Esther Chavez (center), INQUIRER.net’s director of sales in the United States, receives her award from Filipina Women’s Network president Marily Mondejar (left) and FWN chairperson Elena Mangahas (right).
SAN FRANCISCO, California—INQUIRER.net’s director of sales in the United States was named one of this year’s 100 Most Influential Filipina American Women in the US.
Esther Misa Chavez, who is also the president of the Philippine American Press Club, was hailed by the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina American Women in the US, an award given to Filipinas who have shown outstanding work in their chosen fields.
FWN 100 Nationwide Search and Selection Committee Chairperson Lieutenant, Colonel Shirley Saoit Raguindin of the Arizona National Guard, described the awardees as “dynamic leaders who are influential in their respective fields and local communities.”
Raguindin said that Filipinas who have been given the award were “role models” and “powerful examples of women doing extraordinary work who will inspire our youth and future leaders.”
Honoring outstanding Filipinas in the US since 2007, the award was first given to the first Filipina-American to serve as California Chief Justice, Honorable Tani Cantil-Sakauye; the first woman to pass the New York state bar, TLC Beatrice Chairman and CEO Loida Nicolas Lewis; the first woman to be ranked Rear Admiral in the US Navy Dr. Connie Mariano.
International Boxing Association Bantamweight boxing world champion Ana Julaton and former Hawaii state representative and house Republican leader Lynne Berbano Finnegan also received the award in 2009.
As role models, the awardees are tasked to mentor a protégée, selected from nominations submitted from across the US, said Raguindin. This was to ensure that the FWN churns up double the number of Filipina achievers and power movers by 2012.
Protégées are selected by a team of FWN 100 Awardees and undergo personal interviews before their scores are tabulated with the help of members of the Filipino American Association of Certified Public Accountants, explained FWN board chairperson Elena Manghas.
FWN’s 100 Most Influential Filipina American Women for 2011 are as follows:
Behind the Scenes Leaders
Bennie Lou Quevedo
Assistant Vice President, Trust Admin Officer
Whittier Trust Company
Cherina Viloria Tinio, RN CNS MSN
Clinical Coordinator
Veterans Administration Health Care System Menlo Park Division
Evelyn Javier-Centeno
Entrepreneur
EJC Global Links
Evelyn Luluquisen
Executive Director
Manilatown Heritage Foundation
Fran Villarmia-Kahawai
Principal Broker
Properties International Limited
Gloria Ramil Omania
Campaign Manager/Finance Director
Tom Torlakson for State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Gretheline Bolandrina
Clinical Instructor
Massachusetts Bay Community College
Henni Jay Espinosa
Senior Reporter, Northern CA Balitang America
ABS-CBN International
Julieta Zarate Hudson
Accounting Process Manager
Bay Medical Management, LLC
Mary Ann C. Ubaldo
Goldsmith, Artist & Activist
Urduja.com & Center for Babaylan Studies
Pearl Parmelee
Marketing & Community Relations
Mama Sita`s Mixes & Sauces
Rosario “Puchi” Carrion Di Ricco
Consulting Gerontologist
(Self Employed)
Builders & Emerging Leaders
Cynthia Rapaido
Assistant Principal
San Mateo Union High School District, San Mateo High School
Diana Reyes
Manager, California Corporate Affairs
Chevron Corporation
Estela Matriano, EdD.
Professor of Global Education
Alliant International University
Esther Misa Chavez
U.S. Director of Sales
Inquirer.net
President, Philippine American Press Club
Genevieve Herreria
Policy Associate
Bay Area Council
Gloria B. Gil
Managing Director- Real Assets
The Regents of the University of California
Kathleen Quinn DuBois
Attorney
Crumley Roberts, LLP
Leah Beth O. Naholowaa
Director
Guam Department of Labor
Leia Lorica
Corps Member
Teach for America
Maria Beebe
President
Global Networks
Melanie A. Caoile
Senior Director, Global Creative Solutions
Microsoft
Mila M. Josue
Faculty, Board Member
American College of Nursing
Odette Alcazaren-Keeley
News Anchor/Executive Producer
New America Media
Selenna Franco-Cefre,CPA
President/Certified Public Accountant
University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Northern California (Berkeley) Chapter
Founders & Pioneers
Alma Onrubia
Chief Financial Officer
Affiliated Home Health Services, Inc.
Chateau Gardecki
Chair of the Board
Washington International Piano Arts Council
Christina Rodriguez Laskowski
Managing Director
Alquemie Partners
Dellie Punla
Vice President/Chief Financial Officer
Delarch Inc.
Geri Ferrer-Chan
Vice President/Co-Founder
Charles W. Chan Insurance Agency Inc.
Herna Cruz-Louie
Executive Director
American Center of Philippine Arts
Jannelle So
TV Host/Producer
KSCITV-LA18
Josefina R. Enriquez, M.D.
Physician
Half Moon Bay Family Medical Clinic
Jossie Alegre, EMPA
Accounting Operations Manager
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Joy Dalauidao-Hermsen
Co-Founder/President
Nimble Training LLC
Lillian Pardo, M.D.
Professor Emeritus in Neurology and Pediatrics
University of Kansas Medical Center
Maria Benel Se-Liban
Principal
Vasquez & Company, LLP
Marjan Philhour
President and CEO
The California Group
Perla Linda Ramos Paredes Daly
Founder and Publisher
Pinay.com
Rhoda Yabes Alvarez
Attorney
Law Office of Rhoda Yabes Alvarez
Soledad M. Manaay
Founder and CEO
Care On Call
Tess Mauricio, MD
Founder and Owner
Dr. Tess Dermatology & Cosmetic Center
Vellie Sandalo Dietrich-Hall
President/CEO
HPS Enterprises, Inc
Innovators and Thought Leaders
Angel Velasco Shaw
Co-Founder, General Manager, Artistic Director
Center for Global Art and Thought
Celia Pangilinan-Donahue
Chief Executive Officer
PFC Engineering NA, LLC
Christina Dunham
Vice President, Business Development
Froomz
Evelyn Dilsaver
(Retired) Executive Vice President
Charles Schwab
France Viana
President
France Viana Consulting Corp.
Gemma Bulos
Director
Global Women’s Water Initiative
Minerva Malabrigo Tantoco
Executive Director
UBS Financial Services
Policymakers & Visionaries
Agnes Briones Ubalde
Vice President, Community Development Officer-Social Responsibility Group
Wells Fargo Bank
Amy Agbayani
Director of Student Equity, Excellence and Diversity (SEED)
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Hon. Arlie N. Ricasa
Trustee
Sweetwater Union High School District Board of Trustees
Cheryl Moss
District Court Judge
State of Nevada 8th Judicial District Court
Eleanor Valentin
Rear Admiral
United States Navy
Katherine M. Eldemar
Attorney at Law – Board Director, Goldbelt, Inc.
Special Assistant to the President and CEO, Sealaska’s Haa Aani
Keesa Ocampo
Corporate Affairs
ABS CBN International
Mae Cendaña Torlakson
Manager, Marketing and Resource Development
University of California-MESA
Melissa Roxas
Poet, Health Worker, and Human Rights Activist
Habi Arts
Pat Gacoscos
Councilmember
City of Union City
Rosa Mena Moran
Administrative Director, Division of Workers’ Compensation
State of California