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Issue 5 February 2013Volume 2

NaFFAANational

THE OFF IC IAL NEWSLETTER OF THE NAT IONAL

FEDERATION OF F IL IP INO AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS

1322 18th St. NW Washington, DC 20036-1803Tel. 202-361-0296

Marilyn recalls, It was in the late 1990's when I first attended NaFFAA R4 BiennConference. The increasing growth of Filipinos in the south inspired me to joNaFFAA. After 37 years of teaching in the Philippines, California, and Georgia, I thought mlasting contribution to America is to give back to the community the gift of educational litercy for the young people of this generation.

Marilyn believes that NaFFAAs main objective is Empowerment. She says thby carrying out NaFFAA's mission with the support of my Georgia community, I am abto reach out to the new and growing Fil-Am community's needs and concerns.

She added, As a mother to two U.S. Military active soldiers, my personal life rvolves with that of NaFFAA's issues on our Filipino veterans fate. My role in NaFFAA chair is an indispensable task not only for me, but for the rest of NaFFAA leadership. It is

my desire to build, shape, and continue to educate the world about us in respect to all Filipnos worldwide.

Marilyn has been instrumental in promoting NaFFAAs advocacies and pushinfor increased visibility of Filipino Americans in Georgia. In 2007, she spearheaded in organing a rally, and participated in raising funds in support of Dr. Noel Chua's Felony MurdCase. In the same year, she was actively involved in gathering support for Dr. Emy Breyediscrimination case against Georgias University. Under her term as Regional Chair, NaFFARegion 4 awarded recognition to four Filipino Young Political Leaders sponsored by UDept.of Justice. Her leadership in Region 4 initiated various events in Atlanta, such as Filipno-American History Month in October, and the launching of NaFFAA Voter's Education.

This year, Marilyn embarks on bigger projects. She invites the NaFFAA communty to participate in Region 4s co-hosting of the first Filipino-American History in the SouSymposium & Exhibition in May 2013. This event is in partnership with the Atlanta Philipine Consular Office, Asian Pacific American Heritage Society, and the National ArchiveSoutheast.

Marilyn believes that NaFFAAs strong presence through its 12regions provides a strong voice; fosters unity and empowerment. NaFFAAforges the national agenda of enhancing and providing real solutions tomodern day Filipino-Americans - their needs and services. NaFFAA'sstrength is efficient leadership in service to our people here in America. I amequally proud to empower my region because NaFFAA inspires me.NaFFAA's strength is in the heart and minds of 3 million Filipinos and Fili-pino-Americans thriving for a legacy that will free a generation of learned,literate, and contributing citizens of this country.

When asked about her hopes and dreams for NaFFAA, she said,My dream is to create an ambience of reassuring people I engaged with in

my everyday life. My dream for NaFFAA is to continue to listen, learn, ancreate a leadership where the values of highly responsible and respectble individuals starts and end with our people's realization of Americdreams through us. As builders of Americas future, we are too many to bignored.

Her message to NaFFAA Membership and Fil-Am Community the challenge amongst us is the elusive soul of our people. NaFFAA is heto journey with you. Your struggle becomes us. Strengthened by 3 milliovim voices of the land, NaFFAA listens for you, speaks with you, and prvides justice for you. For NaFFAA to prosper, we adhere to offer our actinext to yours.

Leader on the SpotMarilyn is the Regional Chair of Region 4

that covers the Southern States of Alabama,Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina,South Carolina, Tennessee, Commonwealthof Puerto Rico & the US Virgin Islands.

Marilyn Doromal

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Memoirs,2013

The plans were laid down Jan. 2012- and from there, through heartrendingmonths, the mission finally had its start, overcoming the now suspended new rules of

the PRC. Our balikbayan boxes were sent in October and receipt of those were con-firmed.

Most of us met each other at the AirPhil Terminal on Jan. 26 at 2:30 am. to flyto Catarman, Samar. We had to fork out $400.00 for overweight luggage - for suppliesand medications that we had to carry with us.

