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FWN declares Mayor Hashimoto NOT welcome in San Francisco. 

FWN Statement to Hashimoto:

World War II "Comfort Women" are the over 200,000 girls and women abducted by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II who were forced to experience a life of systematic rape and enslavement. They are now mostly in their 90's and they are dying. They were taken from North Korea, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Timor L’Este and Taiwan. 

In the Philippines, historians say there were about 1,000 girls abducted. Some were minors; others were deceptively recruited by middlemen; still more were detained and forcibly abducted. 

In the early 1990s, Korean victims of Japan's military sexual slavery broke their silence and came forward nearly a half century after WWII, followed by other survivors in China, Taiwan, North Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Timor L'Este.

In July 2007, FWN witnessed a huge victory when, our efforts in conjunction with V-day and many other women’s organizations, resulted in the US House of Representatives passing a formal resolution calling for this apology from Japan, which has not yet been granted.  

Today, the surviving "comfort women' are between 80-90 years of age.   As they are slowly dying off, their wish is for an official apology from the Japanese government, acknowledging what was done to them.   The Japanese government still denies legal responsibility, and even worse, the stories of these horrific war crimes against women were removed from Japanese history and text-books.

Today, we are surrounded by an invisible, violent crime that primarily impacts women and children – human trafficking – slavery in America, 2010.

“The Filipina Women's Network, now in its 10th year of its Campaign to STOP violence against Asian women and girls, condemns Mayor Hashimoto’s statements. We will not allow him to push back the many years of painstaking efforts to help women heal from the atrocities of war and perpetrators of rape and assault, “ said Marily Mondejar, CEO of Filipina Women's Network.

The Filipina Women's Network says to you, “Toru Hashimoto, you are not welcome in San Francisco, or any place where women have been united to fighting violence against women through the 15 years of the V-Day Global Movement, and this year’s One Billion Rising.  You are not welcome in over 190 countries, including your own.  Apologize now! Apologize personally and meet with the Comfort Women where they are located and learn first hand the atrocities perpetrated on them by your country’s Japanese soldiers.”

http://womensenews.org/story/prostitution-and-trafficking/130615/comfort-women-are-old-now-still-fighting#.UcNv7Cv73Fc

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Woohoo, Hydra! A very happy congratulations to Hydra Mendoza, Education Advisor to Mayor Lee (FWN100 '09), on her engagement to Eric McDonnell (United Way)! Read all about the surprise proposal here: http://blog.sfgate.com/cityinsider/2013/06/11/unusual-proposal-at-sf-school-board-meeting-passes/

Way to go! Vivian Zalvidea Araullo (FWN100 '12) and Henni Espinosa (FWN100 '11) both won Emmy Awards! Congratulations to these women on their success! (click photos to enlarge)

VIVIAN ZALVIDEA ARAULLO- West Bay's communications consultant and chairperson of the Distinguished Citizen Awards 2013. Vivian received an Emmy award for her work as editorial adviser on the documentary "The Filipino Champions of SoMA (South of Market)" in which West Bay was featured. A multi-awarded journalist, she was named one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in America in 2012 by the Filipina Women's Network. Vivian is the former head of news production and executive news producer for ABS-CBN International/The Filipino Channel (TFC).  A veteran in the field of journalism, she is now transitioning to a career in public relations and corporate communications. She is a single mom with one beautiful daughter. 

HENNI ESPINOSA - The host of the Distinguished Citizen Awards is the multi-awarded senior reporter and substitute anchor of ABS-CBN International/TFC  Balitang America, the only daily Filipino newscast in North America.  She has been in the media industry for over ten years now.  She finished her Bachelors of Arts in Broadcast Communication at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City and her Masters in Communication at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. She has been recognized by the California Senate and Assembly for her contributions to the community.  She was hailed as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipinas in the U.S. by the Filipina Women's Network.  This year, she received an Emmy Award, a Telly Award and a New York Festivals Finalist Award for her documentary, "The Filipino Champions of SOMA". 

Check out Jessica Cox (FWN100 '09) being interviewed on BBC in a YouTube video titled "Armless pilot Jessica Cox on the power of I can" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5UMeqLLHwE

Loida Nicolas Lewis (FWN100 '07) calls on Filipinos in the U.S. and the Philippines to join protests to denounce the Chinese Embassy in NY and the Philippines. Read the full article on ABS-CBN here: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/06/14/13/pinoys-urged-protest-chinas-reported-new-invasion

Congratulations Marily! Our very own Marily Mondejar is being honored at the West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center's Distinguished Citizen Kapit Bisig Awards 2013. The attached artwork will appear on 25 Bus shelters in the Financial District, South of Market Area and all over San Francisco beginning Monday, June 3, 2013! To purchase tickets: http://uniqebuy.com/um/150/west-bay-non-profit-center/distinguished-citizen-kapit-bisig-award-2013.html

(click photo to enlarge)

SUPER EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION 

EXTENDED TO JUNE 30! 

This year we are reaching out to our Filipina sisters worldwide as we select the first Global FWN100 - Filipina women accomplishing good work leaving a global imprint through their communities and corporations. Previous FWN100 awardees are encouraged to nominate or be nominated again for this prestigious Global FWN100 Awards which will be held at the beautiful Beaux-Arts Julia Morgan Ballroom.

REGISTER for early bird pricing AND your name will be entered to win a roundtrip ticket wherever Southwest Airlines flies with no black-out dates. 

Go to www.FilipinaWomensNetwork.org/events to register.

CALL FOR FWN INTERNS!

FWN is recruiting interns for the cycle 2013-2014. Please forward this announcement to your e-lists and/or listservs.

FWN Internship Opportunity: The program is designed to provide students, recent graduates and motivated individuals seeking career development through involvement with the Filipina Women's Network (FWN) as well as an opportunity for increased learning of the programs and initiatives to advance the activities, careers and status of Filipina women in the United States.

The Internship Program lasts from six months to one year (for the cycle 2013-2014). The FWN Board will screen interested applicants to determine academic or personal interest in Filipino culture and women's issues, relevant experience and career development goals.

If you or someone you know is interested in the internship opportunity, please send resume with cover letter explaining why you qualify to Filipina@ffwn.org. 

Experience with social media, technology, attention to detail, and a passion for social issues are preferred skill sets. 

Deadline to apply is before June 30, 2013.

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Turkish Protests Rattle Erdogan's Female Loyalists

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Filipino Gift-remittance Startup Ayannah Gets $1M Angel Round 

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ICE halts Filipina's deportation after public outcry

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'Comfort Women' Are Now Old, But Still Strong

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