2004 - 2016 Presidential Awards - Commission on Filipinos Overseas

Transcription

MAtACANAN PALACE
-.u
MESSAGE
My warmest greet'ngs to Ihe men and women of the
CommiSSion on Filipinos Qver$e.lIS and the reoPl8flts r:J tre
Yeer 2004 PreSidenllal Awards far F,ilpmo IndIviduals and
OrganizatIOnS OV6fMf8S
The PreS,denl<ai Awards are tokens of recogOilion to
individuals and organ'zahons abroad for thel' valuable
COI1tnoullOns to the nail anal economy Yeill1y. Flhploos working
or re~dlng abroad rem t USS8 b<lhon to the counlry These foreign
exchango rem,ttances help shore up lhe economy. especially
during a crisis
Much of the earnings of these overseas FlliplOos ga 10
entrepreneurship leadtrlQ to the Creall()l"l of jObs The palpab~
growth In tile COuntrySide as shown by new CorlCrele houses
has been fueled With ttle remittances 01 FII P nos oyen;eas to their
famdes
Overseas F~lpinos have also corltnOUled to the transfer 01
ledlnology 10 the PhllpPIne5
llhefefore con'JrlCnd the CFO for holding !hIS awards program
as a means 01 thanl:'"ll F~.p,"os OYef$8as for thelf role as our
new economic hefoes
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q,LORiAMACAPAGAl-ARROYQ
,
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
MESSAGE
It IS sometimes said that the true wealth of a na\lOn lies in the
quality of its people. Few will disagree that this is true WIth our
7,78 million overseas FiloPlno population, whose presence is also
felt in countries they chose to make their second home
Far from being an inVISible mlnonty overseas Filipinos have
demonstrated their Industry in their host communities, while
continuing to maintain their hes With the Philippines This is
manifested through the volume of finanCial and material
remittances the Philippines reeeives from overseas Fihpinos, an
amount far exceeding the amount of official development
assistance received from developed countries every year.
Today, the emerging global community of overseas Filipinos
is important not only througtl its size and magnitude but because
their growing Importance in their host communihes have brought
the world closer to the Philippines, and the Philippines to IIle I'oOrid
The 2004 PreSidential awardees that are here today represent
the best the Ph,lipplnes has to offer, and I have no doubt that
many more will emulate their example.
To the awardees of the Year 2004 Presidenllal Awards for
Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas, I salute your
dedication and klve for your fellow countrymen and the Philippine
mo1tlerland Your achievements are Indelibly etched in the hearts
and minds of many countrymen, whose lives you have changed
for the better
Qu. I,QL,
ALBERTO G ROMULO
SecretaI)'
3
Qlf.ce dthe Prellderll d Ihe Pn'hppones
COMMISSION 0'11 F,LIP,NOS OVERSEAS
MESSAGE
The e~cellence of our e~patnate workers and manager' i,
very well known In the global workplace The awards we are
hand'ng oot today are a testament to the skJllS competence and
,ndustry of these outstand'ng men and women
In hono,,"9 them we pay Irlbute to our aw.ardees b..Jt alSO to
!he dostIM9wstoed corps of workl!f5 they represent We thank tt-.
Io-e.g" efTllloyers .. he had ltM! Y< sdom to recogn ZI! arx:l employ
their s~ Is Above al _ Ilor'or the<r fafTlil es for \heir sense of
self-den a and for ''l$p<fing the,r twead... '~ to do thetr best for
cou"try and fam,1y
The Comm,ss,on on F ',pinos Overseas 'S prOUd to have
falhered these awards and to focus the raf,o"al I,ghts on the
achll!Vements and the contnbut'ons of eXpdt""te F,I,ptr'lOS to nation
bu,lding and to the,r countries of reSidence The CFO stands by
the ideals and programs of Her E~cellency. President Glona
Macapagal-Arroyo, wh,ch are 10 achieve nalionai prosperity. bu,ld
a stable soc,ety. produce jobs for every citizen. and to raose
standardS of lOVing for the good of the ent,re society
DANTE A ANG
ChalfTl'lan
5
Office 01 the President 01 the Philippines
COMMISSION ON FILIPINOS OVERSEAS
MESSAGE
We are very pleased 10 extend our greetings al'ld ne.artJeA
coogratulations 10 this year's recipioots of lhe PreSldennai A-as
for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas ........
exemplary deeds and achievements have brought honc:I' to Ol¥
country and made a difference in the lives 01 our peoole n.e~
,brood
The first Presidential Awards were conferred on 1993 lD 12
Filipino individuals and organizations from too countnes Mole ~
a decade and 190 awardees laler. we continue to I"ooru" II"d
recognize our countrymen overseas for their exceptloilill ~
and accomplishments, It can well be said that ,I has t e
~
tradition for the Philipplfles 10 honor FihplflOS from an.......
lhe world for the good work they do to benefit our peop6e
For more than three decades now, the Philippines ,...._
been taking new measures to promote the interests d ~.. •
Overseas, Illnshtuled recogflltion of the balikbayan, rJ!itIts Clfllnd!
ownership of former Filipino citizens, exemption of Flhpn;I$ til:-.
tax on lflcome earned abroad and righls 01 former FihplllO"'''''.
to engage In certain enterp!"ises in the counlry, Laws ' - _
passed for the repatriation and reacqUiSll'on of F'hPlflQ~~:::
by Filiplnowomen, protection oftravoling minors and the···;
to extend logal assistance 10 p!"otect lhe rights of Its
abroad Last year, two landmark measures became law- . . . . .
absentee voting, and dual citizenship to fully restore '!>e
political and economic rights of former Filip,no citiZens
The country has made a conSCioUS eflort to ctJltffi* ...:
strengthen its ties With those living or working OVefSeaS. -.f
nurture a sense of community among fellow FII,p,nos abrOId...,
those al home. 11 will continue to lemlorce the bond ...et ::AI
overseas commUMies in a changing world where Jl1()Il! .and I"VW
of our COUnlrymen are expected to live or work aWay "'om_
Agalfl, our Slflcerest congratulations, and bes' .. $ _ _ b
Chrislmasand the New Year
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JOSE Z MOLANO ~""
Executive D,rect:Y
,
The Ungkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (LiNKAPIL) Award is conferred
on Filipino associations or individuals for exceptional contribution
to progress and development in the Philippines
Awardees
Sa riel G.G. Ablaza, M.D.
United States of America
Arsenio R. Martin, M.D.
Guillermo B. de Venecia, M.D.
United Stales of America
Marie Bernabe-Nihei
Japan
Filipino Chamber of
Commerce of Hawaii, Inc.
Alfredo T. Tesalona
United States of Amenca
Benjamin A. lIeto, M.D.
University of the Philippines
Medical Alumni Society in America
International Network of
Filipinos Overseas
Visayas-Mindanao Cultural
Association e.V.
