“On The Value of NaFFAA” by Greg B. Macabenta
This commentary first came out as an e-mail that was forwarded by Melissa Nolledo-Christoffels, from NaFFAA Region 7, to the Fil-Am Network yahoo group sometime in 2005. Greg B. Macabenta is NaFFAA’s former National Vice Chair (August 2002 - October 2006). We are reprinting Greg’s comments as a reminder and a reality check about NaFFAA’s evolution as an organization.
Good reading for NaFFAA’s prospective members and a healthy review for the seasoned members. There’s plenty of room for like-minded, collaborative Filipino Americans in NaFFAA Region 8. After all, Northern California is perceived to be NaFFAA’s “Ground Zero.” The place where there is no such thing as “We can’t do it!” A region where many of NaFFAA’s leaders have been coached and trained to make the Filipino Consciousness Movement a reality. Where “thinking outside the box” is not the mindset because there is no box to limit us from making our dreams and hopes come true in the American landscape of empowerment.
ON THE VALUE OF NaFFAA
A Commentary by Greg Macabenta, National Vice Chair of NaFFAA
For the NaFFAA Regions
WHO AND WHAT WE ARE:
“The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) is a private, non-profit, non-partisan tax-exempt organization established in 1997 to promote the welfare and well-being of all Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the United States.”
WHAT WE HAVE SET OUT TO DO:
“NaFFAA’s primary objectives include: Promoting active participation of Filipino Americans in civic and national affairs and in all other aspects of mainstream America.”
Greg: The fact that we are now being invited to Capitol and White House discussions on national issues and are being listened to by various mainstream sectors is an indication that we have begun to achieve this objective. Still a long way to go, but we have begun to go there.
“Promoting awareness of Filipino American contributions to social, economic, cultural and political life in the United States.”
Greg: The first level of awareness that was required, from the outset, was an awareness of ourselves as a community. Before NaFFAA, we hardly knew each other. Today, we have become good friends and co-workers, proud to realize that there are many achievers among us who are contributing to the socio-political, cultural and economic life of this country. However, while we have become more aware of our role in our respective communities, we need to make the mainstream more aware of this as well. In this respect, some of us are faring better than others. But overall, many things have happened. Still a long way to go, but we have begun to go there.
“Securing social justice, equal opportunity and fair treatment of Filipino Americans through advocacy and legislative and policy initiatives at all levels of government.”
Greg: Surely, what we did for the Texas 20, with the leadership of Gus Mercado, and the efforts we have exerted on behalf of the veterans and what we in California did in the CalPERS case are indications that we have tried to achieve this objective. Still many things to be done (like winning the Vets equity struggle), but we have not been standing still.
“Strengthening community institutions that promote the cultural heritage of Filipinos.”
Greg: I know that at the local, regional and national levels, all of us have been doing our part in this regard. Again, some are doing it better than others, but we have not been standing still.
“Eliminating prejudices, stereotypes and ignorance of Filipino Americans.”
Greg: This is a role that each one of us has to play in our dealings with the mainstream and with our own people. The NaFFAA regional and national conferences, as well as the global networking conferences have had an impact in this regard.
“To achieve these objectives, NaFFAA sponsors and supports the following programs: Community Development: providing assistance to Filipino American community-based organizations.”
Greg: The assistance the national office has provided to Community-Based Organizations has been limited by its lack of funds. Have the regional or local chapters been providing assistance? You would be in the best position to answer that.
Applied Research, Policy Analysis and Advocacy: providing a Filipino American perspective on issues such as education, immigration, health, employment and training, civil rights, youth and the elderly.”
Greg: This is an area where we have not done much. While we have discussed these issues in our conferences, little has been done to formalize, manualize and actualize the results. We have much work to do. Doy Heredia called our attention to this recently and Jon Melegrito suggested that, instead of asking for volunteers, the national office should just designate corresponding experts. Former Mayor Henry Manayan has, in fact, already started in this direction.
“Political Leadership & Candidate Development: preparing Filipino Americans for public service.”
Greg: Individually and at the local level, there has been some effort in this regard. At the national level, we have struggled with the oxymoron of wanting political empowerment but being unable to flex our muscles because we are a non-profit. Our brethren in New Jersey and New York wanted us to address this issue but as far as I can tell, it remains unresolved. We have much to do in this area.
“Entrepreneurial Training: developing the business skills of FilipinoAmericans in order to promote Economic Development.”
Greg: We discuss these things at conferences but the follow-up has been inadequate. One area we should explore is greater cooperation with the Fil-Am Chambers of Commerce. While many of us are members of both FACCS and of NaFFAA, we seem to operate in two different worlds when it comes to conferences (except in some exceptional cases, which I laud).
“Civic participation: educating Filipino Americans to get involved in the electoral process through voter registration and get-out-the-vote campaigns.”Greg: We have been active here at the national and local levels. Rozita Lee and Gloria Caoile are our greater achievers in this area. “Scholarship and Youth Assistance: assisting Filipino American youth access information on scholarships, education grants and other forms of financial support.”
Greg: We have not done much in this area. Hopefully, our youth leaders will take up the task and work on it. Meanwhile, we do need to revisit the way we plan and conduct our conferences so that the youth do not feel that they are just an afterthought. I also call on the youth leaders not to wait to be invited to the table. Hey guys, you helped cook the food, you helped set up the table, you know you have seats at the table, why wait to be invited? The fact is, we would like you to sit at the head table, sooner rather than later.
“National Resource Directory of Elected and Appointed Public Officials at all levels of government, Filipino and Filipino American organizations and businesses in the entire country.”
Greg: We probably have all the information in our files and just need to index the data. Staff work that needs to be paid for.
“NaFFAA’s national office is based in Washington, D.C. Its main function is to monitor legislation and public policy issues affecting Filipino Americans and work in coalition with other national groups around common issues and concerns. In addition, the national office serves as a communications link between affiliate members as well as an information source on federal and legislative initiatives and policies relevant to Filipino Americans.”
Greg: NaFFAA’s national office has been mandated to perform these tasks but Doy and his staff have been running on empty. If we agree, as I do, That NaFFAA has immense value, I think we should be willing to cheerfully part with $100 a year. I know that we spend much more than that on balls and beauty contests. With due respect to everyone.
