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Komunidad 4:
FBANC FOR ALL
Sat. Feb. 25, 2023
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Komunidad is a conference for Pilipinx American Law Students.
This year’s conference, like previous iterations, is a joint collaboration between FBANC and Fil-Am student organizations at law schools in Northern California (Berkeley Law; UC College of the Law, San Francisco; Univ. of San Francisco; Golden Gate Univ.; Santa Clara Univ.; and UC Davis). Our keynote speaker is Professor James Zarsadiaz. 2023 is the fourth year FBANC has hosted Komunidad, which aims to serve current and aspiring law students.
Thank you to our generous program sponsor!
Thank you to all our attorney and law student volunteers!
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Komunidad is returning as a fully in-person event!!
The conference keynote and panels will be recorded for future viewing. The panelists included Fil-Am attorneys, students and other professionals. Law students moderated the panels.
SCHEDULE (all times PT)
Location: UC College of the Law, San Francisco
9:00am: Registration and breakfast/coffee
10:00am: Welcome Remarks from FBANC President Ray Rollan
10:05am: Welcoming Keynote from Christopher Punongbayan
10:30am: Resume Review and Mock Interviews
11:15am: PANEL 1 - Mental Health Session Q&A and FIreside Chat
12:15pm: Lunch
12:45pm: Komunidad Keynote - Professor James Zarsadiaz
01:30pm: PANEL 2A - Navigating Law School
PANEL 2B - Financial Literacy for Legal Careers
02:45pm: PANEL 3 - Effective Networking for All Career Stages
03:45pm: Networking Activities
05:00pm: Happy Hour
Further information below:
Questions? Contact FBANC Mentorship Co-Chairs Armbien Sabillo (armbiensabillo@fbanc.org) and James Villanueva (jamesvillanueva@fbanc.org).
Welcoming Keynote
Christopher Punongbayan is the Executive Director of California ChangeLawyers, a community foundation whose mission is to build a better justice system for all Californians. ChangeLawyers empowers the next generation of legal changemakers through grants and scholarships totaling $1M+ annually.
Over the last twenty years, Chris has gained deep experience in social justice issues. He profoundly believes in giving voice to the unheard, breaking down barriers, and creating strategic alliances to advance equity. Prior to joining ChangeLawyers, Chris was the executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus and held positions in a number of nonprofit organizations in California and New York. He was formerly the Vice-Chair of the California Asian & Pacific Islanders Affairs Commission and the San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission.
His accomplishments have since earned him recognition from the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California (2022 Trailblazer), California Asian Pacific American Bar Association (2020 Attorney of the Year), Ford Foundation New Voices Fellowship, the Gerbode Foundation, and the Levi Strauss Foundation, which named him a Pioneer in Justice. A native of Massachusetts and the son of immigrants from the Philippines, Chris graduated cum laude from Brown University with a degree in Asian American Studies and UCLA School of Law where he completed the Critical Race Studies concentration and the Epstein Program in Public Interest Law and Policy.
KOMUNIDAD KEYNOTE:
Professor James Zarsadiaz
James Zarsadiaz is Associate Professor of History and Director of the Yuchengco Philippine Studies Program. He specializes in urban and suburban history, Asian American history, and the twentieth-century United States. Prof. Zarsadiaz was a fellow at both the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History and Asian Pacific American Center. Prior to entering academia, James worked in the U.S. House of Representatives.
He is the author of Resisting Change in Suburbia: Asian Immigrants and Frontier Nostalgia in L.A. (University of California Press, 2022). Prof. Zarsadiaz's research articles include: "Design Assimilation in Suburbia: Asian Americans, Built Landscapes, and Suburban Advantage in Los Angeles's San Gabriel Valley since 1970" (co-authored with Becky Nicolaides), which won the Urban History Association's Arnold Hirsch Award and the Vernacular Architecture Forum's Catherine W. Bishir Prize; "Raising Hell in the Heartland: Filipino Chicago and the Anti-Martial Law Movement, 1972- 1986," which received an Honorable Mention from the Filipino Section of the Association for Asian American Studies; and "Methodists against Martial Law: Filipino Chicagoans and the Church's Role in a Global Crusade." James has also published work in Amerasia Journal, International Migration Review, Journal of Asian American Studies, Journal of Social History, New Jersey Studies, and Pacific Historical Review, as well as for media outlets including City Lab, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Washington Post. He has done live interviews on ABC, BBC, CBS, MSNBC, NBC, NPR, and Southern California Public Radio regarding current affairs and his research.
