by: Elizabeth Ayson, PhD.
Contributor

Marietta Pangilinan Cariño

MARCH 8 is declared and commemorated as International Women's Day at the United Nations. During this momentous day, various women's groups and other organizations around the world converge and celebrate a tradition which dates back about 90 years ago of struggle for equality, peace and development.

In honor of International Women's Day, the Maui Filipino community celebrates Marietta Pangilinan Cariño, our own local heroine, whose life is dedicated to the betterment of the community she serves.

Cariño is the youngest of seven children, born and raised in Bantay, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. Her father, Pedro Pangilinan, Sr. was from Macabebe, Pampanga while her mother, Rufina Parilla Pangilinan, was from Bantay, Ilocos Sur. The family settled in Bantay where she grew up listening to her father communicates in a mix of Ilocano and Tagalog. Education was important to the family and Marietta began her schooling in the province of Ilocos Sur. She attended Paing Elementary School and high school at the Rosary College in Vigan. After high school, she moved to Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija and stayed with her brother. She enrolled at the Philippine Wesleyan College in Cabanatuan City and earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1966. Two years later, she served as first grade teacher in San Fernando, La Union.

Cariño immigrated to Hawaii at mid-year in 1969. She first lived in Honolulu where she studied accounting at a business college. There, she was also employed as a cashier at Paul's Pastry Shoppe and later as supervisor at the Ritz Department Store. In 1973 she became co-owner of Valley TV Appliance & Furniture Center.

In the mid-1970's, the Valley TV Appliance & Furniture Center moved its operations to Maui. Later the company was incorporated as Litz Furniture, Inc., and Marietta became its vice-president. In the early 80's, she became the president and the sole stockholder of the firm. Having weathered both positive and negative economic conditions over the years, Cariño's capable management and business acumen have sustained a prosperous and popular furniture outlet where satisfied customers come to believe the company logo "where quality need not be expensive."

She is a charter member of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Maui and served as the first treasurer of one of the two Filipino Chamber groups incorporated in December, 1994. Between the years of 1998-2001, as a Director on its Board, her vision was to have one business organization for the Filipino entrepreneurs of Maui. Her mission was to unify the two chambers during her presidency. Because the most important personal trait that guides her success is perseverance, she worked doggedly to achieve her mission. Of equal significance, because of her inborn leadership qualities, she was able to invite, encourage and rally the members of both groups into a merger. In 2001, she was elected to the presidency and her vision was expressed in the theme, "A New Beginning." Both her vision and her mission were accomplished within her timeline. Along with other officers of the Maui Chamber, she attended the acclaimed Statewide Business Summit of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii (FCCH) held on Kauai in September, 2004. Maui is designated for the 2005 FCCH Business Summit, and of course, Marietta is involved in the planning process.

Today, Cariño continues to serve as mentor to the officers of the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce. She actively spearheads various fundraising project to benefit the Chamber's scholarship program.

Congratulations to Marietta Pangilinan Cariño, Maui's Filipina heroine for the 2005 International Women's Day. We are proud of you, and we give you our gratitude and appreciation for everything you do to make Maui a better place for Filipinos and everyone else who lives in or visits our blessed island.