Announcements

• Classic 5K Race/Walk
  Sunday, September 19, 2010 @9AM
  Register Online Now!
  To Benefit the Queen of Peace Orphanage in the Philippines


• 2010 Annual FAAP Picnic - Cultural Awareness Day
  Saturday, July 10, 2010 @11am-6pm (Lunch will be served from 1pm-3pm)
  Vietnam Veterans Pavillion - Schenley Park, Pittsburgh
  View flyer for more information and contact person.


• "Araw ng Kalayaan" (Philippine Independence Day) Celebration and Open House Membership Drive.
  Saturday, June 12, 2010 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
  Homeville Christian Church Social Hall, 4702 Eliza St, West Mifflin, PA 15122


• May 8, 2010 Sat - 7th YFAP Biennial Benefit Concert, featuring the Fiesta Filipina Dance Troupe of Canada. Proceeds benefit the Philippine Nationality Room building fund and YFAP programs.


• March 1, 2010 Mon - Renew your annual FAAP membership by this date to keep your membership status and benefits for 2010. Download the renewal form here.


• Read more news and announcements at FAAP Balita and FAAP Community Bulletin


• View Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh Inc. portrait in The Pittsburgh Foundation to learn more about us and donate online here.

Recent Activities

• 02/21/10 YFAP Valentine's Party. See photos at FAAP Tambayan.
• 01/15/10 FAAP Dance Troupe performs at the University of Pittsburgh's Unity Week event
• 12/06/09 FAAP Dance Troupe performs at the Nationality Rooms Holiday Open House at the Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh
• 12/05/09 FAAP Annual Christmas Party 2009
• 11/21/09 FAAP Dance Troupe performs at the 2nd Annual Heritage Holidays 2009 at the History Center

A Message from the FAAP President

The growing Filipino American community is proud to take its place alongside the many ethnic groups that contribute to the richness and beauty of Pittsburgh. In 2000, the Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh, Inc. (FAAP) launched a project to construct the Philippine Nationality Room (PNR) at the University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning. The FAAP, with the support of its members, friends, other Filipino American regional leaders and various foundations, will build a classroom that will commemorates the history, culture, tradition, and the people of the Philippines. This will be a great addition to the existing 26 museum quality Nationality Rooms.

On behalf of FAAP, I express my appreciation to Warren Bulseco and the 2008 officers, committee chairs, and board members. I give credit as well to all the leaders and members of the former Samahang Pilipino ng Pittsburgh (SPNP) who worked so hard to create an organization that has lasted 52 years. The FAAP would surely not be here without them. Thus, I would like to appeal to each and everyone of you to participate and please get involved with the varied activities of our organization to ensure that it will continue to thrive.

Priorities for the next two years:

Philippine Nationality Room. The PNR is our top priority and we have to double our fundraising efforts in order to see the completion of this project. The PNR will be our lasting legacy to the Filipino people, the University of Pittsburgh, and the community at large. It will provide a sense of identity for our children and the generations to come

Philippine Center. The Center will establish a Filipino educational program that will provide participants ( Filipinos, Americans and other ethnic groups ) with a deeper understanding of the Philippines and its unique history, language, culture and traditions. We shall start with conversational Tagalog classes this year.

The Center will be the home of the FAAP Dance Troupe which is the artistic and cultural pride of the our organization. Our heartfelt thanks and gratitude go to the long line of talented and dedicated dance instructors over the years. (By the way, The YFAP Dance troupe is in need of a dance choreographer, just in case you know of one ) Besides being the practice place for the dance troupe, the Center will also teach folk dances and other traditions to young and old alike.

The Philippine Center will give the FAAP a home. There we will teach our children to be proud of their identity and take their rightful place in the world, knowing that we are a gifted, hard working, and talented people. The Center will be home to a Philippine Library that we hope will someday house a Filipiniana collection -- books and artworks by our great writers, poets, historians and national artists. Once children know their roots -- the collective hearts and souls that nurtured them -- then they will be able to overcome any adversity in their lives.

The future of our organization and the realization of these projects will depend on the active role and support of each and everyone of us. My vision and dream is for the younger generation to step up to the plate and continue what we have started. With our commitment we are laying the ground work to secure the future of the FAAP, its continued existence and vitality for the next 50 years and beyond.

I feel very blessed to have your support, trust and gift of friendship. With your help, I firmly believe nothing is impossible. Aside from FAAP's fund raising events I will try to obtain grants for the Philippine Nationality Room and the Philippine Center. Let us embrace this chance to make a difference. I was fortunate enough to serve as board member and treasurer of FAAP which enabled me to know the organization better. I was also able to participate in charity work that not only helped me find the spiritual dimension in my life but also gave meaning to my very existence. Thank you for this opportunity to serve FAAP and our community. I look forward to meeting all of you and working together for the betterment of our community and the continued glory of the FAAP!

Teodora Gaite Schipper
FAAP President 2009-2010