The tiny airport was under construction and amidst the half built buildingwith bare adobe walls and wooden poles and cables; we were met by the local officialsheaded by the governor. We arrived at 6:30 in the morning in a dark, damp dawn,seemingly confused and worried about all our luggage- it really was a small airport.

We were driven to the Governors mansion for breakfast, and then checked inat the Wayang-Wayang Resort and Kinabran Resort for couples who wanted more pri-

vacy. That alone was a big headache because of the misinformation with regards to therooms availability and general condition of the cottages.

After checking in, we proceeded to the Allen District Hospital where we beganthe laborious job of opening the boxes and sorting them out - that continued on thefollowing day, Sunday. The weather was sweltering hot in between episodic bursts ofrain.

Sunday - mass for members who were Catholics was officiated by Fr. AldrinSuan - the brother of our Samar/Michigan liason. While some members continued sort-ing supplies, the surgeons and anesthesiologists did the final prescreening of the pa-tients. Unfortunately, the local medical prescreening consisted only of intended proce-dures that made the screening more difficult and slower. The other members stayed

until late to sort and re-package the medicines. Surgical prescreening was to continuethroughout the week, the general surgeons taking turns in doing them in between cas-es.

Monday - very early breakfast at the Resort, reassigning of rooms because theother resort was extremely unsuitable.

The doctors started seeing patients at 9 am. ending at 6 p.m. at the gym

Surgery - minor cases were started as well as more prescreening. Major casesdid not start until 11 am because there was no water available in the Operating Room(plumbing problems) - 4 cleft lips and palate were repaired, 6 thyroidectomies and 3hysterectomies, 4 inguinal herniorrhaphies were successfully completed.

Tuesday to Thursday The doctors resumed seeing their patients, surgerycontinued, with an average of 18 major cases a day. Friday - supposed to be half daybut we did as many cases because people came in out of the blue begging to be done.We did finish fast though while the Supply staff members packed our supplies to besent to the next mission site in Sorsogon and to leave others in Samar.

Friday evening - acknowledgement dinner hosted by the Mayor - Our youngermembers stayed behind to enjoy the music but the oldies like the rest of us trudgedhome, all tired out. The food was excellent and Allen, Samar hosts presented us with asumptuous sea food dinner varieties of crabs that we never heard of, aside from thetraditional crabs that can be found all over the Philippines, shrimps, etc.

Samar Medical Mission

So many to

thank for touchingother peoples lives!

The hardworking team!

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Memoirs, 2013 continued..

All in all, we were fed well, our main local liason, Maricer Mendiola was veryhelpful and patient with the stateside missioners, some of whom were rather demand-ing and difficult. I have to applaud every one of the missioners for their dedication andwillingness to work in adverse conditions. No member was superfluous - everyoneworked - we had volunteers from Manila who came to help out and did most of the mi-nor cases - 2-3 general surgeons from Manila, 1 plastic surgeon and ENT from Allen Sa-mar, 2 anesthesiologists from Manila, and 2 dentists - one from Manila and the other,from Allen, Samar.

Much to our disappointment, the medical practitioners who promised to comedid not show up so the number of patients was not as in the past total of 1500 cases(usually 3-5000 patients). The physicians: Drs. Christy Estrada- WV, Lamberto Galangand Ed Malacaman from Ohio, Cynthia Chung from Toronto, Jon Adaniel from MI.

Anesthesiologists: Drs. Ruben Estrada (WV), Renato Raymundo (MI), WilliamCapina (MI), CRNA- Prima Co Wang, General Surgeons: Dr. Gerardo Reyes( Las Vegas),Victoria G. Navarra (MI), Plastic Surgeon- Dr. Philbert Jones (Cleveland,Ohio), Freancis-co Ponce (Urology).

Our Nurses were mainly from Michigan and as always, were excellent. Ourauxillaries worked as hard as gofers and supply help. I have to specially mention our

non-Michiganders who have continuously helped - through the years: Ching Breta fromToronto, Canada and Decerae Del Rosario from Butuan.

