President’s Message
Magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat.
To our distinguished nursing leaders, past officers, honored guests, community partners, and fellow nurses, it is with great pride and humility that I stand before you tonight as President of this organization.
FANOGCS exists to promote and advance the profession of nursing through leadership development, educational programs, community service, and global outreach. This mission reflects not only what we do, but who we are.
Every president brings a guiding vision to their term. For mine, I would like us to embrace four principles that will continue to strengthen our organization and advance our mission: Generosity, Resilience, Integrity, and Transformation—together forming the acronym GRIT.
Generosity
We are Filipinos, and generosity is deeply rooted in our culture. It is the heartbeat of this organization.
We know it as malasakit. We celebrate it through bayanihan. Generosity is the foundation of our community outreach and global service.
Our organization demonstrates generosity through educational grants, mentorship opportunities, professional development programs, and community service initiatives. The most visible example is our Medical, Dental, Optical, and Surgical Mission to the Philippines. Earlier this evening, you saw videos from our most recent mission, where we provided care to nearly 3,000 individuals in just three days.
Our generosity is not passive. It is an active and unwavering commitment to the belief that nursing care knows no borders.
Resilience
If generosity is our heartbeat, resilience is our backbone.
Resilience is not simply enduring hardship; it is learning, adapting, and emerging stronger because of it. Although our organization is still young, we have already faced challenges. Yet time and again, we have responded with creativity, determination, and unity.
As we move forward, we will continue to foster a community where our members feel empowered and supported, knowing that no storm is too great when we face it together.
Integrity
Integrity is the bedrock of nursing practice and leadership.
Our communities trust us because we uphold honesty, transparency, accountability, and respect. As nurses and leaders, we carry the responsibility of representing both our organization and our profession with dignity and professionalism.
We will continue to lead with clean hands, clear minds, and unwavering hearts.
Transformation
Transformation is the bridge between our proud history and our promising future.
As an organization, we continue to evolve. Like any growing organization, we experience growing pains. But growth requires change, and change requires courage. We cannot move forward if we remain where we are.
Through leadership development, educational programs, community engagement, and global outreach, FANOGCS is committed to creating opportunities for our members to grow, lead, and make a meaningful impact in the communities we serve.
Generosity. Resilience. Integrity. Transformation.
That is GRIT—the passion and perseverance to pursue our mission and achieve our long-term goals.
Closing
Before I close, I would like to share a few photographs from our very first inauguration in 2020. It was a simple gathering held at Melody’s home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with members taking their oath of office through Zoom.
These photographs remind us of how far we have come and of the visionary leaders who laid the foundation for where we stand today.
As I look around this room and see our members, families, supporters, and community partners, I am filled with optimism. Our future is bright because it is built upon the dedication, passion, and service of each one of you.
As we move forward together, let us remember that our mission is not simply a statement—it is a commitment:
A commitment to develop leaders.
A commitment to educate and inspire.
A commitment to serve our communities.
A commitment to connect with the world.
Through Generosity, we uplift others.
Through Resilience, we overcome challenges.
Through Integrity, we earn trust.
Through Transformation, we create the future.
Together, let us lead with GRIT and continue building an organization that makes a lasting difference in the lives of those we serve.
Maraming salamat po, and Mabuhay!
Respectfully,
Janice Desiongco
President
Welcome Remarks: FANOGCS Induction Ceremony (June 20, 2026)
Good evening, everyone,
It is an honor to welcome all of you tonight to the Filipino American Nurses Organization of the Grand Canyon State’s 6th Year Anniversary Celebration and Induction Ceremony. As the outgoing President, let me talk about the FANOGCS mission statement, the accomplishments we have achieved during our term and how we relate these achievements to our missions. FANOGCS mission centered on promoting and advancing the profession of nursing through leadership development, educational programs, community service, and global outreach.
At the heart of this organization’s mission is leadership development. Great healthcare systems require strong leaders who inspire, advocate, and guide others with integrity and vision. FANOGCS empowers nurses to grow professionally and personally by encouraging mentorship, collaboration, and active participation in healthcare leadership as well as in our own professional nursing organization. We had successful leadership training for our incoming, outgoing and future FANOGCS leaders last April 25, 2026.
Equally important are educational programs. In a rapidly changing healthcare environment, continuing education is essential. Through workshops, seminars, scholarships, and professional training opportunities, FANOGCS supports lifelong learning and clinical excellence. The highlight of these educational programs was the FANOGCS Education Spring Conference held on April 26, 2025. We were able to offer it for free to our members for the first time. Additionally, FANOGCS offers annual Nursing Educational Assistance to two qualified FANOGCS members and will be awarded later tonight for this year’s program.
