Join this historic Filipino American Event – NaFFAA’s 16th National Empowerment Conference (NEC) on August 14-15, 2026, at Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center (also known as Hyatt Regency Denver Anschutz Medical Campus) at 13200 East 14th Place, Aurora, CO.
Co-hosted by NaFFAA Rocky Mountain Region, this landmark event will bring together Filipino American leaders from across the nation for two days of inspiration, empowerment, and community building. Hear from visionary speakers, participate in dynamic activities, and connect with fellow trailblazers dedicated to making a difference.
Let’s celebrate our heritage, honor our history, and shape the future – together!
Countdown to NEC 2026!
REGISTER NOW:
Reserve Your Hotel Room by July 13th
Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center
(also known as Hyatt Regency Denver Anschutz Medical Campus)
13200 East 14th Place, Aurora, Colorado, 80011, United States
Presenting Sponsor and Community Partners
If your organization or business has questions about being a sponsor or partner, please email joshua.ang.price@naffaa.org
2026 gala - Bayanihan Fashion show
Join us for the NaFFAA Bayanihan Fashion Show & Cultural Storytelling Experience on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Aurora Denver Conference Center in Colorado.
Experience an unforgettable evening celebrating Filipino heritage through elegant Filipiniana fashion, inspiring cultural storytelling, and recognition of outstanding community leaders and changemakers. Come celebrate culture, community, and bayanihan with us at NaFFAA NEC 2026.
If your organization or business has questions about being a gala sponsor, please email joshua.ang.price@naffaa.org
National Empowerment Conference Agenda
“Harnessing The Power of Community: Starting With Us”
Join this historic Filipino American Event – NaFFAA’s 16th National Empowerment Conference (NEC) on August 14-15, 2026, at Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center in Aurora, CO. Co-hosted by NaFFAA Rocky Mountain Region, this landmark event will bring together Filipino American leaders from across the nation for two days of inspiration, empowerment, and community building. Hear from visionary speakers, participate in dynamic activities, and connect with fellow trailblazers dedicated to making a difference.
What Awaits You at the 2026 NEC in Colorado:
- Visionary Insights: Hear from trailblazing speakers who are redefining Filipino influence in government, tech, healthcare, and grassroots advocacy.
- Strategic Empowerment: Participate in dynamic, high-stakes workshops designed to move you from inspiration to measurable action.
- The Power of Connection: Forge lifelong partnerships with fellow leaders and youth change-makers dedicated to the “Bayanihan” spirit.
Let’s celebrate our heritage, honor our history, and shape the future – together!
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Before the first gavel falls and the formal sessions begin, we gather for a day dedicated to the most essential element of our movement: each other. The Pre-Conference Day is a space designed for the “Global Pinoy” to land, exhale, and reconnect. Whether you are a veteran leader who has met a thousand times or a first-time attendee stepping into the circle for the first time, this day is your opportunity to build the relational “social capital” that makes our collective work possible. It is a day of Kumustahan (meaningful catching up), strategic networking, and official preparation.
Pre-Conference Events
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Registration
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Professional’s Bootcamp: Resume Writing, Interviewing, Salary Negotiations by Ryan Namata
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Opening Reception (Cash Bar)
NaFFAA’s Got Talent by Lou Vargas
Karaoke Night by Joshua Ang Price
Sponsored by Agile Human Capital and AV Entertainment [Hotel]
Friday, August 14, 2026
Day 1 of the National Empowerment Conference (NEC) is primarily a deep dive into the collective spirit. The “I” to explore the transformative power of “We” will be featured throughout the day, as we examine how local and global networks serve as the primary engines for social progress, economic resilience, and emotional support. Expect every session in our program to be more than just a lecture; they are blueprints for impact. Each speaker and workshop will showcase real-world success, feature lived examples of communities that have solved systemic problems through grassroots organizing, and deconstruct the “How” and help bridge the gap between theory to practice, giving you the tools to mobilize your own circles.
Topics Covered: On each day NaFFAA covers topics within its four pillars of advocacy, leadership development, civic engagement and advancing Filipino culture. On the first day of the NEC we will cover topics such as the community’s interest in information about the impact of midterm elections, the power of coalitions and show examples of how other communities have found success.
