Makisama & Manhood
Pinoy/AAPI Fathers Leading with Heart
Friday, June 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM
On Zoom
A Space for Men of Color
A recurring theme in recent community conversations is the need for spaces where men and men of color (MOC) can gather for professional development, reflection, discussion, and support. Our June 2026 panel is being organized with that need in mind, especially as many local leadership spaces this season have demonstrated success in bringing together women and girls, including LEAD Filipino's 2026 Fly Pinays Leadership Summit on March 28, 2026.
Makisama in the Filipino dialect Tagalog means “to get along with” or “to cooperate.” It reminds us that there are ways of being that can sustain positive social relationships and of the importance of connectedness.
Why This Panel and Why Now
This outreach is grounded in partnership and community leadership. It is reaching out first to trusted Pinoy and AAPI leaders, including those connected to Silicon Valley. The goal is to convene a thoughtful conversation for Pinoy and broader AAPI men on visibility, healing, leadership, and support during the Father's Day-season.
The panelists for this workshop are:
Friday, June 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM
On Zoom
A Space for Men of Color
A recurring theme in recent community conversations is the need for spaces where men and men of color (MOC) can gather for professional development, reflection, discussion, and support. Our June 2026 panel is being organized with that need in mind, especially as many local leadership spaces this season have demonstrated success in bringing together women and girls, including LEAD Filipino's 2026 Fly Pinays Leadership Summit on March 28, 2026.
Makisama in the Filipino dialect Tagalog means “to get along with” or “to cooperate.” It reminds us that there are ways of being that can sustain positive social relationships and of the importance of connectedness.
Why This Panel and Why Now
This outreach is grounded in partnership and community leadership. It is reaching out first to trusted Pinoy and AAPI leaders, including those connected to Silicon Valley. The goal is to convene a thoughtful conversation for Pinoy and broader AAPI men on visibility, healing, leadership, and support during the Father's Day-season.
The panelists for this workshop are:
- Roderick Bersamina, Strategic Partnerships Development Manager at Google
- John A. Gutierrez, Principal of Jalore Strategy
- Rolland Janairo, CEO of the Silicon Valley Urban Debate League (SVUDL)
- Ben Menor, Board Member of the San Francisco FilAm Chamber of Commerce
- Ron Muriera, Director - Arts Industry Support in the Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs for the City of San Jose
Sponsored By
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AdvancED Consulting, LLC
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LEAD Filipino
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Meet the Co-Hosts
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ANTHONY LE |
RON RAPATALO |
Anthony is the founder of Fulfilled Journeys, a practitioner and guide for leadership empowerment and healing. He walks alongside people on their journey to wholeness — supporting them to move through what's holding them back and into who they're becoming. Over time, Anthony's modalities have shifted beyond the traditional Western coaching and talk-therapy framework into a more powerful integration of healing and empowerment work — one that engages mind, body, spirit, and story. He creates spaces where emerging leaders, and especially people of color, can reflect, heal, and lead — as children, partners, friends, and the kind of elders our communities need. |
Ron Rapatalo is a partner at Stronger Consulting, where he leads business development and executive search work across education and nonprofit sectors. A seasoned recruiter, coach, and facilitator, Ron specializes in helping organizations find and support transformative leaders while building systems rooted in equity and human-centered values. He also coaches leaders of color through affinity spaces and one-on-one engagements. Outside of his client work, Ron hosts the RONderings podcast, sharing stories and insights from social impact leaders. A husband, father of two (soon three), and powerlifting enthusiast, he brings intentionality, resilience, and heart to everything he does. |
Meet the Panelists
RoDERICK BERSAMINA
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Pronouns: He/His
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/roderick-bersamina-a038527 Rod is a Partnerships Manager at Google, driving growth through strategic partnerships with ecosystem partners like Samsung and Micron. Before joining Google, Rod served full-time in the Air National Guard (USAF) as Chief of Public Affairs and Personnel Director for the 129th Rescue Wing. Rod previously served as a Field Representative for Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo (ret.) and as a Government Relations Representative for PG&E. Rod is a graduate of San José State University's School of Journalism. |
John A. Gutierrez
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Pronouns: He/His
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/john-a-gutierrez-policy/ John Gutierrez is the Principal of Jalore Strategy, a strategic advisory firm specializing in regulatory navigation and public policy within the telecommunications and utilities sectors. With over 30 years of experience—including 23 years at Comcast as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs—John has a proven track record of translating complex regulatory requirements into operational success. A veteran advocate for the API community, John served as Board Chair of the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce and has spent decades fostering diverse entrepreneurship, civic, and community leadership across California. John resides in Union City, CA with his wife and two adult sons. |
Rolland Janairo
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Pronouns: He/His
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rolland-janairo Rolland was born and raised in New York City to parents who immigrated from the Philippines, Rolland has developed a deep appreciation for the transformative power of education as a product of the NYC public school system. While attending and after graduating from Brown University, Rolland volunteered and taught at a preschool in Providence, Rhode Island. He later earned his Masters Degree in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Rolland has worked in the education nonprofit sector for more than 20 years, contributing to the missions of Jumpstart for Young Children, Life is Good Playmakers, and World Savvy. Rolland joined the Silicon Valley Urban Debate League as its CEO in December 2018. Across all these roles, Rolland's focus has been on supporting students to reach their full potential by empowering the caring adults around them to do the same. In his spare time, Rolland enjoys running, cooking, and exploring the Bay Area with his wife and two boys. 
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Ben Menor
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Pronouns: He/His
Ben Menor, Jr., known as "Manong Ben," is an educator and servant leader dedicated to empowering the next generation. Over five decades, he has championed collective progress, nurturing our shared heritage for future leaders. As a pioneer of the Pilipino Cultural Night (PCN) movement, Ben has spent his life creating spaces for youth to connect with their roots. Today, he advocates for community wellness, the "Where are the Manangs" movement, and Filipino WWII veterans. For Manong Ben, leadership is not about title; it is about service, mentorship, and building a foundation for our youth to soar. |
Ron P Muriera
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Pronouns: He/His
IG: @rpmuriera LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rpmuriera Substack: @ronpmuriera With an emphasis in the areas of arts & culture, social justice, human services and educational equity, Ron's mission in life is to create a healthier, better educated and more equitable and inclusive society. Passionate about helping organizations and agencies better serve their constituents, Ron has for over 20 years partnered and worked with governmental agencies, school districts, non-profit organizations, arts and cultural institutions and educational systems to improve their effectiveness, expand their services, and target their resources to better serve their communities. Ron served on the City of San Jose Arts Commission and the boards of several nonprofit organizations: Red Ladder Theatre Company, (founding Board President) and the Japanese American Museum of San José. He also served as a national trustee for the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), and was a trustee and former Board Vice Chair for the California History Center at De Anza College. Ron is currently Arts Industry Support Director with the City of San José Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs, and continues to serve on the advisory boards of California for the Arts, a statewide arts advocacy organization, California Arts Advocates, and is the newly elected Vice Chair of the World Arts West Board of Directors, a nationally-recognized organization advocating for cultural arts communities. |