NaFFAA Elects 31-year old Brendan Flores as National Chair

National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 13, 2016

Contact:  

Bing Cardenas Branigin

bing.branigin@naffaa.org

Tel. 202-361-1024

Jon Melegrito

jon.melegrito@naffaa.org

Tel. 202-361-0296

Regine Victoria

reginevmarie@gmail.com

Washington, D.C. Noting that “we have made history” by electing a millennial to lead the organization, 31-year-old Brendan Flores of Jacksonville, Florida told the more than 300 delegates and guests, who witnessed his swearing-in as NaFFAA’s seventh national chairman, that he will strive “to make positive change, to create hope, to build up our community, and to bring us together.”

Our common goal, he asserted, is “to make sure the voices of 4 million Filipinos living in the United States today carry significant weight. Imagine the impact we can make when we all come together with a drive to see that hope become reality.”

This goal was amplified throughout the three-day conference by speakers who urged delegates to educate themselves on the issues, help in voter registration drives in their localities and harness the community’s voting power in November. NaFFAA’s FilAmVote program, launched in January, has been registering new voters in states like California and Nevada where large concentrations of Filipino Americans reside.

“One of the ways of empowerment is to focus on issues, such as the economy, job growth, early childhood education and affordable access to colleges,” said U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia, the opening day’s keynote speaker. “Make sure Filipino Americans are involved in these policy decisions. Make sure to hold politicians accountable. But to make a difference, everyone must participate and exercise their right to vote.”

Pipeline of leaders. 

Flores gave his inaugural remarks at the final evening of the 12th National Empowerment Conference (NEC), held August 4-6 in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. He has served as NaFFAA National Youth Chair and National Treasurer. Flores’ community involvement both locally and nationally led him to establish a series of networks, awards and scholarship opportunities for other driven individuals. He is a scholarship grantor for The Public Education Foundation of Las Vegas, and president of the Alumni Leadership Circle of the Academy of Finance.

Currently the Regional Banking District Manager and Vice President at Wells Fargo in Florida, Flores is the president of Emerging Leaders United in Saint John’s county, Florida. He is a graduate of three internal and external leadership executive programs both in Pennsylvania and Florida states.

“I am a true millennial by age with a Gen-X’s heart and passion, a work ethic like a baby-boomer and strong values similar to traditionalists,” he says, in describing himself. Having been with NaFFAA for over a decade, and chalking up 14 plus years at the bank, he continues to be active within his community, expanding his professional sphere and promoting personal growth.

Flores succeeds 64-year-old JT Mallonga, a New York immigration lawyer who served for two years. Preceeding Mallonga was retired engineer Ed Navarra of Bloomfield, Michigan, who was 66 when he was elected to the top post in 2010. NaFFAA’s founding chairman, Alex Esclamado, was 85 when he led the first empowerment conference in 1997. He was followed by Philanthrophist Loida Nicolas Lewis, Entrepreneur Alma Kern and Publisher Greg Macabenta – all in their 60’s when they assumed the national chairmanship.

“It’s about time the baby boomers and the millennial generation hold the baton together moving forward,” Mallonga said of Flores’ election. “I am encouraged by the participation of many young people, coming from all over the country to make their presence felt in this conference.”

NEC Co-chair Brad Baldia also applauded how the organization is moving seriously “to build a pipeline of leaders,” with its emphasis on education and leadership development. “This is timely as NaFFAA will be celebrating its 20th anniversary next year. Our newly-elected officers are eager to take the organization to a new level in providing increased value for our members and making NaFFAA self-sustaining.”

‘It’s our time to reach’

The day before the NEC opened, youth delegates spent a full afternoon in workshops, focusing on issues dealing with personal growth as individuals and as communities. Framed by the theme “Reach,” the discussions revisited the conversations held at the last NEC in San Diego, CA., from gay rights to immigration, cultural identity to leadership development.

Members of the Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue, Inc. (FIND), Empowering Pilipino Youth through Collaboration (EPYC) and Pilipino American Unity for Progress, Inc. (UniPro) served as resource leaders, sharing best practices, practical skills and effective strategies.

NaFFAA Board Member Steven Raga, a founder of UniPro, said: “We developed a concept to challenge delegates to create a sustainable intergenerational pipeline of leadership for the Filipino American community. The theme ‘Reach’ will continue the movement by reaching inwards, within ourselves; reaching upwards, to our mental capabilities; reaching outwards, to our networks and communities; and reaching across the generations. It is our time to reach, reach for a better today.”

Like the previous National Empowerment Conference, this year’s gathering was a way of opening up more opportunities for continued engagement between seasoned veterans and the youth.

It culminated in a gala dinner graced by Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo, who gave the keynote address and installed NaFFAA’s newly-elected national officers.

They are: Brendan Flores of Jacksonville, Fl. as chair; Emraida Kiram of Milwaukee, WI. as vice chair; Mariella Fletcher of Seattle, WA. as Secretary; and Brad Baldia of Philadelphia, PA., as treasurer. Also inducted were new members of the Board of Governors: Bing Branigin of Reston, VA; Marie Cunning of Phoeniz, AZ; Steven Raga of New York, NY; and Giselle Rushford of Denver, CO.

