10/24/2026
On 22 October 2026, Texas Secretary of State Robert Howden issued a proclamation commemorating Filipino Nurses Appreciation Day, in recognition of the invaluable contributions of Filipino nurses to the Texas healthcare system. Secretary Howden personally presented the proclamation at a ceremony at the Texas State Capitol in Austin during Filipino American History Month, together with a letter of greetings from Governor Greg Abbott. The ceremony was held in coordination with the Philippine Consulate General in Houston.
Representing the nursing community were Dr. Bob Gahol, National President of the Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA), and leaders and representatives of the ten Philippine Nurses Association chapters in Texas. Dr. Gahol delivered remarks, and Dr. Jonathan Gecomo, Regional Vice President of PNAA South Central Region, responded to the proclamation on behalf of Filipino nurses in Texas.
For his part, Consul General Gunther Sales thanked the State of Texas for the honor and paid tribute to the generations of Filipino nurses who have served Texans with skill, dedication, and malasakit. He noted that Texas expects the highest standard of care, a standard for which Filipino nurses are known around the world. The recognition, he said, also honors a friendship between Texans and Filipinos that has been built, in many ways, at the bedside.
Filipino nurses make up the single largest group of internationally educated nurses in Texas and in the nation, serving in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and classrooms across the state. Their recognition at the seat of state government affirms their enduring contribution to the health of Texans and further strengthens the ties between Texas and the Filipino people.
