1996 OUTSTANDING KABAYAN AWARD

The Filipino-American Association of Western Connecticut was formally founded in the summer of 1995, which everybody expects to officially represent the Philipipines in various civic and local community activities, such as the Greater Danbury Ethnic Festival. But in reality, the Philippines has always been represented in this multi-national gathering for the last 15 years by this person’s initiative. She, with the help of a few Filipino families, consistently organized a decent and modest representation of the Philippines to this annual event in Danbury, years before the existence of the FAAWC, maintaining a permanent seat in the city’s Danbury Ethnic Festival organizing committee. Mga Kababayan and guests, now that we have a formal organization, we look back and recognize the personal effort of Josie Rodriguez, for years of filling-in an important role that our association would have done had it existed during those years. For this, Josie, a long-overdue recognition from all of us, an Outstanding Kabayan Award for you."

 
Mila Manlongat
FAAWC Board of Directors