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Veterans advocates call for passage of the Congressional Gold Medal Award for Filipino World War II Veterans
Fil Vet Gold Medal New National Operating Officer Newsletter Turns 4 Region V/Region 10/Region 3 NaFFAA Nevada Membership Form
Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret), chairman of the Filipino Veterans for Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP), called on the U.S. House of Representatives today to pass the Congressional Gold Medal bill, which would once and for all recognize the service and sacrifice of Filipino World War II Veterans. This week, the U.S. House measure, HR 2737, gained 300 cosponsors, above the two-thirds threshold met by previous Congressional Gold Medal bills. The U.S. Senate had passed the legislation in July. “The overwhelming support of the American people, as expressed through their representatives in Congress, is very encouraging to our aging veterans,” says Taguba. “They have over 70 years for the day of recognition to come with the passage of the Congressional Gold Medal, an honor they truly deserve. That historic day of reckoning is nearing. We are confident that before the year ends, they will be finally recognized for their valor and selfless sacrifice.” FilVetREP is calling on House leadership – Speaker Paul Ryan, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi – to take appropriate action in this legislative session before the end of the year. “Given the short time
House of Representatives reaches critical threshold of 290 co-sponsors for bill to recognize service of Filipino WWII veterans frame left in this Congressional session, we hope they will move this bill across the finish line for our veterans.” Taguba also thanked the hard work of various individuals from Filipino American communities across the country, Asian American/ Pacific Islander advocacy organizations, Philippine Consuls General and Veterans Service Organizations for their “tremendous effort in reaching out to their Senators and Representatives in accomplishing this very important mission. Without their determination and diligence, we wouldn’t be where we are now.” The Filipino Veterans of WWII Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2014 was introduced in June of last year in the Senate and House as companion bills by their lead sponsors: Senators Maize Hirono (D-HI) and Dean Heller (R-NV) and Representatives Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) and Dr. Joe Heck (R-NV). On July 13 of this year, the U.S. Senate passed S. 1555, with a broad, bipartisan coalition of 71 Senate cosponsors. In commending the Senate’s action, Sen. Hirono praised the “heroism and courage of Filipino World War II veterans who were instrumental to an Allied victory in the Pacific theater.” Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) also said they should be recognized for their service and awarded the Congressional Gold Medal because “our nation’s Filipino veterans made tremendous sacrifices during World War II and played a big part in our victory.” Rep. Gabbard urged “timely passage” of the bill in a “Dear Colleague letter” in April of this year. “These loyal and couraPhoto: Google images geous soldiers suffered, fought, and gave up their lives alongside their American counterparts throughout the war. Yet decades have gone by, and they are still waiting for their service to be recognized,” she said. “Today there are just 18,000 of these Filipino World War II veterans who are still alive today. Time is of the essence. We cannot afford to wait. I urge my colleagues to quickly pass this legislation so that these courageous men and women may be honored while they are still among us.” “Now that the House bill has achieved more than the two-thirds of its membership as cosponsors, our veterans are significantly closer to their long awaited goal of national recognition of sacrifice and selfless service during World War II from the nation they so ably served,” Taguba said. “We deeply appreciate the leadership and dedication of Senator Hirono, Senator Heller, Congresswoman Gabbard, Congressman Joe Heck, and all the senators and representatives who cosponsored this bill.” FilVetREP, in partnership with its national Board of Directors, its Executive Committee, and hundreds of volunteers and partners around the country, is calling on the House of Representatives to pass this legislation without delay. In order to find out more about FilVetREP and how to get involved, visit the FilVetREP website at www.filvetrep.org. 1
