ZACHARY G. LABEZ /
FILIPINO COMMUNITY ACTIVIST

Ex-city deputy director
was devoted to improving
his community

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By Pat Omandam
pomandam@starbulletin.com

Zachary G. Labez, a former city deputy director and a community activist who held high-profile positions within many organizations in the Filipino community over the past 15 years, died Sunday at his home in Waikiki following a heart attack. He was 53.

Labez was president of the United Filipino Council of Hawaii and of the Filipino Coalition for Solidarity. He was a former associate editor of the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle and most recently served as editor of the Fil-Am Courier.

Born in Manila, Labez was the sole Philippine delegate to the World Youth Forum at the United Nations in 1968. He later emigrated to the United States and served as a data communications supervisor in the U.S. Navy for eight years.

Labez settled in Hawaii in 1983 as an information systems consultant and was named deputy director of the city Department of Information Technology in 1985.

In 1997, Labez became a senior community services planner with the state Office of Community Services, where he was responsible for coordinating the Ready-to-Learn project, which collects donated school materials for needy children and government donations to the Hawaii Food Bank system. He also worked on other special projects for the state.

"He was service-oriented, a volunteer advocate who was always helping the community. He devoted so much time to the community -- more than to himself," said J.P. Orias, a close friend. "The family is convinced they shared him with the community."

Labez, who earned many community awards for his work, also promoted Philippine folk dances and the performing arts. He was a former member of the Honolulu-based Pamana Dancers and had founded the Sulyap Philippine Company for the Performing Arts in 1986.

He is survived by sisters Alma Elmer, Pat Muntz and Joy and Faith Labez; brothers Lowell and Hipolito Balthazar; and 13 nephews and nieces.

There will be prayer services and a memorial program starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at Borthwick Mortuary. Inurnment will be at 2:45 p.m. at Hawaiian Memorial Park.

Services will conclude with a gathering at 3:30 p.m. at the Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden in Kaneohe.

Borthwick Mortuary is handling funeral arrangements.