ON GLOBAL FILIPINOS Luly Esclamado, the silent power behind NaFFAA
By Loida Nicolas Lewis
In August 2026, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) celebrated the nearly 29 years of its founding in Denver, Colorado.
The host committee headed by Giselle Rushford, supported by NaFFAA National Chair Mariela Fletcher, decided that the first part of the agenda would be the panel of the “Originals” or those who were the pioneers of NaFFAA, among them Gloria Caoile (the first Vice President), Jon Melegrito (the first Executive Director), Rodel Rodis, Michael Dadap, and yours truly.
The true founder of NaFFAA was actually the late Alex Esclamado, whose vision is to have an organization for Filipino Americans and Filipinos in the United States.
From April to August 1997, Alex and his better half Luly travelled to 27 U.S. cities to invite FilAm community leaders to this organization he was trying to create.
It bore fruit. NaFFAA held its First Empowerment Conference in Washington D.C. in 1997. Around 1,000 FilAms answered the call for unity. That was the beginning of NaFFAA some 29 years ago.
However, the “hidden ingredient” in such a successful first conference was the silent presence and steady support of the wife of Alex, no other than his faithful and resourceful wife, Lourdes Mitra Esclamado, known to all as Luly.
As Gloria Caoile fondly remembered at her eulogy for Luly in June 2026, Luly ’s contributions to NaFFAA were indelible and enduring. Her obituary states that she passed away on May 13, 2026 in Rolesville, North Carolina. She was 95. She and Alex (Alejandro) met in Baguio in 1951. Together they have seven children, 14 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Gloria was a long-time friend and close associate of Alex and Luly even before NaFFAA’s founding. She delivered this accolade to the First Lady of NaFFAA dedicating it to the couple’s seven adult children:
“Your mother, Luly, was one of those rare pillars — a quiet, steady, unwavering force whose presence strengthened NaFFAA in ways that were deeply felt, even if not always publicly seen.
“When your Father, Alex, started his journey in founding NaFFAA, your mother was always by his side. She carried a kind of power that did not need a microphone or a spotlight. It was the kind of power that holds a community together, supports a leader’s vision, and sustains a movement through grace, loyalty, and quiet strength.
“This year, NaFFAA will open the National Empowerment Conference with a special tribute to your mother — honoring her legacy, her partnership with your father and the profound role she played in the birth and growth of our national organization.”
Her daughter Elisa Esclamado Glenn came to Denver during the Gala Night and received the NaFFAA Carabao Award meant for Lourdes Mitra Esclamado.
