12 FILIPINAS HONORED BY WOMEN CONSULS GENERAL IN NEW YORK PHILIPPINE CONSULATE - NEWS RELEASE 28 March 2005 New York, New York --- In celebration of International Women’s Day 2005, the Women Consuls General in New York honored twelve Filipino Americans for their outstanding professional achievements and contributions to community empowerment. The Filipinas were among the 73 women honored from the 11 Women Consuls General’s home countries in the cocktail reception held at the Consulate General of Venezuela last March 9. The women Consuls General who organized the affair were from the Republic of Angola, Barbados, Republic of Cyprus, El Salvador, Greece, Guatemala, Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Slovenia, Republic of South Africa, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The twelve Philippine Honorees were: Lolita Compas First Filipino President of the NY State Nurses Association, Community leader Lourdes P. Corrales Former Honorary Deputy Mayor of Jersey City, President, CLO Funding Corporation, Community leader Nina Elgo Connecticut Superior Court Judge Jessica Hagedorn Novelist, poet and performance artist Ludi De Asis Hughes Assistant Director, Office of Consumer Finance, New Jersey, Founder and President, NJ Asian American Chamber of Commerce, President-Elect, NJ Asian American Heritage Council, Community leader Jean R. Lobell Managing Director, Community Resource Management; Former Chair (and current member), Board of Directors, United Way of NYC; Co-founder, Filipino American Human Services, Inc. Nina Pineda Reporter, WABC-TV Potri Rankamanis Founder and Artistic Director, Kinding Sindaw Hazel Sanchez Reporter, WCBS-TV Elma Santander President,Philippine Bread House and International Remittance Corp. (IRC), Community leader Constancia Uy, MD Educator, Pediatric Nephrology Practitioner Ching Valdes-Aran Actor, Director, Choreographer, Playwright Philippine Consul General Cecilia Rebong said, “I am extremely proud of our honorees tonight. Through their many ways and professions, they continue to give honor to our country and our people.” Hon. Leonor Osorio Granado, Consul General of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela welcomed the guests and honorees, “This is the first time an event like this is being organized by the Women Consuls General themselves. And we are proud to honor our countries’ women achievers tonight. They are women who have given much of their time doing work for their communities while achieving excellence in their fields.” Hon. Lorena Sol del Pool, Consul General of El Salvador and Chairperson of the Women Consuls General of New York delivered a special message summarizing the history of the International Women’s Day and the struggle of women to gain equal rights. Ms. Nicole Malliotakis, Assistant to the Governor for Community Affairs, represented New York Governor George Pataki, while Ms. Frances Arricoli, Legal Counsel at the New York City, Commission for the United Nations, Consular Corps and Protocol, spoke as the Representative of Commissioner Marjorie B. Tiven. Also present were Ms. Neldra M. Zeigler, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Equal Opportunity, Ms. Connie Pankratz, Project Director at the Office of the Mayor of New York, Office to Combat Domestic Violence and Ms. Karen Fleshman, Director of Special Projects at the Department of Youth and Community Development The national flags of the eleven countries adorned the stage. Guests colored the venue with their national dresses, while dishes and delicacies from more than a dozen countries were offered at the reception. Honorees Ludi Hughes, Lolita Commpas, Hazel Sanchez, Potri Rankamanis, Jessica Hagedorn, Judge Nina Elgo, Consul General Cecilia Rebong,, Deputy Consul General Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek (partly hidden), Consul Maria Lourdes Legaspi and Dr. Constancia Uy. Four women who give pride to fellow Filipinas: Lolita Compas, Jessica Hagedorn, Potri Rankamanis and Hazel Sanchez. Judge Nina Elgo poses with the Consul General after receiving her certificate of recognition. Eight honoress Lolita Compas, Ludi Hughes, Dr. Constancia Uy, Nina Elgo, Elma Santander, Ludy Corrales, Potri Rankamanis and Jean Lobell flank Consul General Rebong. Honorees Elma Santander and Ludi Hughes with Consul General Cecilia B. Rebong. Consul General Rebong with Nina Pineda and Jean Lobell. back to top For more information: Philippine Consulate General in New York 556 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10036 US Email: newyork@pcgny.net (212) 764-1330 Fax: (212) 382-1146 Office Hours: Monday to Friday - 9:00am to 5:00pm Closed on Philippine and U.S. Holidays Acceptance of Passport Applications: Monday to Friday - 9:00am to 4:00pm only © Copyright 2008 Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines in New York. All Rights Reserved.