THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY CENTER IN WAIPAHU RAISES MORE THAN $150,000 FROM THE 11TH ANNUAL FILCOM CENTER GALA DINNER AND SILENT AUCTION Plans underway to be an active partner in the Hawaii community for all Philippine disaster relief efforts in the wake of Super Typhoon Haiyan

"Sharing Memorable Moments with Emme Tomimbang & Friends" on November 9th benefited the Filipino Community Center (FilCom Center), which held its 11th annual Gala Dinner and Silent Auction in Waipahu. Proceeds from the fundraising event will go to community programs for the elderly and youth in not only the Filipino community, but also the community at large.

"FilCom Center was not only able to successfully raise funds for its various programs, but also to gain the much needed visibility for this center including the Casamina-Flores Ballroom as an ideal choice for a special events venue," said Rose Cruz Churma, president and COO, Filipino Community Center. "Emme's special touch to bring out the best in people is a gift," added Churma, who noted that 600 people attended the sold out event.

"We want to thank veteran journalist Emme Tomimbang, whom we honored that evening for her many decades of community service, for her ability to elevate the visibility of the FilCom Center in Waipahu," said Edmund Aczon, chairman of the FilCom Center Board of Directors. "Emme's stature in the community was able to attract an eclectic group of individuals from celebrities, entertainers, elected, corporate, and religious leaders to justices of Hawaii court.

"It was a magical night seeing all my friends in the audience. After all, my husband Jim Burns and I have been through to survive personal medical challenges, we felt the evening was truly a celebration of life," said Emme Tomimbang Burns. "It was such an honor and a privilege to support the FilCom Center and bring people who wouldn't otherwise have ventured to this historic plantation town of Waipahu in order to see this beautiful center inspired by colonial Spanish design.

Celebrity chefs Alan Wong, Roy Yamaguchi, DK Kodama, Philippe and Pierre Padovani, Paul Rivera created Filipino inspired dishes with the help from Derek Wong, Darryl Shinogi, and culinary students from Leeward Community College, Kapiolani Community College and Hawaii Pacific University joined in to assist. Event Chair was Elias Beniga with event co-chairs former Hawaii First Lady Vicky Cayetano and Maya Soetoro-Ng, who read a personal note her brother U.S. President Barack Obama had sent. He quipped how he used to watch Emme on television when he was a student at Punahou School. He joined others to congratulate both Jim and Emme for their big night at FilCom Center.  

Continuous live entertainment included Jasmine Trias of American Idol fame and her boyfriend Ben Stone-for their first island duet, Kristian Lei, Jimmy Borges and Jordan Segundo, another American Idol.

Emcees from Steve Uyehara of HawaiiNewsNow, Augie T, Brickwood Galuteria, Carole Kai, Kimo Kahoano to Al Waterson kept the evening's lively momentum.

Special guests were the daughters of Leonard Freeman who created the original Hawaii 5-0. Lisa, Robin, and Susan Freeman traveled to Honolulu from Los Angeles and hosted a table for the members of the classic Hawaii police television drama: Al Harrington, Kimo Kahoano, Jimmy Borges and Dennis Chun. Current Hawaii 5-0 executive producer Peter Lenkov who was unable to attend had sent a message congratulating Emme.

The Filcom Center work continues with fundraising efforts. Emme along with members of the FilCom Center Board of Directors will be gearing up for yet another fundraising event -this time for the Filipino victims devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan. FilCom Center will be accepting checks and partnering up with Consuelo Foundation, a non-governmental organization (NGO) with offices located in Honolulu and the Philippines. They will help to raise, secure, and disseminate funds directly to the survivors. The FilCom Center is also involved with "Aloha Philippines," which will receive checks for the typhoon victims through financial institutions: Bank of Hawaii, First Hawaiian Bank, American Savings Bank, and Central Pacific Bank.