I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13
Who is she, why all the talk about her?
In 1998, during the Philippine Centennial Celebration, Aurora Cudal was given a plaque of recognition as "A Lady of Distinction" by the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple in recognition of her role as Co-Chair of the Celebration in San Diego.
· Born on July 12, 1933 in San Carlos (now City) Pangasinan to illustrious parents, Justice of the Peace Lauro P. Soriano and Andrea Tizon Guzman, one of the pioneers of Rural Health Nursing in the Philippines
· Married on June 12, 1955 to Winlove Abello Cudal from Malaybalay, Bukidnon
· Blessed with seven bundles of joys, namely, Mary Ann Cudal de Ocera (married to Rev. Horace Wilson de Ocera) Aurora Cudal Soriano (married to Jonathan Soriano) Winlove Cudal II, Arwin Gideon Cudal (married to Teresalyn Soriano), Maj. BenHur Cudal (married to Dr. Lilibeth Celera) Charles Gordon Cudal (married to Rhoda Tayag), Sharon Rose Cudal (married to Gerard Pangilinan)
· Grandchildren: Kyle and Patricia Andrea de Ocera; Joseph Winlove, John Benjamin and John David Soriano; Angela Selene Cudal-Macale: Caryll Ann R. Cudal, Jansen Cudal, Arlynn, Aura and Justine Cudal: Janwin Albert, Angelica and Carl Cudal; Karl Christian and Cara Bella Cudal; Gabriel, Jordan, Joshua and Julian Pangilinan
· Great grandchildren: Angelo Macale, Carl Gabriel
· Father: Lauro Palisoc Soriano, first Justice of the Peace of San Carlos, Pangasinan
· Mother: Andrea Tizon Guzman, Public Health Nurse from Alaminos, Pangasinan
· Brothers: Atty. Lauro G. Soriano, Atty. Dewey G. Soriano, Dr. Alfonso G. Soriano, Jesus “Jess” Soriano, Manager, San Carlos City Local Water Works System
· Half-brothers and Sisters: Tomas B. Soriano, Josefina S. Albarracin, Arturo B. Soriano, Araceli S. Reyes, Manuel B. Soriano, Laureano “Jack” B. Soriano, (all deceased)
· BSE major in health and physical
education, UP Class 52., CPH Class 58, Dr. P.H , UP Institute of Public Health
(completed academic requirements)
· Career path
o
Teacher
of health and physical education at the Pangasinan School of Arts & Trades
(1952-1953)
o
Public
Health Educator, Oslob Cebu, Provincial Health Educator, Province of Cebu,
Regional Health Educator (for Training) Regional Health Educator
(Adminstration)
o
Health
Education Adviser, Bureau of Disease Control; Sr. Health Education Adviser,
Bureau of Disease Control (1953-1971)
o
Chief,
Division of Preventive Education & Community Information, Dangerous Drugs
Board (1972-1978)
o
Executive
Director, Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of Disabled
o
Action
Officer: National Commission Concerning Disabled Persons, (1979-1980)
o
Chairperson,
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Manila
Central University (1981-1988)
o
College
Secretary, College of Medicine, Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Maynila
o
Director,
Center for University Extension Service, PLM
o
Executive
Director, PLM Concern Foundation (1988-1992).
· Fellowships and Consultancies:
o
UNESCO
Fellow on Drug Education (Denmark, Netherlands, France & Switzerland
o
Short
Term Consultant WHO (Geneva, Switzerland) Colombo Plan Bureau Drug Education
Adviser (Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Hongkong)
o
UN
Fund On Drug Abuse Control Advisory Committee (Vienna, Austria)
o
Director,
UNESCO Traveling Seminar On Problems Related to the Use of Drugs (Philippines,
Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia)
· United Methodist Church
Involvement
o
Conference
Lay Leader, Philippine Annual Conference; Chairperson, Board of Christian
Education and Communications
o
President,
Board of Women’s Work, Philippine Central Conference
o
Alternate
Delegate, General Conference
o
National
Coordinator, Services and Projects, Women’s Society of Christian Service
o
World
Secretary, World Federation of Methodist Women (1991-1996)
· Landmark Accomplishments in the
Philippines
o
Was
one of the first 10 Public Health Educators in the Philippines, one of the
pioneers in modern public health education and the first public health educator
in the Province of Cebu (1953-1955)
o
Became
the first health educator to work among the Hansenites, spearheaded the
celebration of Leprosy Control Week with the theme: “Give Hansenites A Break In
Society”; authored and organized the first celebration of National Drug Abuse
Prevention Week
o
Organized
the First National workshop on Drug Abuse Prevention Education and the first
Interagency Committee On Drug Abuse Prevention Education
o
Awarded
the first fellowship in drug education to study drug abuse prevention and
control in Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland and France
o
Got
the first travel grant to the United States under the US State Department and
the Council of International Programs
o
Awarded
the Most Distinguished Alumna for Education In Public Health by the UP
Institute of Public Health Alumni Association. Elected President of the
Organization of Public Health Educators in the Philippines
o
Became
the first non-medical Chair of the Department of Social and Preventive
Medicine, College of Medicine
· Wrote the concept papers on the
establishment of the Center for University Extension Service and the PLM
Concern Foundation and became the first Director of this two units, in
concurrent capacity Obtained a one million pesos grant from the McGovern
Foundation for the PLM College of Medicine and another million pesos grant from
the President’s Social Fund to support health and social amelioration projects
for the poorest of the poor in the City of Manila.
