Erlinda Galeon is one of two Filipino Americans appointed by the Daly City Council to the Board of Trustees for the Daly City Library. Currently the Vice President of the Board, Erlinda is serving her first term, having been appointed to the Board in June of 2007.
As a Trustee, Galeon and her fellow Board members are tasked with advocating literary for all ages and all people, communicating constitutent needs to the City Council and Library staff, and facilitating the fulfillment of the Library’s future needs and vision.
Aside from attending monthly Board meetings, Trustees are required to participate in commission activities, collaborate in the writing of the Annual Report, review and approve Board policies and bylaws and advise the Library Director and staff on policies, among others.
Galeon holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music from Centro Escolar University in the Philippines, and a Master’s degree in Gerontology from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California.
Erlinda is an active member within the Filipino American community and the larger Northern California community through her involvement with many clubs and organizations.
She is currently president of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs International Golden Gate District, president of the CORA (Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse) Kumares/Kumpares, chair of the Board of Directors for the Philippine Association of University Women-USA, and executive board member of the California Federation of Women’s Club.
Among her other affiliations are as advisory board member of the Thomasians USA, adviser of the CEU Alumni Association of SF Bay Area, and member of the Gerontological Society of America, International Museum of Women, Friends of the Filipino American Community, Filipino American Democratic Club, History Guild of Daly City, Fil-Am Council and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs International Pacific Coast Press Women’s Association.
Galeon has garnered many awards and citations for her volunteer work, including a Volunteer Award in June 2006 for her work as a CORA Kumare, and a Philippine Presidential Award in Dec. 2006 (as part of the Cora Kumares) given by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) in Malacañang Palace.
Erlinda was also named as Peninsula Anggel by the San Francisco Examiner Peninsula-USA in December 2005, and is a Centennial Awardee and Outstanding Alumna awardee of Centro Escolar University.
Armed with a giving spirit, Galeon has made donations to many institutions both in the US and the Philippines, including Filipiniana books to both the Daly City Serramonte Public Library and Skyline College Library, scholarships to Westmoor High School and Philippine International Aid, a xylophone to the CEU Conservatory of Music, and books to GA High School in Talisay, Camarines Norte, Philippines.
Erlinda’s other charitable projects include donations to the TB Treatment for Children, the BC Tiongco Library in Talisay (Camarines Norte) and the Ninoy Aquino Village of Gawad Kalinga, as well as educational presentations for the Domestic Violence Awareness Outreach Program.
Add to all these, Erlinda still works at a senior center near her residence.
With such a busy calendar and impressive resume, Erlinda Galeon is a prime example of how Filipinos can carve a niche in foreign lands where they have settled, and the indomitable spirit of the Filipino.
( Published on February 5, 2009 in Asian Journal Northern California p. B1 )
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