KOMUNIDAD PANEL 1:
Mental Health Session Q&A and Fireside Chat
11:15am, Room 333 LL02
Speaker: Margaret Lee, Psy.D.
Dr. Lee is a licensed psychologist in California, with more than 20 years of clinical experience, in a variety of settings, including the Student Counseling center at UC San Diego, prior to joining the staff at UC Davis. She recently relocated to the Davis/Sacramento area. Most of her experience has been in San Diego, CA specializing in multicultural populations, at community mental health agencies, non-profit organizations and private practice. Dr. Lee has taught multicultural counseling at CSPP in San Diego for several years as an adjunct professor. She has a special interest in working with immigrants and refugees and provides psychological evaluations and expert testimony for immigration court. Having worked closely with attorneys on these cases and understanding their challenges and needs for good self-care, made the position of psychologist at the School of Law Satellite particularly appealing to her. Dr. Lee is located at King Hall and is dedicated to serving the counseling needs of UC Davis law students.
Moderated by:
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Ben Ylo
Ben Ylo (he/him) is a 2L at UC Davis School of Law (King Hall). He earned his BS in Business Administration, with a concentration in Finance, Real Estate and Law from Cal Poly Pomona.
He is currently one of the co-chairs of the Filipinx Law Student Association at King Hall. In addition, he is a member of the UC Davis Law Review and the King Hall Negotiations Team. This summer, he will be a Summer Associate at the San Francisco office of Holland & Knight LLP. In his spare time, Ben loves to watch the Lakers and Steelers play, and he loves to go bowling as well!
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Michaela Gines
Michaela Gines (she/her) is a 2L at UC Davis School of Law (King Hall). She earned a simultaneous degree in Business Administration (B.S.) and Political Science (B.A.) at UC Berkeley.
She is currently one of the co-chairs of the Filipinx Law Student Association at King Hall. In law school, she’s a member of the UC Davis Law Review, the King Hall Negotiations Team, and the King Hall Admissions Ambassador Program. She also participated in the Wage Claim Clinic. Over the summer, she worked as a legal intern for Accenture LLP. In her free time, Michaela loves to do yoga, bike, and listen to podcasts!
KOMUNIDAD PANEL 2A:
Navigating Law School (for 1Ls and 2Ls)
01:30pm (same time as Panel 2B), Room 200 123
Speakers
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Danielle Silva
Danielle (she/her/hers) is a 3L at the University of San Francisco Law who is interested in immigration law. She spent her 1L summer with the Federal Public Defender's Office of the Eastern District of Arkansas through the Keta Taylor Colby Death Penalty Project (Post-Conviction Criminal Law) and her 2L summer at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy.
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Eanna Mejia
Eanna (she/her/hers) is a 2L at the University of San Francisco Law who is interested in family and divorce law. She spent her 1L summer at California Rural Legal Assistance, her 2L summer as a Law Clerk with the San Francisco City Attorney's Office Health Team, and her 2L year as a Law Clerk at Hoover Krepelka.
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Kyle Selor
Kyle (he/him/his) is a 2L at UC Law SF who is interested in becoming a prosecutor. He spent his 1L summer at the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office, and is returning there as an Honors Clerk this summer.
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Rizelle Dizon
Rizelle (she/her/hers) is a 3L at UC Law SF who is interested in Civil Rights Law and Appellate Litigation. She spent her 1L summer at Contra Costa District Attorney's Office Homicide Department and her 2L summer at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, where she is returning postbar.
Moderators:
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Sofia Maristela
Sofia Maristela (they/them) is a 2L at UC Law SF. They received their undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley, where they studied Political Economy and Human Rights.
