FYLPRO Elections 2022

• Nov. 30: Deadline to become active members
Only active members can run for office and vote in the coming election.

• Dec. 1-14: Candidate filing and campaign period

• Dec. 8 - Candidates Info Session

• Dec. 14 - Candidates Town Hall and FYLPRO General Membership Meeting

• Dec. 15-16: Election days

• Dec 17-18: Appeals (Dec 17 is also FYLPRO's Christmas Party!)

• Dec 19: Announcement

Elections Committee
Kit Z. Furukawa, Chair
Leezel Tanglao
JP Ferrer

Email elections@fylpro.org

CANDIDATE INFORMATION

Below are unedited submissions from the candidates. 

Director, 2-year term

Daniel ‘Dan’ Galeon, Montvale, NJ

Resilient and Mission-Driven. As a Delegate for the most recent batch, I bring forth a renewed perspective coupled with my 15+ years of professional and community leadership, having served on a number of both Fil-Am and education organizations. My upbringing, low socioeconomic background, motivates me to continue to use my platform to uplift and reach those who may not be familiar with FYLPRO and it’s benefits.

LinkedIn: www.LinkedIn.com/dgaleon4

Treasurer, 2-year term

Sabrina Alexis D. Sayoc, Philadelphia, PA

To say I'm passionate about my Philippine culture and community is a growing understatement that I've loved embracing through FYLPRO. I made the promise when I was elected to serve and empower this community just as FYLPRO has done for me, and I'm extremely proud to have done that over this past year as a Director. I had the honor and privilege of co-organizing our 10th Anniversary event in Washington DC, representing FYLPRO at the ACENextGen Unity Conference in Chicago, and learning API nonprofit best practices through the NODE Institute in Denver. I've worked to increase our outreach and membership, hosted a tote bag fundraiser, and continued to build our community bridges.

I spend my days in scientific workforce solutions as a Sr. Corporate Recruiter and as Chair of my company's Asian & Pacific Islander ERG. I'm also completing my dual MBA and MS Business Analytics degree, where I serve as VP of our Business Analytics Association and as a 2022 Featured Student for Poets&Quants. What I'll bring to FYLPRO as a Director is my continued to commitment to equity and accessibility, my analytical expertise and data-driven approach, my professional network within workforce solutions, and my drive to continue learning to ensure that I can best support you. I'm eager to further develop/spotlight FYLPRO's potential and would be honored to be re-elected. Salamat po!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinasayoc/

 

Director, 2-year term

Agnes Lopez, Florida

Agnes Lopez is a Filipino-American editorial and commercial photographer whose work has been featured in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, MIT Technology Review, The Local Palate, on the Food Network, in cookbooks, and advertising campaigns for national brands. For the past five years, Lopez has been hard at work directing her first documentary, JAX Filipino Chefs, following the journey of a group of Filipino-American chefs as they set out to change the culinary scene of her hometown of Jacksonville, Florida with their food. Her portraits of Filipino World War II veterans and Holocaust survivors, The Faces to Remember Project, is a traveling exhibit that has been featured at galleries and museums across Florida. Lopez recently launched a new talent agency, Pose Well Models, that focuses on providing a diverse and inclusive roster of models for today’s brands and ad campaigns.

I am running to serve on the board because I am so grateful to be a part of the FYLPRO Alumni and I would like the opportunity to give back. I am dedicated to sharing our Filipino-American stories through my various photography and film projects and would like to continue to serve our future generations. I hope to strengthen the FYLPRO outreach and give a unique perspective as a representative of Filipino-Americans in Florida and the southeast. I have been recognized in the Jacksonville, Florida area as a business leader in the arts community and bring a strong marketing background.

https://www.agneslopez.com

https://www.posewellmodels.com

Director, 2-year term

Bryan Ramos, Atlanta

As a returning FYLPRO Director, I offer working knowledge of the organization and can further the mission of FYLPRO. As an experienced attorney, I was able to assist in the drafting of the FYLPRO bylaws and provided sound legal advice throughout my tenor as a member of the Board. I also provided needed regional representation. Within the Filipino community, I have served on the executive boards of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA) and continue to be active within the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FILVETREP) as Director of the Southeast Region. I also served as the general counsel for the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) for many years.

