Engr. Ed Navarra, the chairman of the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations (NaFFAA) chapter in the Midwest, invited way back in April 2007 Bobby Reyes to participate in its regional convention at Dayton, Ohio, on Sept. 28-29, 2007. Meanwhile, Willie Dechavez, the chairman of the NaFFAA chapter in the State of Michigan, has also invited Mr. Reyes to be his guest during the chapter's event on Oct. 6, 2007, in Detroit. Mr. Dechavez's invitation was finalized only yesterday, July 19, 2007.

Mr. Navarra's invitation is a repeat of his hosting Mr. Reyes in August 2003 during the NaFFAA's regional convention in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. He is expecting once again some other NaFFAA national executive officers (NEOs) to pressure him to withdraw the invitation.

But as in 2003, Mr. Navarra intends to uphold his right to invite a community leader to the regional convention. People may ask, "Does Reyes not think that he can be like that Christian going into a den of lions?" On the other hand, perhaps folks should inquire if it may be the other way around: A lion entering a den of Christians?

Of course, Bobby Reyes is an alumnus of San Beda College and, therefore, he is a Red Lion, aside from being a former member of the Cubao (Quezon City) Lions and the Builder Lions' Club of Los Angeles, California. But on a serious note, Chairman Navarra has invited him to present during a breakfast meeting at the coming NaFFAA regional convention his position paper on "How the Overseas Filipinos Can Fight Global Warming." And Mr. Reyes has promised that there would not be any discussion of anything about the adventures or misadventures of some former and present NaFFAA NEOs but only about climate change

Mr. Dechavez wants Mr. Reyes to update the NaFFAA state chapter on the various community events that his (Reyes') coalition is doing in Southern California and Southern Nevada. A joint venture between the NaFFAA chapter and Reyes' coalition may be signed during the Oct. 6, 2007, event for the holding of a Filipino-American Community Night at the Detroit Tigers' stadium. Mr. Reyes has proposed the holding of an annual Fil-Am Community Event in Detroit beginning with the 2008 baseball season. Mr. Reyes has spearheaded the holding of a Fil-Am Community Night at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 24, 2006, and last July 1, 2007.

The NaFFAA Michgan chairman has announced also that Philippine Ambassador Willy C. Gaa has been invited as the keynote speaker for the Oct. 6, 2007, grand event.

* * *

Tentative Schedule and Agenda of the NaFFAA Regional Convention in Dayton, Ohio, from Sept. 28-30, 2007

Friday - September 28, 2007

5:00 - 6:00pm -- Light Snacks and Refreshments (Carillon Room)

5:00 - 6:00pm -- Welcome Ceremonies (Room 170) Presiding :Eduardo Navarra - Chair, NaFFAA-Region 3

6:00 - 7:00pm -- FIRST SESSION: Empowerment (Room 170)

Title: "Filipino-American Empowerment in the Midwest - Is this Possible" (50 min)

Speaker: Rudy Pamintuan - Chair, White House AAPI Presidential Advisory Committee

7:00 - 8:00pm -- Heavy Hors d’oeurves (Carillon Room)

Or, Dinner On Your Own (see Conference Package for Local Restaurants)

8:00 - 9:00pm -- SECOND SESSION: Consulate Services (Room 170)

Title: "Dual Citizenship / Other Philippine Issues and Concerns" (50 min)

Speaker: Patrick Hilado - Consul, Philippine Consulate General of Chicago

9:00 - 10:00pm -- THIRD SESSION: Gawad Kalinga (Carillon Room)

Screening: Gawad Kalinga Award-Winning Movie, "Paraiso"

Saturday - September 29, 2007

6:00 - 7:00am -- FIRST SESSION: Kapehan

Moderator: Bart Tubalinal - Publisher, MegaScenes

Participants: Yoly Tubalinal - President, National Press Club of the Philippines (USA)

Luis "Cito" P. Lorenzo, Jr. - Former Secretary, Department of Agriculture

7:00 - 9:00am -- Continental Breakfast (Lobby outside Salon A & B)

7:00 - 8:15am -- Conference Welcome (Salon A & B)

Emcee: Chuck Castro - Executive Director, NaFFAA-Region 3

Title: "Welcome Addresses" (65 min)

