HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

8

TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

RECOGNIZING AND HONORING MAYOR MARIA CRISTINA C. ANGELES AND THE TARLAC CITY GOVERNMENT DELEGATION ON THEIR GOODWILL VISIT TO HAWAII AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF HAWAII PHILIPPINE CONSUL GENERAL DR. GINA ALAGON JAMORALIN FOR ENHANCING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE STATE OF HAWAII AND PROMOTING THE CULTURE, HISTORY, HERITAGE, AND SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OF FILIPINO PEOPLE IN HAWAII.

 

 

 

                WHEREAS, the United States of America and the Republic of the Philippines will benefit tremendously from the promotion of international friendship and understanding and the accomplishment of lasting peace and prosperity; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii has a particular interest in promoting ties, friendship, and goodwill with the Philippines because there are a large number of persons of Filipino descent who reside in the State of Hawaii, contribute significantly to the prosperity and development of the State, and desire to maintain close cultural, commercial, and financial bonds with their relatives, friends, and business counterparts living in the Philippines; and

 

     WHEREAS, furthermore, the Legislature of the State of Hawaii has passed laws on matters of interest to the Philippines such as land use, conservation of environmental and natural resources, alternative and renewable energy sources, water and sewerage management, juvenile justice, education, public health, mass transportation, housing, and tourism; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2012, the State of Hawaii signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation with the League of Cities of the Philippines, a non-profit corporation created by the Eighth Congress of the Republic of the Philippines to seek opportunities for cooperation in the fields of economics, trade, culture, education, health, tourism, and environmental protection to benefit economic and social development of cities in the Philippines; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii and the League of Cities of the Philippines share common goals of fostering strong and effective local governments, developing good relations, and sharing knowledge and capacities amongst city and local governments of different countries; and

 

     WHEREAS, Tarlac City serves as the capital city of the Province of Tarlac in the Central Luzon region in the Philippines and is a member of the League of Cities of the Philippines; and

 

WHEREAS, formally founded in 1788, Tarlac City is the most multicultural city in the region and is best known for its fine foods and vast sugar and rice plantations, beautifully landscaped golf courses, museums, festivals, and ancient architectural buildings; it is home to the world-renowned San Sebastian Cathedral making the city one of the most desired tourist destinations; and

 

WHEREAS, in 2016, Maria Cristina C. Angeles was elected the first female mayor in the history of the city, and is committed to promoting the ideals and goals of the Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation that strengthen the political, social, and economic relations between the State of Hawaii and Tarlac City; and

 

WHEREAS, a delegation consisting of the Mayor of the City of Tarlac, Council Members, and other government officials are traveling on a goodwill mission to Hawaii from January 21-26, 2018, to participate in a working tour and a forum for the exchange of ideas in the areas of tourism, disaster preparedness, and other issues with Hawaii state and city government officials, business and industry, and the Filipino community of Hawaii; and

 

WHEREAS, while in Hawaii, the delegation will also visit cultural and historic sites such as Pearl Harbor, the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Arizona Memorial, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, and experience the natural beauty and hospitality of our island state and people; and

 

WHEREAS, Dr. Gina A. Jamoralin is a native of Aklan, Philippines, and attended the University of the Philippines in Manila where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics (1979-1983) and Master Public Administration (1984-1986); she also earned her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila (2006), and her Master of Business Administration from McGill University, Tokyo (2009-2011), and completed her postgraduate diploma in international relations from the Institute of Social Studies, The Hague, The Netherlands (January – May 1995); and

 

WHEREAS, prior to her post in Honolulu, Dr. Gina A. Jamoralin served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo, Japan, from 2006-2012, and Secretary and Consul at the Philippine Embassy in Bucharest, Romania, from 1995-2003; and

 

WHEREAS, Dr. Gina A. Jamoralin was appointed to the diplomatic post in Honolulu as Hawaii Philippine Consul General in July 2014 and has played a significant role in enhancing relations between the State of Hawaii and the Republic of the Philippines and promoting the culture, history, heritage, and significant impact of Filipino people in Hawaii; and

 

WHEREAS, in 2015, Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin was integral in the passage of Act 7, which designated December 20 of each year as Sakada Day in Hawaii to commemorate the memory and sacrifices of the first Filipino sakadas in Hawaii and to recognize their contributions and role in Hawaii's cultural history and diversity; and

 

WHEREAS, the Philippine Consulate General of Honolulu, under the leadership of Chief of Mission, Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin, will host an aloha welcome dinner to honor and recognize the TARLAC CITY GOVERNMENT DELEGATION on Tuesday, January 23, 2018; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, that this body hereby recognizes and honors Mayor Maria Cristina C. Angeles and the TARLAC CITY GOVERNMENT DELEGATION and Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin for their work and commitment to promoting international friendship and understanding between the people of the Philippines and the State of Hawaii, and extends its warmest aloha and best wishes for continued success in all future endeavors.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Recognizing and honoring Mayor Maria Cristina C. Angeles and the Tarlac City Government Delegation on their goodwill visit to Hawaii and the accomplishments and contributions of the Hawaii Philippine Consul General Dr. Gina Alagon Jamoralin for enhancing relations between the Republic of the Philippines and the State of Hawaii and promoting the culture, history, heritage, and significant impact of the Filipino people in Hawaii