PRESS RELEASE NO. 09-2021
(5 April 2021) – The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu spearheaded the celebration of Women’s Month last March in cooperation with the Filipino community in Hawai’i. Various organizations held several activities including panel discussions, student competition, virtual rum tasting, and musical show to celebrate the achievements of women, raise awareness about gender issues, and galvanize action in achieving gender equality and inclusion.
On March 4, the Hawaii-Philippines Business Economic Council (HPBEC) held an online panel discussion entitled, “Politics of Food: From Production to Consumption” featuring Filipino women who have broken glass ceilings in the food industry. Clara Reyes Lapus, President of the Mama Sita Foundation and Marigold Manufacturing Corporation, Melody Calisay, President and CEO of East West Marketing Inc, Wilma Consul, chef instructor and journalist, and Nelda Zulueta, Managing Director of Rosa Farms served as guest speakers.
Meanwhile, the Filipino Association of University Women (FAUW) conducted a literary reading and panel discussion entitled, “Pinay in Diaspora: Rediscovering Filipino Cultural Values” on March 6.
During International Women’s Day on March 8, the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii (FCCH), the Filcom Center and HPBEC organized the “Kinabukasan #ChoosetoChallenge Panel”, where select male members of FCCH interviewed Dr. Marel Ver, surgeon and Trauma Director of the Pali Momi Medical Center, Atty. Merlinda Garma, Lawyer, actress, and host of Skin Diver TV show, and Natalie Million, Program Associate at the Hawaii Community Foundation about gender issues and the role men can play to support women in their career and advance gender equality. The event was moderated by Vice Consul Andrea Christina Caymo and Jeoffrey Cudiamat, President of the FCCH.
From March 11-31, students from different schools in Hawaii participated in the #ChosetoChallenge Ideathon, a three (3) week-long competition where students work in teams to propose solutions to address gender bias and discrimination in schools. The event was organized by the Consulate, in partnership with Communication Department of the Chaminade University, and the Filipino Junior Chamber (FJC). On March 31, the “Women in Business” Team from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa emerged as winner of the 2021 #ChoosetoChallenge Ideathon, taking home $1,000 and mentorship from select women leaders.
On March 18, the Consulate, the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) organized a panel discussion, “Filipino-American Women in the Armed Forces”, highlighting the achievements of women of color in a male-dominated field. The speakers for the event were Col. Leah Boling, Lt. Col, Charlynne Mcginnis, Major Silvie Nave Gunderson, and Chief Master Sergeant MaryAnn C. Martin. Chaplain, Col (S) Leah Boling is the Air National Guard Assistant to the Command Chaplain for Air Mobility Command and is currently the highest ranked Filipino American in the US Armed Forces. Lt Col (S) Charlynne “Char” McGinnis is the Deputy Director, Commander’s Action Group for the Commander, Pacific Air Forces at Hickam Air Force Base. Meanwhile, Major Silvie Nave Gunderson currently serves in the DoD OIG as a military program analyst while Chief Master Sergeant MaryAnn C. Martin is the Group Superintendent of the 298th Air Defense Group, Hawaii Air National Guard. The event was moderated by Christal Villa, a Department of Defense contractor and a FYLPRO alumna.
The University of the Philippines Alumni Association in Hawaii, meanwhile, tapped four of its distinguished alumni to talk during the panel discussion on “Filipino Women in Higher Education: Unleashing Leadership Capabilities to Change Spaces” on March 20. The panelists include: Amefil “Amy” Agbayani, Emeritus Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Diversity and Director of the Office of Student Equity, Excellence and Diversity (SEED), University of Hawai’i; Dr. Belinda “Lindy” A. Aquino, Professor Emeritus of Asian Studies, University of Hawai’i at Manoa; Teresita “Tess” Davide Amore, Assistant Researcher, UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; and Marie Jocelyn “Joy” Marfil, composer and Associate Professor in the Composition and Theory Department of the University of the Philippines College of Music in Diliman. The event was moderated by Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand, community organizer and Kit Zulueta, owner of Mystery Maui and a FYLPRO alumna.
Women’s participation in government and right to vote were issues that sparked the Feminist movement and continues to be an important issue at present. The Philippine Consulate, together with FJC, hosted a conversation on March 23 from 5:30-6:30 PM with “Women in Government” to discuss how to increase women representation in politics, especially women of color, and how to advance a feminist agenda especially with the pandemic intensifying the challenges faced by working mothers and victims of gender-based violence and trafficking. Hon. Catherine Remigio, Judge of the First Circuit Court, State Senator Joy San Buenaventura of the Senate District 2, Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Council Member of the Maui County Council, and Jane Clement, Executive Assistant of the Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawai'I served as panelists during the online forum. The event was moderated by Rebecca Gardner, founder of Policy Matters LLC.
To generate awareness about gender bias in product marketing and celebrate achievements of women entrepreneur, the Consulate together with CIH Events hosted a virtual Rum Tasting Featuring Kasama Rum. Kasama Rum, which was developed by a Filipina, presents the idea that rum can be for everyone in its product marketing and packaging. Alexandra Dorda, founder and CEO of Kasama Rum, hosted the event together with Vice Consul Andrea Caymo of the Philippine Consulate.
To wrap up the celebration of Women’s Month, the Center for Philippine Studies and the Knights of Rizal organized an hour-long musical feature in the evening of March 31 from 7:00-8:00 PM called “Himig ng Filipina: Voices of Love and Empowerment”. The event featured Original Filipino Music (OPM) sung by Filipinas in Hawai’i. The singers featured during the event include: Pia Arboleda, Consul Grace Bulos, Joanna Yzabelle Bulos, Samantha Joelle Bulos, Leth Callanta, Anna Davide, Flori Palma Gil, Mindnay Nisa Gapet, Kristian Lei, Anmercil Romaguera, Josie Sumaitand Jeannette Trevias. The event was hosted by Chachie Abra and Precious Arao.
Various Filcom media also joined in the celebration of the Women’s Month. Filam Courier, the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle, and KNDI Radio featured the month-long celebration in their print issues and radio program.
The recordings of the various Women’s Month events are available at the Facebook Page of the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu (@phinhonolulu). (END)