The dentists saw 295 patients, extracting more than one tooth in some of them.Our minor cases in surgery were about 200, Major cases: 100, 17 of them were cleft lipsand/or lips.

We made our final morning rounds on Saturday, endorsed all our patients tothe chief of the Hospital and discharged all of them - then went on to the R&R that wasplanned by the local counterparts. Went to an island resort by boat, stayed for a fewhours, had a sumptuous picnic of Lechon, seaweed salad, shrimps, jackfruit - as a fruitand cooked vegetable, roasted fish, mangoes, bananas, and many more.

Flew in to Manila at the unholy hour of 6:30 Sunday Morning, happy for a jobwell done and somehow sad - we could have done more. The next PAMMFM medicalmission will be held in Gubat, Sorsogon, February 1-8, 2014.

From his recent State of the Union, the President hascalled Congress to create an immigration system of the 21st centu-ry. The comprehensive immigration reform that would material-ize, hopefully, before the year ends, will significantly impact notonly the Hispanics, but also Asian Americans. In the Asian Ameri-can and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, a campaign for a fair

and just immigration reform has been initiated. NaFFAA, throughits Communications Director, Jon Melegrito, has responded posi-tively by signing on to support the AAPIs Principles for Compre-hensive Immigration Reform.

AAPI believes on the following key immigration points:

Approximately 1.3 million AAPIs are undocumented. That'swhy a direct, inclusive path to citizenship is important.

1 out of every 10 DREAM Act eligible immigrant youth is ofAsian and Pacific Islander descent.

Nearly two (2) million Asian family members are waiting for

their family visas so that they can be reunited with their fami-lies. That's why clearing out the family visa backlogs is important.

Southeast Asians and Pacific Islanders are deported at a ratethree (3) times higher than any other immigrant group due toregressive immigration laws passed in 1996. That's why fixingthe 1996 laws to restore fairness and judicial discretion in immigra

tion court is important.

Please find the completetext of AAPIs Principlesfor Comprehensive Im-migration Reform on thilink:

http://www.advancingequality.org/files/NCAPA_CIR_Principles.pdf

NaFFAA Endorses AAPI Principles for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

VGN

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February 15, 2013, Manila. NaFFAA National Chair Ed Navarra had courtesy call with Secretary Imelda Nicolas of the Philippine Commission on Filipinos Overseas at the CFO Office. Sec. The meeting covered a brief discussion on changes on the guidelines oconducting Foreign Surgical and Medical Missions (FSMMs) in the Philippines, Proposed US National Directory of Filipino AmericaAssociations Project by NaFFAA, Quantifying Filipino American Contributions to the Philippines, Organization of Sentro Rizal Abroad

and Challenges of Philippine Nurses Association

USA, and Philippine American Medical Associatioon the conduct of FSMMs.

Sec. Nicolas gave an overview on the provsions of the Administrative Order from the Philippine Department of Health (DOH-AO 2012-0030The AO outlined the guidelines on FSMM Programof Universal Health Care. It also identified the Bureau of International Health Cooperation (BIHCwithin the DOH as a one-stop agency for questionon conducting foreign surgical and medical missions. Sec. Nicolas expressed that there was nchange on the PhP1250 or USD30 fee for each mem

ber of the Medical Mission Team per the guidelines.

CFO Exec. Dir. Mary Grace Tirona presentedan excerpt on the video of Sentro Rizal that will belaunched at the Global Summit. She said that copies ofthe video will be reproduced and distributed for a feeabroad. The video on Sentro Rizal captures various top-ics about culture, roots and development of the Philip-pines. The Sentro Rizal video is aimed at bringing aresource material for overseas Filipinos.

NaFFAA Chair Ed Navarra discussed the needto generate information on the quantified contributions

of Filipino Americans to the Philippines. These infor-mation will include among others, the number of medi-cal missions conducted, number of beneficiaries, num-ber of missioners, nature of services provided, amountspent of the missions, material donations, monetary donations, and other forms of quantifiable contributions by foreign groups. It is thintent of NaFFAA to share this information to various groups abroad to recognize their valuable development efforts to their homeland.