In addition to their involvement in PALS, Sofia is also a student leader for the UCLSF Legal Aid and Referral Clinic and a board member and coach for the UCLSF moot court team. They are interested in pursuing a career in litigation, and spent last summer at Bertrand, Fox, Eliot, Osman & Wenzel LLP as a public litigation intern. In their spare time, Sofia enjoys taking care of their plants, exploring new food spots in the city, and watching movies.
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Regge Galac
Regge Galac is a 2L at UC Law SF. He was born and raised in the Phiippines and later immigrated to the US when he was 8. He received his Bachelor’s Degree at UCLA where he majored in Political Science and Spanish and Lingusitics.
Regge also holds several executive board positions in other affinity organzations on campus, such as the Vietnamese American Law Society and the Asian and Pacific American Law Student Association. He also serves as a staff editor for UC Law SF’s Business Law Journal. Last summer, he worked at Albertsons Companies Inc as a summer associate for their legal department. In his spare time, you can catch Regge in the kitchen cooking while listening to podcasts and Kpop.
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Mark Gravador
Mark Gravador (he/him) is a 2L at UC Law SF. He earned his BA in Politics with a concentration in Law and Justice and a minor in Legal Studies from the University of San Francisco.
He is currently on the executive board for the Pilipinx American Law Society and is a competitor for the UCLSF Moot Court team. Last summer, he participated in the Judicial Internship Opportunity Program where he worked at the Washington State Court of Appeals: Division II in Tacoma, Washington. In his spare time, he loves to bike outdoors, watch movies, and go to concerts.
KOMUNIDAD PANEL 2B:
Financial Literacy for Legal Careers (for 3Ls and Junior Attorneys)
01:30pm (same time as Panel 2A), Room 333 LL01
Speakers:
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Manuel Tumaneng
Manny features an MBA from the University of San Francisco, a JD from Santa Clara University Law School, and an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He currently holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® designation. Manny focuses on optimizing wealth while minimizing risk. He is deeply connected to the needs and issues of the Filipino community, and the Asian community as a whole, having served on numerous boards in the business and legal communities.
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Greg Wood
Greg’s goal-oriented approach to wealth management focuses on intricate and flexible planning to meet clients’ ever-changing needs. As a former eighteen-year Naval Aviator, Greg has incorporated his ability to remain adaptable in dynamic environments into his wealth management practice.
Greg is from the city and earned a B.S. in Economics from the United States Naval Academy and features an M.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. Greg currently resides in Tiburon with his wife, Kimberly.
Moderator: Armbien Sabillo
Armbien Sabillo, Ph.D., J.D. (he/him) is Associate Counsel at Gilead Sciences. Armbien’s practice includes preparation and prosecution of patent applications, strategic portfolio management, and intellectual property due diligence. His fields of expertise include developmental, molecular, and cell biology, covering technologies such as gene therapies, molecular diagnostics, and cell-based treatments.
Armbien earned his J.D. at Berkeley Law, his Ph.D. in Molecular & Cell Biology at UC Berkeley, and his B.S. in Physiology at San Francisco State University. As a queer Pilipino immigrant, Armbien is passionate about serving his communities. He maintains a pro bono practice working on immigration and naturalization matters, and advises local lower-income inventors. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Community Resources for Science (CRS), a science education non-profit that provides free science lessons to schools in Oakland and the greater Bay Area.
KOMUNIDAD PANEL 3:
Effective Networking for All Career Stages
02:45pm, Room 333 LL02
Speakers:
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Mika Domingo
Mika Domingo is the award-winning Managing Attorney of M.S. Domingo Law Group, P.C. an estate planning, trusts and estates administration and litigation firm located in Walnut Creek, California.
Mika served as a Deputy Attorney General with the Attorney General’s Office and worked for a trusts and estates firm before launching her own practice in 2017. Mika fulfills her commitment to fairness, legitimacy and equality with the legal community by serving on numerous boards, including as current President of the California Women Lawyers, a statewide organization chartered in 1974, dedicated to advancing women in the profession of law, and eliminating all forms of inequities. She served as Co-Chair of the Judicial Evaluations Committee for CWL for the past 8 years, as Past President of Contra Costa County Bar Association’s Women’s Section, Past Chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee for CCCBA, and served on the State Bar of California’s Committee of Bar Examiners. In addition to her current role as President of CWL, she is also Co-Director of Professional Development for the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California, and a Board Member for California Asian Pacific American Bar Association (Cal-APABA).
