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The 27th Annual Philippine Nurses Association (PNAA) Convention
A Top-to-Finish Success!
By: Elena DeJesus, RN, BSN
PNA-IN Board Member
The 27th annual PNAA Convention was held in the historic city of Boston,
Massachusetts on June 28 - July 2, 2006. Hosted by the PNA New England
(PNANE), the 5 day event embodied an impressive mixture of learning,
entertainment and some old-fashioned fun. The first day offering was a
Leadership Seminar attended by 2 officers representing each chapter
nationwide. Various tools and information were passed on from generation to
generation of nurses which made learning a shared and meaningful
experience. This interactive seminar/workshop which debuted during the 25th
annual PNAA Convention in Hawaii in 2004 is becoming popular among
chapter members and officers. Thanks mostly to the tutelage and expertise of
Rey Rivera (PNA New York) and Perry Francisco (PNA Virginia).
The Welcome Night on Thursday (June 29) showcased the many non-nursing
talents of the “Filipino nurse”. This much anticipated event gave us musical
numbers led by the host chapter (PNANE) which performed the number “ ONE”
scene from the Broadway musical “The Chorus Line”, and a daughter and
father interpretive ballet dance to the music of “All I ask of you” from the
Phantom of the Opera. The performances varied in its presentation but
stayed true to the “Spirit of America” theme. After the last performance of the
evening ended, the dancing commenced and continued until midnight.
Friday, June 30th, was the Educational Seminar day. After the heartwarming
welcome remarks from PNANE President Chit Abriam, the outgoing PNAA
President, Mila Velasquez, tackled the subject of PNAA’s Preferred Future and
proudly enumerated and highlighted the many accomplishments of her
leadership. Various topics followed and delegates were feted to a cornucopia
of subject matters ranging from emotional intelligence to nurse migration,
complexities in healthcare and humor in the midst of nursing. This latter topic
was presented by a comedienne turn nurse (or was it vice-versa?) who
brought the house down with her genuine and distinctive hilarity. I personally
have not laughed that much in a long time.
Soon after the last lecture was over, everyone scurried away to get ready for
the Boston Duck Tour. The delegates were grouped together per “duck” and
were given a land and water tour of Boston and its surrounding communities.
The tour guide who doubled as Captain of the “duck” fascinated the delegates
with the wealth of trivial and non-trivial wisdom and knowledge about Boston
and US history. After the duck tour, the delegates were taken to the National
Guard’s Lounge for the “Chowdahfest” which at that time, everyone thought
was a chowder soup dinner. Imagine our delight and excitement when we
learned that we were being served lobster dinners with New England’s clam
chowder on the side. More networking occurred during and after dinner. The
dance floor once again was filled with delegates and in between dance
numbers, some delegates braved the elements and tried the karaoke beat.
The General Assembly was Saturday morning’s venue. As in the past, I was
fascinated by the whole parliamentarian process and absorbed everything I
could. The highlights of this event were the announcement of the election
winner for the President-Elect position (Leo Jurado, PNANJ), and the selection
of the 2008 PNAA National Convention venue- Padre Island, Texas.
The Gala Night that Saturday evening was spectacular. The Boston Park
Plaza Ballroom was abuzz with high energy and warm camaraderie. Good food
and good company were the mainstay. After the obligatory speeches, the
delegates were treated to a rich and rare “Singkil” dance performed by the
children of the members of PNANE. Of note was the accompanying tribal
musical sounds, courtesy of our very own PNAA Parliamentarian, Letty
Hermosa, herself a former dancer of the Philippine Bayanihanm Dance
Troupe, and incidentally, is the founding president of PNANE. The dance
floor, once again and for the last time, was opened and everyone had a great
time dancing until the live band stopped playing at midnight. For the first time
this year, PNA-IN acquired a table sponsorship for the gala celebration from
Community Health Network in Indianapolis, thanks a great deal to Karen
Shanks, Vice President of Human Resources.
The last number in this 5-day event was “Picnic at Winter Island Grill” in Salem,
Massachusetts. Although I was not able to attend this last event due to an
earlier scheduled flight home, I’m sure it turned out very well. The first 4 days
were a valid indication of this.
Boston is my 5th PNAA National Convention and my 3rd consecutive one. I
plan to go every year. I have personally enjoyed meeting Filipino nurses all
over the United States and feeling a kinship towards them. I have enjoyed
smiling and striking conversations with these nurses and I hope they feel the
same with me. Not too long ago, while I was leaving Hawaii after the 25th
convention, I thought, how is anyone going to top that? I have learned and is
continuing to learn that every national venue comes with its own charm,
beauty and specialty, and it is not a matter of topping each other but, going to
the top, with each other. PNA-IN delegates to this convention were: Diana
Darang, Nitz Delacruz, Rose Hitzeman, Felgrace James, Josie Jimenez, Redd
Knotts, Susie Quintia, Guilly Quintia, Emma Tolentino and yours truly.
A Top-to-Finish Success!
By: Elena DeJesus, RN, BSN
PNA-IN Board Member
The 27th annual PNAA Convention was held in the historic city of Boston,
Massachusetts on June 28 - July 2, 2006. Hosted by the PNA New England
(PNANE), the 5 day event embodied an impressive mixture of learning,
entertainment and some old-fashioned fun. The first day offering was a
Leadership Seminar attended by 2 officers representing each chapter
nationwide. Various tools and information were passed on from generation to
generation of nurses which made learning a shared and meaningful
experience. This interactive seminar/workshop which debuted during the 25th
annual PNAA Convention in Hawaii in 2004 is becoming popular among
chapter members and officers. Thanks mostly to the tutelage and expertise of
Rey Rivera (PNA New York) and Perry Francisco (PNA Virginia).
The Welcome Night on Thursday (June 29) showcased the many non-nursing
talents of the “Filipino nurse”. This much anticipated event gave us musical
numbers led by the host chapter (PNANE) which performed the number “ ONE”
scene from the Broadway musical “The Chorus Line”, and a daughter and
father interpretive ballet dance to the music of “All I ask of you” from the
Phantom of the Opera. The performances varied in its presentation but
stayed true to the “Spirit of America” theme. After the last performance of the
evening ended, the dancing commenced and continued until midnight.
Friday, June 30th, was the Educational Seminar day. After the heartwarming
welcome remarks from PNANE President Chit Abriam, the outgoing PNAA
President, Mila Velasquez, tackled the subject of PNAA’s Preferred Future and
proudly enumerated and highlighted the many accomplishments of her
leadership. Various topics followed and delegates were feted to a cornucopia
of subject matters ranging from emotional intelligence to nurse migration,
complexities in healthcare and humor in the midst of nursing. This latter topic
was presented by a comedienne turn nurse (or was it vice-versa?) who
brought the house down with her genuine and distinctive hilarity. I personally
have not laughed that much in a long time.
Soon after the last lecture was over, everyone scurried away to get ready for
the Boston Duck Tour. The delegates were grouped together per “duck” and
were given a land and water tour of Boston and its surrounding communities.
The tour guide who doubled as Captain of the “duck” fascinated the delegates
with the wealth of trivial and non-trivial wisdom and knowledge about Boston
and US history. After the duck tour, the delegates were taken to the National
Guard’s Lounge for the “Chowdahfest” which at that time, everyone thought
was a chowder soup dinner. Imagine our delight and excitement when we
learned that we were being served lobster dinners with New England’s clam
chowder on the side. More networking occurred during and after dinner. The
dance floor once again was filled with delegates and in between dance
numbers, some delegates braved the elements and tried the karaoke beat.
The General Assembly was Saturday morning’s venue. As in the past, I was
fascinated by the whole parliamentarian process and absorbed everything I
could. The highlights of this event were the announcement of the election
winner for the President-Elect position (Leo Jurado, PNANJ), and the selection
of the 2008 PNAA National Convention venue- Padre Island, Texas.
The Gala Night that Saturday evening was spectacular. The Boston Park
Plaza Ballroom was abuzz with high energy and warm camaraderie. Good food
and good company were the mainstay. After the obligatory speeches, the
delegates were treated to a rich and rare “Singkil” dance performed by the
children of the members of PNANE. Of note was the accompanying tribal
musical sounds, courtesy of our very own PNAA Parliamentarian, Letty
Hermosa, herself a former dancer of the Philippine Bayanihanm Dance
Troupe, and incidentally, is the founding president of PNANE. The dance
floor, once again and for the last time, was opened and everyone had a great
time dancing until the live band stopped playing at midnight. For the first time
this year, PNA-IN acquired a table sponsorship for the gala celebration from
Community Health Network in Indianapolis, thanks a great deal to Karen
Shanks, Vice President of Human Resources.
The last number in this 5-day event was “Picnic at Winter Island Grill” in Salem,
Massachusetts. Although I was not able to attend this last event due to an
earlier scheduled flight home, I’m sure it turned out very well. The first 4 days
were a valid indication of this.
Boston is my 5th PNAA National Convention and my 3rd consecutive one. I
plan to go every year. I have personally enjoyed meeting Filipino nurses all
over the United States and feeling a kinship towards them. I have enjoyed
smiling and striking conversations with these nurses and I hope they feel the
same with me. Not too long ago, while I was leaving Hawaii after the 25th
convention, I thought, how is anyone going to top that? I have learned and is
continuing to learn that every national venue comes with its own charm,
beauty and specialty, and it is not a matter of topping each other but, going to
the top, with each other. PNA-IN delegates to this convention were: Diana
Darang, Nitz Delacruz, Rose Hitzeman, Felgrace James, Josie Jimenez, Redd
Knotts, Susie Quintia, Guilly Quintia, Emma Tolentino and yours truly.
| PNA-IN delagates with PNAA President May Mayor at the gala night (July 1, 2006) |
| PNA-IN delegates with Leo Jurado, PNAA President-Elect at the gala night (July 1, 2006) |
| PNA-IN delegates with NCEMNA Representatives (July 1, 2006) |
| PNA-IN and PNANE delagates (July 1, 2006) |
| North Central Region delegates at the PNAA picnic in Winter Island, Salem, MA (July 2, 2006) |
| PNA-IN and PNANE delegates during the picnic (July 2, 2006) |
| North Central Region Delegates during the Boston PNAA Leadership seminar (June 28, 2006) |
| PNA-IN delegates at the Boston Chowderfest (June 30, 2006) |
| PNANE Convention Task Force with Redd Knotts at the "Chowderfest" (June 30, 2006) |
| PNA-IN delegates belting out "Massachusetts" with the karaoke (June 30, 2006) |
| Our very own, Lina de Jesus with her love song rendition during the Chowderfest (June 30, 2006) |
P.O. Box 17131, Indianapolis, IN 46217-0131 www.pnaindiana.org
© Copyright 2006 The Philippine Nurses Association of Indiana, Inc.
© Copyright 2006 The Philippine Nurses Association of Indiana, Inc.