FILIPINA

W O M E N ’ S N E T W O R K

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. -.
 Message from the Publisher
What will the Filipina American women be like
W H A T ’ S I N S I D E
in the year 2012?

A recent Google search of “Filipina” yielded 3,770,000

XII About FWN results. Yahoo yielded 5,530,000. Ask.com yielded 565,800.
VIII FWN Members The search results listed hundreds of website links to dating
IV Kaibigan ng FWN (Community Partners)
sites, matchmaking, “bar” and “sexy” girls and personal ads.
IV FWN Sponsors
Yahoo did sneak in one link to the Filipina Women’s Network’s
site. These sites have defined Filipina women. We need to
Marily Mondejar
F E AT U R E S stop the perpetuation of this popular image. President
05 Remarkable Filipina Women of 2007 Filipina Women’s Network
12 Remarkable Filipina Women of 2006 Creating a powerful imagery is vital to establishing a
X Filipina Power 1898 presence in the public consciousness and in bringing about
XI 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the U.S.
the acceptance of Filipina women as leaders and change
XIII Filipina Women are Changing the Face of Politics
advocates. We took action:

F IL I PI NA SU MMI T 1) At the 4th Filipina Summit (October 2006), we embarked

06 Report: 4th Annual Filipina Summit – on a future search with one task: How to Advance
FWN’s Future Search: Filipina Power 2012 Filipina Women in the U.S. workplace.
XI 5th Annual Filipina Summit: Washington D.C.
2) At the future search, we developed a game plan to
02 Time Capsule 2012: Pinay’s Wish List for all
elevate the presence and participation of Filipinas in
Filipina Women

<?B?F?D7
leadership positions in corporate America, public service
03 Blown Away at the FWN Future Search and government.
11 Keynote Speaker: Tessie Guillermo
3) Imagery: FWN Magazine’s dual covers – two Filipina

MEC;DÊI
11 Keynote Speaker: Mona Pasquil
women on two successful paths: Tessie Zaragoza, Board
Chair, takes a behind-the-scene role in helping guide
ON THE COVERS the growth of FWN. Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye

D;JMEHA
VI Tessie Zaragoza of the California Court of Appeal, changes the face of
13 Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye leadership in the legal field.

a. Nationwide Search of the 100 Most Influential

ADVERTISER LIST
V Allstate Insurance - Manny De Vera
V Assure Financial Realty
V AT&T
II Ayala Foundation USA
V California State Automobile Association (CSAA)
11 Clear Credit Exchange – Hazel Valera
04 CLO Funding Corporation – Ludy Corrales
IX Fast Easy Divorce – Genevieve Dwyer
V Girl Scouts, San Francisco Bay Area – Polly Cortez
04 Ihaw Ihaw
04 Institute for Image Management
05 Kabataang maka-Bayan USA / Pro People Youth
05 Lorna Lardizabal Dietz – Media Kits
V Orientex - Ramar Foods
04 The Philippine Center, San Francisco
04 Philippine News
IX TCB Consultant - Terry Bautista
Filipina Women in the U.S.
b. Imagery: Remarkable Filipina Women
c. Imagery: Filipinas in Politics
d. Imagery: Tessie Guillermo, President & CEO,
Community Technology Foundation of California
It is essential that our imagery convey Filipina women’s
experiences and our political objectives. Our work is cut out.
It is a daunting task. Do your part – first, by joining FWN.
Second, by putting yourself out there. As Justice Tani says,
“Get your name ‘in play’… as the face of leadership and
competence.”
Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) is a nonprofit association
for women of Philippine ancestry. FWN strives to enhance
public perceptions of Filipina women’s capacities to lead;
change biases of Filipina women’s leadership abilities;
and foster the entry of Filipina women into positions of
leadership in all sectors. For more info, visit www.ffwn.org.
How to reach the Filipina Women’s Network
P. O. Box 192143, San Francisco, California 94119
Phone: 415 / 278. 9410 | Fax: 415 / 840. 0655
Email: Filipina@ffwn.org | www.ffwn.org.
The views and opinions of advertisers and contributors
expressed in this publication do not necessarily state or
reflect those of Filipina Women’s Network.

FILIPINA POWER 2012 III

 The FWN Editorial Team

“Kaibigan ng FWN” Community Partners . . . . y. . . .

DeVoted Publisher
M A R I LY M O N D E J A R
DiVine Editor
FA Y O LY M P I A
Angel Art Director
AL S. PEREZ
. . . . y. . . .
LoVe Contributors

The BEN MENOR

Outstanding EH=7D CHRISTI MORALES
D A Z L A M PA R A S
Women in the
:EDEH
Rights
Nation’s DRUSILLA COPELAND
Service EDNA CASTEEL
PHILIPPINES F E R L I E A N D O LO N G
CALIFORNIA GENEVIEVE DWYER
D ; J ME H A WOMEN’S AGENDA LESLIE GUEVARRA
LO R N A D I E T Z
M A R G A R I TA A R G E N T E
MONA LISA YUCHENGCO
San Francisco’s PA U L E T E N C H A V E Z
DEPARTMENT ON THE P E A R L PA R M E L E E
STATUS OF WOMEN PERLA DE JESUS
RACHEL REDONDIEZ
T E R R Y B A U T I S TA
VICKY TIANGHA
W I L M A B A U T I S TA
Consulate General Consulate General . . . . y. . . .
of the Philippines of the Philippines
Heart Photographers
in San Francisco in New York
Filipino American (Justice Tani)
Human Services, Inc. Rowena Mendoza Sanchez C e c i l i a B . Re b o n g
(FAHSI) ABBY BOXWELL
boxwellphoto@yahoo.com

(Tessie Zaragoza)
DENNIS MOJADO

FWN Sponsors I F Institute for

Image
I M Management
http://Photography.Mojado.com

OWEN DONNAHOO
www.OwenPhotographie.com

V O LTA I R E Y A P
www.VoltaireYap.com
. . . . y. . . .
FWN Board
TESSIE ZARAGOZA
MARILY MONDE JAR
DINA GUINGONA
EDNA AUSTRIA RODIS
LAARNI SAN JUAN
CONNIE LLOREN
GENEVIEVE JOPANDA

© 2007 Filipina Women’s Network.

All Rights Reserved. No part of this
publication may be published without
the expressed written permission
of the publisher.
IV FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | w w w. f f w n . o r g
 Manuel De Vera
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Phone 415. 469. 7333

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FILIPINA POWER 2012 V

 TESSIE
She Never Left the Philippines.
A Filipino Community Activist in the U.S.
W ÑHcnmÔsadkhdudhmdpt`khsx
hen Tessie Zaragoza was
approached to be part of a core
committee to restructure FWN,
from an informal gathering of
Filipinas to an agent of change,
with a strategic mission and concise goals,
she never hesitated. At that time, she was a
community outreach coordinator for the Filipino
community with the California Transplant Donor
Network (CTDN). Her outreach effort was
perceived as “You only come to us (minority
communities) when you need something.”
“Yes,” Tessie says, “I was asking the Filipino
community to become organ donors and rely
on their altruism to give.” The distrust was
prevalent. She developed her philosophy of a
community outreach strategy. “You must be an
active community participant in a symbiotic and
reciprocal relationship.” She approached her
manager at CTDN and FWN became part of her
community outreach. “I became the organ donor
and vagina (puki) lady. Though she is no longer
with CTDN, she continues to be actively involved
with FWN working behind the scenes to achieve
the goals of this nascent organization.
Tessie did not consciously seek a particular
career path but events in her life pointed her
in the direction of community activism. She
brings together her many skills and talents as a
community educator and advocate. She rose from
the ranks of administrative aide to senior staff in
the district office of former Congressman Ronald
Dellums (now Mayor of Oakland, California).
She was also a union recruiter, a community
outreach coordinator, and now a certified Tagalog
interpreter and a bilingual project interviewer for
the Life History Calendar Project of the Asian &
Pacific Islander American Health Forum’s Institute
on Domestic Violence (APIDV). “I have come full
circle. In 1969 I left the Philippines to continue
my “colonial education” in psychology at U.C.
Berkeley. I may have left the Philippines 38
years ago but I’ve never been away from the
Filipino community.”
Born Teresita Villanueva Zaragoza, she is a mother,
community educator / advocate and a visionary.
She is the sort of person who invariably exceeds
first impressions. Her low-key demeanor and
petite, business-attired frame barely hints at her
VI FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
 ARAGOZA
atshmsgddpths`akdchrsqhatshnm decision,” added Tessie.
neqdrntqbdr-Ò
depth. She is a dynamo of ideas founded on
a strong sense of social justice and equity.
Born and raised in the Philippines, the youngest
of nine children of a university professor mother
and a physician father, she joined her siblings,
who are all college graduates, when she earned
her bachelor’s degree at U.C. Berkeley before her
20th birthday.
“When I was in grade school, I placed second
honor in my class. You know what my father
said?” Tessie recalled, “He said, is that all?”
Her father’s echoing words had the reverse
effect. Instead of academic excellence, Tessie’s
achievement went beyond the classroom. In high
school, she graduated with medals for essay
writing, dramatics, oratory, and citizenship. She
was on the school newspaper staff and wrote
an article challenging nepotism and preferential
treatment. As a member of the National Union
of High School Students, she went to her first
demonstration protesting U.S. military presence in
the Philippines and Vietnam. Family and friends
aptly described her as “a rebel without a cause.”
An emerging activist when she arrived in the US,
she joined the anti-war movement. In 1972, she
returned to Manila. As Tessie recalls, “Knowledge
of western culture / values alone cannot shield
one from the greatest cultural shock – alienation.
It was a difficult stage in my life for I felt alienated
in my own culture that I thought I knew. I
survived “alienation” in the US. But alienation
in your home country was devastating for me. I
returned to the U.S.
in August, 1972 as a graduate student at
San Francisco State University – just three
weeks before martial law was declared and all
travel banned for months. That was my life’s
defining moment.”
| w w w. f f w n . o r g
BY TERRY BAUTISTA
Upon her return she got involved in the anti-
fascist (anti-Marcos) struggle and the Filipino-
American identity movement. She became
an activist, joined The Katipunan ng mga
Demokratikong Pilipino (Union of Democratic
Filipinos, KDP); protested the martial rule
of Ferdinand Marcos and took part in many
campaigns on issues of discrimination, bilingual
education, and the lack of Filipino teachers in
predominantly Filipino communities.
In 1983 a friend who was working with the
Asian Law Caucus called to say that there was
a vacancy at Congressman Ronald V. Dellums’
district office. She applied, was interviewed and
was hired in a blink of an eye. She stayed until
Dellums retired in 1998. She continued with
Congresswoman Barbara Lee until 2000 and
then joined CTDN.
Tessie’s community activism as a change advocate
were learned from each of her mentors.. Each
represented by her mentors. The first, from
Congressman Dellums, merged her “leftist
perspective” with coalition, consensus politics.
She makes every opportunity for sharing what she
learned from Ron – “once an idea is articulated,
it belongs to everyone.” “The merits of an idea
bring people toward consensus,”
says Tessie.
The second came from a former Dellums’ staff,
Keith Carson, now Alameda County Supervisor.
At one time, Keith was the president of the
Niagara Democratic Club. Under his tenure, the
club supported a ballot measure that vilified
him by the so-called progressives. He said that
as president, he implemented three series of
discussions on the ballot measure instead of
the usual one. In the end, he said, “I can only
cast one vote.” Tessie believes that the integrity
of process building brings people together in
their shared decision. “This experience makes
people accountable for the consequences of their
The third is from Alice Bulos, the matriarch of
the Filipino community, who taught Tessie the
importance of visibility and establishing the
credibility of the Filipino community. “Visibility
informs elected officials and potential candidates
to approach the Filipino community hand-in-hand
with Filipino community leaders,” explained
Alice. Alice’s presence is felt on all levels of
government: local, state and federal and tirelessly
accomplished these achievements for the
community. “Alice does not drive a car but she
puts her faith and reliance on the community to
bring her to places where she needs to be,” Tessie
adds with amazement.
Her own brand of being a change agent is guided
by her belief in equity. “I don’t believe in equality
but in the equitable distribution of resources to
ensure the quality of life for everyone,” explained
Tessie. She elaborated that equality assumes that
everything is equal while equity assumes that
everything is not equal. Any decision that affects
the quality of life of communities should be based
on equity.” She then tells a story when she was
new on the Dellums congressional staff. “ Each
staffer was asked to contribute $20 for a birthday
gift pool. I was the lowest paid staffer and $20
was a lot of money for me then. So I suggested
that the amount be based on a sliding scale. The
more you earn, the more you give; the less you
earn, the less you give.” That
is equity.”
I
n all of her endeavors, Tessie always seeks
the rationale behind everything. In order to
develop an effective community strategy,
Tessie was intrigued with why people
declined to be organ donors. “It’s not in my
culture to donate” and “Keeping the body
whole” were the common responses.
“Modern technology of organ transplantation
started only 50 years ago”, says Tessie, “therefore
the practice of organ donation is not in anyone’s
culture. As for keeping the body whole, this
is a sentimental reason. No one argues with
sentiments.”