Germany
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Some overseas Filipinos look 81 the Philippines and ~y feel" nostalgia
from haVIng !Joeen away, 100 long Some look 81 the coonlry- wIth fervent
determ,nal,OO 10 somehow return and contnlXlte 10 ItS future Or Sari'll Al:>Iaza,
a prominent cardio-tho'aClc surgeon in New Jersey is ooe of those committed
to mak,ng a difference, and has indeed given Dac!< something very meanir>glul
in o;rat,tude to the country
Born in Hagoooy. Bulacan in 1921, Dr Ablaza obtained his pre-medical
300 mOO,,;,,1 de!1ees 'rom the UmverSlly olthe Philippines aod finished h,s residency "I the Maryland General
Hosp,tal in 5a tlmore be/Oft! be<;omlng a well·known alld respected medIcal pracht.or>er at the Alben E,nsteio
Medical Center ,n Philadelphia He ga,ood the adm,ra~oo of his collea~es lor being an excellent clinical prac1Jhoner,
educator and researcher, having also laught a\ the Temple Un,verslty School of MedlC,ne and the Medical College
of Pennsylvania and Hosp'lal al Ph,ladelphia He has received numerous cital,ons in the Phil,pplnes and Ihe
United States, and has wntten and potll,shed over40 academicdissertallons ,n vanous Inlemat onal joornals
Truly an exemplar of filiPino Ingenuity and excellence. Dr. AOIaza made several pioneer,ng Innovallons in
the repa;r and treatmenl of damaged human aorta, In Ph,ladelphia, he owns the d,sllnctlOn of being Ihe f,rsl to
Implanl a Biolfonik Nuclear Belaeel cardiac pacemaker. His life· saving innovatlons were greal strides in the quest
to prolong and ,mprove Ihe qualily of hfe of persons suffering from heart Illnesses
Dr. Ablaza is a stafwart among Filipino surgeons in America, having been the preSident of the Phihpp,ne
Society of filip,no Surgeons of America and founder and first chairman oflhe Board of the Phillpp;ne Surgeons
Chari~es. Incorporaled. Beyond lhe confines of the operating table, he served as lhe Presidenl of the Philippine
EconomicAlld Cullural Endowmenl (PEACE). a US based charitableorganizallonfrom 1994·1996, It was dunng
hiS lerm as ils Artes'an WellS Commiltee Chairman Ihal he I,nked PEACE w,lh lhe Commission on Filipinos
Overseas to conSlruct potable wafer SOIJrces for underpri ....leged commun,Ues In lhe Philippines. 11 was also <1.... '09
h,s lerm as preSident of PEACE thallhe organlzabon was awarded Ihe "l,ngkod sa Kapwa Pilipino Award" dunng
lhe t 996 Presidential Awards for Filipino Ind,viduals and Organ'zat'ons Overseas
Forever gratelullo his alma mater. Dr Ablaza has lime and again supported lhe advancement oflhe
facully and students of Ihe University of lhe Ph,llpplnes' College of Medicir>e Upon being nominated as liS first
"Balik"Professo('in 1981. he regularly ViSited the college and has been involved in the lrainlng ofltssludents and
residents As a testament to his dedicatIOn in Improv'ng the qual,ty of medical ,nstrucbOn. Dr. Ablaza established
the Sanel Ablaza and Andie Ablaza professorial cha,rs ,n 1983 and 2000. respectively, The Sariel Ablaza
Professonal Cha"wB$ noted for being the first pro/essonal chair funded by an ,nd'vo:jualn the college, ushenng In
a movement from olher alumnllo support more lhan 80 professorial cha;rs In the College of Medicine
Dr. Ablaza s dedication to the UP College 01 Med,cine did not end there He went as far as dona~ng
persona funds 10 UP College of Medicine for the setllng up of a s<;holarship fund ,n 1990 to help needy oot
deserving medical sludents. The fund provo:jes poor scholars wilh tUlllOn fees, books and liv,ng expenses for tile
enbre four years of the" medical education Now re~red from med'cal pract,ce, he has consistently shown IIcs
personailOterest in h,s s<;holars by commuting regJlarly from the U"led States to Ihe Ph<liPplnes aro:l correspondng
with lhem regularly to keep himself Informed of t!)e;r progress.
In confernng lhe Lin!Jkod Sil Kapwa Pl'llpino Award to Dr. Sarie! Ablaza, Ihe Presdenl recognozes a ,ofe llf
de<!icatoc service to the prolessklnal advancement of filipjno surgeons, and hiS unwaveong support to tile faculty
students, and the Un'verSily of the Philippines Co'lege of Med'clne as a whole
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United States ofAmenca
Sad as ,t is. the pred,camenl 01 a coos;derable number 01 Filipinos who
are blind and many more who are v'sually impa"ed. 's almost Inconsp1CUOUS in
our society. In lhe Philippines, lhe leading cause ofbhndness is cataract, which
accounts lor around 400,000 cases every year. Although \he trealment of cataract
is s,mple and effectIve, many people ,n po<)" prOVinces 01 the Philippines canoot
afford thIS ope,ahon. a procedu,e that is consKlllfed rout,ne in many places
Thanks to Dr Gu,llermo de Venocla, poor people in the provinces need nOl live
In darkness
In 1979. Dr de VeneC13establ'shedthe Free Rural EyeClinic(FREC}~a permanent OlIt·pa~entSUfgicai
cenler located ,n Bolasi, San Fabian. Pangas,nan, The first of ilS krnd ,n lhe Phihppines FREC providfl's /rei! eye
care to a reg'on Wllh around 5-7 millioo p<Jlenl al patients. SInce ilS incepboo, FREC has benefited Indigent
patll!flts from PangasLnan, Tarlac, Nueva EClJa, La Umoo lIocos&.rr andZarrbales. and the outly'ng provinces of
Nueva Vlzcaya, Ifugao and Isabela. Truly one of a krnd, FREC even funds travels. meals and lodging of poor
cataract patients who VIS;t the clInic from distant provinces Because of FREC. lhousands of sight_,mpaired
F",p,nos from the northern and southern part of Luzon who could nOl afford to pay, were able to Sei! agaIn
Spanning two decades of provKllng free slghl-saving and sighHesloring operat'ons to the indigenl catarac1
blind patients. Dr de VeneCla has served more than 16,500 indigent pat,ents;n the Philippines. Each year. he
gives up his one-month vacalion from Wisconsin, U SA where he lives as a permanenl res,dent and a wellrespected ophlhalmologist, 10 vis,l his homeland 10 perform eye surgery. He has also SO"clted support from
vanous donors in the Unned States, del,venng to lhe d,nle loads of medical equ'pment. ,ndudlng ope'atng lables,
beds and mallresses,
Dr. De Veneda afso successfull'y encouraged Ihe spllit of volunteensm among h's f~low sl.ngeons m Ihe
Unrted Slates and In the Ph;lipp<nes As a visiting professo, at lhe Univel1lity of Sanlo Tomas In ManIla, Dr. de
Venocia ,equested all ophlhalmology res'dents to take lra,n,ng at FREC. HIS early volunteer optltrlalmologiSls
were membel1l of the Assoc,alion of the PhihpP'nE! Ophthalmolog,slS In Amenca {APOAI ...mo late, became
graduates" of the Freil Ru'al Eye ClinIC, eSlabilshlng satellile eye cJinlcs in va~ous ,emole goverTlmefll-run
hosp,lals in the Phillpptnes
Dr de Veneeia's enthusiasm and generosity as well as his tremendous ded,cabOn to \be ~ of those
who are ,n need have 001 gone unnoliced In ,ecoglll'oo of h,s conl,ibutrons to the medICal ~n and for
ded;cat,ng his OJtstandlng pe'sonal efforts and sk, Is on behalf of h,s feliowmen, !tie ~ ~demy of
Ophlhalmology conferred him the 2001 ·Outstandlng Humanitarian Service Award" He """'5 ~:l'joll>e Stale
Med,cal Society ofWiscons,n as "Physician ot the Yea,";n 2(JOO and ·Outstandlng Saoor-~· by the
Univel1l'ty of Santo Tomas Medical Alumni Associalion in America in 1999 Now rellre<: "'7' Toe tr",ers,ty of
W;sconsln-Mad,son as a Professo, Emeritus afte, 42 yearsofleaehll\g and shanng nos
QOhltlairTllc
pathology, Or. de Venecia was also a reclp,enl of lhe Wlscons;n Academy of Ophtl\all 0<:9, s W "?res dent s
Awa'd- and the Amencan Academy of OphlhalmOlogy's "Honor Award"
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Dr de Venecia believes lhat his service to Ihe poor IS largely influenced II} Dr ~ ScI:
.. a Nobei
Peace P~ze winner tor decades of med'cai service in Africa. He ,ealized at an ~ ao;Jl! . . . . . .
