Title: "The True Message of EDSA People Power I" by
Winifredo M. Alfelor
Winnie was born 57 years ago in Valenzuela City, Metro Manila. His parents, Severo and Amparo, are both Bicolanos and natives of Naga City and Iriga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines respectively. He is currently Global Quality Manager for NCR Corporation and had over 34years of proven project management and leadership positions with numerous prestigious American and Philippine companies, among them Solectron Corp., Raytheon Engineers, Ebasco Services Corp., Washington Group International, Westinghouse, Meralco, and DMG/Radiowealth.
He is currently an Elder and Board Member of the Filipino-American Christian Church (FACC) in Lilburn, Georgia, President of You Are A Blessing, Inc. (a non-profit organization that supports poor and financially-deprived children in the Philippines through the “Mentor-A-Child Ministry”), and co-founder of New Birth Society, a ministry for men in Metro-Atlanta.
Winnie, his wife, Marilyn, and children Winnielyn, Wendy and Wilma, have been very active in the Philippine American community affairs as members of the Fil-Am of Greater Atlanta (Fil-Am) since 1987. Winnie currently holds the Fil-Am Service Chair function and was past PRO and past editor of Balitang Pilipino. He was also past Vice President for Membership and Director for Government and Political Affairs of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia (PACCGA.) He briefly worked for over 2 years as Assistant to Honorary Consul General Ray Donato from 1989 to 1992, serving the consular needs of Filipino-Americans not only in Georgia, but other Southeast states such as Alabama and Florida. Winnie has continuously worked closely and through a unified effort with other Philippine American groups and associations in Metro Atlanta to make a difference by supporting community service projects and ministries to help the cause of eradicating graft and corruption in the Philippines.
Winnie is author of various technical papers on quality management and has been a recipient of several corporate awards for leading continuous improvement programs in companies, such as DuPont, Washington Group International, Westinghouse, Solectron and MIESCOR. He still holds a Philippine Professional Electrical Engineer license, and is active with various American quality organizations as a certified Six-Sigma Master Blackbelt, certified ISO Lead Auditor, certified Quality Engineer, Certified Quality Manager and certified nuclear inspector. He holds a B.Sc in Electrical Engineering, a M.Sc in Project Management and is a Ph.D candidate in Engineering Management.
Title: "A Peaceful Cry For Freedom"
by Marilyn Z. Doromal
Born in an island south of Quezon province, Marilyn grew up with her nurturing grandmother. She graduated college as a teacher and married Julio Cesar in 1969. Both are proud parents of Cesilyn, a nurse, Sgt. Vincent, and Von Czar, U.S. army, and grandparents to Mike, Kaitlyn, Marie, & Kenneth. A teaching job offer from Hollywood, California, USA became the turning point of her thirteen years career in the Philippines.
As a second grade teacher, Universal City District of North Hollywood became her adopted home for the next twelve years. In the summer of 1997,Vincent invited her to visit Ft. Benning Georgia in Columbus where she pursued her teaching career. In February 1999, she saw the need for an after school academic tutorial & remedial program utilizing one-on-one approach. The success of K&M TLC2000 K-12 Academic Tutoring Center(named after her grandchildren)inspired parents to its educational benefits in literacy. In the fall of 2004, she retired as a school teacher after receiving her thirty years recognition award for her service to private education.
K&M TLC2000, a ’02 state approved academic tutorial center continue to serve SES students. Her unconditional love for teaching still lingers. Today, her time is focused to building leadership and meeting academic needs of students. As a classroom teacher in the Philippines, California, and Georgia, she hopes to celebrate her 36 years by passing down pedagogical gifts to the generation she left behind.
Community service :
1995- 1997- Fil-Am Council adviser , North Hollywood California
2000 -2001- Club Filipino USA President , Columbus, Georgia
2004-2008 - Chairman, Federation of Phil-Am Organizations in Georgia
2004-2008 - Board member, Philippine American Center in Georgia
2004-2005 - Auditor, Philippine American Chamber of Commerce, Georgia
2007-2009 - Chairman, NaFFAA Region IV
FREE academic tutorial service to low income families.
