RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM Members of Pedoy's School of Escrima, a martial art using bamboo sticks, practiced Thursday at the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu. They meet at the center Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m.

Creating a high-energy
cultural hub

An ex-city budget wiz helps
salvage a dream in Waipahu

When Soledad Alconcel died in 1976, family members discovered a $65,000 insurance policy she left behind to build a Filipino cultural center.

As the founder of the Philippine Cultural Foundation in Hawaii, Alconcel believed Hawaii needed a gathering place to represent her culture.

Her policy would eventually help cover part of the $14.2 million in construction costs for the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu, which opened in June 2002.

But it takes more than good intentions to operate an expensive cultural center. Even as the first concrete flowed, financial troubles hampered the effort.

Filipino community leaders soon realized that it is one thing to build something, and another to keep it running.

Known as the FilCom Center, it faced problems long before it opened. In December 2000 it was named in a lawsuit involving landownership. Fund-raisers to help pay for the construction of FilCom were forced to be put on hold, and grants could not be collected. The lawsuit was finally settled in March 2004.

But turnover in executive directors and staff, along with the initial absence of volunteers, added to the problem.

And in a twist of irony, no meetings were being held at a center whose prime objective was to be a "gathering place."

Today, the center is, once again, under new leadership. And this time, Executive Director Geminiano "Toy" Arre says FilCom will live up to his sister Soledad's expectations and the dreams of the Filipino community.

Recalling his sister's wishes, Arre said, "I couldn't see this thing go down the drain."

Hired in August, Arre, 70, moved back from Manila and became obsessed with the center's debt. And he made dramatic changes right away, cutting his position's annual salary to $36,000 from $60,000.

Arre is remembered for serving as deputy finance director and finance director under former Mayor Frank Fasi from 1973 to 1980. He served as the city's deputy finance director again and deputy budget director from 1985 to 1991. Before moving to Manila, he worked as student housing director for the University of Hawaii at Manoa from 1991 to 1999.

Several people in Honolulu's Filipino community persuaded him to return, and since his arrival, FilCom has perked to life.

After hearing complaints that calls were rarely answered, he instituted regular operating hours five days a week. Its popular ballroom is now open on holidays as well.

In the past, "nobody really cared whether someone was here or not or what hours they were supposed to open," Arre said.

Volunteers now teach basic computer classes in a technology room that was unused for almost a year. Tae kwon do and escrima classes are held weekly on center grounds. And a nurses professional group regularly meets there. The ballroom is busy with folk and ballroom dancing classes.

But Arre is keeping close tabs on funding. He plans to hire a program director so he can focus on offsetting the center's debt with fund-raisers, and funds generated from leasing center space to businesses.

"Toy is doing an excellent job. He's working seven days a week," said Eddie Flores Jr., who was also instrumental in the construction of the FilCom Center. "He brought back the community. We're so glad that he's back to help us."

For Arre the center's success is tied to everyone's involvement.

"If everybody pulls together, government, private businesses, individuals, but primarily the community in general helps, we're going to solve this. We're going to lick it," Arre said.

"If I didn't think it was possible, I would not have come," he said.

A new black granite wall at the center is etched with the names of those who gave substantial donations toward its construction.

Arre has managed to get the city and state to fund some programs held at the center.

This year, the state Legislature appropriated $200,000 and the city set aside $150,000 for programs involving the center's technology center and commercial kitchen.

"Even if the name is FilCom Center, the programs that are going to be provided by the center under the leadership of Toy Arre is going to be for the educational, social and cultural services to the entire community, irrespective of ethnic backgrounds," said Councilman Romy Cachola, who supports program funding for the center.