TESTIMONIAL/ENDORSEMENT FOR PACC TEXAS Ethel Reyes-Mercado, President

(2014 Presidential Award, KAANIB NG BAYAN)

From Mr. Greg Macabenta, National Chair Emeritus
National Federation of Phllippine-American Associations (NAFFAA)
Chairman, Minority Media Services Inc.
Regular Columnist Business World


June 3, 2014

TO SEC. IMELDA NICOLAS Chairman, Commission on Filipinos Oversseas

SUBJECT: ENDORSEMENT OF THE PHILIPPINE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF TEXAS FOR THE KAANIB
NG BAYAN AWARD

As a past recipient of the Pamana ng Pilipino Presidential Award, I am pleased and honored to endorse the nomination
of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Texas, under the leadership of Mrs. Ethel Mercado, for this years
KAANIB Award.

As a past national chair of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), working with FilAm
communities coast to coast, I can personally attest to the fact that the PACC of Texas has been the most active among
Filipino American Chambers of Commerce in the entire United States. Aside from taking leadership in organizing
national conferences of FilAm chambers and reviving moribund chambers, the Texas PACC has mounted many trade
missions to the Philippines that have succeeded in bringing investors to our country and opening up trade
opportunities in Texas for Philippine businesses.

In the wake of the devastation caused by Typhoon Yolanda, the Texas PACC raised close to $1 million for victims in the
Visayas.After its planned trade mission in October this year, members of the Texas PACC plan to go to Leyte and Cebu to
help refugees, as well as to adopt a neglected island in Northern Cebu.

The PACC of Texas truly deserves recognition from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas and the president of the
Philippines.

Respectfully,

GREG B. MACABENTA National Chair Emeritus, NaFFAA
Chairman, Minority Media Services Inc.
Regular Columnist, BUSINESS WORLD
Contact info: mmsi13@aol.com or gregmacabenta@hotmail.com




Testimonial/Endorsement for PACC TEXAS (2014 Presidential Award, KAANIB NG BAYAN), Ethel
Reyes-Mercado President
From Ms. Gloria Caoile Past Commissioner White House Commission on Asians and Pacific Islanders, Founding National
Co-Chair of NAFFAA, Past Recipient of LINKAPIL Award

From: <gtcaoile@cox.net>
Date: Wed, Jun 4, 2014 at 4:10 PM
Subject: Endorsement of the Nomination of PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TEXAS (PACC Texas)
To: melynicolas@gmail.com, imelda.nicolas@cfo.gov.ph,
presidentialawards@cfo.gov.ph

Dear Secretary Nicolas:

PACC-Texas has been a vehicle that has opened doors so wide to many
small businesses to enable them to have a role and a huge voice in
global entities, not only in Texas but nationwide where the
organization has served as a role model. PACC Texas mentors
multi-generational Filipinos and Filipino-Americans to be a vital
part of trade and industry. PACC Texas creates sustainable programs that
empowers individuals to take the risks that change and challenges the norm and to never hold back on
their ideas.

A Winston Churchill quote embodies PACC - "Success is not final;
failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
PACC Texas, through its trailblazing projects, e.g. Trade Missions,
Consular Outreach, Voter Registration, Support of Fil-Am Defense;
Rapid Response to Disaster, among others has made PACC a very
credible organization. They lead the way for other Fil-Am groups to
emulate.

PACC Texas has my strong and unequivocal vote and endorsement for
the KASAPI NG BAYAN Award.


Respectfully,


Gloria T. Caoile
Founding National Co-Chair, NAFFAA
1996 Linkapil Awardee
Former Commissioner, White House Commission on Asians and Pacific-Islander


TESTIMONIAL/ENDORSEMENT FOR PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF TEXAS
(PACC Texas) - 2014 Presidential KAANIB NG BAYAN Award,

From Yolanda O. Stern, President Emeritus, Federation of Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce

-----Original Message----- From: Yolanda O. Stern [mailto:fpacc@aol.com] Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2014
7:37 AM To: Mely Nicolas; Mely Nicolas; Mely Nicolas Cc: Gus Mercado; Ethel Mercado; Yolanda Stern
Subject: Awards

Dear Mely,


It is with great pleasure that PACC TEXAS and Ethel Reyes-Mercado, State President for the all the
nominations tendered on their behalf.

I have seen PACC TEXAS under the outstanding leadership of Ethel Reyes-Mercado through the years as
exemplifying the best in service to humanity and dedication to the support of Filipinos, both in the
U.S. and in the Philippines. The masterful execution of their Trade and Humanitarian Missions to the
Philippines is stellar.

The special achievements of PACC TEXAS have made them stand out as the best Philippine-American Chamber
of Commerce in North America.

They have my unqualified support.


Best Regards,
Yolanda

Yolanda Ortega Stern
President
One World Institute
USA - Philippines
www.theoneworldinstitute.org

President Emeritus
Federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce USA
447 Sutter St., Suite 700
San Francisco, CA 94108
www.fpacc.net=





TESTIMONIAL/ENDORSEMENT FOR PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF TEXAS
(PACC Texas) (2014 Presidential KAANIB NG BAYAN Award),

From Vernie Morales, Director for North and Central America
Philippine Department of Tourism, Chicago Office

May 31, 2014
MS. IMELDA NICOLAS
Chairman, Commission on Filipinos Overseas
Manila, Philippines

Dear Chairman Nicolas,

It is with pleasure that I personally support and endorse the nominations of:

The Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce of Texas under the leadership of Ethel Reyes-Mercado for the KAANIB NG
BAYAN Award.
Over the past decade or so, both Gus Mercado (as NaFFAA Regional Chair, as past President of the PACC-NTX and in his
personal capacity), and the PACC-TX through Ethel Mercado, have been very active supporters of our Philippine tourism
initiatives and projects in Texas, especially in the DFW areas.
The PDOT Chicago Office covers 19 USA states (including Texas), and it was from my tourism campaigns in the state that I had
met Gus and Ethel. From my first meeting with them, I had received great cooperation and support for our Philippine tourism
efforts in Texas. We at PDOT Chicago have also had project partnerships as well with the PACC-TX through their past 2 US
Trade and Investment Mission (and Travel) to the Philippines, as well as our annual Ambassadors and Consul-Generals Tour
of the Philippines since its founding.
I will be happy to provide you with additional related information I may have - as the process for selection requires, in
support of this committed couple.
Thank you. Best always,
Vernie
VERNIE VELARDE-MORALES
Director for North America Central Region
Philippine Department of Tourism, Chicago Office
30 N. Michigan Avenue Suite 913, Chicago, Illinois 60602
Ph: 312.782.2475 Fax: 312.782.2476 Email: pdotchi@aol.com