During her time at CTDN she became the Chair
of the Board of the Filipina Women’s Network.
Tessie’s leadership was crucial in FWN’s direction.
FWN was stuck in the business model that as
a membership organization with yearly dues,
the organization must provide member gifts
and discounts. “Business models need to be
transformed. Instead of what FWN can give to its
members, we shifted the thinking of encouraging
members to make an investment (dues and their
time) in Shaping the Filipina Image. This is what
propels FWN’s mission, goals and activities.” This
has become the mantra for FWN.
Working closely together, she and FWN President
Marily Mondejar feel they make a good team.
They see the whole dynamic spectrum of
women, from those who are without resources
when it came to personal safety and security, to
those who have reached the top of their field
and profession with no support network from
their own Filipina community. At the Filipina
Summit held last October, 2006, FWN strongly
emphasized that career and leadership are
not exclusive of corporate America but indeed
inclusive of community based-organizations, both
for the profit and not-for profit sectors.
A petite, soft spoken leader, Tessie realizes that
her life choices brought her to her current role
in FWN. “Being with FWN restored my more
genuine sense of self, capitalized on my true
strengths, not avoiding excellence.” Reflecting
on FWN, the Chair of the Board sees the
organization’s future growth as a virtual
community. “We must embed technology in
process building for participatory democracy,”
says Tessie, who personally witnessed FWN’s
evolution as an organizational leader in the global
outreach of Filipino women. She believes that
FWN “will propel Filipina women into the midst
of society’s need for conscious engagement.”
She warns, “World historical development has
made it impossible to isolate ourselves.
G
iven recent political trends, Tessie
believes the feminization of leadership
will bring to the forefront the
differences in decision-making styles
between men and women. “Women
should run for elected office, because
our society needs women’s
perspectives in the national debate of issues that
matter to families especially women and children.
Women need the national presence,” Tessie
believes. She feels strongly that women in elected
positions must use their positional power to move
issues beyond one’s own interests. They should
use their platform to advocate for bigger issues
that improve the lives of women and children
and the policies that affect the well-being of
communities.
“As immigrants, we accept that there are some
conditions that are beyond our control,” Tessie
insists. “We need to make realistic plans and
debunk the myth of ‘try hard and you will
succeed.’ We need to be smarter in our quest
for success – partnering with organizations
that share our concerns, getting involved at the
national level, speaking our voice. FWN will bring
forward the issues. Once we get these messages
into a global discussion, I think more Filipina
women will think about the issues. They will step
forward when the conditions are ripe for their
participation.”
Tessie is hopeful. “Filipina Power 2012 is a launch
pad for any destination we set, in any direction
we want to go. By 2012, we will be more than
computer literate and truly become a virtual
community with the internet as a critical part of
our lives and a major forum for discussions.”
What excites Tessie is the coming together of
Filipinos, clearly comfortable with their identity
and heritage from the Philippines, proud of
their nationhood, beyond regionalism. “Having
the ability to express your views as a people
and articulating your perspective with women
globally, develops self- knowledge. The idea of
touching someone, especially in cyberspace,
exponentially presents the opportunity for change,
transcending our differences.” She adds, “The
world is about ideas. Change happens when we
act on these germs of ideas.”
FILIPINA POWER 2012
Clockwise from far left: Tessie with Ron Dellums,
Mayor of Oakland; Tessie on a reflective pose;
with daughters Lilla, Monique and Danielle and
husband Rich; Tessie with Alice Bulos; Tessie at a
Peace Rally instilling her progressive values with
toddler Lilla on tow.
Tessie lives in Oakland. Her three daughters –
Dr. Monique Zaragoza, 31, Danielle Zaragoza,
Esq., 29 and Lilla M. Zaragoza Carter, 15 – and
their biracial heritages (Filipino, Belgian, and
African American) reflect a journey in diversity.
With her second husband, they are raising a
young teenager who is facing the challenges
of living with older family members, having
been born a generation later than her siblings.
Tessie enjoys the close bond she has with her
adult children and how they are able to share
life experiences as equals. She is expecting her
first grandchild in August, 2007. Asked what her
grandkids will call her, “Gorgeous Grandma!”
Terry Bautista, founding member of FWN, is an
educator and cultural advocate in the Bay Area.
Now retired from public service, Terry consults
on strategy and event planning, art and culture,
and the history of Filipinos living in the U.S. She
has made significant contributions on issues of
language access and bilingualism, affirmative
action, and community organizing.
VII
 FW N M E M B E R S
Abad, Debbie
Senior Accountant
Santa Clara County
Fairgrounds
Abriam, Rosie
Gura
Kamatauuran School of Kali
Engineering Applications
Manager
New Focus, Inc.
Afan, Susan
Regional Vice President
Robert Half International
Africa, Jei, Psy.D.
Clinical Director
Community Overcoming
Relationship Abuse (CORA)
Aglipay, Elaine Yan, MBA
Harvard Business School
Kennedy School of
Government
Alagar, Mylisa
Vice President, Regulatory
Affairs and Business
IZoom Online, LLC
Alegre, Jossie
Accounting Manager
San Francisco Public Utilities
Commission
Alcaro, Nanette
President
Archipelago 7107, Inc.
Alikpala, Agnes, M.D.
Aliyas, Kristal
Teacher
Department of Education
New York City
Almendral, Anne
Almendral Management
Services
Almquist, Joy Francia
Registered Nurse
Ancheta, Susan
Actor
Angeles, Jessica Isabel
Student
CAL State Fullerton
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Gutierrez
Office Manager
Bonita House, Inc.
Apilado, Maria
Registered Nurse
Aquino, Remy
Photographer, Model, Actor
Remy Aquino Photography
Aquino-Layus, Vici
Financial Aid Consultant
San Jose State University
VIII FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
Briosos, May
General Manager
Prime Image Media Group
Buell, Vangie
Aliyas, Kristal Author, Speaker, Performer
Teacher
Buendia, Michele U.
New York City Department Marketing Director /
of Education Financial Coach
Araullo, Vivian Z. World Financial Group
Realtor
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Prudential Realty Supervised Released File
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California Dept. of Justice
Media Producer
Media Factory
Bustos, Ana Marie
Guinto, MPA
Asmundson, Ruth Uy, Ph.D
Mayor
Caceres, Evelyn
City of Davis, CA Senior Eligibility Advisor
Atanacio, Shelene Medi-Cal Health Connections
City & County of SF
Actor
Baal, Christina MSW Calub, Vicky Servillon
Social Worker Chief Financial Officer
Hyatt Regency Subway
Cabrini Immigrant Services
Sandwiches & Salads
Barbonio, Juvy B.
Carrillo, Rochelle
Barton, Babe Magante
Recreation Therapist
Financial Representative
Center for Elders Northwestern Mutual
Financial Network
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Commissioner
Carrion-Di Ricco,
San Francisco Public Library Rosario L. “Puchi,” M.A.
President / Owner
Bautista, Terry
Principal Operation Wishing Star
TCB Consultants Casteel, Edna Mabanes
President & Founder
Baysic, Emy
Actor Global LENC, LLC
Ben, Kathleen Castillo, Thess
Research Associate
Office Manager
Avalon Global Asset RWD Executive Search
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Principal
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San Jose, CA
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Director Corrales, Ludy
International Museum President & CEO
CLO Funding Corporation
of Women
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of San Francisco Departmen of Treasury,
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& Investments
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Director of Development
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Studies
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Prudential CA Realty
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President
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Capital West
Edar, Norma P.
Owner
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Services, Inc.
Edralin, Stella M.
Attorney at Law
Law Office of Stella M.
Edralin
Escudero, Maya
Executive Director
Ayala Foundation USA
Estoesta, Anna-Liza
Sales Representative
Farmers Insurance Group
Jeffrey Wong Insurance
Agency
Fernandez, Nerissa
Marketing Services
ABS-CBN International
Garcia, Cameron
Accounting Associate
Wal-Mart
Garcia, Charina P.
Attorney
Cornerstone Law Group
Gaspar, Arlene C.
Realtor
RE/MAX Accord, Danville
Gibson, Kathleen Prado
Office Manager
Real Estate Services
University of California
Golangco, Marsha
Cheung
President
MG Consultants
Gonzalez, Byumi
Fashion Designer
Entrepreneur, B’Yumi Couture
Gruspe, Cynthia
Paraprofessional Teacher
Galileo Academy of Science
& Technology
Guillermo, Tessie
President and CEO
Community Technology
Foundation of California
Guingona, Dina
Accountant
Guingona, Teresa Ferrer, MA
Filipino Task Force
Community Overcoming
Relationship Abuse (CORA)
Hagelgans, Jaji
Realtor
Windemere Silicon Valley
Properties
Herreria, Genevieve
Executive Assistant
Levensohn Venture Partners
Hipolito-Estilo, Eileen
Vice President, Manager
Projects Banking Group
Support, Northern California–
Nevada, Bank of America
Hondrada, Maria
President
Island Huts, Inc
Ilumin, Sarah Jane
Vice President and Manager
Yashi Okita Design
Jallorina, Jessica
Account Manager
Telogy, Inc.
Jeanjacquet,
Christine-Marie
Industrial Designer
Sculptor
Jimenez, Jennifer S.
Registered Marriage &
Family Therapist Intern
Community Overcoming
Relationship Abuse (CORA)
Jopanda, Genevieve
General Manager
FlexCar
Juliana, Rachel Puno
Attorney
Trustee, Jefferson Union High
School District
Kerwick, Christina
Ocampo
President
Asean International
Kocian, Jennifer Francia
Financial Consultant
World Financial Group
Cosmetologist
Laxamana, Leah
Peace Corps
Honduras, Central America
Lazo, Myra Celeste
Surgical Physician Assistant
Pacific Laparoscopy
Legaspi, Liza
Account Executive
Intertrend Communication
Lim, Myrna
President
The Realty Group
Lopez, Linda, RN
Highland Hospital
Lloren-Jungman, Connie
Photographer, CLJ-Photo.com
Senior Accountant, Xythos
Software
Luluquisen, Evelyn
Human Resources Manager,
Communications & Network
Services, UC Berkeley
Luz, Nana
President & CEO
Softype, Inc.
Mabanag, Marivic B.
Executive Director
California Partnership to End
Domestic Violence
Macababayao, Imelda
General Manager
5th Avenue Financial
Malay, Paulita L., MFT
Psychotherapist
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Veterinarian / Realtor Clerk, Alameda County Actor Laarni, RN Attorney, Partner Events & Public Relations
Assure Financial Realty Professional Massage Founder, “May K:” The Public Health Nurse Tancinco Law Offices Associate
Therapist Giovannie Pico Foundation San Mateo County Public Breathe California
Mamon, Anna Health Department Tantay-Wilson, Theresa
MBA Student Mutuc, Margarita Piñon, Loraine Abegaile Director of Health Promotion Villena, Anna RN, FNP-C, Ph.D.
Masagung School of Business Vault Supervisor Actor Sanchez, Maria Rowena Rutgers University – Newark ANA/MFP-SAMHSA Fellow
University of San Francisco Consulate Film Ltd. Mendoza UCSF School of Nursing
Querol Moreno, Cherie Consul General San Francisco Tintiangco, Virna
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Little Manila Foundation Community Overcoming Administrative Director Jeeba Solutions Wells Fargo Bank
Program Analyst Nazareno, May Relationship Abuse (CORA) Miami Valley Hospital
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FILIPINA POWER 2012 IX

