PRESS RELEASE - 10 - 2020
Madame Araceli Jimeno (center) with the attendees of the Women Leadership Forum (Photo Credit: Philippine Consulate General)
(9 March 2020, Honolulu, Hawaii) – In celebration of the International Women’s Day, the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, in partnership with various community organizations, organized a Women Leadership Forum on 7 March 2020 at the Entrepreneurs’ Sandbox in Honolulu. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”. It calls on multi-generations of women to come together to collectively address the unfinished business of empowering women and young girls everywhere.
The Women Leadership Forum featured a panel discussion featuring women leaders in various fields such as business, education, health, and media. The panelists include: Bernice Parsons, President & Co-Founder of Vertaccount Hawaii, Inc., Diana Gremillion, Founder of Successful Life Strategies, Dr. Eva Rose-Washburn-Repollo, Associate Professor at Chaminade University, Ms. Sheryl Yoshimura, Special Projects Manager and Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist (RDN) at Wahiawa Health, and Kristina Lockwood, General Manager at KHON 2. The panel was moderated by Ms. Michellee Phelps, Communications and Special Events Manager at the Hawaii Convention Center.
After the panel discussion, Diana Gremillion facilitated a coaching and networking exercise while Dr. Maria “Marel” Ver, President of the Philippine Medical Association of Hawaii and Trauma Medical Doctor at Pali Momi provided inspirational message during her keynote speech. The event also provided a venue to promote Filipino women-owned enterprises during the Pusong Filipinx Marketplace which took place right after the Forum. Seven (7) businesses exhibited their products and services, including: Dream Kream Hat Company, The Garden Collective, Hues of Rose, Kitt and Bunn Supply Co., Selscrunchies, Senpai, and Sweet Treats and Décor by Jovy.
The event was produced in partnership with the Filipino Association of University Women, Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, FETC Foundation, Filipino Junior Chamber, Filipino Young Leaders program, Philippine Medical Association of Hawaii, Pusong Filipinx, and R&M Reyes Enterprise.
This year’s Women Leadership Forum is part of the Philippine Consulate’s initiatives to bring together various women organizations, empower the members of the community, and create a stronger and wider network of stakeholders that will help pursue the goals of creating a more inclusive and gender-fair society. To get involved in the Consulate’s other initiatives, the public can get in touch with the Cultural and Community Section of the Consulate by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. (END)
Women Leadership Forum Panelist (left to right): Bernice Parsons, Diana Gremillion, Kristina Lockwood, Sheryl Yoshimura, and Dr. Eva Washburn-Repollo. Moderated by Michelle Phelps (Photo credit: Photoluxe)
Deputy Consul General Angelica Escalona welcoming participants to the Women Leadership Forum (Photo credit: Photoluxe)
Diana Gremillion facilitating the coaching and networking exercise (Photo credit: Photoluxe)
Attendees participating in the networking break (Photo credit: Photoluxe)
Dr. Marel Ver delivering her Keynote Speech Attendees participating in the networking break (Photo credit: Photoluxe)
Lalaine Ignao (rightmost), Founder of Pusong Filipinx, together with women entrepreneurs participating in the Pusong Filipinx Marketplace (Photo credit: Photoluxe)
Event participants shopping at the Pusong Filipinx Marketplace right after the Forum (Photo credit: Photoluxe)
Fully-packed venue during the Women Leadership Forum (Photo credit: Photoluxe)
