SF Fil-Am Chamber rings in the holidays with ‘Jingle, Jingle, Mingle’

San Francisco Chamber members and guests networking galore. MICHAEL JEONG

SAN FRANCISCO — Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce (SFFACC) members rang in the holidays by mingling with the Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce Northern California (HCCNC) and the Miss Asian Global Pageant to benefit the North Bay fire victims.

The “Jingle and Mingle” fundraiser was sold out with close to 200 guests contributing to the fire fund.

Angie Louie, chair of the event and recent past president of the Chamber, welcomed the attendees at the Hana Zen Sushi and Bar (which Louie owns) at the iconic Pier 39.

Together with Louie were Jaclyn Funasaki, president of HCCNC, Rose Chung, founder and president of Miss Asian Global Pageant and pageant vice-president Vince Ma.

Ricky Lagumbay, auctioneer, made sure the guests contributed more to the fundraiser by getting everyone engaged and bidding for the auction items.

Miss Asian Global Pageant winners: Miss Asia San Francisco Alexis Yup; Miss Asia Global Trisha Bantigue; Miss Asia Congeniality Samantha Mui. MICHAEL JEONG

SFFACC, a not for profit organization is not new to humanitarian work. Recently the organization went on a medical, dental and feeding mission to the Philippines to serve 2,500 members of the Mangyan tribe in Luzon.

In the past, the Chamber donated $5,000 to the victims of super-typhoon Yolanda that hit Central Visayas in 2013, and $5,000 to West Bay MultiCultural Center in San Francisco, which provides after-school services to children of immigrants.

Selfie time: from left Lorna Dietz, Rose Chung, Angie Louie and Ricky Lagumbay, Vincent Ma (second row). MICHAEL JEONG

SFFACC continuously supports the Asian Pacific Heritage Foundation as well as the annual Pistahan Parade, the biggest Filipino parade on the West Coast. The Chamber is gearing up for the upcoming National Conference of the Federation of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce which it will host in 2019.

The mixer was made brighter by the presence of Miss Asian Global winners led by Filipina stunner 2017 Miss Asian Global Trisha Bantigue, Miss Asian San Francisco and Miss Asian Second Princess Alexis Yup and Miss Asian Congeniality  Samantha Mui.

Entertainment was provided by up and coming young Fil-Am artist, Maddie B, and belter Farida Fajardo.

Chamber members pose for souvenir photo. MICHAEL JEONG

SFFACC’s board directors are Angie Louie, Chair; Jose Pecho, President; Ricky Lagumbay, 1^st Vice President; Jossie Alegre, 2^nd Vice President; Lorna Dietz, Secretary; Yvonne Go, Treasurer; and Ben Menor, Parliamentarian.

Board members are Queenie Wilwayco, Rudy Asercion, Cris Ibarra, Dearn Arcillas, Esther Chavez, John Juan, Evelyn Paje, Ester Lee, Pearl Parmalee and Edna Ramos. Advisory Board  members are Yolanda Ortega Stern, Consul General Henry Bensurto Jr., Father Richard Zamora.

For more information on the SFFACC, visit www.sffilamchamber.org