the filipino womens' network. the literacy initiatives international foundation. pino-american art's exposition. philippine news. the san francisco manila sister city committee. last but not least, the bay area fashion week. we congratulate all the awardees that the certificates of recognition from the office of the mayor, and where most honored to be part of these excellent milestones through our partnership with these organizations. thank you for bringing fame and glory for the filipinos to our community through your work in through your contributions. like modern heroes, you have become the torchbearers for all filipinos. shining your light in who we are, what we're here for, and who we can become. may you all continue to highlight our values, the richness of our culture, and the honor of our people. we only have one wish for all of us global filipinos -- [ speaking foreign language] wherever we are and wherever we go, let's always remember that we are filipino. [speaking foreign language] [applause] >> and now, please welcome your host for tonight, senate candi

filipino women, hey. there is somebody very important to the filipino community who is here tonight. as you know, as many of you know, domestic -- we have the filipina women's network that has a domestic violence campaign. it started in the 1980's when a filipino woman was murdered in front of her two children by her boyfriend. that really galvanized the community, because her alleged murderer at that time escaped to mexico. and we had a quest to make sure that justice was served. her mother, who was not here tonight, really championed the cause and got the filipina women's network involved. the district attorney's office has held the filipina women's network, and as a community, and i think it is fought -- signed an mou with the philippine consulate. i want to introduce the district attorney of san francisco who has been interest -- instrumental in helping the community reduce crime against women. george, the district attorney, yay. [cheers and applause] >> quickly, it is an honor being here today and sh

>> congratulations to the 100 most influential filipino women. i attended first in 2006. and i was a planning commissioner then and i wanted to quit politics. i hated politics. but the summit inspired me. and merilee kept saying we needed more women in visible and a mainstream positions in government, commissions, and councils. so i was recognized in 2009, a couple of years ago. i was inspired by mayor joanne el rosario and the other women mayors around. so last year, i decided to run. and i won in november, not even a year. and little did i know, i was running into a burning building. hercules was crumbling. in january, the mayor resigned, so i became vice mayor. and then the rico movement happened and i became the mayor in june. [applause] the fastest rise of anybody i know. we had a lot of problems. we had to lay off people, cut the budget, cut parks and wreck. our meetings were overflowing. we had to rally the community around as peter it is an ongoing thing, but we're turning it around. i am glad that i did not quit, thanks to the filipino womens' network who has ins

i am glad that i did not quit, thanks to the filipino womens' network who has inspired me and kept me on track. i never thought i would do this. thank you very much. [applause] >> we love you. in 2006, fwn hosted a victory party. there were about four women that won the elections at that time. one of them was a jill wynns del rosario. it is interesting -- joanne del rosario. it was interesting at the time because i invited her to the party, and she said, no, i did not want to jinx my election. she said i do not want to go to the victory party because it is only a difference of a few ballads. it was held at the philippine consulate. i walked in and there she was. and i said, you must have won because you're here. so joanne, come on here. yeah. [applause] she was selected one of the 100 most influential filipina women in 2009. [applause] >> good evening, everyone, and congratulations to all of you. it is an honor for me to be here tonight. i have to say, the most gracious complement that anyone can ever give you is when it they say that i was there inspiration or i was their role model,

was not until 2009 when i was running that i sat down and met with many of the women of the filipino women's network. i was invited to come, and i think we wait -- we went to -- [unintelligible] not in district 10, but i plug it anyway. [laughter] it is in district 6, but it is read on the border. close enough. absolutely. i was able to bless the union, and i am so happy that you guys are still growing together and strong and in love. [applause] it is an incredible honor to be here amongst so many women, so many beautiful leaders. mayormerilee, i just want to say thank you. she has been my sister for years. before we knew each other, she worked on the merits network. we need to get more women on boards and commissions, as well as elected leaders. because when we have zero women at the table, that is one change starts to happen. [cheers and applause] i also want to acknowledge all the commissioners in the room today. thank you for all of your service. thank you very much, everyone. thank you. [applause] >> thank you, malia. first of all, i want to thank susie and her whole family who are here

filipino immigration. thank you. number two, i think that we honor those women who have been very influential in their own ways, and it is always part of our tradition that we honor those who have led us to where we are. but they are here today, and i just want to a knowledge once again, author, writer, singer, and guitar player, evangeline buell, former president of the filipino american history society in the san francisco- berkeley area. she was the national president, i am sorry. also, isabel. this is the face of women who have it in their blood to pursue the strength of the filipina women. and to them, we offer the leadership of tomorrow. all of us to dedicate the future for both of you. thank you for being here tonight. and so here we are in the seat of power in the city of san francisco, and only in a filipino tradition can you combine power, leadership, and lupia. so i would like to call on our newest board member, a lovely -- i am proud of her. i knew her as a young girl, and she is really our host for tonight. so if you just keep quiet, you're going to get your food. ladies and intimate, board member of the

the celebration of filipino women begins of providing a safe place for all women and girls and a poweringm to achieve their lives purpose. this year, the filipina women's network had eight philippine leadership summits and honor the 100 most influential philippine that american women in the united states. in the golden city of san francisco, where diversity in progress is a way of life. the san francisco bay area filipino-american communities ... milestone, a legacy of innovation, respect, and an unapologetic advocacy for equality. >> representing the philippine a women's network -- and >> may i call the members of the filipino women's network to come on over? this certificate is for all of you. i think most of them are here already. when did the bodies and that the philippine population in the u.s. are filipino women, you can just imagine the contributions to the economy of america and what it is all about. i want to thank abs-cvn, the council general, and the city of san francisco, mayor lee, for this wonderful honor. thank you. [applause] >> this year, our next honoree broke barriers -

are filipino women, you can just imagine the contributions to the economy of america and what it is all about. i want to thank abs-cvn, the council general, and the city of san francisco, mayor lee, for this wonderful honor. thank you. [applause] >> this year, our next honoree broke barriers -- tonight, we honor bay area fashion week. >> over 25 designers, 40 models, and the finest designs, celebrating our art means celebrating our story. it is a documented, and as our designers showcase, this year we saw the first ever bay area fashion week. the event was made at a charity fashion extravaganza, hosted in the south bay. the san francisco bay area filipino-american communities eludes this milestone, a legacy of art, fashion, and the filipina solis ready to wear. >> here are the representatives of the bay area fashion week. [applause] >> thank you. ok, let's check out a snippet of this fashion show. >> sounds like a wonderful idea. >> please welcome the fashion. [applause] ♪ >> please welcome our designers. [applause] [inaudible] wasn't that breathtaking? >> very much so. >> a special tha