Question: Whatever happened to the Filipino Community Center’s plan to install a photovoltaic system?
Answer: Gov. Neil Abercrombie presented a $450,000 check to FilCom Center officials Monday
for a photovoltaic system that is expected to reduce electricity costs by at least half. The money was appropriated last year by the Legislature.
FilCom Center President Rose Churma said a committee will select a contractor by the end of June to install the system, which will produce about 114,000 kilowatt hours of power per year or about 40 percent of the center’s current electricity usage. Installation is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Churma said the system will serve as a model to encourage the use of renewable energy within the community.
“It’s an opportunity to educate (on) the importance of recycling, the concept of sustainability,” she said. “The state is one of the strong proponents of alternative sources of energy.”
Board member Manny Lanuevo said the photovoltaic system will not only help the FilCom Center but also neighboring areas.
“We’re grateful for the grant that the governor has awarded the FilCom Center,” he said.
Savings from reduced electricity costs will go toward offsetting the center’s $2.7 million construction loan as well as developing and expanding more programs to benefit the community.
The center already has implemented new programs to promote healthy living. Starting next month, the Nursing Advocates and Mentors Inc. will hold sessions to educate families about healthy diets. The center also recently started offering classes twice a week for Zumba.
Churma said the center plans to collaborate with the Filipino-American Historical Society of Hawaii, which has expressed interest in holding meetings there. The historical society is working on a project to digitally archive old letters and photos of people and the community to preserve the history of Filipinos and educate younger generations about their heritage.
“This is close to my heart,” Churma said.
The FilCom Center celebrated its 10th anniversary in June. More than 20 years ago, grass-roots efforts were initiated to raise money to build the community center in Waipahu. Amfac donated 2 acres of sugar mill land valued at $3 million for the three-story center that spans 50,000 square feet, the largest FilCom Center in the United States.
The first group of Filipino laborers arrived in Hawaii in December 1906 aboard the SS Doric to work in the plantation fields. Throughout the years, Filipino-Americans have gained national attention in politics, entertainment and sports.
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This update was written by Rosemarie Bernardo. Suggest a topic for “Whatever Happened To …” by writing Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-210, Honolulu 96813; call 529-4747; or email cityeditors@staradvertiser.com.
