GOVPH

AGANA PCG conducts GAD Seminar and Training: Empowered Filipino-American Women’s Voices: Leadership, Navigating Career Paths, and Finding Balance

19 March 2025, Guam - In celebration of National Women’s Month, the Philippine Consulate General in Agana, Guam, conducted a Gender and Development (GAD) Seminar and Training, entitled “Empowered Filipino-American Women’s Voices: Leadership, Navigating Career Paths and Finding Balance” which was held on 15 March 2025 at the Rihga Royal Laguna Guam Resort Hotel in Guam.

The event featured a seminar highlighting the experiences of the empowered Filipino-American women on Guam, namely: Hon. Shelly Calvo, Senator and Majority Whip of the 38th Guam Legislature; Ms. Jeselyn Tan Yu, President and CEO of Goodwind Development Corporation which manages Micronesia Mall; Ms. Nenita Baldovino, the owner of Rambie’s Restaurant and Island Family Pharmacy and a Filipino Community Leader; Ms. Beth Cena, a CPA-Lawyer and Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, Global Campus; and Dr. Marshaley Baquiano, a psychologist and Professor at the University of Guam.

The seminar was attended by high school students and advisors John F. Kennedy High School, St. John’s School, Academy of Our Lady of Guam and the personnel and dependents of the Consulate.

In her opening remarks, Consul General Rosario P. Lemque emphasized the three key purposes of this special event, stating: “First, we aim to highlight the remarkable achievements of Filipino-American women in Guam—women who have made a lasting impact in their respective fields. Second, we hope to inspire our high school students as they navigate important decisions about their future careers, offering them valuable perspectives from those who have paved the way. Finally, we seek to provide insights on maintaining a healthy balance between personal and professional life by offering practical strategies for managing stress, setting priorities, and cultivating overall well-being in today’s demanding work environment.

Guam Senator and Majority Whip Shelly Calvo was the first esteemed resource speaker. She highlighted the importance of perseverance in overcoming challenges in life. She concluded with a call to action, saying: “Step forward with confidence, lead with integrity, pursue your dreams with passion, and most importantly lift others as you rise. You are the next generation of leaders, innovators and change makers. Embrace your power, use your voice. No matter where life takes you, you are never alone in your journey as together we are unstoppable.”

Ms. Nenita Baldovino, the second resource speaker, also shared her life story and the humble beginnings and difficulties she went through in life before she reached the pinnacle of her success. She said, “I realized that my journey is…about resilience, it's about making sacrifices. It's about knowing what you want and working hard…to get there.”

Next, Ms. Beth Cena engaged the audience by sharing her experiences in academia, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, networking, and giving back to the community. She also offered valuable advice to the attendees, especially the high school students, on navigating their academic and professional journeys, saying: “Believe in your potential, stay curious and never stop learning. Stay true to who you are, and always believe that you are capable of achieving greatness.”

To conclude the first half of the event, Ms. Jeselyn Tan Yu reflected on the ups and downs of family and married life. Despite her affluent background, she took on the responsibility of personally caring for her three young children while she and her husband were starting their life in Guam. Even up to now with her responsibilities as the President and CEO of Goodwind Development Corporation, family has always been on top of her life priorities.

For the second half of the event, Dr. Baquiano provided the attendees with practical tips on achieving work-life balance: (1) setting boundaries to establish a clear workplace and schedule; (2) collaborating with a team; (3) avoiding overcommitment; (4) discovering personal strategies, such as having a flexible schedule; (5) prioritize health by maintaining a nutritious diet and getting enough sleep; (6) make time for hobbies and relaxation; (7) engage in volunteer work or other meaningful commitments; and (8) stay connected with family and friends.

The Seminar successfully fulfilled its objectives. The young attendees gained valuable insights in pursuing their dreams and facing life’s challenges with courage, inspired by the stories shared by the resource speakers. In addition, the attendees, including Consulate personnel, learned useful strategies in maintaining a healthy work-life balance that they can apply in their daily lives. END

Agana PCG Meets with Filipino-American Visual Artists for Philippine National Arts Month in February 2025

RPL-3-2025

30 January 2025, Guam - The Philippine Consulate General in Guam organized a collaborative meeting with Guam-based Filipino-American visual artists on 28 January 2025 at Sentro Rizal Agana, in preparation for the celebration of Philippine National Arts Month in February.

