MODERN society eventually demonstrated and recognized that women’s empowerment is achievable and that women’s innate nature of significantly investing in their family and community welfare, more than men, helps maintain a more stable and sustainable socio-cultural foundation. Women’s indubitable achievements and unparalleled contributions to humanity unquestionably recognized their being at par with their male counterparts, thus the earmarking of March as International Women’s History Month.
The Pan American Concerned Citizens Action League, Inc. (PACCAL), a Jersey City-based 501(c)(3) community service-oriented organization has been observing this monumental event for years, worthily distinguishing the full potential and incredible achievements of the female populace.
This year’s PACCAL International Women’s History Month Gala and Awards Night is slated on Saturday, March 30 at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Newark, New Jersey to celebrate and seal the global observance of this significant event.
Meet the first batch of 2019 PACCAL Women’s History Month Achievers:
Imogene Raypon
“Excellence in Beauty Enhancement”
An innately creative entrepreneur aptly armed with a Management Degree from the Asian Institute of Tourism, University of the Philippines, who found her joy and passion in creating beauty, professionally altering flaws by way of her paramount knowledgeability in make-up, whereby making others feel great and confident after having been touched by Imogene’s magical hands. Aiming for limitless possibilities gave Imogene the gratifying opportunities to train and work for major iconic brands such as Giorgio Armani, YSL, Chanel, Shiseido, and Tom Ford, just to mention a few. Her unprecedented beauty enhancing skills catapulted Imogene to a level where she did the faces of celebrities and popular Broadway and classical artists like Patricia Field, Laura Osnes, Rebecca Minkoff, Pretty Yende, and Ryan Silverman.
Analia Farfan
“International Classic Dance Advocate”
Argentinian Analia Farfan is a professional dancer and a Pro Stage Tango Dancer, a well-recognized NY International Principal Guest Artist, actress, model, singer, and choreographer. She graduated with honors from Maria Ruanova Institute and later studied by virtue of a scholarship at Princess Grace Academy in Monaco. Analia has professionally performed as principal dancer and guest artist in different ballet companies and operas like Pennsylvania Youth Metropolitan Opera Ballet, State Ballet of Georgia, Ray Ballet, Arjun Ballet Theater, New Jersey Ballet Company, and Athena Music Foundation in NY, among others.
Maita Lockhart
“Excellence in Hosting and Broadcast”
Maita Lockhart began her dabble in entertainment as a baby in a Milo commercial. After moving to the US at 10 years old, she remained active in drama but ultimately pivoted to business, obtaining a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in HR. Leaving behind any hint of media work, she began her career at Ernst & Young in London as a Tax Advisor. Years after she would find herself living in New York, having a typical Saturday afternoon getting her hair done at a local Japanese salon when fate intervened, and she was “scouted” to audition for an upcoming lifestyle TV show for The Filipino Channel. The rest was history. She served as one of three hosts for “I Am Fil-Am” which served not only as a lifestyle magazine show but also highlighted inspiring stories of people of Filipino descent. These days, Maita works primarily as a Tax Technology Senior Manager at Deloitte. Exemplifying the versatility of the Filipino spirit, she utilizes the same presentation skills used during her “I Am Fil-Am” days for varied audience via hosting fashion and live shows for the Filipino community.
Maricar Taiño
“Excellence in Community Volunteerism”
By profession, Maricar Taiño is a Lead Investigator for the State of New Jersey Division of Taxation of Field Investigations. Having earned a Bachelor of Science in Information System Business Concentration at Rutgers University and New Jersey Information of Technology in Newark NJ led her in the field of public service since 2002. Maricar took part as the Public Relations Officer for Jersey City Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce and provided training seminars for small businesses such in the Westside Avenue area of the city through JCFACC. Her conscientious position as the 73rd JCI New Jersey State President of Junior Chamber International was deservingly recognized with the Charles Kulp Memorial Award in 2018, a Chapter President at the JCI USA National Convention, and currently the Chairman of the Board for JCI New Jersey State in 2019.
Mita Valentino Quiogue
“Excellence as a Licensed Medical Aesthetician
Being a single mom becomes more of an inspiring challenge than a burden for Mita though being a mother is virtually a never-ending career adept with an unflinching dedication to prioritize her kids. Aptly armed with an obsessively zealous beauty advocacy, this Licensed Medical Aesthetician earned her business degree from La Salle St. Benilde. Persistent and focused, Mita has been constantly guided by her own mantra: “Obsession is what makes people successful.” Mita’s keen business acumen instantaneously stimulated her founding of Glossy Skinnovation, her most cherished source of bliss and contentment after her children. Vanity and motherhood may be of distant waves but it can’t be denied that everyone goes through a personal battle to look and feel good within our own skin while striving hard to justify our personal predilection.
Vanny Tousignant
“Excellence as an Int’l Fashion Advocate”
From Indonesia hails a promising fashion entrepreneur whose vision was prognosticated to put Jakarta in the world map via the utilization of its native batik, tenun ikat, and songket fibers. An unambiguously born fashionista and a latent model, Vanny is an unmistakable fashion visionary who slowly learned the trade through observation, assistance, until such time when creativity became second nature to her. Aside from operating her Vanyo Fashion business, Vanny’s hands are kept full with her commitment as Director of Miss Woman Kebaya Indonesia-USA, as the USA Director of Beauty of Arts International Magazine, and as the Founder / CEO of International Fashion and Arts Week (IFAW), now on its 4th season and just recently, she wowed Europe with her participation at the Milan Fashion Week.
Shirley Escalada Capaldo
“Excellence in Organizing Community & Fashion Events”
It’s a rarity to find a woman capably endowed with beauty and brains, two scarce qualities that set a woman apart and above the rest. Jersey City native Shirley is a ramp and print ad model, a beauty queen (Miss Jersey City 2017), a community leader, a health fitness advocate, a psychology degree holder, and a lot more. Truly, Shirley is a bundle of feminine pulchritude with a lot of pluses. She loves beauty pageants so much so that she believes pageantry could create an impact to change people’s lives. At the early age of 9 she already showed potential in the field of beauty pageant during one of John Robert Powers’ events and as a finalist during the 2012 Miss American Co-Ed pageant. The euphoric experience brought about by pageantry made Shirley explore the limitless possibilities this world has to offer and take every probable challenge that comes along her way.
Jerrilyn Calong
“Senior Citizen of the Year”
Appreciating the status of old age, earnestly surviving extended years, and capably enjoying the mounting privileges of being one (which a lot of others are deprived of) are just few of the great amenities life bountifully offers to seniors. Although old age may mean nearing or surpassing the life expectancy, our Senior Citizen of the Year, Jerrilyn Calong, doesn’t see herself close at the edge of survival. She positively feels distant from being at the state of senescence since she’s still actively employed at Shorewood Real Estate and Prodigy Network, LLC, an active member of MAEUSA, SCI, and St. Vincent Line Dancers. Her productive career ensued after she finished Foreign Service from the Lyceum of the Philippines. This senior citizen who doesn’t look like a year older than her 50s is a divorcee with 3 children and 6 grand kids. This Mauban, Quezon native has successfully defied other monumental fears in her adult life and thought she’s getting much wiser and experienced as she aged.
Coming up next issue, the 2nd batch of PACCAL 2019 WHM awardees.
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