For 36 years, the United Laoaguenos of Hawaii ( ULOH) has been an active member of the Filipino community in Hawaii and partner of the Philippine Consulate General’s ILAING 2 Project ( Ilocano Language Acquisition and Immersion for the New Generation, Year 2).
ULOH celebrated its 36th Anniversary on January 14, 2017 at the Hibiscus Room of the Ala Moana Hotel with a coronation ball for the 2017 ULOH Queen of Queens and Jr. Teen Queen. The bi-annual coronation ball is a fund raising project of the organization to fund its scholarship and outreach programs. ULOH has reached out to more than 500 families in 40 barangays in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte and funded 28 student scholars taking up various courses in Hawaii.
Consul General Gina Jamoralin, invited as Guest Speaker and Crowning Guest for the event, in her speech, thanked the ULOH President Ms. Merelle Isidro Gonzales for supporting the ILAING 2 Project, a joint project of the Philippine Consulate and the ULOH, the Candonians of Hawaii, Philippine Airlines, Philippine Community Center. Western Union and the Maria and Renato Etrata Foundation to provide Ilocano language course for Fil-Am youth in Hawaii last October-December 2016 and a two-week immersion trip for top 5 students of the course in the Ilocos region in 2017. Now on its second year, the ILAING Program has helped Fil-AM youth who are born and raised in Hawaii to learn Ilocano and in the process rediscover their Filipino heritage. Last year, five (5) students travelled to Candon, Vigan and Manila for the immersion part of the ILAING 1 with the support of Phiilppine Airlines and the Office of Representative Eric Singson ( 2nd District, Ilocos Sur) and Mayor Erikson Singson of Candon City, Ilocos Sur. .
Consul General Jamoralin also crowned the 2017-2018 Queen of Queens, Ms. Charlyne Mae Garvida and ULOH Jr. Teen Queen Alyssa Francesca Salcedo, both of Filipino parentage. They will be crowned again on February 9, 2017 in Laoag City during the city’s Pamulinawen Festival.(END).