Poet, author of bilingual books
Marilyn’s poetry @ poetry.com
Smooth “ez” English-Tagalog User-Friendly Handbook
Bumilang Tayo , Isa, Dalawa, Tatlo…….
A.R.A.L Handbook - A Guide to A+ in class
Title:"Democracy after EDSA: A Mindanaoan Indigenous Peoples Perspective"
Presented by: Arjho C. Turner
Josephine Carino-Turner “ Arjho” was born on February 28, 1977 at Landan, Polomolok, South Cotabato, Philippines. She is a representation of a mixed Filipino culture having been born to an Ilocano/Waray father, Mr. Jose Singson Carino, and to a mother belonging to the Blaan indigenous peoples group of Southern Mindanao, Mrs. Maria Latimban Carino.
She graduated Class Valedictorian from Dole Cannery Central Elementary School in Polomolok, South Cotabato in 1992. She finished High School from the Mindanao State University in General Santos City and was then a recipient of Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani Foundation scholarship grant. In 1996, she was admitted to the University of the Philippines at Los Banos (UPLB) with two scholarship grants, the Iskolar ng Bayan and Presidential Decree 1209 known as the Agricultural and Rural Development Scholarship (ARDS) Grant. She earned the degree of BS Agriculture major in Plant Pathology in April 15, 2000.
While in college, she worked as a Student Research Assistant for STRIVE Foundation and also served as a Student Assistant to the UPLB Dean of Student Affairs. During her semestral break, she was an active volunteer for the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod community development efforts for the Aetas in lahar affected areas of Zambales, Luzon. She also took active leadership roles in different student organizations and a campus based ministry-Lakas Angkan.
Going back to her region in 2000, she first joined as Research Assistant to the MINDSET Technical Consulting firm based in General Santos City. With passion for community development work, she then served the Provincial Government of Sarangani under the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist as Program Manager for the Luntiang Lumad Program (LLP). With new provincial leadership in 2004, she was designated to conceptualize the LLP transformation into a more comprehensive Indigenous Peoples Development Program (IPDP). She as well served as the Program Manager for IPDP now under the Office of Governor Miguel Rene A. Dominguez. She is an advocate for indigenous cultural development (e.g. literary arts, performing arts, school of living traditions, cultural research), environmental management, and good governance.
She arrived in the USA on May 21, 2006 and got married to Bernard L. Turner last August 12, 2006. She is now a member of the Abundant Life Church in Lithonia and is actively involved with the Dance Ministry. In April 2007, she was appointed as Mindanao Director for Galing Foundation, Inc. (GFI) and accepted the role of Secretary in month of August. She had been an actively involved for cultural promotion of the indigenous peoples of Mindanao thru cultural dance performances and interactive exhibits.
Currently, she is one of the candidates for graduation (First Semester 2007-2008) for the degree of Master in Environment and Natural Resources Management from the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU).
Title: EDSA People Power: The Past, Present and the Future
by Emelita D. Breyer, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Emory University School of Medicine
Born in Manila, Philippines, Dr. Breyer graduated with honors from the University of Santo Tomas College of Sciences and earned her Ph.D. in Bioanalytical chemistry at the University of New Orleans. Subsequently, she accepted a Clinical Chemistry Fellowship at the University of North Carolina Hospital in Chapel Hill. She has held the title of Assistant Professor first at Georgia State University and now at Emory University and the VA Atlanta Research and Education Foundation. At GSU, Dr. Breyer co-directed the Center for Workshops in the Chemical Sciences, established in 2001 with the support of the NSF as a national program offering free workshops in key areas of the chemical sciences for teaching faculty, post-doctoral and graduate students. Dr. Breyer has also served in the Lipid Standardization Division at the CDC, as a reviewer for the NSF and several prestigious journals, and as an advisor for the Council of Healthcare and Medical Advisors.
