National Federation of Filipino American Associations

Jet Tagle of Parangal Dance Company Photo by RJ Muna

In Milpitas, California.

The Filipino Association of Milpitas’ Filipino Fiesta, June 11, 2011 at 2:00pm at the Milpitas Community Center on Calaveras Avenue.

Seasons Marketplace at Landess in Milpitas, California, co-sponsored by the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), Region 8-Santa Clara County Chapter, will be holding a Philippine Independence Day Celebration on Sunday, June 12, 2011. The theme is “Celebrating Our History and our Community Leaders.” The program, organized by Ben Menor, NaFFAA Region 8’s Santa Clara County Chair and Clarence Madrilejos, NaFFAA R8-Santa Clara County Vice-Chair who represents Filipino young professionals and other YP’s (young Pilipinos/young Pilipinas), will be from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.

A Grand Opening and Blessing of G’s Day Spa kicks off the festivities. There will be an opening procession with the “Colors of the Philippines” by the youth and opening prayers by Father Andy Ligot. A special recognition program officiated by City of Milpitas’ Mayor, Jose Esteves, highlighting Santa Clara County’s community leaders and contributors in the success of Seasons Marketplace at Landess and its Community Studio, will also take place.

Entertainment will be provided by the Community Studio’s regular users, students, and honorees. The program will be followed by a “merienda-cena,” sponsored by G’s DAY SPA.

For information about Seasons Marketplace at Landess, go to http://www.theseasonsmarketplace.com/ For NaFFAA Region 8 (Northern CA), go to http://naffaar8.com/ .

In San Francisco, California.

NaFFAA Region 8 is also a participating organization at the first-ever regional gala event, “A Celebration of Heritage: A Coming Together,” a gala dinner on Sunday, June 12, 2011 in celebration of the 113th Anniversary of Philippine Independence, the 150th Anniversary of the Birthday of Philippine National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal, and the 50th Anniversary of the Founding of the San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee. Expected to attend the festivities will be public officials from national through local levels, members of the diplomatic corps, and movers and shakers from among the Bay Area’s diverse communities. In addition to a sumptuous filet-mignon dinner, a unique program is planned, involving dancers, singers (choral, operatic and pop) and mixed-media graphics. The affair will be strictly formal: black-tie (tuxedo) and long-gown, or alternatively, “formal barong” and “terno.” As of press time, tickets are almost sold out based on a “first paid, first served” basis. For inquiries, contact Jose Pecho, NaFFAA Region 8 Chair, at JP8cho@aol.com or (925) 286-6607.

In Berkeley, California.

One of NaFFAA Region 8’s community partners, Parangal Dance Company, who many NaFFAA members and supporters connected with during the 9th NaFFAA Empowerment Conference (E-2010), will be performing dances and rituals from the Subanen people of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur in the Philippines at the 33rd Annual San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival on June 11 and June 12 at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley. They will feature dancers leaping onto a sinalimba, a type of swing, representing a mythic vessel used for journeying.

Tickets can be purchased at http://bit.ly/jywLft. Previous years have sold out, so don’t wait! Tickets are $18 - $58; Subscriber discounts are available when purchasing tickets to four separate performances; Group discounts for 20 or more are available; and kids 12 and under receive half-price admission for all matinees.

For more information about the festival, log on to http://www.worldartswest.org. To check out Parangal Dance Company’s FREE Philippine Dance and Music Workshops this summer, where you can learn new dances for your 2012 Philippine Culture Night (PCN) presentations, go to www.ParangalDance.org or call 415 244-5203.

At NaFFAA Region 8, Parangal Dance Company’s contact is Ben Menor at BenMenor@yahoo.com.

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Ben Menor, County Chair of NaFFAA Region 8’s Santa Clara County, was very busy during the May 27 and May 28, 2011 weekend. First, there was the PCN at JTS Northside Community Center with the Mabuhay Cultural Club. Then, there was the Santacruzan Festivities that he anchored and emceed during the First Anniversary of Seasons Marketplace at Landess in Milpitas, California. Everyone was happy!

