In today’s ever-changing world, a great number of women’s aspirations take various forms while other’s lofty dreams sometimes fail and hopes dwindle… but were able to rise and resume the challenge. They say men’s existence is easily felt and their roles are predictable but women constantly create encouraging challenges while sustaining precise strength and empowerment in myriad ways. Women have painstakingly acquired every man’s asset and facet while they (also) masterfully penetrated the world where men initially dwell and dominated.
March, incidentally, accorded us to globally celebrate the real status of women… a perfect opportunity to reflect on the incredible attainments of the fairer sex, who, in their own capacity, have contributed a whole lot to the advancement of society and raised the bar to create a higher level of achievement in practically every field.
The remarkable event that recognizes the unprecedented capacity and honorable status of women became a nationally observed celebration in 1981 after congress passed a resolution that authorized and requested the president (who was Ronald Reagan) to proclaim the week from March 7, 1982 as Women’s History Week. Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in
March as Women’s History Month
In 1987, after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed a resolution which designated the entire month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month.
Since then, succeeding Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama have issued a series of annual proclamations designating March as “Women’s History Month.”
Incidentally, after years of consistently recognizing and awarding outstanding Filipino-American women in the various aspect of achievements in their professional endeavors and relative contributions to the community where they live, Pan American Concerned Citizens Action League, Inc. (PACCAL) is at it again… not only duplicating 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..
As PACCAL observes the international celebration of Women’s History Month, the organization duly recognizes the outstanding trailblazers and competent movers this side of the east coast
This PACCAL’s annual event primarily recognizes women’s numerous contributions to culture, society, arts and sciences, government, and their lifelong struggle for equality. If before women were regarded as minor to men, the current social setting is viewing them in a better perspective with the advent of the 20th century changes…which further discover the extent of feminine power in shaping not only their own destiny but the society, as well.
In connection with the 2014 WHM celebration, the following rightfully deserve to land in this year’s Roster of Honorees and to be honorably recognized with a dinner-dance at the Ramada Plaza Hotel on Sunday, March 30, 2014 from 1pm to 6pm.
Get to know this year’s honorees who deservingly compose PACCAL’s 2014 WHM Achiever awardees:
Jona Tajonera – Excellence in Business Entrepreneurship
This goal-driven lady entrepreneur has gone a long way since finishing her Mass Communication degree from the Assumption College aptly armed Advertising and Public Relations major. Facing the world’s inevitable challenges and climbing the corporate ladder with much determination, Jona has successfully earned colorful feathers that adorn her already feathery cap: an educator, lecturer, consultant, and Chairman / CEO of Mindoro Healthcare Consulting, LLC. Currently a PR Committee member of the Healthcare Billing & Management Association, Jona is also a Certified HER Consultant, and member of HIMSS (Healthcare Information & Management Systems Society.
Eva Burgos – Excellence in Education
A devout educator and a strong believer in the nobleness of the teaching profession, Eva took the rough roads to success at the literal expense of her blood, sweat and tears. Knowing the importance of education and the dignity attached to the profession, she chose to be one. For Eva teaching might not be the most popular and highest paid profession, but in her heart it is the most fulfilling vocation. She does not even care if nobody remembers her name or the wisdom she has imparted but just merely being an instrument in making a difference in somebody’s life is more than enough to consider herself successful in her chosen profession.
Menchu Sanchez – Excellence in the Nursing Profession
Turning into an instant celebrity following her well-recognized humanitarian deed, it is innate nature for Menchu to involve her heart in what she does. A nurse at NYU Langone Medical Center, Menchu used her quick and decisive thinking during Hurricane Sandy and ended up saving 20 high-risk babies from the 9th floor of the flooding hospital. For that heroic deed, Sanchez, who was assigned to seat alongside the First Lady Michelle Obama, was duly recognized by President Barack Obama on February 12, 2013 during the State of the Union Address in Washington D.C. then, an avalanche of awards, citations, and commendations followed suit.
Aurora Dela Rosa – Excellence in Physical-Medical Rehab
A conscientious product of the UST College of medicine, Aurora Payawal Dela Rosa father honed her skills in the medical field by pursuing a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency training at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The consistent development of her interest and faculties ably paved the path in managing muscle and motion problems and disabilities that escalated her current professional status as a medical staff and member of the Advisory Board of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton, New Jersey…aside from her own practice specializing in Neuromuscular Medicine and Pain Management utilizing non-surgical treatments and medical acupuncture.
Elena Buenviaje, MD – Excellence in the Medical Profession
A Board Certified Internist who has been in private practice with concentration on Geriatric Medicine for the past thirty years, Dr. Elena Buenviaje has had an academically strong foundation having ranked 3rd in her class of over 400 medical students and consistent scholar. Armed with a clinical fellowship in Nephrology and Cardiology, Dr. Buenviaje co-founded the Village Medical Group in Whiting, New Jersey, a board member of the Filipino-American Medical Society of Toms River, Chair of the association’s Bi-Annual Fundraising Gala for 12 years, and the first female Internist to practice at the Community Medical Center.
Rachelle Ocampo – Excellence in Community Service
A true “renaissance woman” involved in many different sectors of the community, Rachelle’s work with the community ranges from her work as a community leader, as a health educator, and as a TV Co-Host. Her different hats have allowed her to weave through the various networks of the underserved community. Serving as second term President of UniPro, a 501c3 organization comprised of Filipino-American young professionals and youth with a mission to create a more cohesive Filipino community, Rachelle leads a dedicated team of over 20 volunteer staff members and interns working to educate and raise awareness of the issues that Fil-Ams encounter every day through community building events, the Annual UniPro Summit, the Public Policy and Foreign Relations program, and Usapan- a series of dialogue workshops across the metropolitan Universities and Colleges.
Aurora Catral – Excellence in Administrative Profession
Relegated to engage on critical analysis and research over a wide range of functional activities related to healthcare facilities and supervision of staffs in different professional levels, Aurora Catral’s exhaustive job neither reflects nor affects her innately gregarious and seemingly carefree personality. Confidently accustomed with the responsibilities and tension of her daily routine, Aurora gradually rose from the ranks…from being a staff nurse to being a DON (Dean of Nursing) to what she’s today while simultaneously performing related services in different healthcare facilities. Currently affiliated with the Hudson View Health Care and sister companies, it takes a lot of energy and patience for Aurora to accomplish and deliver productively.
Jennifer Cuneta – Excellence in the Entertainment Field
With a familiar sounding last name synonymous to famed performer Sharon Cuneta, Jenn takes every possible effort to earn a name for herself and stand on her own. She has had a few measure of success as a singer, performer, and dancer. Jenn credits the song, Now We Are Free, theme song from the Academy Award-winning film, Gladiator, as one strong force that catapulted her name to near stardom. Unmistakably a looker like the rest of her kin in the business, Jenn continues to reap success and slowly establishing a grand status at par with those ahead of her in the recording business and brisk sale of her records at the tin pan alley.
PACCAL wishes to extend its wholehearted gratitude to all who had contributed to make this annual project possible and assured this year’s event to be another success.
And to borrow a popular quotation from one of the world’s most revered female leaders and one of the greatest exponents of womanhood, Margaret Thatcher: “If you want something said, ask a man…but, if you want something done, ask a woman!”
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