COUNCIL FOR FILIPINO AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE IN STATE SOCIO-CIVIC AFFAIRS

AND AID TO THE PHILIPPINES
The Filipino-American Club of Central Florida was organized in 1972 under leadership of Ben Foronda. The club and
its successor, the FilAmAssociation of Central Florida served the community for 26 years. The emergence of new
organizations with special interests and ethnic goals led to the establishment of a Council composed of presidents
and alternate representatives of the member organizations. Thus the Council for Filipino American Organizations of
Central Florida was established in 1998 with Val Dagani Jr as founding chair.
At the national level, it affiliates with NaFFAA to advance FilAm causes and the Filam veterans equity law; assists the
embassy in consular outreach and works with Kights of Rizal. State involvement is with the FilAmerican Coalition and
FilAm Political Alliance conferences; the. 2010 Sunshine State Census; projects in the Philippines and greater
Central Florida, partnering with the Department of Labor, building schools in Cotabato, working with Gawad Kalinga
and Bantay Bata, providing relief to calamity victims, providing college scholarships, and fostering trade and
commerce between the Philippines and the State of Florida.
The Council serves as a volunteer in the Coalition for the Homeless and local soup kitchens; bimonthly health
screenings at senior centers, volunteer work for physically and mentally challenged youth, annual feeding at Boys
ranch and providing financial support for Filipinos in need.
The Council has advanced FilAm visibility in the community. Helped build the Bataan-Corregidor Monument in
Kissimmee to honor Filipino WW II veterans, and with the former mayor of Orlando, Glenda Hood, built the Jose
Rizal bust at the International plaza at Lake Eola in downtown Orlando.
Member organizations: Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Foundation; Bayanihan International Ladies Association; Faith
Foundation of Orlando; FilAmAssociation of Osceola/South Orange; FilAm Veterans Association; Gawad Kalinga
Orlando; Ilocano Association of Central Florida; Ilonggo Association of Central Florida; Order of the Knights of Rizal,
Central Florida; Ladies for Rizal Auxiliary; Philippine American Chamber of Commerce and VisMindaLuz Association.
WINNERS OF THE
FIRST ALEX ESCLAMADO
MEMORIAL AWARD
FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
WEST BAY PILIPINO MULTI-SERVICE, INC.
FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE
IN HEALTH, EDUCATION & YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
West Bays mission is to provide social, health, education, and economic services to children,
youth, and their families in the South of Market District of San Francisco and the greater Bay
Area with emphasis on the newly arrived immigrant population through a comprehensive social
service delivery system, as well as to advocate for the continuation of needed services in the
community.
West Bay was founded in 1968 by local hero Ed de la Cruz and other social activists to address
the most pressing socio-economic challenges of the Asian Pacific Islander immigrant community
of San Franciscos South of Market District (SOMA). Throughout the years, West Bay has helped
thousands of individuals through employment placement assistance, food distribution to the
elderly, youth programs, community health projects, advocacy initiatives, and case management.
West Bay has particularly excelled in aiding SOMA youth through its After- School Program.
In 2007, West Bay began specializing in its After-School Program. West Bay's After-School
program focuses on a holistic approach to ensure the social, emotional, academic, and physical
wellness of our youth participants. It involves a collaborative effort from parents, teachers, and
the mentors. The five major goals of the program is to : 1) promote academic success, 2)
enhance social, emotional, and physical wellness, 3) reduce truancy & dropout rate, 4)
encourage parent involvement, and 5) have youth and parent satisfaction with the program. By
performing activities that support these goals, our Youth Mentorship Program has increased the
number of honor roll students each year. We have a 100% homework completion rate, improved
participants good citizenship and respect for others, and increased the likelihood for students to
make healthier decisions physically and socially.