Consul General Rosario P. Lemque welcomed the Filipino-artists and commended them for their creativity and dedication in promoting Philippine arts and culture on Guam.  She conveyed the Consulate’s intention to highlight Philippine traditional games during the celebration of Philippine National Arts Month in February. She expressed her sincerest thanks to the artists for participating in the collaborative art project which she hoped to pave the way for future initiatives aimed at promoting and preserving Filipino traditions and culture especially to the Filipino-American youth in Guam.

After the Consul General’s welcome remarks, Vice Consul Daniella Bianca M. Villamin-Oriondo presented the teaser of Laro/Play, an animation series project by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Cultural Diplomacy (DFA-OCD), in cooperation with the Animation Council of the Philippines (ACPI), which aims to promote the Filipino Animation Industry. Philippine traditional games will be featured as the animation’s central piece in a countryside festival called “Barriolympics.” The teaser of Laro/Play can be found in this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PyNlAVgP8g. The first of the five (5) episodes is scheduled to be released on the third week of February.

In line with this, Philippine traditional games will also be the theme of the Consulate’s art exhibit next month, showcasing artworks by Filipino-American visual artists in Guam.END

Agana PCG Launches MapagLAROng Likha: Reimagining Philippine Traditional Games Through Art

Press Release RPL-005-2025 - Agana PCG Launches MapagLAROng Likha: Reimagining Philippine Traditional Games Through Art

24 February 2025, Guam - In celebration of Philippine National Arts Month, the Philippine Consulate General in Guam launched its art exhibit “MapagLAROng Likha: Reimagining Philippine Traditional Games Through Art at Micronesia Mall on 22 February 2025, which aims to promote Philippine traditional games through the artworks of Filipino-American artists in Guam. 

The launch was attended by Vice Speaker Tony Ada and Senator Shelly Calvo of the 38th Guam Legislature, Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency (CAHA) Executive Director Angie Taitague, Goodwind Development Corporation’s Executive Director Rene Lao, who represented Micronesia Mall Management Team and Filipino Community of Guam (FCG) President Edna Rebanal. The event was also attended by esteemed members of the Filipino community, school administrators, and media partners.

In her welcome remarks, Consul General Rosario P. Lemque expressed her gratitude to the Filipino-American artists who participated in this art exhibit, saying “Their works not only celebrate our traditional games but also serve as a bridge between generations, preserving our heritage through art.” She also conveyed her appreciation to Vice Speaker Ada, Senator Calvo, CAHA, and the Micronesia Mall for their unwavering support to the Consulate’s initiatives in promoting Philippine culture and the arts in Guam.

In her inspirational message as the Guest of Honor during the launch of the exhibit, 38th Guam Legislature Majority Whip and Committee Chairperson for Arts and Culture, Senator Shelly Calvo highlighted the significant contributions of Filipino-American artists on Guam in enriching Guam’s Guam’s cultural scene by blending Filipino traditional themes with local Chamorro influences. Their works help foster a deep appreciation of both cultures creating a unique artistic identity on the island.creative industry.

Vice Speaker Tony Ada together with Senator Shelly Calvo, presented Certificates of Recognition to the Filipino-American artists, recognizing their participation in this art exhibit and artistic contribution to the island of Guam.

The art exhibit features the artworks of ten (10) Guam-based Filipino-American artists, namely, Trexie Berondo, Richelle Canto, Anette Catahay, Grace Gueco, Olivia Newman, Lolit Poblete, Maila Pujol, Viola Roces, Merc Tenorio, Marcus Villaverde. The exhibit featured 15 artworks showcasing traditional games such as piko, saranggola, trumpo, sipa, bahay-bahayan, holen, teks, palo sebo, luksong lubid, luksong tinik, luksong baka, tumbang preso, and sungka. Most pieces were created using acrylic paint, while two artists created digital art.

The exhibit is open to the public from 23 February until 02 March 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Micronesia Mall (beside Beyond the Box).