16 December 2015 - Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia, Jr. accompanied by Consul General Mario L. De Leon, Jr., hosted a luncheon meeting for the officers and members of the National Federation of Fil-Am Associations led by NaFFAA National Chair Atty. JT Mallonga and Chairperson Emeritus Loida Nicolas-Lewis, at the Philippine Center Boardroom. Most of the attendees were from the New York Tri-State and Washington D.C. areas.

During the meeting, Ambassador Cuisia briefed NaFFAA on four important points that are the priority issues for US-Philippine relations and Filipino-American concerns. They are: 1) unifying the Filipino Community in the U.S.; 2) encouraging Filipino-American participation for U.S. and Philippine elections; 3) support for the Congressional Gold Medal for Philippine WWII Veterans; and, 4) support for the Philippines relative to the West Philippine Sea issue. After his discussion, an open forum took place where NaFFAA members provided suggestions and comments to support the Ambassador’s initiatives.

Ambassador Cuisia discussed with the NaFFAA leaders the need for Filipino community organizations to unite in lobbying for causes which would advance the interests of the Filipino-American community (FilCom) and the Philippines. He cited in particular the experience of the Embassy in shepherding the establishment of the Philippine Humanitarian Coalition comprised of 33 FilCom organizations which were involved in the “After the Storm” concert. He recalled how the community got together for a specific target and all worked harmoniously in the end.

He urged NaFFAA to assist in increasing voter awareness among the FilCom throughout the U.S. by sponsoring voter education drives among Filipino communities throughout the U.S, as the recent registered voter turnout was relatively low compared to the Filipino population. He mentioned the current challenge in getting community members to exercise their right to vote, and to overcome that through voter education fora to be organized by the Consulates and to be held within their respective geographic jurisdiction. 

The Ambassador also discussed the need for NaFFAA to assist in ongoing projects and activities spearheaded by retired Major General Antonio Taguba, which are part of the nationwide campaign in lobbying the U.S. Congress to give recognition to Filipino World War II veterans through the awarding of a Congressional Gold Medal. The timing was urgent due to the upcoming U.S. presidential elections scheduled in November 2016, he emphasized.   

He as well underscored that NaFFAA continue its activities in spreading public awareness on the Philippine position in the ongoing Arbitration Case on the West Philippine Sea. He discussed the updates of the proceedings of the International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands and that the Filipino community in the U.S. should continue to present the details of the case for the Philippine argument on the West Philippine Sea. He stated that Justice Carpio has been invited anew to the U.S. next year to conduct his special lecture before the academe, Filcom, and mainstream U.S. society in support of the arbitration process and added that countries such as Japan, U.S., EU, New Zealand, Australia and India support the arbitration process launched.  

Consul General De Leon stated that the Filipino community organizations should also do their part to follow up on initiatives and issues brought up with U.S. legislators after meetings with them are held, as it is the Post’s duty to “open the door” and facilitate a dialogue between Congressmen and the community. But that it would be the community leaders’ responsibility to follow through with their interests in order to showcase a “unified community” focused on promoting causes that advance bilateral Philippine-US political and economic relations. He further cited a FAHSI report stating that  Fil-Ams have a relatively high vote registration and voter turn out rate than other Asia-Americans, but only 35% of Fil-Am registered voters actually voted in the past Philippine presidential elections. That  information should be considered in “FilVote” campaigns, he added.

On their part, NaFFAA officials led by Atty. Mallonga and Mrs Lewis voiced their support on the advocacies of the Ambassador, as they align with NaFFAA’s priority objectives for the year. END