Pinay nurse receives intl award for pro-life advocacy

A Filipina nurse — Lilian Perez, founder of Heartbeat Pregnancy Support Services of Asia (PSSA) — received the 2012 International Servant-Leader Award for her pro-life and pro-family advocacies. In a news release, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said Perez, who works for the Manila Archdiocese's Commission on Family and Life, received her award on March 29 at the Marriott Hotel of Los Angeles in the United States.   "Perez founded the Heartbeat Pregnancy Support Services of Asia (PSSA) 10 years ago and has been the life line of Asian — especially Filipino — families on the ground that there are services that enhance life and protect the value and sanctity of life from its conception," the CBCP said.   The award, conferred by Heartbeat International president Margaret Hartshorn, cited Perez for her “leadership and missionary vision to bring life-affirming pregnancy services not only in the Philippines but all throughout Asia." Perez was also cited for "the fight for the unborn and the protection of the Asian family into hope for a better future that cradles and respects the dignity of humanity giving glory to God and making His face shine through the faces of the unborn and the beauty of adoption,” the CBCP said.   Heartbeat PSSA has 14 pregnancy support centers in the Philippines.   It has also pioneered centers and affiliates in Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, Hongkong, China, South Korea, Pakistan, Seychelles and Australia.   The CBCP said Heartbeat International is the most expansive network of Christ-centered, life-affirming, pregnancy help ministries in the world, with over 1,100 affiliated pregnancy help centers, medical clinics, maternity homes, adoption agencies, and abortion recovery programs present in 48 countries.   The network honors outstanding servant-leaders with significant accomplishments in the life-affirming ministries every year.   The other awardees included:

• George and Louise Eusterman (EGiving – Washington State, USA)
• Pat Sween (Life Choices – Seattle, Washington, USA)
• Jeanette Kuiphof (Whittier Pregnancy Care Clinic – Los Angeles County, California, USA).

  'Life-affirming' specialists   The CBCP also noted Perez is the first Filipino certified Life-Affirming Specialist (LAS), getting her professional designation when the certification was launched in 2008.   Aside from Perez, only five other Filipinos are certified and accredited Life Affirming Specialists in the world licensed by the US-based International Institute of Education Standard (IIES). These are:

• Carlo Rene Perez
• Dr. Nestor Lumicao
• Dra. Therese Lumicao
• Carol Angeline Perez
• Clarke Nebrao.

- VVP, GMA News