" I,fe was
to provide free med,cal services for lhe po<)", "Anyone who bears the d'fficulty of ;pro;
:.::e- .. can onl'y
be poor: Or de Venecia expla,ns "If you can help it, you'll certainly dosoo>etr:wor;l'-" JG- _,.cu- sight"
..
In conferring lhe LJngkod sa Kapwa PiiJpino Awa,d to Dr, Gu erma oe "";:~:"::p:::,::::,:,:::,:~:."zes
his unparal""led dedication and COlmlitment to improvOg tt'!! ives ofbl..-c ~ I'k:
• .. ...
,W'men!
of the F,ee Rural Eye Clin,c whleh alms to give them new hope and a sec::n;: _
..
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GW"0lliO- 'tihamber 01
Yf::"mmer-ee olQ/{:(((,U(i~ Qf;/c.
Um/ed Slales of America
Filipinos In Hawaii have gone along way from being sugar plan1abon worke.s in lhe eal1y l!lOOs to
becorniog move.s In the State's poli1lcal. social and econorruc affai.s. Today. Fli<pinos In Hawaii have a powel1ul
vok;e In business and Industry government and the community atlar9'l pal1ly due 10 organizations suctl as the
Fil,plno Chamb(lr of Commeroo of Hawa.'
Known as tOOoldesl and ;a'9'lsl chambel of commelce founde<l by Filipino bUSinessmen In 100 Unile<.!
Slates. FCCH was eSlablished In 1954 ma'nly 10 broaden economic opponuMIes for Filipino entrep,eneurs and
member businesses. S1renglhen business links b(llweefl Hawal, and the Ph,lipPineS assist in lhe professiona'
growlh of ilS members; and suppon the well-being of the Filipino community
To !ties(! ends. FCCH has fostered the besllnlerest of Filiprno enlrepreneu.s in the Hawaii Islands tlYough
trade promobon, pohcy advocacy. neiwOfklng 0pPCInuMIes. and several olt>er programs aimed at improving lhe
qUality of life of Filipinos in Hawaii and In lhe PtlIIippjnes FCCH initiated !fade missions as eal1y as !he 70's,
which. after gaining the suppon of the State of Hawaii's Department of Busmess. EconOmIC Development and
Tounsm, b(lcame a regulaf annual event in the '90s, Trade missions have g.eatly increased opportunrti<:!s for
Hawaii businesS(!s to m3lket their S(!I1Ik:<:!s and products in the Phillpp,nes, and at the same lime, enabled
Fihplnos to se~ theirproducls in Hawaii In addibon. the Chamber has been instlumental in orgamzing seminars
ami worksi"o:)ps; COflducting tours for Hawaii VISLtorS: and introducing them 10 !t\elr Filipjno business counterparls
for possible pal1nerst'ips ami joint ventures.
No other prtvate non-profot enhty In Hawaii can rival FCCH's accolflllishments in the promotion 01 business
and invtlSlmenlsoppol1uni~es in the Phi Ippmes. Since 1991, lhe Chamber has been sending annual business
detegallons 10 meet wl1h local government otflClals In the Ptlilipp;nes and examine the prospects of expanding
their businesses in lhe country. The chamber conclUded ils 18'" Trade MiSSIOn to the Phlliwines In No~embe'
2003, ha~,ng ~Isiled Baumgas, Bacolod, San CarloS in Negros Or>ental, and the National Capilal Region. As a
testament to Its commilment in promol,ng good relat"o)ns belween bUSlne5S commun,tles m Hawa" and lhe
Philippin(!s. !11(1 chamber facilitale<.! the eSlL'blrstrnent of twinning afTllngements between sevtlral ci1Jes and proWK:es
In the Philippines and the stale and coumies of Hawa". At present, the Clty of Honolulu has SiSler-City relat,ons
WIth the Cily of 8agulo, Vlgan, Laoag, Cebu and Manila and fnendshlp-Clly .elahons WIth 14 eWes all o~er lIle
Phihppines
Under the leadership ofMr_ Vergel de DIOS, FCCH hasencou.aged Filipino entrepreneurs 10 star! and
expand lIleir businesses an<:l offered Sjleclal assistance to small·scale entrepreneu.s. Each year. the Chambef
awards an Entrepreneur of/he Year and Young Enlrepreneurof l/Ie Year to p6'soos wIlo are of Filipino dllSC*rt
FCCH also administers a scholarsh,p program to send students of Filipino ancestry to local unLvers,hes
Th.ough the years. FCCH has undertaken se~eral oomanitafian ac1MtilIS In lhe PMppines Wh,ch IfIdudR
among ofhe.s, fund-raising activity to help victims of the Pinatubo eruption in the eafly '90s, donation of It.......
equipment to Isabela and Zarrboanga del Sur Provincial Hospitals, financial assislance for a medical ,.,
Batangas and financial donation to an orphanage in Manila FCCH has also taken lIle lead 10 help ~idnlS or...
BASECO r.re in Ton<:lo, Manila through monetary and matelial donations
In con/elTlng lhe Lingkod 5a Kapwa Pllipino Award lolhe Filipino Chamber of Cornrnerc. 01 ~ ...