8:00 AM - 8:50 AM
Friday Breakfast in the Grand Ballroom
8:50 AM - 9:00 AM
Welcome Address
NaFFAA National Chair Mariela Fletcher
Advocate for Filipino Americans | Community Leader
Mariela Fletcher is a dynamic leader, serving as the National Chair of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA). With a strong background in real estate as a licensed broker in Washington and a history of successful entrepreneurship in the Philippines, Mariela champions unity and empowerment for Filipino Americans. Her dedication to community service is evident through her leadership roles at NaFFAA, IDIC Filipino Senior & Family Services, and her contributions to various community-building initiatives.
Recognized for her business acumen and community advocacy, Mariela has made significant impacts across the Seattle area, including her work on the Commercial Affordability Advisory Committee and her efforts to bring Filipino culture to the mainstream. She is a passionate advocate for ensuring that future generations of Filipino Americans have a voice and a bright future, inspired by the values of service instilled by her parents.
9:00 AM - 9:25 AM
General Session 1 Friday
Opening Keynote: The Power of Community
Dante Ang II, Secretary of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas
Description
[Leadership Development] The speaker will discuss a powerful personal example of how the efforts of one community moved the needle of social change in America.
9:30 AM – 10:25 AM
General Session 2 Friday
Founders and Trailblazers Roundtable
Panelists: Rodel Rodis, Loida Lewis, Gloria Caoile
Rodel E. Rodis is one of the original founders of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and has served since its founding in 1997 as the General Counsel of the organization. In 2012, he was elected to a six (6) year term on the NaFFAA Board of Governors (BOG). Under his initiative and leadership, NaFFAA hosted the First Global Filipino Networking Convention held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco in August of 2002, which attracted 4,000 delegates, and which has continued in biennial global Filipino summit conferences since then. He is the President of the Global Filipino Diaspora Council (GFDC) that was formed in Manila in 2013 and the national president of US Pinoys for Good Governance which has been leading the global opposition to China’s invasion of Philippine territories in the West Philippine Sea.
Rodel has been a member of the California Bar since 1980. He is also a syndicated columnist whose weekly column, Telltale Signs, regularly appears in Filipino community newspapers throughout the US. His online weekly column, Global Networking, also regularly appears in Inquirer.net and in Philnews.com. He is the author of “Telltale Signs of Filipinos in America” (Ina Press, 1992).
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.
Rodel taught Philippine History and the History of Filipinos in America at San Francisco State University and at Laney College. He has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS).
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Atty. Loida Nicolas Lewis is 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.
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Gloria Caoile 
Description
[Leadership Development] In this rare and powerful gathering, founding leaders of National Federation of Filipino American Associations come together for an intimate roundtable conversation reflecting on the organization’s origins, struggles, and defining moments. This session offers a firsthand account of how NaFFAA was built—from early conversations and grassroots mobilization to establishing a unified national voice for Filipino Americans.
Concurrent Early Morning Tracks - Friday
10:30 AM – 11:25 AM
NaFFAA
Combating Misinformation In The Filipino Community – “Our Truth, Our Power: Safeguarding the Filipino Digital Diaspora”
Panelists: Leezel Tanglao & Mark Calaguas, TAYO (A Program of FYLPRO)
Description
With trust in media at an all-time low and the explosion of false and misleading content generated by AI, navigating today’s online information ecosystem can be challenging for our Fil Am community. This session will equip attendees with practical tools to strengthen media literacy skills from a culturally-informed, intergenerational perspective.
NaFFAA / Partners
Medical Mission Panel [National Advocacy]
Panelists: Donna Lavigne, Editha Pasion
Description: TBA, Uplift and Mending Faces
Youth
Pagkilala Bago Solusyon: Understanding Before Solving : Emerging Leadership Institute (ELI) Introduction
Facilitators: Gabriel Young
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
NaFFAA
Nonprofit Governance and Compliance
By Lauren Schmidt, Special Counsel, Colorado Lawyers Committee
Description
[Leadership Development] Governance essentials for nonprofit board members: fiduciary duties, oversight, and effective board engagement, Legal and compliance issues facing nonprofits in today’s environment. Advocacy, education, and public engagement: understanding the opportunities and limits for 501(c)(3) organizations.
