Hawaii Filipino Women’s Club celebrates International Women’s Day with terno ball

(Left to right) Letty Saban, President of HFWC; Governor Neil Abercrombie; Vice Consul Joyleen E. Santos, Chona Montesinos Sonido; Dr. Cecile Sebastian; Kristian Lei; Edna Alikpala; Glayds Agsalud; Dr. Aida Ramiscal Martin and Mayor Kirk Caldwell. (Photo credit: Contemporary Photo Hawaii)

The Hawaii Filipino Women’s Club, in celebration of the International Women’s Day, held its 60^th Anniversary and the 40^th  Annual Terno Ball last March 8 at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii.  A much-awaited event, the “Terno Ball” is held annually to reinforce Philippine traditions and to present the positive image of the Filipina as she wears the traditional Filipino dress. Guest speakers included Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Vice Consul Joyleen E. Santos of the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu.

The event also featured the awarding of six (6) outstanding Filipino-American women achievers in their respective fields: (1) Kristian Lei for Arts and Entertainment; (2) Gladys Agsalud for Business Entrepreneurship; (3) Edna Alikpala for Community Service and Volunteerism; (4) Dr. Aida Ramiscal Martin for Education; (5) Chona Montesines Sonido for Journalism; and (6) Dr. Cecile Sebastian for Medicine.

President of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii Maria Etrata and Mayor Caldwell were declared as Best in Terno and Best in Barong Tagalog, respectively.

Article and photo courtesy of DFA press release, 18 March 2014.