President recognizes ItS invaluable contribution ,n culti~ating the enlrepreneunal sp,nt 01 F I~'~OS" ~ •
well as ils foie in promol1ng Philippine ecooomlc interests through its trade promouon acbVl!le$
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Umted States ofAmerica
New York is home to many F,lipinos, who. by sheer hard wOIk and
diligence have earned the respectol1heir peers and Ihecommun,ly at large Or
BenJamm l,clO 's One shIning example
A pmctlClng anestheSlologisl and Board D"ector at Parkway Hospital
In FOIest H,iis, New York. Or lleto was c ted by Ihe New York CIty Council in
"Jovember 2003 to recognize his exemplary Se(v,C" to the Fi' p,no Amencan
community In March 2004 he receIved lhe 'Dos~ngu,shed Se..... ice Aw,ud' 'rom
lhe Phillppme - New York Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees I, Inc. for h,s excephonalleadcrsh,p qualllLes
and outstanding record 0' personal ach,,,vements and se..... ice to the commuruty fOl the paSllhre.. decades
Am,dst h's material and profess,onal success, and the comforts of loVing as a phYS'Clan In the Unlled
States Dr. Ileto neverfa',ledto look back to hIS humble beginnings Grol'>mg upin Tondo, Manda In Ihe 1950s. he
w,tnessed first-hand the swellmg poverty that sadd'ed many F.I,pLnos in lhe depressed area. A product of public
schools. he developed hiS sense 01 act""sm, deep social conSCiousness and cOmpaSSIOn dunng those early
yea's
A dedicated phys,cian, Dr. Ileto has proven himself as a man wllh a big heart for his underprivileged
kababayans. especially Filipino ch.!dren who have been affl,Cled I'>,th life-threatening illnesses. In 2001 ,Or lIeto
sponsored an eye surgery for a three-monlh old child from Iloilo who was congeMally bl,nd in both eyes due to
prenatal compl,calLons. The chtld was brought to Man,la and surgery was successfully performed. Once again, in
2()()4, Dr, lleto. through the Phlllpp.ne Gf! of life Foundation. sponsored another life'saving m,ss,on where a dy.ng
lhree·yearold boy was flown Irom Tagbilaran City 101he Unned States for an emergency heart surgery Suffering
from multiple $<Iver" heart defects. VICtor "Orldoy' Galab III .......as g,ven only four monlhs to live when he underwent
meoperallon. On May 14 when hewenthome tothe Ph.lipplnes. he was vibrant and full oliile Forhis humaruta"an
seNice in helping bring to the Umted Slates several FI pino chlldren who needed lif~~saving medical treatmonl and
for provid;ng assiSlance 10 olher less fortunale youngslers in the Ph" 'ppines, he was cited by lhe F p.no Heritage
Foundalion asone of 10 "Outstanding FillplnoAmericans".n 2004
Dr Ileto's role as a staunch commun,ty leader.s man,lested In h.s Involvemenl as founder and ;eaderof
vanous community organizations ,n the United States He is among the few community leaders ",ho are in the
forefront 01 the campa'gn 10 break lhe Silence and shame surround,ng the HIV epidemic ",hen he JOIned the Asian
PaCIfic Is!anders Coalit,on Against HIV-AIDS (APICHA) From 1998-2002, he provided V'S'OO. wisdom and support
to the organlzalion as Its advLsor and board member. He is also a founding member of the Home Reach FoundalJon,
an organil1lbon that supports various m"dical mlSS.ons In th" indlgenl communlt,~'S in the Phil,ppines through the
help of several Fillp.no doctors overseas. Or. lIelo has also se.....ed as board member for the F. ,p,no American
Human SCNices Inc. (FAHSI)and the Phllopr-ne Forum.
For many years, Dr. Ileto has lent hiS leadership abililies and talenls to help organize F Ip,no communily
projecls and events including the Youth Empowerment Seminars, Fil p,no Worker Empo",erment Programs
Phil,ppine Stlldics Summer Program, and Computer Literacy and Empowerment lor the Ad~ancement of RlghlS
(CLEAR) Pr~ect
In conferring the Lingkod sa Kapwa P,l,plOoAward to Dr Benjam,n A ilelO, the President recognizes his
pivotal role as lounder and leader 01 va"ous Fllip;no organizations .n the Un,led States whose humanitarian
projects touched the hves of numerous peopl" I~ the Ph.l,pp.nes especlal'y hiS le-savmg InllLat,ves for less
fortunale Fillp;np ch 'dren
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United $tatesD{AmfJnca
Home is whe<e the heart is. This aXH;r!l reminds us of overseas Fllip,nos, who, despite phYSical absence
from the Philippines remain Filipinos at heart One noteworthy example is the International Nelwo<k of Filipinos
Overseas Guided bya sense of affinity tu tellow F' IpII\OS, INFO's foundlng memoors corrposed mainly 01 physicians,
academlOans, and prominent commun,ty leaders. ~aying s9"uflCant roles In their respecbve commumlles abroad,
heeded the call to re;nviguate bes thattNnd them together and established this global netwO<k,
INFO Shined in 199t as a gathenng 0134 Filipinos overseas who W(!re conterred the PresidentLaI Awards
lor tlJe;, contribution to Phllippme eCQllomic and rehabilitation programs. Subsequently registered as a charitallle
o<ganization undor the U.S Nonprofit Corpuation Law its goal was mainly to establish and maintain linkages
among FII,pinos overseas in support of development eflorts for the home country
Since ItS ,nception. memoors 01 INFO have regularly assembled and provided venues tor dlscuss,ng
major issues affecting both the Phu,pp,nes and overseas Fihpmo CQmmumtJes. In the beginmng. the ISSUes
centered on the concerns of Ame<as'ans. Fil,plno WWII Veterans and other community iniMUves In Phlladelphlil
where tNFO is based Then in 1if98, in tima wrth too celebration of the centenmal 01 Philippine indopandenre,
pionee<s 01 tNFO reconvened in Manila /uthe Sig!o PNiplno conference to recapture too genuine sptrit 01 partnership
and internalize the VISJQfl defined dUring its tumahve stages. The Siglo conlerenw successtully gathered F,hpino
corrmuMy leade,s trom a'l (Iller U.S., Austra"a, EUfopa. As'a and the Middle Easl to keep them abiaaslol the
development needs of the Philippines and to dralt a progam of aCbon 10< glOater involvement in development
efforts al home
Takingolt hom ea,lim gains of the S,glo Conference. INFO and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas
organiZed INFO 2000 T,p/tn/tn sa Maynilaconference and the 2002 Satellite Consultation /u too FiI,..no seafarers'
National ConllMflon. The Tpanan confefl.!noo gathered about 2500verseas F' IplflO comml.f\ity leaders and members
fu a dialogue on the challenges ladng overseas Filipinos in the context 01 m,gratJOIl reallll\!S and tormulate a ~an
ofaction to help the.. disadvantaged kababayansat home,
Fu the past 10 years. INFO has been a tormidabJe partner of the 9O\Iernment through ItS humanitarian
missions in different underselVed prOVinces in the Phillppmes. iNFO has helped organ'ze medical missIOns.
donaled food SlUffs. medicines and medical equipment. as well as provided aid to vicbms 01 calamities in lhe
Philippine counlrysida. In 2001 and 2004. INFO conducted medlcat missions in Ihe provinces of Ouezon and
MlndUO, respeclNely. givmg tree med~1 consultations and dislribuling sevcra! b8likbayan boxes alree me<llCtles
to the poor constlluents 01 Oolues and Calapan. To assist Ihe Victims of the Mayon Volcano eruption in 2001.
