13 March 2015 – Dr. Connie Somera Uy, a prominent Filipino-American community leader and pediatrician, was honored, along with women from 18 other countries, for her outstanding achievements and contributions to her community and the greater US society at awarding ceremonies held on the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 06 in New York.
Dr. Uy received the award from Nigerian Consul General Habib Habu, President of The Society of Foreign Consuls in New York, which organized the gala event, assisted by Philippine Consul General Mario L. de Leon Jr.
Also honoured were women from the following countries: Barbados, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, and Uruguay.
The Philippine Consulate General nominated Dr. Uy for the award for excellence in her chosen field of profession as well as the leadership she has shown in the life of the Filipino-American community in the US Northeast. Dr. Uy was the first Filipino President of the Nephrology Society of New Jersey and first Filipino to be an officer of the Academy of Medicine of New Jersey as its Secretary for three years. She was the President of the Federation of Philippine Societies in New Jersey, a coalition of 44 member organizations. She founded the first chapter of University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society in America (UPMASA) for New York/New Jersey in the mid 80's, and was its first female National President. Now, UPMASA has 15 chapters with assets worth US$5.4 million, US$ 3 million of which is in a permanent endowment fund. Her involvement with the Filipino-American community dates back to 1970 when she was a founding member of the Philippine American Medical Society in New Jersey. Ms. Uy was also a recipient of the Presidential Award for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (Pamana ng Pilipino Award for Excellence and Distinction in Pediatric Nephrology and Service to the Filipino Community) in 2004.
“I am humbled by the award. Each one of us tries to deliver our very best in our chosen field of work and profession,” Dr. Uy said in her remarks after receiving the award. She thanked the Philippine Consulate General and the Society of Foreign Consuls for the recognition.
Consul General de Leon cited Dr. Uy’s exemplary contributions to the Filipino-American community as the main reason for his decision to nominate her for the award, which has also reaped for her numerous recognitions from the Philippine government, including a Presidential Award.
“I applaud Dr. Uy’s outstanding role in UPMASA, the Pediatric Society, in Handang Tumulong and recently in reinvigorating the Philippine American Friendship Committee (PAFCOM),” he said.
Over 100 guests attended the gala celebration, where they were treated to pancit, lumpiang shanghai and San Miguel Beer as well as the national dishes and drinks from the participating countries.
The celebration was initiated by Consul General of the Republic of Kazakhstan Raushan Yesbulatova in 2011 and became an annual ceremony since then. Consul General Mario L. De leon, Jr. served as President of the SOFC from June 2013 to June 2014. END