MyPearlCity.com is very proud and honored to feature Mr. Onorio "Nory" Balantac as our PC Heart & Soul selection for the month of October. Mr. Balantac represents the ultimate dedication and commitment in serving the Pearl City community as a volunteer for many years. He can always be counted on to pitch in while utilizing his unlimited skills to get the job done. He is loved by everyone who works alongside him as well as from his community who directly benefits from his service.
Mr. Balantac was recently presented with an Honorary Certificate at Honolulu Hale which was introduced by Honolulu City Council member Breene Harimoto and signed and recognized by the full city council on Wednesday, September 11, 2013.
Lion Nory has been a Lion since March 1988. He first was with the Pearl City Lions club then moved to the Pearl Harbor Lions club till they disbanded and returned to the PCLC and has been with us ever since. At his age, he still is truly one of our dedicated Lions who will show up at 'heavy duty' projects like we just had at the Pearl City Industrial Park and stay from start till end. He was down there cutting down those huge branches with his heavy duty machete and had other volunteers stand and watch . … awesome! He is also an awesome mechanic and has been volunteering with other Pearl City Lion members to repair the Cushman cart for Pearl City High School. He is quite knowledgeable and for his age, super strong. He also volunteers the use of his generator to help with the set-up of Water Station One for the Great Aloha Run since its pretty dark at that time of the morning. He truly lives the Lions motto 'We Serve'.
…..Lion Alice Kudo, Pearl City Lions Club Board of Directors
A little something about Lion Nory . . . . . at his amazing age, he turns out to help at our environmental projects which usually are quite demanding on your stamina and body but he keeps pace with the group and stays for the duration of the project. It’s amazing to watch and see how much effort he puts into each event. He never seems to tire, never 'slacks' and patiently makes progress. He also always finds time to actively participate in all club events. He provides beautiful flowers for table center pieces and is a master at creating original masterpieces during the Holidays. Being a former mechanic, he has helped in troubleshooting the Cushman cart that PCHS's cafeteria staff uses to transport food to their neighboring elementary school. What can we say but that 'Nory is one of those hard to find true Lions'.
…..Lion Paul Kudo, Pearl City Lions Club Board of Directors
Council of the City and County of Honolulu
HONORARY CERTIFICATE
RECOGNIZING AND HONORING ONORIO “NORY” BALANTAC
FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE PEARL CITY COMMUNITY
Whenever there is work to be done in the community, Onorio Balantac is there. He is always working behind the scenes, never in the limelight, just quiet and effective. The public may not know who he is or what he has been doing for so many years, but to the members of the Pearl City Lions Club, the Pearl City Community Association, the Momilani Community Association, the Pearl City Foundation, and the Pearl City Urban Garden Center, he is well known and greatly appreciated.
For well over thirty years Onorio has been working in the community whenever and wherever there was work to be done. In the 1980’s, he was a board member of the Momilani Community Association and worked tirelessly volunteering to maintain the Momilani Community Center. The palm trees on the grounds that are now 15 feet tall were planted by Onorio years ago when they were only a foot tall. For the past twenty years he has been there to set up his lights and generator at the annual Halloween Bash that attracts over 1,200 people each year. In addition to being a member of or helping out with the activities of many Pearl City area organizations, he also expanded his reach beyond the neighborhood as a Shriner with the Aloha Shriners.
Onorio is also a Master Gardener at the Pearl City Urban Garden Center. He volunteers there to enhance and facilitate horticultural educational outreach. He also uses his gift of a “green thumb” to provide flowers and foliage, grown in his own garden, to decorate special events in the community.
In addition to community service, his family plays an important role in his life. Onorio and his wife Juanita, have been married for 54 years. They have two daughters, Sydette Balderas and Sera Jo Alia, and four grandsons.
At 89 years old, Onorio continues be a friend and role model for others. His peers are motivated to keep active and healthy while the younger generations try to keep up with him and learn humility and service to others. Pearl City is truly blessed to have Onorio Balantac as one of its own.
Now therefore, on behalf of the people of the City & County of Honolulu, the City Council hereby recognizes and commends Onorio “Nory” Balantac for many years of dedicated service to the Pearl City community. Further, the Council wishes him continued health and many more years of happiness with his family.
Photo courtesy of Paul Kudo
Mr. Balantac (center) is pictured with his wife Mrs. Juanita Balantac (right) and Council member Breene
Harimoto (left) along with Honolulu City Council members (L-R, back row) Carol Fukunaga, Ann Kobayashi,
Ron Menor,and Kymberly Marcos Pine at Honolulu Hale in Honolulu on Wednesday, September 11, 2013.
Photo courtesy of Paul Kudo
Mr. Balantac pictured with family and Honolulu City Council members.