AURORA, Colorado — The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) opened its 16th National Empowerment Conference on Friday at the Hyatt Regency Aurora-Denver Conference Center, launching two days of programming focused on leadership, civic engagement, and community-building. The gathering brought Filipino American leaders, professionals, and advocates from across the country for sessions built around the theme “Harnessing the Power of Community: Starting

Filipino-Americans, OFWs, and balikbayans flying home from the U.S. have a new “pasalubong flex” in their luggage — the now‑iconic Trader Joe’s mini canvas tote bag, a $3.99 grocery accessory that has exploded into a global status symbol. The craze began when Trader Joe’s released its mini totes in 2024, instantly causing buying frenzies, Reddit hunts, and resale markups reaching as high as $499 on eBay. The bags, originally priced at just $3.99. became so sought-after that t