WORDS OF FAREWELL TO PHILIP ARGEL ALCAIN

EXPRESSION
OF FRIENDSHIP
TO
PHILIP ALCAIN

Felipe Argel Alcain
Born: Sept 13, 1941, Cabaroan West, Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Died: Nov 3, 2011, Pali Momi, Aiea, Hawaii
Age: 70

UFCH Progress Awardee in Community and Volunteer Service, 2010

A Biblical passage: And God Lord formed man of dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breathe of life, and a man became a living soul
[Genesis: 2:7]

And from that generation, and after generation to another, Felipe Argel Alcain, was born in Cabaroan West, Vigan, Ilocos Sur, on Sept 13, 1941, and lived with us in the community for many years, and his active and productive life.

Tonight, we are gathered here to share our sympathies and deep condolences to his passing.

Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult things we can possibly go through – and grieving is nothing but normal reaction to this.

It was October 31 when I was able to talk to him, asking me if I have enough volunteers for the feeding the homeless that afternoon. I told him, not to think about the feeding, we have enough like the Abinsay, Agas, Alimboyoguen, Jeremiah, Velasco, Sabangan, Ramirez and others.

I told him to take care of himself: Karuam ti agpalaing, Ka Philip.

For the whole project since the UFCH/OFCC and partner organizations started this about 3 years, he never missed any single last Monday of the month – in short, has a perfect attendance.

Rummuarakto no Sabado, kinunana. [I’ll be out from the hospital on Saturday – that was supposed to be November 5]

My role is to share you, some highlights of his personal and public life, partial as I known him. I believe, other speakers will say more about Manong Philip as they know him too.

I have known Manong Philip since the early 70’s since he, as I do, have gotten involved with the Filipino community in Hawaii.

PARTIAL HIGHLIGHTS AND MEMORABLE INCIDENTS

· June 2007 OFCC Convention – We both elected as Director, I got the highest vote and he got second a difference of 15 votes – One delegate has said: they got elected because they’re the trash collectors – Adopt a hwy project. So what? Trust because of our action, not in word
· July 2009 UFCH Molokai Convention same room with me and other delegate at the Molokai Hotel. We both delegate at the Kaunakakai Molokai convention 2009-same room with other delegate
· July 2010 UFCH Convention in Lahaina, Maui- same room with Ben Cabreros and myself.

· We both served as UFCH Board of Governors, his role is ‘second the motion’
· Never missed any single month in the feed the homeless
· He served as my alarm clock in every activity we chair and co-chair
· He remember things as I do, and
· He was my Senior coffee buddy at McDonald-Waipahu, he loved black coffee
· Securing the spot at the park, early in the morning
· Chicken, bangus, longanisa fundraising, other kinds of fundraising for the community
· You can rely on him
· Most of the time on convention time: OFCC or UFCH, served as a Marshall, Sergeant at arm or Parking lot attendant

He always willing, able and ready to give his time and contribute the best he can share. From picking up trash along the highway, the Kalihi street, in particular, to secure parking, to escort a princess or a runner-up, unload, unpack, and pack a cooked huli huli chicken during fundraising event, carry a cases of drinks, bottled water, to the table of board meetings, Philip is always someone you can depend on because he believes action is better than idea, to deliver result.

When UFCH looking for nominees for the 2010 Progress Award, this is how I put in his nomination papers for the Community and Volunteer Service Award:

· A role model to his family and two children, a loving a caring father and husband
· As a Volunteer, he is dependable, reliable and committed.
· Volunteerism as an act of giving time, talent and treasure, provide services without any expressed or implied promise of remuneration, but giving free time, at free will, for the benefit of others
· An achiever and a doer.

Philip is a people person – man of commitment with his spirit and action of Voluntarism. He has been and always shown his WAR attitude: Willingness, availability and readiness in serving into various responsible positions from Molokai Filipino Community Council, Oahu Filipino Community Council, Ilocos Surian Assn of Hawaii, Vigan Assn of Hawaii, Sons & Daughters of San Esteban, Fil-Am Sports, and many others.

His physical presence and his positive attitude and willingness to help is an outstanding contributions to the progress in accomplishing a certain goals and projects made him unique and outstanding citizen.

I was even criticized why I nominated him. But, I have a valid and legitimate reasons, with a strong and firm belief that he deserved such a recognition for his outstanding contributions.