Filipina Power 1898
B Y F AY O LY M P I A
D
o you know what your great
great-grandmother was like?
Or is she a mystery to you, her
faded photos eliciting more
questions than answers?
I never met any of my four great
grandmothers. They were all born in the
mid to late 1800s. The longest lived
among them, my father’s Lola Cornelia,
passed away in the early 50s, almost a
decade before I was born. My mother’s
Lola Emiliana died even earlier, in 1944.
Yet, my parents and other family members
kept their memories alive through stories
that continue to fascinate and inspire me.
The best documented among these stories
are those of Lola Emiliana Cruz. Her only
daughter and my grandfather’s sister, the
late Dr. Juliana C. Pineda, wrote about her
in the latter’s published memoirs entitled
My Life and Times (Bookman, Inc.: Quezon
City, 1998). My great aunt Juliana herself
was a pioneer Filipina educator, suffragette
and author whose textbooks were used by
generations of Filipino school children.
From those memoirs I picture Lola
Emiliana as a strong woman who bravely
carried on, single-handedly raising her
three children after Lolo died in 1920. In
time she became the matriarch of a clan
that produced the Philippines’ first
dietitian, the fifth Filipina woman to
become a Supreme Court justice, the
founder of development communications
at the University of the Philippines, a
career diplomat who was once Philippine
consul general in New York, and a host of
other accomplished professionals including
my mother who blazed her own trails as
nutritionist-dietitian and educator in the
Philippines, the Northern Marianas and
California.
Yet, it wasn’t until I discovered hidden
parts of Philippine history that I under-
stood my foremothers more fully. Books
like Manila Envelopes: Oregon Volunteer
Lt. George F. Telfer’s Spanish-American
War Letters (Oregon Historical Society
Press, 1987) and Barangay (Ateneo de
Manila University Press, 1997) made me
X FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
realize just how amazing my great
grandmothers were. So were yours.
Think about it. They and their generation
managed to survive the Philippine
Revolution, the Philippine-American War
and World War II, raise their families and
make sure their children were educated
despite the limited resources of a war-
ravaged nation.
In Manila Envelopes, Lt. Telfer described
the Filipina women he encountered in
1898. “The women are the heads of
families,” he wrote. “They earn most of
the money and boss the ranch.” He was
amazed that Filipina women invariably
held the purse strings and ran the
businesses in an age when American men
usually kept their wives in the dark about
family finances.
According to ancient traditions, Filipina
women didn’t need to be attached to any
man, whether husband or father, to gain valued by their communities at a level only and honed for thousands of years.
social stature, own property or exercise dreamt about in the West. Underneath All the members of FWN are heirs to this
political influence. The reverse was true. the layers of western colonization, we Filipina power. Seen from this context,
The wife gave her husband standing and instinctively follow patterns of behavior FWN and its goals make perfect sense.
credibility in the community. our foremothers have refined over the So does the story of its chair, Tessie
centuries, adroitly balancing wisdom, Zaragoza, whose struggle and success in
In fact, historians say that pre-Hispanic leadership and power with nurture, humor carving out a place for herself in America
16th century bachelors were easy to spot. and sacrifice. came not with inherited money and
They were the scruffiest-looking in a influence, but with the lakas ng loob
community that valued sartorial elegance. Filipina women come from an ancient (courage) and kakayahan (abilities)
Without the benefit of a wife’s care and tradition of such high social standing that handed down through generations of
“matronage,” to coin a word, the single we joke about achieving equal rights as Filipina women. The skilled leadership
man occupied a less-than-stellar social equivalent to stepping down from our of the Tessie Guillermos, Mona Pasquils,
position. After marriage, however, he pedestals. It is sad to see this lofty Kris Valderramas and Tani Gorre Cantil-
immediately gained considerable cachet. position being undermined daily by today’s Sakauyes of our community are among
His wife, on the other hand, had to global media and pop culture with its the most recent expressions of this legacy.
marshal all her talents and energy and get baldly negative portrayals of female power
down to the serious business of becoming and its incessant, desensitizing images of We hope that as you read this issue of
the center and guiding light of her home violence against women. FWN Magazine you will be inspired by the
and family for the rest of her life. outcomes of the 2006 FWN Summit, the
Here in the U.S., traditional Filipina values Future Search that laid the groundwork
This is why traditional Filipino cultures inevitably clash with a male-dominant toward advancing Filipina women in the U.
expected the groom’s family to pick up the local culture resistant to the prospect of a S. workplace by 2012. As we act on these
entire wedding tab, provide a dowry and woman in the Oval Office. While this good intentions, we honor the memory of
heed the wishes of both the bride and her raises the potential for conflict in the the heroic women who were our
mother on everything from the traje de workplace and in many Filipino-American foremothers and set the stage for our
boda (bridal trousseau) to the wedding homes, it also offers American women and daughters’ success and well-being.
feast menu, down to the smallest detail. girls a unique opportunity to see and learn
from a secure kind of nothing-to-prove I think your Lolas and mine would have
Today, Filipina women are still deeply feminine power that has been exercised approved.
| w w w. f f w n . o r g
Nationwide Search for the
100 Most Influential
Filipina Women in the U.S.
A Filipina Power 2012 Initiative. A Search for the Filipinas
Who Are Shaping the Image of Filipina Women in the U.S.
The Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) has
launched a groundbreaking endeavor to
bring together a group of Filipina women
recognized for their influence in shaping
the Filipino American community
nationally, in their local communities,
in their organizations and professional
practices, and in public policy and
industry.
The nationwide search for the 100 Most
Influential Filipina Women in the U.S. will
identify Filipinas who have shifted the
course of events in their own areas of
influence through ideas, activities, or
interactions using persuasion or advice or
street smarts. Recognizing these women
is a critical step in changing public
perceptions of Filipina women’s capacities
to lead, innovate, and influence society.
An initiative of Filipina Power 2012, a
result of the Filipina Summit’s Future
Search last October, the search was born
with a powerful purpose: To create strong
leadership in the Filipina American
community by 2012.
“As the Summit participants brainstormed
how to adapt and succeed in the future,
it was clear that FWN’s mission and goals
will take on an increasingly significant
role in changing biases against Filipina
women’s leadership abilities,” said FWN
Board Chair, Tessie Zaragoza. ”The
selection of the 100 Most Influential
Filipina Women in the U.S. will allow FWN
to support these role models so they can
continue to create breakthroughs and
‘womantor’ the next generation of
Filipina leaders, an effective form of
succession planning.”
The 100 Most Influential Filipina Women
in the U.S. is a celebration of 100 years
of Filipino presence in America. They will
be honored at a special awards event
during the Fifth Annual Filipina Summit
scheduled for October 25 – 27, 2007
in Washington DC.
“Filipinas have been praised as the ‘silent
but talented minority group’ and at the
same time perceived as ‘submissive
and exotic’, overlooking their leadership
and management skills. It is time that
we actively promote Filipina women’s
capacities to lead, innovate, and persuade.
FWN has a highly educated and
experienced talent pool: 63% of our
members have graduate and college
degrees and collectively represent hundreds
of years of significant management and
industry experience. It is a shame that
many Filipina women are not recognized
in their positions of power and influence.
We need to change that,“said Marily
Mondejar, President of the Filipina
Women’s Network. “This nationwide
search is a big part of the game plan
for Filipina Power 2012.”
FWN INVITES NOMINATIONS IN
THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
Founders & Pioneers honor Filipina
women in their capacity as the chief
executive, president, executive director,
or founder of a company, community
organization, or business venture that
they helped start, build or significantly
grow.
Innovators and Thought Leaders
recognize Filipina women who have
broken new ground through vibrant,
energetic presentations of critical ideas,
transforming the way people think, such
as pop culture, arts and letters, or have
improved the lives of others by helping
develop a product or service in the fields
of science, technology, biotechnology, or
medicine.
Policymakers & Visionaries
recognize Filipina women leaders who
are making a difference in government
policies or laws that impact business,
industry, and society and who enrich the
lives and careers of others by sharing the
benefits of their wealth, experience, and
knowledge.
rights, national sovereignty and
international law as she steadfastly
Behind the Scenes Leaders,
recognize Filipina women who, though
they may not have the big title or corner
pursued justice against her rapists.
Ayala Foundation USA is the nominations
sponsor of the nationwide search.“I am
office, are a driving force behind the
success of their employer or organization
and who go beyond the call to devote
excited to be working with such a
distinguished group of Filipinas. This
program supports the mission of Ayala
time, energy, and resources to support Foundation USA. The entire community
their community. can learn from their considerable
Emerging Leaders & Builders knowledge, experience and talents,”
said Maya Escudero, Executive Director
are Filipina women making their mark
of Ayala Foundation USA. “Together we
in a large corporate environment, or
can shape the discussion on trends and
displaying high energy and skill in a
implications that will affect the future of
leadership role at a nonprofit institution,
the Filipino community in America and
government agency or organization in
will greatly improve perceptions of
any field.
Filipinos worldwide.”
“Nicole” honors Filipina women whose
Nominations are accepted until Wednesday,
words, actions, and attitude, inspire
May 30, 2007. Online submissions only.
others to act and revolutionize our
To request access to the nomination site,
society’s way of understanding traditional
and for corporate sponsorships, please
beliefs and customs. This category is
contact FWN by sending an email to
inspired by “Nicole” who sparked an
filipina@ffwn.org.
international debate about women’s
=`]k_8eelXc
F i l i p i n a W o m e n ’s N e t w o r k
FILIPINA SUMMIT
