October, a night when it snowed for the third time in 142 years in Manhattan, Carnegie Hall glittered as hundreds huddled to honor and fete 2011’s best Filipino-Americans in New York, among them an undocumented immigrant journalist and a trans-gender woman. “The Empire State is privi­leged to host this grand event, which brings together Filipino-Americans who are the best in their field,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement issued on the eve of The Outstanding Filipino Americans (TOFA) in New York awards ceremony held Oct. 29 at the Weill Recital Hall. “These exceptional individuals inspire future leaders and have earned well-deserved respect and admi­ration.” US Marshals spokesperson Roland Ubaldo and Pulitzer Award-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas led the winners of this year’s TOFA-NY. Ubaldo, spokesperson of the US Marshals Service of the Southern District of New York charged with the disposition of the assets of Ber­nie Madoff, garnered the highest votes in Public Service.

Vargas, whose controversial coming-out as an undocumented immigrant was both cheered and criticized, won the Courage of Conviction award. The rest of the winners are: Bessie Badilla (Arts & Culture), Grace Hufano-Labaguis (Busi­ness and Entrepreneurship), Phil­ippine Forum (Community Ser­vice and Advocacy), Sounds of Manila (Entertainment), Jerry Sibal (Fashion _and Style), Rena Avendula (Food and Restau­rants), Dr. Lorna Bayes (Health Care),Michelle Manangan (LGBT and Advocacy), Don Tagala (Me­dia & Publishing), and the Filipi­no School of New York and New Jersey (Youth and Sports).

The 12 winners will be jointly honored with Heritage Awardees: Tony Award-winner Lea Salonga, the Filipino American Human Services Inc., the Filipino Report­er newspaper, Filipino American National Historical Society Metro NY, Filipino American National Historical Society New Jersey, and dancing siblings Craig & Sa­mantha. Consul General Mario Lopez de Leon Jr. noted how the use of Facebook to pick out the win­ners made the TOFA-NY awards “unique.” “Through the innovative use of social networking plat­forms, the public and the people whose lives were touched, in- spired and affected by our hon­orees had the final say on who would make the list of the Out­standing Filipinos in New York for 2011,” he said in his keynote speech. 

Philanthropist and business leader Loida Nicolas Lewis said Filipinos have been in the United States since the 17th century. To this day, they continue to be productive members of American society—from the caregiver who provides tender loving care to her patients to the resourceful entre­preneurs who could keep their companies going because “we know how to tighten our belt dur­ing the hard times.” Also expressing thanks was Ve­nessa Manzano, who won in the Youth category for setting up The Filipino School of New York & New Jersey, a language and cul­ture school for children. Transgender woman Michelle Manangan who was recognized in the LGBT category said she was dedicating the award to the many transgender women “who have been the most marginalized members of the LGBT communi­ty.” She founded the Miss AsiaN­YC beauty pageant for transgen­der women.

The formal but relaxed pro­gram was hosted by former FOX News journalist Ernabel Demillo and Broadway singer-ac­tor Mig Ayesa. Music was provided by in­ternational and local talents led by Jonathan Badon and Kirby Asunto. Young singers Nina Mojares, Seven Odon and Gabe Basalatan also rendered spe­cial songs and dance num­bers. Consul Gener­al de Leon noted that while expa­triate Filipinos cannot all physically go back home to their families and their childhood, “The honorees prove that home will always remain part of their spirit as they continue to further uplift the im­age of the Philippines and Filipinos worldwide.”(C.DC Pastor, Inq)

< Prev		Next >