From Mindanao Dream-Makers, to the World
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New York State Assemblymember Steven Raga inducts the incoming officers of SoCSKSarGen-USA, now in its eighth year of bringing greater representation and visibility to the rich cultural heritage, traditions, and communities that shape the Mindanao diaspora in New York City. (Photo by Elaine J.E. Degale)
At the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel in New York City, SoCSKSarGen-USA held its 3rd Biennial International Convention, bringing together artists, community leaders, cultural advocates and Filipino Americans whose roots reach into Southern Mindanao.
“Leading SocSKSarGen-USA is both a privilege and a responsibility,” says SoCSKSarGen USA President Jelin Asamoah. “It gives me the opportunity to bring together Filipinos from South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City, while strengthening the bonds of our community here in the United States. This is about preserving our identity, celebrating our heritage, and creating opportunities for our members to connect, serve, and support one another.”
The ceremony opened with a Muslim and a Christian prayer, after the U.S. National Anthem and Lupang Hinirang, the Philippines’ National Anthem played. Consul general Juan Carlos Borromeo delivered a welcome speech in Hiligaynon. Assembly member Steven Raga, the first Filipino American elected into the New York State legislature was also in attendance, expressing his staunch support for Filipino Americans celebrating the rich heritage of Mindanao.
Traditional dance performances by Tribu Mindanao, and signature Filipino line-dancing followed. As the evening’s highlight, Sultan Kudarat Designer Jay-R Gamboa Flores, who flew to New York City from Mindanao, paraded his work to a diverse American audience. His muse Rain Batingana showcased his work. Batingana is the first transgender to model on Project Runway, Season 22, a milestone that placed Filipino transgender representation on one of American fashion television's most prominent stages.
Tribu Mindanao clad in indigenous attire prepares to perform Silong sa Ganding, a traditional Maguindanao dance associated with royal courts and performed to the silong, a musical rhythm produced on the gandingan, a set of four shallow-rimmed gongs played in a manner that evokes the human voice. The dance demands exceptional discipline and precision, with carefully controlled hand positions and movements reflecting the artistry and refinement of Maguindanao cultural tradition. (Photo by Elaine J.E. Degale)
Rain Batingana, Project Runway Season 22’s first Filipina transgender model, wears ALAB: The Spirit of Fire from Sultan Kudarat designer Jay-R Gamboa Flores’ DAMGO Collection, an opulent celebration of Mindanao heritage featuring intricate handcrafted beadwork inspired by Indigenous jewelry-making traditions across the region and the dreams carried across generations from Subsaharan Mindanao to the world. (Photo by Elaine J.E. Degale)
Flores’ signature heavily incorporates traditional Mindanaoan artistry. He uses indigenous-inspired textile patterns like T’nalak, Inaul, and landap, weaving traditions associated with the indigenous cultural communities of Mindanao, which Flores transformed into a contemporary fashion presentation in New York.
“What inspires me most is my love for my roots and the rich culture of Region XII. I want every design to tell a story about our people, our traditions, our creativity, and the beauty of Mindanao. Bringing elements of our culture into fashion allows me to share a piece of home with an international audience. For me, it is not only about creating beautiful clothes, but also about creating something that represents where I came from and makes our culture visible on a global stage.”
Founding President Rowena Meija Randman, Darlene Dilangalen, Luidi de Asis Hughes, Jay-R Gamboa Flores, with SocSKSarGen USA President Jelin Asamoah presented with awards at SoCSarGen USA's 3rd Biennial International Convention on August 29, 2026 (Photo by Elaine J.E. Degale)
Weaving Dream
Flores called his Fashion Show “Damgo," which means “dreams” in Hiligaynon. “I used Inaul and T’nalak/Inaul-inspired elements to highlight our indigenous weaving traditions, craftsmanship and the stories woven into every fabric. More than just the textiles, I wanted the collection to symbolize the journey of a Filipino dreamer—someone who carries their roots, culture and heritage wherever they go.”
Sultan Kudarat fashion designer Jay-R Gamboa Flores stands proudly with the models showcasing his DAMGO Collection, a powerful expression of diasporic beauty, ancestral heritage, and the dreams that carried his vision across oceans. What began as a dream of bringing Mindanao fashion to New York has become a runway moment where Subsaharan Mindanao takes its place on the global fashion stage. (Photo by Elaine J.E. Degale)
For his Damgo Showcase, Flores used hand-woven fabrics t’nalak, landap, and inaul – textiles inherent to the rich indigenous cultures of Mindanao. The t’nalak textile is considered a sacred traditional fabric made of abaca fibers woven by Tboli “dream-weavers” in the indigenous southern region of the Philippines. They are called dream-weavers because they get the inspiration for the pattern in their dreams.
Landap, on the other hand, is a malong (tubular garment) made of high quality silk, featuring embroidered designs called langkit, or curvilinear okir motifs that are sewn by the Meranao people of the Philippines. Inaul, traditionally associated with the Maguindanaon people of Mindanao, is a handwoven textile known for its intricate patterns and vibrant colors, and was one of the major textiles used in Flores’ fashion show.
Placed on a New York runway, these textiles carried a meaning that extended beyond fashion. They brought the material culture of Mindanao into a contemporary global setting, allowing ancestral techniques to participate in a living, evolving Filipino aesthetic.
