naffaa national november 2014

8/10/2019 NaFFAA National November 2014

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20 November 2014. Washington, D.C. “ We whole -heartedly support President Obama ’ s executive action thatprovides immigration relief to undocumented immigrants who have made significant contributions to this coun-try, and yet have been denied access to the same opportunities that Americans enjoy, ” says NaFFAA NationalChairman JT Mallonga. “ His bold decision is a step forward in alleviating the plight of millions of undocument-ed immigrants who have been unfairly treated by our broken immigration system. ”

Mallonga adds: “ NaFFAA stands in solidarity with other immigrant communities in demanding policies that unite families andcelebrate the many contributions immigrants have made – regardless of legal status – to the social, political and economic well -bof this country. President Obama ’ s actions today affirm that we are indeed a nation of immigrants, “ a nation that values freedom, a na-tion that works together and keeps us together. ”

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) estimates there are 270,000 undocumented Filipino immigrants in theU.S. today. NaFFAA, and other national organizations, have called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to grant Tempo-rary Protected Status (TPS) to Filipino nationals in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. President Obama ’ s action is expected to benefit a

least 150,000 Filipinos who have been here for at least five years. “ In view of the limits imposed by the President ’ s decision, we continue to ca

on Homeland Security to grant TPS to the Philippines, ” Mallonga adds. “ The humtarian arguments we have put forward are still valid, and require immediate re-sponse. ”

In his announcement, President Obama said he is taking an important stepto fix our broken immigration system by providing legal status for undocumented im-migrants who pay a fine and taxes, pass a background check, learn English and goto the back line. Moreover, this action “ boosts our economy and keeps families to-gether by cutting red tape to simplify our legal immigration process. ”

President Obama ’ s decision to provide affirmative relief means that parentsof U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (of any age) who have been continuously present since January 1, 2010, and whopass background checks and pay taxes, will be eligible to apply for deferred action (DACA), which will be granted for a 3 -year per

Parents of DACA recipients are not eligible. DACA will be revised to eliminate the age cap, and to change the date that continuouspresence must have started to January 1, 2010.

Obama also calls on securing the border, holding nearly 5 million undocumented immigrants accountable, requiring undocu-mented immigrants to pass a criminal background check and pay their fair share of taxes as they register to temporarily stay in the USwithout fear of deportation.

“ We recognize that these steps only provide temporary protected status to undocumented immigrants who qualify, ” Mallopoints out. “ Congress must finish the job and work with the President in passing a comprehensive, bipartisan bill. The U.S. Senatepassed one more than a year ago, with 68 senators from both parties voting for it. It ’ s up to the House leadership to do the right thing,now. ”

NaFFAA plans to hold educational forums in the coming weeks and months to educate the community about these executiveactions and their implications to individuals concerned.

What ’s Insid

From Advocacy DirectoLeaders Speaks.. ………

NaFFAA Retreat ………

TPS…….. ……………………

SF Pe on …………………

Awards ………... …………

FilVote MI …………………

Region 10……………... …

FilVets ………………………NaFFAA Applica on ..

By Jon Melegrito and Bng Cardenas

NaFF pplauds Obama s Executive ction on Immigration

(AP Photo/Jim Bourg, Pool)



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From NaFFAA NationalDirectorate for Advocacy:

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE OBAMA EXECUTIVEFIAT OF 112014

In view of the impact to all FILAM community of theExecutive Order of Pres. Obama on 112014, it behoves

NaFFAA , as the voice of the Filipino community all over thenation, to go down in their respective jurisdiction and to lead inthe information dissemination on the whys and wherfores ofthis executive order.

Accordingly, the NaFFAA National Directorate on Ad-vocacy has taken the initiative of providing pertinent materialson the subject. Included herein are the following. 1). A copy ofthe Immigration chart for easy understanding and handling ofthe material points impacting the community and 2). Data ondemographics from PEW Foundation as to the impact of theexecutive order to the nation. Other relevant information areposted at naffaa.org.

It is hope that these materials would provide excitingand relevant information to our respective communities asNaFFAA goes down nationwide with its information dissemina-tion activities in the days to come.

For their immediate consideration and appropriate ac-tion.