FILIPINA POWER 2012: FILIPINAS NOW!
T H U, O C T 25 – S AT, O C T 27, 2007
W A S H I N G T O N D . C .
A LEARNING JOURNEY TO SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS:
THE CENTER OF POWER
» Conversations with
More than a field trip, women elected officials
symposium or forum,
» Navigating the halls of
Learning Journeys
the Capitol
immerse us in the
reality – and long-range » Merienda at The White
implications – of the House
politics of government. » Filipina Power 2012:
These experiences enable The Game Plan
us to deepen, accelerate,
and internalize our own » Recognition of the 100
learning about the business Most Influential Filipina
of government, advocacy Women in the U.S.
and policy-making. FILIPINAS OF THE FUTURE:
Learning Journeys
reflect our conviction that Has the politics of
ÓB!eftl!jt!b!ebohfspvt! the most powerful learning government changed, or is
qmbdf!gspn!xijdi! occurs through experience it our understanding of
up!wjfx!uif!xpsme/Ô and interaction, not from the politics of government
!Ñ!Kpio!MfDbssf books or speeches. that has changed?
For more information: www.ffwn.org/FilipinaSummit5.htm
FILIPINA POWER 2012 XI
Filipina Women’s Network
P. O. Box 192143
San Francisco, CA 94119
Phone: 415. 278. 9410
Fax: 415. 840. 0655
E-mail: filipina@ffwn.org
Web site: www.ffwn.org
Mission Statement
Established in 2001, FWN’s
mission is to enhance public
perceptions of Filipina women’s
capacities to lead, change biases
against Filipina women’s
leadership abilities and promote
the entry of Filipina women into
positions of leadership in
corporate, government, and
nonprofit sectors.
FWN achieves its mission through
public education forums that
heighten Filipina women’s
visibility, research on Filipina
women’s issues, leadership, skill
building and career development
programs for Filipina women, and
influencing popular culture.
Goals 2007-08
Increase financial assistance
capabilities to ensure that FWN
educational programs and events
are accessible to Filipina women
of all socio-economic
backgrounds.
Increase FWN’s network of Filipina
women business owners and
those employed in corporations,
government and nonprofit
organizations and utilize the
database as a leadership pipeline
for corporate visibility.
Endow the Filipina Leadership
Development and Womantoring
Program
Generate operating funds for the
establishment of a national
headquarters and research library
to house our historical collection
documenting the achievements of
Filipina women in the U.S.
XII FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
<?B?F?D7MEC;DÊID;JMEHA Fundraising Events, Corporate Sponsorships and Naming Opportunities
Partner with the Filipina Women’s Network and support Filipina women, America’s
untapped source for leadership and talent.
FILIPINA WOMEN AGAINST other succeed and cultivating Publication date: March 2007. Call
VIOLENCE future community leaders. Sponsor (415) 278-9410 to place an ad or go
Campaign to end violence against a womantoring circle. to http://v-diaries.EventBrite.com.
Filipina women and girls in Call (415) 278-9410.
collaboration with Eve Ensler’s FILIPINA WOMEN WHO COULD
V-Day Organization. The V-Day 2007 FIFTH ANNUAL FILIPINA BE PRESIDENT
Spotlight will be on Women in SUMMIT: FILIPINAS NOW! Emerging Leaders program for
Conflict Zones because war October 25 – 27, 2006 Filipina women. Building the Filipina
exponentially increases the crimes of Washington D.C. community’s pipeline of qualified
violence against women and girls. leaders, to increase the odds that
Nationwide Search for the 100 Most some will rise to the president
All-Filipina women benefit production Influential Filipina Women in the U.S. position in all sectors. Sponsor a
of “The Vagina Monologues” (TVM) “presidential candidate.”Call
performed in English and Tagalog Attention Corporations: (415) 278-9410.
(“Usaping Puki”). Presented in March Nominate outstanding Filipina
annually in celebration of Women’s women in your organization. Plan FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
History Month. Your Participation Now! Send your MAGAZINE
Filipina employees to the Summit. Annual publication about the nuances
Two coast-to-coast shows Call (415) 278-9410. of Filipina culture, empowerment
(San Francisco and New York). articles, career strategies, and
The Filipina Summit is convened highlighting the accomplishments of
SAN FRANCISCO in October because the earliest Filipina women in the U. S. Publication
March 24, 2007 documented proof of Filipino date: Fall 2007. To place an ad,
Herbst Theatre presence in the Continental United call (415) 278-9410 or go to
401 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco States was in October 1587 in Morro http://fwnMagazine.EventBrite.com
Bay, California.
NEW YORK “KAIBIGAN NG FWN”
March 30 & April 14, 2007 “V-DIARIES”: ANTI-VIOLENCE COMMUNITY PARTNER FUND
The Philippine Center, NYC RESOURCE GUIDE Endow research projects and
556 Fifth Avenue, New York Annual publication designed to educational programs about the
provide a voice for domestic violence Filipina American Experience.
COUNCIL OF REMARKABLE survivors and Filipina women and Call (415) 278-9410 for naming
FILIPINA WOMEN girls in abusive situations including a opportunities and for sponsorships.
Womantoring Circles – creating a resource list of domestic violence
community of Filipinas helping each agencies, shelters, legal and counseling
services and law enforcement offices.
How to reach the Filipina Women’s Network • P. O. Box 192143, San Francisco, CA 94119 • Phone: 415 / 278. 9410 • Fax: 415 / 840. 0655 • www.ffwn.org.
The views and opinions of advertisers and contributors expressed in this publication do not necessarily state or reflect those of Filipina Women’s Network.
© 2007 Filipina Women’s Network. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be published without the expressed written permission of the publisher.
| w w w. f f w n . o r g
Filipina Women are Changing the Face of Politics
Voters gave Mae These women join a
Cendaña the highest growing group of
number of votes among Gertrude Gregorio
ten candidates vying
for three seats on the Hydra Mendoza
board of the Ambrose
Recreation and Park Joanne Del Rosario
District (ARPD) last
December. She had Kris Valderrama
previously served as
Gertrude Gregorio Hydra Mendoza Joanne Del Rosario Kris Valderrama appointed incumbent Mae Cendaña
won her bid for one is the first Filipina won a close race with won her bid for a seat board member. The
of two open posts for elected to public office long-term council in Maryland’s House of ARPD is in Contra Vilma Guinto Peoro
the New Haven Unified in San Francisco. She member Philip Lum for Delegates and took Costa County, northeast
School District placed second in her a seat on the Colma office on January 10, of the San Francisco Ruth Asmundson
Governing Board in bid for one of the three Town Council. Colma is 2007. Representing Bay.
recent elections. spots in the San located between Daly District 26 of Prince Rachel Puno Juliana
Francisco Board of City and South San George’s County, where Cendaña is executive
She is Dean of the Education, with 52,128 Francisco. Maryland adjoins secretary to the vice
Adaptive Learning votes or 13.02% of the Washington, DC, Kris president of student
Division (ALD) at total votes cast. Del Rosario is President ran on the platform, affairs, University of
Foothill College of the of the Filipino American “Advocating the Best California Office of
Foothill – De Anza Mendoza is former Association of Colma for our Children.” the President. It should be noted that
Community College Executive Director and and serves as a director She seeks to address Vilma Guinto Peoro
District, one of the a founding member on the board of the the issue of growing A civic leader in her ran an aggressive
largest community of Parents for Public Filipino American numbers of children community and a grassroots campaign
college districts in the Schools of San Coalition. with no medical fitness buff, Cendaña or San Francisco
United States serving Francisco, a national insurance. pledged to expand Supervisor in District 2
about 44,000 students organization that She is an Executive recreation services to against incumbent,
each quarter. engages parents and Assistant in a hedge Valderrama has had teens and seniors in her Michela Alioto-Pier
community members fund based in New York successful careers in area and to continue granddaughter of
Gregorio attended toward supporting, City with offices in San respiratory therapy, her efforts to improve former San Francisco
Harvard University’s promoting and Francisco. She has also communication and park and trail safety. Mayor Joseph Alioto.
Management improving public worked in various politics. She was active Guinto Peoro received
Development Program education. capacities at some of in the labor movement She attended high 17.25% of the total
in 1999. She earned the top law firms in for over a decade school at Saint Paul votes cast.
a Master of Arts In 2005, Mayor Gavin the Bay Area, at Xerox campaigning and College of Manila and
degree in Educational Newsom appointed Corporation and in the rallying in support of has a bachelor’s degree A Bay Area restaurateur,
Administration, Mendoza as his fields of banking and working family issues. in tourism management Guinto Peoro has a
Organization and Education Advisor and finance. She was Chair of the from the University of political heritage of her
Leadership at the Liaison to the San Asian Pacific American the Philippines. She own, being grand-
University of San Francisco Unified School Born in New York City Democratic Caucus of made her mark as a daughter of the late
Francisco. She obtained District. Hydra is married in 1953, Del Rosario Maryland from 1996 singer-recording artist Leon Guinto, former Elected Filipinas are
her Bachelor of Science to family physician lived in Yonkers, NY to 1997. and fashion industry governor of Tayabas trailblazers Ruth
degree in Foreign Ricardo Alvarez who until the age of 12. entrepreneur before (now Quezon) Province Asmundson, Mayor
Service and has a non-profit HIV / She studied in both the Kris was born in moving to the US in in the Philippines, and of Davis, California
International Relations AIDS clinic in San United States and the Washington, DC in 1988. She is proud of mayor of war-time and Rachel Puno
from the University Francisco’s Mission Philippines and came 1970 and obtained her her two grown children, Manila. Juliana, Trustee of the
of the Philippines. District. They live in to live in California in bachelor’s degree in Tallulah and Yves who Jefferson Union High
Bernal Heights with 1978, moving to Colma respiratory therapy in both support her civic School District. Both
their two children, in 2001. 1996 from the Salisbury efforts. won the first time they
Ashoka and Santiago. State University. She ran for office.
and husband Abraham
Lobo of Seattle, Asmundson was the
ÓPvs!effqftu!gfbs!jt!opu!uibu!xf!bsf!jobefrvbuf/!Pvs!effqftu! Washington have two top vote getter in the
daughters, Jordan age Davis City Council race
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council in 2002, she is
bn!J!up!cf!csjmmjbou-!hpshfpvt-!ubmfoufe-!boe!gbnpvt@Ö!Bduvbmmz-! currently mayor pro tem
xip!bsf!zpv!opu!up!cf@Ô!!Ñ!Nbszboof!Xjmmjbntpo and will serve as mayor
in 2008 - 2010.

