By ELENA MANGAHAS
Filipinas Magazine
Last October, amidst the backdrop of power and electoral politics in Washington, DC, the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) gathered the "100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the US" at its 5th Annual Filipina Summit—"Pinay Power 2012: Filipina Voices Changing the Face of Power in America." The FWN 100 were celebrated by their peers at a gala awards ceremony for their lasting and significant contributions to the emergence and recognition of Filipina women as influential power brokers in the US
Ignited by an initiative of Filipina Power 2012—a result of the Filipina Summit’s Future Search in 2006—FWN launched a groundbreaking six-month search for remarkable Filipinas who have shifted the course of events in their own areas of influence through ideas, activities, and public interactions. In the one hundred years of Filipino immigration in America, the FWN 100 have moved beyond gender, race and power boundaries, affected change and inspired passion, gathered wisdom and roused compassion, and intuitively redefined how to spread influence in their careers and in the local and national communities in which they thrive.
A selection committee pored through hundreds of pages of letters of nomination, news articles, resumes, biographies, and archival videos and photos. Recognizing these women is a critical first step in changing public perceptions of Filipina women’s capacities to lead, innovate, and influence society and to create strong leadership in the Filipino American community by 2012.
The FWN 100 distinction is a working award. Awardees have pledged to "womantor" the next generation of leaders by forming a new circle of inter-generational women that will sustain the wealth of Filipino heritage and remarkable Pinay leadership for the next 100 years. The "Keepers of the Flame"—an esteemed group of Filipinas, was formed to ensure the Pinay Power 2012 goals are kept alive. The FWN 100 and their protégées will return to the Filipina Summit in 2012.
Who They Are:
Behind the Scenes
1) Asia Yulo-Blume - Community outreach director and advocate for bone marrow donor program
2) Aurora Cavosora Daly - Entrepreneur and mentor
3) Cheely Ann Sy - Executive search consultant and community events organizer
4) Cora Tomalinas - Community organizer, health advocate and task force member
5) Danielle Palomares - Diversity advocate and corporate link to community partnerships
6) Edna Rodis - Two-term president of NorCAL Filipino Nurses Association and community advocate
7) Flor Alcantara-Reyes - Community organizer and cable producer for immigration network
8) Kai Delen-Briones - Junior Golf Champion, coach, administrator and events producer
9) Laarni San Juan - Advocate nurse and teacher of innovative family programs
10) Lolita Kintanar - Resource specialist and advocate for elderly and homeless
11) Lorna Lardizabal Dietz - Public relations specialist and internet communication innovator
12) Maria Jocelyn Bernal - Leader, trainor and mentor for New York Junior Chamber of Commerce
13) Marie Lorraine F. Mallare-Jimenez - Immigrant Rights Commissioner and justice advocate for San Francisco
14) Perla Gange Ibarrientos - Community worker and advocate for mental health care
15) Rosalinda Medina Rupel - Communi-ty worker and events coordinator
16) Susie Quesada - Negotiator for nationwide distribution of Filipino frozen foods
17) Evangeline Canonizado-Buell - Author, folk singer, artist, educator and trustee for historical society
Builders and Emerging Leaders
18) Arlene "Bambi" Lorica - Pediatrician, entrepreneur and community organizer; coloratura
19) Bettina Santos Yap - Consultant, anti-domestic violence advocate, presidential awardee
20) Claire Oliveros - Human rights advocate for the Philippines, Multicultural Center Coordinator, Portland Community College, Oregon.