INFO raised and donated a sum of Pl50,OOO to the Philippine National Red Cross lor its rescue ClpCrabons. Once
mote in 2002, INFO donated several baltkbayal1 boxes 01 medicines 10 the Philippine General Hosp,tal and other
Metro Manila hospitals INFO also donatad dialYSIS machines 10 savaral govarnmanl hospitals beoof,ling charity
ward pat~ts in Bulacan. Cavlte, MelroManJla and Cagayan Valley
INFO is also involved in advancJng too cause of distressed FI'lpmos overseas in one particular event ,n
1997. members 01 INFO bonded together to support and rescue a Filipino who was languishing in prison in New
Jersey. Understandmg Ille difficulties lacl"ll Filipino seafarers laOOtI"ll ,n II stra"lle land. the ugaflzalion sponsored
a Christmas party for Fihplno seafarers whose ships had docked al Ph,ladelpia ,n December 2002
In CQl\femng the LmgkodsB Kapwa Pilipll10Award tothe IntematJonal Networll of Fil'p'lf>QS Overseas, the
Pres":1ent reCO\llllzes <Is Important ro:e In promOlJng strOl\g<;!f tl\!S be!w<)en overseas Filipinos and the mo\llef1and
and its laudable efforts in undertaking humanitarian proJaclS in \he PhilippJoos,
"
United Stales ofAmenca
Dr Arsenio R. Martin exemplIfies the story 01 many Filipino medIca'
gldduales who rose to the pinnacle of success In foreign lands t>ecause 01
profeSSional competence and a deMOnSlraled coml1ilMenllo hUManitarian
goals
Upon finishing his Medical degree lrom lhe Fal Eastern University SChool
In 1967, he migraled Iothe Un,led States. and lhrough perseverance
and hard work rose to become the only FIlipIno AMerican Chief ReSIdent in the
famous Cook County Hosp~al in Chicago. Having passed (he licensure and board cert'fications in Ihe Slales of
IllInois and Texas, he went on to assume various pos,tions of sOgnlfocance In \he executive and governing boardS of
several major hosp,tals In OOth stales. Or. Mart,n currentl1 serves as Cha,rman ofthe Department of Medicine at
Christus St. Mary Hospilal, Medical Direclor of Dubuis Hospllal (long Term Acute Care Hosp,tal), and Board
MemDer and Treasurer of SI. Mary Hospital Foundation (Children's Mnacle Network Foundation),
oI~'edicine
Because of lhe respecl he earned /rom his colleagues, he is easl11 able to enlist lheir support each tIme
he organizes medical and surgical miSSIons to places in the PhIlippines. Dr Martln's involvemenlin hUManilarlan
work beganwllh ttle Mt Pinaluboeruplion in 1991 where hespearhea<led a campaign to organi1e a Medicalleam
composed of FilipIno medIcal profeSSIonals froM the Uniled Stales, While also cooducbng a fUnd ralsjng campaIgn
of about US$40,OOO, for lhe victIms of lhe eruption
Insp"ed by the success of hIS caMpaIgn for Ml Pinatubo \/ICbms, he organlzf!C olher medical ana surgical
mssloo ~eams to tile Phil>pp,nes composed of fe low memoers from lhe Texas AssOCla~oo of PhilJppine PhYS'Cl1lns
(TAPP) where he served as presicenl from 1992·2002. Among lhe beneficiaries of his medical mISSions are the
provInces of Palawan, 1I0cos Norte, and the lowns of San Jose, Pandacan and Culasi in Anhque
In e.ery medical miSSIon, Dr Martin sees 10 illhallhe mission is amply supplied wllh mediCInes and
other medical paraphernal,a which they donaled 10Coopefallng hOSpitals upon completion of lheir mission. Dr
Manin has been working wjth several foundatlOOs in the United Stales to send medIcal equipment to hospItals in
(he Philippines such as lhe Phl'ippine General Hospital and Ihe Roque Ablan lIacos Norte Provincial Hospilal
Every 1ear a team of volunteer doclors composed offellow Te.as-based phySICIans and surgeons goes to the
Phlllppmes to renoer free l1edlcal services specmcally jn underserved provln<;es needIng medical care and anentroo
Dr. Martin has also extendeCI assistance to distressed FilipInos in the United States far beyond the call of
duty. He .....e ntas far as offering hIS home and personal funds to those who are in elte need. On one occasion, he
extendeCI assistance to a young Fillpina who 10SI her scholarsh,p in Texas. Dr Martin also e'lenced financial
assIstance to support the medical needs and prO\lidec free board and looglng to two stranded Filipino seamen,
one of WhOl1 met an accident and hall severe Injuries, whl e the other had developed lung cancer, Alllh'ee olthe,.,
ha.enow joined lheorfam.'les In the Philippines
In recogn.tloo of h,s outstanding commItment in bettering the I v,ng coodll<onS of F~Ip.nos in the P~i1ipp.nes
and the Unr.ed Sta'.es, Dr. Martin re<:ewed ttle "Humanitarian Awaro' froM ttle Amefican Co!iege 01 Chest Phys;cl1lns
Foundat,on in 1998 and ,n 2003. a citation for "Dislinguished HUManilanan Servlce'"from the Ph, pplne House of
RepresentatIves ,n 2003: and "Oulslanding Alumni Awards" lrom the Associat,on of Phlllpp'ne PhysiCians In
AMerica and the FEU DNR MedIcal Foondatioo InS:I:ute. Dot~'n 1992
'n conferring theLingkodsa Kapwa PilipinoAward to Dr Arsenio R Martin, the PreSident recognizes h.s
humanltanan zeal and deep compasSion for his counlrymen as demonslrated by the counlless Med ca' and
surgical miSSLOOS he organized and led in different parts of the Philippines
Japan
~,)
When destiny drove Marie "Mayang' Bernabe,Nlhei to work In Japan,
she Only thought ot keepIng her family get by WIth their needs lillie d'd she
know Ihat there was more In store for her
80m second of 13 children, Ms N,he,left Cabanatuan, Nueva Edja in
1980 after graduating Irom hlQh school, No aunt had encouraged her to become
a Cultural dancer like herself, Although she had olher oplions hke Slaying with
anQIher ~unl in london. she chose Japan to help her family and was one olthe
four out of t50 appl.cants who made II to a Tokyo-bound cultural dance troupe
I
In Shinjuku, Ms Nihei met her would-be husb~nd, Tabo. the only son of a tuna broker in Tsuk,ji. Ihe
lamous Tokyofish market Theygot married soon and had !wOchlidren. Maiko and Seuchi. Since then, Ms. N,he,
deCIded to center her life on famIly and stay In Japan. She went to great lengths to learn various aspects of her
adoptive country's culture, indud,ng its language. food and tra<lltions. Polite. humble, ca"ng and respons,ble. her
qua lilies immedialely endeared her to everybody in the household and eventually gaine<! hef respect in tne
community. In 1993. Ms. N,he, and her husband opened the Yanagawa sushi bar In Tokyo which eventually
became famous for being owned by a Flilpina (Ms Nihei) who serves exceilent Sushi In trad'lional Japanese
lashion. The Yanagawa sushi bar eame<! regular loyal cuslomels from nearby unIversities, govemment ward
offices and even those from farthef places Not a few famous Filipinos vIsItIng Tokyo have alsO gone to the place
Ms Nihei did not sit on her success or her b1ess,ngs. Inste~d. she reached out to do something about the
pover1y and hardship she saw While growing up in Nueva Ecija. Through a Ph<llpplne contact. she helped the
Nueva ECija voluntary blood donation campaign, which became an ongoing soc'al work Material donatrons were
sent from Japan to help create awareness among potential blood donors. Throu~ her, tokens from Japan SUCh as
'adios and heanng a,ds were given to donOfs She also posted a sign insLde her sushi restaurant asking lor
donations 01 all kInds for the blood program. To her surpnse, many customers responded to the call. When a
Japanese broadcast medIa interviewed her for being the Filip,no owner of a sushi bar ,n Tokyo, Ms Nlhei maoa a
plea lornon·llnanclal materialdonatloos /orthe Nueva ECJja program. SInce then. people ~nd NGOs from allover
Japan responded by sending lowe Is, dentures. heanng aIds, transIstor radLos, and computers. among other
~ems She used her savings from the sushi baf for shippIng these Items and other expenses
MS. Nihei a'so supports several olher communlty-oriented prOjects of the proVInce of Nueva Ec;ja such as
lhe campaIgn aga,nst illegal drugs, publiC awareness campaign on the HIV dlsease, and tree plant,ng ac1ivLlLes
With the assistance of lhe Tokyo government. she soliCIted an ambulance unn for a hospOlal tn Nueva EC'Ja. Up to
now, she regula~y sends donations such as computers, spOrl$ ilems and other goods to Nueva Ecija earning for
Ms. Nihelthe pel name 'Nogel of Nueva ECija."
