INSIDE:
Filipino American History Month Message from ConGen DeLeon FilVet Update National Chair in Action Region 10, Region 3E, Region 5 Membership Form
With the General Elections only less than a week away, NaFFAA is calling on all Filipino Americans to make their vote count and cast their ballots on November 8. NaFFAA is also encouraging those who have not registered to do so. There are states like Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Vermont where voter registration is still taking place. Also, many states are still issuing absentee ballots, up to a day before the election in some cases.
“As a community that is still largely invisible to elected officials and national policy makers, we need to make our voices heard by going to the polls on election day,” says NaFFAA National Chair Brendan Flores. “We have a stake in who will lead our country and what direction it will take in the future. Indifference or not voting at all is not an option at a time when critical issues will have a significant impact on our lives.” Flores notes that there are nearly 4 million Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the U.S., constituting the second largest Asian American and Pacific Islander group in the country. “Our voter registration rate, however, is very low,” Flores adds. “To strengthen our voting power, we launched FilAmVote last year to get more voters registered, educate them about the issues, protect their rights to ensure nothing prevents them from voting, and to get them out on election day and make their vote count.” NaFFAA’s Fil-Am Vote is a national program directed at strengthening the voter registration, voter education, voter protection and get-out-the-vote capabilities of Filipino American communities nationwide. Juanito Amor, FilAmVote National Director, points out that by registering more Filipino voters and mobilizing a huge Photo: Google images turnout in polling booths, “we will most assuredly make a difference in electing public officials who represent our interests and advocate for those issues that most concern us.” NaFFAA Regional Chair Myrna Farinas Reyes of San Diego, CA. is calling on the Filipino American community to “come together and demonstrate our collective strength as an influential voting bloc. Let us proudly and unequivocally assert ‘I am a Filipino American Voter.’” For more information, go to www.fil-amvote.org. A voter hotline will be live and accessible to those who have questions or need help voting. Call 1-888-API-VOTE (1888-274-8683). Bilingual assistance is available in English, Tagalog and seven other APIA languages. Calls to the hotline will be answered within 24 hours. 1
NaFFAA Region 10 Stirs Up The Community to Register and Vote
NaFFAA Region 10’s Chair Myrna Reyes and National Director for Fil Am Vote Juanito Amor were moving around the San Diego area and maximizing every opportunity to encourage the public to register and vote.
NaFFAA Region 10 Joins Video Showing & Social Networking in Los Angeles, CA NaFFAA Region 10 (San Diego County and Imperial Counties) and its San Diego-based Fil-Am Leaders: Juanito Amor, Jr., Co-Chair of NaFFAA’s FilAm Vote; Fresas Flores Balistreri, Community Advocate of Invisible Storybook; Francine Maigue, Face of “Global Pinay Power” of the Filipina Women’s Network; Al Talahuron, representing Tony Olaes of The Filipino School, attended an event hosted by the Consulate General in Los Angeles. The Consulate General, headed by the Consul General, Adelio Angelito S. Cruz, along with Team VoLLLume headed by Apl.de.ap, invited Fil-Am leaders for a special viewing of a video presentation, dubbed as “Influencer’s Trip”. It is a documentary series about the journey to the Philippines of prominent Filipino-Americans and mainstream Americans, sharing their fun memories during their visit, with their testimony as to why “It’s More Fun In the Philippines”. The video presentation and social networking event were held on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, 6-8 pm, at the Consulate’s Community Hall in Los Angeles, California. 2
NaFFAA Celebrates Filipino American History Month
NaFFAA Leaders join a special summit at the Eisenhower Building of the White House Complex to commemorate Filipino American History Month on October 24, 2016.
