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2007 WOMEN OF EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENTS
Doris Burke | Paula Vogel, ABD, BA | Beatriz E. Perez, MPH
Gemma Guinguing | Women's Fund of RI | Maureen A. McDonough-Roddy
ADVOCACY & VOLUNTEERISM
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GEMMA A. GUINGUING
Miss Deaf Rhode Island 2004-2005
Born deaf and poor in the Philippines in 1977, Gemma Guinguing could have easily given up on having a better life, but giving up was not a lesson her mother taught her.
Despite growing up in poverty and dealing with ailments such as parasites, 18-year old Guinguing graduated as the Valedictorian of her class at the Philippine School for the Deaf & Blind.
Shortly after graduation, Guinguing, her mother, father, younger sister and younger brother traveled to the United States to pursue the American Dream, unfortunately having to leave her eldest brother behind. On what she describes as the proudest day of her life, Guinguing became a citizen of the United States on December 2, 2002, along with the rest of the relatives who made the journey with her.
In 2004, Guinguing was named Miss Deaf Rhode Island 2004-2005 and utilitized her title to advocate for the rights of the deaf. She has been to the State House to discuss issues such as insurance coverage for hearing aids, and allocating the proper funding for group homes for the disabled.
Today, Guinguing is in her fourth year working as a caregiver for clients at the Corliss Institute in Warren, RI. In addition to her full-time job she spends hundreds of hours as a volunteer teaching sign language to police and fire departments as well as various Girl and Boy Scout Troops throughout Rhode Island.
Guinguing spends her free time traveling the United States. Thus far she has visited 43 states and has visited such tourist sites as the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Mount Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty, and the St. Louis Arch.
