NaFFAA: The Voice of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the US

HIGHLY regarded by Washington policy makers, business sector and national advocacy groups as the Voice of Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the United States, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) forged the bonds of unity among its members by rallying around four important issues---immigration, affirmative action, welfare reform, and equity for Filipino World War II Veterans.

With its 12 regions covering the continental United States, Hawaii, Guam and the Marianas, NaFFAA evolved into a non-partisan, non-profit national affiliation of more than five hundred Fil-Am institutions and umbrella organizations.

While actively monitoring legislation and public policy issues that impact on the lives of Fil-Ams, the group also forms coalitions with other organizations that share similar concerns. Aside from serving as the conduit between the communications of members, the NaFFAA functions as an information source on pertinent federal and legislative measures.

With a national office located in Washington D.C., the NaFFAA is governed through a Board with national, regional, and youth representations. Loida Nicolas Lewis serves as the national chair while Alex Esclamado is recognized as the founding National Chair is Alex Esclamado. Greg Macabenta, Dexter Ligot-Gordon and Armando “Doy” Heredia serve as the national vice chair, national youth chair, and chief operating officer and chief of staff, respectively.

The idea of a unifying force for 3,000 Fil-Am organizations actually emerged during the 1997 meeting of Fil-Am leaders in New York. Together with Mr. Esclamado and Ms. Lewis, two others who also attended the gathering include nationally-acclaimed guitarist Michael Dadap, and San Francisco State College board president Rodel Rodis.

With Mr. Esclamado expressing his intention to spearhead efforts toward unity, the four leaders made a firm resolve to convene a national conference and create an empowerment agenda.

One of the significant results of their discussion is the start of the National Filipino American Empowerment Conference in Washington, D.C. in August of the same year. The NaFFAA further gained momentum as it rode on the conference theme “Panahon Na!”

As proof of the transformative character of NaFFAA, the veterans issue became a national campaign for fair and just treatment under the federation’s initiatives. Leading the march of its delegates to Washington on the first day of the conference were the war veterans who strongly clamored for “equity now.”

NaFFAA has just concluded its 4th Global Networking Convention and NaFFAA 7th National Empowerment Conference held in Hawaii on September 28 to October 1, 2006. - Artemio F. Cusi III