Dunng her spare time, Ms Nihei involves herseW in a number 01 $Ocio-<:iVlc acbvilLes in Japan She is the
founder and forst presIdent of JANE (A.$SOClalion 01 Nuevo Ecijanos in Japan). an aSSOCiation that was eSiablished
WIth the aim of helpmg distresse<! Fifipinos ,n Japan and in tM Philippines. She is the current preSIdent of TeaflO
K8n10. a theatrical group that alms to laster friendship. education, theatrlcal ans and enhance Fihpino .mage
abroad She is afso a repor1er of the DWNE radio station in the PhihPPlnes and a member of the Japanese-F plno
Golfers' AsSOCIation,
In conferring the Lingkod S8 Kapwa '''''p<no Awan::llo Mane "Mayang' Bernabe·NLhel the Presodent
recognizes herbreless and selness efforts in prOViding assLstanCe to the people 01 Nueva Ec,ja espec.allyto ns
voluntary blood donation program,
"
QV!7/"",1o efT (l;ibalo"a
United Stares of America
When lhe pohl,cal triumph of the 1986 EDSA Revolution ushered In
democracy for Ihe Philippines, It also opened an opportunity tor AI/'eIlO T
Tesalona to change the lives of his countrymen. ReturnIng to the Philipp"'".
after 11 years 01 stay in the US., Mr Tesalona was s!lucI< by the misfonunes
brOl<ghl about by pove<ty in his hometown. Lubang Island. OCCl<lental M,n<lo<o
He came ll<"OS$ ailir>g people who cannot afford to buy medlane 0< """k medIcal
s"Nices. He met young bUI ptom,sing h'gll school gradual<lS who ha." no
meMs 01 earning a college degree or rlndlng a job
Sllortly after ,eturning 10 New York. Mr Tesalona loOl< til" initiali •• 01 eSlabhshing an orgaoozalion whIch
"n.... sloned to help allev'ale 'Ome 0/ I!>e pressing problems 01 tlis kababayans back home. Thus. the Lubang.Looc
Intematiooal (LlI) was founded in 1987_ Wllh M,. Tesalona at rts helm. The Lli. WIth active chapters in California,
New Vork, and New Jersey in the U $., and Ali)etta and T(I(ontoin canada, ~imslO p'omote edu<:a~onalptograms,
rel",1 undertakings. and .mall .cale projects in lubang and looc, another munlclpaloty In Occodental Mindoro. In
an e'fort to Involve Fillplno youlh ,n the U $. to actovely pam:lpale ,n the organizatoon'. p'ograms and services, he
alS<l orgamze<j the III YoothNet In 2000. PrIOr to found,ng lhe lll, ~'" Tesa'on~ wa. !tit presodent 01 the Mlndo'eoos
U.S.A. and Tilik Soao-CI"c OrganlZaloon. He taugh! In dlfferenl colleges ,n ManUa and the Blcol a'ea, and was
employed a. an analy.l in New YD<k and New Jersey·based companies
The lll's mlltor obleClive is 10 prOVIde ~nan6a1 a",stance to Unde'p'iVlleged dese",mg .llJdent. Ihrough
ilS scholarship ptogram, especoally among households wh,ch do nOl have college·educated members. As of
March 2(104. the scholarship prog'am had already a,ded 105 SlUdenl$, most of lhem haw>g tamed 1lle" college
d,plomas and al,eady gaInfully employed M'. Tesalona, who beheves that l~ human m...d is too p,ecioos a
,esource to be wasted by lack 01 opPO'lun,bes for formal hlghe, edUC<ltlon. also sohClts from othe' ptivate
SponSorShiPS fo' deserving applicants nOl chosen by the LLI'. different chapters tn order to motivate and boost
the,r drIVe to excel, he m",ntalns regula, correspondence ,..;th lhe scho'ars, at tomes g;violl them personal advice
on Ihe" academIc and pe,sonal O;;rcumslances. He also organiZes teadership se",Inars and w"tlng wD<kshops to
stlOents, inspon"'G and ~a<lUlg 1llem 10 greater heights in the" chosen field 01 endeavor
As tt>e incumt>em exeCUllve dl'ector of Lll, Mr Tesalona is often 'elied upon in organlZinll LLfs D8!awbsysn,
medlC<lI misSIon program In the Phlhppines, and gift·givlng activities for people In his hometown. He is alS<l in·
charge 01 secu'ing fundIng lor lll's va'ious school ass,stance projects, 'ncIlJdi"ll book and othe' inSlnlclional
malMial donations to the PolytechniC UniversIty of the Phil<ppmes In Manola lind dlffe,enl schools in Occidental
Mlndo'o,
A seasonedlournallsl Wlltl moral cour3\le In search o/lrulh, M! Tesalona wntes Without fea, in sev",al
pubhcat"",s about controversial issues 0/ importance. including pollbcS ll1at d",,~ Fihponos 35 peop~ sonce the
earty 19605 Now se"'lng as LLI News' unpaid publ sher, ed,tor and one·man staff. he wntes aboul COUn1ryside
development fOCUsing on Lubang and looc's economic progress. HiS advocaCies espouse dvic and human~anan
work. as well as promole public awareness On cnllcal problems In ma,,'Iland Occl<lental M,ndo,o, such as
deforestabOn and poor infrastruc!U,e
M,. Tesalona. who works g'atis and even spends a sizable amourn 01 his own teSOUf'C8$ to pursue hIS
humanila"an viSion, sald, "II has always been a source of great sanctifying plea....!e seM<>g the community and
the LLI. The,e have been problem. buIll was worth all the sacnflces'- In 'ecognltlon of hIS exemplary service, he
was named "Outstandlr>g Communlly Leader" and accorded w'th the '19'94 New YD<k State Gove'nor's Awa'd"
and "HumanItarian Award" by lhe PhilIppine-New Yo'~ JUnlO' Chamber of Commerce Unde, hIS Ieadersh,p, 1I1e
LLI was confer'ed a PreSlden~al "Banaag Awa'd" in 2000
In conlemng the Lingkor;1 sa Kapwa Pillpino Award to Allredo T Teulona, the Presldenl ,ecogl1lzes hIS
philanltl'oplc deeds, lh'ough 1he eSlabl,shmenl of LUbang-Looc Inlema~onal which provdes free eduC<ltioo for
underpnvileged youth and worl<s to uplift ltle r,,,,,s of F,' pinos in Lubang alld Looc, Oc<:ldental M,ndo<'o
"
rrt
'<:JtlnilJeJ'-.Aty oltAe 9'1;tl lJU.u olt«ltrol
c9!luiliJU' 0%<'ldy /n CS"lmenea
United Stales ofAmerica
The past lour decades saw many Filip4no dOClotS leaving lhe Phil,ppones ,n searCh of better opportunities
for professional advancement However, fo'graduales of the Unlvel'5ity olille Philippines College of Medicine
(UPCMj in Amenca. an organizatIOn has assumed the task 01 maintaining lhe bes 0( Its members with the country
- the University ollhe PMpp,nes Medical Alumni Soetety of Amenca While though they serve across lhe UMed
Slales of America. members of lhe UPMASA r,nd JOY in helping people they lel1 behind. and in being of service to
their alma mater
Committed 10 the ideals of \heir alma mater and responsive to lhe needs of their fellow Filipinos, lhese
practice lhej, profession in the United Stales and Canada eslabllslled lhe UPMASA in 1980
<1$ a non.pro~t. phllanthropoc, educational and scientific soaely UPMASA's founding group led by its firsf president
and 2002 Presidential awardee Dr. COsmeCagas, laid the grouJ\dWo<k and gave the organzalion a solid foundafion,
produ~ 01 UP who
Today. aller almost a quar1er of a century, UPMASA is reo:>gnized as a formIdable ally In the development
of the UPCM, providing continulllg support 10 its affiliate, file Phihpplne GeneraJ Hospital. in the quest for academic
and scienhfic excellence, and In its goal to elevale the standards of medical education and health care in the
Philippines
With 12chaplers in America and a51 ,9 mllhon alumni conlribubon in its Permanent Endowment Fund as
of 2004. fhe aSSOClatlon has provided significant finandal suppon for vanOUS projects and programs of the UPCM
in c:ommunily-oriented medical education, research and St!NlCe UPMASA has been involved in fOOJlly development
by conduCllllg workshops, semnal'$ and felloWShIps here andabroad, estabJlshing professorial <:half'S and providing
grants for postgraduate education. UPMASA also provides scholarship for UP medical studenfS At present. il
suppons 25 scholaf'S at UPCM UPMASA has also supported physical improvements for Ihe UPCM such as the
renovation of lecture and laboratory halls, donatIOn of modem laboratory equipmenl and computerization of the
UPCM Due to the effons of the UPMASA, UPCM became the firsl college to have a medical informatiCS un~ and
IS the only ins~tutlon in the counlry which is presently undenaking comprehensive research in health information
managemll1ll.
