Austin, Texas USA | The Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce of Texas (PACC Texas), supported by The New Channel (TNC), successfully held its annual event titled “Celebrating Women, Inspiring Change: Her Legacy, Our Future,” highlighting the leadership, impact, and legacy of Filipina women across various fields.
State President of PACC Texas, Atty. Aileen Ligot Dizon, set the tone by reaffirming the chamber’s mission of strengthening trade and investment ties between the Philippines and the United States. She emphasized the importance of women empowerment through entrepreneurship, and encouraged participation in PACC Texas as lifetime members, highlighting its regional presence from Dallas-Fort Worth to Greater Austin.
One of the keynote speakers, Dr. Joyce Javier, a pediatrician and public health researcher, broke barriers by becoming the first Filipino to lead a National Institutes of Health-funded study focused on preventing youth suicide and depression. She called attention to the importance of Filipino representation in national research, advocating for more participation in the CARE Registry. With Filipinos making up only five percent of over 10,000 enrollees nationwide, she urged the community to consider this act of inclusion as part of a lasting legacy for future generations.
Emily Rollins, a former Deloitte partner and now co-founder of Town Square Northwest Austin, shared her journey of building a senior day center inspired by her father’s recovery. The space recreates a nostalgic 1950s-style town to promote reminiscence therapy and connection for elderly clients. She underscored that building legacy means creating spaces of care and dignity for those who came before us.
Atty. Regina May Cajucom-De Guzman, Director of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Baguio, Philippines, presented the agency’s proactive work in addressing financial scams and educating the public through initiatives like SEC CAN and the Hana Series. She advocated for stronger financial literacy, particularly among women, and emphasized the need for collaborations between agencies like the SEC and organizations such as PACC Texas to empower Filipino communities globally.
Across the state of Texas, PACC regional chapters reinforced these themes with their own celebrations. In Dallas-Fort Worth, keynote speaker Candace Valenzuela emphasized the power of public service and staying grounded in personal purpose. Greater Houston hosted health and wellness activities, including yoga, Tai Chi, and Zumba, centering on the theme “Health is Wealth.” In Rio Grande Valley, the focus was on beauty and inner wellness, while Greater San Antonio spotlighted Filipina entrepreneurship and culinary pride through events like Adobo Throwdown and National Ube Day. Greater Austin brought the community together with a health talk, live shake demo, and conversations about balancing mental and physical well-being.
Event host Joyce Garcia, together with her co-hosts Dr. Nildz Henson and Cora Flores closed the program by thanking all participants, reminding everyone that women’s stories are not only to be celebrated—but continued. The event was a call to nurture leadership, inspire change, and strengthen community ties through the enduring legacies women build every day.
For those who missed the live stream, the full event replay is available on The New Channel’s official Facebook and YouTube pages. Watch, reflect, and be inspired to take part in shaping a more inclusive and empowered future.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=2535400996651985&rdid=nAsAdpVgr7cPQHmy
Watch Youtube here: Celebrating Women, Inspiring Change: Her Legacy, Our Future
This story also came out at www.thenewchannel.com/highlights. For more new stories and profiles, follow TNC on Facebook, Linked IN, IG and Tiktok. Visit www.thenewchannel.com