The year 2024 has been nothing short of extraordinary for the Filipino Nursing Diaspora (FiND) Network. It has been a time marked by unprecedented achievements that filled us with immense pride and gratitude. These milestones—spanning New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Philippines, the United States, and Australia—are not mere statistics or isolated events. Instead, they form a tapestry of success that highlights the leadership, resilience, and innovation of Filipino nurses worldwide. In doing so, they also reaffirm the FiND Network’s core mission and vision: to empower Filipino nurses, celebrate their excellence, and inspire them to take on ever-greater responsibilities in shaping global healthcare.
One of the most emblematic breakthroughs this year was the election of Manu Pelayo as the Deputy Chairperson of the Board of the Nursing Council of New Zealand. Manu’s ascension to this prestigious role—the first Filipino to hold such a post—reminds us that leadership opportunities are not confined by nationality or geography. His presence at the governance level signals that Filipino nurses are ready, willing, and able to help guide the direction of nursing regulations and policies. It’s a powerful statement of inclusion and representation: if Filipino nurses can rise to influence how nursing standards are set and maintained, what barriers remain that we cannot surmount?
This theme of leadership resonates strongly in the United Kingdom as well. Following last year’s trailblazing achievement of Oliver Soriano becoming the first Filipino Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) in the NHS, 2024 saw the appointment of Edmund Tabay as the second Filipino CNO. The significance of having not just one, but now two Filipino leaders in these top clinical executive roles cannot be overstated. It demonstrates that our contributions are not anomalies or one-off successes. Instead, we are carving out a permanent space at the table where decisions about patient care models, staffing policies, and strategic healthcare planning are made. Through their work, Edmund and Oliver personify the FiND Network’s vision: nurturing a cadre of Filipino nurse leaders who can mentor, inspire, and open doors for others.
On the other side of the world, the United States also witnessed groundbreaking progress. Dr. Jose D. Castillo III’s election as president-elect of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is a milestone that goes beyond personal accomplishment. He is the first Filipino to hold this key position, an honor that places him at the very heart of nursing regulation in the U.S. Accompanying this achievement, five other Filipino nurses have taken on roles in various state nursing boards, further cementing the Filipino community’s influence in shaping nursing practice and standards. These developments are perfectly aligned with FiND’s ongoing efforts to encourage our members to aim high and engage at policy and regulatory levels, ensuring that the Filipino perspective is actively included in the evolving discourse of healthcare governance.
In Australia, too, Filipino nurses have continued to break new ground. Karissa Subedi’s election to the Wagga Wagga City Council—a government post that extends beyond clinical confines—exemplifies the notion that Filipino nurses possess not only clinical acumen but also broader leadership capabilities in civic and political spheres. This expansion into non-traditional leadership roles underscores the FiND Network’s belief that nursing leadership can transcend the walls of hospitals and clinics. It can influence public health policy, community well-being, and social determinants of health at the municipal, regional, and national levels. When a Filipino nurse steps into a political arena, it showcases to the world that our profession’s ethos of care, equity, and compassion is universal, equally relevant in legislative chambers as in patient wards.
The recognition of Filipino nurses has also come in the form of prestigious international awards. Maria Victoria Juan’s receipt of the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2024 stands as a global acknowledgment of the extraordinary contributions Filipino nurses make. Such accolades signal that our community’s impact on healthcare delivery is both profound and widely respected. To see one of our own honored on the global stage inspires the next generation of Filipino nurses, encouraging them to pursue excellence and leadership, and reminding them that their heritage is a source of pride and strength.
Further adding to this chorus of accomplishment, the Philippine Nurses Association of New York (PNA NY) and Dr. Leo Jurado received the 2024 Presidential Award for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO). This prestigious recognition underscores the fact that Filipino nurses not only integrate seamlessly into their host countries’ healthcare systems but often go above and beyond, becoming exemplars of professionalism, cultural competence, and service. The FiND Network takes immense pride in witnessing such honors because they validate our work in creating pathways for Filipino nurses to thrive globally.
As we reflect on the achievements of this year, it’s clear that they are not isolated successes. They are part of a larger narrative—one that FiND strives to shape. The FiND Network exists to empower Filipino nurses by fostering excellence, leadership, and collaboration. The accomplishments of Manu, Edmund, Dr. Castillo, Karissa, and Maria Victoria, along with the recognition of PNA NY and Dr. Jurado, show us that our efforts to build supportive networks, champion mentorship programs, and advocate for professional development are paying dividends. These milestones offer tangible evidence that Filipino nurses can and do excel when given the opportunity and support.
However, we must also acknowledge the challenges that persist. The global nursing community continues to confront workforce shortages, inconsistent access to resources, and inequities in professional advancement. Representation matters, but representation alone is not enough. FiND’s work does not end with celebrating our newest leaders; it extends to advocating for systemic changes that ensure more Filipino nurses can follow in their footsteps. These successes must inspire not only pride but also action. We must continue investing in leadership training, encouraging research and scholarship, forging alliances with nursing organizations worldwide, and pushing for policies that dismantle barriers to career progression.
As 2025 approaches, we stand at a pivotal moment. The achievements of 2024 have set a remarkable precedent, demonstrating what is possible. Now, we must build on this momentum, fostering a future where even more Filipino nurses step into leadership roles and help shape the future of global healthcare. The FiND Network is committed to nurturing this cycle of success, ensuring that the brilliance of Filipino nurses continues to shine brightly, guiding our community and inspiring a better, more inclusive world of nursing for all.
