02 June 2023
GENERAL MEETING – CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Dear Members and Friends of FWA-UK,
I am pleased to present to you the chairman’s report for the upcoming General Meeting of the FWA-UK, which will be held on 4th June 2023 at the Copthorne Tara Hotel in London, Kensington.
The past year has been a challenging but rewarding one for our association, as we continued to pursue our mission of advancing the education of underprivileged children in the Philippines and promoting the well-being of Filipino women in the UK.
Despite the ongoing rise of costs overall, we were able to carry out various charitable projects and activities that benefited our scholars, our members, and our community.
First of all, I would like to congratulate and thank the new executive board of 2022-2023, who were elected in our last Annual General Meeting in September 2022. They are:
- Ms. Dulia Prado (Chairman)
- Ms. Linda Challis (Vice-Chairman for External Affairs)
- Ms. Crystal Dias (Vice-Chairman for Internal Affairs)
- Ms. Ira Lehmann (Secretary)
- Ms. Elsie De Jesus (Assistant Secretary)
- Ms. Celerina Grosser (Treasurer)
- Ms. Patricia Shah (Assistant Treasurer)
- Ms. Imelda Pinto (Education & Scholarship Grants Committee)
- Ms. Celia Herrera (Membership & Personal Development Committee)
- Ms. Lydia Sumang (Outreach & Community Affairs Committee)
- Ms. Wilma Lone (Special Projects)
- and Ms. Rebecca Cabatic (Auditor).
I would also like to acknowledge our long-standing advisors Ms. Nenita Garrad and Dr. Remy Reyes, who continue to impart their wisdom and guide the Association towards greater heights.
This report will highlight some of the achievements and activities of our association in the past year, as well as our plans and goals for the future.
In October 2022, We paid a courtesy call at the Philippine Embassy and met with Deputy Chief of Mission Madame Rhenita B. Rodriguez. We discussed our ongoing projects and initiatives, and expressed our gratitude for her support.. We also met with other embassy officials and staff and discussed ways to strengthen our collaboration and partnership.
We started to conduct free IT training sessions for seniors in Newham, in partnership with the Stratford Library, in October 2022 as well. These sessions were aimed at empowering senior citizens in our community with basic computer skills, such as using email, social media, online banking, and e-government services. We had a total of 100 participants so far who attended the sessions. The sessions were well-attended and well-received by the participants, who expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity to learn new skills and connect with others. This initiative is ongoing until July 2023.
In November 2022, I had the privilege of visiting our high school scholars in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, who are supported by our scholarship program. I was impressed by their academic performance and their aspirations for higher education and career. I also witnessed their gratitude and appreciation for FWA-UK and our donors, who made their education possible. I also met with their parents, teachers and school administrators and discussed how we can further support their education and development. I was impressed by their enthusiasm, dedication and potential, and I was proud to represent FWA-UK as their benefactor.
We celebrated our annual Christmas party on 17th December 2022 at the Copthorne Tara Hotel in Kensington, where we enjoyed a festive afternoon of music, dance, games, raffles and prizes. The Christmas Party enabled us to raise funds which went towards our scholarship programme. The FWA-UK also sponsored a Simbang Gabi at the Saint Dominic’s Priory Church.
On 21st December 2022 our Secretary organised a gift-giving activity in Naujan, Mindoro Philippines. We distributed school supplies, toys, hygiene kits, and food packs, to 30 children in a remote village. It was very rewarding to witness their joy and gratitude as they received their gifts.
In February 2023, we organised a series of outreach events for senior citizens in our community at the Copthorne Tara Hotel in Kensington. This time, we hosted a Zumba class for seniors led by a certified instructor. Zumba is a fun and energetic dance exercise that improves physical and mental well-being. These events have been well-attended and well-received by our seniors who have expressed their appreciation and enjoyment.
March is International Women’s Month. I was invited to join the International Women’s Day (IWD) Women’s Policy Summit at City Hall hosted by London Mayor Sadiq Khan. We were honoured to be invited as one of the representatives of Filipino women’s organisations in London. FWA’s attendance at the Women’s Policy Summit highlights our commitment to advocating for women’s rights and addressing the challenges that women face in the UK. The summit provided an opportunity for us to network with other women and organisations, exchange ideas, and learn about the challenges faced by women in other sectors. It also provided an opportunity for the FWA-UK to share their experiences and contribute to the discussion on how to address the challenges faced by Filipino women in the UK.
