Filipino-American Association of Philadelphia, Inc.

Centennial Gala

Rommel Rivera — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 03:08:42 +0000

FAAPI at the Wawa Welcome America Independence Day Parade

Rommel Rivera — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:22:12 +0000

Celebrating its centennial in 2012, the Filipino American Association of Philadelphia, Inc. (FAAPI) collaborated with many regional Filipino organizations who marched and performed at the “Wawa Welcome America – July 4th” parade in Philadelphia. Representing Filipinos in the U.S. Navy, Rudy Arnaiz waved a large U.S. flag throughout the parade. Representatives from these organizations were present: Filipino American National Historical Society (FAHNS), Filipino American Association of Bucks County Inc. (FAABCI), Philippine Medical Society of Greater Philadelphia (PMSGP).

With FAAPI officers leading the Filipino American contingent from Greater Philadelphia, parade crowds warmly greeted all while viewing the FAAPI Centennial Float featuring FAAPI Centennial Mother of the Year Mrs. Mela Chatto, FAAPI’s Miss Maria Clara 2011 Madeline Sapiadante, PNADVI’s Ms. Heidi Fernandez as Miss Florence Nightingale, and Grand Marshall as well as Camden County Commissioner Mrs. Gwen De Vera. To honor generations of Filipino veterans, representatives of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) as well as the VFW Ladies Auxiliary graced the float. The Philippine Folk Arts Society, Inc.’s (PFASI) Rondalla also entertained crowds as they performed on the float.

Centennial Scholarship Awarded to Kathleen Escarcha

Rommel Rivera — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 22:16:13 +0000

Joining nearly 400 guests at the Asian American Women’s Coalition’s (AAWC) 25th Anniversary celebration on June 15, 2012, high school graduate Kathleen Escarcha received a scholarship sponsored by the Filipino American Association of Philadelphia, Inc.’s (FAAPI) Centennial Committee.

In its 25 year history, AAWC has awarded 122 scholarships to assist qualified young Asian American women in their college careers. Recipients are selected based on financial need, academic achievement, and community service. Kathleen Escarcha, an honors graduate of North Penn High School, received a $2,500 scholarship sponsored by FAAPI’s Centennial Committee with support from FISDU. Besides being an advanced placement (AP) honors student, Kathleen Escarcha is active in student government, her local church, and plays the piano. She plans to attend American University in Washington, D.C.

The 2012 FAAPI Centennial Committee’s Scholarship project is part of a year-long celebration of the FAAPI Centennial that honors its founding president Agrifino Jaucian who began organizing Filipinos in Philadelphia in 1912. FAAPI Centennial Committee members – Purita Acosta, Dr. Joan May Cordova, Marife Domingo, Dr. Rommel Rivera, Dr. Aida Rivera – continue to plan events in 2012.

“100 Years of Filipinos in Philadelphia” Opened with Multicultural Show

Rommel Rivera — Fri, 25 May 2012 19:37:07 +0000

First organized in 1912, the Filipino-American Association of Philadelphia, Inc. (FAAPI) now commemorates “100 Years of Filipinos in Philadelphia” through a series of events organized by FAAPI and partner organizations. Building on the City of Philadelphia’s significant contributions to American history, FAAPI’s special centennial programs in 2012 promote the culture and achievements of Filipinos in Philadelphia.

To kick off “100 Years of Filipinos in Philadelphia,” the Philippine Folk Arts Society, Inc., (PFASI) sponsored a Multicultural Show that drew representatives from Filipino/Asian and other communities to a successful luncheon, dance, performances and fashion show on March 17, 2012. In her remarks, PFASI President Dr. Aida Navidad Rivera highlighted PFASI’s 12-year history of promoting Philippine culture through dance, crafts, education and its signature Rondalla string ensemble. Featured speaker Deputy Consul General Ma.Theresa B. DizonDeVega of New York then linked the history of Filipino Americans to the experiences of diverse immigrant communities of the United States. During PFASI’s colorful multicultural fashion show, spirited models represented cultures and nations from throughout the globe. Earning the highest points awarded by the fashion show’s three judges, Lauren Ouano Yeremian won PFASI’s special judges’ award. Other awards included: elegance – Kim Barroso; enthusiasm – Masuma Ahmed; overall appearance – Virgie Schillingford; stage presence – Luisa Arocena. Guests also enjoyed performances by the Filipino Intercultural Society of Drexel University (FISDU), Pure “Ener J” Line Dancers of the Philippine Community of Southern New Jersey (PCSNJ), and a special performance of the PFASI Rondalla string ensemble with FAAPI Maria Clara Madeline Sapiandante.

FAAPI historian and past president Dr. Raymond Soriano clarified how FAAPI’s centennial celebration in 2012 honors Filipino immigrant pioneers such as Agripino Jaucian who began organizing FAAPI in 1912, a time when some 200 Filipinos in the U.S. Navy settled in Philadelphia and paved the way for a vibrant ethnic community to make significant contributions to the region. Dr. Soriano also announced that in light of FAAPI’s ongoing commitment to education, there will be a “FAAPI Centennial Scholarship Award” included in the Asian American Women’s Coalition’s (AAWC) 2012 scholarship program. AAWC co-founder Judge Ida Chen as well as AAWC board members Mary Faustino, Grace Kong and Marife Domingo were recognized at the March 17 event. [All AAWC scholarship applications must be postmarked by March 30, 2012 and may be found on AAWC’s website.