Another pillar of the mission is community service. Nurses are often the first to respond in times of need, and FANOGCS extends that spirit of service beyond the workplace. Whether through health fairs, vaccination drives, first aid assistance, or wellness education, FANOGCS demonstrate compassion in action. Community service reflects the core Filipino values of bayanihan — working together to help others — and caring for people with dignity and respect.
Finally, the mission embraces global outreach. Healthcare challenges do not stop at borders, and neither do compassion. Through international partnerships, humanitarian missions, disaster relief efforts, and support for healthcare initiatives abroad, the organization reaches vulnerable communities worldwide. The highlight of FANOGCS global outreach mission was the Medical Mission in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental, Philippines conducted in January 21-23, 2026.
FANOGCS stands as more than a professional nursing organization. It is a family united by purpose, culture, and commitment to service. It pays tribute to the contributions of those who came before us while inspiring future generations to lead with excellence and compassion.
As we reflect on these missions, let us remember that every act of leadership, every lesson shared, every community served, and every life touched contributes to a healthier and more compassionate world. May we continue to uphold the noble values of nursing with pride, unity, and dedication. Thank you very much and enjoy the night!
Alain de la Cruz, MSN-Ed., CMSRN
FANOGCS Keynote Speech by Honarary Consul Jenny Ho-Vijungco
Good evening everyone.
I want to begin with a simple observation.
I’ve been thinking about something as I prepared for tonight.
They happen in hospital rooms.
In emergency departments.
In recovery units.
In quiet hallways.
In the middle of the night.
And more often than not, when those moments happen, a nurse is in the room.
Think about that.
A child’s first breath.
A patient’s last breath.
A diagnosis that changes everything.
A recovery nobody thought was possible.
A family receiving news they will remember forever.
Nurses are there.
Not as spectators.
Not as observers.
But as part of the moment itself.
Tonight, as we celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Filipino American Nurses Organization of the Grand Canyon State and induct a new generation of leaders, I think it is worth reflecting on what that really means.
Because nursing is one of the few professions where people invite you into moments they would never share with strangers.
They trust you with their fears.
Their hopes.
Their pain.
Their uncertainty.
And in return, you offer something far more valuable than medical expertise.
You offer presence.
In today’s world, presence has become rare.
People are busy.
People are distracted.
People are looking at screens instead of each other.
Yet every day, nurses do something extraordinary.
You sit beside people during some of the hardest days of their lives and remind them they are not alone.
That may not sound dramatic.
But it changes everything.
As Philippine Honorary Consul of Arizona, I have had the privilege of meeting remarkable Filipinos from many professions.
What makes Filipino nurses special is not only their competence.
The world already knows that.
It is not only their resilience.
The world already knows that too.
What makes Filipino nurses extraordinary is their ability to combine skill with compassion.
Strength with kindness.
Excellence with humility.
You carry with you values deeply rooted in our culture.
Care for others.
Respect for human dignity.
Sacrifice for family.
Service without seeking recognition.
These values travel with you into every patient room and every community you serve.
That is why your impact extends far beyond healthcare.
You are ambassadors of Filipino character.
Not through speeches.
Not through titles.
But through daily acts of service.
And that brings me to the officers being inducted tonight.
Leadership is not about being the person everyone sees.
Leadership is about seeing people others overlook.
It is about creating opportunities.
Developing future leaders.
Building a community where people feel they belong.
Your responsibility is not simply to lead this organization.
Your responsibility is to leave it stronger than you found it.
To every nurse in this room, whether you hold an office or not, I want to leave you with one thought.
Most of the lives you change will never tell you.
You may never know.
You may never hear from the patient who found hope because of your encouragement.
You may never meet the child who still has a parent because of your care.
You may never see the ripple effect of your kindness.
But it exists.
And it continues.
Long after your shift ends.
Long after the charts are completed.
Long after the patient goes home.
The impact remains.
Years from now, people may not remember every medication you administered.
They may not remember every procedure.
They may not remember every detail of their treatment.
But they will remember how you made them feel when they were afraid.
And in the end, that is what people carry with them.
Not what you did.
But who you were when they needed someone most.
So tonight, as we celebrate this anniversary and welcome a new generation of leaders, I want you to remember something.
When people talk about changing the world, they usually imagine grand speeches, powerful positions, or historic moments.
Nurses know better.
Because changing the world often looks like a hand being held.
A tear being wiped away.
A life being given another chance.
One person.
One room.
One shift at a time.
And that means something extraordinary.
Somewhere in this world, there are people alive today who have no idea that the reason they are alive…
Is sitting in this room tonight.
Think about that.
And if that is not a life well lived…
I don’t know what is.
Maraming salamat po.
Mabuhay ang Filipino American Nurses Organization of the Grand Canyon State.
At mabuhay tayong lahat.