Our Story
Since 1997, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) has been the standard bearer for promoting the welfare and well-being of the four million Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the United States. At the time of NaFFAA’s inception, there were just over 2.5 million Filipinos and Filipino Americans. Founding members of the organization had the foresight to visualize and organize our growing power and voice into the next millennium.
Now with over 4.2 million Filipinos across the United States, and with Filipinos considered as the second-largest Asian American group, NaFFAA is the largest non-partisan, non-profit organization, and national affiliation of Filipino American institutions, organizations, and individuals. Its thirteen-member regions cover the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands.
Vision
We envision Filipino American communities that are culturally, economically, and politically empowered and engaged. 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 four main pillars: Civic Engagement, National Advocacy, Leadership Development, and Advancing Filipino Culture.
Mission
We promote the welfare and well-being of Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the United States by amplifying their voices, advocating on behalf of their interests, and providing resources to facilitate their empowerment.
Our Four Pillars
National Advocacy
Advocating for immigration reform and civil rights for Filipino Americans, and promoting small business and financial education.
Anti-Hate Crimes Task Force
FilVetRep (Recognition for Filipino Veterans)
FilAm Alerts
Leadership Development
Engaging and empowering young Filipino Americans in order to build the next generation of leaders, and building the capacity of Filipino American organizations in order to better serve their communities.
Empowering Pilipino Youth Through Collaboration (EPYC) Ambassadors Program Leadership Institute
Bi-Annual National Empowerment Conference (NEC)
NaFFAA Leadership Summits
Civic Engagement
NaFFAA Programs that empower Filipino Americans to participate and engage in nation-building:
FilAm Vote
Run for Office
Kabilang Ka, Pabilang Ka
Advancing Filipino Culture
Celebrating what makes us unique — Filipino Culture, Arts and Entertainment.
NaFFAA E3 Seminars (Enlighten, Educate, Empower) Advancing our unique Filipino Culture, Arts and Entertainment
Tulong Sulong — Sending Help, Moving Forward
NaFFAA Values
Diversity and Inclusion
We welcome diverse perspectives and serve as a voice for all Filipino Americans.
Collaboration
We aim to work with all Filipino American organizations and leaders, transcending generations and ideological differences.
Accountability
We strive for transparency and hold each other accountable to our goals.
Justice
We speak out against injustices and promote civil rights for our community.
Integrity
We strive to do what is right and what is in the best interest of Filipino Americans.
NaFFAA Founders
Michael Dadap
Michael Dadap
NaFFAA Founder
Michael Amper Dadap is a world-renowned Filipino guitarist, composer, conductor, and co-founder of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA).
Born in Hinunangan, Leyte, to a family of musicians, he immersed himself in church hymns and classical repertoire early on, starting as a jazz and folk guitarist before dedicating his career to classical guitar. A University of the Philippines graduate, he relocated to New York in 1971 for advanced studies in music theory and classical guitar at Mannes College of Music, followed by composition and conducting at The Juilliard School. His acclaimed 1974 Carnegie Recital Hall debut propelled tours across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, cementing his status as a global Filipino musical ambassador.
Maestro Dadap pioneered the Philippine rondalla tradition in America, serving as founding music director of the Iskwelahang Pilipino Rondalla in Boston, Massachusetts. There, he mentors youth, composes original works, and elevates plucked-string ensembles to world-class levels, showcasing Filipino artistry. He also leads as artistic and music director of New York’s Children’s Orchestra Society, crafting curricula and nurturing diverse young talents. His compositions – like suites, Visayan serenades, and methods for bandurria – infuse Filipino folk idioms, languages, and rhythms into concert repertoires, preserving cultural narratives.
As a NaFFAA co-founder, Dadap forged a vital platform uniting culture, advocacy, and leadership for Filipino Americans. NaFFAA celebrates his visionary guidance and unwavering dedication to traditional music as a tool for empowerment.[6][7][8] From the organization’s inception through landmark anniversaries, his performances, workshops, and calls to action have urged communities to safeguard heritage while pursuing excellence. His mantra – “carry on the history of music-making and teach our younger children” – fuels NaFFAA’s youth programs, leadership training, and advocacy efforts.[8] Through it all, Dadap proves Filipino music bridges generations, homelands, and American society, embodying pride and unity.