The next FAAPI centennial program will be its “Mother of the Year” event that will honor Mrs. Mela Chatto as 2012 Centennial Mother of the Year on May 20. For sponsorship information and updates on future centennial events, contact rrivera@faapi.org.

Wawa Welcome America Independence Day Parade

Rommel Rivera — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 05:00:58 +0000

In celebration of its 100 years, FAAPI will lead the Filipino-American Community in the Wawa Independence Day Parade on July 4, 2012 which will be broadcasted on national television.

FAAPI Centennial Scholarship Award

Rommel Rivera — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 20:42:55 +0000

The FAAPI Centennial Scholarship Award will be one of the several awards to be presented at the Asian American Women’s Coalition Banquet (AAWC) on June 15, 2012.

The Filipino American Association of Philadelphia, Inc. (FAAPI) encourages all qualified Filipino American high school seniors of the Delaware Valley to apply for scholarships sponsored by the Asian American Women’s Coalition. AAWC, co-founded by Cecilia Moy Yep and Judge Ida Chen, has a history of providing various scholarships and awards each year. This year, in honor of “100 years of Filipinos in Philadelphia,” FAAPI will sponsor a special FAAPI Centennial Scholarship Award of $2,500 as part of AAWC‘s 25th Anniversary celebration on June 15, 2012. The FAAPI Centennial Scholarship Award is one of several awards that are part of AAWC‘s program.

Let’s spread the word and urge all qualified Filipino American students to apply for AAWC scholarships. For complete guidelines and to submit applications, see AAWC‘s website. If students would like informal advice on applying for scholarships, please contact one of FAAPI‘s Centennial Committee members, Marife Domingo or Joan Cordova.

Rizal Ball & Miss Maria Clara 2013

Rommel Rivera — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:00:54 +0000

“Filipinos of Greater Philadelphia” Book Launching

Rommel Rivera — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:30:15 +0000

Filipinos of Greater Philadelphia is a book for the Filipino-American Association of Philadelphia, Inc., authored by Eliseo Art Arambulo and published by Arcadia Publishing. The book will be launched September 15, 2012.

Eliseo Art Silva is an artist and muralist. He designed and painted the first outdoor Filipino-American mural in the east Coast, the Filipino-American Mural of Philadelphia. He is the founding president of the local chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS-PA). He collected over 200 vintage photographs and partnered with organizations and community members to share the enduring stories, achievements, and contributions of Filipino Philadelphians.

In 1912, Agripino Jaucian organized 200 Filipino Navy personnel who had settled in Philadelphia and formed the Filipino-American Association of Philadelphia, Inc. Jaucian, who created the group after being a victim of racism, served as the organization’s first president. FAAPI was founded to preserve the heritage and traditions of Filipinos in their newly adopted country. In the 1960’s, Philadelphia witnessed a population boom and entire Filipino families and professionals began immigrating in large numbers. The growth of Filipinos in the area gave rise to organizations, dance troupes, restaurants, and the FAAPI Filipino Community Center. Today, there are estimated 35,000 Filipinos in the Philadelphia region, As FAAPI celebrates its centennial, Filipinos of Greater Philadelphia commemorates the legacies of those early pioneers who sought to find a place they could call “home” in the City of Brotherly Love.

The Images of America series celebrates the history of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the United States. Using archival photographs, each title presents the distinctive stories from the past that shape the character of the community today. Arcadia Publishing is proud to play a part of the preservation of local heritage, making history available to all.

Centennial Gala

Rommel Rivera — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00:15 +0000

Building on the City of Philadelphia’s significant contributions to American history, we will now recognize the many achievements of Filipinos in Philadelphia from 6–12 PM on October 26, 2012 at the Hilton Philadelphia City Avenue, 4200 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131

FAAPI will highlight accomplishments of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in the Philadelphia area with Centennial Awards. These once-in-a-hundred year awards will be handed over to distinguished individuals who have excelled and made significant contributions in these particular endeavors:

Arts and Culture
Medicine
Nursing
Law
Historical Preservation
Community Service
Business Entrepreneurship
Education

His Excellency Jose L. Cuisia, Jr., the Philippine Ambassador to the United States has already confirmed his attendance to this event. Other US and Philippine Officials have been invited and the list will be updated as they confirm their attendance to this event.

Please send inquiries and nominations to the Centennial Awards Committee to centennialawards@faapi.org.

Mrs. Mela Chatto, R.N., Centennial Mother of the Year

Rommel Rivera — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:46:53 +0000

This year, FAAPI is proud to announce the selection of Mrs. Mela Chatto, A.B., R.N., B.S.N, wife of Jose Chatto, M.D. as Centennial Mother of the Year, We will be celebrating at the Riverside Pavilion of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Cherry Hill, New Jersey 0n Sunday May 20, 2012 from 12–6 PM. We hope to see all of you, including many of the past Mothers of the Year, in attendance to celebrate this once in a lifetime event.

Mrs. Chatto was born in Bohol, in the Philippines. She graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing at the Concordia College of Nursing in Manila, then went to work at the Passiac General Hospital, Brooklyn Cumberland Medical Center, Kessler Memorial Hospital, and Innova Health Care and Rehabilitation. Mrs. Chatto is president emeritus of the Philippine Nurses association of Delaware Valley, Inc., and a board member of Cebu Association USA. She is also a lector at Christ the Redeemer parish church. She has a daughter, Janice, and a granddaughter, Allysa.