Mika believes that the justice system should work to benefit everyone, not just the few. She fulfills these same commitments to her clients by implementing a client-centered approach – meaning, she places herself in the shoes of those whom she represents. Because the stress and anxiety of pending litigation can cause barriers to communication, empathizing with her clients can overcome that barrier and contribute to a greater success in the litigation process: treating the client as a person, not just another “case.”
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Alyssa Daatio
Alyssa V. Daatio is an Associate at Aaron, Riechert, Carpol and Riffle, APC, and currently practices in the areas of Estate Planning, Trusts, Conservatorships, and Probate. She is an active member of the San Mateo County Bar Association and serves on the Race and Social Justice Task Force Committee.
Alyssa graduated from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2019, where she was awarded the 2019 Pursuit of Justice Award for her demonstrated commitment to providing service to others through legal experience, community and volunteer service, and service to the law school and other law students. While in law school, Alyssa served as the Co-Vice President of the Pilipino American Law Society (“PALS”), and as the Co-Chair for the Public Interest Law Foundation (“PILF”).
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Ryan Manuel
Ryan Louie O. Manuel is an associate at Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP, where he defends professionals in civil lawsuits and administrative claims, including real estate brokers, appraisers, lawyers, insurance agents, and accountants, engineers, architects, contractors, subcontractors, and miscellaneous professionals and quasi-professionals.
Ryan graduated from USF School of Law in 2019 and obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara. As FBANC’s Social Director, Ryan wants to collaborate with other FBANC directors and committees to organize social events that are engaging, informative, fun, and inclusive to all.
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Marc Pilotin
Marc A. Pilotin is the Regional Solicitor for the U.S. Department of Labor's San Francisco Region. Before becoming Regional Solicitor, Mr. Pilotin was the General Counsel of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), the state agency that combats wage theft, ensures workplace health and safety, and administers various worker benefit programs. As General Counsel, he oversaw the LWDA’s legal affairs, which included prosecuting workers’ rights violations, defending California’s workplace standards, and various rulemaking actions.
Previously, Mr. Pilotin litigated employment and antitrust class actions at Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein. He was a law clerk to United States District Judge Claudia Wilken of the Northern District of California. In the community, he has served as president of the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California and as chair of the Oakland Public Ethics Commission.
Mr. Pilotin graduated from the UC Berkeley School of Law, where he has been a lecturer. He has a Master of Education degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA.
Moderators
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Nicole Ramos
Nicole (she/hers) is a 3L at the University of San Francisco, School of Law. She received her BS degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology from Chaminade University of Honolulu.
Nicole was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i. She just finished interning for Kids in Need of Defense. She is currently the Co-President for the Pilipinx American Law Society at USF and the Mentorship Chair in APALSA.During her free time, she loves to weight lift, watch the Warriors, and if she’s at home, you’ll find her hiking Koko Head Crater, laying on a beach, or watching the sunset on China Walls.
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Eric Alido
Eric Paul Alido (he/his) is a 3L at the University of San Francisco. He received his BA degree in sociology, with a minor in counseling, at San Diego State University.
He is currently Co-President for the Pilipinx American Law Society and is a Development Director for the Moot Court Board at USF. Eric is currently a law clerk at FisherBroyles, LLP and receives amazing experience and knowledge from the mentors he works with. To relax, Eric loves to spend time with his family and watch the Chargers and Lakers!
Komunidad Planning Committee
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Armbien Sabillo
James Villanueva
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Sofia Maristela (2L)
Regge Galac (2L)
Mark Gravador (2L)
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Michaela Gines (2L)
Ben Ylo (2L)
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Eric Alido (3L)
Nicole Ramos (3L)
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Previous Komunidad Conferences
If you would like to see videos, information, and photos from earlier Komunidad Conferences between 2020 and 2022, click here. Thanks so much for your interest in Komunidad!