Speakers: Eduardo Navarra - Chair, NaFFAA-Region 3

Vilma Helms, PhD - Chair, NaFFAA-Ohio

Blesila C. Cabrera - Consul General, Philippine Consulate General of Chicago

Vernie Morales - Tourism Representative, Philippine Consulate General of Chicago

Alma Q. Kern - Chair NaFFAA-National8:15 - 8:20am -- Break

8:20 - 9:20am -- SECOND SESSION: Veteran’s Equity (Salon A & B) Moderator: Amy del Mundo, MD - Chair, NaFFAA-Indiana

Title: "R-3’s One Voice, One Action - To Pass the Filipino Veteran’s Equity Bill" (50 min)

Speakers: Jerry Clarito - Legislative Director, NaFFAA-Region 3

Arcadio Calabas, US Army, lst Lt (Ret) - President, Illinois Veteran's Equity Center9:00 -

11:00am -- Mid-Morning Snacks (Lobby outside Salon A & B)

9:20 - 9:25am -- Break

9:25 - 10:25am -- THIRD SESSION: Cultural (Salon A & B)

Moderator: P. Emraida Kiram - Chair, NaFFAA National Cultural Empowerment

Title: "Performing Immigrant Lives: Collective Historicizing and Resistance in Community Theatre" (20 min)

Speaker: Angela "Ging" Mascarenas - Pintig/Circa, Chicago

Title: "Arts and Our Culture" (20 min)

Speaker: Potri Ranka Manis - Kinding Sindaw, New York

10:25 - 10:30 am -- Break

10:30 – 11:30 am -- FOURTH SESSION: Leadership (Salon A & B)

Moderator: Tony Amante - Chair, NaFFAA-Illinois

Title: "LEADERSHIP Talk" (Title needed) (50 min)

Speakers: Ryne Dionisio - Youth Chair, NaFFAA-Region 3

Jose Ma. Montelibano - Journalist and Social-Activist

Evelyn de Asis Natividad, PhD - Vice-Chair, NaFFAA-Illinois / Chair, Philippine Week Committee, 2004

11:30 - 12:45 pm -- Luncheon (Tent)

Emcee: Chuck Castro - Executive Director, NaFFAA-Region 3

Title: "AUSTRIA Talk" (Title Needed) (20 min)

Speaker: Steve Austria - Senator, Ohio’s 10th District 

Speaker: Joyce Bruce - Founder, NANAY (20 min)

Title: "Our Ongoing Journey with Gawad Kalinga and Gawad Kalusugan" (20 min)

Speakers Carlos Capati, MD - NaFFAA-Illinois

Myrna Capati, MD - NaFFAA-Illinois

12:45 - 1:45pm -- FIFTH SESSION: Extra-Judicial Killings (Salon A & B)

Moderator: Adelbert Batica - Chair, NaFFAA-Minnesota

Title: "Congressional Lobbying: A Concrete Action in Response to Extra-Judicial Killings in the Philippines" (50 min)

Speakers: Paul Bloom, PhD - Philippine Study Group of Minnesota

Meg Layase - Philippine Study Group of Minnesota

1:45 - 1:50pm -- Break

1:50 - 2:50pm -- SIXTH SESSION: Economic Deliverance (Salon A & B)

Moderator: Engr Cornelia R. Natividad - Associate Environmental Engineer, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Title: "Living Rich: A State of Mind" (15 min)

Speaker: Maricel Quiroz - Author

Title: "The One Million Pinoy Millionaires Mission" (15 min)

Speaker: Trace Trojano - Author / Real Estate Investor

Title: "Winning a Franchise" (15 min)

Speaker: Cornelio R. Natividad - Entrepreneur

2:00 - 4:00pm -- Mid-Afternoon Snacks (Lobby outside Salon A & B)

2:50 - 2:55pm -- Break

2:55 - 3:55pm -- SEVENTH SESSION: Youth Development (Salon A & B)

Moderator: Chuck Castro - Executive Director, NaFFAA-Region 3

Title: "Leadership Through Character Building" (20 min)

Speaker: Rudy Bernardo - Educator

Title: "YOUTH LEADERSHIP Talk" (Title needed) (20 min)

Speaker: Ron Katsuyama - President, Asian-American Council

3:55 - 4:00pm -- Break

4:00 - 5:00pm -- EIGHTH SESSION: Global Warming (Salon A & B)

