Acccording to my Ninang Purita Asperilla, Founding Dean of the University of the East
Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center College of Nursing and a former President of PNA-Manila and
Adviser Extraordinaire to the formation and creation of PNAA... There were many problems encountered
by Filipino nurses migrating to the United States in the early 60’s and 70's. Ninang Purita was
completing her PhD at Teachers College, Columbia University in 1969 and was witness to many a nursing
story occurring within the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Pennysylvania. Nursing leaders
who came and visited with Dean Asperilla in New York such as Dean Julita V. Sotejo, Dean Aurora Yapchiongco,
Dean Mary Vita Jackson, Dean Nancy Palaypay, Dean Banjo Dumlao and others whose names I cannot remember would
come to our apartment in New York city and chat about the need to unite all Filipino nurses in the USA. Over
pancit, lumpia and adobo, I would hear the work that the different PNA chapters were doing. In 1979, the year
of the birth of PNAA there were already established independent of each other PNA chapters. They were PNA of
New York( 1929), PNA-Chicago, PNA- Michigan, PNA-New Jersey, PNA-Southern California. Each was functioning
independently dealing with their Filipino nurse migrant issues and problems as well as employer exploitations
and human rights violations. But each of the presidents of these charter founding chapters knew each other and
were friends with each other and kept in touch by phone. ( May Mayor)
The Philippine Nurses Association of America... genesis and the beginnings in 1979
From the legacy book edited by Nelson Tuazon
In response to the need for a concerted effort to deal with problems encountered by Filipino nurses
in the United States, The Philippine Nurses Association of New Jersey sponsored a national conference with the
theme
Assertiveness in Nursing which was held at the Ramada Inn, East Brunswick, New Jersey on April 21, 1979.
Prior to the PNA-NJ national conference, Phoebe C. Andes, then president of PNA-NJ made a call and invited the various presidents of
the different independent PNA chapters to come to New Jersey and join PNA-NJ’s conference with the thought in mind to begin the talks
for an organizing caucus for a national association.
After the educational program, an Organizing Caucus was convened at 12:15 p.m. with Phoebe Andes as the Chairperson pro tempore and
Lorenza Lagrito as the Secretary pro ternpore. The hosts far the Organizing Meeting were the Philippine Nurses Association of New Jersey
and the Philippine Nurses Association of New York. Present at the Caucus were Phoebe Andes, President, PNA¬New Jersey, Purita Asperilla,
PNA-NJ Adviser; Edith Bien, Coordinator, PNA-NJ, Sulfa Braunner, Treasurer, PNA-NJ, Maria Couper, President, PNA-Chicago; Purita Hornilla,
Vice President, PNA-NJ Femi S. James, President, PNA-New York, Lorenza Lagrito Coordinator, PNA-NJ; Anunciacion Lipat, Recording Secretary,
PNA-NJ; Filipinas Lowery, Vice-President, PNA-NY, Rosario Mayor, Member, PNA-NY, Clarita Miraflor, Advisor, PNA-Southern California, Escolastica
Pacis, Board of Directors, PNA-NY, Mina Samian Observer, Alabama, Rose Santee, Coordinator, PNA-NJ, Felina Sinaon, Board of Director, PNA-NY,
Remedios SOlarte, President, PNA-Michigan, Virginia Stivers, Member at Large, Philadelphia, and Imelda Viloria, Member, PNA-NY. These were the
founders of PNAA, then called NOPNUS. Since the Causcus was in three parts, there were other nurses who joined the meeting later but whose
names are not in the list. Wilfredo PAnotes, ESQ, also joined the group later. The PNA-Chicago letter-writing campaign to oppose the H-1visa
qualifying exam coalesced the group to action.
The Caucus was adjourned at 1:00PM because a Joint Luncheon with the Philippine Medical Society of NJ, where Sinforoso Padilla,PhD and Dr.
Rena Nora,MD were luncheon speakers. Though the caucus lasted barely an hour, there was a unanimous vote to create a steering committee that
would form two working committees: the Nominating Committee and the Bylaws Committee.
A sumptuous dinner was served in the residence of Mr. Melendre Maktal a 4 Mulberry Lane, Edison, NJ and then a meeting was called to order
at 8:30PM. With the discussion from the previous two hours, the Steering Committee was now ready to elect the first set of officers of
the national organization, which was named the National Federation of Philippine Nurses Association in the United States. Following is
the first set of elected officers:
President Clarita Miraflor, Southern California
Vice-President Maria Redona Couper, Chicago
Corresponding Secretary Phoebe Andes, New Jersey
Recording Secretary Remedios Solarte, Michigan
Treasurer Femi Sonza James
Asst Treasurer Mary PAblico, Southern California
PRO Filipinas Lowery, New York
Asst PRO Abigail Autojay, Southern California
Adviser Purita Asperilla, New York
Legal Advisor Wilfredo Panotes, ESQ
The first newly elected officers were inducted by Dr. Purita Asperilla through the telephone consent of Consul Valenzuela
who could not be present personally that evening. Thereafter, Clarita Miraflor as the first elected president of the newly
founded association presided at the meeting and Dr. Purita Asperilla volunteered to take the minutes.
And so was born what we now know as the Philippine Nurses Association of America
