FFG at CSM: A Booth, A Signal, A Movement

By Eleazar Tayag, PT, DPT, MPH, GCS, OCS, COS-C, BCHE
President, Future Foundation Global (FFG)

At the 2026 APTA Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) in Anaheim, thousands of physical therapists gathered to learn, present research, reconnect with colleagues, and shape the future of our profession. In the middle of that dynamic exhibit hall stood something deeply meaningful to many of us: the Future Foundation Global (FFG) booth.

To some, it may have looked like just another booth. To us, it was a statement.

It was a declaration that Filipino physical therapists are not only present in the profession—we are organized, engaged, and ready to lead.

Why the FFG Booth Mattered

For years, Filipino PTs have been quietly contributing to healthcare systems across the United States and around the world. We serve in hospitals, home health, outpatient clinics, academia, administration, research, and entrepreneurship. Many hold advanced certifications, leadership positions, and board appointments. Yet our collective identity has often been fragmented.

The FFG booth at CSM changed that dynamic.

It created a physical space where Filipino PTs could gather, reconnect, and see themselves represented within the larger APTA ecosystem. It gave visibility to a community that has long been influential but not always visible as a unified voice.

Representation matters.

When students walked by and saw Filipino leaders standing confidently in an APTA national conference setting, it sent a message: You belong here. You can lead here. Your heritage and your professional identity can coexist powerfully.

The booth also served as a bridge. It allowed us to engage not only with Filipino PTs, but with non-Filipino colleagues, section leaders, and APTA representatives. Conversations began that otherwise may never have happened. We shared who we are, what FFG stands for, and how we are investing in leadership development, mentorship, and global service.

Visibility creates opportunity. Presence creates influence.

Barriers We Encountered

The journey to CSM was not effortless.

Financial sustainability remains a challenge for young nonprofit organizations. Securing booth space at a national conference requires funding, coordination, and strategic risk-taking. As a volunteer-driven organization, we had to make intentional decisions about resource allocation.

We also faced the barrier of perception. Some may ask, why a Filipino-focused organization? Why emphasize identity within a profession that already promotes inclusion?

The answer is simple: inclusion is strongest when communities are empowered to lead from their strengths. Cultural identity does not divide the profession; it enriches it. By supporting Filipino PT leadership development, we contribute to the broader advancement of APTA and the patients we serve.

Another barrier was internal. Many Filipino professionals are humble by nature. We are service-oriented. We work hard and let results speak for themselves. But stepping into visible leadership requires intentional positioning, strategic communication, and the courage to say: we have something valuable to offer.

The booth required us to step forward collectively.

A Signal to Filipino PT Leadership

Honored Myles Quiben, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA, the first Filipina Fellow of APTA

The presence of FFG at CSM was a signal to our own community.

It signaled that we are ready to formalize pathways for mentorship. That we are serious about leadership incubation. That we are building infrastructure, not just events.

We met students who are searching for guidance. We met early-career clinicians who want to grow beyond clinical competence into influence and innovation. We met seasoned leaders who are ready to give back but needed a structured avenue to do so.

FFG is positioning itself as that avenue.

We envision FFG not simply as a networking organization, but as a leadership incubator for Filipino physical therapists worldwide. Leadership in clinical excellence. Leadership in academia. Leadership in research. Leadership in entrepreneurship. Leadership within APTA sections and chapters.

The booth was a visible marker of that vision.

It told our community: we are organizing for the long term.

A Signal to APTA

Our presence was also a signal to APTA.

Filipino PTs are deeply woven into the fabric of the profession in the United States. Many serve in high-need settings such as geriatrics, home health, rural health, and underserved communities. We contribute significantly to workforce stability and patient access.

By standing at CSM as an organized body, we demonstrated readiness for partnership.

We are not asking merely to be included; we are prepared to collaborate. We are ready to contribute to policy discussions, workforce development, leadership pipelines, and global engagement. We are aligned with APTA’s mission of advancing the profession and improving the health of society.

The FFG booth represented a step toward deeper engagement and shared responsibility for the profession’s future.

What’s Next

A booth is a beginning, not a destination.

The momentum from CSM must now translate into structure and action.

We will continue strengthening our organizational foundation—governance clarity, committee development, communications infrastructure, and financial sustainability.

We will formalize mentorship pathways that connect students and early-career clinicians with established leaders across different practice settings.

We will explore deeper engagement with APTA sections and chapters, identifying opportunities where Filipino PT leaders can serve and contribute at national levels.

Most importantly, we will remain anchored in purpose. FFG exists to serve, develop, and empower Filipino physical therapists so they can elevate the profession and the communities they touch.

This is only the beginning.