NaFFAA / Partners
Filipino American Communities History of Changing Their World For the Better [Advancing Culture]
Description: TBA potentially FAHNS
Youth
Know History, Know Self. No History, No Self: An Ethnic Studies Lecture on the origins of Filipino American Identity
Facilitator: Ava Ragasa
Description
This workshop will be used to teach and provide ELI participants a foundation in understanding their identity, what NaFFAA is, and where they play in the organizing ecosystem
12:30 PM - 1:25 PM
Networking Lunch
Advocating for Mental Health by Wilmar Suan
Special Awards Presentation with Brendan Flores
Concurrent Early Afternoon Tracks - Friday
1:30 PM – 2:25 PM
NaFFAA
On Filipino Identify: “Filipino Enough”
Panelists: Geri Inciso, Giselle Rushford, etc.
Description
[Leadership Development] Strong communities grow when generations learn from each other. This session explores how leaders can bridge generational experiences to support emerging Filipino American voices. Through reflection and discussion, participants will discover ways to cultivate belonging and empower the next generation of community leaders.
NaFFAA / Partners
Building Bridges Across Oceans: Immigration Panel
Panelists: Amie Belmonte, Donna Lavigne, Rodel Rodis, Dante Ang II
Description: [National Advocacy] TBA
Youth
Kwentuhan: How to Explore & Understand Fil-Am Community Struggles Through Intergenerational Dialogue
Facilitator: Gabriel Young or TBA
Description
This workshop will be used to teach ELI participants how to coffee chat and conduct stakeholder discovery or conversations.
2:30 PM – 3:25PM PM
NaFFAA
The Growing Community of Retired Filipinos and Portable Medicare
By Eric Lachica
Description [National Advocacy] TBA
Immigration: “Ways In Which the Filipino American Community Has Navigated Current State of Immigration
By TBA
Description
[National Advocacy] The U.S. immigration landscape has undergone a seismic shift over the last two years. For the Filipino community—the third-largest Asian American subgroup—these changes have brought a unique set of challenges, from record-low net migration and expanded vetting to significant shifts in the Visa Bulletin. This session offers a critical, up-to-the-minute analysis of how Filipinos are navigating an environment defined by increased enforcement and reduced predictability.
NaFFAA / Partners
Where We Come From, How We Move
Speaker: Jack Rushford
Description
[Advancing Culture] Dance as Cultural Inheritance and Liberation examines Waacking, a dance form born in 1970s Los Angeles among BIPOC gay men during an era of segregation and systemic exclusion, as a living tradition of resistance and self-determination. This presentation traces Waacking’s origins as an act of radical joy and visibility, and follows its legacy into the present-day Bay Area LGBTQ+ community through dance education, community performances, battles, and media. Drawing on the presenter’s work teaching Waacking to underserved and marginalized queer communities, the talk frames dance not merely as artistic expression but as a vehicle for identity, belonging, and liberation. By drawing parallels to dance’s deep role in Filipino cultural life and resistance, the presentation invites young Filipino Americans to see their own heritage reflected in a broader story, one where movement has always been a means of claiming freedom.
Youth
Bayanihan Under Pressure: A Filipino American Crisis Simulation
Facilitator: Gabriel Young or TBA
Description
This crisis simulation will be a workshop to develop problem solving skills through tackling a real-life organizing scenario.
3:30 PM - 3:45 PM
Merienda and Networking Break
3:45 PM - 4:10 PM
General Session 3 Friday
Keynote: Building Community Power
Dr. Michelle Mras
A globally recognized transformational leader, international best-selling author, executive coach, and United Nations Ambassador of Peace, Dr. Mras has inspired audiences worldwide through her remarkable journey of resilience, courage, and authentic leadership.
Description
Dr. Mras will share a powerful personal story demonstrating how the strength of a united community can drive meaningful social change—proving that every voice has the power to make a difference.
Concurrent Late Afternoon Tracks - Friday
4:15 PM – 5:10 PM
NaFFAA
Your Voting Rights [Civic Engagement]
Panelists: led by Joshua Ang Price, Angelica Cortez, Gloria Caoile, APIAVote, and others
NaFFAA / Partners
Entrepreneurial Panel [Leadership Development]
Panelists: led by Riezl Baker, Glenn Mendoza, Charmel Dela Cruz, Agnes Higley
Description: TBA
Youth
Resourcing Bayanihan: Turning Ideas into Funded Action
Facilitator: Joshua Ang Price, NaFFAA Executive Director & Ryan Namata, NaFFAA National President
Description
This is a workshop for participants to learn how to navigate funding their solution.This will come in the form of learning how to grant write, develop program sustainability, and navigate funding conversations with boards, philanthropy, and government.
