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In the early 70's very few Filipinos were living in the Austin Metropolitan area. The formal non-profit Austin Filipino-American Association (AFAA) grew out of an informal group of about a dozen Austinites who would get together frequently on holidays, birthdays, births, baptisms, and other occasions to socialize. Over the course of time, the small informal social group grew to about a hundred people. Because of its growing size, a move to formalize the social group into a non-profit formal organization was put forth. The charter of incorporation of AFAA by the State of Texas was approved in January 1987. The IRS 501C-3 status of AFAA Foundation of Texas, Inc. was granted in January 2005.
Since its advent in 1987, AFAA had been involved in numerous social and cultural activities under the leadership of the following elected presidents:
1987 – Sonny Graham
1988 – Terry Kearns
1989 – Florminda Abulencia
1990 – Gigi Hobson
1991 – Leo Tennefrancia (deceased)
1992 –
1993 – Anita Hall
1994 – Eddie Morrison
1995 – Delma Teague
1996 – Leo Tennefrancia (deceased)
1997 – Vacant (no election)
1998 – 1999 Erwin Ballarta
2000 – 2001 Martin Lizarraga
2002 – Susan Fifer, Vic Rosuello, Eging Olivarez, and Elena Cablao (core group)
2003 – 2004 Susan Fifer
2005 – 2006 Alegria Olivarez
2007 - Elias Lorenzana Jr.
2008-2009 – Tess Abbott
The following AFAA activities highlighted the organization’s implementation of its mission of providing community assistance and recreation, promoting the Filipino culture, and representing the Filipino community in Austin, Texas and vicinity since its advent in 1987:
- 1998 Philippine Centennial Celebration at the Capitol
- Philippine-Pacific Islands Festival and Friendship Day at the Fiesta Gardens
- Annual Philippine Festival at the Fiesta Gardens
- Annual Flowers of May Festival at the Texas State Capitol Grounds
- Annual Pinoy Idol Contest (singing contest to support the Bantay Bata, ABS-CBN Foundation for child abuse)
- Annual Holiday Gala (as fund raising for charitable organizations like Safe Place in Austin and SAHELI)
- Philippine Traditional Attire Fashion Show
- Philippine Art and Crafts Exhibits
- Annual Fil-Am Basketball Tournaments
- Health Fairs (Filipino doctors and nurses)
- Community Fire Fighter Drill
- Participation with other Asian Organizations like the TACC, NAAO, and AAACC
- Filipino Cuisine Fund Raising
- Creation of the AFAA Youth Association
- Cultural Performing Arts
- AFAA Exhibits at Great Hills Trail Baptist Church
- AFAA Exhibits at Elementary Schools
- Dragon Boat Festival AFAA Dance Troupe participations
- Solicitation of private donation for calamity victims of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption and Leyte mudslide
- Fund Raising to support legal costs for Filipinos in legal embattlement
- Fund Raising for Gawad Kalinga (Housing foundation based in the Philippines)
- Fund Raising for the Tsunami victims (collected private donations from members)
- Solicitation of private donation in support of the NAAO’s Austin Resource Project
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