchanges for further study. (END)

Principal Carganilla made a brief presentation on the outcome of their visit to the Philippines

Ms. Phyllis Unebasami, Deputy Superintendent, Hawaii State Department of Education (HDOE) presented a token of appreciation from Dr. Christina Kishimoto, Superintendent of HDOE, to Consul General Jimeno