The Congress of Visayan Organizations (a.k.a. the Visayan Congress), the umbrella of Visayan organizations in Hawaii, was initially organized in 1985 as the Visayan League through the efforts of several individuals: then Philippine Consul General Raul Rabe, the late Honolulu city council chair and state representative Rudy Pacarro, former state representative Bernaldo Bicoy, the late Antonio Ypil, Sr., the late Fr. Jaime Neri, the late Ricardo Labez, and Firmo Dayao, among others. It was incorporated as a Hawaii non-profit corporation on February 9, 1988, adopting its current corporate name from the suggestion of the late ambassador Juan Dionisio.

COVO's objectives are: to organize and unify the several Visayan organizations in Hawaii, to perpetuate the Visayan language and cultural traditions, and to assist in the educational, social, and economic advancement of Visayans in the larger Hawaii community.

As an inclusive body, COVO has affiliates from about 20 independent unit member organizations statewide. It is governed by a Board of Governors, which consists of the President, other executive officers, area governors and presidents of the Island Councils. COVO holds an annual convention and elects its officers every two years. Its past presidents include: Firmo Dayao, Corazon Roa, the late Gerry Minoza (in an acting capacity), the late Rudolph Pacarro, Nic Musico (in an acting capacity); Dr. Danelo Cafiete; Atty. Bernaldo Bicoy (three terms), Dr. Serafin Colmenares, Jr. (two terms), and Benjamin Sanchez Jr. Its current president is Margarita Hopkins from the Big Island.

To promote Visayan unity and maintain contact, COVO publishes a quarterly newsletter and hosts a weekly radio program on KNDI. Preserving the Visayan language and culture is an important objective. COVO has hosted or co-sponsored the observance of festivals, cultural performances, martial arts and other activities to showcase Visayan culture, and has always worked for the inclusion of Visayan songs and dances in Filipino community events. It supports a rondalla group and the holding of Visayan language classes. COVO recently passed a resolution to explore the possibility of offering courses on Bisaya language and culture at University of Hawaii campuses. It also has a college scholarship program giving $1,000 each to six students annually. It has also hosted delegations from the Visayan and Mindanao regions.

To recognize the achievements of Filipinos of Visayan ancestry in Hawaii, COVO initiated the biennial Lapu-Lapu Awards in 2002.

COVO likewise has been active politically through its Committee on Political Education (COPE) especially through the activities of its chairman emeritus, the late Antonio Ypil. It has hosted legislative breakfasts and engaged in lobbying at the state legislature and city council to support, among others, tax reforms, minimum wage increases, funding proposals for youth programs, immigration issues, cultural and civic observances, veterans rights, and the commemoration of the solo voyage of the intrepid Florentino Das, who stunned the world in 1954 by sailing in his homemade wooden boat from Honolulu to Siargao Island in Mindanao, Philippines.

COVO was also responsible for the establishment of Hawaii sister relationships with Cebu City and Province, which have led to various business, cultural and educational exchanges. It has assisted in humanitarian efforts for the victims of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption, the Dona Paz collision, and other disasters in the Philippines. It has also collaborated with the Philippine Consulate General, the Filipino Community Center and other community organizations on various projects. It currently spearheads several historical and cultural activities as part of the forthcoming 2006 Filipino centennial celebration. These include, among others, the Santo Nino Cultural Festival (Ati-Atihan, Dinagyang, and Sinulog), the commemoration of the 1954-55 voyage of Florentino Das, the 3 rd Lapu-Lapu Awards, the laying of a marker honoring the victims of the 1924 Hanapepe Massacre, and the Hawaii statewide tour of the Integrated Performing Arts Guild (IPAG) from MSU-IIT in Mindanao, Philippines.

For further information about COVO, please contact Jun Colmenares at (808) 485-0390 or Margarita Hopkins at (808) 938-0474, or visit the COVO web site at www.visayancongress.org.

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