Our Mission
We commit ourselves to deep and liberating solidarity relationships amongst Filipinos, Filipino-Americans, and people of different cultures, and among progressive organizations and people in the Philippines in their struggle for justice, peace, human rights, and integrity of creation.
Our Vision
We envision a people dynamically integrated in the US Church and society united with the people of the Philippines for the event of God's Reign.
Who We Are
It is a venue for continuing dialogue of life that leads to a shared theological perspective, common decision, and coordinated courses of action as we accompany our "kababayan" (compatriots) in their struggle for their rights and welfare locally, nationally, and internationally.
As a forum, NEFFCON-IE envisions the following: Coming and learning together of different faith-based solidarity groups for Philippine concerns. It is Ecumenical in the pristine sense of the word: “to take care of the inhabited earth” together. (Matthew 24:14). Engaging people of faith in the United States in a continuing dialogue on historical and current issues primarily of the Filipino people in the Philippines, as well as, of the Filipino communities in the US.
The dialogues shall take place wherever there are three or more who share a common passion for life, who seek a common God that is truly alive and compassionate, and who strive to be on the side of what is true and what is just.
The dialogues shall flow into shared perspectives, decisions, and coordinated actions which will deepen and direct continuing engagements in the Filipino peoples’ struggle for justice, peace, and integrity of creation.
NEFFCON-IE’s form of organization shall be flexible in that it shall reflect the level of unities of members on the Forum’s purposes and shall continually evolve a form that best serves said purposes. Some examples of forms are organizing committees, working groups, and solidarity groups on workers’ issues and struggles, on domestic workers and caregivers, on immigration and refugee issues, and on the peace process.
Purpose
1
Bring out the concerns of the Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in the Inland Empire before the churches in the US and society at large.
2
Bridge the national and democratic struggles of Filipinos in the Philippines and the goodwill and sense of justice and integrity of creation.
3
Bring these domestic, national, and international concerns before the US Church and US legislative bodies for positive action.
Goals & Objectives
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Southern California10950 Arrow Route #1182Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91729 +1(951) 529-1766 contact@neffconie.org
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3. To set up communication networks among people of faitha) Build and maintain NEFFCON-IE website b) Follow Social Media Guidelines and ensure compliance with NEFFCON-IE nonprofit status c) Tap appropriate social media platform
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1. To help educate the US Church and US society on the shared concerns for concrete issues of justice, peace, human rights, and integrity of creation.a) organize people to people solidarity programs and actions, and b) coordinate ecumenical/religious and civic activities (such as medical missions, monthly reflections) and advocacies (including prayer vigils/mobilizations) on Filipino concerns.
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4. To solicit funds for the various activities that NEFFCON-IE will undertake in fulfillment of its mission and its purpose.a) actively pursue funding sources and donors b) launch annual major fundraising drive and solicit monetary and non-monetary donation for various activities of NEFFCON-IE c) Follow the IRS Guidelines in compliance with 501(c)(3) nonprofit status
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2. To work towards forming a united people among Filipino communities:a) Build coalitions/alliances among Filipino communities and individuals. b) Propagate Christian teachings that all are parts of the Body of Christ, and must act, according to their concrete respective roles in the life of the whole living body.
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Social Services & WelfareThe FAQ title can be adjusted in the settings tab of the App Settings. You can also remove the title by unchecking its checkbox in the settings tab.
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Culture, Arts, & Communication"Lorem Ipsum
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Standing Committees
Members of all Standing Committees shall be among the approved members of NEFFCON-IE. Each committee shall meet to efficiently implement the initiatives, programs, and activities of NEFFCON-IE.
Cultural, Arts, & Communication Committee
1. Creates, maintains, and updates NEFFCON-IE's social media account as approved by the Board of Directors; and ensure compliance with the rules and regulations related to social media.
2. Creates cultural presentations depicting the history, culture, migration, and struggles of the Filipino people.
3. Provides the music during prayer service and NEFFCON-IE gatherings in collaboration with other committees.
What We Have Done
NEFFCON-IE is achieving more with our initiatives than ever before. We work on many exciting projects to help improve the lives of others, and are very proud of the progress we continue to make. Meaningful work and Unforgetable experience.
• Held 5th General Assembly on April 23, with Rev. Fr. Danny Pilario, CM, PhD, STD (2021-22 Vincentian Chair of Social Justice), speaking on Faith, Truth and Politics and Mr. Jose Enrique "Sonny" A. Africa, Executive Director of IBON Foundation, sharing the Philippine Situation — providing updates on the current socio-economic and political situation in the Philippines, as well as the relevance of the upcoming Philippine Presidential elections in May 2022
•During the 2nd quarter of 2022, collaborated with other local affiliates of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) Southern California, planned, organized, and mobilized network of contacts to participate in the "Lakad 5K For Bayanihan" walkathon in Long Beach, to provide financial assistance to the Lumad
•Participated AB 1766 on August 5 at Press Conference held at Pasadena Job Center, hosted by California Immigrant Policy Center and Asian American Advancing Justice to allow issuance of CA ID to all Californians regardless of immigration status; AB1766 signed by Gov. Newome on September 27
•Welcomed interested individuals and new members to a Meet and Greet on October 29 at St. George, Ontario
•Shared the successes, challenges, and needs of the Filipino community in the Listening Session conducted by the CA Commission on Asian & Pacific Islander hosted by the Asian American Task Force (AATF) on November 15 at the Riverside University Health System -Behavioral Health Conference Center.
•On November 17, PAIS-IE Consultant Fr. Benjamin E. Alforque, MSC, and NEFFCON-IE Chairperson Naida Castro were interviewed by WordNet Productions Executive Director Rev. Fr. Sony Sebastian, SVD on the programs of PAIS-IE in strengthening the American identity as a multi-cultural and intercultural community rooted in the richness of the indigenous cultures and histories of its diverse peoples.
