Arroyo might bump into Obama, McCain in Fil-Ams' September meet
CHICAGO, Illinois – Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will be one of the keynote speakers at the 8th NaFFAA National Empowerment Conference from Sept. 26-28 at the Westin Hotel in downtown Seattle, Washington, according to National NaFFAA Chair Alma Quintans Kern.
A press release issued by Ning Rogge, media relations manager of the 8th Empowerment Conference of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), also said that presidential candidates Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain have also been invited to the three-day conference.
During Fifth NaFFAA’s Empowerment Conference in San Jose, California and the First Global Networking Convention in San Francisco in 2002 when President Arroyo was invited to speak, she addressed the event “via satellite" and sent First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo as her representative.
Other invited guests at this biennial conference next month include Senator Maria Cantwell, Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire, King County Executive Ron Sims, and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. Conference speakers are Scott Oki, founder and chairman of Oki Golf and Oki Developments, Paul Jensen of Microsoft, and Tiffany McVeety of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The conference that will be held in partnership with the Pacific Northwest Filipino Chamber of Commerce will be attended by more than 500 community leaders and advocates throughout the United States, the Philippines and Australia.
The theme of the conference is how to "Forge a New Filipino American Agenda for the 21st Century" that will promote the welfare and well being of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans by fostering unity and empowerment.
"As a national Filipino American organization, it is important for our community to hear what our public officials have to say about the issues affecting us," states Ms. Kern.
"While we cannot endorse political candidates due to our tax-exempt status, we hope to encourage Filipino Americans to be actively involved in getting out the vote in November and become more engaged in the elections. This is what community empowerment is all about.
"It will be an opportunity to meet community leaders and advocates from different states and countries who have championed the causes of Filipinos and Filipino Americans and hear their successes to move forward and be empowered at all levels."
Adds Alex Borromeo, president of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest: "Our goal is to help forge partnerships and connect small to medium-sized businesses, especially minority-owned, with Fortune 500 companies and government."
NaFFAA's purpose is to monitor legislation and public policy issues affecting Filipino Americans and work in coalition with other national groups around common issues and concerns. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and recognized by policy-makers, private industry and national advocacy groups as the voice of Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the nation.
It is a non-partisan, non-profit national affiliation of more than five hundred Filipino-American institutions and umbrella organizations. Its twelve regions cover the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the Marianas.
The registration fee is $195 per NaFFAA delegate, which includes all workshops, materials, meals, and a gala dinner. Registration fee for Chamber attendee is $125 including lunch. Reservations for booth exhibitors are also available at $200 for non-profit organizations and $400 for commercial exhibitors.
For business tract attendees, the fee is $125 including lunch.
Parties interested to attend the conference as exhibitor may contact Mariela Fletcher at marielfletch@msn.com or Tel. 206-892-0075 or visit www.naffaa-pacnw.org. - JOSEPH G. LARIOSA, GMANews.TV
A press release issued by Ning Rogge, media relations manager of the 8th Empowerment Conference of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), also said that presidential candidates Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain have also been invited to the three-day conference.
During Fifth NaFFAA’s Empowerment Conference in San Jose, California and the First Global Networking Convention in San Francisco in 2002 when President Arroyo was invited to speak, she addressed the event “via satellite" and sent First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo as her representative.
Other invited guests at this biennial conference next month include Senator Maria Cantwell, Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire, King County Executive Ron Sims, and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. Conference speakers are Scott Oki, founder and chairman of Oki Golf and Oki Developments, Paul Jensen of Microsoft, and Tiffany McVeety of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The conference that will be held in partnership with the Pacific Northwest Filipino Chamber of Commerce will be attended by more than 500 community leaders and advocates throughout the United States, the Philippines and Australia.
The theme of the conference is how to "Forge a New Filipino American Agenda for the 21st Century" that will promote the welfare and well being of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans by fostering unity and empowerment.
"As a national Filipino American organization, it is important for our community to hear what our public officials have to say about the issues affecting us," states Ms. Kern.
"While we cannot endorse political candidates due to our tax-exempt status, we hope to encourage Filipino Americans to be actively involved in getting out the vote in November and become more engaged in the elections. This is what community empowerment is all about.
"It will be an opportunity to meet community leaders and advocates from different states and countries who have championed the causes of Filipinos and Filipino Americans and hear their successes to move forward and be empowered at all levels."
Adds Alex Borromeo, president of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest: "Our goal is to help forge partnerships and connect small to medium-sized businesses, especially minority-owned, with Fortune 500 companies and government."
NaFFAA's purpose is to monitor legislation and public policy issues affecting Filipino Americans and work in coalition with other national groups around common issues and concerns. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and recognized by policy-makers, private industry and national advocacy groups as the voice of Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the nation.
It is a non-partisan, non-profit national affiliation of more than five hundred Filipino-American institutions and umbrella organizations. Its twelve regions cover the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the Marianas.
The registration fee is $195 per NaFFAA delegate, which includes all workshops, materials, meals, and a gala dinner. Registration fee for Chamber attendee is $125 including lunch. Reservations for booth exhibitors are also available at $200 for non-profit organizations and $400 for commercial exhibitors.
For business tract attendees, the fee is $125 including lunch.
Parties interested to attend the conference as exhibitor may contact Mariela Fletcher at marielfletch@msn.com or Tel. 206-892-0075 or visit www.naffaa-pacnw.org. - JOSEPH G. LARIOSA, GMANews.TV
Comments