National Federation of Filipino American Associations

For more information, go to 6thGlobalCebu.com.

This is a project of NaFFAA Region 8 and NAITAS-Cebu Chapter.

Recently, Filipinas Magazine took the time to embed this poem in its online edition. “A Gathering of Heroes” was written and narrated by Greg B. Macabenta in 2004 as a call for Overseas Filipinos (a.k.a. our modern day heroes) to participate at the Third Global Filipino Networking Convention that was held at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City, Philippines on January 20 to 22, 2005. Since then,“Pinoy Power Worldwide” became NaFFAA’s Global Filipino Networking Convention’s theme and logo. DDB Philippines was responsible for “Pinoy Power Worldwide’s” creative work.

This poem is a beautiful tribute to the 8 million-plus Overseas Filipinos and the families they left behind in the Philippines. Click here to go directly to YouTube.com.

<

Copyright 2004 © by Greg B. Macabenta

A GATHERING OF HEROES

Where are all my children -
The blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh,
The fruits of my dreams?
Where are the saplings who drew strength from my roots?
The flowers who bloomed from the dew of this land?
They have sailed away with the wind,
In the beaks of swallows
Seeking warmth on distant shores.
On the wings of eagles
Daring to soar to boundless heights.

Come ye my children,
Blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh,
The sweet, ripened fruits of my dreams.
Come ye from far and near,
And hearken to my call.
Come tell us of your triumphs.
Celebrate your conquests,
Bask in the glow of my pride.
Then plant the seeds of your successes
In the soil from which you sprang.
And offer a share of your golden harvest.
At the altar of a grateful Motherland.
Come. Come.
Come for a gathering of heroes.

(more…)

FAIR GO FOR FILIPINO EMPOWERMENT!

5th Global Filipino Networking Convention in Sydney
6-8 September 2007

Sydney is now ready for the 5th Global Filipino Networking Convention and it’s promising to be the most dynamic assembly of global Filipinos yet.

Set for 6 to 8 September 2007, at Holiday Inn Rooty Hill, participants are expected to come from Europe(UK), Asia (Philippines, Japan, Pakistan), the Middle East (Kuwait, Egypt, United Arab Emirates), and North America (USA), Oceania (Australia, New Zealand), including prominent Filipino leaders and organizers from all over Australia (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory) and from the Philippines.

The convention theme “Fair Go for Filipino Empowerment” which stands for Filipino Australian Integrated Response to Global Objectives, hopes to expand the discussion on the socio-economic and political entitlement due all Filipinos working and living overseas.

Continue reading at GFNC-Sydney.org.

There were a lot of best practices that we learned before, during, and after the Third Global Filipino Networking Convention. For instance, we employed grassroots marketing and public relations throughout the preparations of this special gathering, sending e-mails to all the prospects and participants on a regular basis. Everyone who was in the e-mail list felt that they were a part of the convention’s preparations.

:-DWe did make room for surprises.:-D For example, the overseas delegates didn’t know that they would be treated to an energetic Sinulog dance presentation during the Opening Plenary Session and that Tommy Osmena, the mayor of Cebu City, would enter the Cebu Waterfront Hotel’s Grand Ballroom riding a customized vehicle. Or that there would be a spectacular fireworks display at the Ayala Center’s Lagoon just for us!

As Executive Coordinator of the 3rd Global, I realized how important it was to have someone like me (a Cebuana and a NaFFAA member) who could harmonize with both convenors, NaFFAA and the Cebu Visitors and Convention Bureau (CVCB), communicating to them in a timely fashion and making executive decisions with the big picture in mind. I highly recommend having this coordinating position as a “must” for future Global Filipino Networking Conventions.

:-)My Philippine cellphone was a lifesaver many times over.:-) I used it to text over 400 people in my Philippine phone book so that they would register for the convention on time. Or that I would text every forum or workshop’s manager or moderator with instructions on where to board the buses bound for the Ayala Lagoon.

Some of my memorable moments include being supported by a dedicated group of volunteers who pampered and took care of all our plenary speakers. We also had official greeters at the airport and the Cebu Waterfront Hotel. I made sure that a communications person (equipped with a VHF radio) was assigned to each member of the Organizing Committee so we could trouble-shoot efficiently. While Jenny Franco, the convention’s project director, took care of the financial and operational details, I focused on making sure that everyone in the committees knew what was going on. There were five of us who worked in the US committee. A month before the convention, I joined seven other members of the working group from CVCB in Cebu. The best compliment that Patrick Gregorio, the convention’s Secretary General and CVCB’s founder, gave our group was that he believed each one of the eight members did the work equivalent to 10 people.

There are more stories. For now, let me share some of these memories with you.

We had a PowerPoint presentation available at our website, ThirdGlobalCebu.com (which has since been changed to a simplified format at ThirdGlobalCebu.net). It contained a lot of information that truly helped many overseas attendees as well as media practitioners who were covering the convention. Click here to review this presentation at SlideShare.net.

| View | Upload your own

Rodel Rodis is the founding father of the Global Filipino Networking Convention concept. He worked closely with Viki Bamba, a.k.a. the founding mother, in mobilizing more than 4,000 Filipinos to congregate at the Moscone Center, San Francisco, California on August 31, 2002 for the 1st Global Filipino Networking Convention. Rodel summarizes the 3rd Global quite nicely in his syndicated column.

(more…)