PACC TEXAS EARNED “CHAMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD” IN 2015

BY THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF CHAMBERS

DETAILED SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF PACC TEXAS

1. Tulong sa Bayan (Humanitarian Aid to the Philippines) Organized Humanitarian Medical Missions in the wake of Typhoons Ondoy and Sendong and treated record 1,641 medical and dental patients in one day. (Taytay, Rizal; Santa Cruz, Laguna, Ibaan, Batangas)

n Rapid Response to Ondoy, Sendong, Pablo, Haiyan and Glenda disasters with donations of cash, clothes, medicine and 100 new wheelchairs in partnership with OWI. Texas-led national initiatives that PACC created or actively supported have raised approximately $1 million (P43 million) in donations, more than half raised in Texas, which were sent directly to the victims and partner NGOs on the ground. Just the work with the Vietnamese communities in Dallas and Houston alone has raised more than $600K. Conduit recipients included the Philippine National Red Cross, Gawad Kalinga, One World Institute, ICCP Foundation, ABS-CBN Foundation, LBC Foundation and the Dioceses of the eastern Visayas provinces strongly hit by Typhoon Haiyan. Most recent initiatives of PACC Texas are now shifting to Luzon that was just hit by a strong typhoon Glenda. Will personally visit the destroyed villages next month and plan a support strategy on behalf of the Fil-Am Chambers.

Adopted the Hilantaga-an island in northern Cebu for immediate repair of fishing boats, houses, water pump and big electric generator, and a full year of reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in partnership with the 7,000 residents of the island.

Adopted several deserving NGOs in the Philippines and gave them sustained support, including “Tahanang Walang Hagdan, a sanctuary for indigent paraplegic Filipinos; the Boys Reformatory School in Tanay, Rizal, and the Golden Acres (sanctuary for abandoned seniors); One World Institute in the hinterlands of Mindanao, and ICCP Foundation – PACC’s partner in adopting a neglected island in northern Cebu for repair and rehabilitation of their fishing industry, and one entire year of reconstruction.

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2. Kaanib ng Bayan sa Pagpapalago ng Ekonomiya at Kabuhayan (Partner in the Growth of Philippine Economy and Livelihoods)

Sponsored and organized two successful Trade and Investment Missions to the Philippines that together generated more than $50 million (P215 M) in annual new businesses for the delegates as well as for their new partners in the Philippines. Currently organizing a third Trade Mission to Region 3 (Central Luzon) on October 17-24, 2014, and a Humanitarian Mission to Leyte and Cebu in November 2014.

Sponsored, organized and funded the May 22-14, 2014 Philippine Investment Roadshow in the U.S. led by Ambassador H.E. Jose L. Cuisia Jr., Dr. Bernardo Villegas, Consul-General Leo Herrera-Lim and Trade Commissioner Jose Ma. Dinsay and Mr. Alfredo Austria.

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3. Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino sa America (Service to fellow Filipinos and

fellow Immigrants in America) Organized, funded and hosted the biggest-in-the-country Consular Outreach Programs in Dallas and Houston, attended by a total of more than 20,000 Filipinos from the entire state of Texas as well as neighboring states of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana and New Mexico. Over the last 7 years, saved these Filipinos a total of more than $13 million (P559 million) in travel costs by not having to fly to L.A. to renew passports, apply for Dual Citizenship, and to register for Absentee Voting privileges. According to the records of the consulates, PACC Texas-hosted and organized outreach projects broke all national records in turnout, and numbers of Absentee Voters registered, out of about 50 non-consulate cities served by DFA’s Consular Outreach Program. Texas was Number 1 in turnout six years in a row. Former Consul-General Mary Jo Aragon described the project as “community service at its finest.” Voted “Most Outstanding Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce in the U.S.” three years in a row. Actual statistics: 2008: Passports Processed – 1,210 Dual Citizens - 211 Other Consular Services- 108 OAV - TOTAL --1,529 2009: Passports – 3,640 Dual Citizens - 341 Other Consular Services - 253 OAV - 3,491 TOTAL – 7,725 2010: Passports – 1,642 Dual Citizens – 302 Other Consular Services - 103 OAV -- TOTAL – 2,047 2011: Passports - 945 Dual Citizens - 300 Other Consular Services - 131 OAV - 763 TOTAL – 2,139 2012: Passports – 2,049 Dual Citizens – 651 Other Consular Services - 341 OAV – 1,948 TOTAL – 4,989 2013: Passports – 1,758 Dual Citizens - 553 Other Consular Services - 340 OAV -- TOTAL – 2,651 2014: Passports - 959 Dual Citizens - 192 Other Consular Services - 208 OAV -- TOTAL – 1,359 TOTAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY PACC TEXAS THROUGH THE CONSULAR PROGRAM -- 22,439 Total Served