Within the AAPI community, I have served as a member of the Board of Asians Americans Advancing Justice in Atlanta. Currently, I serve as the executive secretary for the Georgia Advisory to the United States Commission on Civil Rights and serve as the managing partner of the law firm of Ramos & Law.

ramoslawfirm.com

Secretary

Chachie Abara, Ewa Beach, Hawaii

Maria Cristina Chachie Abara is a 1.5 Filipino American. Daughter, Sister and Scholarly Activist, She graduated with degrees in Psychology and Philippine Studies with concentration in Ilokano Studies from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. She has developed two passion projects of hers that manifested in the last year which is her podcast and educational platform account.

Her podcast entitled, previously named, “Kasamahan Co.” to KasamahanCo is about stories of Filipinos in Hawai’i and curating the oral history of people from her age, and those older to document many of their experiences. Aside from her podcast, she works on creating content that showcases the Ilokano language and culture with her colleagues to keep that language from going extinct.

Chachie also advocates for the Filipino community in terms of mental health and for representation in terms of breaking taboo topics that are not as talked about into our own household. With her background in Psychology and Philippine studies, she hoped to manifest building a media revolution using her passion project to start a company that focuses on creating films, skits, and series that helps kickstart critical dialogue and conversation.

I want to serve on the board because as someone who is young and who advocates for her community I feel that I am fully equip to share my ideas to the table.

Director, 2-year term

Constancio Paranal III, Honolulu, Hawaii

Aloha and Mabuhay. My name is Constancio Paranal III and I am running for the opportunity to serve as a Board of Director for a 2 year term. I have been a follower and supporter of FYLPRO since 2017. I witnessed its growth under the leadership of past officers and directors, how it pivoted during the pandemic, and the various programs it institutionalized. I always believed in the mission and purpose of the organization, and I would like to see it flourish so it may transform more lives, the same way it has transformed mine.

On a broader scope, I would like to serve the board as part of my commitment to the organization and provide a unique perspective given my broad experience and skills. My background in private and public practice could enable new avenues and possibilities for FYLPRO. More specifically, I would like to create training programs to build the pipeline for Filipino-American leaders in government, business, and technology spaces.

I was unofficially accepted to the FYLPRO ohana years before I became an official part of Batch 9. The acceptance and trust came from past leadership and community; I carry that respect, admiration, and reverence with me. There is no other agenda but to help and commit to what I promised from the very beginning.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/constancio-paranal-iii-1101b320/

Director, 2-year term

GENEVIEVE JOPANDA, San Francisco

I have been following FYLPRO and its mission since its inception in 2012 under the leadership of Ambassador Cuisia. It was a great honor to participate and have been selected as a member of this year's 2022 cohort.

The recent immersion trip surfaced many discoveries for myself and increased my passion for engaging Filipinos in the diaspora towards elevating the relationship and partnership between the U.S. and Philippines. I bring to FYLPRO 20 years of capacity building and organizing experience in the Filipino Community most recently serving as the Board Chair for Westbay Pilipino Multi-Service Center where we garnered $9Million in capital towards the purchase of Westbay's new permanent home in the Filipino Heritage District of San Francisco.

In an official capacity, I carry over 25 years of operations and organizational leadership experience across corporate, non-profit, and government sectors. Additionally, I served as staff jockey to Assembly Bill 199 that was chaptered in 2012 which implements the stories and contributions of Filipinos during WWII into American History books.