A National Directory of Filipino American Associations was brought up in the meeting. NaFFAA will spearhead this projecThe directory hopes to include profiles and contact information of the various Fil-Am groups across the 51 states .

The meeting was attended by CFOs Secretary Imelda Nicolas, CFO Exec. Dir. Gertie Tirona, Former CFO Exec. Dir. Jose Mola

no, Jr., NaFFAA National Chair Ed Navarra, NaFFAA National Editor Ryan Tejero, NaFFAA Health Committee Member and forme

Philippine Nurses Association of America President Remy Solarte and husband, Dr. Cesar Solarte.

NaFFAA Chair Meets CFO Secretary in Manila

NaFFAAs Facebook Page FeedbackOn Racism Against Fil-Ams in Grand Canyon, California

I just heard of the hateful letter written to the Filipino Families in Ameri-can Canyon, California. As Husband to an Awesome Filipina wife and Clergy/Senior Pastor of CalistogaChristian Center Church in Calistoga California, we stand in Faithful support of the pinoy families of Ameri-can Canyon, California community and offer our payers and support in finding this individual.

Pastor Tom Calistoga, California

Hateful letters define animosity and cultural ignorance amongst our people. Such letter is a rude awakeningto the fact that we are in a time where our actions are ought to be guarded with respect and positive treat-ment of its diversified community. America was founded by immigrants and therefore this writer is no ex-ceptions. Pray that he or she will have peace in his mind. Marilyn Doromal Atlanta, Georgia

Like us on Facebook: National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA)

NaFFAA National is a monthly newsletter the goal of circulating information on NaFFadvocacy events and projects, appointmmessages from leadership and other reactivities for the Filipino American commun

Editors:

Ryan Tejeroeditor@naffaa-national.org

P. Emraida Kiram

executive-director@naffaa-national.org

Please forward comments and news articleyour community for the February issue.

(L-R) NaFFAA Officers with CFO Sec.. Nicolas, CFO ED Tirona and Former CFO ED Jose Molano, Jr

NaFFAA Officers Remy Solarte, National Chair Ed Navarra, Newsletter Editor Ryan

Tejero with CFO Secretary Imelda Nicolas and CFO Exec. Dir. Gertie Tirona.

http://us.mc1602.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=editor@naffaa-national.orghttp://us.mc1602.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=executive-director@naffaa-national.orghttp://us.mc1602.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=executive-director@naffaa-national.orghttp://us.mc1602.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=executive-director@naffaa-national.orghttp://us.mc1602.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=editor@naffaa-national.org

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A video clip that features the significant impactof the life and struggles of Alex Esclamado was a high-

light at the 2nd Global Summit of Filipinos in the Diaspo-ra in Manila, Philippines. The video presentation was atribute of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas to thelate NaFFAA Founder. The Summit was held on Febru-ary 25-27, 2013. Full video can be found on youtube link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5-HZaPZnYY&feature=share

The 2nd Global Summit ofFilipinos in the DiasporaHonors Alex Esclamado

Romeo Romie Dela Paz is currently a member of NaFFAAs Media Com-

munications Directorate. He recently joined as a Member of the Florida ImmigrantCoalition Board of Directors for 2013-2014. He represents the Asian American Fed-eration of Florida. His assignment in FLIC includes Finance Committee, By-LawsCommittee and also in the Nomination/Election Committee. This year, Romie hasan additional assignment as FLIC's representative to the Southeast ImmigrantRights Network (SEIRN) Interim Steering Committee, which is tasked to come upwith the SEIRN's Strategic Plan, as well as, to put in place its regular Steering Com-mittee. FLIC is the host for 2013 of the Annual National Immigrants IntegrationConference on October 23-25, 2013 in Miami. Romie calls for inputs from NaFFAAto link with FLICs advocacies. FLIC is part of the Keep our Families Togethercampaign of the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM), and it allies with aD.C. mobilization activities. As a Florida focused program, Romie said we are

working on Wage Theft prevention as well as Divestment of For-Profit Prisons, aswe continue with our U.S. Citizenship Clinics and Deferred Actions on ChildhoodArrivals (DACA) Clinics.