NaFFAA Missouri Hosts Region 3 West’s Filipino American History Month Event NaFFAA Missouri recently hosted the Region 3West’s 4th Annual Filipino-American History Month (FAHM) celebration held at the Isle of Capri Hotel, Boonville, MO on October 15, 2016. With this year’s theme, “Exploring Cultural Diversity,” the event was graced by guests coming from Region 3West states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Missouri. There were also guests coming from other states. Some of the guests who attended the event include: Philippine Consul General Chicago Generoso Calonge, NaFFAA National Chairman Brendan Flores, National Vice-Chair Princess Emraida Kiram, BOG member, National Director on Special Projects, former Region 3West Chair Angeles Carandang, Nebraska Chair Daryl Rose, and Representative Lindell Shumake. The guest speaker was Rep. Shumake who shared her travel stories in the Philippines. NaFFAA also invited Philippine-based celebrities, Dennis Coronel and Emily Otani, who both entertained the guests and attendees with musical performances. Nelia Herico Bennett, interim NaFFAA MO Chair was the program emcee. NaFFAA Region 3West Chair Anecita Sancho Alvizo introduced her MO Officers. Another highlight of FAHM MO was the Consular Outreach from the Office of the Philippine Consulate General Chicago. This was held at the Event Center of the hotel from 9am to 5pm. The following services offered were: ePassport, VISA, notaries, civil registry, and dual citizenship. Not only Filipinos from different cities around Missouri came, but also from other states within the jurisdiction of the Chicago Consular Office. Philippine Consul General Calonge presented the Certificates of Appreciation to the Consular Outreach volunteers. NaFFAA Missouri extends its gratitude to the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel for being the host and corporate sponsor for two years now. The 2017 Region 3West Conference will be hosted in this hotel on October 12-15, 2017. NaFFAA MO celebrates FAHM to give importance to the many accomplishments of Filipino Americans and their major contribution in promoting cultural diversity. R3W Chair Alvizo said, “Together, let us all recognize and explore our cultural diversities, and commemorate our Filipino-American uniqueness!” 3
NaFFAA Iowa Celebrates Filipino American History Month with Consular Outreach and Forum NaFFAA Iowa celebrated this year’s Filipino-American History Month (FAHM) in Des Moines on October 1, 2016. Highlight of the event was the gathering Filipino Americans and providing them with consular services through its annual Philippine Consulate Outreach. NaFFAA’s leadership led by its Chair Roel Campos and Vice Chair Clarence Padilla hosted the event at the World Financial Group Office. A total of 166 kababayans were able to availed of consular services, with 99 passport renewals, 34 dual citizenships, 33 notarials, affidavits, and other services. This year was the largest number of dual citizenships' oath of allegiance officiated in the past 5 years that the Philippine Consulate Outreach was held in Des Moines. The Oath of Dual Citizenships was officiated by Deputy Vice Consul General Romulus Israel Jr. (3rd from R). Service award certificates were presented to NaFFAA Iowa officers and volunteers for their continued support and volunteerism at the annual Philippine Consulate Outreach. Photo shows NaFFAA IA Chair Roel Campos (4th from Right).
The FAHM celebration had a full day program of activities, with speakers and guests coming both from public and private sectors of the community. Lena Robison, Founder and President of Latinos Unidos presented a partnership project with NaFFAA in the area of educating our communities in the coming years. Sanjita Pradhan, President Obama’s appointee as AAPI Iowa Commissioner presented AAPI Vote and its mission. She encouraged Filipino-American's to go out and vote on the November 8 presidential election. Vilma Packard of Eastern Iowa, gave an inspiring presentation about her service organization, Kalipunan, that focused on their numerous humanitarian projects in the Quad City Area. Atty. Mary Carmen Madrid-Crost, Immigration Lawyer based in Chicago, provided a Q&A segment on immigration issues in the program. Young Asian-American entrepreneurs namely Made4Mankind (Janice Mendoza, Founder/Owner); Tres Mentes Salsa (Angelo & Phillip Campos, Founders/CEO's), Lisa Ung (Senior Marketing Director WFG), young local entrepreneurs, also delivered inspirational messages and told their success stories about their local businesses. Speakers encouraged potential Asian businesses to get engaged and make a difference in the Iowa’s economy. Robert's Filipino Store, had a booth promoting his local Fil-Am store and The Filipino Channel (TFC). Iowa’s local Fil-Am entertainers Larry Berenguel and Jenny Scott lightened the event with musical numbers. The theme which is inclusion of diverse groups as well as educating our communities, were accomplished in this event. Some Fil Am attendees made this comment, “while we waited for our turn, we gathered a lot of valuable information in the areas of business, government, service organization, immigration, partnerships with diverse groups. It was worth the wait!" NaFFAA Iowa’s FAHM event is just getting bigger and better year after year. Congratulations!
