The saga of Imelda Roberts

Author: People's Journal

IMELDA Roque Roberts, the first female and lone Filipino-American to receive the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2006 in the United States, visits the Philippines in September to October as a guest presenter in a series of speaking engagements and book launching of special limited edition of her book "Barefooted Soul. " In her first speaking engagement in the Philippines , Imelda will be featured during the Learning in Concert on September 28 at the 44th PMAP Annual Conference in Cebu . PMAP will show Ms. Roberts as " one among us who stands proudly as a showcase of the immense talent and potentials of both Filipino human capital and Philippine human resources management. "

The Ellis Island Medals of Honor are presented to American citizens of diverse origins for their outstanding contributions to their own ethnic groups, their ancestral countries, and to the United States . Past medalists include six U. S. presidents as well as Nobel Prize winners and leaders of industry, education, the arts, sports and government.

Both the United States House of Representatives and Senate have officially recognized the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, which ranks among this country's most prestigious awards. Each year, the names of its recipients are listed in the Congressional Record.

From a homeless scholar sleeping in the sidewalk of muddy Divisoria, to living in a dilapidated one-room house near the Smokey Mountain, to a progressively responsible position at San Miguel Corp. following her graduation as a full scholar from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Imelda's life journey is a legacy to the strength of the human spirit.

Following a tumultuous past, she migrated to the United States and started over again doing odd jobs.

From serving the stomachs of dignitaries to serving inspirational food for the human soul, to achieving highest positions in her field in prestigious organizations in the Washington, , DC area, she rose to be a well-respected and an award-winning leader in people management. She held various leadership positions, including chair of the National Certified Public Managers Consortium comprised of 28 states, president of the Local Government Personnel Association for the Washington-Baltimore Area, cabinet official and Chief Human Resources and Administrative Officer at the City of Frederick, Maryland. She has been the director for Human Resources Management at Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments since 2000 where she oversees numerous regional efforts in human resources. She is also currently the president and CEO of First Magnitude International.

Her rise from abject poverty to a life of prosperity is an inspirational journey that is captured in her book, "Barefooted Soul," with 40 stories she completed in just 40 nights. Though she did not have music background, she composed several songs that are included in her book-CD.

Imelda is also expected to speak during the San Miguel Corp. 's 8th Annual Business Practices Forum. She will also grace various events along with television appearance to bring awareness to her advocacies ranging from poverty, women's issues, domestic violence, overseas Filipino workers, and education.

Her fund-raising efforts will support the Church of Hope in Smokey Mountain and a scholarship fund for poor but deserving scholars. For more information, visit www. barefootedsoul. com or send email to events @first magnitude. com. uk. messenger. yahoo. com

Source: People's Journal