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Thirty-eight
years ago, a group of Filipinos in the Greater Hartford area realized
that the growing number of expatriates settling in Hartford could
accomplish much by working together. The group ratified a constitution
and adopted the official name Pilipinas Connecticut, marking the
emergence of a potent force in the Filipino community in the northeast.
Pilipinas Connecticut sponsored events that showcased Philippine
culture and traditions, such as presenting folk dances, participating
in ethnic food fairs to feature Filipino cuisine, and displaying
Philippine handicrafts at various exhibits. They held annual celebrations
of such Filipino traditions as the barrio fiesta, flores de mayo,
misa de gallo and other Christmas events. The Pilipino Association
of Connecticut Incorporated (PACI), as it was later called, sponsored
activities that fostered true fraternal relationship among members
through social, recreational and athletic activities.
In 1998,
PACI changed its mission from a purely social organization to a
civic one and thus became known as PACI. PACI held well-attended
fund-raising events, a testament to the community's overwhelming
support. These events contributed to the financial resources necessary
to fulfill the requests received from the |
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| Philippines and
in the United States. PACI's civic activities have included sponsorships
of foster children; contributions to several disaster funds; participation
in various town- and state-sponsored charities; and donations of hospital
supplies to different hospitals in the Philippines, used clothing
to the Philippine National Red Cross, books to selected Philippine
schools, and food to the Food Share program in Connecticut. |
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| Over the
past several years, PACI has sponsored several activities to support
its Scholarship Fund to enable less fortunate but deserving Filipino
students to fulfill their dreams in their search for academic excellence.
Currently, PACI is sponsoring five bright young Filipino scholars. |
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| In the
true spirit of bayanihan (cooperation), another facet of PACI goal
is to promote greater awareness of the rich cultural diversity of
the Philippines through music and dance. PACI has collaborated with
three statewide Philippine organizations in presenting award-winning
cultural productions in Norwalk (2000), Danbury (2001), Hartford (2002),
New Haven (2003) and the Philippine Independence Day Parades in New
York City (2001 through 2004). PACI was privileged to host the BAYANIHAN
Philippine National Folk Dance Company in its one and only performance
in the USA for the year 2003. |
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| Enriched with
thirty-eight years of experience, the officers and members of PACI
look forward to sponsoring more projects and activities to benefit
present and future generations of Filipino-Americans. |
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