FILIPINA POWER 2012 XIII

FILIPINA
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Time Capsule 2012: A Pioneer Pinay’s Wish List
for all Filipina Women BY MONA LISA YUCHENGCO
8
A time capsule is a way for us to deliver
important messages that we create today to
loved ones at some time in the future. You
can put whatever is meaningful in the capsule
and it will be returned and given to designated
heirs in the future. We are giving someone in
the future a sense of who we are today and
what life was like for us.
Marily also asked me to give some insights on
what I thought Filipino American women
could achieve in the year 2012. Rather than
give general comments, I’d like to give you my
own personal wish list. This list contains what
I hope Filipino American women, and other
women at large, should achieve. We may not
have it completed by 2012, but at least if we
start working towards it now, we will be
ready to make and accept the changes then.
Here’s my wish list to empower women,
not necessarily in this order:
» I wish women equal pay with their male
counterparts. Women are still earning only
76 cents on the dollar compared to men and
get very little recognition for the work that
they do. While we make 24% less than men,
we control 75% of household finances and
85% of purchasing decisions. In other words,
vote with your dollars! We should support
women-owned businesses and corporations
that promote women into management and
executive positions. In the same token,
women should support organizations that
further women’s issues and equality. We need
to give our time and money.
» I wish women would be free from poverty.
Unfortunately, more and more women are the
ones who suffer the most poverty. As the
saying goes, “Women do two-thirds of the
world’s work, receive 10% of the world’s
income and own 1% of the means of
production.”
» I wish more women in politics and
government positions. In 2005, only 15% of
the members of Congress were women, yet
we make up half of the population. We need
to elect women into office so that we can
have more legislation passed to benefit us.
» I wish women to be free of discrimination.
We need to abolish all discrimination, adopt
laws to prohibit discrimination and establish
institutions to protect women against
discrimination.
» I wish more women in the clergy. Currently
women only make up 15% of the nation’s
clergy. I think it’s about time the Catholic
Church accepts women priests and deacons.
02 FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
Maybe it will make the Catholic Church more
compassionate!
» I wish for more stories on women and
their issues. White males are the storytellers
and the resource persons. Women stories
have declined by 41% despite making up
more than half of the population. Women in
news are likely features in stories about
accidents, natural disasters and domestic
violence than in stories about their
professional abilities or expertise. Women also
only account for 1/3 of the journalists across
the nation.
» I wish that women be allowed to decide
what to do with their own bodies and
reproductive rights. If men had the ability
to bear children, you can be sure this would
be a non-issue. Archaic and horrible practices
such as female genital mutilation should be
outlawed immediately.
» I wish women to be free of rape, sexual
assault, domestic violence and trafficking.
In 2004, there were 210,000 victims over the
age of 12 of rape, attempted rape or sexual
assault while as many as 324,000 women
experience domestic violence every year
during their pregnancy. Let’s not forget that
50% to 70% of men who abuse women also
abuse children. In the same vein, I wish that
we would be free of any war because war is
just another excuse for women to be raped.
» I wish women will treat their bodies with
respect, giving it enough rest, fueling it with
a variety of foods, exercising it moderately
and listening to what it needs. There is no
need to adhere to society’s pressures of
“thinness.” We have to believe that self-
esteem and identity come from within!
| w w w. f f w n . o r g
Game Plan for Filipina Power 2012.
The Five Action Projects:
Action 1: Capacity Building
» I wish women be allowed to wear what
they want without being labeled a slut or a
loony and/or persecuted for cultural and
religious beliefs. A mini skirt, a veil, a
plunging neckline, a burqa, a hijab or a Action 2: Support Systems
Cossack – it doesn’t matter what we wear –
it does not give people an excuse to kill us
like what happened recently to an Afghan
woman in Fremont.
» I wish women as mothers, grandmothers,
aunts, teachers and mentors would raise
critical thinkers. Ask our children to think for
themselves. Encourage them to ask “why”
and question the status quo. After all, the
children are our future. On a personal level,
I wish my granddaughter Ashley will be
speaking to you in the year 2020 instead Action 3: Infrastructure
of me.
I realize that this wish list looks like or sounds
like the Constitution, but even during the
early years, the signers of the Constitution
had to dream of a world that they would be
happy to live in, and this is the kind of world
I would like to live in for the remaining years
of my life.
The feminist author Barbara Ehrenreich wrote
in “What Abu Graib Taught Me” the following
quotes: “What we need is a tough new kind
of feminism with no illusions. Women do not
change institutions simply by assimilating into Action 4: Forums and Panels
them, only by consciously deciding to fight
for change. We need a feminism that teaches
a woman to say no – not just to the date
rapist or overly insistent boyfriend but, when
necessary, to the military or corporate
hierarchy within which she finds herself…
It is not enough to be equal to men, when
the men are acting like beasts. It is not
enough to assimilate. We need to create a
world worth assimilating into.”
Action 5: Shape the Filipina Image
Blown Away
at the FWN
Future Search
B Y F A Y O LY M P I A

Coming together as a community on how to

‘Blown away’ puts it mildly.
I had no idea what I was in for when I
decided to join FWN’s 2006 Summit as one
of the Network’s newest members.
No idea that in one weekend I would
meet an Olympic legend, be touched by
an author reading from her new book,
get tips for success from two of the most
accomplished women in the U.S. and get
to know a roomful of other prominent,
competent, friendly, thoroughly interesting
Filipina women (and a handful of very
supportive Filipino men) of many ages,
each ready to work together for everyone’s
benefit.
Victoria Manalo Draves, the Filipina-
American athlete who became the first
woman in the world ever to win two gold
medals in the Olympics, graced our opening
on the same day a park would be named
after her in the San Francisco neighborhood
where she grew up. It seemed fitting that
I should take a photo of a woman who
lived up to her name despite the racial
segregation of her time, standing next
to Maria Lourdes, a young community
organizer who was preparing for law school
in post 9/11 America.
As I listened to Evangeline Canonizado
Buell read moving passages from her
autobiographical Twenty-five Chickens and
a Pig for a Bride (T’Boli Publishing, 2006),
I had the strong sense that I would treasure
this jewel of a moment for the rest of
my life.
The women who came to the conference
had worked long and hard to achieve
their goals. You couldn’t say they weren’t
competitive. Yet everyone arrived at FWN’s
2006 Annual Summit seeming to know tha
it wasn’t about competing with each other.
There wasn’t a “crab” in the crowd.
Perhaps it was FWN President Marily
Mondejar’s warmly welcoming, inclusive
mind-set. Maybe it’s because FWN
members have seen the enemy and realized
it is not one another.
Whatever made it different, this year’s
Summit, a Future Search, was one big,
sometimes mystifying, always thought-
provoking and ultimately satisfying process
that moved everyone from identifying
problems to planning action steps, all in a
distinctly Pinay fashion.
The facilitators, three women from
backgrounds other than Filipina, said ours
was the prettiest Future Search setting
they’d ever seen. No one else had thought
to cover the center of the conference floor
with intricately hand-woven, Philippine-
made pandanus mats in red, green, yellow
and beige; place a Tree of Hope in the
middle, festoon it with pink and purple
cards tied with gossamer pink ribbons;
artfully scrunch lengths of pink and green
sinamay around it, and dot the area with
floor pillows that invited people to throw
formality aside and just sit and visit.
They were again impressed when San
Francisco-based Filipina designer and
caterer Paule Tenchavez, another Future
Search participant, set a Philippine-
themed table that delighted both eyes
and taste buds. “Bongga” was the Filipino
word I shared with the facilitators as we
munched on artfully arranged fresh fruit,
“Lumpianitas” (SF Consul General Rowena
Sanchez’s apt term for tiny meat-filled
Lumpiang Shanghai) and Beef Caldereta
over hot rice – for breakfast.
Future Search Facilitation Experts (l to r) Drusilla Copeland (Ander & LIndstrom), Jane Weiss
(Great Place to Work), Marjorie Singer (U.S. Dept. of Education)
That’s how Filipina women have done
things through the ages – with panache,
beauty and grace, making guests, friends
and family feel honored by going the extra
mile and offering the best.
Their best is what Filipina women have
been pouring into all sectors of U.S. society
for generations. Yet, as with the rest of the
Filipino-American community, the lack of
national recognition and visibility is at odds
with their considerable accomplishments.
Domestic violence and various forms
of discrimination in the workplace and
elsewhere, still plague Pinays in the US.
And for all its benefits, the Information Age
has spawned an insidious new stumbling
block – a pervasive online image of Filipina
women as being so poverty-stricken and
desperate that they are forced into the
mail-order bride industry or worse, into
prostitution.
advance Filipina Women in the U.S. workplace
with special guest, Victoria Manalo Draves
Mindful of these challenges, we began
Future Search by examining our historical
context from global, national and personal
perspectives. In stakeholder or mixed
groups we mapped the complex world of
the Filipina woman in the U.S.
Dreaming big with “Ate Ops”
Then it was time to dream. We
brainstormed with abandon, dramatizing
and crafting visions of what could and
should be, with sometimes hilarious and
always inspiring results.
A circa 2012 “TV show” hosted by
“Ate Ops” (Elena’s elegant Pinay send up
of Oprah) featured a guest list of illustrious
Filipina women who recounted their
groundbreaking achievements. Our group
built a model dream building that would
house FWN and its services in 2012, having
(Continued on page 10)

