Log in

FWN 100 (2007)
100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the U.S.




FWN 100 souvenir book.jpgAmidst the backdrop of power and electoral politics in Washington, DC, the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) gathered the "100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the US" at its 5th Annual Filipina Summit—"Pinay Power 2012: Filipina Voices Changing the Face of Power in America." The FWN 100 were celebrated by their peers at a gala awards ceremony for their lasting and significant contributions to the emergence and recognition of Filipina women as influential power brokers in the US.

Ignited by an initiative of Filipina Power 2012—a result of the Filipina Summit’s Future Search in 2006—FWN launched a groundbreaking six-month search for remarkable Filipinas who have shifted the course of events in their own areas of influence through ideas, activities, and public interactions. In the one hundred years of Filipino immigration in America, the FWN 100 have moved beyond gender, race and power boundaries, affected change and inspired passion, gathered wisdom and roused compassion, and intuitively redefined how to spread influence in their careers and in the local and national communities in which they thrive.

A selection committee pored through hundreds of pages of letters of nomination, news articles, resumes, biographies, and archival videos and photos. Recognizing these women is a critical first step in changing public perceptions of Filipina women’s capacities to lead, innovate, and influence society and to create strong leadership in the Filipino American community by 2012.

The FWN 100 distinction is a working award. Awardees have pledged to "womantor" the next generation of leaders by forming a new circle of inter-generational women that will sustain the wealth of Filipino heritage and remarkable Pinay leadership for the next 100 years. The "Keepers of the Flame"—an esteemed group of Filipinas, was formed to ensure the Pinay Power 2012 goals are kept alive. The FWN 100 and their protégées will return to the Filipina Summit in 2012.

Behind the Scenes Leaders

Asia Yulo-Blume
Advocate for bone marrow donor program in the Filipino American community

**Aurora Cavosora Daly
Entrepreneur and mentor to young women in the Connecticut area

Cheely Ann Sy
Executive search consultant and community events organizer

**Cora Basa Cortez Tomalinas
Community organizer, health advocate and gang task force member

Denielle Palomares
Diversity advocate and corporate link to Filipino American community partnerships

Edna Rodis
Two-term president of NorCAL Filipino Nurses Association and abortion survivors counselor community advocate

**Flor Alcantara-Reyes
Corrections and prisons executive and cable producer for immigration network

Kai Delen-Briones
Junior Golf Champion, coach, and sports events producer

Laarni San Juan
Advocate nurse and coordinator of innovative programs for teen pregnancy prevention

Lolita Kintanar
Resource specialist and advocate for the elderly and homeless

Lorna Lardizabal Dietz
Community relations specialist and internet communication innovator

**Maria Jocelyn Bernal
Leader, trainor and mentor for New York Junior Chamber of Commerce

Perla Gange Ibarrientos
Community worker and advocate for mental health care

Rosalinda Medina Rupel
Filipino American community coordinator for cultural heritage events

**Susie Quesada
Negotiator for nationwide distribution of Filipino frozen foods

**Vangie Canonizado-Buell
Author, folk singer, artist, educator and trustee for historical society



Builders and Emerging Leaders

Arlene "Bambi" Lorica, MD
Pediatrician, entrepreneur and community organizer

Bettina Santos Yap
Consultant, anti-domestic violence advocate

Claire Oliveros
Human rights advocate, Multicultural Center Coordinator, Portland Community College, Oregon.

Edna M.Casteel
Education mission organizer to the Philippines

Genevieve Jopanda
Founding Editor of FWN’s V-Diaries Resource Guide and advocate

Jennifer Briones Tjiong
Gold medalist in state, national and International martial arts competitions

Laura Izon Powell
Corporate lawyer, shareholder and advocate for women’s rights in the workplace

Laureen Dumadag Laglagaron
Filipino community and immigrant advocate and policy researcher

PS1 Lorna Mae DeVera
US Navy
Outreach advocate for Asian Pacific presence in the military

May Nazareno
Actor, playwright and creator of the bi-national artist exchange

Melinda Poliarco
Labor activist and facilitator of partnerships

Milagros "Mitos" G. Santisteban
Media executive, cultural trainer and political activist

Nieves Cortez
Award winning winemaker and entrepreneur

Captain Paz Gomez, US Navy
Service medalist, mentor to Filipina women in the military

Polly Cortez
Workplace advocate in the federal savings regulation community

Rebecca Samson
Service medalist in US Army Service, mentor to Filipina women in the military

Regina "Ging" E. Reyes
Creator of ABS-CBN’s "Balitang Amerika" and news bureau head

Rose-Ann K. Ubarra
Youth Program Director and youth empowerment advocate

Shirley Raguindin
Lt. Col. AzANG
Service medalist in military service; award as Diversity Coordinator

**Sonia T. Delen
Senior Vice President, Bank of America Leasing and anti-domestic violence advocate

Susan Afan
Corporate senior management in a Fortune 100 firm

Sylvia Lichauco
Real estate entrepreneur and migrant workers' activist

Theresa Tantay Wilson
Founder of improv theatre and wellness activism instructor for Rutgers University in New Jersey

Zenei T. Cortez
First Filipina President of California Nurses Association and advocate for nurses



Founders & Pioneers

Celia Ruiz-Tomlinson
CEO & President of her own engineering firm, Rhombus

Connie S. Uy, MD
Medical educator, Associate Dean of New Jersey Medical School

Cora Alisuag
Industrial tech start-up and CORANET smart media inventor

Ellen M. Abellera
Filipino PAC activist and Asian Pacific American Affairs advocate, Washington State

