“Disrupt 3.0 Filipina Women: Rising” Concludes National Women’s Month Celebration In DC

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Filipina “DISRUPTers” from across the United States came together for a night of women empowerment, success stories, and life lessons highlighting Global PinayPower at the book launch of “Disrupt 3.0. Filipina Women: Rising” held at the Philippine Embassy Chancery Annex on 28 March 2019.

Organized in collaboration with the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN), the book launch capped the Philippine Embassy’s celebration of National Women’s Month this March.

“Women’s empowerment and gender equality are not exclusively women’s issues. They concern every one of us. They speak of balance, not only for the betterment of womankind, but for the advancement of entire communities and economies,” Ambassador Jose Manuel G. Romualdez said in his opening remarks.

The Ambassador further added “that men should do more to help create an environment that encourages, accepts, and celebrates not only women’s participation in decision- and policy-making, but more importantly, in making sure that all of us – men and women together – are partners in building our communities, growing our livelihood, and creating a shared future.”

Ms. Marily Mondejar, CEO and Founder of Filipina Women’s Network in her remarks shared FWN’s mission and goals of harnessing Filipina women’s influence, knowledge, and access whether in government, corporate, educational institutions, and community organizations worldwide, while FWN President Susie Quesada underscored the importance of telling and sharing the stories of Filipina leadership, victories, purpose, and power through the DISRUPT book series.

A special guest speaker, Ms. Josephine Santiago-Bond, Chief of the Advanced Engineering Development Branch of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), talked about working hard and embracing opportunities, finding lasting connections, and being proactive in your chosen career.

“You have to really believe that you bring value from your uniqueness and take action,” Ms. Santiago-Bond said.

The program also included book readings from DISRUPT authors and guest readers. They are Ms. Jennifer Tabones who read an excerpt from “Five Dollars in My Pocket” by Filipina DISRUPTer Ana Bel Mayo; Ms. Jenny Sicat-Crabbe who read an excerpt from “Leading for Sustainable Solar Powered Housing Community” by Filipina DISRUPTer Emma Imperial; Mr. Justin Fitzsimmons who read an excerpt from “From the Boondocks To The Boardroom” by his mother, Filipina DISRUPTer Sonia Delen; and Filipina DISRUPTer Joanne Michelle Ocampo who read an excerpt from her own story “The Dynamics of Defining Success and Failure.”

Ms. Gloria T. Caoile and Ms. Bambi Lorica served as the moderators of the program. Ms. Lorica and community stalwart Ms. Mitzi Pickard led and coordinated the efforts to ensure the event’s success.

DISRUPT 3.0 is the third installment of the book series on Filipina leadership, following Disrupt 2.0: Filipina Women Daring To Leadand Disrupt: Proud, Loud, Leading without a Doubt.

The DISRUPT book series is available on Amazon. ###

DISRUPTers. (L-R) FWN President Susie Quesada, FWN Executive Advisory Council Member Dr. Bambi Lorica; FWN Executive Advisory Council Member Gloria Caoile; Norweigan Institute of Public Health Advisory Joanne Ocampo; Henderson Legal Services Director of Business Development Jennifer Tabones; NASA Engineer Josephine Santiago-Bond, FWN Founder and CEO Marily Mondejar; Justin Fitzsimmons; and J.P. Morgan VP for Portfolio Manager International Markets (ret.) Jenny Sicat-Crabbe.