NaFFAA Michigan Highlights FAHM’s Celebration with Filipino Exhibits and Dinner NaFFAA Michigan commemorated the Filipino American Heritage Month (FAHM) on Oct 12, 2016 at the Philippine Community Center of Michigan (PACCM). The festivities featured a dedicated exhibit Filipino articles on Culture and History. A Filipino dinner, with traditional dishes such as lechon, pancit, lugaw and desserts were served. Guests were treated with a lively showcase of Filipino couture that featured various Filipiniana attire, and a Filipino movie.
Participants to NaFFAA Michigan’s FAHM event, led by its State Chair Fe Sanagustin (center)
4
Consul General Mario L. De Leon Jr., Thanks Filipino Community and NaFFAA Leaders in Northeast US for their Strong Partnership that Helped Pave the Way for Imminent Passage of Congressional Gold Medal Bill Re-printed from Balitang New York New York – The Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015 pending before the US Congress is closer to passage after having been unanimously passed by the US Senate last July and subsequently receiving the required number of co-sponsors (at least 290) in the House of Representatives, according to a press statement of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. recently. “The Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. welcomes the development,” the press release dated 28 September 2016 further stated. The U.S. House measure, HR 2737, already gained more than 300 co-sponsors, above the two-thirds threshold met by previous Congressional Gold Medal bills, according to the website of the U.S. Congress (www.congress.gov). The U.S. Congress must formally approve the bill before President Barack Obama signs it into law. The final passage of the bill into law would ensure that 200,000 Filipino-World War II veterans, most posthumously, will be collectively awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Only 16,000 to 17,000 soldiers remain in the U.S. and the Philippines. The award is a significant step towards honoring veterans for their bravery and sacrifice in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Among the minority groups in the U.S. that have already been awarded the Medal are the Japanese American Nisei Soldiers, Puerto Rican Soldiers, Navajo Code Talkers, Women Air Services pilots, Montford Marines and Tuskegee Airmen. The Consulate General in New York has been actively rallying the support of the Northeast U.S. Filipino-American community to lobby for the passage of H.R. 2737/S. 1555. Since Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr. assumed office in 2011, he has also been working to promote the cause of Filipino-American World War II veterans, with the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C., the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), and the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP) which was launched in 2014. The campaign for the Congressional Gold Medal Award Bill for the Filipino-American World War II veterans was launched by FilVetREP, led by Major General Antonio Taguba (United States Army, Retired). In all, Consul General De Leon met with officials of 23 Representatives (out of the current 58 Northeast U.S. House bill co-sponsors) in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. In his calls, he was accompanied by community leaders, including National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) officials Attys. JT Mallonga and Merit Salud; New York community leader Mr. Mon Villongco, Dr. Emilio Quines, and Mr. Rene Ballenas; New Jersey community leader Ms. Gwen de Vera; Pittsburgh Lawyers Merit Salud, JT Mallonga, ConGen Mario De Leon Jr. community leader Ms. Teodora Schipper; Philadelphia community with senior legislative officials of New Jersey Senator Cory Booker leaders Drs. Rommel and Aida Rivera, Mr. Ernesto Gange and Mr. Brad Baldia; Rhode Island community leader Captain Armando “Doy” Heredia; Boston community leaders Mr. Frank Celoza and Mr. Rudy Hermosa; Maine community leader Tess Cardona; New Hampshire community leader Ms. Jocelyn Santiago; and Vermont community leader Father Julian Asukan. From 2015 to 2016, Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr. has recognized the significant contribution of community leaders in the U.S. Northeast, NaFFAA, and FilVetREP who helped secure the Congressional targets and personally followed up with the district offices of senior legislative officials such as Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH); Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ); Senator Susan Collins (R-ME); Senator Jack Reed (D-RI); Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R, PA-8); Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D, NJ-6); Rep. Kathleen Rice (D, NY-4), Rep. Michael Doyle (D, PA-14), Rep. Chellie Pingree (D, ME-1), Rep. David Cicilline (D, RI-1), Rep. Donald Norcross (D, NJ-1), Rep. Peter Welch (D, VT), Rep. Tim Murphy (R, PA-18), and Rep. Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) all of whom have respectively signed on to co-sponsor S. 1555 (the Senate version of the bill) and H.R. 2737. As Consul General De Leon winds up his term this mid-October, he thanks the Filipino community for their strong partnership and in conveying our message to US Legislators and lobbying with them for legislative enactments that promote Philippine interests in the US and more robust US-PH relations. He hopes that the passage of the Congressional Gold Medal Bill can still take place within the month of October, which is celebrated as Filipino-American History Month, and would signify another milestone in commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the establishment of Philippine-U.S. diplomatic relations. 5
UPDATE ON THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL LEGISLATION Having done our due diligence by securing 306 cosponsors (more than the two thirds required), the fate of HR 2737 is now in the hands of the House senior leadership. This basically means that in order for the bill to pass and forwarded to the White House for President Obama’s signature, Speaker Paul Ryan and eight other House senior leaders must agree to move the legislation forward for a House vote. Since Congress is on recess for the election campaign, we don’t expect action on this legislation until they return on November 15. In the meantime, we can help move this administrative matter along by directing our outreach (through letters, emails, phone calls, personal visits, tweets) to Speaker Ryan and the House senior leadership, urging them to get it passed before the current legislative period ends this year. Congressional engagement from the grassroots must also continue, focusing on those who have not signed as cosponsors, in order to keep this issue alive in the public arena. The FILVETREP executive committee members in Washington DC area are actively engaged with Congressional Staffers of Representatives Gabbard and Heck – lead sponsors of the bill, and requested them to meet with their colleagues. We also met with other staff members of select cosponsors during the recess period to do the same. While actions are ongoing at the national level, we must do our part at the regional and district levels to keep the attention and momentum toward Congressional passage. We cannot afford to stop our combined action or risks having the bill lose its priority when Congress return from recess in November. Listed below are the names of key House senior leaders and their phone numbers and Twitter handles: House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) Twitter: @SpeakerRyan, Phone: (202) 225-0600, Fax: (202) 225-2012, Toll-Free: (888) 909RYAN (7926) Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) Twitter: @GOPLeader, Phone: (202) 225-2915, Fax: (202) 225-2908 Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Twitter: @NancyPelosi, Wash DC phone: (202) 225-4965, San Francisco phone: (415) 556-4862 Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md) Twitter: @WhipHoyer, Wash DC Phone - (202) 225-4131, Fax - (202) 225-4300 Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La) Twitter: @GOPWhip, Wash DC Phone: (202) 225-3015, Hammond LA office Phone: 985340-2185 Republican Conf. Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wa) Twitter: @cathymcmorris), Wash, D.C.: 202-225-2006 , Spokane: 509353-2374 Republican Policy Com. Chair Luke Messer (R-Ind) Twitter: @RepLukeMesser), Wash, DC: 202-225-3021, Muncie, IN Phone: 765-747-5566 Asst. Democratic Leader James Clyburn (D-SC) Twitter: @Clyburn, Wash, DC: (202) 225-3315, Kingstree, S.C. Phone: (843) 355-1211, Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra (D-Calif) Twitter: @RepBecerra, Wash D.C.: 202-225-6235, Los Angeles Tel. 213481-1425 Suggested text for your emails: We are encouraged by the overwhelming support of 306 co-sponsors in the House for HR 2737, the bill that would award the Congressional Gold Medal for Filipino and American veterans who served in World War II. The Senate had already passed the companion bill in July. We respectfully urge you to approve HR 2737 now so that our veterans, who have waited for 72 years, will finally earn recognition for their service and sacrifice. We are calling on you to pass this bill before the current legislative session ends this year. Thank you. BOILERPLATE TWITTER MESSAGE: Pass HR 2737 @SpeakerRyan for #FilipinoVets who served w/ US in WWII. They deserve Medal for heroism.Pls retweet.bit.ly/2cSxOiv. Helpful Tips: If you're going to tweet: wait a couple of minutes in between tweets because if you tweet fast (copy, replace handle, send) Twitter will think you're a bot and it will stop sending your tweets after a while. Don't forget to tweet or retweet, and ask your followers and friends to do the same. If we only resonate with ONE rep, that's ONE more supporter that we can count on. 6