FILIPINA POWER 2012 03

Image Builds
Business
CAPABILITIES OVERVIEW
The Institute for Image Management
has developed a unique approach to
helping indviduals and organizations
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relevance and credibility to important
internal and external audiences.
The Institute for Doing Business in the
M&K&oYk^gje]\lgY\\j]kkl`]dY[cg^
understanding of the cultural nuances
affecting international executives
and teams operating in the U.S., and
afl]jfYlagfYdZmkaf]kk]koYflaf_lg
expand operations in the U.S.
Call for a career image consultation
ooo&aeY_]+.(&[get415. 863. 2573
It is the mission of the Center to:
• Nurture, promote and propagate
Philippine culture
• Promote investments to the Philippines
FOR INDIVIDUALS • Expand the foreign market for
» Corporate Savvy Philippine products
’<j]kkaf_lgAfÛm]f[] • Encourage foreign tourists to visit the
» Seven Aspects of Image Philippines
» Career Management
• Enhance the image of the Philippines
» Executive Coaching The Philippine Center in San Francisco
» Life Planning is composed of two adjoining buildings The Center is an intelligent building venue
» Culture Image 360 Assessment located on Sutter Street, a block away from that showcases the best in the Filipino.
prestigious Union Square and within a mile Improvements include a fully renovated and
of San Francisco’s financial district. modern Consulate lobby, a Business Center,
FOR ORGANIZATIONS Executive Suites for Lease, Art and Culture
» Change Management Because of their extensive history, the City Exchange Galleries, A Movie and Screening
of San Francisco has defined the Philippine Room and ultimately the conversion of
» Scenario Planning Center Buildings as historical landmarks. The the 447 Lobby into the Cultural Center of
’Ogjc^gj[];gfkmdlaf_Yf\ buildings were purchased by the Philippine the Philippines in San Francisco. Wealth
Outplacement government in 1974 and are managed by of information about the Center may be
the Philippine Center Management Board. accessed at www.philippinecentersf.com.
» Facilitation and Training
For more information about the center please contact: The Business Office, The Philippine Center
I F Institute for 447 Sutter Street, Suite 518, SF, CA 94108 | Tel: (415) 982-6153 | Fax: (415) 982 1232
Image Email: info@philippinecentersf.com
I M Management
Ihaw Ihaw Restaurant
7ER1EXIS%ZIRYI )PWMI4EPIRGME
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04 FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | w w w. f f w n . o r g

Remarkable Filipina
Women of 2007
HYDRA MENDOZA, Mayor Newsom’s
Education Advisor and Board Member of
the San Francisco Unified School District,
is the first Filipina elected to public office
in San Francisco. (For more on Hydra, see
page 10).
MAYA ONG ESCUDERO is Executive
Director of Ayala Foundation USA, and
is active with fundraising events in the
San Francisco Bay Area’s mid-peninsula
community and its schools.
In the ‘90s, she served as Executive
Director of two organizations: Physicians
for Social Responsibility, Stanford-
Silicon Valley Chapter, and Hesperian
Foundation, Palo Alto, CA. In the ‘80s,
Escudero did community philanthropy
work with the Vanguard Public
Foundation in San Francisco and the
United Way of Santa Clara County, CA.
She moved to the U.S. in the late ‘70s at
the height of efforts to depose Ferdinand
Marcos. For her part, Escudero served as
National Coordinator of Friends of the
Filipino People in Boston, MA, and ran
the San Francisco office of Alliance for
Philippine Concerns.
She has a B.A. and an M.A. in English,
is married with two grown children,
and loves classical music, rock ‘n roll,
crossword puzzles, hiking and M&M’s.
NANA LUZ, President & CEO of
Softype, Inc. co-founded the company in
2000. She works with business owners
and managers in US, Europe, Africa and
Asia, managing Softype’s professional
staff toward making technological
solutions work for small and medium
businesses around the globe.
Luz calls herself a serial entrepreneur
with her sixteen years in the printing
business and four years in international
sourcing. She has a bachelor’s degree
in International Relations from Stanford
University.
TANI GORRE CANTIL- SAKAUYE,
Madam Justice of the Third District
Court of Appeal was the first woman
of Asian descent to serve as a judge in
Sacramento County and, at 31, was one
Clockwise from top left:
Hydra Mendoza, Maya Ong Escudero,
Nana Luz, Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye and
Odette Alcazaren-Keeley.
of the youngest judges in the State of
California. (Please see page 13 for the
full article on Justice Cantil-Sakauye).
FILIPINA VOICES Panelist and Moderator
ODETTE ALCAZAREN-KEELEY is
Chief of Staff of New America Media.
She also hosts and produces “Headlines
from the Ethnic Media” for a San
Francisco radio station and is a freelance
producer / contributor for “Pacific Time,”
a program airing on local PBS affiliate
KQED-FM.
After nearly a decade as a Philippine
media professional, Keeley moved to
the U.S. in 2000 and was doing an
internship at a local PBS station when
the 9/11 tragedy struck. Her Philippine
connections proved invaluable when the
station needed Asian perspectives on the
global war on terrorism.
From 2002 to 2005, she served as News
Executive Producer and Head Writer
of ABS-CBN International’s “Balitang
America.”
Alcazaren-Keeley graduated cum laude
with a degree in BA Communication,
major in Broadcast Communication and
minor in Broadcast Journalism from the
University of the Philippines, Diliman. She
and her husband Patrick have a young
daughter, Zoe.
FILIPINA POWER 2012 05
FWN’s Future Search:
Filipina Power 2012
F
For 2 ½ days last October 2006, FWN
members and representatives from
our stakeholder groups gathered for
a Future Search Conference with one
task: Develop a Game Plan On How
To Advance Filipina Women in the U.S.
Workplace.
Working through a carefully-designed
format facilitated by future search
experts, we came together and found
common ground, discovered strong
reasons to build community, made
commitments, and set a clear direction
and action items on how to grasp
opportunities available to us that will
propel Filipina women to a place of
Pinay Power by 2012.
FIRST STEP IN THE FUTURE SEARCH PROCESS:
Focus on the Past
Participants listed notable milestones (before 1976 thru 2006) from three perspectives:
Personal – key life experiences from participants’ lives (what you did and what you
experienced)
06 FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
=flik_8eelXc
Filipina Women’s Net work
We generated a comprehensive set
FILIPINA SUMMIT
FILIPINA 2012: A FUTURE SEARCH CONFERENCE
of issues and opportunities, analyzed
data, and forged a common vision of C E L E B R AT I N G 100 Y E A R S O F F I L I P I N O S I N A M E R I C A
how we want Filipina women to be
perceived in the next generation.
These action items set the groundwork
for the Filipina Women’s Network that
emerged out of our understanding of
where we’ve been, what’s happening
now, and the direction we wanted our
organization to take. The conference
came at a point in FWN’s history when
we were ready to explore, as well
as reconfirm our basic values, and
generate a shared vision among our
stakeholders.
| w w w. f f w n . o r g
Friday, October 27 –
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Philippine Center
447 Sutter Street
San Francisco

AGENDA

Day One
Past: Where We’ve Been

Day Two
Present: Where We Are

Future: Where We Want to Be

Day Three
Action: How We Get There

The Filipina Summit’s Future

Search Conference was
guided by the Open Space
Principles:
» Whoever comes are the
right people.
» Whatever happens is the
only thing that could have
happened.
» Whatever time it begins
is the right time.
» When it’s over, it’s over. On the second day, we discussed the present trends affecting Filipina women in the U.S. workplace so we can build a shared picture of
the world we live in, discover how we can deal with it and plan for 2012. We created a Mind Map of all trends affecting us today.

FILIPINA POWER 2012 07

The World 2nd perspective: The World – We listed significant global events that have shaped our society (before 1976
thru 2006). We asked the questions “What happened?” and “Why are these events important?”

The Filipino American Community

3rd perspective: Filipino American Community – “Studying the past tells us about the present and the future” - Marily Mondejar

We looked back before

1976 thru 2006 and asked
“what has been done in our
community?” and “what has
been accomplished?”

08 FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | w w w. f f w n . o r g

“Prouds” and “Sorries” – we owned up to what we did and are doing now; taking
responsibility for our own actions. We listened to our stakeholders – “what’s working”
and “what’s not” in relation to Filipina Women and the Filipino American community.

The most important accomplishment

of the summit was our unanimous
adoption of our values that will guide
how we communicate with each other
and which will form the basis of our
operating principles:
- honesty - accountability
- integrity - inclusivity
- conviction - “bridging the
- compassion gap”
- competence - responsibility
- excellence - trust
- beauty - self-confidence
- honor - optimism
- magnanimity - effective
- education communication
- power - health
- leadership - wellness
- creativity - holistic (mind,
- inspiration body, spirit,
- humility culture / history)

FILIPINA POWER 2012 09

Blown Away (from page 3)
the latest technologies and The Vagina
Monologues’ own theater. Another group
staged an awards program starring no
less than the first Filipina vice-president
of the U.S.

Finally, we chose the action areas we all

wanted to be involved based on what
sparked everyone’s imagination and
passion. Good ideas not everyone was
excited about were set aside for another
forum. This was a significant departure from
other planning conferences in which I had
taken part. The idea was to set ourselves up
for optimal follow-through increasing the
potential for success.

