This Week with Fil-Am CAG — Friendship Day, Mission of Mercy, and Three School Board Guests

Kumusta, kababayan. This is a big week for Fil-Am CAG — three community events and three important guests at our July Town Hall. Please read all the way through and mark your calendars.

Fil Am Friendship Day — Saturday, July 25

24th Street Park, Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Sponsored by Isla Barkada. Come out for a full day of Filipino food, music, and community — and stop by the Fil-Am CAG booth (Spot “I”) to say hello.

At our tent we’ll be doing three things:

• Signing up new Fil-Am CAG members
• Promoting the Mission of Mercy fundraiser (see below) and taking donations for Mindanao
• Growing our volunteer roster and newsletter list

We need 4–6 volunteers to help staff the booth in shifts from 8:15 AM load-in through 10:30 PM breakdown. If you can give even a two-hour block, reply to this email or reach out to Chairman Angelo Reyes directly. Sunscreen and a smile required — everything else we’ll figure out together.

Mission of Mercy — Earthquake Relief Fundraiser for Mindanao

Friday, July 24, 2026 · 5:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Philippine Cultural Center (PCC), Virginia Beach, VA

An evening of community and compassion to raise relief funds for our brothers and sisters in Mindanao. $40 pre-paid · $45 at the door. Door prizes, 50/50 raffle, food, and fellowship.

Sa Diyos ang awa, sa tao ang gawa. Kapit lang, Mindanao. Kasama ninyo kami.

Donate. Attend. Give hope. Stand with Mindanao.

Mission of Mercy Committee — planning is done

Before the fundraiser, our Mission of Mercy Committee met to lock in every detail — program flow, kitchen, raffle, sponsorships, and door coverage. This is what quiet, unglamorous service work looks like: people who love this community sitting around a table for hours so that Friday night runs smoothly and every dollar reaches the families who need it. Maraming salamat to every committee member who put in the time.

July Town Hall — Tuesday, July 28 · 7:00 PM

Susan’s Kitchenette · 1270 Diamond Springs Rd, Ste 109, Virginia Beach, VA 23455

Our July town hall just got bigger. We are honored to welcome three special guests from the Virginia Beach School Board to Susan’s — two current sitting leaders of the board, and one candidate. Our children, grandchildren, and neighbors’ kids sit in those classrooms every day. The people who set school policy matter, and this is a rare chance to hear from them face-to-face and ask your questions directly.

Kathleen Brown — Chair, Virginia Beach School Board (District 10)

Kathleen Brown serves as Chair of the Virginia Beach School Board and represents District 10. She is a 17-year Virginia Beach resident, wife, and mother of three children in Virginia Beach Public Schools — including a senior graduating in the Class of 2026. Her priorities focus on accountability, transparency, and making sure students have the resources they need to succeed. Learn more at votekathleenbrown.com.

Carolyn Weems — Vice-Chair, Virginia Beach School Board (District 9)

Carolyn Weems serves as Vice-Chair and is the only current teacher on the board. A 42-year resident of District 9, all five of her children graduated from Virginia Beach Public Schools, and three grandchildren attend today. She founded Caitlyn’s HALO and Harbor Hope Center after losing her daughter to an opioid overdose, and she chairs the board’s Workforce Development Committee — where Virginia Beach students earned over 14,500 industry certifications last year. Learn more at carolynweemsforschoolboard.com.

Brigid Kahng — Candidate, Virginia Beach School Board (District 6)

Brigid Kahng is running for the Virginia Beach School Board, District 6. She is coming to Susan’s to introduce herself, share what she’s running on, and take questions from our members. Learn more at brigidkahng.com.

Come with your questions. Come with your concerns. This is exactly the kind of civic conversation Fil-Am CAG exists to host — and to be able to hear from the sitting Chair, Vice-Chair, and a candidate for the board all in one evening is a real gift to our community. Please make time to be there.

Your week at a glance

• Fri, Jul 24 · 5:30–11:00 PM — Mission of Mercy Fundraiser · PCC, Virginia Beach
• Sat, Jul 25 · all day — Fil Am Friendship Day · 24th Street Park, VB Oceanfront
• Tue, Jul 28 · 7:00 PM — July Town Hall with School Board Chair Kathleen Brown, Vice-Chair Carolyn Weems, and District 6 candidate Brigid Kahng · Susan’s Kitchenette

Add your voice. Strengthen the community.

— Angelo Reyes
Chairman, Fil-Am Community Action Group