NaFFAA calls for greater participation by Filipino Americans in U.S. society “As we celebrate Filipino American History Month, let us reflect on our many achievements and contributions to our nation’s cultural, social and political life,” said NaFFAA National Chairman Brendan Flores. “While we have made many gains as a community over the years, we need to continue amplifying our voices and asserting our presence by actively participating in our country’s electoral process.” Flores notes that there are nearly 4 million Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the U.S. today, constituting the second largest Asian American and Pacific Islander group in the country. “But voting rates among Filipino Americans continue to be low,” he said. “And we are still poorly represented in state and national legislatures.” To address this challenge, NaFFAA launched it’s FilAmVote program early this year, with the goal of increasing voter registration and voter participation in this year’s national elections. NaFFAA has also partnered with APIA Vote to bolster outreach to APIA communities across the country. Denouncing Asian Stereotypes “But even as we hail the progress we’ve made, we continue to be concerned about the way our presence is perceived in the American mainstream and in the media,” Flores states. “I’m referring to recent news reports that NBC had put in development a comedy show about a mail-order bride from the Philippines. “In a culture where we continue to strive for diversity and inclusion, NBC will be taking us many steps back if the network moves forward with this show. The last thing we need is a prime time television show that objectifies an Asian woman to be married off, via a catalogue, to a man she doesn’t know. That isn’t comedy. It’s called human trafficking and it’s simply unacceptable.” Flores notes that “as of 2014, the International Labor Organization estimates there are 4.5 million people trapped in forced sexual exploitation globally. It is abhorrent that in 2016, we would allow for a company to promote and produce a show that perpetuates Asian stereotypes and human trafficking as an acceptable form of entertainment.” A growing public outcry against NBC has reportedly forced network producers to cancel the project. Need for cultural awareness “While we commend NBC’s decision, this is not the first time NBC has made light of Asian stereotypes,” Flores said. He recalled that in 1994, the NBC sitcom “Frasier” included an offensive joke about purchasing a mail order bride from the Philippines. Then Philippine Ambassador Raul Ch. Rabe protested to NBC executives, denouncing the joke as “racist and sexist.” In his letter, he wrote that “Our people are not chattel.” Rabe added that the Philippines passed a law in 1991 banning the mail-order bride business and other similar practices. In 2007, ABC was forced to apologize for disparaging doctors trained in the Philippines in an episode of “Desperate Housewives,” after an on-line petition led by Filipino American author Kevin Nadal drew more than 50,000 signatures. ABC also removed the offending episode from all its platforms. In condemning the racially-biased and culturally insensitive remarks, NaFFAA pointed out the need for cultural awareness training among Hollywood writers, producers and actors. “We appreciate the leadership of various individuals and organizations who alerted us to the ‘Mail Order Family,’ which NBC was considering to produce,” said Flores. “We join this collective effort in denouncing any programming that presents insensitive and disrespectful images of our communities.” GABRIELA USA, a grassroots-based alliance of more than 200 organizations advocating for Filipino women, condemned NBC for “exploiting women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds as perpetuated by the mail order bride industry.”
National Chair also calls for vigilance in ensuring fair depiction of Filipino Americans in the media Asian Americans Advancing Justice Affiliates issued a statement expressing their outrage over the network’s consideration of a show that “perpetuates the fetishization and commoditization of Asian women,” and “trivializes the predicament of women who are bought and sold into the sex slave trade or into abusive relationships with men they’ve often never met.” “The cancelation of this show is a result of the collective efforts of leaders nationwide with the Filipino-American community's best interest in mind,” Flores said. “This is a positive example of a unified message and its powerful impact." Honoring Filipino World War II Veterans “This month is also an occasion to acknowledge the support of U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives who have Photo: cosponsored a bill Google images to award the Congressional Gold Medal to our Filipino World War II veterans,” Flores said. NaFFAA is among a number of national organizations pressing Congress to once and for all recognize the vital role Filipino and American veterans played in defending the Philippines and the United States during World War II. In July, the Senate passed the bill, S. 1555. A companion measure in the House, HR 2737, has gained the support of 306 cosponsors to date, more than the two-thirds required. “We are calling on Speaker Paul Ryan and the House leadership to take immediate action, secure House approval and send it to the White House for President Obama’s signature,” Flores said. “We owe it to our veterans, who have waited for more than 70 years.” Flores adds: “We want to keep their stories alive so that their legacy of courage and uncommon valor will always be remembered and cherished by future generations of Americans. We also take pride in the vital role Filipino Americans continue to play in the American labor movement, the healthcare and education systems, arts and entertainment, business and politics, science and technology and other fields that enrich America’s landscape. “Indeed, this time of celebration is an occasion for all Filipino Americans to rededicate themselves as citizens actively engaged in moving our country forward.”
