SoCSKSarGen USA, Inc. (SOX USA) was founded in 2018 in New York City by former residents of the SoCSKSarGen region of the Philippines, with a mission to connect the community, celebrate its culture, and build stronger ties with partner communities across the United States.
Our 2024-2026 Officers
SoCSKSarGen USA, Inc. welcomed its new set of officers during an induction ceremony held in Newark, New Jersey on September 9, 2023. The incoming leaders were officially inducted by Senen Mangalile, Consul General of the Republic of the Philippines in New York, marking the start of their term for 2024-2026.
The newly elected officers are:
President: Adolfo "Nonoy" Costas Vice-President: Jelin Dohina-Asamoah Secretary: Lois May Reyes Treasurer: Joebert Tiongson Tan Auditor: Cara Tito-Forgea Press Relations Officer: Tuin Rion
This leadership team is tasked with continuing SoCSKSarGen USA's mission of promoting cultural heritage, fostering community engagement, and strengthening ties between the Filipino diaspora and the SOCCSKSARGEN region in the United States.
What SoCCSKSarGen Means
SoCCSKSarGen, formerly known as Central Mindanao in the Philippines, is the administrative region designated as Region XII. Located in south-central Mindanao, its name is an acronym that stands for the region's four provinces and one highly urbanized city, namely: South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City.
How SoCSKSarGen USA Began
SoCSKSarGen USA, Inc. was established in 2018 in New York City—the brainchild of a number of former residents of SoCSKSarGen (also nicknamed Sox, with the exclusion of Cotabato), who envisioned to bring the region closer to its members and partner communities in the United States.
Driven by a shared vision, they sought to create a community organization that would bring the rich culture, traditions, and achievements of their home region closer to Filipinos living in the United States.
From its founding, SOX USA has aimed to connect members across states, foster cultural awareness, and build bridges with partner communities. Beyond social gatherings, the organization serves as a platform to promote the arts, celebrate heritage, support local initiatives back home, and provide a network for Filipinos to collaborate, engage, and give back to the communities that shaped them.
What began as a small idea among passionate individuals has grown into a vibrant organization, uniting former residents, their families, and friends of the region under a shared identity and purpose. SOX USA continues to evolve, celebrating milestones, hosting events, and reinforcing ties between the SOCCSKSARGEN region and the Filipino diaspora across the United States.
Sox USA and the Community
SoCSKSarGen USA president (2018-2023) Rowena Mejia-Randman said in a statement made in a group post on Facebook:
SoCSKSarGen USA, Inc. was recognized by the Philippine Consulate General of New York for its contribution to the Fil-Am community here in the US, specially the Tri-State area and back home in the Philippines. Let us continue to support and push forward our advocacies for the region... for the advancement of our community here and back in our birth place. Wherever we are, and whatever we become, let us not forget the land that molded us. Mabuhay!
SoCSKSarGen USA president (2018-2023) Rowena Mejia-Randman said in a statement made in a group post on Facebook: