LEVEL UP WORKSHOP

PACE X PACE AMBASSADORS: HOW TO INCORPORATE YOUR CULTURE INTO YOUR BRAND

ABOUT THE PANELISTS

Constancio Paranall, III – Moderator Bio

Constancio Carvajal Paranal III is a leader committed to community and economic development in Hawai’i. At the City and County of Honolulu’s Office of Economic Revitalization, he drives innovation and technology initiatives aimed at fostering equity and inclusion for underserved communities. In addition to his public service, Constancio provides project management services for eWorld Enterprise Solutions and educates future leaders at both the University of Southern California, the University of Hawaii West Oahu, and the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship. His work extends to national initiatives such as the Office of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) through the Honolulu Federal Executive Board. Constancio is also the Owner and Principal of PRIMED HAWAII LLC, a boutique management consulting firm delivering IT program management and organizational change management services. A lawyer specializing in cybersecurity and intellectual property, he serves on several boards and is a passionate advocate for Filipino American identity and representation. His dedication to empowering marginalized communities and advancing Filipino leadership remains at the core of his work during Filipino American History Month and beyond.

Palaman Purveyors

Palaman Purveyors is a vibrant, artisanal food company founded by Arlyn and Randy, driven by a passion to share and celebrate Filipino culture through handcrafted culinary creations. Inspired by traditional Filipino flavors, Palaman Purveyors specializes in unique jams, jellies, iced beverages, and pastries that bring the richness of Philippine cuisine to the modern palate.

Their menu features delicious offerings such as pandan, ube, sesame, and mais queso (corn cheese) jams, alongside refreshing pandan and ube iced coffee and pandan iced tea. For those craving a sweet treat, Palaman Purveyors serves up black sesame banana lumpia, pandan cream cheese lumpia, adobo cookies, and the decadent ube basque cheesecake.

Through their artisanal products, Palaman Purveyors aims to promote cultural appreciation and bring the flavors of the Philippines to food lovers everywhere.

Sama Sama

Sama Sama was co-founded by Lalaine and Eric, and its story traces back to a middle school dream. Growing up, Lalaine would visit a local Chinese restaurant with her family and stop by a nearby boba shop for dessert. The boba shop’s lively atmosphere—with polaroid photos of customers, board games, and music videos playing—left a lasting impression on her, sparking a dream of owning a boba shop of her own one day.

In 2019, after hosting the first Pusong Filipinx the Market event, Lalaine noticed a lack of food and beverage vendors and was reminded of that childhood dream. Collaborating with Eric and her loved ones, she began brainstorming ideas and crafting menu options. The pandemic presented many challenges, but it also fueled her determination to move forward with her vision. Following the passing of her lola (grandmother), Lalaine decided to honor her memory by bringing her dream to life.

Sama Sama participated in its first pop-up event on Mother’s Day in 2021, serving a community that shares a love for Filipino culture and delicious boba beverages. The brand represents the spirit of unity (“sama-sama” means “together” in Filipino) and celebrates the blending of tradition and modernity in every cup they serve.