FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 4, 2018
Contact: Jason Tengco, NaFFAA Executive Director
jason.tengco@naffaa.org
Tel. 202-803-1353
NaFFAA Kicks Off Filipino American History Month 2018 in the Nation’s Capital
Washington, DC – To kick off Filipino American History Month (FAHM) 2018, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) hosted its second annual Federation Forum at AARP’s headquarters in the nation’s capital on October 1, 2018.
The Federation Forum brought together leaders from regional and national Filipino American organizations for an opportunity to network and collaborate with each other on ways in which their organizations can better serve Filipino American populations across the country.
“We relish every opportunity to bring together this diverse cross-section of organizations, who, while having different missions and constituencies, all align in one unified goal: advocating for the best interests of the Filipino American community,” said NaFFAA National Chairman Brendan Flores. “This year, we hope to build on the momentum of last year’s inaugural forum, and continue this spirit of solidarity, partnership, and empowerment that lies at the heart of NaFFAA’s mission.”
This year, the following fourteen regional and national organizations were represented at the forum:
- Association of Philippine Physicians in America (APPA)
- Federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce (FPACC)
- Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS)
- Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue (FIND)
- Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP)
- Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO)
- Filipino Young Professionals (FYP)
- National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA)
- Philippine American Foundation for Charities (PAFC)
- Philippine Folk Arts Society, Inc. (PFASI)
- Philippine Humanitarian Coalition (PHC)
- Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA)
- Pilipino American Unity for Progress, Inc. (UniPro)
- The PUSO Foundation
On October 2, NaFFAA hosted a reception in celebration of FAHM at the Michelin-rated Kaliwa restaurant in Washington, DC. The reception was intended to celebrate the distinct history, rich culture, and indelible contributions of Filipino Americans throughout the United States.
“Not only are we proud to be celebrating Filipino American History Month in the nation’s capital, but we are thrilled to be doing so at Kaliwa, a beautiful and exciting new addition to the region’s booming Filipino food scene,” said NaFFAA Executive Director Jason Tengco. “The expansion of Filipino culture and cuisine here and across the U.S. represents enormous progress in terms of Filipino visibility that is long overdue.”
This year’s reception convened 150 prominent Filipino American leaders and allies from across the nation, including Congressman Bobby Scott, Maryland Delegate Kris Valderrama, and Brunswick Mayor Ron Falconi. Dignitaries from the Philippine Embassy, media representatives, as well as community, business, and youth leaders were also in attendance. David Do, Executive Director of the DC Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs, presented a proclamation from Mayor Muriel Bowser recognizing FAHM and the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) for first starting the month.
“There is no better day than today to recognize the history and progress of Filipino Americans, a community that is over four million strong,” added NaFFAA National Chairman Brendan Flores. “This is more than just a celebratory event, it is our opportunity to gather in our nation’s capital to reflect on how far we have come as a community, while renewing our commitment to advocate, engage, and empower.”
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About NaFFAA
The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. Established in 1997, NaFFAA promotes the welfare and well-being of the 4 million Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the United States. NaFFAA’s vision is to serve as the voice of all Filipinos and Filipino Americans by uniting, engaging, and empowering diverse individuals and community organizations through leadership development, civic engagement, and national advocacy.