Moderator: Willie DeChavez - Chair, NaFFAA-Michigan

Title: "Global Warming - Philippines: Sink or Swim" (50 min)

Speaker: Bobby Reyes -Media Breakfast Club of Los Angeles

5:00 - 5:05pm -- Break

5:05 - 6:00pm -- NINTH SESSION: Human Trafficking (Salon A & B)

Moderator: Adelbert Batica - Chair, NaFFAA-Minnesota

Title: "Gray Matter: The Many Faces of Human Trafficking" (50 min)

Speakers: Elsa Batica - Co-Chair, Filipino-American Women’s Network-Minnesota

Jocelyn L. Ancheta - Treasurer, Filipino-American Women’s Network-Minnesota

Linda Miller - Executive Director, Civil Society

6:00 - 7:00pm -- Social Hour: Cash Bar (Ballroom)

7:00 - 7:30pm -- Gala Welcome (Ballroom)

Emcees: Teresa Gonzalvo - Director, Integrated Care Management Good Sam Hospital

Marie Kong - Past President, Assn. of Philippine Physicians of Greater Dayton

Colors: 88th Medical Group Color Guard, Wright-Patterson AFB (5 min)

Anthem: Bob Hale - Past President, Philippine-American Society of Greater Dayton (5 min)

Mary Moore - Youth Delegate, NaFFAA-Ohio (5 min)

Speaker: Vilma Helms, PhD - Chair, NaFFAA-Ohio (5 min)

7:30 - 8:30pm -- Dinner (Ballroom)

Menu: Filet Mignon, Wild Shiitake, Red Wine Reduction

8:00 - 8:30pm -- Dinner Entertainment (Ballroom)

Tourism Show: Biyahe Tayo Video Clip (5 min)

Fashion Show: Louisville/Dayton (5 min)

Dance Show: Dayton (5 min)

Dance Show: Louisville (5 min)

8:30 - 9:00pm -- Special Recognitions (Ballroom)

Presenter: Vilma Helms, PhD - Chair, NaFFAA-Ohio

Recipients: Corporate Sponsors (10 min)

Dayton Employers of Filipino-Americans (15 min)

9:00 - 9:25pm -- Keynote Address (Ballroom)

Introduction: Eduardo Navarra - Chair, NaFFAA-Region 3

Title: "Gawad Kalinga, Philippines" (20 min)

Speaker: Jose Ma. Montelibano - Journalist and Social Activist

9:25 - 9:50pm -- Keynote Address (Ballroom)

Introduction: Clayton Luckie - Representative, Ohio’s 39th District

Title: "Ohio’s Asian-American Policy Initiatives" (Title needed) (20 min)

Speaker: Ted Strickland - Governor, State of Ohio (Ed Stanek needs to confirm)

9:50 - 10:00pm -- Dance Break (Ballroom)

10:00 - 10:30pm -- Dual-Citizenship Swearing-In (Ballroom)

Official: Blesila C. Cabrera - Consul General, Philippine Consulate General of Chicago

10:30 - 11:00pm – Conference Remarks (Ballroom)

Speakers: Eduardo Navarra - Chair, NaFFAA-Region 3 (5 min)

Alma Q. Kern - Chair NaFFAA-National (5 min)

11:00 - 1:00am -- Dancing (Ballroom)

Sunday - September 30, 2007

7:00 - 9:00am -- Continental Breakfast (Lobby outside Carillon Room)

7:00 - 8:00am -- FIRST SESSION: Trade and Tourism (Carillon Room)

Title: "Trade and Tourism" (20 min)

Speakers: Glenn Penaranda - Trade Representative, Philippine Consulate General of Chicago

Vernie Morales - Tourism Representative, Philippine Consulate General of Chicago

Title: "Opportunities in the Midwest" (20 min)

Speaker: Gerardo Gaddi, Financial Advisor

8:00 - 10:00am -- SECOND SESSION: Elections (Carillon Room)

General Membership Meeting

Presiding: Eduardo Navarra, Chair Region 3

& "Regional Elections"

Presiding: Marlon Pecson - Chair, Comelec

10:00 - 11:00am -- THIRD SESSSION: Feedback (Carillon Room)

Title: "Evaluations" (50 min)

Facilitator: Armin Sayson - Vice-Chair, NaFFAA-Ohio

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