The Executive Board creates standing and ad hoc committees to assist them fulfil the objects of the FWA. Each committee has a Chairperson appointed by the Executive Board and terms of reference. The standing committees are:
- Membership and Personal Development Committee
- Education and Scholarship Grants Committee
- Publicity Committee
- Outreach and Community Affairs Committee
- Fundraising Committee
Membership & Personal Development Committee
The Membership Committee is in charge of the recruitment of members and ensures that the membership details are accurate and up-to date. Its objectives are:
- to restore/maintain and increase membership through recruitment and revival;
- develop camaraderie and a stronger link between members
- as well as attempt to be a channel of communication between individual members and the Executive Board.
It has always been the Committee’s avowed aim to encourage all members to take an active role and participate in all the activities of the Association in the pursuit of our objectives. In this connection, the Committee coordinates and cooperates with all the other committees and sometimes spearheads activities, half of them fundraising, and also sponsors get-togethers for members to renew old acquaintances and make new ones.
Right from its beginnings we felt that the need for this committee cannot be over-emphasised. Among its first activites was a half-day
conference with the theme: ‘The Role of Women in Society and the World.’ The guest speakers were Ms Penny-Ann Mkeon and Ms Joan Wallace. It was organised by the Committee co-chairs and conference coordinator – Joyce Anderson, Celia Pomeroy and Elsie Sebastian.
In 1991, owing to circumstances at that time, it was deemed right and appropriate to merge the Education Committee with the Cultural Committee. A cultural exchange between Filipinos and Tongans represented by the FWA–UK and the Royal Family of Tonga was organised by co-chairs Loline Reed and Josie Turner. Both groups presented their own folk dances and a lively discussion on the two countries’ values and culture followed. The FWA-UK dancers eventually became the original members of the Lahing Kayumanggi Dance Company.
1992 Committee co-chairs Clarita Richardson and Mitzey Finney visioned educational activities with emphasis on professional careers. ‘Town Planning Talk’ with Chris Berry as guest speaker was held in May. ‘Understanding Gender & Women’s Health forum followed with Emmeline Verzosa and Marilen Danguilan as guest speakers.
In 1993 the Education Committee was reestablished as a separate committee with Prima Lou Stead and Elsie Sebastian as cochairs.
The Committee undertakes activities with the view to make known and share our Filipino values, culture and traditions in the UK and abroad. The Committee also offered free classess on Philippine History, culture and language.
Moving on and since Elsie became the Chair of Education Committee, Salo-Salo fund raising project was born. The Salo-Salo is a showcase of Philippine cuisine, an occasion which aims to gather together our friends in
a day of fun and feast, at the same time raise funds for our projects.
Nene Martin took over the Chairship when Elsie moved to Ireland in 2011. The Committee is committed to carry on with the Salo-Salo project. It also continues to offer courses to members including IT training courses, from Word, Excel, Facebook / Twitter accounts, etc. Nancy Cunniff initiated to sponsor and set up the FWA–UK website account. The Committee also organise one-day event for personal development depending on the members requests/ demands.
Education & Scholarship Grants Committee
The Education & Scholarship Grants Committee was one of the Executive Board’s Special Projects Committee. It was originally formed to consider all applications for funding received by FWA–UK. Due to the increasing number of applications for scholarship funding over the years, the
Executive Board assumed responsibility for considering applications for funding other than for scholarship. The Scholarship Grants Committee became a Standing Committee with responsibility for the evaluation of applications for scholarship for high school students in the Philippines and recommendation for approval of applicants that meet the criteria, to the Executive Board.
The ESGC membership comprises previous chairpersons of FWA–UK and not more than two current members of the Executive Board, the latter serving as co-Chairs of the committee. The Committee sits once a year
(prior to the start of the academic year in the Philippines) to receive progress reports for current scholars (copies of scholars’ academic report cards from the schools; letters from scholars) and to evaluate new applications.
To date, approximately fifty six (56) scholars have completed their high school studies and there are fifteen (15) scholars in various regions of the Philippines.
