"DISRUPT 3.0 Filipina Women: Rising" Concludes National Women's Month Celebration In DC

DISRUPTers. (L-R) FWN President Susie Quesada, FWN Executive Advisory Council MemberDr. Bambi Lorica; FWN Executive Advisory Council Member Gloria Caoile; Norweigan Institute of Public Health Advisory Joanne Ocampo; Henderson Legal Services Director of Business Development Jennifer Tabones; NASA Engineer Josephine Santiago-Bond, FWN Founder and CEO Marily Mondejar; Justin Fitzsimmons; and J.P. Morgan VP for Portfolio Manager International Markets (ret.) Jenny Sicat-Crabbe.

From the Public Diplomacy Section of the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Washington, DC.

WASHINGTON, D. C. – Filipina “DISRUPTers” from across the United States came together for a night of women empowerment, success stories, and life lessons highlighting Global PinayPower at the book launch of “Disrupt 3.0. Filipina Women: Rising” held at the Philippine Embassy Chancery Annex on 28 March 2019.

Organized in collaboration with the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN), the book launch capped the Philippine Embassy’s celebration of National Women’s Month this March.

“Women’s empowerment and gender equality are not exclusively women’s issues. They concern every one of us. They speak of balance, not only for the betterment of womankind, but for the advancement of entire communities and economies,” Ambassador Jose Manuel G. Romualdez said in his opening remarks.

Ambassador Jose Manuel G. Romualdez receives copies of the DISRUPT book series from FWN CEO and Founder Marily Mondejar and FWN President Susie Quesada after he delivered opening remarks at the book launch of Disrupt 3.0 at the Philippine Embassy on 28 March 2019.

The Ambassador further added “that men should do more to help create an environment that encourages, accepts, and celebrates not only women’s participation in decision- and policy-making, but more importantly, in making sure that all of us – men and women together – are partners in building our communities, growing our livelihood, and creating a shared future.”

Ms. Marily Mondejar, CEO and Founder of Filipina Women’s Network in her remarks shared FWN’s mission and goals of harnessing Filipina women’s influence, knowledge, and access whether in government, corporate, educational institutions, and community organizations worldwide, while FWN President Susie Quesada underscored the importance of telling and sharing the stories of Filipina leadership, victories, purpose, and power through the DISRUPT book series.

FWN CEO and Founder Marily Mondejar talks about the Filipina Women’s Network during the book launch of “Disrupt 3.0 Filipina Women: Rising” at the Philippine Embassy on 28 March 2019

A special guest speaker, Ms. Josephine Santiago-Bond, Chief of the Advanced Engineering Development Branch of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), talked about working hard and embracing opportunities, finding lasting connections, and being proactive in your chosen career.

“You have to really believe that you bring value from your uniqueness and take action,” Ms. Santiago-Bond said.

Special guest speaker Ms. Josephine Santiago-Bond shares her inspirational story to the guests of the Disrupt 3.0 book launch.

The program also included book readings from DISRUPT authors and guest readers. They are Ms. Jennifer Tabones who read an excerpt from “Five Dollars in My Pocket” by Filipina DISRUPTer Ana Bel Mayo; Ms. Jenny Sicat-Crabbe who read an excerpt from “Leading for Sustainable Solar Powered Housing Community” by Filipina DISRUPTer Emma Imperial; Mr. Justin Fitzsimmons who read an excerpt from “From the Boondocks To The Boardroom” by his mother, Filipina DISRUPTer Sonia Delen; and Filipina DISRUPTer Joanne Michelle Ocampo who read an excerpt from her own story “The Dynamics of Defining Success and Failure.”

An interactive Q&A session with the “DISRUPTers” concluded the program.

Ms. Gloria T. Caoile and Ms. Bambi Lorica served as the moderators of the program. Ms. Lorica and community stalwart Ms. Mitzi Pickard led and coordinated the efforts to ensure the event’s success.

DISRUPT 3.0 is the third installment of the book series on Filipina leadership, following Disrupt 2.0: Filipina Women Daring To Lead and Disrupt: Proud, Loud, Leading without a Doubt.

The DISRUPT book series is available on Amazon.

