Fil-Am immigrants launch U.S.-wide alliance

Fil-Am immigrants launch U.S.-wide alliance

NEW YORK CITY–Around 350 Filipino-Americans converged in Queens this city over the weekend to attend a two-day national conference of Filipino-American organizations and launch a U.S.-wide alliance that would address the various issues affecting the Filipino-American community.

Some 30 organizations from 24 cities all over the U.S. attended the conference held at the Kalayaan Auditorium of the Philippine Forum in Elmhurst, Queens.

Of the participants, 30 came from outside New York and New Jersey. There were delegates from Chicago, Illinois; Portland, Oregon; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Tampa, Florida; Arlington, Virginia; Washington D.C.; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Silver Spring, Maryland; Seattle, Washington; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, San Bernardino, among others, in California.

By the end of the conference, the participants had agreed on a three-year general program of action and elected a new set of officers for the new alliance, the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON).

The new alliance agreed to address issues affecting the various sectors of the community such as seniors, youth, children, domestic workers, war veterans, professionals, and others. The delegates also agreed to campaign for more humane immigration laws in the U.S., among other issues.

Elected president is Fr. Benjamin Alforque, MSC. Rico Foz is executive vice president. Elected national vice presidents are: Nerissa Nabua-Allegretti; Bro. Julian Jagudilla, OFM; Robyn Rodriguez; Mara Mendoza and Julia Camagong.

Robert Roy of the Philippine Forum is the national executive director while Nedo Valera is the group’s legal counsel. Other officers are: Farida Ali, secretary; Fr. Tony Abuan, treasurer.

Also appointed were national directors for sectoral and special concerns such as academic and scholars, seniors and children, church and faith-based, artists, domestic workers, health, indigenous and Bangsa Moro, institutions and service providers, labor, labor, media, seafarers, veterans, women, and youth.

Appointed initial members of the national advisory board were Dr. Orlando Apiado, Fr. Art Balagat, Dr. Benjamin Ileto and Fr. Dennis Legaspi.

BULATLAT