Happy SuperWowMom: An Empowered Woman!

 

By: Jovie Calma

 

In celebration of International Women’s History Month last March, I am incredibly honored, humbled, and boundlessly grateful to have been inducted in the roster of 2015 Circle of Empowered Women of National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) Illinois on Sunday, March 29, 2015 at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare, in Rosemont, Illinois. In light with this, allow me to honor and celebrate the empowered WOWMOM that has brought my existence to this world. Right in time for the celebration of Mother’s Day, I’ve decided to dedicate my column for the month of May to my loving mother, Connie Calma, and to all the phenomenal mothers around the world.

As a woman, we all play many roles, and each one of us should be a CEO in our own right. CEO, which stands for Chief Empowerment Officer (not the usual Chief Executive Officer in the corporate world). Women’s empowerment starts with building a sense of self-worth. Limiting your selfbelief reduces your personal power and hinders yourself and professional development. It is only in the presence of a strong sense of self-worth that you can really enjoy all of life. For you to be able to find self-worth, you must first learn to honor and to love yourself and everything else will follow.

When you learn to love and value yourself, then almost miraculously, other people will treat you the same way. Remember, it is impossible for other people to look upon you with high value if, deep down, you have a low regard for yourself.

Women worldwide continue to strive to gain independence. As independence for women becomes more widely accepted, now is the time to exercise the authority you have been given, and empower yourself. Learning to express your womanhood, your uniqueness, for peak performance is the most important thing you can do. So, how does a woman empower herself? You have to develop Self-Respect. This implies that you value yourself. To respect something, is to accept it. Embrace your unique skills and gifts. There is only one of you in the whole world. If you don’t want others to consider you as somebody less, start valuing yourself first. The woman with self-respect simply likes herself. Reinforce this by surrounding yourself with people who love, honor, and respect you. Separate yourself from the ones that don’t.

Remember that your voice and opinions matter. “You are a child of the Universe, no less than the trees and the stars. You have a right to be here.” These are from Desiderata. Exercise your rights by expressing yourselves thru your song, dance, action, creative arts and poetry. If you do not share your voice with the world, your special gifts, then your unique and very special voice will never be shared. Period. And it will be lost forever. Stand proud of yourself and your accomplishments. Never forget, regardless of where you reside in the world, your opinion matters, and you have the right to share it, sometimes quietly and sometimes very loudly. You choose. In many cultures, men continue to be dominant.

Get yourself involved in the ever-increasing opportunities to contribute in today’s modern world in business and technology. Being empowered in business will give you a sense of responsibility and a sense of purpose. Exercise your power. It is a way for any woman to feel that you are valuable and that you can make a difference. Becoming an empowered woman is a process. With dedication, commitment and practice, you can become the powerful woman you were always meant to be.

I would like to congratulate Cindy Flores, NaFFAA Illinois State Chair, and Lynnette Torres, CEW Event Overall Chair and the entire NaFFAA Illinois Team on the huge success of the event. Thank you, NaFFAA Illinois, for establishing the Circle of Empowered Women in highlighting the importance of recognizing and celebrating the empowerment of women and in your advocacy in making a difference in the community. Hats off to all of you for being the voice of women in this society. Thank you to the distinguished panel of judges for selecting me for this award. My sincere thanks to Almira Astudillo Gilles, Lynnette Torres and Abbey Eusebio for your nomination.

From my deepest core, my heartfelt thanks to my loving family and friends who have showered me great love, near or far! I have accepted the award on behalf of my boys, Alric and Rovic, you are my pillars of strength and my rock; my deep respect and major love to my parents and my late grandparents who taught me that life’s purpose is to live life with a purpose; my wonderful siblings, amazing friends and great mentors, most especially to Veronica Leighton, my CPRTV Executive Producer and VIA Times Publisher, who lovingly pushed me to excel and breathe success. who’s a past recipient of CEW NAFFAAAward.

As a Global Ambassador and REAL Beauty Activist, I have also accepted the award on behalf of the charities and organizations that I’m involved with to create a major impact to the world through our advocacies in suicide prevention, champions of victims of domestic violence, anti-bullying, inspire the youth to emerge and to appreciate the core of their being, and to celebrate all the phenomenal women of today!

Finally, to all the fantastic recipients of this year, congratulations on sharing your talents and amazing contributions to make this world, a better, healthier and happier place! As for my interpretation of William Shakespeare, “All the World’s a Stage…and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.” I strongly believe that my life is the only stage that was given to me and that I’m destined to play different roles in this stage called “life” and I strived hard to play it real well. As the performance is still a long way, I aimed to offer a stellar performance on my “stage” that will never be forgotten and one where I will receive a standing ovation in my lifetime.

My special birthday wishes to Lindy Tan (May 4), Miggy Zamora (May 6), Trisha Guevara (May 10), Tita Belle Campo (May 14), Elsa Castillo (May 15), Sarah Lee (May 16), Gerry Rebello (May 16), Amie Hana (May 19), Kevin Santiago (May 20) and, of course, to my executive producer- Nangni Veronica Leighton (May 31).

On this Mother’s Day, allow me to honor my dearest Mom Connie Calma, who’s a special gift from above. You’ve given so much love from your heart and the warmth of your touch. Thank you for being the wind beneath my wings. Cheers to all the phenomenal mothers, most especially Nangni Veronica Leighton, my sisters Ate Jo Ann Alzol and Jennifer Zamora!

To all my loving family and friends, dress up in your coolest fashions and join me as I celebrate my EARLY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION with Modelo International Co-founders, Pinky Smits and Aukse Asta on May 22, 2015 in a fashion show for a great cause benefiting Lungevity Lung Cancer Foundation and Moon Crane Theatre Company at Stereo, 5616 W. Diversey Avenue Chicago, IL.

To all Via Times Readers and CPRTV viewers, thank you for your continued support. Until the next issue of Wassup?! Jovie Calma LIVE! Please visit www.viatimes.com (or net) and be our Facebook Fan! God Bless Us All!

Jovie Calma was inducted at the NaFFAA’s Circle of Empowered Women for 2015 with The Honorable, Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State and Philippine Consul General Gene Calonge

VT/CPRTV Staff at the CEW event with guests and organizers.

Mother’s Day Celebration with VT/CPRTV’s Jovie Calma and Mom Connie Calma.

 

Priceless moments of VT/CPRTV’s Jovie Calma’s Mom’s Day selfie with her boys, Alric and Rovic