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Introducing NaFFAA’s
National Operating Officer
In consultation with the executive board and the national vice chair, it is my privilege to announce Kelly Ilagan as the National Operating Officer, formerly known as the Executive Director, for NaFFAA effective immediately. Ilagan will also be continuing Ed Navarra's term on the Board of Governors until 2018.
Kelly Ilagan National Operating Officer
Kelly Ilagan currently serves as a Public Affairs Liaison in the office of Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel. In this capacity, she serves as an outreach liaison on behalf of the Treasurer to Ohio’s local governments and organizations. Prior to this, Ilagan was a Constituent Relations Staffer for former Congressman Mike Rogers (R08), where she specialized in Agriculture, Education and Immigration policy casework. In addition, she worked in various capacities for Michigan Governor Rick Snyder in 2013 and several Michigan and Ohio House and Senate campaigns over the past few years. Ilagan received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in International Studies and Political Science with a minor in Mandarin Chinese and Economics from Michigan State University.
Ilagan is incredibly passionate about serving her community on a local level. Currently, Kelly serves as the President of the Young Republican Women of Columbus, Vice President of the Philippine American Society of Central Ohio, Youth Director of the Filipino American Republicans of Michigan and was recently appointed as Co-Executive Director of NaFFAA Region 3E and NaFFAA R3E FilVet Rep Coordinator. Kelly Ilagan’s passion for the political process and community organizing resulted in being named as part of the “Asian Fortune News 50 Young Asian American Stars in Politics”. “Kelly is an incredibly well balanced leader with a can do attitude. She has come highly recommended by many, including our late former National Chair, Ed Navarra. I am ecstatic to have her a part of the executive board and look forward to partnering with her. I am excited to announce that Doy Heredia has accepted my request as the National Operating Officer’s advisor. I am grateful for Doy to be returning and mentoring Kelly in this new role,” added Brendan Flores, current National Chair of NaFFAA. There is immense gratitude towards Giselle Rushford for serving as the Executive Director over the last two years. Rushford’s contributions to NaFFAA have been exceedingly valuable. Rushford will be working with Ilagan to ensure a smooth transition for the remainder of the year.
Doy Heredia Advisor to NOO
We look forward to your support and cooperation to Kelly in her current assignment and wish her a happy association within the NaFFAA community.
NaFFAA National Chair Brendan Flores is One of the The Outstanding Filipinos in America Brendan will receive the TOFA Award in recognition of his exceptional commitment and leadership in NaFFAA, and his extensive knowledge and experience in the financial services industry at Wells Fargo. The Awards is scheduled on October 8, 2016 at the Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Brendan Flores National Chair
“I'm humbled and honored to be selected as one of the honorees in this year's "The Outstanding Filipinos in America Awards." I'm extremely proud to have the opportunity to stand on stage next weekend with such amazing community advocates and leaders. It's a privilege to work for an organization like Wells Fargo that allows me to do what I love to do everyday! I'm committed to partnering with the brightest community leaders across the country to move the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) to the next level! Special thanks to Elton and the illustrious #TOFA committee team for all the work that you do! Thanks for recognizing FilAm's contributions to our community.” 3
Steven Raga Board of Governors Congratulations to NaFFAA’s Member of Board of Governors Steven Raga on his successful appointment to the Queens County Democratic Committee as the County Committeeman for the 34th Assembly District, Part B in the 51st Election District, New York.
NaFFAA National
Newsletter Turns Big 4 NaFFAA will remain indebted to countless of Filipino American leaders who continue to rally behind the aspirations of the Federation and our community here in America. Let our newsletter be the herald of what NaFFAA is all about, and what it does for the community.
