California-based Filipina gets US civil rights award

A California-based Filipino woman is this year’s recipient of the Heritage Award for Excellence in Civil Rights from the Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Legislative Caucus. The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco said Filipina Women's Network (FWN) President Marily Mondejar has been selected by the API Legislative Caucus to receive the said award, according to a release posted on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Mondejar was nominated by California Assemblywoman and Speaker Pro Tempore Fiona Ma for her work in domestic violence and women's rights and empowerment with her organization.

Mondejar, who received the award last May 10, said she is dedicating her award to the Filipino community in the United States. "The API Heritage Civil Rights Award is a recognition of the Filipino voice in California. My advocacy work through the FWN is about advancing Filipina women in the US workplace, ensuring that Filipina women are able to participate in civil and political life without fear of discrimination or repression and are protected from unwarranted action by government and private organization," she said. She added she will continue to raise awareness among the FWN members to exercise their individual rights and freedoms of expression and movement, especially for women. Consul General Marciano A. Paynor, Jr. congratulated Mondejar on her recent achievement. "Ms. Mondejar truly deserves such honor and I hope that she and the phenomenal women of the FWN will continue to bring pride to the Filipino-American community and the Filipino nation," Consul General Paynor said. The California API Legislative Caucus represents and advocates for the interests of the diverse API communities throughout California, and seeks to increase Asian Pacific Islander participation and representation in all levels of government. Every year, it observes API Heritage Month by honoring prominent APIs who have contributed in their respective fields and to the API community. Previous Filipino API Heritage Awardees were Ruthe Catolico Ashley for Excellence in Public Service (2005); Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye for Judicial Excellence (2006); Hon. Alice Bulos for Excellence in Community Service (2007) and Mr. Joey Quinto for Excellence in Journalism (2008). - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV