Pinay nurse honored in Int'l Women's Day rites in New York

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipina who had been hailed by no less than US President Barack Obama was among the 10 inspiring women honored during the International Women's Day celebration in New York.

Menchu Sanchez, a registered nurse, was awarded for her efforts in the medical profession that were recognized by Obama during his State of the Union Address in 2013.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Sanchez successfully transported 20 infants in critical care at the pediatrics unit of the New York University Langone Medical Center during hurricane Sandy.

Sanchez is also an active member of the Filipino community in New York, and a volunteer of the Philippine Consulate General’s Warden System, designed to provide assistance to citizens in distress. 

The Filipina nurse attended the awarding ceremony on March 8 with her mother Simona Rea de Luna and her youngest daughter Michelle Jude.

Like Sanchez, other awardees were nominated by their respective Consulates and were presented with a plaque from the Society of Foreign Consuls (SFC).

Among them were anti-communist and anti-war activist Milka Zepina of Croatia, gallery director Valentina Castellani of Italy, Polish fashion designer Karolina Zmarlak and Russian journalist Marina Adamovich.

Philippine Consul General Mario De Leon, Jr. gave the keynote address during the awarding ceremonies in front of about 180 attendees, consisting of diplomats in New York City, business people, media practitioners and friends and family of the honorees.

De Leon, SFC president, stressed the importance of celebrating the contribution of women in the society and the world.