November 10, 2007: NaFFAA R8 Summit’s Highlights from “The Initiators & The Instigators”
PHOTO ALBUM: CLICK HERE TO GO TO ELMER DOLERA’S COLLECTION OF THE NAFFAA R8 SUMMIT’S PHOTOS. Click on “View Now” located on the upper right-hand corner. Elmer is NaFFAA R8’s official photographer when he’s not busy with his favorite advocacy, conducting free tennis clinics in the Philippines.
A note from Lorna Dietz, the documentalist: This is a “live blogged” posting, that is, written in real time during the summit, except for the segments starting with Fil-Am Community Center’s Best Practices. Although there was a live video recording of the proceedings, Ben Menor (the emcee), 10 minutes before the summit started its first session, asked me to provide written documentation for the website and for any media inquiries. This posting will be edited for grammar and syntax as well as fact-checked, especially where statistics are mentioned. Links and Photos will also be added.
Announcement: To all our NaFFAA members, supporters, and their families, we want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Please note that there will be an announcement next week when the first general meeting under newly-elected NaFFAA Region 8 Chair, Jose Pecho, will take place.
Click here for a full-sized photo of the new NaFFAA R8 officers 2007-2009
THE THEME
EXPANDING OUR ROOTS: PROVIDING ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO STRENGTHEN OUR FOUNDATION
THE HIGHLIGHTS
After an invigorating walk toward Westfield Shopping Center for a VIP tour of the San Francisco Filipino Cultural Center and Museum from 9:00 am to about 9:45 am, the summit’s participants convened at Bayanihan Community Center. A sumptuous continental breakfast, prepared by Jinni Mabalot Bartolome and her volunteer corps, welcomed everyone.
WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS
Marivic Bamba, NaFFAA R8’s regional chair, recounted her first experiences in the neighborhood where Filipino community centers didn’t exist. The importance of Bayanihan Community Center was highlighted. Sometime during the summit, she referred to NaFFAA Region 8’s members as “initiators and instigators.”
Hon. Marciano Paynor, Consul General of the Philippines - San Francisco, assured NaFFAA about the consulate’s 100% support. “We will do everything we can to make things happen.” He also commented about the Filipino community’s lack of political clout compared to other ethnic communities. “One wonders why. We have the numbers but they don’t come. We spread ourselves too thin, we have too many ideas.” Paynor added. “Before we expand our roots, we must strengthen our foundation — which should be our primary goal and objective, not only NaFFAA’s. We have about 375-something organizations in San Francisco alone.”
Consul General Paynor added: “Come election time, the candidates don’t go to the Filipino community.” He also said that there could be one white candidate, one black candidate, and three Filipinos vying for the same political position. “This summit must be able to come up with what we can do that every Filipino can think ‘Filipino,.’ We’re Americans, too.” Paynor also told the participants about Filipinos worldwide being subjected to adverse conditions in different parts of the world yet adapt beautifully. “We have the numbers! We must count! That is my message.” Paynor concluded that he hopes the mainstream political community will come and court the Filipino community. He noted that we are not “Flips” but are Filipino Americans. “We can raise the consciousness of Filipino Americans here in San Francisco. Making it work is first. Maintaining it is more difficult.”
San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ron Quidachay noted that many people who attended this year’s summit have been involved in Filipino community advocacy work for the past four decades. There was a lot of laughter from the crowd. “We have certainly come a long, long way. It doesn’t mean that everything has been resolved.” Judge Q also introduced a “brand-new” judge from Monterey County, Hon. Efren Iglesia, “although this new judge isn’t new in community activities (Filipino American Community Council, the forerunner of NaFFAA),” he said. “When I went to law school, in 1970, there were only nine lawyers in California and no Superior Court Judges. Currently, three of the 10 judges were appointed in the last three months.” Quidachay continued: “I concur with the Con-Gen. There’s a lot happening in our community. There’s a lot of struggle — but we’re making it. We’ve got a long way to go. In this summit, we’re going to find out, communicate, and what steps we will take.”
COMMUNITY VOICES FORUM
Preamble: Looking through the lens of Change and Community Development, this forum presented a broad understanding of the many issues that are currently impacting Filipino communities in Northern California. Voices shared from Sacramento, Vallejo, the Tri-City area, Santa Clara, and Stockton were joined by the voices of Poetry, Youth, Mentors, WWII Veterans, Culture, Civil Rights, Domestic Violence, and Young Adults. Each shared wisdom gleaned from years of engagement in their areas.
