Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

DURING the mayoral term of Jeremy Harris who served as Mayor of Honolulu from 1994 to 2004, an outstanding female lawyer made history as the first Filipina Chief of Staff in Honolulu. Atty Abelina Madrid Shaw served in the Harris Administration as First Corporation Counsel, then Director of the Department of Community Services, before being named to the post of Chief of Staff.

For such an honor, the Filipino Women’s Civic Club has selected Atty. Abelina "Abby" Madrid Shaw, as one of the 10 Outstanding Filipino Women in Hawaii. The Filipino Women’s Civic Club noted that Ms. Shaw "is the first Filipina to hold such office (Mayor’s Chief of Staff) and one of the first Filipinos to be in the highest positions of leadership.

"I am proud of Abby and certainly not surprised that she is recognized as an outstanding leader within the Filipino community," said the Mayor. "She has been an exceptional asset to my administration and the people of the City and County of Honolulu."

"Attorney Shaw has served the community in various capacities in governance, including the legislative, executive and judicial branches. These collective experiences have provided her the opportunity to advocate for human service initiatives that seek to address the needs of the alienated, at risk, and the socially disenfranchised sector of our community. These positions have helped to facilitate greater and easier access to government for a huge segment of (the) populace, including Filipinos."

Ms. Shaw earned her Bachelors Degree in Education from Western State College of Colorado, a Masters of Arts in Communication degree at the University of Hawaii and her Juris Doctorate at the UH Richardson School of Law. She is married to Cuyler Shaw and has a daughter, Renee.

Atty. Abelina Madrid Shaw has also earned the distinction of being the first Filipina to be appointed into Cabinet post by Governor George Ariyoshi, as Special Assistant to the Governor and the Human Resources and Progressive Neighborhood Program, before being selected as the Chief of Staff under Honolulu Mayor Harris’ administration. (AJPress)

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( Published November 25, 2009 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. B2 )