From Hawaii to Papua New Guinea

The Peace Day Committee has selected Gloria Tumbaga, 31, a registered nurse and third-year medical student, to give the keynote speech at the Peace Day Hawaii 2008 Celebration Ceremony Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hawaii Convention Center.

Gloria is a healer and humanitarian. She is an active volunteer with Aloha Medical Mission, an organization that provides free medical treatment to underserved areas abroad and in Hawaii. She has been on goodwill missions in Micronesia, Laos, Bangladesh, Philippines and Papua New Guinea. Gloria's earlier life was not easy and as a child she rarely found peace. She was raised by a single mother and was often homeless living on the beach. At age 8, her mother died of pneumonia and she and her four siblings were ripped from each other to live in separate foster homes. Despite these earlier challenges, Gloria strives to be a role model to disadvantaged youth and instill in them the same hope and strength she had in order to achieve greater things.

She was also featured in an Advertiser story here.

The Peace Day Hawaii 2008 Celebration Ceremony will include speakers; peace video clips; taiko performances; hula dancers; singers; and a candle light vigil for peace. The event is free and open to the public.

For information on the Peace Day Ceremony, please call 808-586-8490.

Photo (from jabsom.hawaii.edu) : Gloria on a medical mission in Bangladesh.