PRESS RELEASE NO. 08-2022

Hawaii State Senator Bennette Misalucha, pictured above, is among the recipients of the 2021 Banaag Presidential Award.

14 February 2022 - Newly-arrived Philippine Consul General, Emil Fernandez, paid a courtesy call last Friday on Hawaii State Senator Bennette Misalucha, a Filipino-American Democrat representing the district comprised of Pearl City, Aiea, Halawa and Pearl Harbor, and co-convenor of the Filipino Caucus in the State Legislature.

Consul General Fernandez took the opportunity to congratulate the Senator for being a recipient of the 2021 Banaag Presidential Award, which is conferred on Filipino individuals and organizations for advancing the interests of overseas Filipino communities. Among the 56 awardees this year, she is the only recipient from the State of Hawaii. The Cebu native, who migrated to the US with her family in the early 80s, led a successful career in the private sector as a journalist, banker and management consultant until she was tapped by Governor Ige to become a public servant, a task not unfamiliar to the Senator given the long list of community organizations which she serves. According to the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, the awardees were selected from 117 nominations received from 31 countries.

Consul General Fernandez (left) poses with Senator Misalucha (right) at the latter’s office in the State Capitol.

Senator Misalucha welcomed the new Philippine Consul General in Honolulu and pledged her office’s support to further the welfare of the Filipino community in the Aloha State. (END)