NaFFAA’s Board of Governors include 16 members elected at large and the chairs of all 13 regions.

Helping the homeland

 In keeping with the conference theme, “Celebrating our History and Building a Brighter Future,” Vice President Robredo called on NaFFAA “to create programs that will give opportunities for young professionals to understand what is going on in the Philippines and to educate them on how they could be of help to the homeland.”

Robredo is the first top government official to address a national organization in the United States after the May elections in the Philippines. She was recently appointed by President Duterte to head the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). She said it’s a role she welcomes as it would allow her to tackle problems that have deprived the poor and marginalized sectors of society from enjoying a better quality of life.

In her gala dinner speech, she called on her kababayans “to find the path towards service for others. If you don’t, may you make your own trail so that others who follow will step forward with confidence, hope and a bigger chance at actualizing our dreams of a brighter, more inclusive, and empowered economy.”

In reiterating the need for “a brighter, inclusive future,” the Vice President urged NaFFAA’s members and the Filipino American community to “share their skills and knowledge to provide a world-class service to the Filipinos back home.”

At a press conference held earlier in the day, Robredo fielded questions from the media. One asked her to comment on the spate of “extra judicial killings,” that has raised widespread concerns. While she expressed dismay, she admitted her limitations in being able to influence policy decisions on this matter because “I am only one person.” However, she encouraged the media to “create a mindset that [extra-judicial killing] is wrong.”

Conference Highlights

• Alex Esclamado Community Service Awards

Introduced at the last NEC as a way of honoring the legacy of one of NaFFAA’s founders, the Alex Esclamado Community Service Awards were given this year to the Filipino Cultural School based in Norwalk, Los Angeles County; Filipino American Association of Philadelphia, Inc.; Filipino American Community Action Group of Hampton Roads, Va.; and the Washington DC-based Feed the Hungry.

Former NaFFAA National Chairman Greg Macabenta, who chairs the awards committee, explained that the winners were chosen based on their “commitment to the Filipino people both in the United States and in the Philippines, a desire to empower our people and to claim our rightful place not only in the United States but all over the world, and lastly, integrity which are all truly apparent in the man who inspired this award.”

The awards ceremony, which was co-sponsored with GMA International, opened with a video of Esclamado’s life of public service and his dream of Filipino American empowerment and unification.

This year, 19 organizations, including nine from two years ago, were nominated. Because they were outstanding and deserving of recognition, a certificate was awarded to their representatives. They included: Council for Teaching Filipino Language and Culture (San Diego, CA.), Ernesto Esquejo Scholarship Foundation (Corpus Christi, TX), Eskwela Natin (Sacramento, CA), Filipino Educators Federation of Louisiana, Filipino American National Historical Society (FAHNS, National), International Drop-in Center (Seattle, WA), Pagyamanin Likas Musika (Santa Clara, CA), Lubang-Look International (NY, NY), Mending Faces (Denver, CO), NaFFAA (Chicago, IL), Pilipino American Unity for Progress (NY, NY), Philippine American Cultural Foundation (Chicago, IL), Philippine American Society of Greater Dayton (OH), Philippine Bisayan Society of Nevada (Las Vegas), University of the Philippines Alumni and Friends Rondalla).

• Trailblazers

In further honoring Filipino Americans who have distinguished themselves in various fields, NaFFAA recognized the following individuals and presented them with the NaFFAA Filipino American Trailblazer Award:

Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA), Vice Admiral Raquel C. Bono (US Navy), Cristeta Comerford (White House Executive Chef), Francey Youngberg (Deputy Assistant Secretary at HUD), Ronnie Del Carmen (Pixar graphic designer), Billy Dec (WHIAAPI Commissioner), Robert Lopez (Award winning songwriter for Disney’s “Frozen”), Jason Tengco (former Deputy Director for WHIAAPI), and Stella Abrera (Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre).

AARP, a major corporate sponsor of the conference, presented the awards.

• Congressional Gold Medal Award

One award that NaFFAA has been working hard to win is the Filipino Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015, which would recognize the service and sacrifice of the 260,000 Filipino soldiers who fought in World War II. The conference featured Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret), chairman of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP). He urged delegates to call their U.S. representatives and enlist their support. Taguba stressed the urgency of securing 290 co-sponsors in the House (the number required to pass the bill). The Senate passed the same measure last month.

The subject of parole visas for families of Filipino World War II veterans was also discussed at the same session.

• Tribute to Joe Montano

Delegates paused to honor Joe Montano, former NaFFAA executive director, who passed away peacefully in his home in Arlington, Va. on Jul 25. He was 47. A passionate civil rights advocate, he was among dozens of youth leaders who led the fight for equity and justice for Filipino veterans in the mid-90’s. He also coordinated NaFFAA’s FilVote from 2000-2002, visiting college campuses across the U.S. to register students and mobilize them to vote.

Dedicating himself completely to public service, Montano was a top aide to U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine who eulogized him at his funeral as “a proud patriotic American” who “was about outreach and bridge building and bringing people together.”