I am running for FYLPRO board because the sustainability of FYLPRO and its mission is vital to the education and preservation of our rich culture and the many contributions of our people.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gvjopanda/

Executive Vice President

Mark Calaguas, Chicago IL

 

 

 

Mark Calaguas is an attorney practicing at the intersection of law and technology, with interdisciplinary experience in non-profit leadership and public service. As a candidate for FYLPRO’s first-ever executive vice president, Mark brings almost a decade’s worth of pertinent skill sets to the position. Mark is immediate past president of the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Chicago and a founding board member of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association, where he has served as VP for Membership, VP for Communications, Central Regional Governor, and At-Large Trustee. Additionally, he is a federal appointee on the Illinois State Advisory Committee of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and presides as board chair of the Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment. A proud alum of FYLPRO Batch 5, Mark helped launch Tayo in 2020 and currently provides legal and strategic support to the project as it expands from a COVID-19 help desk into an innovative data hub that publishes relevant insights about the Fil Am community. Having just completed a term on FYLPRO’s board of directors, Mark looks forward to building off present institutional knowledge to continue developing a solid and sustainable infrastructure for the organization through the newly created EVP role.

  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-j-calaguas

MEDIA APPEARANCES:

Director, 1-year term

Joshua Ang Price, Little Rock, Arkansas

Joshua Ang Price is the Deputy Director of Arkansas United, an immigrant rights advocacy group. Josh served with the federal government for nearly ten years, including the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Joshua is also the founding president of the AAPI Democratic Caucus of Arkansas.

Josh is a former two-term Election Commissioner and former candidate for Arkansas Secretary of State, earning 42% of the vote. For his work in protecting voting rights, Josh won a 2021 TOFA and was recently inducted into the Knights of Rizal, the official Order of Chivalry of the Republic of the Philippines.

When Josh served as 2020 president of FYLPRO, the organization raised tens of thousands of dollars to purchase and distribute personal protective equipment (PPE), food, and toiletries to underserved Filipino communities in the Philippines and the U.S.

I believe Filipino culture is the most beautiful culture on earth. I want to serve on the board to support the new FYLPRO leadership, help the organization continue to grow, and empower our Fil-Am communities.

Director, 1-year term

Fred Docdocil, Carson, CA

A Planning Commissioner for the City of Carson, CA, Frederick Alain Docdocil is an active member of multiple organizations, including the Filipino Community of Carson (FCC), the UCI Filipino American Alumni Chapter, and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA). A passionate community leader, Fred is the President of the Philippine Independence Day Foundation, Inc. (PIDF); a Founding Board Member and President Emeritus of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of SouthBay Los Angeles Area (FACC-SLAA); the Vice President of Kagay-anons of Southern California (KSC); the Treasurer of the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO); an Executive Board Member for the Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce, Inc, (COFACC), and a Household Head & Speaker for Couples for Christ SoCal Chapter B-1 (CfC).

Professionally, Fred is the Mabuhay Branch and Business Development Coordinator for Mabuhay Credit Union, which is among the very first full-service Financial Institutions to specifically serve the FilAm and greater Community in Southern California and beyond with their financial services needs.

In addition to having been a proud recipient of the Top Outstanding Pilipino (TOP) award for Community Leadership, Fred has also been among the awardees for Outstanding Filipino Americans in the USA along with having been honored as FilAm of the Year by the FILAM - Filipino Influential Leaders And Mentors and being a 2022 Cohort for the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) Leadership Institute.

Personally, Fred is the oldest of Jose Emmanuel & Luz’ 6 children, has been married to his wife June Anne for the past 16 years, and they have 3 children together – Faith Anne (16 years old), Jedrick Alain (13 y.o.), and Franchesca Anne (5 y.o.)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/freddocdocil

https://linktr.ee/MabuhayCU

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=402021411817459

Director, 1-year term

Jean Gavina, Chicago, IL

A Schweitzer Fellow and Inspire grantee in 2022, Jean has contributed immensely in various 2021-2022 programs including TAYO (Covid Vaccine Clinic, Friends Make A Difference), FYLPROCon, FYLPRO Arts Fest and the USAI-FYLPRO Mentorship. She stepped up to take on an Officer position at a pivotal time in the organization as we aimed to build capacity and focus on operational efficiency for the sustainability of FYLPRO. On top of her function, she helped build template/processes for our annual elections, mentorship and strategic planning and continues to actively support various initiatives/events of the organization