4. Kaanib ng Bansa sa Pakikibaka (One in Fighting for Sovereignty Rights) As the Texas affiliate of NaFFAA and USP4GG, PACC Texas organized and led successful rallies at the Chinese consulate in Houston Texas (and in front of Chinese Embassy in Makati, Philippines) to protest Chinese intrusions into Philippine territorial waters.

Joined national boycott of made-in-China products from 2012 to the present, organized by USP4GG.

Joined national simultaneous peace prayer rallies and candle-light vigils in 300 U.S., Canadian and other overseas cities, as active member and supporter of the USP4GG and NAFFAA.

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Active and sustained support of Texas-based “Dreamers” to prevent the young Filipinos’ deportation. Took the Dreamers’ cases to the Federal courts with the support of FALDEF and NAFFAA. Also gave temporal and spiritual support to Filipino victims of injustice, discrimination and crimes in the U.S., focusing on the Southwest U.S, where there is abundance of battered and abused Filipina mail-order brides. Also helping Filipinos who are in prison for unreasonable or unjustified causes. The 17-year-old Fil-Am student (photo below) has been in prison for two years and may face the death penalty. We are the only one visiting him in prison (400 miles away) continually working with, and supporting his lawyers to save his life.

5. Tulong sa Mahihirap na Ibang-Lahi (Help to Local Poor Communities)

Sponsored “Back-to-School” project in Houston, Texas that benefitted 7,200 school kids from poor families. Was main organizer and sponsor of the project with the support of the Mayor of Houston and the officials of the Houston Independent School District.

6. Tulong sa mga Kababayang Negosyante sa America Sponsored and organized numerous monthly entrepreneurship seminars in Dallas and Houston (30 ongoing development programs) for Chamber members and business associates on different topics dealing with:

A. Organizing and starting a small business.

B. Finding capital for your start-up small business.

C. Banking for small businesses and Personal Finance for business owners

D. Seminars on Small Business Administration (SBA) and State Agency Support for Small Businesses

E. Taxation panel forums consisting of private tax experts and IRS representatives

F. Immigration panel forums consisting of USCIS spokesmen and private immigration attorneys

G. Health and Safety – OSHA rules and regulations

H. Federal and State Laws on Payroll and Personnel

I. Employee Training and HR Development

J. Employee Health and Retirement Planning

K. Participation in Trade & Investment Missions to the Philippines

L. Hosting Incoming Investment and Outsourcing Missions from the Philippines

M. Showcasing PACC Members’ Products and Services

N. Recognizing Outstanding Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs

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7. Katulong sa Pagdiriwang ng 116th Anibersaryo ng Kalayaan ng Bansang Pilipinas

Actively participated in the Independence Day Fortnight Celebration in North and South Texas which included big community picnics, Santacruzan parades and formal Galas attended by city mayors and state representatives, as well as by the consuls-general of different countries.

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8. Kaanib sa Promosyon ng Turismo at Pangkalakalan - Bi-National Trade Missions

Drummed up interest and participation in the upcoming 9th Ambassadors, Consuls General and Tourism Directors’ Tour. Joined and supported the last several years’ Ambassadors and Consuls General and Tourism Directors Tour. According to the Midwest Tourism Director Vernie Morales, the numbers of Filipinos in Texas arriving in the Philippines as tourists are consistently one of the highest in the U.S. Organized successful Trade and Tourism missions to the Philippines in 2007, 2010 and 2014.