Page 5 - 2017 KA'AKBAY January-June

5January to June
2017

Tribute to the Late Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani Held in New York

The Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York and
the Philippine Consulate General in New York together with friends and
former colleagues of the late Senator Leticia “Letty” Ramos Shahani held
a memorial in her honor at the Philippine Center on 11 April 2017.

Speaking at the tribute to the late Senator, who passed away on
20 March 2017 in Manila, were Philippine Permanent Representative to
the United Nations in New York Teodro L. Locsin, Jr., Margaret Snyder,
Michaela Walsh, Robin Morgan, Lilia Calderon Clemente, and Judy

Rogers.

A close friend and colleague of Senator Shahani, Financial Analyst Ms. Julie Grindon-Welch read a message from Ambassador

Lilia Calderon-Clemente delivers an emotional tribute. Anwarul K. Chowdhury, former Undersecretary General and High

Representative of the UN while Consul General Theresa De Vega read

excerpts from the eulogy of Senator Shahani’s daughter and currently Secretary General of the UNESCO National

Commission of the Philippines, Lila Ramos Shahani.

Mr. Francis Abaya shared a spiritual reflection and Soprano Katrina Saporsantos performed two of Senator
Shahani’s favorite songs “Ay, Kalisud” and “Mutya ng Pasig”. Ms. Mary Lou Walsh, a classmate of the Senator at Wellesley
College offered reminiscences of Mrs. Shahani as a undergraduate student in the US.

Among the special guests at the tribute was Atty. Lutgardo B. Barbo,
Secretary of the Senate of the Philippines. All those who took part in the event spoke
of the impact the late Senator Shahani had on the global advocacy for women’s
rights, combatting poverty, and creating empowerment platforms for marginalized
sectors.

Senator Shahani spent many years in the US Northeast in connection with

her schooling and her work at the United Nations where she served as Secretary- L-R Ambassador Locsin, Consul General Dizon-De
Vega and Senate Secretary Lutgardo B. Barbo.
General of the World Conference on the UN Decade of Women in Kenya and as UN
Assistant Secretary-General for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs.

Filipino Fans in New York Welcome NBA Star Jordan Clarkson

Consul Felipe F. Carino III led about 170 Filipino The event was the first of its kind held at the
basketball aficionados during a Meet and Greet event featuring Consulate General organized by Team Jordan Clarkson
National Basketball Association (NBA) player from the Los with Mr. Tim Fuller and Filipino community organizers
Angeles Laker, Jordan Clarkson, a Filipino-American, held at the Mr. Mark Anthony Agbuya, Janette Lachica, Ms. Bel
Kalayaan Hall, Philippine Center on 05 February 2015. Then Molina and Ms. Rachelle Ocampo, in cooperation with
Senator and now Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter the Consulate General.
Cayetano, an avid LA Lakers fan, and Taguig City Mayor Maria
Laarni Lopez Cayetano, who attended the event, congratulated Jordan Clarkson gave appreciation to his fans and well-wishers during the
Jordan Clarkson on his success in the NBA. hour-long event

In his remarks, Consul Carino welcomed Team Jordan
Clarkson to the Philippine Center and introduced Jordan
Clarkson to the community while recognizing his contribution in
basketball and for inspiring people, including many Filipinos and
Filipino Americans, to reach their full potential. Jordan Clarkson
belongs to a crop of Filipino Americans who have broken the
glass ceiling in the U.S. in fields such as arts, sports, fashion,
technology and business, he added.

Secretary Cayetano, who was attending several
meetings in the U.S., said that the sport of basketball and the LA
Lakers in the NBA have a huge following among Filipinos and
referred to Jordan Clarkson as a Fil-American ambassador of
basketball among younger Filipinos and Filipino Americans. He
also recognized Jordan’s father, Mike Clarkson, for his effort to
bring Jordan closer to the Filipino community.