History of the FILIPINO AMERICAN COUNCIL OF TEXAS (FACT), formerly called, FILIPINO-AMERICAN COUNCIL OF SOUTH TEXAS (FACOST)
Background
The seeds behind the founding of FACT were planted dating back to the mid-eighties, specifically in 1985, when an attempt was made to form an umbrella council to unite and coordinate the growing number of Fil-Am organizations back then. That council was named the Council of Philippine American Organizations or CPAO. However, due to the competing personalities of the leaders, the dream of a united council became an illusion. Soon, there was lot of controversies between the leaders and members, which led to a period of inactivity and dormancy for about 5-6 years.
Then, when President Fidel Ramos got elected in 1992, an announcement came from the Philippines that the Philippine Consulate in Houston will be closed due to certain government budgetary adjustments. The community became despondent and a Movement to Save the Consulate was formed in February, 1993, to bring attention to the newly elected government their disheartening reaction to the announcement. Over 3000 Filipino Americans signed a Petition to Save the Consulate and presented to the Philippine Consulate.
Then, on or around April, 1993, the Philippine government announced that President Ramos planned an economic visit to the City of Houston to invite Houston-based energy companies to invest in the Philippines. But as part of his visit, he wanted to meet with leaders of the community to personally explain the reason behind the closing of the consulate. At that time, there was no specific group to represent the community since the so-called Council of Philippine American Organizations was no longer existent and already defunct. The leaders who spearheaded the Save the Philippine Consulate movement then realized a strong need to organize itself into a formal group to meet with the President.
With meticulous efforts, the leaders behind the movement started communicating with the recognized leaders of the various organizations within the community. And, on that momentous day of May 1, 1993, 29 years ago, delegates from 22 organizations gathered together, deliberated, and ratified the 1st Articles of Incorporation, Constitution and Bylaws, that formally established the Filipino American Council of Southern Texas or FACOST. Those 22 charter member organizations were the following:
- American-Philippine Chamber of Commerce
- Bicol USA Association
- Filipin-American Society of Texas
- FASTEST Youth of Texas
- Filipino-American Association of Metro-Houston
- Filipino-American World War II Veterans
- Filipino-American Lions Club
- Houston Org. of Phil. Engineers and Architects
- Ilocano Club of Houston
- Kahirup of Texas
- North Channel Filipino-American Association
- Pangasinan Association of Texas
- Phil.-American Sports Assn of Metro-Houston
- Philippine-Nurses Assn. of Metro-Houston
- Tagalog Association of Texas
- Texas Association of Philippine Physicians
- Texas Assn of Philippine Physicians Auxiliary
- Texas Association of Mapua Alumni
- Tx. Assn. of Phil-American CPAs, Houston
- Univ. of the Philippines Alumni Assn in Texas, Houston Chapter
- University of Santo Tomas Alumni Association
- Visayas-Mindanao Association
First FACOST Elections and Induction
On May 19, 1993, the FACOST Board of Delegates, comprised of two official delegates from each Charter member organization, held its first elections and elected the eleven (11) at-large members of the Board of Directors, with Wally C. Arias elected as its first Chairman. On June 2, 1993, the new Board members were inducted by Philippine Consul-General, Ambassador Juan V. Saez, at the Philippine Consulate office.
First FACOST Board of Directors
Wally C. Arias – Chairman and Executive Director
Tito-Refi – Vice-Chairman and Dep. Exec. Director
Lina Umali – Board Secretary
Paul Dalde – Finance Director
Josefino Beltran – Public Relations Director
Tom Amaba – Programs Director
Douglas Tigtig – Auditor
Petronilo Barsales – Board Member at Large
Dr. Arsenio Martin – Board Member at Large
Nora Peralta – Board Member at Large
Allen Martin Tiongco – Board Member at Large
FACOST Highlights
June 12, 1993 – The 95th Anniversary of Philippine Independence Day Ball
On this day, the first Board of Directors, were presented to the community with various dignitaries present and no less than Ambassador and Consul-General Juan V. Saez serving as Overall Chairman. The Guest Speakers were Greater Houston Partnership President & CEO, Jim Kollaer, US Congressman, 22nd District, Tom Delay and National President of the Filipino American Political Association and Publisher of Philippine News, Alex Esclamado. That Independence Day Ball celebration was collaborated jointly between the Philippine Consulate and FACOST and thirty-eight (38) Houston Fil-Am organizations were represented.
November, 1993 – President Fidel Ramos Welcome Dinner
One of the most memorable events in FACOST history was held on November 17, 1993 when FACOST and the entire Filipino-American Community of Greater Houston, hosted a Welcome Dinner in honor of the newly elected President of the Philippines, Fidel V. Ramos. Also present was then Senator, later President Gloria Macapagal.
An overflowing crowd of over 1400 guests attended that dinner held at the Double Tree Hotel in the Galleria area. In January, 1994, President Ramos expressed his grateful appreciation in a letter to FACOST for that successful reception as well as the generous donation of $18,005, which FACOST donated to Philippine First Lady Amelita Ramos to support her “Clean the Pasig River Project
The First Decade (1993-2003)
The first decade of FACOST saw the coming together of Filipinos in Houston with many of the organizations, especially the Charter members, really exerting their best efforts to achieve what was then considered an impossible dream, Unity of the Filipinos. It is not to say that FACOST remained without any disagreement. In fact, in the early 2000s, there was indeed another self-inflicted controversy when the unity of FACOST was severely challenged. But cooler heads prevailed and now, twenty-six years after its formation, FACOST remains standing and continuing to represent the community, here and in the Philippines.
The succeeding FACOST administrations had different objectives, some of them successful while others were underwhelming in their accomplishments.