Alex Esclamado
Alex Esclamado
NaFFAA Founder
Alex Esclamado, along with fellow Filipino American community leaders, founded NaFFAA in 1997 to shed light on abuse against Filipinos in the work place, address immigration concerns, and fight for Filipino American empowerment.
A lawyer and veteran journalist, Alex first came to the United States in 1959 as chief correspondent for the U.S. edition of the now defunct Manila Chronicle.
In 1961, seeing the growing influx of Filipino immigrants to the United States, Alex established Philippine News to keep the community informed about Filipino issues in their native land and in their new country. As its publisher and editor-in-chief, he led the newspaper to become a platform for advocacy on behalf of Filipino-Americans and their family members in the Philippines.
In the 1970s, the newspaper used its platform to advance the fight against Philippine Martial Law imposed under the regime of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.
Alex was also at the forefront of the national campaign for Filipino World War II veterans to be granted U.S. citizenship, and he helped lobby Congress to repeal the 1946 Rescission Act, which did not recognize Filipino veterans who fought side by side with American soldiers during the war and denied them the same rights, privileges, and benefits granted their fellow U.S. servicemen.
In an acknowledgment of his fearless voice and enormous dedication to his community, Alex became the first and only Filipino ever awarded the congressional Ellis Island Medal of Honor, in 1986. Three years later, Philippine President Corazon Aquino conferred upon him the Philippine Legion of Honor Award.
Expanding his service to other immigrant communities, Alex was also a founding member of (the) New America Media (NAM), a coalition of more than 3,000 ethnic media in the United States. He saw that by working together, ethnic media could gain credibility and visibility as a collective force in American journalism.
Alex retired from his work at Philippine News in the late 1990s, and sold the paper’s ownership to the family of Philippine Ambassador Edgardo Espiritu.
Atty. Loida Nicolas Lewis
Atty. Loida Nicolas Lewis
NaFFAA Founder
Loida Nicolas Lewis, a philanthropist and a leader within the Filipino-American community, is one of the founders of NaFFAA. She helped establish the Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund (AALDEF), and is a co-founder of the US Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG), which was organized after Benigno Simeon Aquino III was elected President of the Philippines in May 2010.
Loida was Chair and CEO of TLC Beatrice International, a $2 billion multinational food company with operations all across Europe, after the death of her husband, Wall Street financier Reginald F. Lewis, and won over a skeptical business community by moving quickly to sell assets including the corporate jet, paying down debt, downsizing the New York corporate staff by 50 percent and increasing earnings. After successfully running the company from 1994-2000, she sold TLC Beatrice and its related businesses in 2000.
Loida chairs the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation, which has donated millions of dollars to Harvard Law School, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland’s African-American History and Culture, and Virginia State University.
Loida supports the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Asian Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Asian Pacific American Film, Asian American Arts Alliance, Asian American Federation of New York, Asian American Foundation, Diversity Theater and Ma-Yi Theater.
In 2023, Loida published her memoir, “Why Should Guys Have All The Fun? An Asian American Story of Love, Marriage, Motherhood, and Running a Billion Dollar Empire” which was a sequel to her husband’s autobiography, and warmly received by Filipinos all over the globe. Her experience on tour prompted her to write her next book, “Look Younger When You’re Older: No Botox, No Surgery.” Loida is also available for tele-consultations on Intro.co/loidalewis where she continues to give advice on business, leadership, and building generational wealth.
Atty. Rodel Rodis
Rodel Rodis
NaFFAA FOUNDER AND Trustee
Rodel was the first Filipino to be elected to public office in San Francisco when he was elected to the San Francisco Community College Board in 1992 and reelected in 1996, 2000 and 2004, serving three terms as president of the San Francisco College Board. He also served as California state chair of the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and was also the first national president of the Asian Pacific Islander Native American Trustees Association (APINATA). Rodel was also the first Filipino to be appointed to a major city commission in San Francisco when he was appointed president of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission in 1987.