21) Edna M.Casteel - Non-profit administration expert and board member of the University of San Francisco
22) Genevieve Jopanda - Founding Editor of FWN’s V-Diaries Resource Guide and advocate
23) Jennifer Briones Tjiong - Gold medalist in State, National and International martial arts competitions
24) Laura Izon Powell - Corporate lawyer. shareholder and advocate for women’s rights
25) Laureen Dumadag Laglagaron - Filipino community and immigrant advocate and policy researcher
26) PS1 Lorna Mae DeVera, US Navy- Outreach advocate for Asian Pacific presence in the military
27) Mae Nazareno - Actor, playwright and creator of the bi-national artist exchange
28) Melinda Poliarco - Labor activist and facilitator of partnerships
29) Milagros "Mitos" G. Santisteban - Media executive and cultural trainer
30) Nieves Cortez - One of only two US-based Filipino winemakers and entrepreneur
31) Captain Paz Gomez, US Navy - Service medalist in military service, community advocate
32) Polly Cortez - Founding Director of Filipinas Magazine; community organizer
33) Rebecca Samson - Service medalist in US Army Service, community advocate
34) Regina "Ging" E. Reyes - Creator of ABS-CBN’s "Balitang America" and news bureau head
35) Rose-Ann K. Ubarra - Youth Program Director and youth empowerment advocate
36) Shirley Raguindin, Lt. Col. AzANG - Service medalist in military service; award as Diversity Coordinator
37) Sonia T. Delen - Senior Vice President, Bank of America Leasing and community advocate
38) Susan Afan - Corporate senior management in a Fortune 100 firm
39) Sylvia Lichauco - Real estate entrepreneur and human rights activist
40) Thelma Boac - Educator, mentor and community worker
41) Theresa Tantay Wilson - Founder of improv theatre and Wellness & Activism instructor for Rutgers University in New Jersey
42) Zenei T. Cortez - First Filipina President of California Nurses Association and advocate for nurses
Founders & Pioneers
43) Celia Ruiz-Tomlinson - CEO & President of her own engineering firm, Rhombus
44) Connie S. Uy, MD - Medical educator, Associate Dean of New Jersey Medical School
45) Cora Alisuag - Industrial tech start-up and CORANET smart media inventor
46) Ellen M. Abellera - Filipino PAC activist and Commissioner, Washington State
47) Erlinda Sayson Limcaco - Co-Founder of Phililippine Nurses’ Association and community organizer
48) Gina Lopez Alexander - Creator of innovative handbag designs, CEO and philanthropist
49) Gloria T. Caoile - Community leader and organizer based in Washington, D.C.
50) Joy Bruce - Founder and advocate of elderly and youth services
51) Linda Maria Nietes-Little - Bookseller and entrepreneur; Filipina advocate for culture
52) Loida Nicolas Lewis - Businesswoman and entrepreneur; first Asian woman to pass the New York Bar
53) Ludy Payumo Corrales - Founder of a multi-state mortgage banking company and advocate
54) Luzviminda Sapin Micabalo - Community organizer and civic leader
55) Marietta N. Almazan - Author and founder of psychiatric treatment clinic; medical missioner
56) Mary Carmen Madrid-Crost - Lawyer; advocate for immigrant rights and migrant communities
57) Nimfa Yamsuan Gamez - Business woman and advocate for the developmentally disabled
58) Patricia Lim-Yusah - Creator of Iskwelahang Filipino of Boston and cultural preservationist
59) Rozita Villanueva Lee - Media creator and producer in Hawaii; community organizer
60) Sony Robles Florendo - Business woman and founder of the Foundation for Economic Aid
61) Virna S. Tintiangco - Founder of the Filipina Women’s Network; CEO of Greenlight Titles
Innovators & Thought Leaders
62) Amy Besa - Author and owner of Zagat-rated SoHo restaurant, Cendrillon
63) Angelita Castro-Kelly - First woman NASA Mission Operations Manager; develop and implement mission operations
64) Carissa Villacorta - Author and public relations ingénue based in New York
65) Charmaine Clamor - Performer and creator of "Jazzipino" music genre
66) Connie Mariano - First Fil-Am Rear Admiral in US Naval history and former White House physician
67) Diana J. Galindo - Physician and recognized in the geriatric health community
68) Edith Mijares Ardiente - First Asian and second woman president of a global environmental entity
69) Elena Mangahas - Community activist and organizer
70) Elenita Fe Mendoza Strobel - Author, educator and anthologist of Filipino Babaylan traditions
71) Gemma Nemenzo - Author, columnist and editor
72) Grace G. Baldisseri - Poet, author and stage director
73) Jane Hofileña - Media expert for Latin American educational programming
74) Leila Benitez-McCollum - Retired television program host and media broadcaster
75) Lilia Villanueva - Author and Asian art and furniture gallery operator
76) Malu Rivera-Peoples - Award-winning dance instructor and creator of arts programs
77) Marisa Marquez - Actor, playwright and community advocate
78) Mutya San Agustin - Professor of pediatrics and founder of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association
79) Tessie Guillermo - Author, speaker and policymaker
"Nicole" Award
80) M. Evelina Galang - Author and human rights activist
Policymakers and Visionaries
81) Charmaine Manansala - Policy analyst, campaign staff and Asian and Pacific Islander advocate
82) Christina Baal - Community activist and immigration policy advocate
83) Eleonor G. Castillo - Educator and policy advocate
84) Grace Walker - Educator and recipient of the National Principals Award in 1999
85) Gwen de Vera - Community organizer and local commissioner in New Jersey
86) Irene Bueno - Co-founder of political consulting firm; special assistant to former President Bill Clinton
87) Kris Valderrama - Delegate, District 26 Prince George’s County, Maryland
88) Kymberly Marcos Pine - Director of House of Representatives Minority Research Office; Hawaii Representative
89) Lillian Galedo - Director of Filipinos for Affirmative Action, an advocacy and social service institution in Oakland, California
90) Lourdes Tancinco - Lawyer, TV host and advocate for Veteran’s Equity campaign
91) Marissa Castro-Salvati - Community leader and commissioner in Los Angeles
92) Miriam B. Redmiller - Lawyer, author and immigration reform advocate
93) Mona Pasquil - Adviser in Asian Pacific Islander affairs and political consultant
94) Norma Doctor Sparks - Child Welfare Director and advocate, Hawaii and California
95) Rida T. R. Cabanilla - Hawaii Representative, advocate and Lt. Colonel in US Army Reserves
96) Ruth Asmundson Uy - Mayor (Davis, California), community leader and organizer of goodwill relations
97) Sonia Aranza - Consultant, master facilitator, keynote speaker and immigration advocate
98) Vanessa Barcelona - Immigration lawyer and community worker
99) Velma Veloria - First Fil-Am in Washington State Legislature and human rights activist
100) Vida Benavides - Community activist for API civic engagements and youth mentor
"Keepers of the Flame"
Cherie Querol Moreno – Coordinator, Filipino Task Force CORA (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse), San Mateo, California
Cora M. Tellez – Chief Executive and Co-Founder, Sterling USA, Oakland, Califor-nia.
Genevieve Herreria – Executive Assistant, Levensohn Venture Partners, San Francisco, California.
Irene Natividad – President, Global Summit of Women, Washington, D.C.
Josie Cruz-Natori – Founder and CEO, Natori Company, New York, New York.
Marivic Mabanag – Executive Director, California Partnership To End Domestic Violence, Sacramento, California.
Maria Roseni M. Alvero – Philippine Trade Commissioner for the US Western Region, Santa Clara, California
Marily Mondejar – President, Institute for Image Management; President, Filipina Women’s Network, San Francisco, California.
Maya Ong Escudero – President, Non-profit Projects Unlimited, San Mateo, California.
Nida Recabo, MSW – Clinical Case Manager, Baptist Hospital of Miami, Miami, Florida
Mona Lisa Yuchengco – Chairman and executive director, Philippine International Aid (PIA), Belmont, California.
Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye – Justice of the Third District Court of Appeal, Sacra-mento, California.
Hon. Rowena Sanchez – Consul General, Philippine Consulate, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China