"ARE you excited yet, like we are? We can't wait to ‘see’ and meet all of you at the first session of the PinayTweens100(tm) Book Club '100 Pinay Girls Who Will One Day Influence the World.' We appreciate your being able to join this amazing group of Pinay Tweens!"
Marily Mondejar, founder and CEO of the Filipina Women's Network (FWN), is unable to contain her enthusiasm as she welcomes tweens from the Philippines and the US.
The tweens will meet and discuss with the authors of DISRUPT. Filipina Women. Proud. Loud. Leading without a Doubt. The tweens will participate in weekly online book readings and femtoring from an FWN author/Global FWN100 awardee or member.
DISRUPT. Filipina Women. Proud. Loud. Leading without a Doubt is the first of FWN's leadership book series. The purpose of the leadership book series is to inspire, motivate, and nurture Filipina women worldwide. These are women who have leadership responsibilities in cross-cultural and global situations and leadership positions in the Philippine diaspora. The explicit goal of the leadership book series is to teach leadership not only to inform but also to transform. DISRUPT 1.0 is not just a book about leadership successes of individuals but also a call to action to celebrate and expand the global leadership of Filipina women. The book is also a reminder to Filipina women of their responsibility to give back to society and to help create a better world.
Maria Beebe, DISRUPT series editor, will co-facilitate the book discussions with Marily Mondejar.
Photo by Rick Gavino
The tweens are students from Imus Unida Christian School, Kensington Hilltop Elementary School, La Paz Elementary School, La Salle College Antipolo, Porter Ranch Community School, and Stockbridge International School in Davao.
The series kicks off on April 20, 2021 (US time) and April 21, 2021 (Philippines time) and will continue until September 27 (US time) and September 28 (Philippines time). The tweens will meet three new authors every two weeks. The tweens will discuss with the three authors for two consecutive weeks. To get to know the authors of your book, click here.
The first three authors are Marily Mondejar, FWN and I; Elena Mangahas, Filipinas Rising; and Gloria Caoile, Stepping Up. They are from California and Nevada.
Marily Mondejar is a nonprofit executive and association management and operations. She has expertise in convening conferences in Toronto, London, Paris, Paris, Manila, and Cebu in the Philippines, with deep connections in Southeast Asia, Toronto, London, Paris, and Mexico. Marily has experience in cultural immersion and in coaching entrepreneurs who are doing business in the US. She is a change consultant as a strategic partner to senior management and is a skilled project manager for turning troubled operations into high-performing units. Her expertise includes 360-degree assessment and feedback on image and culture, image management, outplacement, executive coaching, and leadership development. Marily has delivered over 1,000 presentations reaching more than 10,000 people worldwide.
Photo by Rick Gavino
Elena Buensalido-Mangahas is a graduate of Journalism at the Institute of Mass Communications at the University of the Philippines. Like her contemporaries, she participated in militant actions and took to the campus and the streets to flame the era of resistance to militarism and dictatorship. Elena was part of the UP Repertory Company, a people's theatre that amplified the issues of the oppressive times through original stage plays brought to underserved rural areas.
Elena is a 33-year civil servant in workforce development. She oversees an annual $3-million budget for youth job programs throughout the county. Elena's vast experience in workforce development includes: seasonal farmworkers' transition program, entry-level refugee jobs program, welfare-to-work-program that includes non-traditional career pathways for women and youth for jobs that include community leadership and service learning. Being an advocate and a community leader, Elena has represented marginalized communities, ethnic minorities, people of color, and her Filipino community.
Currently, Elena serves on the Little Manila Rising Governing Board (a social and health justice group). She is a lifetime member of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), two of the most dedicated organizations for preserving Filipino American history.
Gloria T. Caoile is a multi-awarded civic leader in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (APIA) Community. She is a founding member of several Pan Asian organizations dedicated to empowering workers, nurturing and developing leadership skills in youth and women, and empowering the APIA Community. Gloria continues to serve on boards of several civil rights groups. President Clinton appointed her to the White House Advisory Commission of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Gloria has devoted her time promoting community and economic development programs that help the poor in the Philippines, where President Ramos awarded her the Linkapil Award. She is one of the Filipina Women's Network100 Most Influential Women in The US and Global FWN 100 awards.
Gloria's professional experience includes more than 30 years of service with the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees. At her retirement, she was one of the highest-ranking Asian Pacific American in the labor movement as Executive Assistant to the AFSCME president.
Now a Nevada resident, Gloria continues to be an active volunteer promoting Asian American and Pacific Islander participation in the political process. She encourages the immigrant community to vote, to volunteer in civic organizations, and to do their part in helping America maintain a healthy democracy!
She is most proud of being a wife, mother, and Lola to a seven-year-old granddaughter.
The next three authors are Michele Bumgarner, For the Love of Racing; Cris Comerford, Chef to the Chiefs; and Kristin Custodio, The Chronicles of a Meeting Queen: On Leadership.
