NFALA Balita - Newsletter June 2017, Issue 02

IN THIS ISSUEMessage from the President

NFALA News

Upcoming NFALA Events

#NFALAPRIDE

Affiliate Spotlight

In The Community

Sponsors

NFALA Leadership

Regional UpdatesMESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

R E G I O N A LU P DAT E S

Jhanice V. DomingoPARTNER | EINHORN HARRIS

NEW JERSEY | NEW YORK

Jhanice V. Domingo, Esq.NFALA PRESIDENT

Sincerely,

D ear NFALA Members:

Thanks to all of you and the 2016-2017 NFALA Board of Governors, the first two quarters of this administration has been remarkable! Over the past six months, NFALA proudly celebrated a lot of “firsts”. To name a few -- first-ever West Coast Pinay Powerhouse Conference in San Francisco, CA; first-ever joint networking event hosted by NFALA’s in-house counsel and partners affinity networks, “Salu-Salo Networking Dinner” in Philadelphia, PA; first-ever Partner/In-House Webinar, “Shutting Down Main Street: Fil-Am Lawyers Hit Their Strides”; launch event of the Oregon Filipino American Lawyers Association in Portland, OR; and NFALA Info Session in Philadelphia, PA to initiate a new affiliate in Philadelphia/New Jersey!

NFALA also welcomed two staff members to our team -- our new administrative assistant, Ann Baus and our new marketing assistant, Justin Cabuhat. NFALA is also proud to launch the new design of our e-newsletter “NFALA Balita”. Each issue will include: NFALA News/Upcoming Events so we can share with you what’s going on with NFALA; #NFALAPRIDE so we can celebrate your accomplishments; and Affiliate Spotlight/Regional Updates so we can highlight our local Filipino-American bar associations.

Finally, on a personal note, it was a pleasure and privilege for me to travel to Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, San Diego and San Francisco to meet with NFALA’s incredible members and affiliate leaders in these regions, and I hope to visit with all of NFALA’s affiliates by November! Until then, I hope that you all continue to believe in NFALA and to stay engaged. There are a number of ways that you can contribute to the success of NFALA:

1. Renew Your Direct Membership or Join a Local Affiliate;2. Join a Committee or Affinity Network;3. Sponsor.

Together, we can make NFALA bigger and better!

NORTHEASTREGION

FALA Mass with Fil-Am Law Studentsat Boston University in January

NFALA NEWS

On January 31, NFALA issued a statement denouncing President Trump’s executive order on immigrants and refugees. The statement, which can be read in full here, included a 3-point call to action: 1) use social media to speak out against xenophobia and urge people to contact their legislators to oppose the travel ban; 2) volunteer as attorneys and/or interpreters for airport triage efforts; and 3) invite immigration attorneys to submit their information to NFALA's referral database.

NFALA’s response to the executive order received online, print, and television media coverage, including a segment on the TFC cable news show Balitang America (see Affiliate Spotlight, below).

Robert Uy, a former board member of NFALA and past president of the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California (FBANC), provided commentary on the travel ban in a separate episode of Balitang America.

FALA Chicago, which issued its own press release in addition to signing on to the NFALA organizational statement, was also featured in the U.S. news section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

A revised version of the travel ban was announced in March, which like its predecessor, has been challenged in federal courts. NFALA continues to voice its opposition to these executive orders by joining fellow bar organizations in support of amicus briefs filed by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

As part of a longer term response to the changing immigration landscape, NFALA will be partnering on advocacy, legal services, and community education efforts with the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA).

On February 10, NFALA President Jhanice V. Domingo and Northeast Regional Governor Allison Alcasabas held a kick-off meeting with over 20 enthusiastic members of NFALA’s soon-to-be-formed affiliate comprising Fil-Am attorneys in the Philadelphia and southern New Jersey metropolitan regions. The steering committee launching the group includes Will Sylianteng, Merilee Arevalo, Crystal Espanol, Franz Espanol, Richard Ramones, and Victoria Mercer. The group is in the process of drafting bylaws, selecting a name, and creating a logo. The current goal is for the new affiliate to “go live” later this year. NFALA is excited to welcome Will Sylianteng on behalf of the Philly/South New Jersey group as a first-time attendee at the Mid-Year Leadership Summit being held in Nashville in July.

