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U.S. Marine Scott Pemberton Found Guilty for Killing Jennifer Laude

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U.S. Marine Scott Pemberton Found Guilty for Killing Jennifer Laude

A Philippine court has found Scott Pemberton guilty of killing Filipina transgender woman Jennifer Laude. Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton was convicted of killing Jennifer Laude in a hotel room in Olongapo city, north-west of Manila, last year. The marine was on leave in Olongapo on 11 October 2014, after joint military exercises with the Philippine army, when he met Ms. Laude in a bar. Police said they left together and checked into a hotel, where she was found dead the next day, apparently strangled and with her head inside the hotel toilet. Pemberton will face between six and 12 years imprisonment. News story courtesy of BBC.com.

 

President Obama Plays Opportunity Matchmaker For Filipina Engineer, Aisa Mijeno

President Obama Plays Opportunity Matchmaker For Filipina Engineer, Aisa Mijeno

Filipina Electrochemist Aisa Mijeno, inventor of SALt (Sustainable Alternative Lighting) an LED lamp that runs on seawater, recently met with President Obama for an opportunity of a lifetime at APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation). Mijeno shared a stage with Obama and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.’s Jack Ma where she introduced her unique lamp concept which avoids the hazards of a combustible fuel and can last up to six months. The platform shone a spotlight on various Filipino start-ups and will undoubtedly bring in funding and collaborative opportunities for Mijeno.

News story from Bloomberg Business.

Young Filipina Arizza Nocum Speaks at One Young World Summit on Peace and Security and Bangsamoro Law

Young Filipina Arizza Nocum Speaks at One Young World Summit on Peace and Security and Bangsamoro Law

Arizza Nocum, daughter of a Muslim mother and a Christian father, knows a thing or two about bridging the gap between faiths for mutual respect and peace-building. She and her family have built six libraries around the Philippines since 2008, many of which are in child soldier recruitment camps. Nocum shared her unique perspective during her One Young World Summit speech last week in Bangkok. She called on the international community to understand how conflict is often driven by poverty, injustice and history. She believes empathy through cultural exchanges and inter-faith dialogue, like her Kris Library venture, is but one way to curb radicalization on the individual-level. News story from The Philippine Inquirer.

Filipina Photographer Xyza Cruz Bacani Named BBC's 100 Women of 2015

Filipina Photographer Xyza Cruz Bacani Named BBC's 100 Women of 2015

28 year old documentary photographer Xyza Cruz Bacani was recently named BBC's Top 100 Women of 2015. Bacani has also been shortlisted numerous times for National Geographic magazine's photo competition in Hong Kong where she works as a domestic worker. Bacani's photos of everyday urban life in Hong Kong have been published in the New York Times and Vogue Italia. In an earlier feature in The Philippine Inquirer, Bacani took a personal stance to describe how photography has a political function in upending the stereotypes that OFWs face: “It’s not that I’m ashamed of being a domestic worker. In fact, I’m proud of my job. But you also can’t deny that there’s discrimination, judgment and stereotyping when you’re an OFW. So, photography for me is a protection against racism and discrimination.” Story from The Philippine Inquirer.

Filipina Women’s Network NOMINATED FOR A 2015 DANDI AWARD!

Filipina Women’s Network NOMINATED FOR A 2015 DANDI AWARD!

The Diversity and Inclusion (DANDI) Awards Honors Organizations for their Outstanding Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion. 

Filipina Women’s Network was nominated in the Non-Profit category for demonstrating outstanding commitment towards creating a more diverse and inclusive world. Filipina Women's Network was nominated by the U.S. Philippine Society. The Geena Davis Institute and the Dignity Respect Campaign complete the Non-Profit Category nominations. Celebrated for their contributions in diversity and inclusion across all industries, 40 companies were nominated in 14 categories at the annual DANDI Awards ceremony on Friday, November 13, 2015 at the New York Times Center. 

Marily Mondejar, CEO & Founder with Edcelyn Pujol, Board Member of the Filipina Women's Network attended the Award Ceremonies.

Justice for Julieta: End Wage Theft Against Migrant Workers

Justice for Julieta: End Wage Theft Against Migrant Workers

On October 7th, 2015, Julieta Yang, a Filipina migrant worker employed as a live-in domestic worker filed a complaint in the San Francisco Superior Court against her former employers, tech executives Cameron Poetzscher and Varsha Rao. 

The complaint alleges that the defendants, who are executives at Uber and Airbnb, failed to pay Ms. Yang the required minimum wage and overtime for all hours worked and failed to provide the required off-duty breaks. It also alleges that they created and maintained a sexually hostile work and home environment and failed to prevent harassment in violation of the Fair Employment and Housing Act.

News story courtesy of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Asian Law Caucus, Winnie Kao, Litigation Director, Senior Staff Attorney. Workers' Rights Program.

Filipina-American Actress Gets Big Break on Vampire Diaries

Filipina-American Actress Gets Big Break on Vampire Diaries

Filipina-American actress and San Fernando Valley native Leslie-Anne Huff earns a big breakthrough role as Rayna, a vampire hunter, in the CW hit series, Vampire Diaries. Leslie-Anne is one of very few Filipino-American actors on American network television. She hopes to inspire more actors of color, especially women and Filipinos, to do great acting and let the work speak for itself.

News story courtesy of ABS-CBN News.

President Obama Celebrates Contributions of FilAms @ White House Celebration of Filipino American History Month

President Obama Celebrates Contributions of FilAms @ White House Celebration of Filipino American History Month

U.S. President Barack Obama honored Filipino Americans at the first ever celebration of Filipino-American History Month at the White House. In a letter read before 200 Filipino American elected officials and community leaders attending the event in Washington, President Obama acknowledged the Filipino-Americans who fought with the U.S. during World War II. He also acknowledged the Filipino-American labor activists movement in Delano, California led by Larry Itliong in the 1960s and early 1970s.  The White House Celebration recognized and celebrated the successes and activities of FilAms and brought together various key leaders and figures in the community.

FWN Members present for last Friday's White House Celebration of Filipino American History Month include: CEO & Founder Marily Mondejar, Sonia Delen (board member), Bambi Lorica (board member), plus members Genevieve Jopanda (Global FWN100™ '13), Vangie Buell (U.S. FWN100™ '07) and White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford (Global FWN100™ '13), among others.

News story from The Inquirer.net