PAFCOM: A Generation Shaped by Culture

More than three decades after its founding in Jersey City, New Jersey, the Philippine-American Friendship Committee, Inc. adopted a new name: the Philippine-American Friendship Community, Inc. The name change reflects PAFCOM’s growth and expanding influence throughout the Tri-State area.

According to U.S. Census data, New Jersey is home to one of the largest Filipino-American populations in the United States. Today, PAFCOM is among the largest nonprofit Filipino-American organizations in the state—led by dedicated community leaders with bold and practical ideas and supported by an engaged membership from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. PAFCOM has become a vibrant community that encourages Filipino Americans to speak up, be heard, and take action.

Services and Programs

The services provided by PAFCOM are wide-ranging and community-focused:

• Preserving Filipino cultural heritage
• Helping Filipinos assimilate into mainstream American society
• Fostering closer relationships between Filipino Americans and other ethnic communities
• Keeping Filipino Americans connected to the Philippines through forums, discussions, and cultural activities
• Developing programs and initiatives that support seniors, persons with disabilities, youth, LGBTQ individuals, and families in need

In essence, PAFCOM strives to be a reliable source of support, connection, and empowerment for the Filipino-American community.

A Dynamic Presence

Filipino Americans are a dynamic presence in the United States—making their voices heard in government, education, media, entertainment, business, and health care. PAFCOM has helped foster this growth by encouraging leadership, civic engagement, and community involvement while helping prepare the next generation of Filipino Americans to continue the work started decades ago.

Youth play meaningful roles in many PAFCOM initiatives, including mentoring programs, voter registration campaigns, the “Taste of the Philippines” community outreach program, the Pusong Pinoy Health Fair, and the annual Friendship Parade and Festival, where Filipino culture, food, and crafts are proudly showcased. Family-oriented events, such as annual picnics and community gatherings, provide opportunities for fellowship, recreation, and cultural connection.

PAFCOM also offers programs for seniors, including cultural immersion trips, discounted group outings, and transportation assistance for selected cultural and educational activities. To promote health and wellness, the organization sponsors walkathons, senior socials, health screenings, nutrition forums, and educational programs focused on disease prevention and healthy living.

Responding in Times of Crisis

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many healthcare professionals worked tirelessly under difficult conditions while caring for their communities. In partnership with Filipino American-owned restaurants and local businesses in Jersey City, PAFCOM coordinated the delivery of meals and care packages to frontline healthcare workers.

Over an eight-week period, 640 meals and 200 care packages containing essential toiletries were distributed to healthcare staff at Christ Hospital and Jersey City Medical Center. This effort reflected PAFCOM’s commitment to community service during times of need.

Living the Culture

PAFCOM has a proud history of strengthening Filipino-American identity while preserving and promoting Philippine culture. Through its programs, events, and partnerships, the organization continues to celebrate Filipino heritage and foster understanding among diverse communities.

As PAFCOM looks toward the future, it remains committed to serving, empowering, and connecting Filipino Americans while preserving the cultural traditions that unite generations.

Written by: Cristina Pastor
Edited by: Connie Uy and Ledy Almadin

OUR STORY

29 Years of Excellence in Community and Social Services

Going stronger with the passage of time and firmly rooted in Jersey City, the Philippine-American Friendship Community, Inc. (PAFCOM) is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization composed of committed and dedicated Filipino-American community leaders from the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Founded in 1990, PAFCOM was primarily established to organize an annual parade and festival every June in Jersey City, New Jersey, in celebration of Philippine-American Friendship Day. Through this event, the founders sought to enhance the public’s understanding of Filipino culture and activities while serving the community—earning recognition for Filipino Americans as an important ethnic group in the United States. Underlying this mission was the desire to help Filipinos integrate into mainstream American society, especially during the early 1990s, PAFCOM’s formative years.

As the Filipino-American population in Jersey City grew, PAFCOM’s leaders recognized the need to expand beyond cultural celebrations to include socio-cultural, charitable, and educational initiatives. In its second decade, the organization began offering supportive services for Filipino families, youth, veterans, and seniors. Jersey City has the highest concentration of Filipinos of any city in the U.S. Northeast, and in response, PAFCOM created its Community Development Center (CDC).

The organization provides intergenerational services that foster traditional family and cultural values. For example, in March 2004, PAFCOM staged the community theatre production Looking for Williams, featuring a diverse, intergenerational cast. Other programs have included weekly Zumba and yoga classes, senior dances, walkathons, safe-home initiatives, family bowling days, volleyball tournaments, golf outings, and health fairs. Youth-focused activities such as basketball clinics, teen theater, and painting workshops are held each summer. To prepare the next generation of leaders, PAFCOM has also sent qualified teens to the Lyndsay Meyer Leadership Training Camp.

These services span across ages, generations, and cultures. PAFCOM also promotes and sponsors drug-free activities through Community Development Block Grants and support from Jersey City’s Municipal Alliance.

The Philippines is renowned for its diversity and artistry, and PAFCOM leaders have drawn on this pride to showcase the best of Philippine fashion, music, dance, and film. Each year, prominent Filipino designers, singers, dancers, actors, and actresses have been featured at PAFCOM’s grand parades and festivals.

The past 29 years of PAFCOM’s work reflect its resilience and strength. Like any growing organization, it has faced obstacles, endured hardships, and overcome frustrations. Through these challenges, PAFCOM has only become stronger.

A turning point in PAFCOM’s history came on September 3, 2014, when its Constitution and By-Laws were amended, leading to a reorganization of its leadership. Beginning in 2015, the role of Overall Chair was replaced with a Chairman of the Board, President, and President-Elect—positions that continue to guide the organization and shape its future.

As PAFCOM looks ahead, its mission, vision, and goals remain focused on benefiting the residents of Jersey City—especially youth and seniors—while preserving and promoting Filipino cultural heritage.