SPOTLIGHT On FWN Members: Sarah Songalia, Global FWN100™ '14 and Grace Relucio Princesa, Global FWN100™ '14

Sarah Songalia

Founder, Burublig Para Ha Tanauan
Mandaluyong City, Philippines
Global FWN100™ '14

Sarah Songalia has always had her belief that despite the odds, in time, anything can work so long as the right ingredients are there - attitude and passion.  Ms. Songalia is Youth Ministry Founder and President, a Presidential Leadership Scholar; an active youth leader at Sangguniang Kabataan; a finance officer; an auditor; a risk consultant; a founder of Saavedra Songalia and Associates and Entrepreneurs Accounting Academy; and a financial advisor at Prulife UK.

The onslaught of Yolanda left her quivering in fear for the lives of her loved ones. While desperately waiting for news from back home during that fateful November 8, 2013 super typhoon, Sarah knew that what happened in her hometown could be worse and a lot of help would be needed. She asked their website administrator to create a page for her at Facebook named Burubig Para Ha Tanauan. She offered her offices to be drop off points for relief goods solely for Tanauan, Leyte, her hometown. A lot of Tanauananons answered the call and the rest is history. 

Amidst the tragedy, she can say that true "Bayanihan" reigned.  At present time, they moved on to livelihood programs after delivering more than 100 tons of relief goods to the people of Tanauan, Leyte.

Grace Relucio Princesa

Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Arab Emirates 
Global FWN100™ '14

Ambassador Grace Relucio Princesa is a Babaylan or Filipina warrior from Ligao, Albay. She is a career diplomat and a distinguished Philippine public servant for the last 26 years. Ambassador Princesa finished her Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service and some Masteral Units from the University of the Philippines.

It was her stint in Baghdad, Iraq, from 2001-2003, that merited her two Presidential Awards, the DFA's Gawad Mabini Dakilang Kasugo Award in 2003 and the Civil Service Commission's Lingkod Bayan Award in September 2005 for successfully evacuating Filipinos before the outbreak of the 2003 US-Iraq war.

She writes about her advocacies for Filipinos, on financial/entrepreneurial literacy, disaster preparedness and consequences of climate change/renewable energy awareness, feminized migration, and development and time management through the "Bayanihan ng Bayan at mga Bayani" in the Illustrado, a monthly magazine for Filipinos in the Middle East, published by Lalaine Chu-Benitez.

Elections 2014 Review: Mae Cendaña Torlakson re-elected to Ambrose Rec & Park District Board

Mae Cendaña Torklakson

BE PROUD Part 5: First time in FWN herstory: FWN members and FWN100™ Awardees who ran during the November 2014 cycle - for assembly representatives, district judge, city councils and school board elections all WON their seats.  This is just the beginning - watch these amazing women RISE!  Drum roll, please.

Re-Elected: Mae Cendaña Torlakson, US FWN100™ '11, to the Ambrose California Recreation and Park District Board, where she has served 8 years including 3 years as the Chair of the Board. 

Her accomplishments include obtaining funds for the improvements of Ambrose Park,  fighting for the opening of their 149-acre waterfront park and increasing after-school, teen and other recreational services at both their recreation center and parks, to name a few.

The one thing that nobody would guess about Mae is that she wrote stories and scripts for Filipino action films. 

Keep going, Mae!

Elections 2014 Review: Hydra, Katherine, Noelani, Rachel, & Thelma Elected to School Boards

BE PROUD: First time in our FWN herstory, FWN members and FWN100™ Awardees who ran during the November 2014 cycle - for assembly representatives, district judge, city councils and school board elections all WON their seats.  This is just the beginning - watch these amazing women RISE!  Drum roll, please.

Hydra Mendoza

Hydra Mendoza, US FWN100™ '09, re-elected to the San Francisco School Board for the 3rd time. The last two terms, Hydra championed improving academic standards, increased parent engagement, and brought technology into the classrooms.  She has also built critical coalitions and collaborations between the community and education leaders to advance San Francisco students.  Way to go, Hydra!

Katherine Zarate Dulany

Katherine Zarate Dulany, Founding FWN Board Member 2002, was re-elected to her post in the Jefferson Union High School District School Board serving the Daly City, Pacifica, Brisbane, Colma, and Broadmoor communities.  The last seven years, she championed modernizing school facilities, raised school safety and student achievement - her own personal commitment to providing access to quality education for all of students. Way to go, Katherine!

Noelani Sallings

First time candidate Noelani Sallings, was elected as the first Filipina American in the Santa Clara Unified School District and in the city of Santa Clara.  She wants to "inject music and arts in [the] STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs creating a well rounded student through STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts & music, and math) education." Congratulations, Noelani!

Rachel Puno Juliana

Rachel Puno Juliana was elected to the West Windsor-Plainsboro school board to continue her public service. She was appointed to the board unanimously to fill the seat of late Yibao Xu. Before she moved to New Jersey, Rachel was elected to the Jefferson Union High School District School Board. Her professional background as an attorney will be a valuable asset to the board. Way to go, Rachel!

