By: Esther Misa Chavez
San Francisco, October 2023: What was significant about the SFFACC 50th anniversary gala last October 7 was that a co-founder, Jose A. Pajes, Jr. was present to see for himself the fruit of his labor. He intimated to this writer how he felt when the advocacies he helped found were being enumerated by the host. He said, “I remembered how difficult it was then to convince people to join the organizations.”
Just 5 years after immigrating to the US, he had already convinced his friends to organize associations for the greater good of the community. First there was the Knights of Columbus, then the Filipino Accountants Association; followed by the Philippine Institute of CPA USA, (PICPA USA). And THIS Chamber in 1973, followed by the Filipino Voters League of San Francisco to encourage our kababayans to get involved in the electoral process. After his introduction, 230 guests were on their feet to applaud the man on a wheelchair being pushed around by his grandson, Andrew.
Newly installed 2023 Board Officers and Directors of the SF Filipino American Chamber of Commerce.
Norberto Galang, president from 1981 to 1985, exemplified the vigor and inspiration from where its presidents followed in the next 40 years. He spoke for the past presidents who were present: Mario Panoringan, Mitos Santisteban, Carmen Colet, Angie Louie, Vic “Lucky” Barrios represented by his mother, Aida, Jose Pecho and this writer.
“Building Bridges, Honoring our Legacy and Embracing our Future”
This 50th anniversary slogan did not miss anything this Chamber has envisioned and embraced. Its founders and succeeding leaderships for years worked on bridging commerce and trade between the Philippines and the US at the get go with trade, cultural and later medical missions. By the turn of the century their mission went global as well as local, empowering and supporting small and medium industries up to the present.
Jose A. Pajes, Jr. acknowledging the applause of the audience.
Its newly minted president, Aaron Orcino, a Facebook Design Program Manager, is young and a man with a mission. The future is bright for this Chamber. Like Jose A. Pajes Jr., he has already co-founded the SF Undiscovered Filipino Night Market, and a former lead of SEED Business Accelerator, a program focused on putting Filipino-owner business in brick and mortar establishment within the Cultural and Commerce district of SOMA Pilipinas. Orcino’s mantra follows that of the Chamber’s fearless leader, Chairman, Jose Pecho.
At the event, outstanding members of the Filipino community were honored: Legacy Leadership Awardee was Pearl Parmelee; Community Impact Award recipient was Sabrina Chaudhry Ellison of the Golden State Warriors Dance Team: Loida Nicolas Lewis for Business and Philanthropy Lifetime Achievement Award; Philippine Airlines received the Corporate Legacy Award represented by Dell Merano, Area Manager for San Francisco. Mona Pasquil Rogers received the Servant Leader Lifetime Achievement Award and was also the Keynote Speaker.
Pasquil Rogers is a Director at the California Public Policy Department of Meta. She was the former Acting Lieutenant Governor of California, the first woman, a Filipina to hold this position (Nov. 2009 to April 2010). Rogers is quick to give credit to the Filipino Community’s leaders who had paved the pay for the community’s empowerment activities, citing them for “leading people with heart.”
Special guests were Cynthia Bonta, who was honored for her civil rights and social justice activism, it being Filipino American History month. And Kathryn Cahill Thompson, CEO, Cahill Contractors, LLC and Board Chair of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. Thompson swore in the new Board of Directors: Chairman, Jose Pecho; President, Aaron Orcino; Vice President, Shan Serran; Treasurer, Yvonne Go, Secretary, Lorna Dietz. Members were Zac Borja, Esther Chavez, Raymond Garcia, Cris Ibarra, Ben Menor, Pearl Parmelee, Pam Santos.
Flutist, Cyron Jed Bajasa, opened the evening’s program with his entrancing music. Mistress of Ceremonies was none other than Audrey Asistio, weekday anchor on NBC Bay Area News. The National Anthems were sang by Maddie B, and Sansu Ramsay. Invocation by Pastor Gary Hall of the International Reformers Network. Brandon Gagante, a Filipino American poet, filmmaker and storyteller born and raised in San Jose, read his poem on being Filipino. “Gagante writes in the way he wishes to live: without fear.”
