February 2013

 

By Jenny Alconcel Quezon 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roland Aguilar Pascua, son of the late Felix and Felipa Pascua and Edith Casamina Pascua, the oldest and only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Santos Casamina have been very prominent Filipino Community Center’s Community Relations Team members from the very beginning. They were both appointed by Nic Musico, who was then the Filcom Center Community Relations Team Chairperson, as his Co-Chairs. It was a lot of hard work approaching Filipino organizations, families and friends for donations.

Roland and Edith and their hard working team members even walked house to house requesting support for the Filipino Community Center. They held their first rally in Waialua, where people can submit their donations or pledges to Edith’s brother, Roland Casamina. Roland was then the President spearheading the building of the FilCom Center, along with Vice President Eddie Flores.  They held their weekly Thursday night meetings, in which the Community Relations Team would submit donations and pledges that they collected from Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike.  The group managed to receive a lot of monetary donations.

Roland and Edith agreed to revive what used to be the Community Relations Committee of the FilCom Center to jumpstart the capital campaign.  For starters, the two co-chairs want to reach out to former volunteers and bring them back.  
 
Roland and Edith raised two children, Elaine and Russell, who have blessed them with five wonderful grandchildren (Amber, Preston and Lexi, Royce and Reese), and one great granddaughter (Aria). 
 
Edith is a Sales Coordinator/Customer Service for Hibu, Publisher of Yellowbook  Paradise Pages. Roland just retired from his Roland’s vending and refrigeration services business last year.  He is now enjoying grandparent duty, taking the younger grandchildren to and from school, as well as dropping off baby Aria at the babysitter’s house. Although retired, he still assists his son Russell with the RVR Company.  Even with their very busy schedules in the community, they continue to volunteer at FilCom  Center to teach ballroom dancing as the lead instructors, and practicing diligently for the Himig at Indak choir. 
 
The Himig at Indak’s ballroom group has been credited for raising $30,000 for FilCom Center since their group started volunteering in February 2005. They also participated in the Philippine Consulate’s beautification committee projects since 1997, under the chairmanship of Jenny Quezon.  With their enthusiasm and ability to organize their loyal following, they are able to mobilize at the drop-of-a-hat.  Their active members include:  Ernie and Lydia Pascua, Tess and Jess Quemado, Cielo Oda, Sonny and Cora Rulloda, Bien and Nidia Pascua, Mar and Cris Ugale, Cesar and Tessie Arucan. Since forming Himig at Indak they have also added Arceli Rebollido, Pike Velasco, Gladys Emperador, Vernon Rivera, Orlando and Edel Matias and others, to the roster of volunteers.  (There may be more names we failed to mention, and you know who you are-nevertheless, we thank you for your participation and support.)
 
Roland is a past president of San Nicolas Goodwill Foundation (SNGF) and now serves as an Adviser, and Edith was a past president of Oahu Filipino Community Council (OFCC) for two terms.  She and Roland are now concentrating on all of the activities of SNGF, as well as the FilCom Center, and without hesitation, will offer their services whenever it is needed.

This very popular and charismatic couple agrees to emcee at many important Filipino events and family weddings, birthdays, anniversaries at a moment’s notice if they are available, because they totally enjoy volunteering.  They deserve to be recognized as the Volunteers of the Month for the Filipino Community Center newsletter.  Congratulations and best wishes to our honorees, Edith Casamina Pascua and Roland Aguilar Pascua!