· Immigrated to the United States on
December 30, 1993
· Authored the project proposal to
established the first Filipino Help Center (TULUNGAN CENTER) which was
subsequently approved by the Commission On Religion and Race of the United
Methodist Church. Became the Executive Director of the project (1993-1995)
· Volunteered as Executive Director
of Council of Philippine American Organizations of San Diego County, Inc.
(1995)
· Appointed as Community Outreach
Coordinator of Operation Samahan Health Clinic. (1995-1999)
Elected as Member
of the Board of Directors, COPAO (1996)
· Elected as Chairperson of COPAO in
1997-1998
· Co-Chair, Philippine Centennial
Celebration in San Diego County (1998).
· Designated as Chair, NaFFAA,
Region 10
· Appointed as Member, City Mayor’s
Asian & Pacific Islanders Advisory Board
· Elected as President, Council of
Philippine American Organizations of San Diego County, Inc. (2003-2004)
· Appointed as Member, Parks and
Recreation Board, City of San Diego (2004)
· President, San Diego Scripps Lions Club (2004-2005)
Congressman Bob Filner, new Chair of the U.S. House Committee on Veterans Affairs, thanks Dr. Aurora S. Cudal, NaFFAA Region 10 Chair on Veterans Issues, for arranging the visit of a group of Filipino WW II veterans advocating the approval of the Veterans Equity Bill.
· Outstanding Community Leader by Congressman Bob Filner
· Citizen of the Month (August, 1997) Congressman Bob Filner
· Lady of Distinction, Scottish Rite Temple Celebration of the Philippine Centennial
· Woman of the Year (March, 1999), California Assemblywoman Denise Moreno Ducheny
· Emilio Aguinaldo Leadership Award - (One of the first awardee) Cavite Association
· Proclamation of Aurora Cudal Day in the City of San Diego on July 12, 2003.by Mayor Dick Murphy
· Church Lay Leadership “Eagle” Award - First United Methodist Church of National City
· Outstanding UP Alumni for Community Service, UP Alumni Association of America Convention and Grand Reunion, October 2004, Houston, Texas
· (Numerous plaques of recognition from the San Diego Executive Lions Club and San Diego Scripps Lion Clubs)
· Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, Pamantasan Ng Lungsod Ng Maynila, Dec. 18, 2003
· Lay Member, California Pacific
Annual Conference (1994-1998)
· Church Lay Leader (1998-2001)
· Chair, Staff Parish Relations (2002-2004)
· Chair, Church and Society, First
United Methodist Church of National City
· Vice Chair, FUMC Administrative
Board
· Member, Stewardship Committee
· Member, Justice Overcoming Boundaries
March for Immigrants. Aurora S. Cudal with Al Villamora, President, Filipino American Community Empowerment (FACE), a political action committee, after the "March for Respect, Dignity, and Hope for Immigrants."
·
Commissioner,
Housing Advisory Commission, City of Chula Vista, CA
·
Vice
President for Voters Registration and Education, Filipino American Community
Empowerment (FACE) .
·
Member
Board of Directors, Filipino American Development Initatives (FADI)
·
Chair,
Organizing Committee, Filipino American Arts and Culture Festival (Oct. 6,
2007)
·
Adviser,
Council of Philippine American Organizations of San Diego County, Inc.
· Member, Advisory Committee, Healthy Eating Campaign, Kalusugan Community Services.
· Program Consultant, United Filipino American Senior Citizens of San Diego, Inc.
© 2007 Aurora Soriano Cudal