The National Chair In Action
National Chair Brendan G Flores gave opening remarks at the Filipino American Community Forum on Human Rights Campaign held in the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC on October 24, 2016. The theme of the event was centered on 2016: A Turning Point for Identity, Action & Power. Another NaFFAA Leader and Member of Board of Governors, Bing Branigin, was a speaker on Political Power.
With Judge Lorna Schofield and Loida Nicolas Lewis
NaFFAA National Chair received The Outstanding Filipinos in America (TOFA) Award for Community Service and Advocacy, presented at the Carnegie Hall in New York on October 8, 2016. For his award, Flores expressed that, "Great leaders leave a mark on the communities they serve. They are one person that focuses on bringing people together to make positive change. The small difference accomplished today can grow and last for generations."
NaFFAA Chair Brendan Flores led a National Strategic Meeting at the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC on October 24, 2016. This is a momentous gathering of national Filipino American organizations for the first time, which was years in the making. Other FilAm leaders present were Ben de Guzman of KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress; Judy Patacsil, President of Filipino American National Historical Society, and Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Tony Taguba, National Chair of Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project. The strategic meeting was intended to strengthen relationships between and among Fil-Am organizations and lay the foundation for future collaborative efforts. 7
NaFFAA Conveys Condolences to Soc Inonog’s Family “We are saddened by the passing of Socrates Zaldivar Inonog, former NaFFAA LA Region Chair who also served NaFFAA national in various capacities,” says NaFFAA National Chair Brendan Flores. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family – his wfe Flora, and daughters Marichelle and Susan – during their time of grief.” Reprinted below is a message from NaFFAA Adviser Armando Heredia, who served as NaFFAA Executive Director from 2002-2008: Socrates Zaldivar Inonog was NaFFAA LA region chair from around 2006-2008. He had moved from Rhode Island to Simi Valley via Florida after his retirement from Johnson and Wales University. We prevailed upon him to act as LA region chair in the absence of a viable organization there at the time. He also served as Vice Chair of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee in 2006. He was our resource person when we came out with the NaFFAA Conference Planning guide for Regional and NaFFAA Empowerment Conferences. He and Flora attended and had conference roles in, among others the NECs 2004, 2006, and 2008 as well as attending the Global Filipino Networking Conferences that NaFFAA hosted then. Soc was a WWII veteran. Until it became too much for him, he organized the annual reunion of the New Mexico regiment that he belonged to in WWII. He was a tremendous Chef and educator. He was an incorporator of Johnson and Wales University here in Rhode Island, and as founder of its Culinary School, he built up the school into a world class institution and the centerpiece of JWU’s expansion into a university. He was rightfully proud of his recognition as Culinary Educator #1 in Rhode Island. My involvement with NaFFAA was due to Soc and Flora Inonog. I was President and Soc was VP of Rhode Island’s HOPE Foundation Intl, a medical mission group serving the Aeta communities. Soc and Flora attended a NaFFAA region 1 meeting and their good friend Loida Lewis, then R1 chair asked them to see if our organization could host the 2001 regional conference. We did, not without a lot of trepidation because we were a very small organization, but with Loida’s guidance and Soc as conference chair, we managed to hold the regional conference in 14 Sept 2001, just three days after 9/11. On the verge of cancelling the conference because of 9/11, we pushed through with it, and had some 200 attendees – a most successful conference by any measure. Cely and I and many of our friends will surely miss him. He was our good friend, a FilAm community leader and a stalwart of NaFFAA. If you can, raise a glass of his favorite wine, Concha y Toro Merlot to Soc!
