EmpowErmEnt AwArdEEs 2023

sOLedad de La Merced DNP, MSN, CCRN Clinical Care Nursing Practice and Education

A senior critical care nurse at the University Hospital in Newark, Dr. De La Merced has excelled in clinical nursing practice for over 40 years, her passion for education being stoked by her appointment as adjunct clinical nursing faculty member at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (now the Rutgers School of Biomedical and Health Sciences). She is responsible for guiding the next generation of nurse leaders. An alumna of the University of the East Memorial Medical Center College of Nursing, she earned her Master in Nursing Education degree from Thomas Edison State University, and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice in Executive Management and Leadership from Rutgers University. An advocate of alliances that advance nursing education, she has collaborated with professional groups such as the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Philippine Nurses Association of New Jersey, and the UERM Nursing Alumni Association USA, Inc. to name a few.

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Fil-Am Community Advocacy and Cultural Preservation

For over three decades, the Philippine American Friendship Community, Inc. has embedded itself in the fabric of Fil-Am life. PAFCOM was founded in 1990 in Jersey City with the goals of preserv- ing Filipino heritage, helping Filipino immigrants assimilate into mainstream U.S. society, and fostering closer relationships with other ethnic communities. Their goals have expanded to include assisting the elderly, the handicapped, youth, the LGBTQ community, and families in need. PAFCOM is a mainstay of some of the most popular Fil-Am community events in New Jersey, such as the Philippine American

Friendship Day in June; the Taste of the Philippines feeding program; wellness initiatives including Zumba, yoga and dancing classes; Pasko at Simbang Gabi sa Konsulado; scholarships; and a host of others. In 2021, PAFCOM received the Banaag Award by the Presidential Award for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas for dedication to issues affecting Filipino Americans’ well-being.

Choral Music as Cultural Touchstone

The Kayumanggi Chorale’s mission is to promote awareness of the Philippines’ musical heritage, foster talent, and provide opportunities for personal growth while raising funds for Filipinos in-need. Led by Lourdes Payumo-Corrales,

President since 2017, and Dr. Dennis Bernardo, Musical Director for over three decades, the Kayumanggi Chorale has performed at benefit shows for initiatives including the Adopt-A-School Project, financial aid to victims of natural disasters, funding for abused and neglected children, educational materials for underprivileged students in rural areas, the Balik-Turo

Program, and others. Their acclaimed performances have included prominent venues such as Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Hall, Florence Gould Hall, Bruno Walter Auditorium at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Equitable Auditorium at Princeton University, and Newark Symphony Hall. Their most recent plaudit was the 2021 Lingkod Sa Kapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL) Award.

A proud Knight Grand Cross of Rizal, who takes pride of his immigrant roots — Charter and Founding Member of The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation (with Museum-The American Family Immigration History Center); and of his legacies:

EQFQ Credit Corporation, Marcelina Lorenzana Parrana Quines Bldg (named after his loving mother)—Medical and Dental Clinics at the Tagudin National High School in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur; Founder and Advisor, UERM Medical Foundation.