“Creating and presenting Filipino-inspired designs on a runway in the United States is a very meaningful experience for me,” says Flores. “Being part of a fashion show in New York, especially during New York Fashion Week, made me realize that fashion can be a powerful bridge between cultures.”
Kay Habana wears DIWA: Threads of the B’laan, a piece from Sultan Kudarat designer Jay-R Gamboa Flores’ DAMGO Collection, inspired by the B’laan of Mindanao. Featuring traditional handwoven Gintlo fabric, intricate beadwork, and geometric details rooted in B’laan artistry, DIWA celebrates ancestral heritage and craftsmanship while bringing the visual language of Subsaharan Mindanao to the New York runway. (Photo by Elaine J.E. Degale)
Honoring Filipino American Contributions
The evening also marked a new chapter for SoCSKSarGen-USA with the induction of its new officers: President Jelin Asamoah; Internal Vice President Luisa F. Milone; External Vice President Maria Cora C. Tito; Secretary Nirvana Alpha “Pops” G. Fruylan; Treasurer Lodar D. Escobillo; Public Relations Officers Mandino Ballicud and Margaa Empress; Business Manager Fermin C. Fruylan III; and Project Managers Ana Marie Escobillo and Lara Athena Escobillo.
Assemblymember Steven Raga joins writers Elaine Degale and Taurenelle, Dare to Change CEO Clifford Temprosa, renowned floral and events designer Jerry Sibal, real estate broker Edwin Josue, and theater director Michelle Cuizon at SoCSKSarGen-USA’s 3rd Biennial International Convention in Queens. From politics and publishing to theater, business, real estate, and design, the room reflected the breadth of Filipino talent building careers, communities, and influence from the Philippines to New York City. (Photo by Elaine J.E. Degale)
The fashion showcase and induction of new officers was only one part of an evening devoted to recognizing the many ways members of the Southern Mindanao diaspora contribute to their communities. Six principal honorees were recognized during the convention for their contributions.
Six honorees were recognized for achievements in the arts, business, healthcare, education, cultural preservation and literature.
Angelo Antonio Maristela, a contemporary visual artist, has been exhibited internationally in New York, Qatar, Italy and the Philippines and is represented in the permanent collection of the West Point Museum’ Mario “Boyet” Albenio, owner of Tito Rad’s Grill in Queens, has spent two decades using his restaurant as a gathering place for Filipino American collaborations and community causes across New York and New Jersey.
Allan Virtucio, Ericamae Patricio, SoCSKSarGen-USA Award of Excellence recipient and Tito Rad’s Grill owner Mario “Boyet” Albenio, Darlene Borromeo, and Susan Albenio gather in celebration at the organization’s 3rd Biennial International Convention in Queens, embodying the style and pride of their Filipino-American roots. (Photo by Elaine J.E. Degale)
The fashion showcase and induction of new officers was only one part of an evening devoted to recognizing the many ways members of the Southern Mindanao diaspora contribute to their communities.
Cheryl Ann Fox, CRNA, a healthcare professional born to an indigenous princess of General Santos City, is recognized for her clinical and technical precision in surgical and critical-care settings. Charito Banquerigo, an early-childhood educator of more than two decades and cancer survivor is recognized for her enduring commitment to cultivating young minds.
Founding President Rowena Mejia Randman, Darlene Dilangalen, and President Jelin Asamoah honor Angelo Antonio Maristela, one of six principal awardees of excellence at SoCSKSarGen-USA’s 3rd Biennial International Convention, who is an acclaimed contemporary visual artist with his art represented in the permanent collection of the West Point Museum. (Photo by Elaine J.E. Degale)
Arlene Piang Toole, CEO of Blatik Foundation Inc., works to preserve, protect and promote Blaan culture through education and community support, guided by her belief that “poverty is not a barrier but a foundation for a mission.” This writer, Elaine Joy Edaya Degale, a Black Filipino writes under the pen name E.J. Dreamweaver, and her work includes Sunflower: Black Baby and a Book Nook library project in the Philippines supported by the National Book Development Board.
E.J. Dreamweaver, also known as Elaine Degale, is pictured here with her zine collection from Operation Ink Publishing House holding her Award of Excellence given by SoCSKSarGen-USA at its 3rd Biennial International Convention in Sheraton La Guardia East Hotel on August 29, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Elaine J.E. Degale)
Honoring a Community of Service
SoCSKSarGen-USA also recognized veterans and active-duty service members from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Among the veterans were Lieutenant Colonel Edmund Oliveros, Chief Master Sergeant Buford C. Toole, Sergeant Keli K. Asamoah, Corporal Stephen Jesse Randman and Alvin Hower.
Also honored were active service members including Senior Officer Bernabe Gonzales, Petty Officer First Class Marco Paolo Ramirez, Technical Sergeant Rachelle Russel, Technical Sergeant Shane Russel, Senior Airman Julian Derick Estucado, Senior Airman Angelica Ramirez-Allera, and Airman First Class Jed Daniel Estucado.
Together with the six principal community honorees, the service members illustrated the breadth of the network SoCSKSarGen-USA has cultivated: a collection of talents building an American Dream.
Elaine Joy Edaya Degale is a Black-Filipina writer and lecturer at community colleges within the City University of New York (CUNY), and has an Ed.M. and M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University.
She graduated cum laude from Mount Holyoke College where she studied International Relations and Development, and continues to support literacy and food programming efforts in indigenous communities through her Community-Based organization, OperationMerienda.org.
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