12 August 2016— “You’ve created Filipino communities here that care, just like in the barangays and villages at home…as you transform the lives of those you touch through trainings and advocacy. Filipinos truly are citizens of the world, but always rooted in our homegrown values of bayanihan. Walang iwanan. Tulungan. Simplicity and courtesy. Most of all, Faith,” said Vice Prsident Maria Leonor ‘Leni’Gerona Robredo during her keynote address at the gala dinner of the 12th Empowerment Conference in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania on August 06.
The event is Robredo’s first visit to the United States since her election as the Philippines’ vice president. She was invited by the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA).
In her speech, Robredo talked about the efforts of the new Philippine administration in steering the future of the Philippines towards further political, social and economic development. She underscored that her office will focus on five core advocacies: hunger and poverty, universal health care, public housing, education, and women empowerment.
Robredo shared her experiences of living with her family in Boston where her late husband, Secretary Jessie Robredo, studied in.
“Perhaps at times you also feel left behind…feel like you are part of the marginalized community … are homesick and tired of working long hours… thinking of how to pay for college education of the children, health care, mortgage and other things. I know how you feel,” she said.
Robredo encouraged Filipinos to give back and to participate in nation-building initiatives such as the Naga Migrant Resource Center. The said center is the first of its kind in the country and was organized the assist overseas Filipinos in pre- and post- deployment and reintegration.
She also lauded the NaFFA regional leaders for initiative projects which have greatly contributed to the improvement of communities. She acknowledged the NaFFA awardees who were recognized in the Trailblazer Award and who have worked hard to elevate the profileof Filipino-Americans in mainstream American society.
Among the said awardees are Ronnie del Carmen, Fil-Am co-director of the Pixar animated film “Inside Out”, Billy Dec, founder of Rockit Ranch Production, and Jason Tengco of the White Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders
Towards the end of the gala, Vice President Robredo led the official induction of the new NaFFAA officers who were led by its newly-elected National Chair, Brendan Flores, a 2nd generation Filipino American.
Prior to the gala, Robredo held a press conference at the Radisson Hotel for the Filipino-American media. The event was hosted by the Consulate General at the Radisson Hotel on August 06.
Robredo promised to serve all overseas Filipinos regardless of those who voted her. As Chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, the Vice President said that she intends to go beyond her administrative mandate and mere “ceremonial position” by reinventing the Office of the Vice President (OVP) into an advocate for positive change.
She identified advocacies such as prioritizing the most economically deprived provinces and promoting health care, public education, and rural/agricultural development therein. Enlisting the cooperation of private organizations to assist our citizens in need is also part of her mission, she added.
Robredo addressed questions on how young Filipino-American leaders could be more involved with business and entrepreneurial opportunities in the Philippines. She committed to support the efforts of Fil-Ams contributing to the strengthening of the Philippine economy.
During the opening plenary session of the Conference on August 05, Consul General De Leon conveyed the goals and aspirations of US Foreign Service Posts for NaFFAA in a session entitled “Envisioning the Future of Filipino Americans through the Lens of our Shared History.” Among the panelists were philanthropist and community leader Loida Nicholas Lewis, NaFFAA National Chair JT Mallonga, and NaFFAA National Vice Chair Emraida Kira.
Consul General De Leon discussed how the NaFFAA Empowerment Conference was an opportune time for the Filipino-American community to come together and talk about pressing issues and initiatives that impact the lives of the estimated 3.4 million Filipino-Americans living in the U.S.
He also discussed how the leadership changes in both the Philippines and the U.S. have created new opportunities to enhance bilateral engagements between the two countries, all of which coincide with the 70th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the United States.
He commended NaFFAA for its initiatives to promote civic engagement and its efforts in transforming the Filipino-American community into a cohesive political constituency. He further noted how there were also more registered Filipino-American voters who casted their ballots in the May 2016 Philippine national election than previous elections, and underscored that the Fil-Am vote was among the very few overseas voters’ groups that secured Robredo’s Vice Presidency. Among NaFFAA’s primary advocacies is Fil-Am Vote.
The Consul General reminded the NaFFAA delegates to continue lobbying for the Filipino community’s interests with US elected officials. In particular, he cited the urgency of working with US representatives to co-sponsor the Congressional Gold Medal Bill for the Filipino World War II Veterans to secure its passage. He thanked Representative Bobby Scott of the State of Virginia who was among the first to sign as co-sponsor of the House version of bill and was also a guest speaker at the plenary session in the afternoon. The U.S. Senate earlier passed their counterpart bill on the same.
New York Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr. and Chargé d’affairés Patrick A. Chuasoto of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C welcomed the Vice President Robredo upon her arrival at the Philadelphia International Airport on August 05. She was met by the officials of the Philippine Consulate General in New York led by Consul Felipe Carino, Katrina Banzon of the Philippine Trade and Investment Office (PTIC-NY), Zeny Pallugna of the Philippine Department of Tourism in New York (PDOT-NY), and Michael Azucena of PAG-IBIG Fund.
NaFFAA leaders led by Chair of the Conference, Dr. Aida and Rommel Rivera, NaFFAA National Chair, Atty. JT Mallonga, and co-Chair of the Conference, Brad Baldia, were also among those who welcomed her upon her arrival. END