Seated 2nd from right, Romie, with other mem-

bers of FLICs Board of Directors.

NaFFAA Officer is Active with the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC)

A N N O U N C E M E N T S

As NaFFAA pursues to organize a more exciting and funSummit Conference in May 2013, the Executive Director P.Emraida Kiram welcomes input for outline on Procedures

for a Summit Conference. Please send in your suggestionsto email: executive-director@naffaa-national.org.

A prospective exhibitor or sponsor requests for NaFFAAs 2013schedule of events in the East Coast area. Please send schedule,location and contact person, with phone number or email for eachevent to email: editor@naffaa-national.org.

Anesthesiologists1. William Capina MD- MI2. Ruben Estrada MD- WV3. Edgardo Navarro MD- Germany4.Rene Raymundo MD- MI5. Prima Dulya Co- Wang- CRNA- PA2 Phil. Anesthesiologists

Medical Physicians1. John Adaniel MD- NY

2. Cynthia Chung MD- Toronto Canada3. Christy Estrada MD- WV4. Lamberto Galang MD- OH5. Ed Macalaman MD- OH6. Susan Raymundo MD- MI

General Surgeons1. Victoria Gallardo Navarra MD- MI2. Rolando Mendiola , MD- WI3. Gerardo Reyes, MD- MI/NV

Local General Surgeons1.Noli Baquir2. Tito Quitariano

Chief of Hospital: Dr. Tamparia

Thank you to all our 2013 Missioners!Local ENTDr. R. Suan

Plastic SurgeonsPhilbert Jones, MD- OHLocal _ Dr. Mercado

OBGYN (MI)1.Dr. Diane Vista- Deck2. Dr. Shledon Weiner

Urology (WV)Dr. Francisco Ponce

Dentistry (Phil)1.Adora Vea2.L. Basilia

Nurses1.Remedios Aguada RN- Ca2. Trini Alair RN- MI3. Ching Breta RN (Ca)4. Martha Cabarios RN- MI5. Cora Calderon RN- MI6. Linda Calderon RN- MI7. Tessie Covacha RN- MI8. Fely Fernandez RN- WV9. Corazon Gabarda RN- MI10. Flor Ibus RN- MI11. Mary Ann M Jones RN- OH12. Evelyn Manuel RN- CA/Phil13. Mojica, Florie RN- MI14. Adelina Navarre (Dialysis Tech) MI15. Rosana Navarro RN CA/Phil16. Lina Obrien RN- OH17. Esther Ramos RN- MI18. Amy Risvold RN- MI19.Annie Vista RN MIRina Abero- RN- ManilaDecerae del Rosario RN- Butuan

Junel Jumao-as- RN Manila

Medical TechnologyHermie Bigornia (Med Tech)

Local Coordinator/LiasonMaricer S. Mendiola

Ancillary Services1.Herminio Aguada- CA2. Romy Alair- MI3. Clodualdo Cabarios- MI4. Rufo Covacha- MI

5. Alexander Deck- MI6. Madeline Deck-MI7. Dante Manipula- MI8. Leny Manipula- MI9. Ricardo Manuel-MI10. Efren Mojica- MI11. Loida Moses RN- MI12. Annie Moses- MI13. Eduardo Navarra-MI14. Nicole Navarra- MI15.Ernesto Navarro- CA/Phil16. Michael O Brien- OH17. Fabian Ramos- MI18.Kariana Reyes- CA19. Wilmar Suan- MI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5-HZaPZnYY&feature=sharehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5-HZaPZnYY&feature=sharehttp://us.mc1602.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=executive-director@naffaa-national.orghttp://us.mc1602.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=executive-director@naffaa-national.orghttp://us.mc1602.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=editor@naffaa-national.orghttp://us.mc1602.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=editor@naffaa-national.orghttp://us.mc1602.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=editor@naffaa-national.orghttp://us.mc1602.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=executive-director@naffaa-national.orghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5-HZaPZnYY&feature=share

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