Visit the virtual booths at the Arena - check out and support Filipino products and services, learn about Filipino organizations and connect with your community.

You may also "take a seat" at any open networking table to interact with guests.

Understand the power, the influence and the responsibility we have to participate in the Philippine elections - even when thousands of miles away from the Motherland. No candidate names will be mentioned during this panel, but our speakers will present historical data, behaviors, initiatives, and provide tools to support our audience to be wise voters and fight fake news.

• Marvin Tomandao, former TV reporter
• Consul General Edgar Barrairo Badajos, Los Angeles
• Director Elaiza David from COMELEC - pending confirmation
• Aries A. Arugay, Professor of Political Science from the University of the Philippines in Diliman

Test your knowledge of Filipino street food as Chef Kristen Dominguez creates turon and Banana Cue!

As we celebrate the FIlipino workforce, many have ventured to explore outsourcing work, manufacturing or the tech industries in the country. Some have even permanently moved to the Philippines . But the road was never straight - this panel can help you navigate through the bumps and potholes along the way from personal experiences they will share.
Featuring:
• JR Calanoc, Panalo Co.
• Ray Villanueva, Kawayan Collective
• Kevin Gabayan, Plentina

Featuring Dr. Abby Hamilton and Moderated by Chi FilAm Duo Jean Gavina and Everett Icao

“My mom wants me to be a nurse, but I really want to tell her I love to dance.”

“Every time my tita visits our house, she always asks me if I’m getting married. It’s getting really annoying.”

“It’s so hard for me to say NO to my family because I feel like I owe them. But I really want to say No.”

Polite, Obedient, Respectful - This is what our parents taught us to be, and now we need to make in a forceful, direct, push-the-envelope society. How do we transition? Do we need to change? Dr. Abby will share her research on Filipino American psychology and provide insight that will help you realize your super power and get ready to break the bamboo ceiling.

There is nothing like Christmas in the Philippines. Cheerful carols and 'emo' Pasko songs are heard all day over the radio, and in the malls, starting September 1st. At night, streets are flooded with color from the bright, dancing holiday decors around every building, lamp posts and homes. We all know this is the time to be with family and loved ones, the time to celebrate another year of togetherness despite hardships and challenges. The holidays bring so much joy to us Pinoys, we want to celebrate it for over a third of the entire year! But what if, you are away from the homeland, how is Pasko for you in your part of the world?

Until we can freely travel again, hop on this virtual tour of the "Walled City" in Manila, rich in history and culture. And PJ Hernandez will make it so much fun!

With four million strong in the United States, the amount of representation we have in seats of power is still disproportionate. Are we getting there, though? This panel will explore the importance of representation and engage the viewers with their stories and observations as community leaders. In addition, NaFFAA also conducted a leadership series exploring campaign support for those interested in running for office. Get the key takeaways from our presenters.

Featuring:
• Jessica Caloza, Commissioner, Board of Public Works at City of Los Angeles
• Josh Price, Former Pulaski County Election Commissioner, State of Arkansas
• Sergio Alcubilla, Former Director of external relations at the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii
• Steven Raga, Executive Director at Woodside on the Move

Overcoming impostor syndrome, and navigating nuances and cultural conventions - our panel will deliberate on 'how things are done' from their experiences as a Filipino in the US, Spain, HongKong and Dubai. If you can share some insights from your country, kwentuhan tayo!

• John Paul O. Dela Rosa - Fulbright FLTA in the U.S.
• Rex Yadao, Spain
• Rawnna Crisostomo, HongKong
• Paul Raymund Cortez, Former ConGen of Dubai

We love telling stories. With words, stories are heard. But with heart in the craft, stories are felt. With their chosen medium, our panel will each share the “Why” behind their craft and the stories that transcend time and place.

• Arjay Arellano, Humanitarian Photographer with ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency)
• Meriden Villanueva, Artist, filmmaker
• Lydia Querian, Daily Malong - indigenous fabric designer
• Moderated by Sophia Labayen, multimedia artist

Presented by Partnerships for Sustainable Development, Inc.
Learn about organizations’ life cycle towards sustainability and explore traditional and non-traditional ways to raise funds for your cause. From selling tickets, applying for grants, matching funds from online shopping, and crowdfunding options, see what works for you!

Featuring:
• Josephine Rago-Adia
• David Aguilar
• Perle Almeida

A panel of mental health professionals and a Filipino undergraduate student from the Harvard Philippine Forum will address how they are breaking the mental health stigma in the Filipino community and the wider community by sharing stories from their mental health careers and mental health advocacy work. Our goal is to inspire other Filipinos to help break the mental health stigma in their communities.