**Erlinda Sayson Limcaco
Co-Founder of Phililippine Nurses’ Association and community organizer

**Gloria T. Caoile
Community leader, health advocate and labor organizer

Joy Bruce
Founder and advocate for elderly and youth policies

Linda Maria Nietes-Little
Bookseller and entrepreneur; Filipina advocate for culture

Loida Nicolas Lewis
Businesswoman and entrepreneur; first Asian woman to pass the New York Bar

Ludy Payumo Corrales
Founder of a multi-state mortgage banking company and Filipino community advocate

Luzviminda Sapin Micabalo
Community organizer

**Marietta Nagrampa Almazan MD
Author and founder of psychiatric treatment clinic; medical missioner

Mary Carmen Madrid-Crost
Lawyer; advocate for immigrant rights and migrant communities

**Nimfa Yamsuan Gamez
Business woman and advocate for the developmentally disabled

Patricia Lim-Yusah
Creator of Iskwelahang Filipino of Boston and cultural preservationist

**Rozita Villanueva Lee
Media creator and producer in Hawaii; community grassroots organizer

Sony Robles Florendo
Author, founder of the Foundation for Economic Aid

Virna S. Tintiangco
Founder of the Filipina Women’s Network; CEO of Greenlight Titles



Innovators & Thought Leaders

Angelita Castro-Kelly
First woman NASA Mission Operations Manager; developed and implemented mission operations

Carissa Villacorta
Author and public relations ingénue

Charmaine Clamor
Performer and creator of "Jazzipino" music genre

Connie Mariano
First Fil-Am Rear Admiral in US Naval history and former White House physician

Diana J. Galindo
Physician and recognized in the geriatric health community

**Edith Mijares Ardiente
First Asian and second woman president of a global environmental entity

**Elena Mangahas
Community activist, culture preservationist, and grassroots organizer

Elenita Fe Mendoza Strobel
Author, educator and anthologist of Filipino Babaylan traditions

Gemma Nemenzo
Author, columnist and editor

Jane Hofileña
Media expert for Latin American educational programming

Leila Benitez-McCollum
Retired television program host and media broadcaster

**Lilia Villanueva
Author and Asian art and furniture gallery operator

**Malu Rivera-Peoples
Award-winning dance instructor and creator of arts programs

Marisa Marquez
Actor, playwright and health advocate

Mutya San Agustin
Professor of pediatrics and founder of the Ambulatory Pediatric Association

Tessie Guillermo
Author, speaker and policymaker



"Nicole"

M. Evelina Galang
Author and human rights activist




Policymakers and Visionaries

Charmaine Manansala
Policy analyst, campaign staff and Asian and Pacific Islander advocate

Christina Baal
Community activist and immigration policy advocate

Eleonor G. Castillo
Educator and education policy advocate

Grace Walker
Educator and recipient of the National Principals Award in 1999

Gwen de Vera
Community organizer and local commissioner in New Jersey

Irene Bueno
Co-founder of political consulting firm; special assistant to former President Bill Clinton

Kris Valderrama
Delegate, District 26 Prince George’s County, Maryland

Kymberly Marcos Pine
Director of House of Representatives Minority Research Office; Hawaii Representative

Lillian Galedo
Director of Filipinos for Affirmative Action, an advocacy and social service institution in Oakland, California

Lourdes Tancinco
Lawyer, TV host and advocate for Veteran’s Equity campaign

Marissa Castro-Salvati
Community leader and commissioner in Los Angeles

Miriam B. Redmiller
Lawyer, author and immigration reform advocate

Mona Pasquil
Adviser in Asian Pacific Islander affairs and political consultant

Rida T. R. Cabanilla
Hawaii Representative, advocate and Lt. Colonel in US Army Reserves

Ruth Asmundson Uy
First Filipino Mayor (Davis, California), community leader and organizer of goodwill relations

Sonia Aranza
Consultant, master facilitator, keynote speaker and immigration advocate

**Thelma Boac
First Filipina principal (San Jose, California), educator, mentor and education policy advocate

Vanessa Barcelona
Lawyer and immigrant rights leader

Velma Veloria
First Fil-Am in Washington State Legislature, labor rights activist and sponsored groundbreaking legislation on anti-domestic violence and human trafficking

Vida Benavides
Community activist for API civic engagements and youth mentor



"Keepers of the Flame"

Arlene Marie "Bambi" Lorica, MD, FAAP
Holistic Pediatrician, Potomac, Maryland

**Elena Mangahas
Co-Chair, Little Manila Foundation, Stockton, California

Genevieve Herreria
Executive Assistant, Levensohn Venture Partners, San Francisco, California.

**Maria Roseni M. Alvero
Philippine Trade Commissioner for the US Western Region, Santa Clara, California

**Marily Mondejar
President, Institute for Image Management; President, Filipina Women’s Network, San Francisco, California.

Maya Ong Escudero
President, Non-profit Projects Unlimited, Palo Alto, California.

Hon. Rowena Sanchez
Consul General, Philippine Consulate, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

Shirley Saoit Raguindin
Lieutenant Colonel, State Diversity Coordinator, Arizona National Guard, Phoenix, Arizona

**Sonia T. Delen
Senior Vice President, Bank of America Leasing and community advocate

**Thelma Boac
Principal, Silver Creek High School

Upcoming events


© 2015 Foundation for Filipina Women's Network  •  P.O. Box 192143  •  San Francisco, California 94119  •  415.935.4396  •  filipina {at} ffwn.org
Terms of Use  •  Privacy Policy