Bill Text: VA HR334 | 2019 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending the Council of United Filipino Organizations of Tidewater, Virginia, Inc.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-2)
Status: (Passed) 2019-02-20 - Bill text as passed House (HR334ER) [HR334 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2019-HR334-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, the Council of United Filipino Organizations of Tidewater, Virginia, Inc., an organization devoted to promoting and preserving Filipino culture, celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2019; and
WHEREAS, the Council of United Filipino Organizations of Tidewater, Virginia, Inc., (CUFOT) was founded to unite and strengthen numerous organizations dedicated to supporting Filipino communities in the region; and
WHEREAS, CUFOT was originally formed by leaders from the Filipino Women's Club; the Batangas Association; the United Ilocano Association of Tidewater; the Bataan Association; the Seafarers, a Filipino veterans organization; and the Pampango Language Club; the organization was officially incorporated in 1979; and
WHEREAS, in 1979, the organization opened the Philippine Cultural Center of Virginia, located in a small ranch house on Baxter Road that was upgraded by volunteer craftsmen, making it functional as a meeting place for community events, parties, and youth and senior citizen groups; and
WHEREAS, in 1980, the organization Filipino-American Veterans of Hampton Roads led the Norfolk Memorial Day parade for the first time; their float carried Nellie Dabu, the reigning Mrs. Philippines and Jennifer Magpoc, the reigning Little Miss Philippines; and
WHEREAS, more programming at CUFOT was added in 1981, including the Annual Cultural Night and the formation of the Youth Division, providing educational programs and folk dance clinics; the Senior Citizens Health and Preventive Care program was formed and a newsletter started; and
WHEREAS, through the 1980s, CUFOT grew and flourished; leadership spearheaded fundraising campaigns that garnered funds to acquire adjacent properties to grow the Philippine Cultural Center of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, in 1998, Dr. Rose deVera Hipol organized an effort to enlist 32 families to sign up as guarantors for CUFOT, leading the bank to release the needed funds to build a modern facility for an updated Philippine Cultural Center of Virginia, and encouraged further fundraising to build a larger, modern facility; and
WHEREAS, in 2000, CUFOT held an opening ceremony for the newly built Philippine Cultural Center of Virginia, with seating capacity for over 1,000 theater-style seats or 600 table-style seats; and
WHEREAS, in the years that followed, numerous other organizations joined CUFOT including the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, the Philippine Nurses Association of Hampton Roads, Quezonians, and Circulo Tarlaqueno and Zambales Association; and
WHEREAS, to Filipino Americans in Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads, CUFOT and the Philippine Cultural Center of Virginia are the icons of Filipino unity and a source of pride as well as a legacy of the hardworking Filipino immigrant families that came to America throughout the 20th century to realize their dreams; and
WHEREAS, over the years, numerous members of the Filipino community have invested countless hours of their time in the well-being and development of CUFOT and in bringing it to its iconic and esteemed status today; and
WHEREAS, CUFOT has had an impact on the community, Virginia, and beyond; the Virginia General Assembly acknowledged Philippine Independence Day in 2008 and thereafter; the community has received recognition from the Bayaning Pilipino Awards, former Filipino president Joseph Estrada, and the Association of Philippine Physicians in America; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Council of United Filipino Organizations of Tidewater, Virginia, Inc., hereby be commended on the occasion of its 40th anniversary; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Council of United Filipino Organizations of Tidewater, Virginia, Inc., as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the organization's continued growth and its persistent dedication to maintaining Filipino culture.