Emerito Salud, Esq.National Directorate for Advocacy



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President Obama ’ s Executive Action on Immigration is a huge accomplishment for immigrants. Althoughtemporary and not all -inclusive, this presidential initiative surely brings relief for undocumented immigrants,who are covered by this policy change. I urge my fellow leaders in the Filipino American community acrossthe nation to work with their legislators by engaging in discussions that may lead to the eventual passing ofa comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill.

Cindy Flores, Chair, NaFFAA Illinois

It was a victory for many Filipino Americans and other immigrant communities across the United States. And while the Executive Order helps many, there are numerous undocumented Fil - Ams do not qualify;as such, this serves as a benchmark for NaFFAA to keep advocating for Comprehensive ImmigrationReform. Steven Raga, Member, Board of Governors (NY)

President Obama's "Immigration Accountability Executive Action" reflects the call to hospitality and wel-come that is at the core of our faith traditions and is a core American value. In the absence of congres-sional responsibility to address immigration reform, this action was essential to address this critical na-

tional issue. As we continue to reflect on the gains for human rights in this historic moment, let us con-tinue to build relationships with those impacted members in our community and recommit to walking insolidarity with our immigrant brothers and sisters.

Dennis Apuan, Chair, NaFFAA Region 5 (CO)

applaud President Obama's Executive Action on Immigration. I consider it a palliative to the problem ofundocumented but law -abiding immigrants. But it is better than no action at all. I am looking forward tohe day when Congress will come up with an Immigration Reform Bill incorporating the provisions of the

Executive Order. Many Filipino families can breathe a sigh of relief now that they are protected by theExecutive Order. Aurora S. Cudal, Chair, NaFFAA Region 10 (SD - CA)

NaFF s Leaders Speak on the President sImmigration Initiative

Congratulations to the Successful NaFFAA Retreat in Las VegasSpecial Thank You to all the participants for coming to LasVegas, Region XI for hosting and Ms. Gloria Caoile for coordi-nating room reservation, conference room and food at the hotel.Please find highlights of the Retreat in pages 4-5.

Reports by Giselle Rushford, National Executive DirectorPhotos by Jon Melegrito, National Communications Director



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Highlights of NaFFAA National Chair JT Mallonga ’ s Message:

2016 President election, Comprehensive Immigration and NaFFAA as an advocacygroup.Requesting NAFFAA ’ s attendance to the consular meeting in D.C., to promoteNAFFAA as the go -to organization on Filipino issues.Effective NaFFAA governance with establishment of the following: National data-base of all; Filipino American voters, database for all advocacy groups, and data-base of undocumented Filipinos

Creation of 3 Region Centers and Appointment of Chairs within NaFFAA(Reports to Emraida Kiram, National Vice Chair—Head of Operations.)

Atlantic Region consisting of Regions I, II, III East & Region IV –

Aida Rivera, Chair Central Region consisting of Regions III West, V, VI, Region XI – Emraida Kiram, Chair Pacific Coast Region consisting of Regions VII, VIII, IX, X & XII – Rudy Asercion, Chair

Confirmed Directorates and Directors(Reports to Giselle Rushford, Executive Director - Administration & Planning)

Merit Salud -- Advocacy Bing Branigin – Legislative Gloria Caoile, Juanito Amor Jr., Dick Aquino, Ed Navarra -- FilAmVote

Jon Melegrito --Communications Lorna Dietz—Digital Training and Archives

Armin Sayson—Information Technology

Mariela Fletcher & Marilyn Doromal - Community DevelopmentJing Espiritu --Finance/FundingRommel Rivera --HealthDonna LaVigne --Programs

NaFFAA to create a 501(c)(4) entity to reflect NaFFAA ’ s avowed purposes, allowingmembers to engage in political activities, endorse candidates/issues and engage in sub-stantial lobbying activities. Nadia Jurani, a tax lawyer and CPA, was tasked to continuethe work on NaFFAA ’ s 501(C) 3 issues.

Finalizing the Amendments to the By -Laws, which will be published in naffaa.org.

Confirmed Appointments:

Dick Aquino as Atlantic Region Co -Director of FilAm Vote

Lidy Chan of Massachusetts as National Assistant Treasurer

Nadia Jurani as Internal Auditor

Announcements

National conference manual will be circulated around within three (3) months to beused as a guide.

