PSV & Co. Partner, Louisian

BS Accountancy 1982
Board of Director- Association of Certified Public Accountant in Public Practice ( ACPAPP )

NY Times Metropolitan Section Editor, Louisian

Ms. Cielo Buenaventura, AB Literature



Ms. Buenaventura had previously worked at New York Newsday, The Advocate of Stamford, Conn., and Malaya of Manila, Philippines. She holds a master's degree in public-affairs reporting from Ohio State University and a bachelor's degree in literature from St. Louis University in Baguio, Philippines.

Migrant Leader, Louisian

Ms. Flora Baniaga-Belinan
BA Social Work 1982

Igorot woman, mother, and migrant leader, Flora Baniaga-Belinan exemplifies Pinay power that is woven on the loom of the women’s struggle for empowerment, justice and equality.

Flora started as an organizer of the urban poor in Baguio City. Unemployed after graduation, she joined the Urban Poor Assistance Center upon the invitation of an activist uncle. Hence, the beginning of her social involvement.

Flora became very active in her engagements as a social worker. In the course of her organizing work, she immersed with the urban poor and was exposed to their gut issues as well as to the plight of other marginalized sectors. Eventually, she participated in various protest actions and other community activities. Then came her resolve to be part of the movement for social transformation at a time when the political and economic crisis in the country continued to worsen under the crumbling Marcos dictatorship.

Organizing changed many aspects of Flora’s life. In fact, it paved the way for her meeting with Paul Belinan, her husband of 25 years. Paul was also from Sagada but he only met Flora in Baguio. An advocate of workers’ rights, he has been working for the Cordillera Labor Center for quite a long time already.

Flora and her husband were committed to their social causes but it was hard for them to support the needs of their family from their limited income. Confronted with the urgent need to survive, Flora made the difficult decision of leaving her family to work as a domestic helper in Hong Kong for 12 years.

However, Flora unwaveringly pursued organizing work in Hong Kong. She founded and headed the Pinatud A Saleng Ti Umili (organization of domestic workers from Cordillera) even as she was still adjusting in the foreign land. She also served as an adviser to the Cordillera Alliance-Hong Kong.

Tirelessly, she gathered and organized fellow OFWs. They would maintain communication through the phone and meet at a common place every weekend. Amidst her preoccupation, she still found time to do volunteer work for a counseling institution for distressed OFWs.

Under the banner of Migrante International, Flora was at the forefront of various major advocacies and struggles for the rights and welfare of migrants, especially of women Filipino workers, in Hong Kong. Among these were the victorious campaigns between 1998 and 2003 to stop wage cuts and to scrap state exactions such as authentication fees. At present, together with Filipino migrant groups, she is vigorously campaigning for the scrapping of the new POEA Guidelines which seek to collect more fees and not to protect domestic workers.

Flora has always stood staunchly against violence perpetrated on women migrants including rape and other forms of sexual abuse, maltreatment, and trafficking. She is now taking the lead in the campaign for justice for OFW victims of violence and government criminal neglect.

While in Hong Kong, Flora also promoted indigenous peoples’ rights to land, life, and resources, firmly opposing policies and projects in the homefront that particularly cause the destruction of the environment and exploitation of women indigenous peoples and children.

In 2005, she returned home and founded the Migrante Chapter in Metro Baguio. Recently, she was elected deputy secretary-general for external affairs of GWP.

For her steadfast stance and commitment to promote and defend the rights and welfare of women migrant workers, she was nominated as one of the top three standard bearers of GWP, joining Mindanaoan educator Luz Ilagan and Rep. Liza Maza.

photo and text from Bulalat.com