5:15 PM - 5:35 PM
General Session 4 Friday
Closing Keynote TBA
Sara Moore of Colorado Dragon Boat
Sara Moore serves as the Executive Director of Colorado Dragon Boat, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building bridges of awareness, knowledge, and understanding between diverse Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities and the broader public through cultural education, leadership development, and athletic competition.
With more than a decade of nonprofit executive leadership experience, Sara has led major organizational growth initiatives, large-scale community events, fundraising campaigns, and strategic partnerships. Under her leadership, Colorado Dragon Boat has expanded its year-round programming, strengthened its financial sustainability, and continues to produce the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, the largest dragon boat festival in the United States, welcoming more than 200,000 attendees annually. She also oversees the Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival, the AANHPI Emerging Leaders Program, and the Riverdale Regional Park Dragon Boat Regatta & Night Market.
A yonsei (fourth-generation Japanese American), Sara is passionate about preserving and sharing AANHPI stories and creating spaces where communities can connect, celebrate, and thrive. Her family’s history deeply influences her work, particularly the experiences of her grandfather, Masamichi “Mac” Suzuki, who was incarcerated at Tule Lake during World War II and later served in Hiroshima with the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission.
An avid hiker and rock climber, Sara believes that strong communities are built through intentional relationships, shared purpose, and collective action. Her work reflects the belief that meaningful change begins by harnessing the strengths, experiences, and leadership that already exist within our communities.
5:40 PM - 6:30 PM
Emerging Leadership Institute Day 1 Conclusion
Description
This conclusion session will be used to review the day, participants’ problem statements, participants’ research, discuss any prototype solutions or hypotheses, and preview Day 2: Developing & Pitching Solutions
5:45 PM - 6:30 PM
Governance [Internal Only]
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Social Event at Adobo Restaurant TBA
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Day 2 is an examination of the art and science of the individual working in tandem with established groups. We are moving away from the idea of the “lone hero” and toward the “strategic partner.” Real, lasting social change doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it happens at the intersection of individual passion and organizational scale. As community leaders, we will learn how to position ourselves to be the “connective tissue” between different groups and our community. Drawing on the cultural depth of Pakikisama (the ability to get along with others) and Malasakit (selfless concern), we will look at how the individual Filipino can bridge cultural and interpersonal divides, infuse values into systems and mobilize external resources.
On each day NaFFAA covers topics within its four pillars of advocacy, leadership development, civic engagement and advancing Filipino culture. On the second day of the NEC we will cover topics such as the individual’s potential impact in our community, developing our young leaders and sessions to enrich our leaders’ competencies in leading organizations.
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Saturday Breakfast
8:35 AM - 9:00 AM
General Session 1 Saturday
Opening Keynote: Building Community Power One Individual At A Time
Dr. Stacey Litam (Mental Health Angle)
9:00 AM - 9:55 AM
General Session 2 Saturday
Fireside Chat: Women in Community Leadership
Moderated by Gloria Caoile, Mariela Fletcher, Tia Dalupan, Dr. Stacey Litam (Region and State Representatives)
And a Tribute to Luly Esclamado, one of NaFFAA’s Founding Leaders
Description
[Leadership Development] Filipina leaders have long been at the forefront of advancing community, culture, and advocacy—often navigating complex challenges while breaking barriers across sectors. This powerful panel brings together accomplished women within the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NAFFAA) to share their journeys, successes, and the hard-earned lessons behind them.
10:00 AM - 10:55 AM
General Session 3 Saturday
Movie Viewing and Panel for “A Long March” (20 minutes) [National Advocacy]
Presented by Tammy Botkin and Q&A Panelists: Michael Dadap, Nonie Cruzado, etc.