WINNERS OF THE
FIRST ALEX ESCLAMADO
MEMORIAL AWARD
FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
PHILIPPINE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF TEXAS
FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE IN TRADE
DEVELOPMENT AND AID TO THE PHILIPPINES
Accomplishments:
1. Voted most outstanding FilAm Chamber of Commerce for three years in a row.
2. Organized and hosted consular outreach in Dallas and Houston set record for number of
absentee voters registered, passport renewals and dual citizenship oath-taking
3. Response to calamities in the Philippines raised close to $1 million in donations sent directly
to victims and partner NGOs. Adopted Hilantaga-an island in Northern Cebu for
reconstruction and rehabilitation in partnership with residents and partner foundations. Plus
medical missions.
4. Organized two trade and investment missions to the Philippines. Third trade mission
scheduled Oct 2014.
5. Adopted NGOs in the Philippines: Tahanang Walang Hagdan; Boys Reformatory School in
Tanay, Rizal; Golden Acres Sanctuary for Abandoned Seniors.
6. Organized and funded 2014 Philippine Investment Roadshow led by Amb Jose Cuisia, Dr,
Bernardo Villegas and Trade Commissioner Jose Ma Dinsay.
7. Rallied against Chinese incursion in Spratleys.
8. Active support for Texas Dreamers
9. Sponsored back-to-school projects in Houston.
10. Sponsored entrepreneurial seminars
WINNERS OF THE
FIRST ALEX ESCLAMADO
MEMORIAL AWARD
FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
WINNERS OF THE
FIRST ALEX ESCLAMADO
MEMORIAL AWARD
FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
PILIPINO AMERICAN UNITY FOR PROGRESS, INC. (UNIPRO)
FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE IN YOUTH LEADERSHIP
& DEVELOPMENT
Oct 5, 2013 Co-sponsored first FilAm internship fair to benefit FilAm youth in NY area. During
FilAm History Month in 2013, UniPro and NYUs International Filipino Association hosted an
Internship Fair to promote community engagement among FilAm Youth and students. Four
career panels featured Filipino professionals in Health, Business, Media and Communications.
Nov 14, 2013 Set up community calendars to compile info on fund-raisers occurring nationally
and internationally. Post-Yolanda, helped foster collaboration among community members and to
avoid multiple events taking place at the same time to raise funds.
Feb 2014 Journey to your Roots: Creating an entryway toward an indigenizing and
decolonizing self- Workshop designed to help young women discover and reconnect with history,
spiritually, cultural practices and current issues.
Feb, 26, 2014 Forum on politics and governance from the experiences of elected Asian
American Leaders. Panel of Asian-Am leaders co-sponsored by Phil Consulate NYC. Featured
Rep. Grace Meng, NY; City Council President Rolando Lavarro , (NJ), City council candidate Ed
Santos (NY).
April 2, 2014 Education for all in the Philippines. Special seminar on different ways individuals
and organizations are promoting education for all in the Philippines.
May 31, 2014 Fourth Annual Multinational Forum for Pilipino Young Professionals and Youth
UniPro Summit Annual event in time with Philippine Independence Day parade
NOMINEES OF THE
FIRST ALEX ESCLAMADO
MEMORIAL AWARD
FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
Congratulations to the following organizations
who were nominated to the
First Alex Esclamado Memorial Awards
for Community Service!
NaFFAA Illinois (Chicago)
Pagyamanin Likas Musika (based in Santa Clara County, CA)
Filipina Women's Network (San Francisco-based national organization)
Filipino American National Historical Society (national organization)
West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service, Inc.(San Francisco, CA)
Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Texas (Dallas, TX)
Council for Filipino American Organizations of Central Florida (Orlando, Fla)
Eskwela Natin (Sacramento, CA)
Council for Teaching Filipino Language & Culture (San Diego, CA)
Pilipino American Unity for Progress (New York)
Lubang-Looc, International (New York)
Philippine American Society of Greater Dayton (Ohio)
UP Alumni & Friends Rondalla (New York-New Jersey)
Philippine Bisayan Society of Nevada (Las Vegas)
From NaFFAA Region 8 Media Group