Bio: Clinical Strategy Manager with a background in Health Administration and Nursing. Experience in strategy and operations, quality improvement and relationship development. Expertise with implementation of technology platforms and tools to support operations. Project management experience, program development and launch of new clinical programs.

Professional Business Resource Groups include BCBS's Asian American Business Resource Group, In-Abled Resource Group, Women Improving the Strength of the Enterprise, and Engaging Millennial Energy to Recognize Growth Enterprise wide . Community work involves Gawad Kalinga, LES-Live Every Second and Lions Club International

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-gavina-rn-ms-26781b206/ https://nursing.uic.edu/news-stories/3-students-selected-for-schweitzer-fellowship/

Director, 1-year term

Lou Ella Rose Cabalona, Chicago, IL

As a FYLPRO Director, I look to actively contribute and provide strategic direction in our organization's long term sustainability through RELEVANT PROGRAMS (immersion, Tayo, FYLPROCon, Mentorship) and OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE (annual budgets, fiscal reporting, Board retreats, legacy project tracking and support etc). Having served FYLPRO for a number of years, I also bring with me insights from our organizational history that can provide a guidance and experiential foundation in key decisions for our organization.

I am inspired by the next batch of FYLPRO leaders from Batch 9 with their breadth of expertise and their passion in serving the organization. I am looking forward to working with them and our past leaders in shaping the future of FYLPRO.

BIO: Lou Ella Rose Cabalona is an IT Professional with over 22 years of experience specializing in Business Intelligence and Big Data for various Fortune 500 companies. She was recently promoted to Data Delivery Lead for the Data & Analytics Solution - Enterprise Data Warehouse at Blue Cross Blue Shield Illinois (HCSC).

Louella is the Founder, Producer and lead singer of Filipino Folk fusion band SamaSama Project; and is also an accomplished actress who has been in television shows, commercials, and stage productions performing across Asia. Hailed as one of Chicago Cabaret’s Emerging Artists in 2022, she pays homage to her musical theater roots in Manila and her cultural heritage in every cabaret performance.

Her multiple careers, including being a writer for Chicago-based Via Times NewsMagazine, intersect at understanding truths through stories founded in facts and data. She fell in love with IT when she realized the power of SQL in telling stories.

As an inaugural delegate (2012) and Immediate Past President for the national nonprofit Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO), Louella leaned on her expertise to develop standardized operations, data collection and organizational documentation that help achieve the nonprofit’s strategic goals for sustainability. She currently serves as Director for FYLPRO, Asian Pop-Up Cinema, and the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Chicago (PACCGC), the League of Volunteers for relief Expeditions (L.O.V.E), and Committee Co-Chair for the Asian American BRG at HCSC.

With her extensive experience in Entertainment, Corporate America and in the nonprofit world, Louella also speaks on finding success as an immigrant minority woman in America. Of the many hats she wears, however, she finds being mama to her toddler Reign and life-long partner to husband Baron, most fulfilling.

www.linkedin.com/in/louellarosecabalona

https://fylpro.org/yearend2021/ https://www.asianpopupcinema.org/governing-board https://www.paccgc.com/team

 

 

The Elections Committee has established the following elections schedule and guidelines:

  • Nov. 30: Deadline to become active members

Anyone who has paid dues or has acquired active membership before Nov. 30 at 11:59 p.m. shall be considered “ACTIVE” members of the organization. Only active members can run for office or vote in the upcoming election.