Concurrent Early Morning Tracks - Saturday
11:00 AM – 11:55 PM
NaFFAA
Best Practices Panel for Region Presidents [Leadership Development]
Panelists: led by Alex Africa, Laura Garcia, Rachelle Ocampo
NaFFAA / Partners
Healthcare Professionals Forum [Leadership Development]
Panelists: Dr. Rommel Rivera, Lester Uy
Youth
From Problema to Plano: Building Community Solutions – ELI Day 2 Introduction
Facilitator: Gabriel Young
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Networking Lunch and Regional Awards
1:00 PM - 1:25 PM
General Session 4 Saturday
Keynote: The Importance of Representation
Ron Falconi
Concurrent Early Afternoon Tracks - Saturday
1:35 PM – 2:25 PM
NaFFAA
Run for Office Panel
Panelists: Mark Pulido, Ron Falconi, Steven Raga, Kris Valderama, Craig Valdez
Description
[Civic Engagement] Filipino Americans have long been active in community leadership, yet remain underrepresented in elected office across the United States. This session is designed to demystify the path from community advocate to public servant, equipping aspiring leaders with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to run for office.
NaFFAA / Partners
Filipino Authors Panel
Panelists: Dr. Michelle Mras, Dr. Abby Hamilton, Sheilah Jane Trojano, etc.
Description
[Advancing Culture] Filipino authors are playing a powerful role in shaping how our stories are told, preserved, and understood—both within our community and beyond it. This panel brings together a dynamic group of writers whose work spans genres and generations, each using their voice to explore identity, history, diaspora, and the evolving Filipino American experience.
Through storytelling, these authors are not only reclaiming narratives often overlooked or misunderstood, but also expanding the visibility and complexity of Filipino culture in literature and media. In this conversation, panelists will share their creative journeys, the inspirations behind their work, and the responsibility that comes with writing for and about community.
Youth
Lakbay Ng Kabataan (The Journey of the Youth): A NaFFAA Young Professional Career Panel
Facilitator: TBA
Speakers
- Brendan Flores, VP at Bank of America
- Jennifer Samuel, Co-Owner & Managing Director at Bodies by Perseverance and Professor at CU Denver
- Jason Tengco, Former Office of Personnel Management White House Liaison
- Tia Dalupan, Mojang Studios
Description
This is a young adult/professional career panel to show ELI participants what fields they can potentially explore
2:30 PM – 3:25 PM
NaFFAA
Stop Asian Hate Session [National Advocacy]
Panelists: Gigi de Gala, George Kuwamura, Sally Balecha, and others
Description: TBA
NaFFAA / Partners
Mental Health First Aid Kit
Co-presented with Krystle Canare and TJ Simba-Medel
Panelists: Lester Uy (CYFAM), Dr. Rommel Rivera
Description
In our pursuit of social impact and community building, we often focus on the external structures we want to change. However, the most resilient communities are those that prioritize the internal well-being of their members. This session introduces Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)—an essential toolkit for identifying, understanding, and responding to signs of mental distress.
Youth
Completing the Lakbay: The ELI Accelerator Solution Showcase
Facilitator: Gabriel Young
Description
This is a dedicated time for Region Presidents & NaFFAA Executive Leadership to see what the ELI Participants have accomplished in almost 48 hours. Participants do NOT need to have developed a full fleshed out program, prototype, or solution, but they should have ideated a problem solution.
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
General Session 5 Saturday
Closing Keynote: Building Community Power Starting With the Family
Sheilah Jane Trojano
Description
Filipino American will share a heartfelt conversation on family, identity, and the unspoken stories we carry across generations. Through personal storytelling, she explores the emotional cost of silence—and the healing that comes from breaking it.
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Emerging Leadership Institute Conclusion (Day 2)
Final Keynote for ELI
Facilitator: TBA
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Final Keynote for ELI Closing
Navigating Your NaFFAA Journey
Facilitator: Gabriel Young
Description
This session will be used to provide participants certificates and go through the different NaFFAA programs that exist and connect participants to their different regions.
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Bayanihan Awards Gala and Fashion Show
Description
To conclude our journey from individual action to collective power, attendees are invited to an evening of reflection, elegance, and profound gratitude. The Bayanihan Gala serves as the definitive bookend to our conference—a night where the strategies we’ve discussed and the connections we’ve made transition into a celebration of real-world excellence.
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Board of Directors Retreat
Description
In keeping with tradition, NaFFAA leaders will come together post-conference to debrief and speak in an open forum to work on the business of the organization.
NOTE: Agenda is subject to change. Last updated July 3, 2026.