NORTHWESTREGION

SOUTHEASTREGION

Oregon Filipino American Lawyers Launch Event at Perkins Coie,

Portland (February 28)

HFLA 2017 Legal Clinic at the2017 Filipino Fiesta, Honolulu (May 6)

FALA DC Elects New Board of Governors

On March 3-5, NFALA and its affiliates the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California (FBANC), Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego (FALSD), Filipino Lawyers of Orange County (FLOC), Fili-pino Lawyers of Washington (FLOW), Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association (HFLA), Oregon Filipino American Lawyers Association (OFALA), and Philippine American Bar Association (PABA) held the inaugural West Coast Pinay Powerhouse Conference in San Francisco. Envisioned and spearheaded by FBANC president Christine Start, the conference is the first of its kind to focus on the empowerment of Filipina lawyers and aspiring attorneys as leaders in law. Almost 100 judges, attorneys, and law students were in attendance at the sold out event. The Welcome Dinner featured guest speaker Dr. Robyn Magalit Rodriguez, activist and professor of Asian American Studies at the University of California, Davis. Nani Coloretti, former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the highest ranked Filipino American to serve in the Obama Administration delivered the conference keynote address. (Group photo by Terence Sims)

WEST COAST PINAY POWERHOUSE CONFERENCE 2017

SALU-SALONETWORKING DINNER

NFALA’s In-House Counsel and Partners Affinity Networks launched their first joint networking event of 2017 in Philadelphia on April 25. NFALA board members, along with prominent Fil-Am partners, in-house counsel, and bar leaders, enjoyed an intimate evening of food, drink and lively discussion. Our featured speaker, David Lat (lawyer, author, legal commentator, and founder/managing editor of Above the Law) shared his valuable insights. Other attendees included current NFALA president Jhanice Domingo, NFALA immediate past president Rudy Figueroa, and chair of the NFALA IHC Affinity Network, June Casalmir, to name a few.

Many thanks to the following event sponsors:Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

FALA New YorkHerbert Smith FreehillsElaine M. Calderon, Esq.

Archer Law

NORTHERN CAREGION

CENTRALREGION

FALA Chicago 2017 Installation Ceremonyand Reception (March 14)

FALA Chicago co-sponsored public program, “Investing for Your Future: How to Invest Wisely

and Avoid Investment Scams,” featuring Hon. Emilio B. Aquino, Commissioner of the

Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (April 12)

Upcoming: 37th Annual FBANC Installation Banquet (June 22)

UPCOMING NFALA EVENTS

On May 1, NFALA’s In-House Counsel and Partners Affinity Networks held their first joint career development webcast, “Strutting Down Main Street: Fil-Am Lawyers Hit Their Strides,” which featured accomplished in-house counsel and private practitioners sharing their remarkable journeys to reaching career milestones. The panel was moderated by NFALA Central Regional Governor Kristy Gonowon (Attorney, Allstate Insurance Company) and also included Marcelo N. Corpuz III (Director and Assistant General Counsel, DaVita, Inc.), Julia E. Markley (Partner, Perkins Coie LLP), Christine A. Pompa (Senior Counsel – Patents, The Kraft Heinz Company), and Will Sylianteng (Principal and Managing Partner, WES Litigation Group).

SAVE THE DATE:NFALA @ NAPABA 2017

#NFALAPRIDE

Capt. Benes Z. Aldana, chief trial judge of the U.S. Coast Guard, was installed as president of The National Judicial College on May 1. Capt. Aldana holds the distinction of being the first Asian American leader of the NJC, which bills itself as the nation’s leading provider of judicial education since 1963.

Cherish Dela Cruz, president-elect of the Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association (GAPABA) and founding member of the Georgia Filipino-American Bar (GFAB), was named to the 2017 Georgia Asian Times “Most Influential Asian Americans in Georgia” list, which was published on April 30.