It is very humbling to know that through FWA–UK’s scholarship program, we are making many children’s dream of education a reality.
Publicity Committee
During the first year, the FWA–UK created various Standing Committees to undertake responsibilities in ensuring that all the projects and activities of the Association are effectively implemented. One of these Committees was the Press and Publicity Committee, which introduced several measures to meet this objective within its Terms of Reference, such as the production of a newsletter, write-ups for major events, especially the annual PND Dinner Dance, coordination with the other committees, establishing good relations with the media, etc.
While performing these activities, a variety of skills and talents were soon
discovered among the members. Out came the writers, artists, poets, artists, designers and typesetters, photographers, and potential leaders and organisers. Literary skills blossomed and these were evident in the various articles, poems, essays, and even in the jokes submitted for the newsletter.
Edna Kim, Carmila Pi Legarda Alcantara and Judy Cacho were the first Publicity Committee Chairs, followed by Celia Pomeroy, Nilda Resano, Bong Forouzan, Nene Martin and Dulia Prado.
It was through the ingenuity and initiative of Edna, Pi and Judy that the Halo-Halo (meaning a mixture or medley) was born and became the official
newsletter of FWA–UK. It continues to be the mouthpiece of the Association and contains news of its activities, commentaries and other informative materials.
The Committee adopted a rotational scheme of editorship among its members with contribution from most of the chairpersons of other Standing Committees – an excellent practice of leadership skills training.
Among the regular contributors to early issues of the newsletter have been Buddai Piccio, Joyce Anderson, Ni-Ann Alcantara, and Marita Anderson. Bing Cabatic once acted as official photographer of the Association. Through the efforts of Nilda Resano, a few issues were published in a colour magazine format.
The present Publicity Committee still possesses that fiery passion in producing both the Halo-Halo newsletter and other information materials relevant to the members. As in previous years, the budget allocated to the Publicity Committee is never ever sufficient to enable members to meet the rising costs of materials and publication. Past and present chairpersons have been exemplary in their ability in engaging the members to participate actively in their innovative fundraising activities. Their satisfaction was in realising the funds needed to ensure the continued production of a quality publication. It could therefore be said that the Publicity Committee is indeed a major artery of FWA–UK.
Outreach & Community Affairs Committee
FWA–UK, Outreach Committee was formed to promote the well-being of women of Philippine origin and descent in the UK by providing support services such as counseling, guidance and advice thereby relieving them of their distress and enabling them to participate fully as individuals and enlightened members of society.
Outreach Committee’s objects are:
- To offer support and practical help to women who are housebound, ill, lonely and/ or hospitalised
- To work closely with the relevant department in the Philippine Embassy and the Filipino Chaplaincy as and when requested in cases such as hospital and prison visits
- To mobilise appeals for donations in money or in kind when disasters happen back home in the Philippines or when urgent help is needed by someone in the Filipino Community here
- To help raise money for the funds of the Outreach Committee of the FWA–UK
- To organise cultural, social, sightseeing trips for the elderly and those who live alone in order to enhance their sense of belonging and be mentally stimulated
The Committee is also involved in Community Affairs as the members are also invited to attend activities within the Filipino community. These may be activities organised by other Filipino associations that are London-based or around the UK.
Activities from Philippine National Day celebration, Philippine Embassy affairs, Barrio Fiesta, Simbang Gabi (evening mass) during the Christmas celebration, charity events organised by various Filipino associations, out of town day trips around the UK have been part and parcel of the combined functions of Outreach and Community Affairs committee.
The Outreach Committee is confident that with the support of FWA friends, donors and members, they will continue to achieve their aims and objectives.
Fundraising Committee
The Committee has only one reason for existing – that is to raise funds. But this one big task makes the Fundraising Committee the life source of the Association. By raising funds, the Committee enables FWA–UK to fulfill its monetary commitments to its charity projects.
The Committee assists in providing funds for all the proposed standing committee projects and cover the Association’s administrative costs.
The Committee undertakes one major fundraising activity of the year – the annual Philippine National Day celebration.
With pride we can say the Committee has consistently achieved its goal beyond everyone’s expectations.