UPAA-W Member Represents the Wisconsin Filipino Community at the International Visitor Leadership Program

University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Wisconsin (UPAA-W) Board of Director Floresa Balondo represented the Wisconsin Filipino community at a networking event for the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) hosted by the International Institute of Wisconsin.

The event was part of the U.S. Department of State’s flagship professional exchange program, which promotes mutual understanding through cultural and professional engagement between the United States and international leaders specializing in law, government, and public affairs.

Each year, the U.S. Department of State conducts more than 400 IVLP exchanges, welcoming approximately 4,000 emerging and established professionals from around the world to over 115 communities across the United States. Through these exchanges, participants gain deeper insight into American society, history, culture, innovation, and the nation’s dynamic economy.

The June 2026 delegation included diplomats and senior government officials from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Moldova, the Philippines, Uzbekistan, and South Africa as part of a three-week diplomatic visit across the United States. This exchange is especially significant because it forms part of the U.S. Department of State’s initiative commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, with participants taking part in activities celebrating this historic milestone.

Philippine Delegate: Justice Niño Embuscado

Representing the Philippines was Justice Niño Embuscado, Presiding Judge of Branch 66 of the Metropolitan Trial Court of Makati City. He also serves as a faculty member of the Philippine Judicial Academy, where he provides training for judges and other legal professionals.

Justice Embuscado’s work focuses on expanding access to justice, improving court efficiency, and strengthening legal expertise. He has also contributed to the revision of the Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure through various working groups and committees. Earlier in his career, he served with the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal.

Highlighting Wisconsin’s Vibrant Filipino Community

During the networking event, Ms. Balondo shared with Justice Embuscado that Filipino culture and traditions continue to thrive in Wisconsin through the collaborative efforts of numerous community organizations, including:

• FAAWIS
• PAMANA
• AKBAYAN FANEW
• PAK

She also highlighted the community’s longstanding participation in the Holiday Folk Fair International, the International Institute of Wisconsin’s annual three-day multicultural festival in the Milwaukee area. The festival provides an opportunity for the Filipino community to proudly showcase its rich cultural heritage alongside dozens of other cultural groups.

Building Cultural Connections

Also in attendance were leaders and representatives from the Wisconsin Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Wisconsin Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, organizations that likewise participate in the Holiday Folk Fair International.

Through events such as the IVLP networking reception, cultural and professional connections are strengthened, fostering greater understanding among communities and international leaders while highlighting the contributions of Wisconsin’s Filipino-American community.