The Filipino Women’s Association-UK (FWA-UK) was established in 1988 in response to the portrayal by UK media via television documentaries and newspapers, as well as sitcoms, of Filipino women as nothing more than ‘mail -order brides’. This negative image of Filipinas became a cause for concern for a small group of professional Filipino women in London. They brought it to the attention of Mrs Angeles ‘Nene’ Quimson, (wife of the then Philippine Ambassador to the Court of St James’s, the late Ambassador, John T Quimson). Mrs Quimson expressed her surprise at the absence of a women’s group in London and in the ensuing private meetings, she suggested inviting other women to form an association to counteract this negative image.
The Filipino Women’s Association -UK was formed on 28th April 1988, with Dr Remy Reyes as Chairman and Mrs Quimson as its Patron. Following the sudden death of Ambassador Quimson, two and half years into his term, Mrs Quimson returned to the Philippines but not before she had endorsed FWA-UK to her successor. Thus, began the tradition of having the spouse of the Philippine Ambassador as Patron of FWA-UK, with Mrs Quimson as its lifelong President of Honour
FWA-UK launched its campaign to project a balanced and positive image of Filipino women through membership of various international women’s organisations in London viz Federation of International Women’s Associations in London. Women’s Council of Great Britain, presenting workshops on women’s issues and cultural presentations to a wide international audience. Through its ‘Linkwatch’ Committee, it exercised vigilance and called attention to negative and derogatory issues relating to Filipinos and the Philippines, and acted accordingly.
FWA-UK was the first Filipino organisation in London to celebrate Philippine Independence (Philippine National Day) with a formal dinner and dance in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy and Philippine Airlines. At the end of its second year, the Executive Board discovered that funds have been raised from its events, the PND. On the next Annual General Meeting, it was decided to use the funds for charitable purposes in the Philippines, primarily for children and women, and the education of children disadvantaged by poverty and/or disability. From sponsorship of a single scholarship awarded to a profoundly deaf young girl, FWA-UK has now extended its financial support to cover one hundred scholars, to schools, health and nutrition, and livelihood projects.
The success of its projects and the change in the perception of Filipino women in the UK to mainly responsible and caring professionals and entrepreneurs was recognised by the Philippine Commission for Filipinos Overseas and FWA-UK was presented the Presidential Award ‘Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino’ (Service to Fellow Filipinos) in 2008. This also led to the review of the objectives of the FWA-UK, and the decision to be a recognised charitable organisation registered with the Charity commission for England and Wales.