We formed action teams; listed goals

that we believe will make the greatest
impact by 2012, and scheduled the first
implementation meetings.

Having seen how FWN members operate

that weekend, it was easy for me to picture
this Future Search morphing into a Present
that we will be proud to hand over to
our daughters.

Fay Alvarez Olympia is a writer and editor

with over 20 years of experience in print
and broadcast media, public information,
corporate and community training. She has
a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the
University of the Philippines. After moving
to the US with her husband and daughter in
1999, she became passionate about Filipino
culture and Philippine-American history.
Having worked for a time as director of a
tutoring center in Stockton, CA, she has
since returned to writing and editing. She
currently serves on the board of the Little
Manila Foundation and joined the FWN
last fall.

10 FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK | w w w. f f w n . o r g

 STEERING COMMITTEE
Agnes Briones Ubalde
Executive Director
Small Business
Commission
City and County of
San Francisco
Al Perez
President
Filipino American Arts
Exposition
Anna Mamon
MBA Student
University of
San Francisco
Ben Menor
Filipino Community Activist
Blesilda Ocampo J.D.
Child Support Officer
SF Department of
Child Support Services
Edna Casteel
Fiscal Officer &
Pre-Award Manager
California Pacific Medical
Center Research Institute
On the third day, we imagined a future for Filipina Women in the U.S. We
Elena Mangahas
listened for images and hopes. We crafted significant ideas and ideal futures Co-Chair
that give meaning, dignity and purpose for Filipina Women in 2012. Little Manila Foundation
Franklin M. Ricarte Rowena Mendoza
Producer Sanchez
V-Day New York Philippine Consul General
in San Francisco
Fay Olympia
Communication Specialist Tessie Zaragoza
Board Secretary Chair, FWN Board
Little Manila Foundation Filipino Research Project
Institute on Domestic
Genevieve Dwyer Violence – APIAHF
President
Genevieve’s Corporation
FACILITATORS
Lorna Lardizabal Dietz
Strategy Consultant Drusilla Copeland
RadiantView.com Partner
Ander & Lindstrom
Mae Brana
Gemologist
MBA Student University of Marjorie Singer
San Francisco Organization Development
and Training Specialist
Maria Lourdes Nocedal
Community Organizer Jane Weiss
KmB Pro People Senior Consultant
Youth USA Great Place to Work
Marily Mondejar
President
Filipina Women’s Network
Executive Director
Institute for Image
Management
Nini Alvero
Philippine Trade Commissioner
U.S. Western Region
FILIPINA POWER 2012 11
 Remarkable Filipina Women
of 2006 2006
T
he FWN Council of Remarkable Filipina
Women introduced its newest members
last summer with “Celebrating Filipina
Women in America,” a lively and thought-
provoking dialogue on being Filipina in
the American workplace.
One of a series of events honoring 100 years
of Filipino achievements and contributions
to American business and society, the FWN
sponsored event moderated by Manila Bulletin
USA Editor Henni Espinosa featured discussions
June Frances Pariña
on biculturalism, career barriers and opportunities.
Panelists shared personal insights into how they
have succeeded in their chosen fields and why
Filipina women are leading the way.
“Remarkable Filipina Women” are
entrepreneurs, organizational advocates, and
Jocelyn Vistan
thought leaders – some are prominent, some
still to be discovered – in fields where the
future is being created.
They bring to us key developments to watch
and issues they track in their respective fields.
They come from many areas of specialization –
Linda Ordonio-Dixon
science and technology, culture and civilization,
geopolitics and the environment.
“Remarkable Filipina Women” stretch our
thinking by pointing out issues that may be off
everyone’s radar screen, by reframing facts in
Nini Alvero
surprising ways, and by finding connections
between divergent developments.
Let’s get to know these Remarkable
Filipina Women:
HENNI JAY P. ESPINOSA has been in the
Marissa Aroy
media industry for over 6 years. She has
worked as reporter and producer for GMA
Channel 7, The Filipino Channel and CNN
International. She is now editor-in-chief of
the Kababayan Edition of Manila Bulletin USA,
the only weekly Filipino community magazine
published in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Henni Jay Espinosa
JUNE FRANCES PARIÑA has worked in
public relations for the past eight years
specializing in media relations for venture
capital and financial services firms. Currently
she heads the venture capital accounts at
Spark Public Relations or Sparkpr, a San
Francisco-based boutique technology public
relations group.
12 FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
Having built strong relationships with key
editors and reporters at top business and
VC (venture capitalist) media outlets, Ms. Pariña
has placed her clients in feature stories in
The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal,
USA Today, Forbes and BusinessWeek,
among others. Before joining Sparkpr, she
worked for six years at The Blueshirt Group,
an investor relations (IR) and financial
communications boutique where she ran
financial media and investor relations for its
venture capital, private equity, investment
banking, and financial services clients.
Prior to Blueshirt Pariña spent two years at
Financial Relations Board working with leading
Internet, e-commerce, and telecom companies.
She also taught Business English in Augsburg,
Germany, having received a dual Bachelor of
Arts in German and Sociology from the
University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
JOCELYNE VISTAN began her career in the
health care field as a Reproductive Health
Specialist at Planned Parenthood, performing
HIV and pregnancy options counseling for teens
and women.
Her experience and passion for women’s health
motivated Ms. Vistan to explore leadership roles
as Center Manager for the Daly City clinic and
eventually as the Planned Parenthood Regional
Director for San Francisco and San Mateo
Counties.
After seven years in the nonprofit sector,
Jocelyne moved on to Kaiser Permanente and
became Member Services Director. In this
capacity, she performed a variety of roles from
managing the dispute resolution process to
building an Interpreter Services program that
provided language services for patients with
limited English proficiency.
Now as the Health Care Ombudsman /
Mediator (HCOM) at the Kaiser Permanente
South San Francisco Medical Center, Vistan
performs mediations and ensures that
communications continue between both
patients and providers even after a
disappointing medical outcome.
A first generation Filipina, Jocelyne is married
to Pru. They are the doting parents of Taiko,
a 6-year old Shih-Tzu.
| w w w. f f w n . o r g
June Frances Pariña Jocelyn Vistan
Marissa Aroy Nini Alvero
LINDA ORDONIO-DIXON is a Senior
Trial Attorney with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in San
Francisco. Over the ten years she has been with
the Commission, Ms. Ordonio-Dixon has worked
on a wide range of employment discrimination
cases, one of which was EEOC v. Stockton Steel
– a religious discrimination case which alleged
that Muslim employees were prevented from
praying during their breaks and were subjected
to offensive name calling such as “rag head”
and “terrorist.” The case was settled for 1.1
million dollars.
She also worked to win EEOC v. Harris Farms –
a sexual harassment lawsuit on behalf of a
Fresno farm worker that resulted in a unanimous
one million dollar verdict, and EEOC v. Saipan
Grand Hotel – a sexual harassment lawsuit on
behalf of Filipina contract workers in Saipan
which settled for $400,000.
Linda worked for over a decade as a machinist
prior to becoming an attorney. Her motivation
to practice employment discrimination law was
sparked by her negative experiences as a woman
in a nontraditional trade.
MARISSA AROY’s most recent work was
producing and doing camera work for “Uneasy
Peace,” a film about Northern Ireland’s peace
process for Frontline World. She was post-
production supervisor for the 2006 Oscar-
nominated documentary short, “Mushroom
Club,” and worked as associate producer for
three years on the HBO America Undercover
Series documentary, “Rehab,” which won
the Nancy Dickerson Whitehead Award
for journalism.
Linda Ordonio-Dixon
Henni Jay Espinosa
Her film, “Step Show: Portrait of a Black
Fraternity” screened at various film festivals
including the New York International Film and
Video Festival, The Black Hollywood Film Festival,
Black Harvest Film Festival in Chicago, and the
Film Arts Festival in San Francisco. Marissa holds
a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston College
and a Masters degree from the Graduate School
of Journalism at University of California,
Berkeley.
NINI ALVERO has served with the Philippine
Government for twenty-five years, in various
capacities at the Department of Trade and
Industry in the fields of economic research,
industry and trade policy, export marketing
and investment promotion, and bilateral and
multilateral government to government relations.
She is recognized for her ability to develop the
potential of Philippine export products in foreign
markets by conceptualizing, planning, organizing
and successfully implementing Philippine
participation in numerous trade promotion
activities. Her outstanding diplomatic skills
have earned her high marks as a top negotiator,
achieving the smooth resolution of bilateral
and multilateral trade issues affecting the market
access of Philippine products in the countries
to which she is assigned.
Before her posting as Special Trade
Representative and Trade Commissioner for the
US Western Region, her foreign assignments
included stints in Washington D.C. and the
cities of Los Angeles, Toronto and Paris.
 Setting the tone... as Filipina women embarked on a search for their future.
OUR SUMMIT KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:

The future is about the power of the Mona served on the Kerry Edwards
Filipina legacy, the power of telling our presidential campaign as Deputy Political

TESSIE community’s stories,” said Mona Pasquil

at FWN’s 2006 Summit and Future Search
Director for Constituency Outreach. She
was Political Director for Governor Gray

Guillermo
last October in San Francisco.
“Our future is about the past. The past
signals what is important, what we need to
know and what we need to let go.”
Her listeners hung on to these words of
wisdom from this granddaughter of Filipino
immigrants and daughter of a community
T leader and gifted jazz pianist. Mona grew
up listening and learning to love music and
Filipino stories. A longtime leader in the
Asian Pacific Islander American community,
Davis; California Political Director for Gore
Lieberman 2000; and Deputy CEO for the
2000 Democratic National Convention in
Los Angeles. In 1997, Mona was appointed
Western Political Director in the Clinton
White House.
She also serves as Vice Chair of Planned
Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte Board of
Directors, the Women’s Leadership Forum in
Washington, DC, and as a Board Member
for the California Youth in Government
Model Legislature Program.

T
Pasquil knows of which she speaks.
For all her groundbreaking achievements,

Mona
She is currently Vice President and is
responsible for the California operations of
MHSC Partners, Inc., the leading Democratic
persuasion mail, Internet advertising and
targeting firm in America.
Prior to MSHC, Mona was an Executive
Mona is proudest of her work with The
Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Project, and
My Sister’s House, a safe haven for Asian
Pacific Islander victims of domestic violence.
In a fitting gesture, immediately after her
speech, FWN leaders presented her with a

P ASQUIL
Consultant for IBM’s State and Local check for a donation to My Sister’s House.
Government and Education Division.

