FilAm ARTS, the organization who brings us Southern California's Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) every year, just launched a new campaign to stimulate Pilipino American businesses - Buy Pinoy. This campaign connects Pil-Am owned businesses and Pil-Am customers in a network of mutual support.
As you might know, many Pilipino Americans are taking the opportunity in this chaotic economy to become business leaders, and many of the services and products you find at a mainstream shop are also provided locally by Pilipino American entrepreneurs.
To find out how you can support the business community and get some great services and products in return, read Dave Masen of FilAm Art's statement below:
FILAM ARTS LAUNCHES FIRST-EVER “BUY PINOY” CAMPAIGN
Los Angeles Area Filipinos Unite To Build Filipino Business Community, Encourage Ongoing Support
LOS ANGELES, June 11, 2010 – Los Angeles community arts organization, FilAm ARTS today launches Buy Pinoy (www.buypinoy.org), a first-of-its-kind community- building campaign to stimulate massive support for Pilipino-owned businesses. By demonstrating the collective $35 billion spending power of Los Angeles-area Pilipinos, the eight-week campaign from June 12, 2010 in commemoration of Philippine Independence Day to August 12, 2010, is designed to showcase the power of community building through conscious economic support, and encourage ongoing investment in the Plipino community.
Offered as a free service by FilAm ARTS, the Buy Pinoy campaign includes an online directory of Los Angeles-area Pilipino-owned businesses, including those serving the densely populated areas of the City of Los Angeles, Eagle Rock, Glendale, Panorama City, West Covina, Cerritos, Carson, and Chino Hills. The site also allows small businesses with no storefronts to have an online presence, and up and coming artists to showcase their art pieces.
“Despite the size of the local Los Angeles-area Pilipino population, the community is still virtually invisible, making it a challenge when vying for community investment dollars,” said Jilly Canizares, executive director of FilAm ARTS. “Through the Buy Pinoy campaign, our hope is that the greater Los Angeles community takes notice of the economic power of Pilipinos, therefore stimulating more investment in the community.”
Consumers can support the Buy Pinoy campaign by patronizing businesses listed in the Buy Pinoy directory and by encouraging friends and family to do the same. They can also download the Buy Pinoy coupon for special pricing or promotions offered by Buy Pinoy businesses.
Media sponsors for the Buy Pinoy campaign are: Asian Journal, LA-18, and BakitWhy.com.
The Buy Pinoy campaign is also supported in part by the James Irvine Foundation and the California Community Foundation, with the community support of Southern California Pilipino American Student Alliance (SCPASA).
Visit www.buypinoy.org for more information. To join the campaign, contact Campaign Director Dave Masen at (213) 380-FPAC or dave@filamarts.org.
About FilAm ARTS
FilAm ARTS is an 19-year-old community arts organization whose purpose is to engage diverse populations in cultural arts production as a synergistic approach to individual and community self-determination and empowerment.
FilAm ARTS has three ongoing public programs:
1. The Pilipino Artists Network - a CA-statewide capacity-building network for multidisciplinary artists to share ideas and resources.
2. Eskuwela Kultura - an arts education program that promotes cultural understanding and tolerance among inner-city youth; and
3. The Annual Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture – a 19-year-old community arts program that takes place every September at Pt. Fermin Park in San Pedro, Los Angeles.
For more information, visit www.filamarts.org.
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