Dr. Breyer’s research in the area of clinical diagnostics has been described as “groundbreaking” and “unique.” She has numerous distinguished publications, over 60 professional presentations, and two patent applications to her credit. Dr. Breyer’s research interests include development of biomarkers to diagnose chronic disease and elucidation of lipid metabolism. To this end, she has developed high throughput assays for both protein and lipid profile analyses compatible for epidemiological and prospective studies related to cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, stroke, diabetes and inflammation. Currently, Dr. Breyer is establishing a center for “Collaborative Research and Education in Diabetes and Its Complications (CREDIC)” as a partnership between businesses, the larger community and academia. The CREDIC vision is development of innovative processes and technologies to improve the quality of patient care for all men and women, discovery and education coupled with integrated dissemination and effective translation approaches to address global needs.
The ultimate goal of Dr. Breyer’s research is the elimination of health disparities among the underserved in the United States and around the world. She is currently a Council member in Education and Economic Development of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO), members of Filipino and Asian American Associations, an honorary member of the 80-20 initiatives (http://www.80-20initiative.net/) consisting of 700 educators in the nation and advocate for civil rights and social justice (http://www.emelita-breyer.com/1.html).
Title: NaFFAA's Commitment to Peaceful, NonViolent Resistance
Romeo “Romie” Kempis Dela Paz was born in Dulag
“Liberation Town”, Leyte , Philippines. He is the youngest among the seven children of Mateo and Juanita Dela Paz. In January 1986, he was assigned by the Junior Chamber Philippines (JCP) to go to the Junior Chamber International (JCI) World Headquarters at Coral Gables, Florida to attend the “Worldwide Federation of Young
Leaders and Entrepreneurs”. That time, he was serving the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development as a Supervising Community Development Officer, National Barangay Operations Office (NBOO), and subsequently designated as Administrative Officer III who is next in command to the Chief, Administrative Division.
His office was responsible with the development and supervision of the basic unit of government in the Philippines, which consists of 42,000 barangays all over the country.
His picture was featured in solo-full screen- during the intro video in television stations in Metro Manila; and at ABC’s Nightline Kopells’ interview with then President Cory Aquino on her report for her first 100 days of governance. After this, he received death treats and went to Florida as an asylum and later became his permanent residence.
With less than a year after signing up for member, Romie was elected as the Chapter President for Palm Bay Area Jaycees (PBAJ) of Palm Bay, Florida. He was the first ever non-Caucasian head since it was founded in 1964. Today’s Rod Coffee once quoted “If a man’s stature is measured by his good deeds, 5-foot Romeo Dela Paz is a giant among men.” PhilNews’ Pollyana Dy-Liacco says “Don’t let Romeo Dela Paz’ stature fool you; when it comes to leadership, he is head and shoulders above many men.”
He joined the National Filipino American Council (NFAC) and the Filipino American Political Association (FAPA) after attending the 1989 NFAC Unity Conference in San Francisco, California.
Currently, he is the elected as the State Chair for the Florida National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA).
