To the PNASD Family,

I am deeply honored to serve as President of the Philippine Nurses’ Association of San Diego (PNASD) from 2024 to 2026—a responsibility I accepted with humility, gratitude, and a profound sense of purpose. This term coincides with a historic milestone: PNASD’s 50th Anniversary. As we mark five decades of service since our founding in 1974, we are reminded that our progress today is inseparable from the leadership, sacrifices, and vision of those who came before us.

During our Golden Anniversary celebration on June 22, 2024, we did more than commemorate history—we actively honored it. The organization of the anniversary parade and the tribute video recognizing all past PNASD Presidents affirmed continuity, gratitude, and shared stewardship. That same spirit of remembrance and advocacy is reflected in our collective support for the naming of the first Filipino American Veterans Park in Chula Vista, a landmark achievement that honors Filipino veterans’ contributions and secures cultural visibility and historical recognition for generations to come.

Where PNASD Stands Today

As a result of the initiatives undertaken during this term, PNASD stands today as a more visible, engaged, and impactful professional organization—rooted in service, scholarship, and advocacy.

Since July 2024, PNASD has implemented a Mental Health Research Project in collaboration with the University of San Diego, now progressing through its second IRB review. At a time when nurses face unprecedented psychological strain, moral distress, and workforce instability, this project positions PNASD as both an advocate and a contributor to evidence-informed solutions that protect nurse well-being and strengthen healthcare systems.

Professional education remains a cornerstone of our mission. Throughout 2024 and 2025, PNASD has continued to provide professional development programs addressing current and emerging trends in healthcare, leadership, and nursing practice. These initiatives support lifelong learning, reinforce clinical excellence, and prepare our members to lead confidently amid rapid healthcare transformation.

Our commitment to community engagement has been sustained and visible. From participation in local health fairs and multicultural events to blood pressure screenings and partnerships with hospitals and community organizations, PNASD continues to serve as a trusted presence at the intersection of culture, care, and public health.

Investing in People, Planet, and Future Generations

One of the most meaningful outcomes of this term has been our direct investment in nursing students and professional excellence. By June 2025, PNASD awarded more than $20,000 in scholarships and recognized outstanding nurses through the Nurse Excellence Awards—affirming that excellence, service, and leadership deserve both recognition and tangible support.

Our commitment extends beyond borders and beyond the present. Through the Balik Aklatan initiative, more than 500 nursing textbooks were collected and donated to colleagues and students in Luzon, Philippines in December 2025. In January 2026, PNASD provided humanitarian assistance with a $1,000 donation to Typhoon Dino victims in Cebu City, followed by a medical mission in Sinabakan, Zambales—acts that reflect our enduring global responsibility as Filipino nurses.

In recognition that health is inseparable from environmental conditions, environmental stewardship has also been an integral focus of this term. In September 2025, PNASD participated in tree-planting initiatives in response to climate change, affirming our commitment to protecting the environment as a determinant of community health and intergenerational well-being.

Navigating a Complex Sociopolitical Landscape

This presidency has unfolded during a period of significant sociopolitical challenge. Nurses continue to face workforce shortages, workplace violence, policy uncertainty, and increasing demands within strained healthcare systems. Climate change, health inequities, and social instability further compound these challenges.

PNASD has responded by strengthening partnerships, advancing research, supporting advocacy, and fostering solidarity across nursing and minority organizations. Through collaboration with groups such as NAHN, SSBNA, Men in Nursing, and allied healthcare entities, PNASD has amplified the nursing voice—positioning nurses not only as clinicians, but as leaders, scholars, and advocates for equity and sustainability.

Moving Forward Together

Every accomplishment during this term has been made possible by the collective strength, generosity, and commitment of the PNASD Family. These milestones are not endpoints; they are foundations upon which we will continue to build.

As we look ahead, I invite each member to remain engaged, mentor emerging leaders, and carry forward the values that have sustained PNASD for fifty years. Let us continue to lead with compassion, courage, and clarity of purpose.

Let us remain focused as we Zero-in-on-5—our PNASD Empowering IDEAS—while shaping an organization that honors its past, responds decisively to the present, and prepares boldly for the future.

With gratitude and unwavering dedication,

Emeline Yabut-Cruz, MSN-Ed, BSN, RN
President, Philippine Nurses’ Association of San Diego (2024–2026)