But Everything has a season

Every thing there is a season, and time to every purpose, under the heaven. Eclessiastes 3:1-8]

Time to be born, time to plant, to harvest
To mourn, to laugh, to weep

And to celebrate

To die and to rest

Morir es descansar, Dr. Jose P. Rizal wrote in his Mi Ultimo Adios[Last Farewell]

For dust thou art,
and unto dust shall thou return
Genesis 3: 19

In your hand, O, Lord, we commend your servant Philip Alcain.

May he rest in peace

[I delivered at the Wake Service on December 5, 2011 at the Mililani Mauka Chapel, Mililani Mortuary. Other speakers: Emmie Anderson, Maria Lucy Pascual, Jun Abinsay, Eddie Agas, Sr., Cindy Aquino representing Rep Henry Aquino, Councilman Romy Cachola.]
















Felipe Argel Alcain
Date of Birth: Sept 13, 1941, Vigan, Ilocos Sur
Died: Nov 3, 2011, Pali Momi, Aiea, Hawaii
Age: 70

UFCH Progress Awardee in Community and Volunteer Service, 2010

A son of a 1946 Sakada from Cabaroan West, Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, Felipe, popularly called “Philip” by friends and associates, arrived in Hawaii on May 8,1967 and lived in the “Friendly Isle”, the Island of Molokai to join his father. He immediately welcomed by the Molokai Filipino Community Council and became active for several months and decided to move to Oahu.

In Oahu, he then joined the Oahu Filipino Community Council and served in various responsible positions and committees. Philip is always visible, available and flexible to the call of volunteer service, consistent and committed.

He always willing, able and ready to give his time and contribute the best he can share. From picking up trash along the highway, the Kalihi street, in particular, to secure parking, to escort a princess or a runner-up, unload, unpack, and pack a cooked huli huli chicken during fundraising event, carry a cases of drinks, bottled water, to the table of board meetings, Philip is always someone you can depend on because he believes action is better than idea, to deliver result.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION

· Member, Molokai Filipino Community Council, 1967
· Treasurer, Oahu Filipino Community Council, 1968-69
· Director, Oahu Filipino Community Council, 1969-70
· Director, Oahu Filipino Community Council, 1983-85
· Director, Oahu Filipino Community Council, 1985-87
· Director, Oahu Filipino Community Council, 1988-90
· Auditor, Oahu Filipino Community Council, 1990-92
· Auditor, Oahu Filipino Community Council, 1993-95
· Auditor, Oahu Filipino Community Council, 1996-98
· Director, Oahu Filipino Community Council, 2007-08
· Board of Governors, United Filipino Council 2008-10

Co-organizer, Lapogueneos of Hawaii
PRO, Sgt-at arms, Director, Vigan Association of Hawaii
Sgt at arm, Ilocos Surian Association of Hawaii
2nd vice president, San Estebanians of Hawaii
PRO, Sons & Daughters of San Esteban of Hawaii
Secretary-Treasurer, Fil-Am Sports USA

COMMUNITY SERVICE AND VOLUNTEER WORKS

· OFCC/UFCH Adopt a Hwy Clean Up Project
· OFCC/UFCH Feeding the Homeless
· OFCC/UFCH Graffiti Buster Project
· OFCCUFCH Hawaii Food Bank Campaign Drive
· US CENSUS 2010 “Filipinos Count” US Dept of Commerce
· OFCC/UFCH/COVO/FilComCenter Fundraising Drive for Typhoon Ondoy and Peping Victims
· Ilocos Surian Fundraising Drive for Typhoon Feria and other Disaster and Natural Calamities Victims
· Ilocos Surian Fundraising Drive for Miss/Mrs Ilocos Surian and Homecoming and Medical Mission to Ilocos
· Other Ways and Means projects and activities, include but not limited to: Miss Hawaii Filipina, Mrs. Hawaii Filipina, Miss Teen Hawaii, Miss Oahu Filipina and other fundraising for scholarship and other in good cause.

EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND

He left his Regional Director position from the Bureau of Commerce, Manila, Philippines as he immigrated to Hawaii on May 8, 1967. In Hawaii, he was Accounting Clerk at the Phil-Am Life Insurance Company, Honolulu, Hawaii. Bookkeeper at Bitumuls and Commercial Shelving Company. Stock Clerk at Hawaiian Houseware and retired in 1997.

He worked at Don Quijote Store as a parttime Warehouse and Logistic personnel.

FAMILY AND PERSONAL

Felipe Alcain was happily married to former Josie Salamat from San Esteban, Ilocos Sur and blessed with two [2] children: Annalisa and August.

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

He earned his Bachelor of Science and Business Administration degree from the Far Eastern University, Manila, 1963

I wrote these profile as interviewed Philip when I nominated him to UFCH Progress Award 2010 October 2010

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