During the 1993 United States Junior Chamber of Commerce (USJCC) held at Greensboro, North Carolina, Dela Paz proudly stood and led the cheering when his recruit and 1992-1993 PBAJ Chapter President Jim Roberts walked across the stage. It was a historic first for PBAJ to receive award as USJCC Overall Best Chapter for Community Development. Romie Dela Paz was recognized with the chapter’s Key Person Award of the year. To show the gratitude of the Jaycees society in general for the services Romie Dela Paz has provided them, he was bestowed with JCI’s highest honor, the JCI
Senatorship - a Life Member for an under 40-year old world-wide organization. The Senatorship was to cap his services and Jaycee career that included Florida Jaycees State Chairmanship for the
Search for the Outstanding Senior Citizens (1989), and Florida Jaycees State Chairmanship for International Involvement (1992) when the Florida Jaycees / Florida JCI Senate hosted for the first
time a JCI World Congress (Miami ‘92) — 6,000 participants including almost a hundred from the Philippines and in spite of Hurricane Andrew a few months before the November gathering. At the state-wide year end Convention in Orlando where the surprise Senatorship was presented, he was also presented, with the Robert Kennedy School of Government Award for outstanding participation to
the 1993 Government Affairs Leadership Seminar. In 1994, Florida Jaycees was the Number One Jaycee State in America. Mr. Dela Paz was given the rare privilege to hold the award’s banner on
stage during the presentation. In 1995, at the Government Affairs Legislative Seminar (GALS) in Washington, D.C., Dela Paz was able to speak in behalf of immigrants rights to the assembly that
included the USJCC National President Kelly J. Wills and his Executive Board , 50 State Presidents, and JCI dignitaries/guests.
When FAABCO was incorporated in 1986, it filed its 1975 Constitution in toto. With changing condition and needs of the community and organization including a dream of a Filam community center of which funds were slowly being raised, Dela Paz used this experience to chair the FAABCO’s ‘91 charter review and, subsequent amendments, among which is a provision to be a 501(c)(3)
organization. This led to his leadership in the Exploratory Committee and founding of the Florida’s Space Coast Filipino American Charitable and Educational Foundation, Inc. (Florida’s SFACEF), a 501(c)(3), public foundation serving as one of the three Initial Trustees and later, Executive Director for the last five years completing Florida’s SFACEF probationary period. Now, under the chairmanship of Manuel Verceles,Dela Paz serves as FAABCO President 2004-2006 that led to his election as NaFFAA Florida State Chair 2006-2007, too. With a state-wide platform, he has represented NaFFAA in the Florida Minority Community Reinvestment Coalition (FMCRC) at this think tank and action group‘s 3rd Economic Summit 2006 where he assured the mostly Hispanic and African American conferees that Florida has a significant Asian Pacific constituency including Filipinos. Later
represented the Asian and Pacific Floridians through the FMCRC delegation to the 13th Economic Summit hosted by the Greenlining Institute held in Los Angeles, California last April. Again,
representing NaFFAA Florida,together with leaders of the Florida Farm workers Association, ACORN and Florida Farm Ministry and others, arms linked as vanguard of the 30,000 people march in
Downtown Orlando passing by the offices of U.S. Senators Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez. At this May 1st Immigrants Rally, he was one of the speakers of this multimedia covered event, shouting Filipinas with the crowd repeating/cheering. Dela Paz was quoted by Orlando Sentinel, as a speaker in behalf of the one million undocumented Filipinos , and delivering the stand of a national organization. Also, in May , Dela Paz was able to facilitate Department of Homeland Security ‘s Immigration and Citizenship Ombudsman Prakash Khatri’s visit to the Space Coast speaking at Brevard Community College’s Moore Multi Cultural Center’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebration. June, with the Council of Filipino American Organizations (CFAO) hosting, NaFFAA Florida and Florida Coalition of Leaders and Advocates as co-sponsors of the Florida Political Action Conference, resulted in the formation of a first ever Florida wide FilAm political action committee (PAC) named Filipino American Political Alliance (FAPA) of Florida intending to flex its political muscle starting 2006
primaries and general elections at all levels! Dela Paz values work in an organized setting like coordinating the Manila Children’s Choir ,and the Leyte Dance Theater Florida Tours ;assisting the Himig Singers, Silliman University’s Ating Pamana , and U.S.T. Choir , he has been serving the
FilAms on one on one basis especially distressed kababayans on a variety of issues and concerns, at one occasion has to be provided with police and court protection after receiving death threats for
helping victims of domestic violence. “Leader for most of his life” is sub-heading of the profile by Philnews staff writer Dy-Liacco, and “Desire to help inspire local man” was banner headline, front
page story of a publication of Florida Today re: Romeo “Romie” Kempis Dela Paz. #