In suppon of fhe UP PGH, UPMASA has funded purchases of medicines and other heallhcare needs Of
indigent pa\1ents and children under the D,rect Observatoon Treatment Program of the hoSpilal. It has also fUnded
purchase of medical equipment. as well as computer operabonal support for PGH wards arid medical staff offices
In 1995, UPMASA crealed the Cesium Project, a tnajor urnlenal<Jng that aims to assost in the radiotherapy of
cancer patients. As of 2003, an es~mated amount of 5260,590 has been disbuf'Sed by the UPMASA to support
the needsoffhe UPCM and UP PGH,
The orgarozation's generous contnbuflons and donations to tile College and PGH lhrough the years has
earned for Itself the honor of being awarded the "universtty of the Phiiippines Alumni Assocla~on Outstanding
Alumni Ch"llter' in 2001, arid the alation as lhe "Most Oulstarld,ng Medical AsSOCiation in America" from the
Philippine Medical ASSOCiation in America rn 2002
In these days when more and more skilled professionals leave fhe coumry for greener pastures in the
United Slates and elsewhere, il is hear1ening 10 hear aboul lhe work 01 UPMASA. The professional success
overseas of its members are in many ways shared with the instrtutions which have trained and nunured tilem,
In conferring the Llngkod sa Kapwa PillpinoAward to lhe Universlly of lhe Philippines Medical Alumni
Society of America, 11le Presidenl recognizes its immeasurable contribu~ons 10 file faculty, studenls, and Ihe
overall developmem of the Univef$jly of tile Phwippines College of Medidne, as well as its unmatched genefosily
in addressing the needs of paltents althe Philippine General Hospilal
"
0/&,//<14- (vllin<k( nau
Yfuuaral c!7kocialfmt c. .1/:
Germany
S,nce 1996, a group of civic-minded FilipinOS based In Germany have made their pre"ence fell by actively
supporting development efforts" !he Philippines. Members of !he VisayaS-Mlndanao cunu'al ASSOCIation seem
nOllo ha~e left the country, becoming mo<e and mo<e ~isible Ihrough Ihe growing number 01 ediOces buill In
Visayas and MIndanao through their efforts
VMCA was founded In 1996 in Ralir>gen, Germany Membe,sl'lIp In Ihe organizalion is open to Filipino
citizens or lhose 01 Flllp;ne> descent, as well as to fe>relgn nationals adhering te> the princIples e>f the assOClahe>n
Innially ConceIVed to pre>mole the culture and Ifad.tle>ns 01 Filip,ne>s in Ge.many th'e>ugh the he>khng of cultural
events and various festivities. VMCA has ge>ne a long way in helPIng impm~e hVlng conditions e>f Fil,plnos In the
Philippines,
For almost a decade now, VMCA has be<;ome increasngly active In (lfgan1Zlng and fLnancing development
P'e>jects and relief assistance te> needy ce>mmunllies in the country, Se>me of the very successful projects funded
by the VMCA are the coostructie>n of a barangay health cenler in Uloon, C(,bu and lhe bUIlding of medical and
heallh care fad hiles for the poor patients 01 the St Camillus Hosp;tal in Mati, Davao Onenlal. In its commitment
to address the health and sanitation needs of Indigent communilles lJl the Ph<;'ppines. VMCA also funded the
construction 61 communal rest rooms in Dapa, Surigao del Norte and Dalaguete. Celm, and potal:>le water SO\IfCe
In Janiuay. Iloilo, Added to these effOlts are a host e>f other prOjects such as the construction 01 waiting sheds,
multi·pu.pose hails, publIC markel lacmties, and scl1oo1, recreational and sports lacl11tles in ~arious cities and
municipalitieS in Visayas and Mlndanae>
While much of \he (lfganiza~on's effort has been focused 10 support ",frastrucl\lf(! prOJects in provinces in
central and southern Phil,pp;nes, VMCA has also answe'ed a number of immediate local needs by spearheading
nutrllion foo<ling programs for .....demounshed chldren of PanaboClty: distrlbutmg food and clolhllgto impovelistled
children, (lfphanS and victims of ftood and landshde In Tagum Clly Da~ao del Norte and Dapa, Sungao del Norte,
and donation of ~arious Items such as medICines and sports Items for the pobIlt<;,on and outlylng ba,angays of
Dapa, Sungao del Norte
SInce ,ts inception in t996, VMCA has benefitoo countk!ss CllleS and mun'Cipahtiesln $wthem Pllillpp;nes
Under the leaderst>p of Ms Teresita Del1a·GCllez, and with the support of 115 dedicaled membe's, VMCA has
become a solid foundation fo< the pl'omoti()fl of the interest of marginalIZed communl~es In southern Philippines In
the areas 01 infrastructure development, health eate and saMabon, chldren's welfare and aid te> vicIlms of caJam'\leS,
Indeed, thel, contribullon to dIstressed rommun,tles and municipaht es is a living emblem that poor local residents
are not alone in their slfuggle towards pf09ress and a beUe. way e>f Me
Eadl token of appreoabon .e<:elvoo by VMCA from thelf benekianes is modest compared to the depth of
grahlUde and appreCla~on fell by the peop~ who were relieved from tt>e<. dlfe s,tuallons by the rontnbullOns 01 the
organizabon. The nume'e>us projects they were In~olved WIth af(! leSlaments of thelf ce>mm,tmenl and doolcation
to the upliftment of \he lives of the" compatfle>ts back home Today, numerous projects a,e in the pipeline as
fa,thful membels of VMCA continue to face the challenges of mee~ng!he needs ofthe"less fortunate kDbilbeyans
in the Phlhppines
In conferring the LJngkod SD KDpw(l P~,pmcAwa.d to the Visayas-Mindanao CunuraJ ASSOCIation the
President rooognizes ItS ronbnUed commnmentto support IJllraslructure protects, hea th ca.e and relief programs
10 ane~late the pligh! of the impove"shed in remote provinces In cenlral and southern Philippines,
The Banaag Award is conferred on Filipino and foreIgn indiViduals
or aSSOCIatIons for advancing the cause of Filipino commumt,es
overseas. or for supporting specific sectors! commumtles
In the Philippines
Awardees
Imelda Vollenweider-Berdos
Switzerland
Filipino Cultural Club
Kuwait
Wilfrido J. Buhain, M.D.
