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Mar 07th
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Home Fil-Am Associations Re:Union Filipino-American Association of Philadelphia Inc.

Filipino-American Association of Philadelphia Inc.

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Contact:
Mailing address: 2084 N. Ridley Creek Road Media, PA 19063
Telephone: (610) 888-6905
Website: www.faapi.org
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

FAAPI is the oldest Filipino-American organization in the Delaware Valley, perhaps in the entire United States. Founded in 1917, the Filipino-American Association of Philadelphia, Inc. has been promoting Filipino culture and tradition in Philadelphia for over a century.

History

As early as 1912, Mr. Agrifino M. Jaucian, the founder as well as the first president of the Filipino-American Association of Philadelphia, Inc. (FAAPI), started organizing around 200 Filipinos mostly discharged navy personnel who settled in the Philadelphia area. The organization drafted its constitution and by-laws and became charted in the city of Philadelphia and incorporated in the State of Pennsylvania in 1917. FAAPI is the oldest ongoing organization of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in the Delaware Valley and perhaps in the U.S. One hundred years ago, the organization felt the need to introduce and preserve the rightful identity of Filipinos as the “brown Malay race” and to present their heritage and traditions to their adopted country and its peoples, who like the Filipinos, left their native lands to become involved in the building an even greater United States of America.

The organization has been at the forefront of Filipino socio-cultural activities in the greater Philadelphia area for many years. It started the ever popular dinner-dances among Filipinos and Filipino-Americans. It’s legacy lies in its commitment to continue the promotion and propagation of the cultures and traditions of Filipinos and supporting causes relevant to its people. It continues to hold the annual Rizal Dinner Ball (started in the early 1920’s) and coronation of Miss Maria Clara (started in the early 1970’s) every December to commemorate the martyrdom of the Philippines’ greatest hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. The Miss Maria Clara beauty pageant continues to attract young women to the coveted title depicting the ideal Filipina woman, one with grace and dignity. FAAPI also continues to hold the annual Mother of the Year celebration (started in the 1950’s) to honor motherhood on Mothers Day in May.

In the 1970’s, the organization purchased a building at 433 West Girard Avenue in Philadelphia. This building housed the organization and was utilized by other organizations for their meetings and other events. This FAAPI building was the first ever Philippine community center in the Delaware Valley. Because of technical and financial difficulties, it was sold in the mid-1980’s.

During the Bicentennial Celebration of 1976, FAAPI, in collaboration with the City of Philadelphia, was very much involved at the forefront of activities. FAAPI was a recipient of a grant from the city which was utilized to fund educational activities for its youth group including the FAAPI Dance Troupe and senior citizen group. The FAAPI Dance Troupe gave birth to other dance troupes in the area.

FAAPI has supported groups including the Seamen’s Church Institute and the Veterans, as well as local and overseas calamities. It has participated in marches, parades and Christmas caroling. It has organized and language classes.

FAAPI is one of the original charted members of the federation of Filipino-American organizations in the Delaware Valley, the Filipino-Executive Council of Greater Philadelphia, Inc. (founded in 1975) and now has 25 member organizations.

FAAPI since its inception has produced 35 presidents. FAAPI and its leaders were honored with a large Presidential Hall of Fame plaque from the City of Philadelphia with the inscription: To those who devoted themselves faithfully and unselfishly for the cause of Philippine heritage identity and recognition among many cultures of nations, and ethnicity in the city of Philadelphia.

 

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