The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles (FACC-GLA) celebrated Women’s History Month with Go, Grow, and Glow: Health, Wealth, & Beauty Conference last Saturday, March 25^th at the Mountaingate Country Club.

The opening ceremony was kicked off with the Filipino National Anthem sung by President Emeritus, Annie Nepomuceno and the US National Anthem sung by Miss San Fernando Valley 2023, Maaikee Pronda.  FACC-GLA Secretary, Fidji Victoriano recognized and thanked the event’s sponsors, donors, and exhibitors.  It was Lois P. Klavir, the President FACC-GLA and Event Chair, who gave the opening remarks for the conference, welcoming all attendees, acknowledging all the hard work from the board members and volunteers, and recognizing the female community leaders in the room. She ended her speech with a quote from Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.”

Dr. Annabelle Manalo-Morgan, the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Masaya Medical, was the event’s prominent keynote speaker. The author of Mighty Flower: How Cannabis Saved My Son, shared her current projects as well as the story of her son, Macario, who suffered severe seizures and required neurosurgery which resected 38% of his brain, and the journey of finding a solution to save him. 

A two-panel discussion, highlighting powerhouse female speakers was one of the main features at the conference. Panel 1: Building Wealth in the Health and Beauty Business, moderated by Faith Bautista (CEO, ChimeTV), included Dr. Imee Ong-Maghanoy (CEO, iSkin Beverly Hills), Patricia Santos (CEO, Volition Beauty, Inc.), Ellen Samson (CEO, American Geriatric, MyOwnEVA) and Belina Calderon-Nernberg (CEO,1Heart Caregiver Services). 

During the panel, Santos spoke about empowerment, stating, “Don’t find a mentor, find a champion. Find somebody who behind close doors, when you’re not there, will bang the table for you and say, ‘She’s the smartest entrepreneur or she’s the most capable CEO that I’ve ever worked with.’ You have to find those people and you have to surround yourself with those people.”

Panel 2: Be Well and Inspire, moderated by Hon. Rachelle Arizmendi (Former Mayor, City of Sierra Madre), was composed of notable community leaders and influential entrepreneurs: Anne Menik (CEO, Essential Anne Media, LLC), Dr. Fatima Bustos-Choy (CEO, R&F Holistic Services), Kalika Yap (CEO, Citrus Studio, Luxe Link, and Orange & Bergamot), and Rose Buado (Co-Founder, In Her Purpose and The Filharmonic) comprised Panel 2: Be Well and Inspire.

The panel discussions were followed by the board installation and oathtaking of new board members and new members presided by the Hon. Consul General Edgar Badajos. The Powerhouse: Top 50 Influential Filipina Honorees, comprised of successful Filipina entrepreneurs, professionals, and community leaders in the greater Los Angeles community, were awarded Certificates of Recognition by Commissioner Susana M. Reyes and the Office of Councilmember Nithya Raman, Council District 4. 

Notable event attendees included Commissioner Reyes (Board of Public Works, City of Los Angeles), Hon. Melissa Ramoso (Former Mayor, City of Artesia), Leila Lee (Director, Economic Policy, Office of Mayor Karen Bass) and Jieun Kim (Field Deputy, Office of Councilmember John S. Lee, Council District 12).

Exhibitors for the event included JRC Law, Body & Brain Yoga Tai Chi Pasadena, Collins Law Group,  Aldhea Skin, Carlotta Collections, Adley Anne Cosmetics, 1Heart Caregiver Services, LLC, and R&F Holistic Services. Citrus Studios provided free professional headshots for the event.

The Go, Grow and Glow Health, Wealth, and Beauty Conference was sponsored by JBC Group, LLC, JRC Law Criminal Defense Personal Injury, Collins Law Group, Miss Filipina International, The Sycamore Collective, Asian Real Estate Association of America North Los Angeles (AREAANLA), Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce, and Chase Bank.