PNAA Celebrates Leadership, Friendship, and Service at the PNAA Conference in Colorado Springs

PNA Colorado members attending the Philippine Nurses Association of America conference and gala.

(From left to right: Victoria Obiniana Ayo (purple top), Leli Pedro, Carina Madriaga, Editha Pasion, Marilyn Doster, May Joyce Veritdo, Belinda Higa, Melissa Davis, Anelyn Miro, Janice Garzelazo, Heidi Wolfe, Jisebelle Oller-Tizon, Armi Earlam, Melba Canon, Jimmy Igarta, Jr., Edmon  Regachuelo, and Jonathan Craig Brillantes).

Members of the Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA), PNA Colorado, and other chapters across the United States proudly joined Filipino American nurses from across the country for an inspiring PNAA conference featuring education, networking, leadership, celebration, and a memorable gala.

More than an event, the conference reminded us of what is possible when nurses come together. We build friendships, strengthen our professional voices, support our communities, and inspire the next generation of nurse leaders.

Help PNACO Grow by 15%

PNACO is welcoming new members, returning members, nursing students, and supporters. Our goal is to increase local membership by at least 15%. More members mean more hands to serve, more ideas to share, and a stronger, more influential organization.

Together, we can do more for Colorado’s Filipino American nurses and the communities we serve.

As the newly inducted Dr. Bob Gahol reminds us, let us lead with:

Passion. Purpose. Pride.

Join PNAA and PNACO—and become part of a professional family committed to leadership, service, culture, and connection.

Ready to join or renew your membership?

Visit the PNACO membership page.

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One of my few mentors, Arlita C. Pang of Texas, PNAA Ways & Means 2022-2026, who gave her time, talent, and resources generously

PNAA members celebrate friendship and service at the PNAA conference, even if they live miles apart.

Current, Marilyn Doster, and former PNACO leadership, along with PNAA and numerous auxiliary members and students, helped guide the conference with passion, purpose, and pride to amplify influence and IMPACT

Filipino American nurses and auxiliaries (seasoned, young, and in-between) connecting through the conference.

PNACO nurses connecting, learning, and strengthening their professional voices.

Two of the Past Presidents of PNACO

Some of us have to work, but these two sneaked in a day or two to show up for the conference.

Two of the highly educated Next Generation of Nurses. We need them.

New-ish Philippine Nurses Association of Colorado recruit took off her many hats for a second for this picture.

Seasoned nurses gather for an inspiring education day. 

Yes, continuing education for all. We can all use updates on evidence-based practices, protocols, and pilot studies that we can apply in our workplaces and organizations.

Common friends of PNACO members showed up and supported PNAA

Lots of sessions to celebrate, learn, and share with eah other

Some of us seasoned members have to watch (and not dance) so we can clap for the talented contestants like the "Philippine Nurses Association of Colorado  Hawaaii Five-O energetic dancers" and the Next-Gen talents.

Nurses Got Talent. It was great to see nurses outside of serious work having fun and entertaining their co-nurses. :)

Are you interested in the next annual conference in Hawaaii next year? Check PNAA Events often. 

Do you have the resources to donate to our non-profit group? Check PNAA Foundation.

The Alphabetical Gratitude List

Little 3-year-old Grandson Napping

Here's my gratitude list for the week, inspired by Ten Things of Thankful.

• A, he's adorable. My grandson looks so cute especially when sleeping, such an angel.
• B, for big brother. Can you imagine he will be a big brother in July?

Homemade Crustless Pizza

• C, crustless cheesy pizza that "the husband" has been making as part of our "reduced carb" diet.
• D, is for a doable diet, eating food we like with some tweaking.

• E, for easy food I can make that is good for me too. This one is a green tea banana soft-serve ice cream.

Watching Superbowl

• F is for football. My husband and I had a good time watching the Superbowl last week. It was entertaining from beginning to end--game and all with no drama.

• E is for electricity to keep our food good. (Thank goodness, our electricity is restored in our vacation home after the cleaner found our fridge with warm food. We found out, we lost power in the place for five days, yikes).
• E is also for electric cars we have on the mainland. Our cars just run smoothly, and no more visits to gas stations every week.

Bread for Fondue

• F is for friends who bring food to work to share. This one is crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside.
• F is also for easy fondue in a box, which I dipped the bread in. The husband liked them both, and he is picky, that's saying a lot.

Note for Donut

• F is for more free food, doughnuts. This box came with a note. "Working in winter is tough . . . doughnuts are hot." :)

I have listed 11 things I am grateful for, exceeding by one. I will save some letters for the next weeks. Your turn. A . . . 

 

Bowling for a Cause by PNACO

 

This is a fundraising effort of the Philippine Nurses Association of Colorado, a non-profit organization.

Volunteer

Hey. We are a small group of nurses volunteering in Colorado called PNACO. Our group is non-for-profit for the state and United States. We have grouped all over the US and in the Philippines benefitting local communities. 

Our next fundraising is BINGO online via zoom best used with a computer. Join us! Let me know if you want to join under comments.

COVID-19 Season

After going back and forth with events cancellation, we went ahead and did the Wellness Challenge Kick-Off for 2020. We are a group of 25ish not 250 crowd. It is part of our fundraising, so it is important to us. We had a good time raising money, collecting from participants for the challenge to benefit nursing student scholars. I feel grateful for the smooth event.

Here is the rest of my thankfuls.

