[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 97 (Monday, June 5, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E519]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING ROSALINDA TOMIMBANG AS A DISTINGUISHED LEADER IN CENTRAL 
    FLORIDA FOR ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DARREN SOTO

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 5, 2023

  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, on May 26, 2023, I recognized Rosalinda 
Tomimbang as a distinguished leader in Central Florida for Asian 
American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Rosalinda Tomimbang is a 
registered nurse with Orlando Health. Her version of the American Dream 
is unique.
  Born in 1956 in the Philippines to a modest family with seven kids, 
her parents emphasized the value of education. Rightfully so, five of 
them became nurses. The other two became a doctor and an accounting 
professional.
  Rosalinda received her B.S. in nursing in Manila in 1978. She got 
married the same year to her high school classmate, Wendell, an 
electrical engineer.
  She gave birth to twin girls in 1980 and another one in 1987. In 
1982, along with her twins, she joined her husband in Iraq while he was 
working with a Kuwaiti company. Iraq was then at war with Iran. The 
young family adapted to the war-torn country, braving frequent missile 
attacks from Iran. Her twins attended the Baghdad International School.
  At the end of June 1990, Rosalinda and her daughters came to the 
United States for vacation. A month later, Iraq invaded Kuwait. Her 
husband followed, leaving behind everything they had, including several 
months of pay with his company.
  After months of waiting with no end to the situation in sight, her 
husband started looking for a job. Shortly after, he was offered 
employment and partnership in a business.
  Rosalinda started working in 1991. The first few years were hard for 
the young couple and Rosalinda took on two jobs. They stressed the 
value of education to their kids and all of them became successful in 
their careers. Christi, the elder of the twins, is a civil engineer and 
project manager. Faye, the other twin, was an aerospace engineer who 
after more than 10 years with the Space Shuttle Program pursued a 
career in medicine. May, the youngest, has a degree in engineering and 
is now an Army warrant officer training as a helicopter pilot.

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