At the Friday night tribute, George Mason University student Kathleen Cabrera played the guitar as she sang a Joe Montano favorite, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

• Climate Change

In introducing this topic at the NEC, NaFFAA Board Member Rodel Rodis tied the subject to the conference theme of “building a brighter future” by saying “it’s hard to imagine a future, let alone a brighter one, if climate change is not addressed.”

In his presentation, Wei-Tai Kwok, a designer of innovative energy storage solutions and a volunteer public speaker for the Climate Reality Project, warned that “it’s up to us, not our children, to find solutions to this global crisis. It’s time we demand prompt action from our leaders. Our society is not acting fast enough.” He singled out the Philippines as the only country experiencing the most number of storms, resulting in humanitarian disasters from food and water shortage to conflicts.

Moving Forward

After the conclusion of NEC, the Board of Governors (BOG) met with the newly-elected national chairman, who reiterated his vision for NaFFAA:

“I ran on a platform supported by 7 pillars that I believe will serve as the foundation for taking NAFFAA to the next level. Through Membership Acceleration, we will expand and reach more of our fellow Filipino Americans across the nation. Bridging Generational Gaps will allow us to collaborate more effectively within the organization. Empowering Students, Young Professionals, Women, and the LGBT community will provide a diverse and inclusive pool of ideas and initiatives. By focusing on Professional Development and Financial Literacy, we will instill our members with the skills and tools they need to succeed in any endeavor.  By Engaging with Various Sectors and other Groups, we will broaden our network and our resources. Advocacy Programs will cement NAFFAA as integral to the framework of our Nation.  Creating a strong and structured funding program will be crucial to the growth and development of our organization. Finally, by having Financial Soundness and Transparency, we will ensure that future generations will be able to continue the work that we do today.”

At the BOG meeting, Flores congratulated Region 1 Chair and conference host Dr. Aida Rivera, and her co-chairs Brad Baldia and Dr. Rommel Rivera for their “fine work, exceptional preparation and leadership” in putting this year’s event together.

“I would also like to extend my heartfelt thank you and appreciation to our volunteers, media partners, the speakers for their thought-provoking presentations and the sponsors for their value-added contributions,” Flores added.

The BOG is slated to hold a summit in November to discuss NaFFAA’s program for the next two years, including plans for a 20th anniversary celebration in September next year, in Washington, D.C. where NaFFAA was formed and incorporated.

Formed in 1997 in Washington, D.C., NaFFAA mission is to actively promote civic engagement and community empowerment among the nearly 4 million Filipinos in the U.S. today. In the last 19 years, NaFFAA’s advocacy initiatives have focused on securing equity benefits and recognition for Filipino World War II veterans, voter registration and education, overseas voting and dual citizenship rights. NaFFAA is also part of national Asian American coalitions working on comprehensive immigration reform and other civil rights programs that seek protections against hate crimes and all forms of discrimination that undermines cultural diversity and inclusion.

Lending their corporate support to the 12th National Empowerment Conference are AARP, Comcast, GMA International, PagIBIG Fund, Santander Bank and Wells Fargo.

(Andrew Esmile, Ryan Tejero and Regine Victoria contributed to this report.)

PHOTOS by NaFFAA Communications

​Vice President Leni Robredo installs NaFFAA’s newly-elected national officers, from left, Chairman Brendan Flores, Vice Chair Emraida Kiram, Secretary Mariella Fletcher, Treasurer Brad Baldia and Board members Marie Cunning, Giselle Rushford and Steven Raga. Not in picture is Board member Bing Branigin.

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Incoming chairman Brendan Flores, 31, (left) and outgoing chairman JT Mallonga, 64, celebrate a leadership transition from the Baby Boomers to the Millennial Generation.

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FilAm Vote national coordinator Juanito Amor, Jr. (left) with team members Myrna Farinas Reyes and Rom Sarno urge NEC delegates to step up voter mobilization drives in their communities across the country.

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Vice President Leni Robredo, speaking at the Gala Dinner, called on her “Kababayans” to give back to the homeland. (Photo courtesy of VP Robredo’s Office.)

Members of the Filipino American Association of Philadelphia accept the Alex Esclamado Community Service Award, which was given to four national organizations. NaFFAA Board members Rodel Rodis and Rozita Lee presented the awards.

Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba (Ret) challenges delegates to help secure the Congressional Gold Medal for Filipino World War II veterans. “They’ve waited for 72 years to be recognized,” he said. “Let’s get it done this year.”

​For two days, NEC delegates listened to prominent speakers talk about climate change, community empowerment, entrepreneurial development, inter-generational leadership, political participation and congressional engagement.

​Student leaders (from left) Andrew Esmele, Kat Cabrera, Stephanie Mina, John Victoria, Regine Marie Victoria, and Aldrin Cabrera are among several youth delegates who attended the conference.

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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. It is recognized by Washington policy makers, national advocacy groups and private industry as the Voice of Filipinos and Filipino throughout the United States. NaFFAA partners with local affiliate organizations and national coalitions in advocating for issues of common concern to Filipino Americans. As the largest national affiliation of Filipino American institutions, organizations and individuals, NaFFAA’s thirteen-member regions cover the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, the Marianas Islands, and American Samoa.