Become a member, or renew your membership here

 

  • Dec. 1-14: Candidate filing period

Active members are allowed to NOMINATE individuals to run for open positions, provided they have clear consent from the candidate. Nominators will also serve as representatives of the candidate and will answer the questions on behalf of the candidate on the form. Self nomination is also allowed and encouraged.

Those interested in running for office - thank you!

Fill out this form to get in the ballot: https://forms.gle/P9yvP98SdtcxKzfr9

The Elections Committee will review the submissions as they come in. If the candidate is qualified and has submitted all the required documents, their name will be published on this page. The form will no longer accept responses on Dec. 8 midnight.

Important links to review:

  1. FYLPRO Bylaws
  2. Board Manual 
  3. Membership Handbook: (link coming soon)

 

  • Dec. 1-14: Campaign period

The campaign period is governed by the following guidelines:

  • Voters will only have TWO official venues to learn about the candidates - through the official page (this page!) at fylpro.org/elections, and at the Town Hall meeting. A recording of the Town Hall will also be available here for those who couldn’t make it.
  • Official FYLPRO social media accounts, including the affiliated Groups on Facebook shall not be used as a campaign venue, therefore campaigning is not allowed from the candidates on FYLPRO accounts. Only official elections announcements shall be posted during the period.
  • Candidates are allowed to utilize their own resources, such as personal social media accounts and websites to get creative for their campaign.
  • Candidates, or their representative, may email or text message FYLPRO members to campaign, but must do so only ONCE in the entire campaign period. Conversation threads obviously won’t violate this guideline, but the intent is not to bombard our members with multiple campaign messages during the period. Once from a candidate should be enough. Candidates are also responsible for their own contact “lists,” which must be collected lawfully.
  • Candidates who currently own a fylpro.org email address must refrain from using their official email for campaign purposes.
  • No monetary compensation or transactions must occur among the candidates and voters. 
  • All reports on violations shall be reviewed by the Elections Committee. The Committee shall determine the appropriate sanction for any violation or alternative action, such as disqualification. 

Best practice recommendations:

  • This official webpage can include campaign links from the candidates. Take advantage of this to possibly link to a Google slide or online-based presentation that you can update.
  • The Elections Committee allows for “updates” on candidates’ online profile until December 10. Just email elections@fylpro.org for your revisions and we will strive to be timely in updating the page. (Text Kit directly at (808) 291-9407)
  • The Elections Committee shall be referencing fylpro.org/elections in reminder membership emails leading to the Town Hall and dates of elections. 

 

  • Dec. 8 - Candidates Info Session

(Zoom link: Coming soon)If you are thinking about running for office to serve on the FYLPRO Board, but have questions on its requirements - let's answer all your questions during this info session. No prior experience is needed to serve on the board, just a desire to help FYLPRO advance its mission. What are the time requirements? What does Give-Get mean? What duties will I have as a board member? What are the risks involved?

 

  • Dec 14 - Candidates Town Hall and FYLPRO General Membership Meeting 

Zoom link: Coming soon

At the Candidates Town Hall, each candidate, categorized by the position they are running for, will randomly be given an opportunity to address the membership. The exact time allotted shall be determined later and will depend on the number of candidates. Candidates will be able to share their screen to share a presentation. Make it fun and creative!

The Town Hall is not a debate. There will be no questions entertained from the audience. Instead, the membership will be encouraged to reach out to the candidates directly. The Town Hall is an opportunity for the candidates to share their platform.

 

  • Election days: Dec 15 - 16

Elections shall be held online via platform called Election Runner. Codes shall be emailed to voters on Dec. 14 as a final reminder. Ballots may be cast beginning Dec. 15 at 8 a.m. EST, and shall close on Dec. 16 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Candidates receiving a majority of the votes shall be declared the winner.

