US Senator Brian Schatz (1st row, 6th from right) was the Installing Official for the 2017-2018 Officers of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii (FCCH) led by its President, Mr. Brandon T. Dela Cruz (1st row, 5th from right) at the Installation Banquet on 8 July 2017.

Young Filipino-American community leader Mr. Brandon T. Dela Cruz, was installed as the 63rd President of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii before an audience of around 350, on 8 July 2017 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Mr. Dela Cruz, Director for Marketing for Hawaii-based restaurant chain, L & L Hawaiian Barbecue, is an alumnus of Filipino American Youth Leadership Program (FYLPRO), an annual immersive program for ten (10) outstanding young Filipino Americans organized by the Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the United States.  He has more than 18 years of Filipino community involvement in Hawaii, which include hosting a weekly radio program centered on the Filipino community, grassroots campaigning for the then ambitious establishment of the Filipino Community Center and leading the Filipino Jaycees in 2004.

Among the distinguished guests at the Installation Banquet are US Senator Brian Schatz, Hawaii Governor David Ige, who were both the Installation Officials for the FCCH Officers and Board of Directors, and the FCCH Foundation officers, respectively. Former Consul General in Honolulu Rolando Gregorio and Philippine Consul Joyleen E. Santos were present at the event.

Since its establishment in 1954, the FCCH has been the steadfast and effective partner of Filipino businesses in Hawaii through its various projects and programs aimed at broadening opportunities for Filipino entrepreneurs and strengthening business linkage between Hawaii and the Philippines. One of the major activities that the FCCH is currently preparing for under the leadership of Mr. Dela Cruz is the 2017 Goodwill and Trade Mission to the Philippines, to be led by Governor Ige, from 14 to 22 October 2017. This will be the first trip to the Philippines of an incumbent Governor of Hawaii, after more than ten (10) years. The last one was in 2006 by Governor Linda Lingle. (END).