Every time Cassey Arrobang steps into the spotlight, she carries more than a microphone. She carries a story.
“As a performer, my greatest goal is to tell a story through every performance,” Arrobang, a Filipino-American transgender woman, singer, dancer and community leader based in Albany, told TOFA News. “Whether it’s a story of sadness, hope, love, or triumph, I want my audience to feel every emotion with me.”
That commitment to authentic storytelling earned Arrobang the Miss PAFCOM LGBTQ 2026 crown – a title presented at the annual LGBTQ pageant organized by the Philippine American Friendship Community, Inc. (PAFCOM), the nonprofit Filipino-American organization based in Jersey City, N.J., that has staged the region’s premier Filipino cultural celebration every June since 1990.
Now in its 36th year, the PAFCOM Annual Grand Parade and Festival (held June 28 at Lincoln Park in Jersey City) draws Filipino-American communities from across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania to celebrate Philippine-American Friendship Day. Beyond its signature parade and cultural festival, PAFCOM runs community programs supporting seniors, youth, veterans and LGBTQ individuals. The Miss PAFCOM LGBTQ competition is among the pageant and cultural events held during festival weekend, spotlighting LGBTQ talent, advocacy and representation within the Filipino-American community.
For Arrobang (also known by her stage name Cassey Fierce), the crown is both a personal milestone and a larger mandate.
“As Ms. PAFCOM LGBTQ 2026, this title serves as a powerful platform to amplify my voice, inspire resilience, lead with compassion, and advocate for equality, inclusion, and hope within our community,” she said.
The road to that stage was not without pain. Arrobang said the most difficult hurdles were not always the most obvious ones.
“As a Filipino transgender woman, my journey has not been easy. I’ve faced many challenges, and sometimes the harshest criticism came from people within my own community,” she said. “There were moments when I was judged, humiliated, and made to feel as though there was no place for someone like me in the entertainment industry. Those experiences were painful, but they never defined me.”
Born with music in her blood (she credits her father as the singer in their family who first inspired her to embrace her voice), Arrobang has built a multifaceted career as a performer, choreographer and digital creator.
She has lent her talents as a volunteer performer to The Outstanding Filipino Americans (TOFA) community and LGBTQ events, bringing her signature energy to stages that celebrate Filipino-American achievement and inclusion across the tri-state area.
By day, she works as a phlebotomist and dialysis technician in Latham, N.Y., caring for patients including military veterans.
“As a healthcare worker, I have the privilege of caring for our veterans and serving the community with compassion, dedication, and respect,” she said. “Every day, I strive to make a positive difference in the lives of those I care for.”
Her service extends far beyond the clinic.
Arrobang has served for a decade as vice president of the Bayanihan Association of the Capital District, one of the Albany region’s leading Filipino-American organizations, and is the founder of the Albany Kidney Walk, which raises awareness and funds to fight kidney disease.
That decade of leadership has sharpened her philosophy.
“Being a good leader isn’t about having the loudest voice — it’s about listening,” she said. “A great leader listens to their people, values their ideas, understands their needs, and leads with compassion, integrity, and respect.”
With her new crown, Arrobang is setting her sights on something bigger than any single title or stage.
“My biggest dream is to help break the stereotypes surrounding transgender individuals and the entire LGBTQ+ community,” she said. “I want to create a world where we are recognized not for our gender identity, but for our character, abilities, and the positive impact we make in society.”
For Arrobang, every performance – and every act of service – is one more step toward that world.
“If my journey can inspire even one person to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams with confidence,” she said, “then I know I have made a meaningful difference.”
