Surrounded by family and friends, U.S. Congressman Gerry Connolly was sworn into a second term of office by new House Speaker John Boehner at a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol. Connolly intends to work with Congress to secure the bipartisan approval of the Korea Free Trade Agreement. He said he was honored to continue serving his constituents in Northern Virginia.

KCCD held its “Get Corporate Ready for 2011-Small Business Seminar” at the Southern California Minority Business Development Council (SCMBDC). Photo at a press conference shows, from left: Michael Synn, Director of Sales and Marketing, BCF Capital; Richard Chacon, Union Bank Vice President and Supplier Diversity Manager and also representing Greenlining Institute; John Murray, SCMBDC President; Jane Pak, CEO of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO); Leah Wyman, Community Affairs Deputy for Vice Chairperson Jerome E. Horton of the California State Board of Equalization.

MHC delegation at the UN Headquarters in New York, from left (seated): Amy Muedin, Programme Specialist, International Organization for Migration (IOM); Constance J. Peak, Director, Program Dev’t and Support, FSUN. Standing, from left: Jesse A. Gatchalian, MHC Co-Executive Director; Janet C. Salazar, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, FSUN; Patrick Taran, Senior Migration Specialist, International Labour Office (ILO) in Geneva; Arnedo S. Valera, MHC Co-Executive Director; Paola Pace, Acting Head, International Migration Law Unit of IOM in Geneva and Grace Valera-Jaramillo, MHC Co-Executive Director.

The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) held a reception recently honoring new APA mayors. Photo shows Interim APAICS Executive Director Ruby Moy with AMGEN Director of Global Government Affairs Howard Moon exchanging business card with veteran Asian American California Mayors Gilbert Wong (Cupertino) and Mike Gin (Redondo Beach).

Photo during the official opening of the Consular Office of the Philippine Chancery in D.C. shows, from left: Herman Ayayo, E-Star Production and Promotion Group; Jackie Estaris of GMU; Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo; Travel Outlet COO Naomi V. Estaris of Virginia Beach, VA,; Consul General Domingo Nolasco and Atty. Loy Cortel. Back: Travel Outlet.President Roy Estaris. Photo by Bing Cardenas Branigin

The Bicol Association of Metropolitan Washington, DC held its holiday party at Maryland’s Christ the King Colonial Room. Front: Marlon Enciso, vice president, Virginia; Corazon Ogbac, assistant treasurer; Nancy Ceniza, treasurer. Back, from left: Kevin Gable, auditor; Rudy Arca, business manager; Letty Alvarez, president; Delia Rafuson, secretary; Consolacion Cabangon and Odelia de Leon, board directors.

Three JAVA volunteers were presented with inscribed JAVA coin in appreciation of their volunteer work.  L-R: Christine DeRosa, Metta Tanikawa, Maureen Shea and President Bob Nakamoto. 

Following the swearing in, the incoming JAVA officers pose for a photo:  L-R:  Outgoing president Bob Nakamoto, Secretary LTC Alan Ueoka, Treasurer LTC Mark Nakagawa, Incoming President Yamada, Kevin Secor, VA official, and Wade Ishimoto, Nominating Committee Chair.  .Vice President Col Hollywood was absent due to special Pentagon assignment.