The FilCom Timeline

September 1992

The Filipino Community Center Inc. is incorporated as a Hawaii nonprofit corporation with Roland Casamina as president/director Mario Ramil as vice president Lito Alcantra as secretary/director, Felipe Abinsay, Jr. as treasurer/director and Stanley Suyat as director.

March 1993

The planning committee adopts the mission statement: "To establish a community center which will preserve and perpetuate the Filipino culture for all of Hawaii."

May 1993

The first Filipino Fiesta at Kapiolani Park under the leadership of Eddie Flores, Jr.

August 1993

The inaugural "Tee off a Dream" gold tournament to raise funds for the Center.

May 1994

The Internal Revenue Service grants the Center a 501(3) tax exempt status.

August 1994

The Center begins discussions with AMFAC for the donation of a two-acre parcel on Oahu Sugar land.

October 1994

The City begins planning for a Special Area Plan for Waipahu.

January 1996

The board of directors is expanded: Lito Acantra, Barbara Watson-Andaya, Robin Campaniano, Roland Casamina, Randall Chang, Eddie Flores, Jr. Chris Kanazawa, Patty Lyons, Helen Nagtalon-Miller, Walter Tagawa, Andre Tatibouet, Tom Uechi and Annette Yamaguchi.

February 1996
The City Council adopts the Waipahu Town Plan which includes a Filipino community center on the site of the old Waipahu sugar mill.

May 1998

Mayor Harris approves the award of federal community development block grant funds.

May 1999

Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo, world renowned architects, volunteers its services to design the 50,000 square-foot, three-story FilCom Center.

May 2000

Western Engineering is selected as general contractor.

May 2000

Governor Cayetano approves release of $1.5 million appropriated by the state legislature for the construction of the FilCom Center.

March 2001

Groundbreaking ceremonies.

June 2002

Grand Opening of the Filipino Community Center.