SOUTHERN & CENTRAL CA

REGION

FLOC MCLE Cruise, Long Beach to Ensenada, Mexico (May 5-8)

PABA Spring Social (April 11)

Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego/Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego

39th Annual Installation Dinner (January 26)

Sponsorship opportunities available!Click Here for more info.

FALA New York president Connie Montoya received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association at Brooklyn Law School on April 7.

On April 6, FALA Chicago presented a 2017 Vanguard Award to founding board member Michael Aguhar. The annual Vanguard Awards is organized by the Chicago Bar Association to recognize the work of attorneys and institutions in advancing a more inclusive and accessible justice system. Aguhar is the executive director of the Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment (AFIRE), a grassroots non-profit dedicated to promoting social, racial, and economic justice in the Filipino community and beyond.

FALA Chicago vice-president Winnalynn Kantaris was honored on March 31 with the biennial APALSA Alumni Award from the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association at Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

An interview with Heidi Hennig Rowe of FALA Chicago was the cover story for the January 2017 issue of Leading Lawyers. The in-depth profile gave an account of the personal and professional journey that led to Heidi’s current success as a partner in the nationally renowned construction law practice.

On January 9, Michael Santos of FALA DC was profiled on Above the Law, where he dis-cussed his career path as a public interest attorney and current position at the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty.

Rachel See, Branch Chief of E-Litigation at the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, D.C., was named to LGBTQ Nation’s list of “top 50 successful transgender Americans you should know” in January and elected board chair of the National Center for Transgender Equality the following month.

Congratulations to the following attorneys named to the annual list of Super Lawyers & Rising Stars!

Georgia:Bryan Ramos

Illinois:Marjorie Baltazar

Anna Sutti

New Jersey:Jhanice V. Domingo

San Diego:Melissa Deleon

Valerie Garcia HongGrace TenorioJonah Toleno

Longtime Philippine American Bar Association leader José (“Joe”) Lauchengco, Jr. passed away on March 27 at the age of 80. A former member of PABA’s board of governors, Lauchengco practiced criminal defense for over four decades and served as counsel to the Philippine Presidential Commission on Good Government, which in 1986 fought to recover U.S.-based assets from deposed President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda.

AFFILIATE SPOTLIGHT

WHAT'S THE LATEST BUZZ WITH...

AIRPORT TRIAGE

As travelers immediately began feeling the impacts of the January 27, 2017 executive order on refugees and immigrants, attorneys descended on airports across the country to provide volunteer legal assistance.

Members of FALA New York were among those lawyers who answered the call, staffing makeshift legal clinics at Newark and JFK International Airports.

Balitang America visited those attorneys who were provid-ing pro bono services on site. Among those interviewed by

the Fil-Am cable news show were FALA New York president Connie Montoya and immediate past president Rio Guerrero, as well as NFALA president Jhanice V. Domingo: http://www.balitangamerica.tv/fil-am-lawyers-oppose-act-upon-travel-ban. Other volunteers included: Amanda Bernardo, Elaine Calderon, June Casalmir, Anna Mercado Clark, Jenny Pelaez, Robin Mangaser Tizon, and Rose Cuison Villazor.

IN MEMORIAM

Former Hawaii State Supreme Court Associate Justice Mario R. Ramil passed away on January 30 at the age of 70. In a statement issued by Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, Justice Ramil was hailed as “a true public servant” who will be “remembered with distinction for being the second Filipino American in Hawaii to be appointed as a Hawaii Supreme Court Justice.”

On February 16, FALA New York co-sponsored the “Path to the Bench” event featuring Judge Denny Chin of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, while on March 16 it participated in AABANY’s program, “Sign of the Times: What’s at Stake for LGBT Asians and South Asians.” Connie Montoya moderated the panel of experts and advocates who spoke on executive orders and anticipated policy proposals impacting the LGBT Asian American and South Asian community.

