DENVER, Colorado – Harmony Cabie-Quinto, the Founding President and CEO of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Southern Colorado, Inc. (PACCSoCo), a 501(c)(6) non-profit corporation in the State of Colorado, is this year’s Modern Day Bayani awardee of the Mountain Region of the United States.
The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) Region V announced the award will be given during the NaFFAA Filipiniana Gala on October 14 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel DTC in this capital city, which coincides with NaFFAA Region V’s 25th Anniversary.
Cabie-Quinto, a National Press Club-McDonalds scholar while pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, currently serves in four boards of non-profit organizations.
Often sought by peers as an effective mentor, she has been described as “a woman of vision, integrity, and honor.”
At age 14, she was the youngest accredited regular member of the National Press Club while she was writing for Associated Editors and DepthNews Asia.
The Mountain Region of the United States covers the states of Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Kansas, and Colorado.
The wife of Chris Quinto, a US Air Force retiree and Iraqi war veteran, she has been recognized for her leadership in PACCSoCo which helped provide much needed advocacy, awareness, and support.
Cabie-Quinto has spearheaded the formation of PACCSoCo’s Outreach Program “Chamber on the Go (ChaGo)” which allows PACCSoCo to take outreach trips with Immigration Specialist Atty. Ed Allan Lindain as they aim to reach various kababayans in rural areas of Colorado to help them answer their immigration concerns.
Most of those reached by the program are Filipino teachers, mostly in the fields of Mathematics and Science, with J1 status.
A staunch DEI (divesity, equity and inclusion) advocate, Cabie-Quinto continuously pushes boundaries to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion by encouraging PACCSoCo officers and members to attend leadership training programs to earn them multiple seats at the table.
“More seats at the table means a stronger and more cohesive Filipino voice,” Cabie-Quinto says. Cabie-Quinto has been recognized for her love and respect for the Filipino American community which is “evident through the countless hours she spends coordinating events, meeting with community leaders and much more – all for the greater good of Filipino Americans.”
Described as “an exceptionally good leader with a big heart and goes out of her way to help others,” she has been seen as resolving conflicts and handling difficult situations “with remarkable patience and admirable tact.”
“She loves people, works hard, and always tries to lift the spirits of those around her, characteristics that represent all that is good in a modern day hero.” Cabie-Quinto has found space to circulate with the community she is in “and makes trusting sacrifices and enthusiastic commitment which raise her community and, in the long run, make her country proud of her.”
She has fully and strongly supported the Filipino Movement “Make It Happen, Make Us Matter (MIHMUM),” the battle cry of the Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce (COFACC), the umbrella organization of about 40 Filipino American Chambers of Commerce across the United States.
“It is because of leaders like Cabie-Quinto that we can envision a future where we are a silent minority no more.”
The state of Colorado remains predominantly white which makes efforts of community leaders like Cabie-Quinto highly commendable.
What makes everything remarkable is the fact that her leadership has accomplished so much in less than a year.
“Within a few short months, Harmony and her Team launched a fully-developed, functioning Chamber of Commerce with supporters from within and outside the Filipino community in attendance.
“Since then, PACCSoCo has made leaps and bounds in collaboration, advocacy, and leadership development. No other Chamber has accomplished such immense momentum in such a short time.
“If she can accomplish all this in under a year, just imagine what the future holds!”
Cabie-Quinto also serves as the Vice-President of the Filipino American Community of Southern Colorado (FACSC), an Executive Board member of the California-based Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce (COFACC), and the Membership Director of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations Region V (NaFFAA Region V).
Cabie-Quinto traces her roots to Moncada, Tarlac and Paoay and Pinili in Ilocos Norte.