We will miss you, Philippine Ambassador Willy Gaa (1946-2015)

We will miss you, Philippine Ambassador Willy Gaa (1946-2015)

It is with deepest sadness that we announce the passing of Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Willy Gaa. He died peacefully after a battle with cancer with his loving wife, Mrs. Erlinda Gaa, at his side.

Gloria T. Caoile, FWN Advisory Board Member, recalls, "Ambassador Gaa brought to Washington, D.C. his consummate diplomacy - getting to know our communities, listening to our issues and working with our concerns! He opened his home to the community where conversations continued in a very comfortable setting. He will always be remembered as one of us!!!"

Ambassador Gaa's legacy will live on through the impact of his 36 years of service to both the Philippines and the Filipino diaspora community. He began his foreign assignment in the Philippine Consulate, San Francisco as Vice Consul then Consul General in New York from 1997-1999 before becoming Manila's envoy to Australia from 2003-2004, China from 2004-2006, and the U.S. in 2006-2009. 

Cecile Gregorio Ascalon (Global FWN100™ '15) Appointed New Head of Pilipino Senior Resource Center in San Francisco

Cecile Gregorio Ascalon (Global FWN100™ '15) Appointed New Head of Pilipino Senior Resource Center in San Francisco

Cecilia "Cecile" Gregorio Ascalon is the new Executive Director of the Pilipino Senior Resource Center, a nonprofit providing social services to Filipinos in the South of Market area in San Francisco. PSRC Services include health, housing and legal services as well as psychological counseling, case management and social engagement. Gregorio Ascalon will create policy, plan strategies, build resources and capacity, manage finances, hire and develop staff in close coordination with the board of directors of the oldest existing social service agency focusing on Filipinos in San Francisco. 

Nina Aguas (Global FWN100™ '13) Joins Top Ranks of Insular Life Philippines

Nina Aguas (Global FWN100™ '13) Joins Top Ranks of Insular Life Philippines

Congratulations Nina Aguas (Global FWN100™ '13) on your new appointment as Chief Executive Officer at Insular Life Philippines. Nina brings into the position over 30 years of experience with major financial institutions primarily Citibank and Australia New Zealand Bank. More recently, she was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine Bank of Communications (PBCOM). She has a proven track record of building new businesses as well as growing large existing businesses in highly competitive and challenging environments, and through difficult economic cycles ranging from the Asian crisis to the recent global financial crisis. News story from Business World Online.

WE ARE THE FILIPINA WOMEN'S NETWORK: Member Spotlight: Zenei Cortez (Global FWN100™ '14) and Catherine Salceda Ileto (Global FWN100™ '15)

zeneicortez

Zenei Triunfo Cortez, president of the California Nurses Association/National Nurse Organizing Committee, is one of 15 fierce women profiled in the "15 APA Women Leader Spotlights Campaign" endorsed by the Filipino Advocates for Justice (FAJ).

Zenei is the first Filipino to be elected president of the California Nurses Association/National Nurse Organizing Committee, with 75,000 members in 40 states, and represents nurses at scores of hospitals, clinics, and home health agencies. She served on CNA’s State Board of Directors and was past vice-president. The CAN/NNOC is a health care union that is predominantly female. They have been a voice for nurses in the workplace but played a national role in winning health coverage for everyone. Zenei is an immigrant and a cancer survivor which informs her passion for social justice.  Her involvement in the union began with her own experience fighting discrimination on the job. Since winning that grievance she dedicated herself to encouraging fellow RNs to speak up for their rights.  The CNA is on the forefront of patients’ rights advocacy having won battles to lower the nurse/patient ratios to insure quality of care.

cathyileto

Cathy Ileto is no stranger to the IT-BPM industry in the Philippines. She was part of the original Team 2010 when the industry’s umbrella organization BPAP (Business Processing Association of the Philippines) was established.

As BPAP's Executive Director for Marketing, Cathy initiated international sell and public relations initiatives that included the launch of the Philippine BPO brand, the BPAP Roadmap 2010, the first trade mission to Australia which brought Australia-launched locators to the Philippines; the first mission to CeBIT Australia, World BPO Forum in New York, and the National Outsourcing Association Conference and Expo in London that produced several "Offshoring of the Year" Awards for the Philippines. Cathy also closed partnerships with key international IT/BPO organizations across the world including NASSCOM of India.

Her passion in championing the Philippine IT BPM industry is unparalleled. Testament to this is a recognition she received from the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry in 2008, for all the initiatives she has launched to promote the Philippines as a Center of Excellence in Outsourcing.

Many of today’s key players in the IT-BPM industry in the Philippines is a significant result of Cathy's leadership.
 

ASK A FILIPINA: #17 DISRUPT Leadership Tip from Dr. Julieta Gabiola (Global FWN100™ '13)

ASK A FILIPINA: #17 DISRUPT Leadership Tip from Dr. Julieta Gabiola (Global FWN100™ '13)

Take the time to reflect every day. It is important to ground ourselves in values and priorities that are aligned with our actions. We must also look at what we have done to make a difference in other people's lives.

- Julieta Gabiola, M.D., Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine and Educator for CARE Faculty at Stanford 

#FilipinaDisrupter

LOOKING FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS? Inspire a young Filipina? For a colleague of Filipina heritage? 1st book on Filipina leadership! "DISRUPT. FILIPINA WOMEN: PROUD. LOUD. LEADING WITHOUT A DOUBT.”

LOOKING FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS? Inspire a young Filipina? For a colleague of Filipina heritage? 1st book on Filipina leadership! "DISRUPT. FILIPINA WOMEN: PROUD. LOUD. LEADING WITHOUT A DOUBT.”

A gift: For the empowered Filipina woman. To motivate young Filipina women. Filipino pride. To illustrate where we've been, where we are and where we're going.

Give the gift of inspiration this holiday season. "Disrupt: Filipina Women. Proud. Loud. Leading without a Doubt." is FWN's first book on Filipina women leadership. 

Available for purchase thru Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/1AybRbV (print edition) or http://amzn.to/1arFT7x (Kindle edition).

Filipina MMA Fighter Ana Julaton (U.S. FWN100™ '09): Fighting Words for Filipina Women in Combat Sports

Filipina MMA Fighter Ana Julaton (U.S. FWN100™ '09): Fighting Words for Filipina Women in Combat Sports

Former boxing world champion turned MMA fighter Ana "The Hurricane" Julaton had more than a few empowering words to share with Filipina girls and women during her stay in the Philippines as she prepared for her fight against Irina Mazepa last Tuesday, December 8th: “For all the Filipinas worldwide, follow your dreams, be who you are, be proud of who you are, be proud of your color, be proud of your nose, be proud of your roots, be proud of your name. Have everyone say your name correctly.” News story from The Rappler.

Alvarado Middle School Renamed Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School to Commemorate Legacy of Filipino-American Labor Leaders

Alvarado Middle School Renamed Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School to Commemorate Legacy of Filipino-American Labor Leaders

Alvarado Middle School in Union City, California will be officially renamed  Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School after United Farm worker union leaders Larry Itliong and Philip Vera-Cruz, who worked to improve the working conditions for migrant workers in the 1960's. Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School will be the first school in the United States to be named in honor of Filipino-Americans. Story from NBC Bay Area.