Mission: The Filipino-American Foundation of New Mexico’s (FAFNM) mission is to promote the recognition and maintenance of the distinctive values and historical heritage of Filipinos while striving to enhance the well-being of Filipinos through

education, health, and economic services. We are a 501(C)(3) Non-Profit Organization. The FAFNM achieved 501 (C)-3 non-profit status officially in 2005. FAFNM is a member of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA)

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Proudly serving the New Mexico Filipino American Community for over 25 years...
Filipinos in New Mexico        "Tuloy po kayo"

It gives me tremendous pleasure to announce to you that our Cultural Folkdance Group made a big splash (literally in the rain) at the Thursday Cultural Sunset last August 12th evening. The city of Albuquerque sponsored this event as part of a series of entertainment at Albuqurque's Old Town in August and September. (more info at the city's website)

 

I'm very proud of our performers who worked hard and put time and effort out of their busy schedules to make this presentation as wonderful as possible. With the guidance of Director and Choreographer Ligaya White, assisted by Chairperson Armeli Quezon, as well as  Evelio Sabay and Billie Weaver, our group performed a flawless one hour program of ten dances with Armeli (Ate Mel) as our emcee.

 

I would like to ackowledge our dancers: Bianca White, Jessica and Andrea Peña, Tyrese Brown, Tess, Vicky, Ednalyn, Leah, Vilma, Nancy, Salette, and Evelio. Thank you for all your hard work and it paid off with your excellent performances.

 

Thank you for supporting the Filipino American Community and the Filipino American Foundation of New Mexico.

 

 Best Wishes,
Cora Romillo
President, FAFNM

FAFNM Cultural Dancers performed at the Independence Day Picnic last June 12th at Bataan Park. For more pictures from the picnic click on the picture


Progressive Arnis of Albuquerque

(Filipino Martial Arts)

 

Rafael Noguera is conducting free classes in Arnis, a form of Filipino Martial Arts.

Albuquerque Class Schedule

Progressive Arnis of Albuquerque
Saturday Morning Class Schedule for July and August, classes held from 9:00—11:00 am at the Don Newton/Taylor Ranch Community Center 4900 Kachina NW, Room B:
July 31, 2010
August 7, 2010
No Class August 21, 2010 due to Summer Camp
August 28, 2010.
The September schedule has not yet been set.
Additional weekly Thursday evening classes are held in an alternat-ing schedule between Leo Cruz' home and Willie Ong‟s home from 6:00 to 7:00, with an advanced class from 7:00 to 8:00 pm.
Please call Kuya Raphael Noguera
at (505) 803-7127 for more informa-tion and the location of the class each week. Both classes are open to all PA students.
Congratulations to the following P.A. New Mexico students on their recent promotions.
All of the following six students earned their Yellow Belts in July, 2010:
1. Francis A. Ong
2. Mario Bran
3. Christopher L. Samora
4. Julius Somera
5. Rey M. Pena
6. Peter C. Galong Jr.
We are hoping a few other students will be testing before, at, or shortly after the summer camp in August.

Contact Rafael for details at  505-803-7127. First come first serve basis.


FAFNM Secretary Ligaya White and Asian American Association of New Mexico President Sue Thorson (left) at the Festival of Asian Cultures May 16th. Click on the picture for more photos.

Fr. Joel Bugas gives his blessing to Fr. June Nguyen Ramos during the Ordination Rites at the Cathedral Basilica St. Francis in Santa Fe, June 26, 2010. To see more pictures from the Ordination click here.


Upcoming FAFNM Events or 2010

(note: dates and times are subject to change)

12 Jun - General membership meeting (Independence Day Picnic) at Bataan park
14 Aug - Consular Outreach/Maria Clara (Hispanic Cultural Center)
26 Sep - BOD Meeting (Cris and Emilie's home)
2 Oct - General Membership Meeting (CCCC)
4 Dec - General Membership Meeting and Election (CCCC)


Event Production Company, Emergence Productions, seeking Asian Community Performing Artists


Emergence Productions is putting out a call for Asian Community Performing Artists in the Albuquerque and surrounding area. Find out more..>>

 Consular Outreach Program 2010

 

 UPDATE: Consular Outreach for this year has been The Consular Outreach Program 2010 has beed cancelled until further notice according to the latest information. Please visit back often for further updates. We apologize for any inconvenience.  


RBA School project started with visit

By Bruce Warren

 

In March of 2008, I found myself boarding a plane in San Francisco’s International Airport bound for a country I had never visited before - the Philippines.

 

When I got there I was welcomed by my friend and we headed for a small town near the middle of Mindanao, the southern most island in the Philippines.

 

Soon, I was invited to attend a public elementary school graduation celebration by Principal Joselito Maslog of the Ray Buenaventura A. Sabulao Memorial Elementary School. When I was there, there were some awards given out that were non-academic and quite different from the states. Awards such as “Most Honest,” “Most Sincere,” “Most Improved ” and others.