•On December 3, 2022, PAIS-IE Workgroup conducted Student and Instructor Orientations in preparation for the Transitional Phase of PAIS-IE — Fall 2022 Immersion funded by TCE from November 18 -20 at Divine Word Retreat Center; 45 participants representing the multicultural and intercultural communities in the IE, including but not limited to, Filipino, Indigenous, Native American, Latinix, Mexican, African/Black, European, Indian, Indonesian, as well as those with disabilities. As Keynote Speaker Catholic Diocese Bishop Emeritus Gerald Barnes, DD, shared his own exposure and personal experience in transforming the Diocesan Pastoral Center to be inclusive of all cultures and ethnicities — a message well-received and experienced by PAIS-IE learners.
•Collaborated and participated in NAFCON 2022 Conference and General Assembly in Los Angeles held during the first weekend in November, where over 200 young people from all over the United States gathered to the theme "Umahon at Magpunyagi: Together We Rise & Overcome Adversities." On December 3 commemorated the 74th Anniversary of the United Nations' Declaration of Human Rights with speaker from the Philippines, Jigs Clamor (Deputy Secretary General of KARAPATAN, Philippines), speaker from Palm Springs, Edwin Ramoran (Human Rights Commissioner of Palm Springs, CA), and international speaker Rev. Fr. Benjamin "Ben" E. Alforque, MSC, (founding member of KARAPATAN, a human rights group).
• Issued a statement in solidarity with the Lumads (Indigenous people) when 26 community members comprising of minor students, teachers, and local leaders were violently taken by Philippine Police and military from the Indigenous/Lumad Bakwit/Evacuation School in the University of San Carlos, Cebu City in February
• March 27 - Inland Empire and in solidarity with STOP AAPI HATE, joined The Inland Empire STOP AAPI HATE RALLY held in downtown Riverside;
• April 22 - Congress passed an anti-Asian Hate Crimes Bill to Denounce discrimination against Asian Communities.
• June to October - We have been involved with the Brown & black Redistricting Alliance in writing, developing, and configuring Communities of Interest (COI) testimonies/maps, as well as participating in the development of VRA (Voting Rights Act) compliant maps in the Congressional, State Senate, State Assembly, Supervisorial District and City wards for submission to the California Citizen Redistricting Commission and the Riverside and San Bernardino Counties Board of Supervisors.
• September 14 - California Gubernatorial Recall Election, we conducted outreach (vote safe) campaigns to the Asian and Hispanic/Latinx communities in the inland empire urging voters to participate and vote.
• Organizationally committed to outreach to the Filipino community and other hard-to-count groups to promote participation in CENSUS 2020 count
• Initiated/attended over 40 small group meetings (prior to covid-19 restrictions) among Filipinos, Latinos, Indonesians, Samoans, Vietnamese, African-Americans, seniors, and people with disabilities
• Organized Trusted messenger Training sessions and recruited 50 Census Champions, collected Census pledge cards, posted Census 2020 educational videos on the Facebook page
• Submitted/published 3 op-ed articles to the Asian Journal detailing the importance of Census 2020 to the lives of Filipinos in the Inland Empire; and
• Collaborated with the Diocese of San Bernardino and other community-based organizations encouraging online completion of Census count
•Issued a Solidarity Statement condemning the arrest of Fr. Art Balagat (former Director of FILMIN-DSB) and peace consultant Renante Gamara by the Philippine military.
•Attended the National Summit of Human Rights and Democracy in the Philippines in Washington D.C. (attended by over 350 delegates) and met Alabama Congressional Representative Martha Roby.
•Organized thanksgiving dinner, and dance celebrating the 35th Sacerdotal Anniversary of Fr. Antonio G. Abuan, Ms, and the 40th Sacerdotal Anniversary of Fr. Benjamin E. Alforque, MSC.
•Attended the Parish Ambassadors Solidarity Training (sponsored by the Global Solidarity Committee, Diocese of San Bernardino, and Catholic Relief Services) at St. Catherine of Alexandria, in Riverside.
•Participated in the PSONA (People’s State of the Nation) mobilization in front of the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles.
•Attended the "Compassionate Not Cages” mobilization in front of the Adelanto Detention Center (organized by CHIRLA – Coalition for Human Rights).
•Joined Social Justice leaders in a meeting with Congressional Representatives Mark Takano (Riverside) and Tim Aguilar (San Bernardino) advocating support for anti-poverty programs of the Catholic Church
•Had Congressional Rep. visit with Pete Aguilar sharing human rights situation in the Philippines.
• Held musical fundraising event “Asin ng Lupa” for Lumad “Save Our Schools Campaign”
Issued Solidarity Statement condemning brutal killings of 3 Catholic priest in the Philippines (Frs. Tito Paez, Mark Ventura and Richmond Nilo) and held Memorial Mass at St. George Catholic Church (Fontana)
• Held fundraising event and donated proceeds to Filipino Migrant Center (Long Beach)
• Held Memorial Mass for the 9 sugar farmers massacred in hacienda Nene, Barangay Bulanon, Negros Occidental on October 20
• Organized reflection/sharing commemorating Human Rights Day
• Conducted presentation of Peace Talks in the Philippines (GRP and NDF)
• Collected and donated to Salugpongan International
• Participated in the Lakad 5K for Peace
• Formal launching of NEFFCON-IE
• Issued statement condemning police brutality and aggression against the Lumads (Indigenous people of the Philippines) and Moro people
• Fund-raising Christmas celebration of Prayer
Food and Caroling for medical mission to Philippines for cholera victims