Filipino American lawyers honor trailblazers, mark 60 years since 1965 immigration reforms

IRVINE - The Filipino American Lawyers of Orange County gathered at the Irvine Marriott for their eighth annual gala on Friday, an evening that blended ceremony with reflection.

But beneath the formality ran a shared awareness of history: the date, Oct. 3, marked 60 years since the signing of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965--the law that made many of their families' journeys possible.

The Act abolished the national origins quota system and, for the first time, opened U.S. immigration to countries in Asia and the Pacific. Many of those in the ballroom could trace their presence back to that shift in policy.

"My parents came here because of that law," Vince M. Mojica of Ogletree Deakins, who made the introductions, reflected. "Every generation since has been writing a chapter of that same story--finding a place, contributing, and building community."

This year's theme, kapwa, translated loosely as "shared self," was threaded through the evening's speeches. It described the sense of connectedness that ties individual progress to collective advancement.

Mistress of ceremonies Christina Zabat-Fran, FLOC founder and General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Lanvin Group, opened with that idea.

"We're here because of the people who lifted us up," she said. "FLOC was founded on that principle--that when one of us advances, we all move forward. Tonight is about honoring that shared journey."

In 2024, Zabat-Fran made history herself as the first Filipina president of the Orange County Bar Association.

The Trailblazer Award went to Judge Patrick J. Bumatay, the first Filipino American appointed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

"The Declaration of Independence is more than a founding document--it's a statement of shared values," he told the crowd. "The promise that all are created equal, endowed with the same rights, is what allowed families like mine to build a future here."

He spoke about his grandfather, who arrived in the United States in the 1920s to work as a farm laborer, and about his parents, both doctors who immigrated in the 1970s.

"The American dream struck my family three times," he said. "It's not perfection we inherit-- it's possibility. And every generation has to protect it."

The Community Advocate Award honored Kathay Feng, senior deputy with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk and former executive director of California Common Cause. She was recognized for her role in creating California's Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission, which moved the power to draw electoral maps from legislators to the public.

Feng used her remarks to trace that reform back to the same concept of kapwa.

"When we drew what became known as the 'unity maps,' we were asking people to see how their struggles connected," she said. "By defending your rights, I protect my own. That's kapwa in action."

She recalled how coalitions of Latino, Black, and Asian American groups joined forces to push for fair representation, an effort that led to two statewide ballot victories in 2008 and 2010.

"The work was about inclusion," she said. "Democracy thrives when communities see themselves in it -- and when no one's voice is left out."

The Judge of the Year Award went to Judge Julian C. Recana of the Los Angeles County Superior Court. His father, Mel "Red" Recana, appointed in 1981, was the first Filipino American judge in the United States.

Introducing him, Carolyn E. Sieve of Constangy Brooks Smith & Prophete LLP described a story that "could have been written as a family chronicle of public service." Judge Julian Recana's path, she said, "wasn't about stepping into his father's shadow--it was about continuing his light."

In his remarks, Recana said, "My father's appointment was life-changing for me. He showed me what was possible. When I was sworn in 34 years later, he was the one holding the Bible. That's a circle I'll never forget."

Recana spoke of the support networks that helped him reach the bench. "Organizations like FLOC and the Philippine American Bar Association made a difference for me," he said. "Without them, I wouldn't be here. They remind us that none of us advances alone."

He also acknowledged his wife, Alexis, and their children, who performed the National Anthem at the gala.

"This is a tough profession," he said. "We deal with stress and uncertainty. What keeps me grounded is my family. They remind me that law is about service, not status."

The Liwanag Leadership Award was presented to Michel B. Fermin, chief assistant deputy district attorney of San Bernardino County, recognized for his three decades in prosecution and community service.

"Liwanag means light," said Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Bryan F. Clavecilla, who presented the award. "Michel's career reflects that light through integrity, mentorship, and service."

In his speech, Fermin told the crowd that their presence together "reminds us that leadership is not about standing above, but standing with. Whether in the courtroom, the classroom, or mentoring the next generation, my hope has always been to light a path that others can continue walking long after me."

He turned toward the younger lawyers and students in the audience. "Remember that success in this profession is not measured by the number of cases you win, but by the lives you uplift," he said. "Justice is never done in isolation--it is forged in community."

The FLOC Star Award went to Vincent M. Gonzales of Southern California Gas Co., honored for his support of FLOC's programs. Scholarships were awarded to Kate Cudiamat, Chapman University Fowler School of Law, and Robina Henson, UCLA School of Law, both recognized for academic promise and community engagement.

The evening also marked the close of Mark D. Servino's term as FLOC president. Servino, senior assistant Orange County Counsel and one of FLOC's founders, was the first Filipino American to hold that post. The incoming 2025-26 board will be presided over by Orange County Deputy District Attorney Tina Hanley.