• Michelle Lopez Clark, Psychotherapist, Associate Professional Clinical Counselor and National Certified Counselor, & Children's Book Author
• Roanne de Guia-Samuels, Marriage & Family Therapist and Founder of Kalamansi Juice (Therapy & Coaching for Filipino Women)
• Anjeli Macaranas, Harvard Undergraduate and Education Director for the Harvard Philippine Forum
• Andrea Cabrera Jakucs, Psychotherapist, Wellness with Andrea Jakucs & Associates
• Panel Lead and Moderator: Frances Maher

On 21 February 2019, the Ayala Museum in partnership with the BPI Foundation and Mercedes Zobel opened to the public a landmark exhibition featuring the works of artist and educator Mark Lewis Lim Higgins – its last exhibition before the museum closed for renovations in 2019.

Entitled Gold in Our Veins, the exhibition tells the story of a re-imagined antiquity through a series of portraits inspired by the ancient histories of Indochina, the East Indies, and the Philippine Archipelago.

Together with these works of art are objects from the Ayala Museum’s collection handpicked by Higgins himself to expand the exhibition’s narrative; an unprecedented undertaking as the museum’s objects for the first time will be shown beyond their historical and cultural significance.

This panel will highlight community issues the past year and share initiatives on building the pipeline for FilAm physicians, while advancing health equity.

Join us for a session of knowledge-sharing through storytelling, videos, and discussion.

As an organization founded by Filipino immigrants, we carry with us the legacy of People Power. We believe that the people most affected by structural injustice should be at the forefront of our movements. We seek to amplify the voices of those most silenced in our community: undocumented families, new immigrants, domestic workers, low-wage workers, seniors, and youth.

Learn how AFIRE Chicago has been rooting their approach in care, in order to inspire and build a more sustainable and liberating future for our Filipinx/a/o community.

Hear four stories from our distinguished panel as they share experiences and lessons learned from their career journey and in building communities and the justice system.
• Judge Rizza O Connor, Georgia, USA
• Judge Monette Mesa, Cainta, Rizal, Philippines
• Judge Jasmine Hernandez, Chicago, USA
• Judge Charlene Clara Mendoza, Philippines
Moderated by: Atty. Jeri Gonzales

This group of students from Hawaii is on a mission to include Filipino history and culture in every school’s curriculum. Questions were raised why Filipinos were not included in the books even though it’s the largest Asian population in the entire State. Listen in on their presentation and progress so far.
• Lead - Marissa Halagao, Punahou School, Junior
• Caitlin Jayne Agnes, Temple University, College Freshman (Kapolei c/o 2021)
• Blaine Bacerra, Kapolei High School, Junior
• Raymart Billote, UH West O’ahu, College Freshman (Waipahu c/o 2021)
• Jalen Espejo, Farrington High School, Senior
• Mariah Ramo, Waipahu High School, Junior
• Halle Myan Umayam, Kapolei High School, Senior
• Lauren Watarida, Kapolei High School, Junior

The Philippine Overseas Labor Office will provide a helpful guide on recruitment and deployment services in the Philippines. This interactive room can help answer your questions - from requirements, what to expect, culture, and who knows - maybe you can find opportunities or meet a potential employer at the conference!
Speakers: TBA

A panel of Filipino students from Columbia University will share presentations on their research, share personal experiences and challenge participants to find parallels and perspectives on the state of our mental health, especially during this pandemic.

Speakers:
• Joanne Michelle Ocampo, DrPH candidate, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University , Department of Population and Family Health: "Culture Bias in Mental Health and Future Opportunities"

• Raisa Santos, MPH student at Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University: "Me, Myself, and My Filipino Identity – The Decolonialization of the Diaspora Through Mental Health Sensitivity"

• AJ Jondonero, MA Journalism, Columbia University: "COVID-related Behaviors of Filpino-American Communities"

Moderated by: Dr. Christian Gloria, Associate Professor of Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Leading Filipino social media channels and podcasts, Subtle Filipino Traits, SoCal Filipinos, and Filipino Fridays, present a friendly debate between two teams - each to present facts and examples why their position reigns supreme. Ultimately, the audience will be able to vote who wins it for that day, but get ready for competition, surprises, and who knows, a Team Kare Kare might just be the twist we need.

-Michelle Macrohon, Founder of Subtle Filipino Traits
-Jason Lustina, Founder of SoCal Filipinos
-Archierose Natividad and Jasmine Monton, Founder of Filipino Fridays Podcast
- Mellanie Tanada and Melenie Yap Chesneau of Filipino Story Time
- Frances Maher, Moderator

If you're called cheugy then maybe it's time to let the young ones lead? But what support can we give the new crop of leaders, and how can we best raise them while keeping our Filipino values intact? When do we become toxic and what examples of generational trauma should stop with us?