The Young Filipino Professionals Association (YFPA) launched in May 2002 as a collaborative forum for Filipino-American professionals to connect and collaborate. It was started by three classmates from the University of San Francisco: Neil Baquiran, Greg Montemayor and Roselle Rapadas. The three recognized a need in the San Francisco Bay Area for a Fil-Am professional group that would create and support professional networking, educational and community service activities.

The purpose was to build a stronger, well-established and respected Fil-Am business community. This purpose translated in to YFPA’s long-lasting mantra: “Connect. Educate. Serve.” With that purpose in mind, the initial twelve board members, who were from a variety of professional backgrounds, built the operational, legal and strategic infrastructure of YFPA through a variety of road mapping, discovery and implementation sessions. From this initial foundation, YFPA's leadership and membership began its mission to foster professional connections, ideas, and expertise to support and engage young Filipino professionals in the greater San Francisco Bay Area.