Share the Bayanihan Spirit

About the Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh

Our Mission

Our mission is to preserve, promote and perpetuate the Filipino heritage among our members and the general public through cultural, charitable and educational activities. 

Our Vision

We envision a dynamic and vibrant Filipino American community that is recognized and valued as an integral part of America’s ethnic diversity. 

Who We are

The association started out as an informal social group in 1957. Formally organized in 1964 as the SPNP, it later became the Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh, Inc., in 2000 when it was incorporated as 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Our History Timeline

1956
Informal Group
The Beginning

Simplicio “Jan” Maramba and a small group of Filipinos got together as an informal social group.

1957
Pittsburgh International Folk Festival
The Festival

Group joins Pittsburgh International Folk Festival. This marks the beginning of about 60 years of participation in this festival.

1964
Samahang Pilipino ng Pittsburgh
Named SPNP

Group is formalized as Samahang Pilipino ng Pittsburgh (SPNP) with the folk dancing group to be named SPNP Dance Troupe.

1982
Young Filipinos of Pittsburgh
YFP Formed

Young Filipinos of Pittsburgh (YFP) formed within the parent org SPNP. The Maramba Scholarship is established

1990
Bylaws and Books
Bylaws Amended

ByLaws amended to change governance from Executive Board to Board of Directors. "Cooking with Filipinos of Pittsburgh" recipe book published.

2000
SPNP Became FILAMPGH
FILAMPGH Founded

Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh (FILAMPGH) is founded as a successor group to SPNP. YFP changed to Young Filipino Americans of Pittsburgh. Philippine Nationality Room Project launched.

2001
Community Centric
Neighborhood Charity

FILAMPGH charity activities and community volunteer work increases to include: Miryam House, Ronald McDonald House, South Side Salvation Army, Western PA Conservatory, United Way, and Food Bank.

2003
Third Edition
Cookbook Republished

The third edition of “Cooking with the Filipinos of Pittsburgh, PA” was published.

2013
Philippine Charity
CALAMITY Fund

Charity CALAMITY Fund is created. Precipitated by the need to respond quickly to events like typhoons Haiyan and Sendong, and earthquakes in the Philippines.

2017
Building Purchase
Our Philippine Center

Purchase of our own Philippine Center, Tahanang Pilipino, was announced.

2022
Mural Painted
Art Commissioned

Commissioned a brand new mural of the Philippines to be painted on the side of the Philippine Center.

Meet Our Board of Directors

Arnel holds a Bachelor of Arts from DeVry University where he studied business and studied communications at Penn State University-Behrend. He is currently working as wholesale product specialist at Sherwin Williams, Trivia host for Team Trivia and DJ/ MC. He is currently a member of the FILAMPGH Dance Troupe.

Arnel Balcita

Alex Grubbs is a Senior Account Executive at Battenhall. He works with global clients in social media, content creation, and PR. He has a B.A. in Broad­cast Reporting and an MBA from Point Park University. He is a licensed drone pilot and freelances multimedia in the Pitts­burgh region, specializing in video, photo, and graphic design. Alex has served on the FILAMPGH Board since 2021as the Communi­cations Officer.

Alex Grubbs

Carlos Abola has been an FILAMPGH member since he was a child. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, he is a 1st generation Filipino-American. He was in the YFAP and the Dance Troupe in his younger years. He is currently serving as the President of FILAMPGH and is a part of the Café Filipino Team. He currently working at New York Life Insurance NA and enjoys spending time with his wife and corgi in his free time

Carlos Abola

Don Michael Mendoza is the Co-Founder and Executive Artis­tic Director of LA Tl DO Productions where he's collectively pro­duced over 300 shows and events in Washington DC, New York City, LA, and his hometown of Pittsburgh. Don Michael holds a B.A. in Musical Theatre & Journalism and M.A. in Strategic Communication from American University. He currently serves as a Charity Committee Member and former Youth Committee Chair.

