PRESS RELEASE NO. 41-2022
Laie, Hawaii, USA, 24 October 2022 - Consul Grace Bulos led a Consulate team in an engagement with the Filipino Club of the Brigham Young University (BYU) in Laie last 22 October. The activity, which was organized in coordination with Mr. Kenneth Kalama, Career Services Officer of the said university, provided the Consulate the opportunity to check on the welfare of the Filipino students, network and promote the foreign service as a possible career option.
Ms. Bulos was accompanied by Vice Consul Leizel Caasi, Armed Forces of the Philippines Liaison Officer and Assistant Liaison Officer to the US Indo-Pacific Command Capt. Aldrin Doctor and Ltc. Jay Baquiran, Administrative Officer Derico Derupe, Assistance to Nationals (ATN) Officer Hermogenes Cayabyab, Jr., Cultural Officer Elaine Aldaya and Protocol Officer Joel Bulos.
In her remarks, Ms. Bulos thanked Mr. Kalama and the Filipino Club, led by Mr. Jerameel Recodig, its president, for their warm welcome and remarked on the auspicious timing of the engagement during Filipino-American History Month. She recalled how Post’s ATN Section kept in touch with Mr. Kalama during the height of the pandemic to check on the Filipino students and thanked BYU for providing assistance to those who decided to weather the pandemic on the island. Ms. Bulos expressed her appreciation to the Filipino Club for promoting camaraderie among its members, supporting each other, and implementing projects that foster inclusivity and community building. She was pleased to note that there are an around 300 Filipino students at BYU, of which 200 are members of the Filipino Club. Calling the students as ambassadors of goodwill, she encouraged the students to continue doing their best in their studies and in doing so, raising the flag for the Philippines.
The program included a presentation on the work of the Consulate by Vice Consul Caasi, a presentation by the BYU Filipino Club on their activities, experiences and challenges on campus and in Hawaii, song numbers by one of the students, and an open forum.
The consular officials answered a variety of questions during the open forum which ranged from the team’s experiences in their various foreign assignments, the connection between domestic and foreign policy, balancing work and personal time especially for women, and employment opportunities in the Philippines. END.
Vice Consul Leizel Caasi briefs the Filipino students on the work of the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu.
Philippine Consulate officials, led by Consul Grace Bulos and Brigham Young University Career Services Officer Mr. Kenneth Kalama (seated center) pose doing the traditional Hawaiian shaka.
