PRESS RELEASE NO. 34-2021

3 August 2021, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA – The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu continued its untiring efforts to enfranchise Filipino fishermen employed in Hawaii’s longline fishing industry and enable them to participate in the 9 May 2022 Philippine national elections. 

During mobile overseas voter (OV) registration held at Honolulu Harbor’s Piers 17 and 36 on 27 and 30 July 2021, the Consulate was able to register 17 Filipino fishermen. 

The fishermen expressed appreciation to the Consulate OV team for bringing the registration service to them.  “Sa wakas, makakaboto na rin ako.  Hindi pa ako nakakaboto sa buong buhay ko,” said Mr. Caloy (not his real name), who has worked as fishermen in Hawaii for 10 years.  (Finally, I’ll be able to vote.  I have never voted in my whole life.) 

While the Filipino fishermen work for Hawaii fishing companies, they are not granted US visas and are therefore not allowed to leave Honolulu’s port except during medical emergencies and other situations which may endanger their lives.  

The Consulate again partnered with the Waipio Baptist Church and Seafarers Ministry headed by Pastor Jerry Saludez for the conduct of the mobile overseas voter registration. 

The Consulate began its mobile OV registration of Filipino fishermen stationed in the Honolulu Harbor in March 2021.  So far, it has conducted six (6) mobile registrations and has registering a total of 58 Filipino fishermen. 

The next mobile overseas voter registration of Filipino fishermen is scheduled on 7 September 2021 at Pier 17.

Filing of applications for overseas voter registration began on 16 December 2019 and will end on 30 September 2021.  END

Filipino seafarers of Honolulu’s Pier 17 line up to register as overseas voters during the Philippine Consulate General’s mobile overseas voter registration on 27 July 2021.

Voter Registration Machine Operator Joel C. Bulos captures the biometrics of an overseas voter registrant. 

Consul Grace Anne G. Bulos (left) and Pastor Jerry Saludez (right), head of the Waipio Baptist Church and Seafarers Ministry guide the Filipino fishermen as they filling out their application forms during the Consulate’s mobile overseas voter registration at Pier 36 on 30 July 2021.