Welcome to PACCA Newsletter Volume 2
Rooted in Community. Rising Together.
Stay connected with our latest updates, community stories, and upcoming events.
SEPTEMBER 2026 ISSUE
Message From The 2026 PACCA State President and President Emeritus
Message From The Editor-in-Chief And Managing Editor
Government & Business affairs
Why Your Vote Matters: Our Voice, Our Community, Our Future
Voting is more than checking a box on Election Day. It is one of the ways we participate in our democracy and have a say in the decisions that affect our families, businesses, neighborhoods, and communities.
For Filipino Americans in Arizona, our voices matter and our participation matters.
Business resource & toolbox
Free & Low-Cost Resources Every Arizona Entrepreneur Should Know
Running a business can sometimes feel like you have to figure everything out on your own. How do I find more customers? Where can I find funding? Who can help me improve my business plan? How do I navigate government requirements? Where can I find a mentor? The good news is—you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Arizona entrepreneurs have access to a wide range of organizations that provide free or low-cost counseling, mentoring, education, training, and business resources. Sometimes, the help we need is already available—we just need to know where to look.
Here are a few resources every Arizona business owner should have on their radar.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Discovering Cultural Diplomacy in Arizona
On September 26, I attended the 38th Annual Arizona Sister Cities State Conference in Downtown Chandler. I went there curious. I had heard of Sister Cities before, but admittedly, I did not fully understand what the organization did or what being part of a Sister Cities program really meant.
By the end of the conference, one phrase had given me a completely different way of looking at it: Cultural diplomacy.
The conference, hosted by Chandler Sister Cities, brought together citizen diplomats, educators, business professionals, students, nonprofit leaders and community advocates from across Arizona. This year’s theme was “Local Friendships. Global Impact.”
It was a simple phrase, but one that captured an important idea: international relationships do not exist only between national governments and diplomats. They can begin between ordinary people.
HERITAGE & CULTURE
A Forgotten Island That Reminds Us Who We Are
On September 23, my son and I had the opportunity to attend a sneak preview of DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island. I went in expecting an entertaining animated movie. What I did not expect was the feeling of recognition that came from watching pieces of Filipino culture, folklore and family life unfold on a major Hollywood screen.
There is something different about seeing a story and realizing, I know this. The food. The family gatherings. The expressions. The humor. Even the creatures that many of us grew up hearing about.
HERITAGE & CULTURE
Never Forget: Why Filipinos Still Remember Martial Law
Every September, the Philippines quietly returns to a date that changed the course of its history. On September 21, 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos signed Proclamation No. 1081, placing the entire country under martial law. What followed was nearly a decade and a half of authoritarian rule – one that Filipinos, at home and across the diaspora, continue to remember, study, and pass down more than fifty years later. For many in our PACCA community, this history isn’t abstract. It’s the story our parents and grandparents lived through, whispered about, or chose to leave behind entirely when they came to the United States. Remembering it is one way we honor where we came from.
Entrepreneur spotlight
Richelle Caubang Honored with the HerStory Award: A Journey of Courage, Resilience, and Empowering Others
On August 22, 2026, Richelle Caubang was honored with the HerStory Award by the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP), a recognition that celebrates not only what a woman has accomplished, but the journey, courage, and impact behind her story. Known to her students as Mrs. Richelle — The Learning Mentor, Richelle is an educator, entrepreneur, speaker, coach, wife, mother, and community advocate whose journey reflects perseverance and a deep commitment to helping others grow.
Her story begins with courage. An immigrant from the Philippines, Richelle built her first business in the United States while navigating the responsibilities of being a wife and mother. With no previous experience running a company, she stepped into entrepreneurship when she acquired Kumon of Gilbert–Lindsay & Warner. Then came one of the most challenging chapters of her journey. She acquired the business just before COVID-19 dramatically changed the world—and the disruption came around her business anniversary. What could have become the end of her entrepreneurial journey instead became a powerful lesson in resilience. She got back up. She leaned on her community, adapted, learned, and continued forward.
That experience became part of what makes Richelle’s story so meaningful. She doesn’t teach resilience simply as an idea. She has lived it.
Entrepreneur spotlight
Christopher Yap: Founder & CEO, Answer Care and Gabtech Global
This month’s Entrepreneur Spotlight features Christopher “Chris” Yap, a Philippines-born business leader who has spent more than two decades connecting American companies with Filipino talent. From his headquarters in Glendale, Arizona, Chris runs Gabtech Global, a remote staffing firm, and Answer Care, a 24/7 live answering service built for healthcare and home care businesses.
PAcca community events
The Business bridge
CONNECTING BUSINESSES • BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
• EXPLORING AI
• GROWING TOGETHER
FROM AN IDEA TO A BRIDGE
What began as an idea became a meaningful bridge between two communities. The Business Bridge, presented by the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Arizona (PACCA) in partnership with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Arizona, brought business leaders, entrepreneurs, vendors, community partners and friends together around one shared belief: we grow stronger when we grow together. The gathering was more than a networking event. It created space for genuine relationships across cultures, new business connections, shared ideas and future collaboration. The energy in the room showed what can happen when chambers and community leaders choose partnership and recognize that stronger relationships create stronger businesses and stronger communities.
PACCA Programs & initiatives
PACCA YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS PROGRAM
From Big Ideas to Bold Beginnings: Investing in the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs, Leaders, and Community Builders
PACCA Team Update
Last month brought fresh momentum across nearly every channel for the PACCA Membership Team, giving us plenty to celebrate as we head into the back half of summer.
Business News & Community impact
PACCA UPCOMING EVENTS: Celebrate, Connect & Get Involved!
The Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Arizona (PACCA) is excited to bring our members, families, business leaders, and the Filipino-American community together for an exciting lineup of events this fall.
From celebrating Filipino-American heritage and supporting community initiatives to recognizing the outstanding leaders and businesses that help our community thrive, there are many opportunities to Connect, Engage, Thrive with PACCA.
PACCA MEMBER NEWS & SPOTLIGHTS
Welcome to PACCA!
FINAL THOUGHTS
As we close out this September edition, we are reminded that the strength of our community lies in our shared commitment to growth, collaboration, and service.
Each story, event, and milestone featured this month reflects the vibrant spirit of PACCA—a community built on connection and driven by purpose.
From empowering entrepreneurs to celebrating culture and supporting one another through meaningful initiatives, PACCA continues to serve as a bridge for opportunity and impact.
For over three decades, the organization has remained dedicated to fostering relationships, supporting businesses, and uplifting the Filipino-American community in Arizona and beyond.
As we look ahead to the coming months, we are excited for what’s to come—especially our upcoming Ceremonial Turnover & Induction of Officers and New Members,
where we will celebrate leadership, welcome new members, and continue building a stronger future together.
Let us carry forward the spirit of bayanihan—working together, supporting one another, and creating opportunities not just for ourselves, but for the generations to come.
Thank you for being part of PACCA. Together, we grow stronger.
2025 PACCA Newsletter Archive
- October Issue
- November Issue
- December Issue