On March 31, Prof. Rose Cuison Villazor served as a guest panelist at the Pilipino American Unity for Progress (UniPro) Know Your Rights Workshop. Prof. Cuison Villazor spoke about how the Trump administra-tion’s actions impact immigrant communities. On May 11, FALA New York held a CLE program on caregiver employment rights, discussing the legal protections available for primary caregivers and expectant mothers on the state and federal level.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

On February 14, FALA New York conducted a lunchtime webinar on President Trump’s executive orders on immigration with the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) to discuss how the orders affect the immigrant community and the practice of immigration law. Rio Guerrero was a speaker and Amanda Bernardo served as moderator. Amanda also spoke on a February 24 CLE panel co-hosted with the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY) on the topic, “Writ of Habeas Corpus Training & Immigrant Detention.” Held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, the event was attended by over 100 attorneys and concerned community members.

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP & MENTORING

On March 17, FALA New York met with New York’s Philippine Consul General Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega to discuss the increasing role FALA New York will play in advocacy efforts for the Filipino American community. Amanda Bernardo, Elaine Calderon, Rio Guerrero, Connie Montoya, Vincent Roldan, Robin Mangaser Tizon, and Noel Vales attended. Upon the Consul General’s invitation, Elaine Calderon, Maria Celis, Anna Mercado Clark, and Connie Montoya met with a special delegation of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, including retired Philippine Supreme Court Justices and the current Philippine Minister of Justice.

On April 19, FALA New York concluded another successful term of the Legal Advocate Mentorship Project (LAMP) with the LAMP Closing Ceremony, held in Judge Lorna Schofield’s chambers.

IN THE COMMUNITY

NAPABA CONVENTION 2017(WASHINGTON, D.C.)

For more information, please click on the image above.

SPONSORS

PLATINUM

Save The DateNovember 2-5, 2017

GOLD

BRONZE

Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey

Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C.

Filipino American Lawyers Association of San Diego

Herbert Smith Freehills New York LLP

Jackson Lewis LLP

Meyers Nave

Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group

SILVER

NFALA LEADERSHIP

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

President | JHANICE V. DOMINGO

President-Elect | DAVID MESA

Vice-President for Programs & Operations | ERIC DE LOS SANTOS

Vice-President for Membership | JANICE JABIDO

Vice-President for Communications | MARK CALAGUAS

Treasurer | MARK PUNZALAN

Secretary | JERI GONZALES ABRAMS

Immediate Past President | RUDY FIGUEROA

2016 - 2017 Board of Governors

REGIONAL GOVERNORS

Northeast Region | ALLISON ALCASABAS

Northwest Region | JOHN LANEY

Southeast Region | GAGE JAVIER

Southwest Region | CHRISTINE CHANGHO BRUNEAU

Central Region | KRISTY GONOWON

Northern California Region | VANESSA CANDELARIA

Southern and Central California Region | MELISSA DELEON

Eastern California Region | EMMANUEL SALAZAR

AT-LARGE TRUSTEES

BILLY CHAN | CHRIS JAVILLONAR | VINCENT ROLDAN | RAY SAGUN

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Advocacy Committee | FRANCIS YU

Awards and Endorsements Committee | BENJAMIN REYES III

Communications Committee | GINO BARRICA

Finance Committee | VINCENT ROLDAN

Membership Committee | CHERISSE CLEOFE & BRYAN RAMOS

Nominations and Elections Committee | DAVID MESA

Annual Convention Steering Committee | GAGE JAVIER & CHERYLYN ESOY MIZZO

Mid-Year Meeting Steering Committee | ERIC DE LOS SANTOS

In-House Counsel Network | JUNE CASALMIR

Law Firm Partners Network | PHIL BAUTISTA

Women Lawyers Network | JENNIFER CRUZ & ROSE CUISON VILLAZOR

Young Lawyers Network | CAMILLE MANGANA KILMARTIN & ROBIN MANGASER TIZON

CONTACT US

WEBSITE | NFALA.COM

EMAIL | nfala info@gmai l .com