Here is one of the videos that NaFFAA Region 8’s Media Group took that day. Enjoy!

Ben Menor, Santa Clara County’s chair at NaFFAA Region 8, and Clarence Madrilejos, the County’s NaFFAA vice-chair, are very busy community coordinators and community developers, with Milpitas’ newest Filipino-centric mall, Seasons Marketplace at Landess, foremost in their collaboration activites and projects. As Seasons’ community developer and E-2010’s “intergenerational leadership in succession planning” champion, Ben explains why a coordinated event schedule in the Filipino American community is a practical, efficient, & collaborative solution. For The Community Hall’s Bulletin Board, go to Ben’s Season’s Marketplace at Landess blog at http://bit.ly/gMwDyF.

In a message to his friends and fellow advocates, Ben said:

This first year of “Building Community at Seasons Marketplace” will offer several programs and activities that will engage your senses — complementary to your shopping and dining experiences. We would like to hear your ideas, too! Email me at Menor360D@gmail.com. The website: http://www.theseasonsmarketplace.com/

You will also be meeting our Community Partners during future events, among them, Seafood City, ChowKing, Xoom.com., and GMA Pinoy TV & GMA Life TV If you are interested in being one of our community partners, please email me.

‘Tis the season for giving — and there’s no place like Seasons Marketplace to make your thoughtful gestures count.

The following videos were taken by members of the NaFFAA Region 8 Media Group (Lorna Dietz and Ben Menor) on October 24, 2010.

Philippine Consul General Marciano Paynor, Jr. gave a 20-minute talk (shown in two parts) about the methods and strategies that would provide a “continuum of Filipino leadership” in coordinating the yearly events. The reality for the local Filipino American community is that our Consulate officials come and go (the nature of their work) — so as a community, we need to formally set up an infrastructure and process that is able to work effectively and efficiently with the Philippine Consulate General’s office.

IF YOU WANT TO INQUIRE HOW TO BOOK YOUR COMMUNITY-BASED EVENT AT THE COMMUNITY HALL, CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION OR FILL UP AN INQUIRY FORM.

The shortened link of this Scribd.com form is http://scr.bi/eFRrrH.

This video was recorded by Lorna Dietz on November 11, 2008 in Salinas, CA during the formal chapter creation of NaFFAA Region 8 Monterey Bay Chapter. Elmer Dolera-Chapter chair, Orly Jimenez-Chapter ViceChair, & Susan Aremas-Chapter Treasurer.

The National Filipino American Council’s most active chapter was located in Monterey Bay. In its early years, NFAC had recognized the need for having a national organization that would somehow bring Filipino Americans on the same table in their shared advocacies. NFAC, during a historic meeting in Salinas, CA in January 1997, agreed to be a major force in convening like-minded Filipino Americans and community-based organizations in Washington DC on August 1997, and paved the way for the formation of NaFFAA in that same event that brought together more than 1,500 Filipino Americans nationwide.

Dennis Normandy was the first National President when NFAC was formed in 1987 at a convention in Anaheim, CA. Rodel Rodis was the first National Vice-President.

In 1997, Rodel Rodis, Alex Esclamado, Michael Dadap, Loida Nicolas-Lewis, and many other Filipino Americans, founded the National Federation of Filipino American Associations.

On November 11, 2008, NaFFAA Co-Founder Rodel Rodis, NaFFAA Region 8 (Northern CA) Chair Jose Pecho, NaFFAA R8 San Franciso City & County Chair Rudy Asercion, and NaFFAA R8 Vice-Chair Lorna Dietz went to Monterey County, CA to formalize the chapter formation of the Monterey Bay chapter of NaFFAA Region 8.

From NFAC to NaFFAA… We went back to the place where these historic milestones took place.

Full circle.

Congratulations to NaFFAA R8 Monterey Bay!