• A guiding quote from one of our team members in the PNACO nursing association inspiring us to move more.
• A late-birthday gift from family, a comforter set, so warm and soft.
• A group-texting app for my work-team. There are probably 100 of us, too many. This Group-Me texting works smoothly. I named it St Joseph Intensive Care on my phone not realizing I changed it for the whole group. Nobody complained to the so-techy me though.

• As the antimicrobial soaps and gels run out from the stores due to panic buying, thank goodness we still have running water. We can wash our hands. Don't expect bottled water still being available, though. That is too much to ask.
• Charity Miles app for letting me donate my miles.
• My cute grandchildren pics.
• My grandson loves the reusable feeder pouch with baby food in it. He can feed himself with hardly any mess.

• My city closed our recreation centers and parks through the end of the month to slow down of the COVID-19 spread. I am not ecstatic about that but thank goodness for the open spaces we're still allowed to go to.
• Recumbent bike to exercise indoors.
• A late Filipino Ube cake for me with macapuno strings. Macapuno is similar to coconut. Yum.
• I learned how to podcast. My therapist recommended considering podcasting. If nothing else, it serves as a great stress reliever for me, similar to journaling and blogging.
• We have masks left for working with patients in isolation. I had to save a single mask for the whole day but I am so glad I had it.
• We, care providers, are not required to stay in the hospital yet. Remember we are both the band and the rescuers of the sinking Titanic. Please do not forget us, and pray for us too.

Oh, COVID-19. You are old. It is 2020. Leave, now.

Happy December

Christmas party of PNACO
the whole family is welcome

Ho,ho, ho

Here we go

With my favorite nursing group

of P-N-A-C-O

We're the volunteer group

Here in Colorado

Please join our clan

Come on and follow

I am thankful for this month

It's been good so far

I am grateful for my family

Food, health, and my little star

My little star is my grandson

Who was the highlight of this party

He was so well-behaved

And was such a cutie

He stayed behaved throughout the day

And not at all fuzzy.

He was our little Santa

And he won the best-dressed too

Among other children

Of Santa's little crew

My whole family also won

The best-dressed for the day

We're the "We love Santa" group

We just don't have our sleigh

Speaking of the sleigh

I am glad my car is back

After a long wait for a repair

It's finally back on track

I'm also thankful for the weather

No more snowstorm for now

The road is now better

The drive feels much safer.

Time with Family and Friends

Indoor fun times with son and grandson +

Hello. It is the month of July. I have not blogged for a while. I did have thought about writing many times. I did not get into sitting down and writing my thoughts and gratitude in this medium. I did have a few entries in my planner. I have many reasons to give thanks for especially to the friends and family around me.

We are social human beings. Most of my gratitude links to family and friends—the time I spend with them and the time they lent to me. They are precious and cannot be bought by money. This includes a hike with daughter and our dogs — no money spent on shopping. OK, we did stop by Starbucks on the way home to pick up cold caffeinated drinks and some Puppy-ccino for free. They are whipped cream for the doggies in a cup.

I have a new (and only) grandchild. He is three months old, so tiny, precious, and bubbly. He would give me his little smiles and make baby sounds that I think means, “hi grandma.” We with his parents went to the mall last week as the park was not an option. It was raining outside. We had a good time, just the same. We got in for free as my little grandchild was less than a year old. Parents and grandparents get in for free with a child! “We” got to play in an indoor playscape with inflatable slides and foam-floored crawling areas with large puzzles and colors everywhere.

My grandson was looking around. He seemed amazed by the beautiful colors. My son, the dad, commented, “this is so nice.” He was referring to the time in general in the mall on a slow day, pushing little Josiah around in a stroller while stopping at some interesting shops. The restrooms are just there close by ready for a quick diaper change. They played some games and earned little toys for Josiah. We ended the day with dinner in a Mexican restaurant right in the store.

Fun times outdoors with family

In the fourth of July, we get to see spectacular fireworks in the city. My kids have plans on their own, but Paul and I went and had a good time snacking and watching the show. We are glad the fare was controlled. Each entrance had a checkpoint checking bags. Alcohol was sold inside, but nobody could take them out. Police were around just in case. It was clean fun with no crazies getting drunk and causing trouble.

That night ended with heavy rain. I had a poncho and did not get very wet. Paul, who refused to bring one got soaked with cold rain. He did regret his stubbornness. LOL.

Speaking off us people wanting to spend time with others, I would like to mention about my nursing group. We are getting together this coming Saturday for wine tasting. Every month Philippine Nurses Association of Colorado get together for fundraising, social time, or meeting. I once heard from my college professor in dental assisting that whatever specialty you have or profession, look for an excellent group to belong to. And do not just sign up. Participate. Contribute. Make a difference. Being part of a functional group gives more meaning to your profession.

One of the groups I pick (in nursing) is the PNACO. We do more than volunteering our time; we spend fun times together. This group of educated people inspires me to continue serving as a nurse, paid, or unpaid. Nursing is hard, but each day I see reasons to continue doing what I do. It is not all about money but the happiness it gives me knowing I touch someone’s life every day.

If you can, and if you are a nurse or nursing student in Colorado, you can join us in Denver for wine tasting this coming Saturday. Just contact me if you are coming.

Warmth in the Cold

Not much snow did we get recently But we enjoyed the time just equally I do not ski, so needlessly I don't miss the snow, I'm tropical you see :)