Thelma Boac

Thelma Boac, US FWN100™ '07, was re-elected to the Berryessa Union School District Board.  She's committed to improving student performance at all levels and to make sure all students have equal access to instruction, especially those students that are most at-risk.  She has a unique hands-on experience in the public school system as she served both as an administrator and a teacher in the local schools.  Way to go, Thelma!

Elections 2014 Review: Joanne, Myrna, and Pat Re-elected to City Council Positions

Left to right: Pat Gacoscos, US FWN100™ '11, Myrna L. De Vera, US FWN100™ '11, Joanne F. del Rosario, US FWN100™ '09

BE PROUD Part 2: First time in our FWN herstory, FWN members and FWN100™ Awardees who ran during the November 2014 cycle - for assembly representatives, district judge, city councils and school board elections all WON their seats.  This is just the beginning - watch these amazing women RISE!  Drum roll, please.

Re-Elected: Joanne F. del Rosario, US FWN100™ '09, to the Colma City Council for the 3rd time. First elected to office in 2006, she served as Mayor in 2009. Joanne is past President of the Filipino America Association of Colma and past Director of the Filipino American Coalition. She is a member of the Seton Medical Center Community Advisory Council and a member and past President in 2010 of ALLICE (Alliance for Community Empowerment) “Kumares and Kumpares” whose purpose is to educate and bring awareness to 
the community on issues regarding all forms of domestic violence. Way to go, Joanne!

Re-Elected: Myrna L. De Vera, US FWN100™ '11, to the Hercules City Council, 2nd term.  She has served on the Hercules City Council since November 2010 and on commissions and boards since April 2005. She has received outstanding recognition as "Woman of the Year" by the Hercules City Council and was given a Special Recognition Award by the Hercules Chamber of Commerce in 2010. Way to go, Myrna!

Re-elected: Pat Gacoscos, US FWN100™ '11, to the Union City Council, 2nd term. She was Vice Mayor in 2012.  Previously, she held two elective positions:  School Board Member for the New Haven Unified School District (1992-2000); and Board of Directors for the Union Sanitary District from (2004-2010). She ran on a platform of balanced budget, economic development and public safety. Way to go, Pat!

Elections 2014 Review: Judge Moss Re-Elected District Judge in Nevada

BE PROUD Part 3: First time in FWN herstory: FWN members and FWN100™ Awardees who ran during the November 2014 cycle - for assembly representatives, district judge, city councils and school board elections all WON their seats.  This is just the beginning - watch these amazing women RISE!  Drum roll, please.

Re-Elected: Cheryl Nora Moss, US FWN100 '11, to District Court Judge of Clark County Nevada.  She defeated Travis Shetler receiving 63.4% of the votes. 

Many firsts in Nevada history: In 2000, Cheryl Nora Moss became the first Asian American District Judge elected.  First judge in Nevada to institute problem gambling assessments in child custody and divorce cases which she accomplished in her first year on the bench. Keep going, Judge Moss!

APPOINTED: Minerva Tantoco, Carmelyn Malalis, Joselyn Geaga-Rosenthal, and Mariedel Leviste Appointed to Key City Positions in New York and Los angeles

Left to right: Minerva Tantoco, US FWN100™ '11; Carmelyn Malalis, US FWN100™ '09; Joselyn Geaga-Rosenthal, US FWN100™ '09 and Global FWN100 '13; Dr. Mariedel Leviste, GLOBAL FWN100™ '13

BE PROUD Part 6:  Filipina women in the news! Key appointments in New York and Los Angeles. Making a significant impact on the quality of living in these metropolitan cities. What a way to end 2014! Watch these amazing women RISE and RISE and RISE!  Drum roll, please.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Minerva Tantoco as the City's very first Chief Technology Officer and Carmelyn Malalis as the Chair of the City's Commission on Human Rights, and 

As the Chief Technology Officer, Minerva Tantoco, US FWN100™ '11, will direct the Mayor's Office of Technology and Innovation with the responsibility for the development and implementation of a coordinated city-wide strategy on technology and innovation and encouraging collaboration across agencies and with the wider New York City technology ecosystem.  

Carmelyn Malalis, US FWN100™ '09, as Chair of New York City's Commission on Human rights, along with eight newly appointed commissioners, will lead the agency's efforts to enforce New York City's Human Rights Law and with educating the public with its policies and encouraging positive community relations.

Los Angeles Major Eric Garcetti appointed Mariedel Leviste as a Commissioner on Community and Family Services and Joselyn Geaga-Rosenthal as a Commissioner on the Board of Building and Safety. 

Joselyn Geaga-Rosenthal, US FWN100™ '09 and Global FWN100™ '13, was appointed to the Board of Building and Safety Commission.  Her passion for her community will resonate with her new duties on the board.  She served on the Los Angeles Mental Health Commission for 12 years and was one of the founding Board members of the Echo Park Neighborhood Council. 

Mariedel Leviste, Global FWN100 '13, will focus on engaging the doctors and physicians to reinvigorate and assist their professional needs.  The mission of the Community and Family Services Commission is to create pathways out of poverty and into self-sufficiency for children, youth, and their families, who reside in low-income communities of Los Angeles, with comprehensive and viable tools to become self-sufficient, and participate in the economic mainstream in the city through the holistic integration of programs, and services that help raise families out of poverty.