FILAM HISTORY MONTH RECAP: We cried. We laughed. We disrupted. With California Filipina Women Influentials: Daring to Lead

#FilipinaDISRUPTERs converge at DISRUPTing SF to celebrate FWN's second book on Filipina Women Leadership. (L-R): FWN's California Influentials and DISRUPT 2.0 authors: Michelle Florendo (Global FWN100™ '15) pictured with newborn baby Milo, Gizelle Covarrubias Robinson (former FWN Board Member),  Marily Mondejar (CEO & Founder, FWN), Elizabeth Bautista (Global FWN100™ '15), Melissa Orquiza (Global FWN100™ '15), Sonia T. Delen (U.S. FWN100™ '07, Global FWN100™ '13), Thelma Boac (U.S. FWN100™ '07, Global FWN100™ '13), Elena Mangahas (U.S. FWN100™ '07, Global FWN100™ '13) at Charles Schwab on Oct. 6, 2016. Not pictured: Nimfa Gamez (US FWN100™ '07 and Global FWN100™ '15)

Jocelyn Ding (Global FWN100™ '13), Senior Vice President of Omada Health, kicks off the evening with her inspiring keynote on her leadership career path at DISRUPTing SF, Oct. 6, 2016.

We're published! Authors Elizabeth Bautista (Global FWN100™ '15) and Melissa Orquiza (Global FWN100™ '15) proudly showing DISRUPT 2.0 at the author signing table at DISRUPTing SF, Oct. 6, 2016.

#FilipinaDISRUPTers across all generations: Asuncion P. Disini , M.D. mother of Melissa Orquiza (Global FWN100™ '15) shares her impact statement at DISRUPTing SF

Elena Mangahas (U.S. FWN100™ '07, Global FWN100™ '13) reads an excerpt from her chapter about leadership between mothers and daughters at DISRUPTing SF, Oct. 6

Thanks to the Schwab team, DISRUPTing SF was a huge success. Marily Mondejar (CEO & Founder, FWN) second from left pictured with Gizelle Covarrubias Robinson, Tootsie Lansang and FWN Board Member & VP Membership Amar Bornkamp (Global FWN100™ '15)

DISRUPT 2.0 authors Thelma Boac, Elizabeth Bautista and Melissa Orquiza receive Proclamation certificates from Fiona Ma, Chairwoman of the California State Board of Equalization in recognition of their contribution to raising awareness of the leadership abilities of Filipina women in the diaspora through their participation in the FWN Filipina Women Leadership Book Series. Pictured with FWN Fellow, Raissa Alvero.

Celebrate Filipino American History Month with FWN at DISRUPTing San Francisco (Oct. 6) & San Diego (Oct. 13)

Join FWN this Filipino American History Month for the launch of DISRUPT 2.0: Filipina Women: Daring to Lead and Pinay Speed FEMtoring in San Francisco and San Diego. 

Jocelyn Ding, SVP, Operations, Omada Health will keynote DISRUPTing San Francisco on October 6th. Meet the Face of Global Pinay Power Francine Maigue (Global FWN100™ '15) in San Diego for DISRUPTing San Diego on October 13th.

Register now!
DISRUPTing San Francisco
October 6th, 5:00 pm

DISRUPTing San Diego
October 13th, 5:00 pm

Buy your copy of DISRUPT 2.0 
Sign-up to become a FEMtee participant!

Revolution Revisited: Remembering People Power Through Photographs

Photo release: Embassy of the Philippines, Washington D.C.

PRESS RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Filipino nation commemorates the 30th Anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution this month, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. welcomed the news that Pulitzer Prize-winner photojournalist Kim Komenich will launch his book, “Revolution Revisited”.

“The 1986 People Power Revolution was not only a turning point in Philippine history but also a source of inspiration for oppressed peoples everywhere. It was an unequivocal proof that a nation’s yearning for freedom and democracy could never be totally suppressed and that it could give the people the courage to rise above their fears and pessimism. This is the story that Kim Komenich’s photographs eloquently tell,” Ambassador Cuisia said.

“Revolution Revisited” is a compendium of photographic images of the days leading up to, during, and after the EDSA People Power Revolution, which is considered the first peaceful and bloodless revolution launched by the people against their autocratic government. Komenich won the Pulitzer Prize in 1987 for his extraordinary coverage of the historical event. The photographs were also exhibited in a show of the same title at the Ayala Museum and other parts of the Philippines in 2011, and in the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. in 2015.

“While I was working, I kept history in mind,” Komenich said while explaining the measures it took to protect and preserve the quality of the photographs.

“On one level, I was just photographing the day-to-day life in the Philippines, but on another, I was watching some of these things happening behind the scenes. What a gift it was to be a witness to this,” Komenich further remarked.

To find out more about the book and how to get a copy, please visit revrev.com/blog.