 

And the one guest speaker by the name of Clara gave a talk on how mothers prepared their children for school. Clara gave an inspirational speech to the children on the value of education. It surprised me how openly she talked about how God could always find a way for those who are determined to succeed.

 

She talked about how every mother hopes her children will have a better life some day. She described how mothers will find the best clothes they can for their children. Then they iron them and prepare them for the school day.

 

She did not mention that 60 percent of these students live in bamboo huts beside the highway. Families living in that way do not own any property.

 

Later, I was given a tour of the classrooms. I noticed that the paper-bound textbooks were torn and tattered. Unlike America, there were no hardbound books.

 

With temperatures soaring over 100 degrees on many days, I noticed the school had no fans and no electricity as in some other area schools.

 

When I slipped and cut my finger on one of the sheet-metal roofs there, I asked the principal for a band-aid. There were none. No first aid kit for these young enthusiastic students.

 

I asked about water and was told they must go to a stream for that.

 

I asked Principal Joselito about the school’s needs. I didn’t make any promises but   told him I’d do the best I can to raise funds for the school after I returned to the states.

 

Before I created the current web site for the school, a friend generously hosted a site with pictures of RBA Sabulao School. I asked friends if they would donate. Of course, that’s after I received no response from people like Oprah, some churches, local Filipino newspapers in California and more.

 

But eventually donations started to come after I opened a non-profit account at Wells Fargo bank. I even sold items I no longer used like my conga drum, a stereo, a flute and furniture. All the money from those sales went to the RBA Sabulao School. In fact, 100 percent of all funds donated go directly to benefit the students.

 

Anyway, in less than four months and with just under $1,000 contributed - water was installed, electricity for lights, some new textbooks were purchased and enough food to feed 222 students one school meal a day for at least one month. Now, in 2010 the enrollment has grown to more than 280 and school meals depend on new donations.

 

It really seems like a miracle to me.

 

Right now, I am the only one thinking about these students. The web site RBAschool.com and public talks are the only means to raise funds.

 

Your gift can help these children get an education which can change their lives forever.

>>for more information, visit www.rbaschool.com


Albuquerque, NM
Updated Friday, September 03, 2010 12:56 PM
Clear
Clear
77°FHigh: 85°F
Low: 59°F
Wind: 3 mph
Humidity: 27%
Partly Cloudy
Saturday
88° / 62°
Mostly Sunny
Sunday
89° / 59°
Partly Cloudy
Monday
87° / 57°
Scattered Thunderstorms
Tuesday
85° / 58°
MSN WeatherData provided by iMap
Downloads

 Our By-laws and Constitution

 

Printable Forms:

 Membership Form 

 FAFNM Scholarship

Application(Word)

 

Asian Pacific Fund

In addition to our Scholarship program, you might want to explore the scholarship opportunities provided by the Asian Pacfic Fund. click on the link above.


Links about Filipinos

 in New Mexico:

pinoy new mexico - comprehensive and informative resource about Filipinos in New Mexico

Kulintang Ensemble of Albuquerque - group inspired by Master Kulintang Musician and Instructor Danongan Kalanduyan who visited Albuquerque a few years ago and conducted a workshop at the Hale Manoa building.

Rio Grande Chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society

FAPAC New Mexico - The New Mexico Chapter for the Federal Asian Pacific American Council

Filipino Americans - City of Albuquerque - also contains brief history of Filipino Americans of New Mexico

Arts Alliance - The Filipino Community in Albuquerque

New Mexico Asian Family Center - a place for Asian immigrants and their families to share their concerns, to learn about their own and others’ cultures, to build supportive networks, and to increase self-sufficiency.


    Albuquerque Links

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

2010 Philippine Holidays and Observances:
14 Jun Independence Day
9 Jul    Lailatul Isra Wal Mi Raj
23 Aug Ninoy Aquino Day
29 Aug National Heroes Day
30 Aug National Heroes Day holiday
11 Sep Eidul-Fitar
1 Nov  All Saints' Day
17 Nov Id-ul-Adha
29 Nov Bonifacio Day
8 Dec   Amun Jadid
24 Dec Christmas Eve
25 Dec Christmas Day
27 Dec Rizal Day
31 Dec New Year's Eve

::source

Worlds Apart One Heart,Inc.

North Carolina based non-profit organization dedicate to perform annual medical, surgical, and dental mission to towns in Leyte and Samar, providing medical care to people that otherwise would not have access to medical care from anywhere else.

 

Worlds Apart One Heart, Inc. are now accepting monetary donations for typhoon victims in the Philippines. Management of accepted donations are personally supervised by WAOH volunteers in Manila to insure that donations assist the typhoon victims in the best possible way. 

 

Donate securely online here: 

click here- Worlds Apart One Heart,Inc.

 

Worlds Apart One Heart on Facebook

(FAFNM's Evelio Sabay is a supporter of this organization)