Celebrating Fipino American History Month and PNASA’s FIRST DAYO Program Reception 2025

October 9th, 2025, was a truly inspiring day for the Philippine Nurses Association of San Antonio, Inc. (PNASA). We celebrated Filipino American History Month at the official Proclamation Ceremony by the Honorable Mayor Gina Ortiz-Jones and the City Council of San Antonio. Later, we continued the celebration by welcoming 25 newly arrived Filipino nurses through the DAYO Program, led by our active member and emerging bright leader, Iam Palgan.

This special orientation was more than just a meet-and-greet—it was a moment to connect, inspire, and empower. We shared the mission and vision of the Philippine Nurses Association of America, Inc. (PNAA) and how PNASA proudly aligns with that mission through service, advocacy, and community engagement. The new nurses learned about the benefits of membership, including opportunities for networking, professional growth, education, and mentorship—all at no cost to them as they begin their nursing careers in the United States.

We were deeply honored to have six past presidents of PNASA join us to personally welcome these nurses and share their wisdom and experiences that shaped their own professional success: Marietta De La Cruz, Hedda Gonzales, Gertrude Umaming, Dr. Nelson Tuazon, Dr. Danet Lapiz-Bluhm, and Dr. Golda Manalili.

Officers of our current Executive Board also took part in welcoming the group and presenting key information:

• President: Carmina Cardona

• President-Elect: Dr. Exequiel Naculangan, Jr.

• Assistant Treasurer: Lailani Divina

• Human Rights and Welfare Chair: Merie Penalbar

  
  

We were also joined by Almina Anudin-Cacho, Chair for Scholarships, and Ella Tuazon, Past Auditor—both of whom extended their warm greetings and words of encouragement.

A heartfelt thank you to HealthForce Training Center San Antonio for sponsoring our venue and making this meaningful event possible. Special thanks to Powerhouse America for sponsoring our meal and supporting the nurses transition to America. Together, we are building bridges for our newly arrived Filipino nurses—helping them feel at home, confident, and supported as they embark on their professional journey in San Antonio.

Mabuhay and welcome to our newest members of the PNASA family!