Amended Bylaws will also be circulated to all directorate members.Provide support to all other national Filipino organizations and initiatives,

including those by non -NAFFAA members.Copy of the Delano Manongs documentary for $305 is available for every region,order at: http://www.delanomanongs.com/.Region 1 announced the 2016 EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE in

Philadelphia on July 28 - 31, 2016.



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Major Key Initiatives report from each Directorate:

PROGRAMS (Headed by Donna LaVigne, Members present: Rudy Asercion, Jinni Bar-tolome and Amie Belmonte)

A. HELPING KIDS GET HOME SAFE - Successful implementation of ongoing self -funded pro-grams:

SAFE HAVEN PROGRAM (SHP) for older kids who are not accompanied by parents1. Anti-bullying programs - go to “ Safe Haven ” entities/ storeowners with yellow stickers.2. Philippine Consulate is in partnership with NAFFAA on this SF programs3. ACTION ITEM: Ask entities to be participant of SHP

B. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ACTION ITEMS:To add the NAFFAA logo on the reflectors to be distributed to the community.To introduce resolution to avoid double tasking of tour bus drivers to avoid the accident in SanFrancisco where a slow moving tour bus ran over a Filipino woman crossing the street when thedriver was also acting as the tour guide.For effective succession of NAFFAA - be a mentor by partnering with young people.Distribute to every member by December 15, 2015 existing programs to be modeled by regionsthat will adopt the initiative.

C. Alex Esclamado Scholarship: Regionalize the scholarship program to encourage more appli-cants and for the AE Program to be sustainable.

ACTION ITEM: Each Region is encouraged to fundraise at least a $1500 per year starting January 2016. Scholarto receive $1000 in cash and the $500 to be used to travel to the NaFFAA Empowerment Confer ence (NEC). One Scholar a year. Each Scholar to attend the NEC. Coordinate with the National

AE Committee.

HEALTH (Headed by Dr. Rommel Rivera, Members p resent: Jelly Carandang, Aurora Cudal, Aida Rivera, Beth Ilagan) Tagline: A healthy Filipino Community is an empowered community.KEY INITIATIVES/ ACTION ITEMS/FUNDING SOURCES:To apply funding sources from American BeverageTo apply to Gilead Pharmacy for a $50,000 national grant.

FINANCE & FUNDING (Headed by Jing Espiritu, Members present: Luly Esclamado, RestyLopez, Rey Lopez, Nadia Jurani & Gloria Williams) Tagline: Show me the money!!

ACTION ITEMS - To prepare proforma Financial Report by 12/15/2014To submit sample Quarterly Reports by 12/15/2014 as guide for all regions to use.To coordinate with other Directorates to generate fund raising initiatives.

ADVOCACY (Headed by Merit Salud, Members present : Gloria Caoile, Cesar Lumba, Juan-ito Amor Jr., Dick Aquino) Tagline: Together, We count!INITIATIVES/ACTION ITEMS:FilAmvote - visit Regions to train - restricted funds for specific purpose, Veterans issues, Seniorcitizens care, Comprehensive immigration, Youth Development, Medicare portability, Identity,Speakers. All fundraising activities need close collaboration with partnership.

COMMUNICATIONS (Headed by Jon Melegri to, Members present : JT Mallonga, MarilynCante and Emraida Kiram) Tagline: NAFFAA makes empowerment happen.“

Deliver a knockout vote”

ACTION ITEM: for the Newsletter a Director ’ s Corner for at least one Directorate (or more asspace allows) Directorate of Legislative Affairs - Bing Branigin

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (Headed by Mariela Fletcher & Marilyn Doromal, Memberspresent: Romeo Jurani, Cynthia Deriquito, Minda Banaria and later Amie Belmonte.)Tagline - A community that works together, thrives together.KEY INITIATIVES/ACTION ITEMS:FilAm History Month - declaring Oct. as FilAm History Month; Recognition of Delano Manongs;Carlos BulosanIncrease and retain NaFFAA membership - continuous drive by membership committee.Include mentors and mentee membership drive Templates by December 31, 2014 on prospectiveprograms such as Medical Mission, Disaster Relief, Consular Outreach, Gawad Kalinga, etc.Data base and Membership Brochure - by December 15, 2014.



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NaFFAA Spearheads the Petition to Change Tour Bus Regulations in San Francisco,Please visit our website or facebook page to sign the petition

NaFFAA Leader Receives Lion’s Mission Hope Award

Skokie, Illinois Plan Commissionerand Region 3West Chair, Angeles "Jelly"Carandang, received the "Mission HOPE

Award" from the Houston Royal Oaks LionsClub (HROLC) during its 6th Gala and Mas-querade Ball last October 4, 2014. The

award is given to those who helped othersexcel through service. Jelly has started abiennial humanitarian mission in 2005,where HROLC has provided consistent helpand support as a co -sponsor, along witNaFFAA and other organizations in Illinois.The Mission provides free medical, dental,and optical services to selected areas in thePhilippines. The next mission is scheduledfor February 2 to 6, 2015. The photo belowshows Jelly (7th from left) with Ms. MariaTheresa Mendoza (5th from left), immediatepast president of HROLC and a consistentvolunteer at the mission, the Lions District

Governor, and other awardees for different categories. Also accepting the plaque for the Philippine Chamber of Commerce of Houston is Anthony Guevara (1st from left), NaFFAA Region 6 chair.

By Jelly Carandan

By Rudy Asercion

NaFFAA Region 2 Elects New Officers

Chair: Bing Branigin Vice Chair: Eric Macalma

Secretary: Elvi Bangit Treasurer: Elvie Melegrito

Northern Virginia State Chair: Mitzi PickardSouthern Virginia State Chair: Andy Lazo

Maryland Chair: Beth Wong



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FilVote Michigan reached out to more than 2,000 voters during a“ telethon ” it conducted last November 1 at the Fuji Japanese Buffet in Mad-ison Heights. During the “ telethon, ” the 31 participants called by phone po-tential voters and urged them to cast their ballots in the midterm electionsheld three days later (Nov. 4). FilVote Michigan Executive Director andNaFFAA State Chair Willie Dechavez said that most of the potential voterscontacted by phone promised to go to the polls to cast their ballots. Thetelethon started at 11 a.m. and ended at 2 p.m. Most of the participants,who had free buffet meals, were members of the Michigan chapter of theNational Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA).

FilVote Michigan is a newly launched, non -partisan movementtasked to convince more Filipino Americans to participate in the electoralprocess by exercising their rights of suffrage. JT Mallonga, NationalNaFFAA chairman, had earlier announced that FilVote is one of the federa-tion ’ s priority advocacies, noting that of the 1.4 million eligible Filipino

American voters, only 500,000 have been voting in elections. He called onall chapters of NaFFAA to launch FilVote in their states. Heeding Mallon-ga ’ s call, Dechavez, who is NaFFAA -Michigan chairperson, formed a coregroup that made preparations for the launching of FilVote -Michigan.Dechavez said that FilVote Michigan will also undertake activities aimed atpersuading Filipinos and Filipino Americans (dual citizens) to register forthe Philippine presidential elections in 2016. FilVote also sent out approxi-mately 100 pledge cards which remind people to vote on November 4.They also setup 472 robocall to mainstream community members and dis-tributed 400 flyers to families to remind to vote.

By: Willie Dechavez

CARMEN PEREZ -VILLANUEVA

ANNABEL DEBARR PHILLIP DEBARR

ANETINE SIEGA JENNY HEADRICK DEVINE JUCO MARISSA RADOWICK CHRIS PRUYT GREG HOMBREBUENO FLOR PENNER

LOLITA GUADEZ CONNIE SUMALDE CAROL D'AGOSTINO RONALD ILAGAN ED NAVARRA DAN ORILLE MANUELA ORILLE NINA MCCAULEY FE SAN AGUSTIN JOY PRECHER SALLY NOVERAS

ANAMARIE SHECLKEANE SHECLY

ARI MOSES LOIDA MOSES DIANE GONZALESMARY BASTE TONY ANTONIO PERCY ANTONIOMARLENE VIOLA WILLIE DECHAVE

NaFFAA National is a monthly newsletter with the goal of circulat-ing information on NaFFAA’s advocacy events and projects, ap-pointments, messages from leadership and other related activities inthe Filipino American community.

Editorial Staff

Ryan [email protected]

Eduardo “Ed” [email protected]

Please forward comments, event announcements and news articlesin your community for the December issue by the 25th.

