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"We have faith in God, faith in our fellow-men, and faith in ourselves-in our ingenuity and resourcefulness, and in our capacity for hard work. We now stand ready and determined to make our indelible marks on the pages of the book of progress of Hawaii."
- The Founders of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i, 1954 |
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The Mission of the Filipino Chamber
The Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i provides leadership in promoting Hawai'i's business community through its programs and activities by:
HISTORY
The Chamber's fifty-four year history actually began when a group of Filipino businessmen - civic minded and fueled with the desire to unite the then fledgling Filipino business community - met in 1947 and created the Filipino Businessman's Association to promote the common aims of the Filipino community.
"Filipinos, where are we? Whither are we tending?" were the question for the founders. In response, the founders stated: "The birth of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce gives vent to our resolute faith and hope in the flourishing roles that the Filipino people shall play in every conceivable phase of human activity attainable in the Territory of Hawaii-be it government, politics, labor, education, business, or the professions-today and in the years to come." And so, on May 5, 1954, forty seven Filipinos--most of whom were Filipino Businessman's Association members--founded the Filipino Chamber of Commerce-to create a common agency wherein to promote and nourish to fitness for use the common aims of the Filipino community.
Membership in the Chamber was limited to men and women who were of full or part-Filipino ancestry and engaged in business or profession or a duly accredited head of a business organization or any of its bona fide departments; or individuals who were actively interested in community affairs.
The Installation Banquet and Dance was held on June 17, 1954 at Kewalo Inn. More than sixty members, guests, and dignitaries attended, including Raul T. Leuterio, the Philippines' Charge d'affaires in Washington, D.C..
The guest speaker, Riley H. Allen, editor of The Honolulu Star Bulletin, told the audience the new Chamber could play a useful part in the general civic life of Hawaii. Allen reviewed the history of Filipino immigration to Hawaii, noting although Filipinos were originally brought in as plantation laborers, they were in every walk of life including civic and political activity. Allen then boldly predicted Americans of Filipino ancestry would someday be elected to public office.
Fifty-four years later, these predictions have become reality. With Hawaii's statehood in 1959 came many changes. The state's population mushroomed to over 1.1 million. Waikiki is now a household name and the hotel industry has replaced the plantations as the largest employer. The Filipino population grew from 21,000 to over 250,000, aided by the yearly influx of immigrants who are the beneficiaries of the Family Reunification Act. And with jet age technology, the Islands are now accessed through fast, efficient jets rather than slow boats which took weeks of boring travel. Most importantly, Filipinos achieved inroads in the various professions and industries, particularly in government. This was reflected in the 1994 election of Benjamin Cayetano, a long-time Filipino Chamber member, as the country's first governor of Filipino ancestry.
From a small handful of pioneers, the membership has grown to over 400. The diverse membership comes from the sectors of accounting, architecture, banking, construction, education, engineering, finance, government, health, insurance, law, medicine, mortgage lending, real estate, restaurants, retail, telecommunications, trading, and travel. The Chamber members, as busy as they are in their businesses' daily operations, work diligently towards fulfilling the Chamber's mission--promoting Hawaii's business community.
The Chamber strives to broaden opportunities for Filipino entrepreneurs and member businesses. This is done by conducting seminars and workshops. Lobbying on behalf of small business is also a key component.
The Chamber strengthens business links between Hawaii and the Philippines. The annual trade mission to the Philippines is a key project of the Chamber. In turn, the Chamber has hosted business officials from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Cebu Chamber, and the Baguio Chamber, and government officials from the Departments of Trade & Industry, Tourism, Foreign Affairs, and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, as well as local officials from Baguio, Cavite, Cebu, Laoag, Oriental Mindoro, and Puerto Princessa. The goal is to establish Hawaii as the gateway to the United States and the Philippines as the gateway to Asia.
The Chamber assists in the professional growth of its members with timely and informative speakers. Speakers have included government officials, business consultants, economists, bankers, and health experts. Representatives from the Business Action Center, the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, the Civil Rights Commission, the Honolulu Minority Business Development Center, the Honolulu Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service, the Small Business Administration, the State Department of Education, the U.S. Bureau of Customs, the Waikiki Improvement Association, as well as legal specialists in insurance, labor, tax, immigration, and government forfeiture, have addressed the Chamber.
The Chamber concerns itself with the welfare of the Filipino in Hawaii. To this end, the Chamber and its members have contributed time, efforts and resources to many significant causes in the community over the years, including the initiation of the Filipino Community Center. For as successful as the Chamber and its members have been, the desire to reach out and help others remains a goal of primary importance.
The Chamber now meets on the second Wednesday evening of every month at Dole Cannery in Honolulu. There the members and their guests meet, renew acquaintances, trade stories, and share in the camaraderie generated by the fellowship of business people.
"Man and courage is limited, the horizon unlimited" was the Chamber's motto in the 70's. Throughout the end of the millennium and into the next century, the Chamber continued to progressively broaden its horizon, chartering new territories with new projects. As we look back, it is with a great appreciation of Chamber's history and the foresight of its leaders. Congratulations to all our past presidents and charter members for your contributions these past fifty-three years. We look forward to sustained growth in the years ahead.
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