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Chicago delegation with Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, from left: Adeline Fajardo, Romy Aquino, Josie & Nilo Bayan, Ambassador Cuisia, Ruben Salazar, Necitas Aquino, Consul General Leo Herrera-Lim, Fides Herrera-Lim, Jelly R. Carandang, Cindy Flores, Merle Salazar, Almira A. Gilles, and Joe Flores. Not in photo are Joniece Bayan & Ginelle de Guia, part of IL youth representatives. Photo credit: Nilo Bayan.
Re-elected for another two-year term at the 10th Empowerment Conference of the National Federation of FIlipino American Associations (NaFFAA) held in Detroit, MI. Aug. 3-5 were: Eduard Navarra, national chair; JT Mallonga, national vice chair; Bart Tubalinal, national treasurer; Jelly Carandang, national secretary. Also elected were members of a new 15-member board of governors who will, including regional chairs, constitute NaFFAA’s national board:
Bing Branigin (Virginia), Joy Bruce (Florida), Gloria Caoile (Nevada), Willie deChavez (Michigan), Romy dela Paz (Florida), Rommel DeVera (Philadelphia), Jing Espiritu (Nevada), Brendan Flores (National Youth Chair), Jon Melegrito (Maryland), Steve Raga (New York), Rodel Rodis (California). The current regional chairs are: Merit Salud (Eastern), Bert Dayao (Capital), Emraida Kiram (Midwest), Giselle Rushford (Central), Gus Mercado (Southwest), Lorna Lardizabal Dietz (Northern California), Aurora Cudal (San Diego), Romeo Jurani (Nevada), Ron Menor (Pacific)
Political Education & Advocacy
At its first board meeting, the National Board re-affirmed NaFFAA’s core mission as political education and advocacy. To that end, it approved the following resolutions:
* FilAm Vote Project: NaFFAA will undertake aggressive voter education, voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts nationwide to increase the number of registered voters and build political power for the Filipino American community.
* Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF): A NaFFAA affiliate, FALDEF will collectively collaborate on efforts to engage the Filipino American community organizations in providing assistance to DREAMers relative to the filing of their Deferred Action Status applications.
* DREAM Act: a bill that will legalize the status of thousands of young students whose parents came to the U.S. without legal documentation, provided they meet eligibility requirements.
* SAVE Act: NaFFAA calls on all its members organizations to actively support passage of this important trade legislation that would allow the Philippines to compete with the low cost and subsidized leading apparel exporters to the U.S. while creating for the first time a much-needed opportunity for the US textile manufacturers to export fabric to an Asian market.
* Filipino World War II Veterans: NaFFAA will support efforts to urge President Obama to issue an executive order directing the U.S. Army to consider all sources of documents in determining eligibility, to ensure that all eligible veterans receive their rightful benefits as provided by the 2009 Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation (FVEC) law.
The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) is a private, non-profit, non-partisan tax-exempt organization established in 1997 to promote the active participation of Filipino Americans in civic and national affairs. NaFFAA is composed of 12 regions with a national office in Washington, D.C. that monitors legislation and public policy issues affecting Filipino Americans. NaFFAA partners with local affiliate organizations and national coalitions in advocating for issues of common concern.
National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA)
1322 18th St NW, Washington DC 20036-1803 email: jonmele@aol.com