One of the highlights of our year was the celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2023. We celebrated International Women’s Day on 7th March 2023 with an event titled “Constructing the Filipino Woman in Britain: Towards Agency and Empowerment”. The event was held at the Khalili Lecture Theatre in SOAS University, London, in partnership with the Philippine Studies at SOAS and the Kanlungan Filipino Consortium. The aim of the event was to empower Filipino women in the UK by challenging the social constructs and stereotypes that have shaped their identity and experiences over the years.
The event featured speakers from different backgrounds and perspectives, who shared their insights and stories on topics such as cultural identity, human trafficking, domestic violence, migrant rights, and workforce stereotyping. The speakers included Dr. Remy Reyes, FWA-UK Founding Chairman; Dr. Cristina Juan, Philippine Studies at SOAS University; Lalaine Garcia, a domestic violence survivor; Nina Rivera, Director of Kanlungan Filipino Consortium; and Loralie Canale, Rise Research Ltd. The event also showcased a film by Loralie Canale called “Chasing Dreams”, which documented the journey of a Filipina who pursued her aspirations in the UK. Officials from the Philippine Embassy were also in attendance.
The event was moderated by Crystal Dias, FWA-UK Vice-Chairman for Internal Affairs, who also facilitated an audience discussion where attendees were invited to share their thoughts and opinions on the issues raised by the speakers. Our Secretary Ira Lehmann provided technical support during the evening. The event concluded with closing remarks by myself and was followed by networking and snacks.
On 29th March 2023, the Philippine Embassy in London hosted a seminar on domestic violence laws for the Filipino community in the UK. The seminar was facilitated by three London Metropolitan Police officers of Filipino heritage: Detective Superintendent Joe Derilo, Sergeant Charina Boys, and Police Constable Danielle Noble. The seminar aimed to raise awareness and provide information on the different forms of domestic abuse, how to report them, and what support is available for victims and survivors. The seminar also covered the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS), also known as Clare’s Law, which allows people to find out if their partner has a history of domestic violence or abuse. The seminar was part of the Embassy’s Lecture Series for Women and Their Rights.
The Association celebrated its Founding Day on 29th April 2023 in Kensington, London. The event was a simple yet meaningful celebration, centred around a thanksgiving mass to express gratitude for the association’s achievements over the years. The celebration was attended by members of the FWA-UK community, who came together to commemorate the association’s founding day. The thanksgiving mass was held in Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Simon Stock Catholic Church. The mass was followed by a simple reception at the Copthorne Tara Hotel.
Lastly, we are celebrating our 35th Anniversary and the commemoration of the 125th Anniversary of the Declaration of Philippine Independence. To celebrate the two important milestones, we are having our Fundraising Gala Night at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London on 17th June 2023. This event is also known as the “PND” or the Philippine National Day.
We have set ourselves very ambitious goals for the next coming years. We would like to support 100 more scholars including those who wish to go to higher education. Our goals can of course only be achieved with the generous support of individuals, corporate groups and event sponsors.
This year, we are excited to announce a collaboration with PamPinay, a clothing brand founded by Filipina artists. Pamela Gotangco is a visual artist based in Switzerland and Christian Belaro, is a digital designer based in London. PamPinay is a collection of high-quality, limited-edition wearable art which showcases Filipino-made crafts. The brand aims to promote social entrepreneurship, sustainability and responsible branding through the playful illustration of Filipino culture, heritage and traits in the pop art genre. PamPinay products are made in the Philippines and created individually by dressmakers who lost their jobs during the pandemic. PamPinay will showcase its collection through a fashion show during our Dinner and Dance Gala Night.
We are very excited for this event and sincerely hope that you will be able to come and celebrate with us.
As we look forward to another year of service and solidarity, I invite you to join me in reaffirming our commitment to our objectives and values as FWA-UK members. Let us continue to work together to uplift the lives of our fellow Filipinos in the Philippines and in the UK, and to project a positive image of Filipino women in Britain.
My sincere appreciation for your continued support, cooperation and understanding. It brings me great joy to experience special friendship while working with you. I consider myself fortunate enough to work with all of you.
Maraming Salamat Po.
Sincerely
Dulia Prado
Chairman