NaFFAA denounces The O’Reilly Factor’s Chinatown segment “We join our colleagues and coalition partners in the Asian American Pacific Islander community in condemning The O’Reilly Factor for airing an offensive and disgusting segment ridiculing Asian Americans,” says NaFFAA National Chairman Brendan Flores. “Portraying them in stereotypes are especially harmful given how underrepresented Asian Americans are in the media. We denounce this insensitive and disrespectful representation of our communities.” Several civil rights organizations, notably the Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) – of which NaFFAA is a member – and the Organizations of Chinese Americans (OCA), are demanding an honest apology from Fox News, which produces The O’Reilly Factor. As described by NCAPA, the offensive segment showed correspondent Jesse Watters mocking people in Chinatown, including some with limited English proficiency, with “racist, xenophobic and insensitive questions.” NCAPA pointed out that attempts by O’Reilly and Watters to excuse the show as “gentle fun,” in response to public outcry, demonstrated “a shocking level of callousness and lack of decency.” “It’s disheartening to know that in these times when we are striving for greater diversity in all aspects of U.S. society, there are still some in the media who still think it’s socially acceptable to make fun of Asians,” Flores said. “We call on Fox News to remove the segment from all its platforms and apologize to the Chinese American community for making a mockery of their language, culture, and political views.” 8
NaFFAA Region V Celebrates Filipino American History Month with Food, Dance & Music
NaFFAA Region V highlighted its celebration of the Filipino American History Month with a showcase of Filipino traditional dancing, Filipino food and battle of the bands on October 8, 2016 at the Paul Beck Recreation Center in Aurora, Colorado. Region V’s FAHM event was a fundraiser to benefit its Philippine Disaster Relief projects. The event was in cooperation with other Filipino organizations.
“Know Your Candidates” Forum by NaFFAA R3East and APIA Vote Michigan NaFFAA R3East FilVetRep Coordinator, and APIA Michigan Coordinator Willie DeChavez organized the “Know Your Candidates Forum,” with local politicians as speakers. This event was held at the Hibachi in Sterling Heights, MI on October Willie served as one of the moderators. The forum was an opportunity for the public to raise questions on issues that matter most to them. NaFFAA National is a monthly newsletter with the goal of circulating information on NaFFAA’s advocacy events and projects, appointments, messages from leadership and other related activities in the Filipino American community.
Save the Date: July 28-30, 2017 Region 3East Conference
Ryan Tejero
Editor-In-Chief ryantejero@yahoo.com
Jon Melegrito jdmelegrito@gmail.com
Bing Branigin MCBranigin@aol.com
Hilton Polaris OHIO
Please forward event announcements and news articles in your community for November issue by the 25th. Submission must be in word format and pictures are in jpeg formats.
We are inviting Speakers and Sponsors Inquire: armin@sayson.net
Thank you to all October contributors !le
9
c/o Brad Baldia 1625 Washington Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19146
10