PRESS RELEASE – 19 – 2020

(27 August 2020, Honolulu, Hawaii) – The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu has provided steadfast support to the Filipino Complete Count Committee (FCCC) Hawaii in its efforts to disseminate information to the Filipino community on the US 2020 Census.

Organized in early 2020, the FCCC is chaired by Senator Bennette Misalucha and composed of an ad hoc group of Filipino community leaders and volunteers. Dr. Serafin Colmenares and Dr. Raymund Liongson of the Knights of Rizal Aloha Chapter serve as the Committee’s Vice Chairs. Ms. Annie Sokol, Partnership Specialist of the US Census Bureau has constantly guided the FCCC in its undertakings. Consul Grace Anne G. Bulos is the Philippine Consulate General’s representative in the FCCC.

The Filipino Complete Count Committee (FCCC) Hawaii proudly don their custom-printed “We Count” Census shirts

The Committee was primarily created because the Filipino community in Hawaii was identified as a difficult to reach population based on the past census.  With undercounting having significant ramifications, the FCCC has made it is mission to educate the public about the Census.

To fulfill its goals, the FCCC has distributed census materials and information through the Philippine Consulate General, community events, schools, churches, Filipino community organizations, and other civic groups. It particularly targeted the areas in Oahu with a high Filipino population.

Consul Grace Anne G. Bulos distributes FCCC “We Count” shirts and other US Census 2020 information materials to consular clients

With the challenges brought about the COVID-19 pandemic, the FCCC has successfully harnessed technology for its information dissemination efforts and has conducted Radiothons, media interviews, and public service announcements through its own Facebook page and Filipino community radio stations in Hawaii. FCCC partnered with Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) alumnae and Ethnic Education Hawaii in “Tsismisan,” a series of Census online talk story series, which discusses the census and how it affects key sectors such as businesses, tourism, health, education, and the church. With virtual events simulcast on three Filipino community radio stations and shared by the Philippine Consulate General and other relevant stakeholders on social media, the FCCC has reached audiences in Oahu, the neighbor islands like Maui and Kauai, and even the international community.

According to FCCC Chair Misalucha, the FCCC in Hawaii has been recognized as setting the pace amongst the various complete count committees and has been invited to share best practices.  

While it is a US government endeavor, the Philippine Consulate has encouraged the participation of the Filipino community in the census. Conducted every 10 years, the US Census will determine congressional representation, provide information to be used in determining annual federal funding, and provide data that will impact communities for the next decade.

With a sizeable presence in the State of Hawaii, the Filipino community in Hawaii stands to greatly benefit from participating in the census. END

Consul Bulos visits the US Census 2020 booth manned by Ms. Annie Sokol, Partnership Specialist of the US Census Bureau during a community event in December 2019