Sen. Risa Hontiveros delivers the keynote address. (Photo by Bobby Crisostomo)

By Louinn Lota / Contributor 

  

GARDEN GROVE, California – Philippine Sen. Risa Hontiveros called the greater Los Angeles Filipino community, which is the largest in the United States, a hub of creativity where generations of FilAm children can grow up with a powerful sense of their heritage, during a celebration of the 126th anniversary of Philippine Independence from Spain. 

   “In the vibrant spirit of bayanihan (heroism), to celebrate the independence our forefathers gave to us, let’s count on the remarkable achievements of Filipinos in L.A. to make a home away from home for generations of Filipino Americans,” she told an audience of more than 700 who gathered at the Hyatt Regency in Garden Grove, Calif., Saturday, June 15, in a grand gala fundraiser put on by Kalayaan Inc. Philippine Independence was declared on June 12, 1898.  

   The senator is a mother of four children and chairs the Senate committee on women and children. 

  

Kalayaan Inc.’s Erlinda Granada-Sabah, president and chair, gave the welcome remarks that reminded gala goers that “education is the only inheritance that we can leave our children that won’t be stolen but that can always be shared.” She also showcased what the gala money would aid. 

   One of Kalayaan Inc.’s charities is Mary Queen of Heaven Missionaries, a Roman Catholic association of the faithful founded in 1996 by seven lay women who became religious sisters and recognized by the Church about four years later for its outreach to Filipina women and girls, some as young as 8-years-old, who are survivors of sex trafficking and sex work. The other non-profit is Feed2Succeed, run by teenagers (daughters of Edwin and Dr. Lani Raquel), who hope to save malnourished Filipino kids.

   Rev. Fr. Lazaro Revilla, Pastor of Saint Mariana de Paredes, Pico Rivera, CA, offered the invocation.

  Entertainment included pieces from the first Filipino opera, Karim at Jasmin, by composer Dr. Ramon Sison Geluz, showing Saturday, June 29, 2024, at the Wilshire Ebell Theater. The national anthems of the United States and Philippines were sung by duos Joules and Ava Recana, and Alyssa and Mariah Mabasa, respectively. Mark Mabasa sang “Paraluman,” a Harana sa mga Dilag to three beauty queens, all Bicolanas: Mutya ng Kalayaan Ocean Malaia Churchill; Binibining Kalayaan Jannah France Napoles Orbita; and Ginang Kalayaan Maria Corazon Torres Koh.   

   Master of Ceremonies was Jannelle So-Perkins of So Jannelle Productions.

Emcees Lydia V. Solis, Noel Omega and Janelle So-Perkins
Kalayaan Officers, Dilags ng Kalayaan and past presidents join Sen. Risa Hontiveros in singing the Philippine National Anthem (Photo by Joe Cobilla)
Officers and members of the Fil_am Chambers of Commerce (Photo by Bobby Crisostomo)
Support from Philwomenians, from left: Connie Buenaventura, Reggi Tercero, Lolly Enrile, and Joyce Angcog (pPhoto by Gem Enrile)
 
Sen. Hontiveros poses with the Recana family:  Alexis, Ava, (Sen. Risa), Joules, Judge Julian Recana, and Bing dela Vega. 
Mga Dilag ng Kalayaan 2024: Ocean, Cora and Jannah  (Photo by Bobby Crisostomo)
Kalayaan officers and past presidents
A preview of the first Filipino opera “Karim and Jazmin”
Marines from the U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Station (Westminster, CA) act as Color Guard, headed by Sgt. Stephanie Becerra, with former KI Board Member Archie Calunod. (Photo by Bobby Crisostomo)
Cerritos Councilmember Frank Yokoyama, his mom Chit Yokoyama, Cerritos Commissioner Gloria Pulido, former Cerritos Mayor Mark Pulido, Marisse Abelgas, and Philippine Post Publisher-Editor Val G. Abelgas (Photo by Marc Pijuan)
Jessica Caloza and Sen. Risa Hontiveros