Visiting Dignitaries from the Philippines
Subsequent to the visit of President Ramos, FACOST became well-known within Malacanang Palace and the Philippine Congress that it became a convenient link of communication to the Houston Filipino community whenever dignitaries from the country visited the United States. The slogan of the administration of President Ramos was “Philippines 2000” and with firm support by the US government, many Philippine cabinet officials and legislators, started visiting the United States and Houston to promote their national priority projects.
In 1995, during the term of former Chairman, Pepito Beltran, FACOST hosted the Philippine CALABARZON GOVERNORS, led by then Governor Mandanas of Batangas. It was followed in the same year by the visit of then Speaker Jose de Venecia.
A year later, FACOST, in collaboration with the Greater Houston Partnership and the Asia Society, hosted then Energy Secretary Francisco Viray, promoting the department’s significant projects towards Philippine energy sufficiency.
In the mid-nineties, a partnership between FACOST and the University of the Philippines Alumni Association, Houston Chapter, resulted in sponsorship of the world-class Filipino opera, “Mayo..Bisperas ng Liwanag“, a first-of-its-kind presentation in Houston, featuring prominent voice professor and operatic diva Fides Cuyugan Asensio. Most of the proceeds went towards the construction of 14 FACOST-sponsored houses for the Habitat for Humanity Philippines, a project for Habitat for Humanity International under then President Jimmy Carter.
The Second Decade (2003-2013)
With the community center debate out of the way, the old guards of FACOST prevailed upon the membership to keep its unity and continue with its noble goals. In 2004, FACOST elected Chairman Ben Ongoco who has, over the years, proven to become one of the well-respected leaders of FACOST.
In 2006, during the term of Chair Lucy de Villa, FACOST launched a monumental project that to date, can be considered one of FACOST’s major achievements. With financial support of the community, FACOST purchased and installed a bronze bust of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, which is now a part of the City of Houston landscape at Herman Park.
In the succeeding year, during the term of Chair Bobby Reyes, FACOST has reached a peak of 56 affiliated or registered member-organizations. Not all associations or organizations, however, were active, as some have decided to focus more in their particular areas of interest and less with FACOST community-wide functions.
Probably inspired by the successful installation of the bust of Dr. Rizal and because of his own patriotic fervor and dedicated service, in 2007, Chair Ben Ongoco decided to found the now-esteemed Houston Chapter of the Order of the Knights of Rizal, that today serves as Color Guard of every FACOST major event.
The Third Decade (2013-Present)
The beginning of the third FACOST decade has seen FACOST becoming more closely involved in the celebration and promotion of Philippine cultural traditions. It also saw the rise and dynamic leadership of the husband and wife team of Chairs Randy and Belle Datu, who established themselves as prime movers of FACOST during the last five years.
Beginning with the chairmanship of Randy in 2013, followed by Chairs Archie Zalun, Pete Ellorin, Ester Buot and now Belle Datu, FACOST, operating now under its new name FACT, propelled itself in the spirited elevation of Philippine culture, such as The Philippine Festival in April, the Santacruzan in May, the Kalayaaan (Independence) Ball in June and the Lantern Festival in November of each year.
To raise funds for those four (4) major functions, FACT has also encouraged and sponsored Coushatta fund-raising trips. It also cooperated and bolstered events of member organizations such as the Knights of Rizal’s traditional salute to Dr. Jose Rizal during June 19 and December 30 of every year, Tagalog Association’s Miss Rizal Competition and Fil-Am Lions’s Mrs. Philippines contests.
FACOST and the Road to a Philippine Community Center in Houston
It was also in 1996, when FACOST, under former Chairman Pepito Beltran, started implementing one of the main objectives embodied in its Constitution and Bylaws and began the pursuit of a Filipino Community Center in Houston. It launched a survey to gauge interest within the community but the result was not encouraging and the pursuit was suspended until a few years later.
In 2001-02, during the term of Chairman Paul Dalde, FACOST again rekindled its interest to pursue the community center. Two groups were formed. One group, led by former Chairperson Juliet Awitan and supported by former FACOST Chairpersons Lina Umali and Pepito Beltran, started the Philippine Cultural Foundation (PCF).
In 2002, the second group, led by FACOST Founder and Chairman Wally Arias, together with 50 individuals and businesses, incorporated itself and started People Caring for the Community, Inc. (PCCI), with Wally Arias and Norma Benzon, elected as PCCI’s first Co-Chairpersons.
FACOST decided to have a competition between the two private groups and decreed that whoever could raise more money in one year shall be endorsed by FACOST. With FACOST Director Dr. Arsenio Martin serving as judge, both groups agreed. A year later, however, although PCCI had raised more money (over $100,000), FACOST could not decide which group to endorse because of divided allegiance within the leadership.
And the rest is history. In December, 2018, after 16 years of perseverance and dedication, under the leadership of then PCCI President, Dr. Norma Mendoza, with the unwavering support of its Council of Trustees and Board of Directors, the dream of a Philippine Community Center (PCC) pursued by PCCI, has become a reality.
To demonstrate its vigorous support of PCCI, in 2016, FACT also contributed $17,000 to become a PCCI Silver Trustee and participated actively during the year-long construction of the center.
Located at 9101 West Bellfort Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77031, PCCI has now become the primary center of cultural galas and other personal celebrations by the Fil-Am community in Houston.
Moving Enthusiastically to the Next Decade
Next year, in May, 2023, FACOST OR FACT will celebrate its 30 years of existence and with continued dedication of its leaders and member-organizations, we are confident that its future remains bright. It has currently 40 active members and continues to encourage the other non-registered groups to join and be involved in FACOST functions, for the benefit the entire Filipino community in Houston.