Ryan Tejero
Editor-in-Chief
I am extremely pleased to congratulate the NaFFAA Newsletter on the wonderful occasion of its 4th anniversary. In September of 2012, the first issue was released through the hard work of Ryan Tejero and the guidance of the then newly elected National Chair, Ed Navarra. Since then, the publication has grown to be an essential tool to educate the general public about the issues most important to NaFFAA and its members. Of course, this window into the heart of NaFFAA could not have launched back in 2012, if it were not for Ryan and Tito Ed, but it can only continue to grow in size, relevance, and importance if we, the members of NaFFAA, continue to share our many stories about what is truly important to each one of us. I strongly urge all members to continue to contribute to this vital part of our organization. Brendan Flores (Florida) National Chair
In the last couple of days, I reread every newsletter published since October 2012 and I found it cathartic to reminisce the contributions, hopes and dreams of every NaFFAA Leader and Member. Some of the movers and shakers are no longer with us but the NaFFAA Newsletter kept their memories and accomplishment alive. Congratulations Ryan Tejero and the Contributing Editors for the monthly reminder of our collective efforts and advocacies through the NaFFAA Newsletter! Giselle Rushford (Colorado) Board of Governors Congratulations to you, Ryan Tejero, for the four years you’ve produced the NaFFAA National Newsletter and kept the Filipino American community updated on our organization’s national advocacies and initiatives. Your tireless commitment in gathering and sharing the noteworthy activities and accomplishments of each of the regions has resulted in our organization becoming better connected and has challenged our communities into action. The Newsletter also serves to preserve the history of NaFFAA. I look forward to many more years of reading the NaFFAA National Newsletter! Armin Sayson (Ohio) Chair, Region 3East Anecita Alvizo (Missouri) Chair, Region 3West On behalf of NaFFAA Missouri and Region 3 West, my heartfelt congratulations to NaFFAA specifically to our National Newsletter editor and publisher Ryan Tejero! Four years of dedication and hard work in keeping us informed in all NaFFAA events, efforts and successes truly compliments our vision. Excellent job Ryan! Your remarkable contribution to NaFFAA is greatly appreciated. Best wishes for your continued success as well as NaFFAA’s success and thank you very much for what you do. 4
Region V Sponsors the Annual San Francisco Philippine Consulate Outreach in Colorado In Colorado, September 16th through 19th the SF Philippine Consulate Outreach at the Crosswind Church, Aurora, Colorado and El Elegante Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado conducted its annual outreach. The Officers of the Consulate provided consular services normally offered at the SF Consulate such as dual citizenship, passport renewal, notice of birth, death, marriage, etc. Because of this annual outreach, Filipinos and Filipino Americans saved thousands of dollars in travel and lodging expenses in SF. Participants came from the farthest points of Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming and Montana. Supporting NaFFAA Region V are other local organizations such as the Crosswind Church and Filipino American Community of Southern Colorado. NaFFAA Region V officers, members and supporters
Presentation of House Bill HR 2737 - Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015.
Advocating for Filipino Americans to register and vote for the upcoming US Presidential election.
Region 8 Celebrates National Voter Registration Day
NaFFAA10 celebrated the National Voters Registration Day on September 27, 2016 at the Island Pacific Seafood Market in National City, CA. Volunteers set-up a booth for people to complete registration forms and get all set for the November 8 th Presidential election. Shown in the photo is NaFFAA Region 10 Chair Myrna Reyes (Extreme Right), with new voter registrants. 5
SAVE THE DATE: JULY 28-29-30, 2017 R3E 2nd Regional Conference Columbus , OHIO 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.
Ryan Tejero
Editor-In-Chief ryantejero@yahoo.com
Jon Melegrito jdmelegrito@gmail.com
Bing Branigin MCBranigin@aol.com Please forward event announcements and news articles in your community for October issue by the 25th. Submission must be in word format and pictures are in jpeg formats. Thank you to all September contributors !le
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c/o Brad Baldia 1625 Washington Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19146
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