TIE

In the event of a tie, (because this has happened before!) the Elections Committee shall convene the involved candidates to discuss and agree on a tie-breaker procedure. The three options are:

  1. Conduct special elections: This will be similar to a “recount” and the parties will rely on the voters changing their vote for a different outcome.
  2. Board Decision: The current sitting board will have a special meeting closed to the public (executive session) to decide on the result. If a candidate is a member of the board, they will be excused. 
  3. Coin Toss or Draw sticks: If the candidates agree to making a quick and hard decision, the Elections Committee will leave it to fate to decide with a coin toss or draw sticks, or similar.

 

  • Dec 19 Appeals and Announcement

The Elections Committee shall publish the results of the elections on Election Runner momentarily after the closing to inform the voters of the results. There shall be two days dedicated to appeals or questions from any candidate before an official announcement is sent out via email to the membership, and posted on official social media pages on Dec. 19.

The Elections Committee submits a report to the Board and adjourns.

Board Structure for 2023-2024: 17 members

Staying on BOD:

  1. President Leezel Tanglao - Term expires 2023
  2. Vice President JP Ferrer - Term expires 2023
  3. Ex-officio from Ayala (currently Joann Duarte)
  4. Ex officio from DFA (Mark Lim)

 

Positions open: (refer to bylaws for descriptions)

2-year term - expires Dec 2024 

  1. Executive Vice President
  2. Secretary
  3. Treasurer

Directors:

1-year term - expires Dec 2023

  1. position open
  2. position open
  3. position open
  4. position open
  5. position open

2 year term - expires Dec 2024

  1. position open
  2. position open
  3. position open
  4. position open
  5. position open

 

Expectations serving on the FYLPRO Board?
As a member of the Board of Directors, you will work with the FYLPRO Executive Committee led by the President in deciding and executing on the overall strategic direction, fiscal health (including Give-Get responsibilities) and future projects of the organization.

Purpose: The Board of Directors provides strategic leadership, governance, establishes policy, oversees the operations and financial performance of FYLPRO's and assesses the Board’s own effectiveness. Our Board Members will serve on several committees, including:

  • Executive
  • Finance & Audit
  • Marketing & Communications
  • Fundraising & Development
  • Governance and Legal (ByLaws and Elections)
  • Program & Events
  • Technology

Expectations when attending a meeting:

  • Be well informed on issues and agenda items in advance of meetings
  • Contribute skills, knowledge and experience when appropriate
  • Listen respectfully to other points of view
  • Participate in organizational decision-making
  • Financially support the organization
  • Assume leadership roles in all board activities, including fundraising
  • Represent the organization to the public and private industry
  • Educate yourself about the needs of the people served (general membership)
  • Remain informed about the organization
  • Know the organization’s history, mission and goals

Requirements and Qualifications:

  • A minimum of 10 hours a month
  • Board member individual Give-Get minimum: $1000 (50% in-kind is OK)
  • Personal commitment to devote the time necessary to perform the responsibilities of a Board member
  • Strong communication and collaborative skills
  • Previous non-profit board experience is an asset

Compensation: Board Members work voluntarily without any compensation.

The organization’s guiding principles include:

  • Integrity – Accountability, Preservation of History, Leadership, Pride in Being Filipino
  • Innovation – Data-driven, Creativity
  • Inclusivity – Compassion, Collaboration, Kapwa, Bayanihan

Our core purpose - reasons why we do what we do:

  • Bridge connection between Filipinos and Fil-Am issues
  • Representation in numbers and credibility
  • To discover, design and define the Filipino brand

We aim to:

  • Capture and magnify the voice of the Filipino youth community in the US (ages 40 & under)
  • Preserve the Filipino culture, customs, and values
  • Build empathy towards Filipino community both in the Philippines and the US
  • Maintain grassroots and non-partisan approach of working locally in the fields of: arts/culture, business, design, education, engineering, finance, government, medicine, policy, and technology that will have an impact nationally and globally
  • Continue and strengthen the dialogue with the highest officials and policymakers in the Philippines and US, leaders of industry, media, artists and cultural experts, and entrepreneurs.