Tessie Guillermo, President and CEO of
the Community Technology Foundation of
California (CTFC), delivered the keynote
address entitled “Filipina Power 2012” on
the opening day of the 2006 FWN Summit
on October 27.
Her talk set the tone for the future search
process with her expert recommendations
on how FWN can mobilize the community
and use emerging technologies to identify
plausible futures and develop strategies
to address future uncertainties. Guillermo
proposed ways to bring the Filipina voice
to the table of national leadership to
ensure that debates over policy-making are
equitable and inclusive.
Guillermo is a co-founder and former Chair
of the CTFC Board of Directors. Before
co-founding CTFC, she served for 15 years
as CEO of the Asian and Pacific Islander
American Health Forum, a leading national
health policy organization. Throughout
her career as an advocate for underserved
communities, she has promoted issues of
health and technology access, services and
equity.
Ms. Guillermo also co-founded many “Clearing The Path To Your Future”
nonprofit organizations, including the
California Pan Ethnic Health Network,
the Community Technology Policy Council
and the National Coalition of Asian Pacific Specializing In Financial Solutions:
Americans. • Credit Enhancement
• Debt Management
She has received numerous community • Credit Rebuilding
leadership awards and, in 2000, then
President Bill Clinton appointed her to serve
• Debt Settlement
as an inaugural member of the President’s • Business Credit Building
Advisory Commission on Asian Americans • Credit Coaching for Investors
and Pacific Islanders. • Credit Score Analysis
Ms. Guillermo currently serves on the Community and Professional Training:
boards of The California Endowment, • Real Estate & Sales Professionals
a $3-billion philanthropy, and Catholic
Healthcare West, the largest hospital • Students & Immigrants
system in the state. • Home Buyers Workshops
• Professional Groups & Organizations
Ms. Guillermo is a published author and
a frequent keynote speaker on non-profit Hazel B. Valera
leadership and public policy issues. She is Proud to Serve and Empower the
an alumna of California State University, President
Hayward, a graduate of the Gallup 1-888-222-1032 Filipino Community Nationwide
Leadership Institute and was a 1997 Fellow
of the Asian Pacific American Women’s www.clearcreditexchange.com
Leadership Institute. She is a native of
San Francisco where she lives with her
three children.

FILIPINA POWER 2012 13

 Shoulders to Stand On:
J USTICE T ANI G ORRE
C ANTIL - S AKAUYE
B Y F AY O LY M P I A
II f you happened to meet Tani Gorre
Cantil-Sakauye for the first time at
a Girl Scout meeting or a church
basketball game, you might be
pardoned for filing her under your
mind’s Attractive-Asian-American-
Soccer-Mom-with-Long-Name category.
Once you discover who she really is,
however, you could very well decide to
accept that pardon from the Honorable
Associate Justice of the California Court
of Appeal, Third Appellate District.
Without a doubt, her
involvement in the lives
of daughters Hana, 11,
and Clair, 8, is extremely
important to Justice
Cantil-Sakauye, 47. So is
her 13-year marriage to
Police Lieutenant Mark
Sakauye. Yet, there is
much more to this barrier-
breaking, history-making
Filipina woman than the
tightly scheduled activities
on her kids’ after-school calendar.
Currently one of only two women and
one of only two persons of color in the
Court of Appeal’s Third District, Cantil-
Sakauye was the first woman of Asian
(Filipina) ethnicity to serve as judge in
Sacramento County and, at 31, was one
of the youngest judges in the state.
In the last two decades, she has
worked in Sacramento as a deputy
district attorney, a member of Governor
Deukmejian’s senior staff, a trial judge
and has been appointed to successively
higher levels in the judiciary by Governors
14 FILIPINA WOMEN’S NETWORK
Deukmejian, Wilson and Schwarzenegger.
Ten years ago, in 1997, she established
and presided over the first court in
Sacramento dedicated solely to domestic
violence issues.
In 2005, the Metropolitan News-
Enterprise reported on her appointment
to the Court of Appeal’s Third District
Appellate bench, noting that she was
“one of the first judges in the country
to uphold the validity of an indictment
against a suspect
who could only be
identified by his
DNA profile.”
Today, she chairs a
statewide taskforce
responsible
for developing
best practices
for domestic
violence cases in
California courts.
She is a sought-
after speaker in
Northern California events and serves
the community in various volunteer
capacities, including membership on
the boards of My Sister’s House and the
Sacramento Asian Sports Foundation.
This high-powered yet graciously
accessible Filipina woman thanks her
second-generation Filipina mother for
her uncommon success and is grateful
for the legacy of her strong Cebuana
grandmother as well.
Like other children of itinerant farm
workers in California’s Central Valley,
| w w w. f f w n . o r g
Cantil-Sakauye’s mother, one of eleven
siblings, had a sporadic education
because she and her family followed the
harvest, often having to pull out of school
in the middle of the term. Despite these
difficulties, they were taught to value
education, to get as much learning as
they could, and to appreciate this and
other aspects of Filipino culture. In turn,
she and her husband passed these values
on to Tani and her siblings.
T
here was a time, though, when
the transplanted cultural values
she grew up with seemed like
weaknesses to the young Tani.
Looking back, she now sees
that what seemed to be
cultural weaknesses have turned out to
be strengths.
“I was raised to be gracious and
respectful,” she relates, aware that
these traits seem anachronistic in a
world where lawyers often win their
cases by out-yelling the competition.
As a trial judge, she insisted on running
a genteel courtroom. Lawyers on both
sides learned quickly that power trips and
shouting especially at women lawyers
were counterproductive in the Honorable
Cantil-Sakauye’s presence.
She modeled respect and received it
in return. She gave people a graceful
way out of potentially humiliating trial
situations, creating a safe courtroom
environment in which justice could thrive.
Eventually, more and more people asked
to be on her docket even if it sometimes
meant a delay in their cases with so many
wanting to get in.
No less important to her advancement,
she believes, is the legendary Filipino
sense of humor. “That’s why we age
well,” she says with one of her brilliant
smiles, making it easy to imagine how she
must have brought humor into many a
situation that could have otherwise gone
badly.
 Dwonrtqdhrbqhshb`k-HmÞtdmsh`kodnokdmddcsnjmnv
 
 sg`sxnt`qd`sd`lok`xdq-
R
SHOULDERS TO STAND ON
esponding to the question of
how to create a better future
for Filipina women by 2012,
Cantil-Sakauye says, “We need
a plan for empowerment.”
She calls attention to two ways
Filipina women can contribute to
this empowerment–by thoughtfully
and intentionally raising empowered
daughters, and by modeling through their
accomplishments the possibilities open to
all girls and women of color.
“We were taught to see ourselves as
leaders,” she recalls of her mother’s
lessons. “I was raised by her to believe
I could do anything. There were no
limitations on what I could be,” says
this daughter of poor farm workers who
wielded the riches of their cultural legacy
to make the American dream a reality for
their children. While her father tended to
be more cautious, advising her to play it
safe and get a secretarial job, Mom kept
urging her to “get your foot in the door.
Apply. Work hard.”
In addition to the potent influence of
good parents, Cantil-Sakauye emphasizes
the need for mentors outside the home
who are willing to spend time with young
people and tell them what they could do
well. Mentors, she says, can unleash the
power of possibilities and help children
aim higher simply by showing that people
who look like them have done it.
“I got the impression from my mother,”
says Tani, “that if someone could do it, I
could, too.”
She is proud that Filipino-Americans
have no shortage of good role models.
“Filipinas are talented across the board.”
She sees a bright future for Filipina
vgnxnt`qd+gnvvdkkxntfds`knmfvhsgnsgdqr+
women because of the groundwork laid
down by previous generations. “I stand
on the shoulders of my grandmother and
my mother,” declares Justice Tani.
Cantil-Sakauye expects no less of herself
and her own generation.
“I don’t want my daughters to repeat
our struggles,” she insists. “I want my
children to have new and different
challenges, not the same ones we had.”
For this Filipina trailblazer, there are no
buts about it: “I am here for someone to
stand on my shoulders. I would love to
hand over my knowledge to someone else
– fresh hands and legs, new shoulders to
continue the struggle.”
SMELL THE FUTURE
“Do you smell that?” She asks a group
of young Filipino-Americans at UC Davis
about to enter medical school and thrilled
at the prospect.
They look around in confusion, not sure
what their keynote speaker means.
“Do you smell that? She asks again, her
mind dwelling on the untold sacrifices
and hard work of generations of Filipino
families like hers that all culminated in
the triumph of that moment in the lives of
those young doctors-to-be.
“It’s the torch being passed on!” she
exclaims.
GET USED TO IT
ustice Cantil-Sakauye is serious
about passing on the torch and is
generous with her tips for Filipina
women of any age wanting to
succeed in the US workplace:
» It’s important to have a goal.
You need to see yourself in that position.

Project yourself into your desired future.
» Step out of your comfort zone,
step up to responsibility. You don’t
grow from successes but from losing,
struggling, learning from experience and
asserting your abilities. Your confidence
will build as you go.
» Exposure is critical. Influential
people need to know who you are, how
well you get along with others, that
you are a team player, a competent
professional, one who is energetic and
willing to put in the time and effort. You
can do this by serving in the community,
chairing a committee, planning an event.
Cantil-Sakauye says she even made her
long, hard-to-pronounce name work for
her. Because of her willingness to take on
responsibility and the quality of her work,
in time, she stood out as “the lawyer with “Leadership used to look different. The
the long name.” face of leadership was white, male and
older. I was a Filipina, young-looking and
» Get your name “in play.” You may
young period, with a gracious manner.
not get the first job you apply for, or the
It didn’t look like a recipe for success in
next, but if you keep putting yourself
the legal world. But I kept at it. Now we
out there, eventually, someone will bring
[Filipina women] are redefining what
your name up when a new opportunity
leadership looks like.”
arises because you’ve proven yourself and
gotten your name in play. She points out how more and more
Filipina women and other women of color
» Give up your time for something
are coming into their own, though she
bigger than the typical goal of
wishes there were more Filipina women
wanting to be rich and famous.
lawyers and judges.
When you give back to your community,
you begin to feel rich. As you do volunteer “We persevere by leading in our own
work and hone your skills in the process, style,” she asserts, confidently adding,
your fame will spread. “People will eventually get used to us.”
» Persevere even if you don’t look With a nod to the struggles of past
the part. They will get used to your face generations, Cantil-Sakauye looks ahead
as the face of leadership and competence. with optimism and gives voice to a new
refrain for all Filipina women
Cantil-Sakauye explains this last piece
in the U.S. workplace…
of advice.
“Get used to me. I’m not going away!”
FILIPINA POWER 2012 15