The FilAm Unity Group of San Diego is the first organizationmember of NaFFAA Region 10. Shown in the picture aresome of the officers of the FilAm Unity Group of San DiegoCounty led by its President: Cora B. Anderson, ChairNaFFAA San Diego County: Myrna Fariñas Reyes andChair, NaFFAA Region 10 Dr. Aurora Soriano Cudal, Chair,NAFFAA Region 10.

New Group Joins NaFFAA Region 10

FilVote Michigan s telethonreaches out to 2 000 voters

By Willie Dechavez

http://us.mc1602.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/MReyes.Aloha

https://www.facebook.com/MReyes.Aloha

http://us.mc1602.mail.yahoo.com/mc/[email protected]



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By: Jon Melegrito and Bing Cardenas Washington, D.C. A nationwide public information and educatiocampaign to highlight the service and sacrifices of Filipino veteransof World War II and preserve their historic legacy in a digitized edu-cation program is now officially underway with the formation ofFilipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project ” (FilVetRon September 13, 2014.

The purpose of this Project is to tell the Filipino and Filipino American WWII Soldiers story of patriotism, duty, and uncommonvalor. Their story is over 70 years in the making and the Projecttakes on the task of bringing it forward. The importance and valuof advancing the Project at local and national levels, and in unitingour community to support the Veterans, will have a lasting impacton future generations.

As a non -partisan, community -based charitable organization and an all -volunteer national educational initiative, FilVetREPmain mission is to raise the American people ’ s awareness abo

the valuable role Filipino WWII veterans played; gain recognition fortheir selfless sacrifice and uncommon valor in the form of a Procla-mation; and secure the Congressional Gold Medal award for theirdedication to duty and distinguished service to the nation. Fil-VetREP plans to achieve these goals through a nationwide publicinformation and education campaign, legislative action, academic

research and study, a national tour and exhibition of the Congressional Gold Medal, and development of a digitized national edu-cational program for secondary schools and colleges.

The Filipino WWII soldiers are likely the last minority veterans of World War II who have yet to receive the CongressionalGold Medal. Other minority veterans who were previously recognized include the Tuskegee Airmen, Montford Marines, NavajoCode Talkers, Women Air Service Pilots, Japanese American Nisei Soldiers, and Puerto Rican soldiers of the 65 th Infantry Rment. Information about the project can now be accessed at www.filvetsrecognition.org and on Facebook at httwww.facebook.com/FilVetsRecognition. Keep an eye out for key documents for FilVetREP, bios for project leadership, and othertimely updates.

Participating in the planning meeting last summer to launch the FilipinoVeterans Recognition and Education Project are (from left, front row) Maj.Gen. Antonio Taguba, Marie Blanco, Gina Jones, Christy Panis Poisot,Atty. Erick Soriano, Jon Melegrito; (back row) Jude Soundar, Ben de Guz-man, Phil Olaya, Maj. Gen. Del Lorenzana, Sonny Izon, Jason Tengco,Hector Vargas, Romeo Ymalay. (Photo by Bing Branigin).

San Francisco ’ s Observance of Veterans Day

JROTC cadets bowing their heads in honor and recognition ofFilipino WWII Veterans on the reviewing stand of the VeteransDay Parade in San Francisco. By: Rudy Asercion

UPDATE – Deadline to enter theLogo competition has beenextended to December 15, 2014!

The Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Pro- ject (herein Project or FilVetREP) is a nonpartisan, community-based, all -volunteer national initiative whose mission is toraise awareness through academic research and public infor-mation and obtain national recognition of Filipino and Filipino

American WWII Soldiers across the United States and Philip-pines for their wartime service to the U.S. and the Philippinesfrom July 1941 to December 1946. The Project intends toseek 501(c)(3) tax -exempt status as a public charity underapplicable Federal law.

To promote the Project ’ s important work, we need amemorable logo that conveys the mission of the Project andinvokes the spirit of the Filipino American WWII veterans thatare the core of the Project ’ s work.

We need your help to design our logo. Please sendinquiries to: FilVetsRecogni [email protected] .

http://www.filvetsrecognition.org/

https://www.facebook.com/FilVetsRecognition


mailto:[email protected]





http://www.filvetsrecognition.org/



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naffaa national november 2014

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