Filipino-American works to create stronger cultural bonds

  • Published
  • By Myra Saxon
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Many Filipino-Americans call the Dayton community their home. They participate in organizations that commemorate the traditions of the Filipino heritage.

Armin M. Sayson, a Filipino native and retired Air Force officer who currently works as a civilian lead engineer for Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, continuously strives for the betterment of the Filipino people.

"After I retired from active duty, I began to get more involved in my culture," said Sayson. "I found that most Filipinos in the military are not tied to the community, they stay closely connected to the base."

Sayson has served six terms as president of the Philippine American Society of Greater Dayton. The group is a non-profit organization that raises funds to support other charities, provide educational scholarships to Filipino students, assists with community projects, and provides aid to towns that experience calamities in the Philippines.

In 2013, when typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines, Sayson led his organization to raise over 15,000 dollars during a fund-raising campaign, purchase food and supplies, and conduct a boots-on-the-ground efforts to distribute them to affected families.

They were also able to raise enough funds to help provide 14 hair lip and cleft palate operations along with other medical procedures for children in the Philippines.
Sayson is the technology director and Region 3 East Chair for the National Federation of Filipino American Association. NaFFAA is a non-partisan advocacy group that ensures the political, educational, social and economic equality of Filipino American citizens.

He is also the Region 4 Director of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project. FilVetREP is a group that is lobbying for Congress to formally recognize Filipino soldiers that served with the US Army during WWII and to have the history books reflect their contributions to the U.S. war effort.

Sayson chairs the Dayton traditional Filipino dance group called Pamana. The group picked up the role of Philippine cultural ambassadors from the Philippine Folk Arts Society of Dayton, which disbanded years earlier.  He and several former PFASD members founded the dance group and named it Pamana, which means inheritance. The group performs at numerous multicultural events throughout the year to include the annual World A'Fair hosted by the Dayton International Festival, Inc.

One of his current endeavors is coordinating with the Consulate General of the Philippines in Chicago to conduct a Consular Outreach in Dayton to offer consular services to local Philippine citizens.

A highlight of his life took place in the very beginning of his military career. His father, who was a retired Army officer, enlisted Sayson and his siblings into the Air Force by performing their Oath of Office. Later, Sayson was picked up for a commissioning program.

Through determination and persistence, learned from his parents, Sayson attained two Associate's degrees in Avionics Systems Technology and Electronics Systems Technology, a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, and two Master's degrees in Systems Management and Electrical/Electronic Engineering.

"It doesn't matter where you come from, what your situation is, how you started out in life, or what race you are," said Sayson. "You can attain all that you want in life as long as you take advantage of every opportunity presented to you. The military made the opportunities available for me, you just have to go after it."