Don Michael Mendoza

Dalisay Quemado

Dalisay Quemado – YFAP  (Non-Board Member) 

Elpedia Epondulan

Elpidia Epondulan

lrna de Leon-Knapp has been a member of the SPNP/FILAMPGH since she was a kid. She first served on the Board in 1996 and has since served as FILAMPGH President 2004, Chairperson of Cultural, Nominations & Elections committees, member of the Dance Troupe and volunteer of many FILAMPGH events. She currently serves as the Chairperson of the Sports & Recreation Committee that has brought fun events, such as live theater shows, and Fall Classic Race.

Irna de Leon-Knapp

Fanny Spanos, a former FILAMPGH president, is currently the chair of Membership Committee. Previously, she served as Chair of the Cultural Committee and other FILAMPGH Board committees. She would like to help preserve the Filipino heritage, articulate the Filipino values, and promote the true Bayanihan spirit. Fanny is the mother of Anna Spanos and has an accounting degree from Notre Dame Uni­versity of Dadiangas, Philippines

Fanny Spanos

Joji Smith has been a member of the FILAMPGH since 2008. Since becoming a member of the Board of Directors in 2014, Joji has been co-Chairperson of the Picnic and Christmas Party com­mittees. She is currently the Picnic committee Chairperson. She believes that serving the FILAMPGH community promotes a positive image of Filipinos in the Western Pennsylvania area. Joji is a homemaker, is married to Tom, and enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren

Joji Smith

Junriz Delos Santos is a Scientist at Sharp Edge Labs. He holds Chemistry degrees from the University of the Philippines (BS) and Carnegie Mellon University (PhD). He enjoys dancing and playing racquet sports. Junriz has been a member of the FILAMPGH since 2007. He has been on the FILAMPGH Board of Directors from 2015-18, 2020-present. He has served as Youth Chair and currently is the Registrar Officer, the Cultural Chair and a Dance Troupe member since 2014.

Junriz Delos Santos

Marie Young

Marie Young

Leryll D. Arboleda has been a member of the FILAMPGH since 2012. She has partaken and volunteered in many FILAMPGH Events and Dance Troupe Events. In 2018, Leryll worked her way up to serve as the YFAP President. During her time as a YFAP President, She worked on many Youth events, activities, and educational Trips. Leryll has also been a member of the FILAMPGH Dance Troupe since 2012. After a few years away, as of 2024 she is now apart of our cultural committee.

Leryll D. Arboleda

Lani Mears a former president of the FILAMPGH, and has been a member of its board since 2015. She is an IT Product Manager at PNC. She has a BS in Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA from Duquesne. Lani also serves on the board of Realtime Intervention and PULSE, and was a former Commissioner for Asian American Affairs within the PA Governor’s Office. She is a Co-Chair for NaFFAA’s SW PA region and a Coordinating Committee member for the API PA Power Caucus.

Leilani Mears

Lilian Rose Stefanick has been a member of the FILAMPGH since 2005. She has been the Choreographer and Artistic Director of the Dance Troupe since 2012. She is a former company dancer of an awarded-winning Bayanihan Philip­pine National Folk Dance Company, and an active member of Bayanihan USA since 1999. She has a degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines. She cur­rently works as a Practice Manager for UPMC.

Lilian Stefanick

Lynn Levinger has been a member since her earliest memories of the SPNP and then the FILAMPGH. She’s proud to have been a part of the dance troupe when the folk festival was at the Civic Arena. Today, her and her husband are a part of the Café Filipino team. Lynn is a proud alumni of Penn State and has spent most of her career working as a merchant and sales director for Kaufmann’s- May Company, NIKE, and currently Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Lynn Levinger

Our ByLaws

Click here For Our ByLaws

Contact Us

Membership

MEMBERSHIP@FILAMPGH.ORG

Donations

TREASURER@FILAMPGH.ORG

Other Questions

HELPDESK@FILAMPGH.ORG

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