26 March 2015 – On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Philippine Consulate General in New York and the Philippine Mission to the United Nations honored four notable and highly successful Filipino women who achieved prominence in the US on March 18 at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center in New York,
The event, titled “Distinguished Filipino Women in New York 2015,” was an opportunity to meet the exceptional ladies and learn from their experiences as trailblazers in their fields and as inspirational individuals.
The four honorees were Ms. Venessa Manzano who established the Filipino School of New York and New Jersey; Ms. Nicole Ponseca, who, through her restaurants Maharlika and Jeepney, played a significant role in putting Filipino food in New York’s mainstream culinary scene; Judge Lorna Schofield, the District Judge for the Southern District of New York and the first Filipino-American to serve as an Article III Federal Judge; and Dr. Connie Uy, a professor of Pediatrics, Vice Chair of the Clinical Affairs and Director of Pediatric Nephrology at the Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School.
Distinguished Filipino woman diplomat Ambassador Rosario G. Manalo was a special guest in the event. Ambassador Manalo was in New York as member of the Philippine delegation to the 58th Session of the United Nations Committee on the Status of Women. She shared her own personal experiences during her years with the Philippine foreign service and the milestones that the Philippine Government has achieved in promoting the rights of women and closing the gender gap.
“The Distinguished Filipino Women 2015 event was a singular occasion for the Filipino-American community in the US Northeast to honor Filipino-American women who have achieved excellence in their professional and personal lives, and whose success has brought honor to the Filipino-American community,” Philippine Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. said during his remarks.
“At the same time we seek women who continue to honor the Filipino heritage by giving back to the community by way of their talent, treasure or time “ he added.
During the event, the honorees shared their experiences in their respective roads to success and answered questions from the audience. They were later given tokens of appreciation for their participation in the event and for bringing honor to the Filipino-American community as a result of their success and prominence.
Guests enjoyed hearing about the honorees’ experiences while growing up, the values that motivated them to succeed, and the people in their personal and professional lives that helped them achieve their goals.
Ms. Ponseca shared how the lack of presentable Filipino restaurants in New York City motivated her to get into the business despite the overwhelming odds in finding success in the restaurant industry. She recalled the many obstacles that she faced along the way, and how her love of Filipino food that was nurtured by her father sustained her until her efforts were rewarded with success. Ms. Ponseca has been ranked #6 in Zagat’s 204 Restaurant Power Player list, and has been invited by President Barack Obama to the White House to represent young leaders in the Filipino-American community.
Judge Schofield recalled how her mother, a native of Batangas who migrated to the United States after marrying an American, made sure to expose her to many opportunities, which eventually led her to a law career. She shared that she was able to fully embrace her Filipino heritage and identity when she was appointed district judge. After receiving the support of the Filipino-American community for her appointment, she vowed to use her position to advance the cause and interest of Filipino-Americans who wish to make their mark in mainstream US society. Her appointment as district judge was eventually confirmed by a unanimous US Senate vote.
In her sharing, Dr. Connie Uy gave some practical tips on how to achieve balance in one’s personal and professional life, a topic she has much experience in as she juggles multiple roles as a parent; a teacher, specifically Professor of Pediatrics of the New Jersey Medical School; a school administrator as Acting Associate Dean of the Student Affairs of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, NJ Medical School; and a practicing physician and fellow in Pediatric Nephrology at the New Jersey Medical School. Among the tips she mentioned was to never bring home office work, and depending on one’s family and friends to help out in times of need.
Dr. Uy was the first Filipino to serve as President of the Nephrology Society of New Jersey. She has also assumed many leadership roles in the Filipino-American community, including the founding of the University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society of America New York/New Jersey. She was the Philippine honoree to the International Women Celebration organized by the Society of Foreign Consuls last March 08, wherein 18 women from other countries were honored.
The Consulate General intends the Distinguished Filipino Women event to be an annual program to mark International Women’s Day and to honor Filipino women whose visibility in the US mainstream served to inspire Filipino-Americans to look beyond the confines of the Filipino community in making their mark. END