Page 5 - April 16 2017 Issue For Web.pmd

THE FIL-AM COURIER • APRIL 16-30, 2017 • PAGE 5

became the first recipient of evolved to recognize Filipino- Bachelor of Science degree with friends and meeting new competitions: Ms. Terno for
the first Terno Ball proceeds. American women achievers in in social work, and worked for people.” women, and Mr. Barong
Funds raised by Terno various fields of professional 15 years as a vocational Liu was referring to one Tagalog for men (note: The
Balls after the first one in 1974 expertise like health care, rehabilitation counselor with of the Terno Ball’s two Barong Tagalog is an
were donated to various social work, business the Hawaii State Department
institutions and other entrepreneurship, journalism, of Social Services and
community projects in Hawaii education, arts and Housing.
and the Philippines: entertainment, and She ventured into the real
Kalaupapa community government services. estate sector in California,
outreach projects, shelters for Nelly Pongco Liu, where she worked for two
abused women, Catholic FWCH’s president for 2015- years, and moved back to
Charities, Aloha Medical 2017, shared with the Fil-Am Hawaii, where she was
Mission, Child & Family Courier her experiences with employed with Coldwell
Services, Filipino World War both the non-profit Banker Pacific Properties for
II veterans, the Minority organization that brought the 11 years. For the past 18
Organ Tissue Transplant Terno Ball to Hawaii, as well years, Liu has been running
Education Program as the value of the event her own company, NELL
(MOTTEP), Katipunan Club of itself. Properties.
U.H. Manoa, Aloha Blankets Liu has been involved in “After winning the Ms.
Project for an orphanage in the FWCH Foundation since Terno Ball in 2005, I was
Cebu, Liliha Library, Hawaii 2005. She was born and asked to join the
Foodbank, Aloha United Way raised in Manila, Philippines. organization,” said Liu.
and the Filipino Community She is married to Walton Liu, “The event was a means
Center (FilCom) in Waipahu, a CPA and attorney whom she of promoting and
to name a few. described as a wonderful perpetuating the Filipino
Over the years, to man. culture in Hawaii. It was also
continue matching FWCH’s Together, the Lius have a a means of getting involved
mission of empowering daughter who currently lives with community projects,
women, the Terno Ball in Austin, Texas. Liu holds a networking and socializing
Past Terno Ball winners Elsa Talavera (2013) and Nancy Walsh (2012)