The group started in February 2005 providing ballroom dancing instruction at the FilCom Center under the initiative of the first three volunteer couples–Roland and Edith Pascua, Jess and Tess Quemado and Ernie and Lydia Pascua. In the beginning, there were about 15 students enrolled in the ballroom dancing. The group decided to add Filipino folk dances to the repertoire with the recruitment of Ray Rausa, a folk dancing instructor. Two years later, with Leo Delgado’s musical talent, singing was also added to the repertoire. Thus the group’s name of Himig at Indak–Himig for singing and Indak for dancing-aptly describes the group. The Himig has been continuously active with the direction of the very talented Maestro Rafael “Pike” Velasco. The Indak is now headed by the very popular and generous couple, Roland and Editha Pascua.
The Himig at Indak group has been volunteering for more than eight (8) years now, doing ballroom dancing classes and choir rehearsals at FilCom every Tuesday and Sunday evenings. The group also performs at events held by community and Filipino organizations and private parties at no charge. During the March FilCom Sundays’ episode, the group showcased their talents to the community. The title of the event was Salubong – an Easter Presentation and they did an awesome job.
The group charges $10 monthly from participants and all of the fees generated are transmitted to FilCom like other program fees. Expenses by the group are also drawn from the fees collected. Since July 2013, the Himig at Indak’sballroom group has been credited for raising more than $40,000 in revenues for the FilCom Center since February 2005.
Even with their very busy schedules at work and family, the Himig at Indak group consistently volunteers at FilCom events-as ballroom dancing instructors or students, choir participant, performer or other roles that benefit the FilCom Center.
The Himig at Indak active members are:
ROLAND & EDITH PASCUA: Roland just retired from his Roland’s vending and refrigeration services business while Edith works at The Berry Company as sales support specialist. Roland and Edith are one of the couples who started Ballroom Instruction with the FilCom Center. Roland and Edith act as the ballroom head instructors. Both of them are also members of the choir, Roland sings base and Edith sings alto.
JESS & TESS QUEMADO: Jess is an engineer who retired from a federal job and Tess worked at the FilCom Center as administrative assistant for eight years. Jess and Tess are one of the couples who started Ballroom Dancing at FilCom. Jess is one of the Advisers while Tess is the Secretary. Tess is also a member of choir and sings soprano.
ERNIE & LYDIA PASCUA: Ernie is an engineer at Mechanical Engineer of Hawaii Corporation and Lydia works with State of Hawaii as a nurse at Halawa Correctional Facility. Ernie and Lydia are one of the couples who started Ballroom at FilCom and both act as the group’s Advisers. Both Ernie & Lydia are members of the Choir, Ernie sings base while Lydia sings soprano.
RAFAEL “PIKE” VELASCO: Maestro Pike is a retired school principal and music coordinator in the Philippines and currently a teacher at August Ahrens Elementary School. He is the music and artistic director of FilCom, conductor of the Himig at Indak Choir, Banda Kawayan and the Children’s Choir.
ARCELI REBOLLIDO: Arceli is the program director of the FilCom Center. She joined the Himig at Indak group in 2006; she now serves as the treasurer for the Himig at Indak ballroom dancing since Tess retired at FilCom. Arceli is also a member of the choir and sings soprano. She is also an instructor of the Banda Kawayan.
SONNY & CORAZON RULLODA:Sonny works at Dole Plantation and Cora works at Liberty Dialysis as chemo tech. They are both instructors of the Ballroom Dancing. They have been teaching ballroom dance to a different group before they became volunteer instructors of the Himig at Indak ballroom. Sonny and Cora are also members of the choir, Sonny sings tenor and Cora sings alto.
CIELITO ODA: Cielo used to work as sales clerk at Fan Shop. She has been volunteering from the beginning as Instructor of ballroom dancing. She sings alto for the choir. Cielo is also a member of the Banda Kawayan.
BIEN & NIDIA PASCUA: Bien works at Ala Moana Hotel as Steward and Nidia works at Queens Medical Center as Instrument Tech. They started volunteering as instructors for the ballroom dancing since the beginning. They are also both members of the Choir. Bien sings base while Nidia sings soprano.
MAR & CRISTETA UGALE: Mar works at Aston Pacific Monarch Hotel as AOAO maintenance and Cris works at Ala Moana Hotel as rooms control clerk. They started volunteering as instructors for the ballroom dancing since the beginning and also members of the choir. Mar sings tenor and Cris sings alto.
CESAR & TESSIE ARUCAN: Cesar works with the City and County of Honolulu Waste Water Treatment Plant as an operator and Tessie is a nurse at Kuakini Medical Center. They are both members for the ballroom dancing and choir. Cesar sings tenor and Tess sings alto.
ASTRID GLADYS E. EMPERADOR: Gladys joined the
group in 2009. She works at the Law Office of Atty. Vernon Rivera as Paralegal and also a piano teacher. She serves as the pianist of the Himig at Indak choir.
VERNON P. RIVERA: Vernon, the legal adviser of the group, joined Himig at Indak in 2008. He is a lawyer in profession and he is also a war veteran.
DOMI & VECY PASCUAL: This couple first joined the ballroom dancing and then choir when started in 2007. Domy sings base and Vecy sings soprano. They are both retired accountant with the federal, Vecy at US Army Corps of Engineer and Domy at Defense Finance and Accounting.
EDDIE ROSARIO: Eddie works at Aston Hotel Waikiki Sunset as maitenance. He is a volunteer instructor for the Himig at Indak ballroom dancing.
VIRGINIA LEANO: Virgie joined choir in December 2011 and the ballroom dancing few years earlier. She retired for the City and County of Honolulu Building Department as building plan checker. Virgie sings soprano.
ORLANDO & EDEL MATIAS: Orlando and Edel first joined the choir in March 2012 and joined ballroom dancing few months after. Orlando is an engineer, contractor and a business owner and Edel is a retired nurse and case manager. This couple owns the O&E Matias Electrical Services. Orlando sings tenor and Edel sings soprano. Edel is also an active member of the Banda Kawayan.
ELISEO & ANDREA AGUADA: They both joined the choir in June 2012. Eli is a businessman and Andrea is a retired bank employee. Eli sings tenor and can also play guitar. Andrea sings soprano.
RAMON SUMIBCAY: Because of his passion in music, Ramon joined the choir in October 2012. He is a retired US Army and now a care home operator. He is the guitarist of the group, sings tenor and he can also play piano.
CHERRIE CRUZ: Cherrie joined the choir in April 2012, she sings soprano. Cherrie is a couturier; she made all the choir ladies gowns.
RAY RAUSA: Started from the beginning teaching folk dancing to teenagers from Waipahu Intermediate and Waipahu High School. It was Ray’s idea on naming the group as “Himig at Indak”.