“A woman is the full circle…within her is the power to create, nurture, and transform!” (Diane Mariechild).
THROUGH the years, history has remarkably generated an immense number of empowered women who were capable of changing the world’s social, industrial, political, and educational landscape where they competently dominated the areas with their notable contributions and significant achievements.
Records enlisted great woman rulers with incredible man-like dispositions coupled with innately driven supremacy to lead like Nefertiti, Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, Mary Queen of Scots, Catherine de Medici, Catherine the Great, and Victoria Queen of England.
Revered women movers of the later century include Golda Meir of Israel, Indira Gandhi of India, Margaret Thatcher of England, and not to be left unmentioned, the Philippines’ first woman leader Corazon C. Aquino.
More women are on the rise giving their male counterparts a run for their status and consistently accumulating unprecedented accomplishments while simultaneously exhibiting domination and headship in various fields of endeavor. They are unquestionably independent, gutsy, and focused while being competent and career-oriented. Their unrelenting determination to succeed is a stark contrast to men’s dawdling progress that put their equiponderant achievements at par, and sometimes even above, with the latter’s.
To give women the full recognition they deserve the month of March was fittingly earmarked as Women’s History Month being jointly and celebrated internationally. Several themed occasions such as “Reclaiming the Past, Rewriting the Future,” Nurturing tradition, Fostering change,” Women, Builders of Communities and Dreams,” and many related premises were annually observed worldwide.
In this regard, the Pan American Concerned Citizens’ Action League, Inc. (PACCAL) never leaves a stone unturned if only to demonstrate its perpetual support to the revered legacy of the great women leaders and duly recognize the unparalleled achievements of today’s female high fliers.
After years of consistently recognizing and awarding outstanding Filipino-American women in the various aspect of their professional endeavors and selflessly contributed to the propagation of community service, PACCAL does not only duplicate successful events that manifested its worth-praising advocacy in the past but more so to empower the status of womanhood in our current socio-economic setting.
This year’s recipients of the Women’s Achievers Award are: Marietta Geraldino (Teaching Profession), Joji Rafael (Quality Management Specialist), May Q. Maddatu, MD (Medical Profession), Vivian T. Cruz (Community Service), Laura Garcia (Nurse Educator), Rose Concepcion (Business Entrepreneur), Chin Gomez (Pop Performing Artist), Cristina Godinez, ESQ (Legal Profession), Grace Wong (Mother of the Year), and Demetria Cornelio (Senior Citizen of the Year).
The paucity of extraordinary stature of women who have indefatigably proven their worth and distinct accomplishments while being valuably recognized for their headship and reputable social standing made it hard for PACCAL to name its appropriate choices in the Influential Awards category, the Premier Honor bestowed by the organization. These are the community leaders who, aside from their professional accomplishments, are with marked personalities that could vitally influence the youth and the next generation while persuading others to the things worthy of veritable deeds that could influence the community.
After its Awards Committee’s meticulous deliberation, PACCAL finally came up with only 4 but meritoriously commendable awardees: Senen Cabalfin, Nilda Jaynal, Marie Duffy and Fe Sales.
PACCAL is mighty proud to present these magnanimously influential and benevolently empowered female leaders of today who are born movers and shakers that are innately gifted with well-driven sense of responsibility and compassion, coupled with dazzling knowledgeability about the needs of their community while magnanimously utilizing their keen vision for change and advancement.
Slated to add glitter and amusement are the current toasts of the Filipino-American community entertainment arena that are carving their niches and stamping their marks: Geo Ed Rebucas, the Philippines’ male Mariah Carey; Angel Ram, dubbed as the Watering Holes’ Sparrow; and PACCAL 2015 WHM recipient of Pop Performing Artist award, Chin Gomez.
A mini fashion show, showcasing a Filipiniana formal collection in black and gold, will culminate the awarding portion and to be participated in by passionately fashionable PACCAL ladies: Rose P. Javier, Ramona Gapasin, Rebecca Samanyaphon, Marieta Lamar, Virgie Alvarez, Hermie Garcia, Ria Serrano, with guest model Olie David, and Dr. Elma Castillo in the finale.
Two new aspiring male mannequins join the ladies on the ramp after escorting the awardees to stage: Peruvian Jurgen Bottger, (a newcomer to the US) and Egyptian Anton Marzouk, (a senior high-schooler from Dickinson High) with professional dance instructor Ed Manalo as guest model-escort.
On Saturday, March 28, 2015, at 1:00 PM, these highly respected women will be honored with a grandiose ceremony and dinner-ball in connection with the celebration of the International Women’s History Month at the Ramada Plaza Hotel along 160 Frontage Road, Newark, New Jersey.
The “Black & Gold” themed PACCAL March event has Dr. Elma Castillo as this year’s Honorary Chair while Rebecca Samanyaphon and Ramona S. Gapasin are designated as Ball Chair and Co-Chair, respectively.
For ticket reservations and more info, please call: Becky Samanyaphon @ 201.616.9120; Ramona S. Gapasin @ 201.401.7232; Lumen Castañeda @ 917.538.1702; Rose P. Javier @ 201.993.8815; Linda M. Mayo @ 201.388.1260; and Bobby T. Yalong @ 201.300.5234.
For comments and suggestions, please email to: [email protected] or [email protected].