Umted States of Amenca
Charlotte Godicke
Germany
Roland C. Casamina
Untted States of America
Home-Reach Foundation, Inc.
Canada
Centre for Filipinos
United Kmgdom
Hyehwadong Filipino
Catholic Community
South Korea
Virgilio G. Cuizon
Germany
Fiesta Filipina Dance
Troupe of Canada
Canada
Kinderhilfe Philippinen
Germany
Amor Ilao-McGuinness
Awardees
Alicia Natividad, Ll.B.
Canada
Evelyn D.A. Natividad, Ph.D.
Umted States of Amenca
Emma B. Nemivant
Umted States of America
Panday Tinig
Choral Ensemble
Canada
Philippine Australian
Sports and Culture, Inc.
Australia
Philippine Cultural
Foundation of Hawaii
Umted Slates of Amenca
Virgilio D.R. Pilapil, M.D.
Umted States o( Amenca
Lourdes A. Salazar
Hong Kong
Search to Involve
Piliplno Americans
United States o( America
Jean Paul Verstraeten
BelgIUm
r.Y;Ht>kla ~l:lk,wJ.(',<lcr- YJeJ<dOJ
--
Some F~,ponos hoirYe that knael< lor bnnging OUI the goOO OUI 01 .....
worsl. "SP""llg peoole 10 look .,10 the be$l lhe future has 10 O"ef Imelda
VoIlenWf!lder. BerOOs has !hal rate Quality 'lhe abI ,ry 10 look (11 OO_e<5,ty IIO(l
see hope lor bel:er ~mes
Ms, Vollenwe,der·Berdos is lhe PreSident ot BarangaY'PII,pono
SWltlerland, a roon-prolIl OIl:lsn':tabOn establLShed 10 promote IJOOd relations berl/&en Fi,poOO5 residing in SwllZlll1and
IIO(llheor hoS! commlm,ty Apaort from suppOf1Jng e'for1S to enhance sooo-cuftu.sl un<!erstandll1g between SWISS
Snd FiliPInos, B8rangay-PitlfJino suworts the ~ntat>on of SQCI.aI and edJealoOf18 pro;ecls in remoIe a'lIM on
the Pna.ppines.
Under Ms VOIlenwe.llef·Berdos' capable fe8lletshlp, B8r¥>gay-PI1f1l/1O I'\8S been prov.dng fif\8fll;l,;f'
_lance 10 ~ seaors ,n!he P!'ul,ppines as Nrly. 1988 She was lfISVu.....,:a tn raosrog funds fof-.e
!IllneMoI~d'>oc*en wtlo!ie paren:s died ....... alerry eapo;<zed aI Tilblas SIr..1'" M nlloro 0tnIg ..... 1990
ea-thQuake.....tlocl'l stl'Ud< cenlral Luzon. she led ettorts to .aose rrooney fof .elIef_.IM ., DaQ~.
....'hen ..t ~:...tlo ItUpted., 1991 and Illft mote l/\arI300.000 pecIpIe "<lfl Blus. ~y-f'IoIpno
Pi'O"'oded fonanQ8j _SOSta'lCll wtIICh fofmea pal of SF, 42 300 cdecled \rom Ifanous \IfOUPS ard ond....-dullts fof
C8arTl1:y 'e1,ef Ff1)!TI 1992 to 1996, Ms, VOIenwerder·Betdo$ COf>~f'Ued 10 support '" l.....es lor Mt PlnalJbo
ll\Ill('> e~
ThR:lUQhasuabie donation Barangay·PrhpIrtowasabielOpulupa mulbpurposecente< aneta 1,2(10
SQuare melef tence sUf'l'Ol.flld,ng the Kat~tubo V_•
., Porar;, Parrpanga The pr-qecl benefill!d courress PlIOf)llI,
ma,~ aetas who ",_left homeless afte.r the IrOICaOIC 8<\,IpllOn
tn support of el!ucaloon efforts in 100 Ph",pp,nes Ms Volienwe>der·Be<dos l&lIthe fundraislng for the
conSINC!IOn 01 concrele school fence In Cayangwan Elementary School In Aktan, 'swellss the conS1NC!'on of
alldi:ionat Class.-ooms fo. Ool\a Carmen H,gh ScI\QOj In Oaoao C':Y In 2001, Bartmgay·p,l,pino also funded !he
lllldd,ng of a library and Iollf llllllltKlnal classrooms for the students of Sta Fe Nabonal Hogh School and KinllUlfcan
Hogh School ,n PasillslaOll. Gebu
Slreld",'g their ,esou.ces 10 hoelp more people. Barangay.p~'IJ'IIO also secured the fuf'd,ng for !he
COr>SlrucbOn of 5elfefl houSlflg UntlS for low orocorne ramoloes and 12 educat.on sdlola.sh ps for chloren of sal(/
1a<nMs., 8;xnloll Oty TIvough Ms VoIei' ••eder·Berdos' urnlar>tng 'MlfI<. theorg¥olZir.lOn IIIlded theCOf\SlrUdJorl
of a day care Cftrter for "ll9ll"1 chddren ., BIfIiIIlonlIn P"ViIlIf\lIn
0esp<Ift ... ~'" ., lfilf1Ol.jS OI'\;iIf'lllllIQnS.-..d enllewvors "'" Voa.t>weollel·Benlos a'ways fif'Ids
_lOhelp F'lopI'loslfOMong S... tlerland On_~ OCCM )lOS, sneorganWld ~ 1or ............ "'1t
F iP"'O perforrTw>g art.-allldudotlg 0 t.~ VCJCllj E~. UST Sorogen; and AIIIIneo lie IMnII;l Gee C1~ S!'e
abo talI'S time Ir;I "'iIIr9ll 00l1Cefb lor \f1l;,tng groups 10 8f\llbIe tlem to Nl'"
6lt()1' .. wtole lOvI1fIll EUfOlllI
ftlr,
In con!emng Ire e-ag AWilfdlO 'maida V " .. toduf·8erdos, lie P,es4el ('etogJIlZeS herou\iliW'd.ng
Slewafdshlp of her or!lanlZalion &trBllg<lf-PlI.prno S",UfI/1ar!d whICh ed tf'fo<u 10 PfO\roOe ca'-amory III flO
dosMter sllicken areas and supPQf\ the c:or>slf..etlOn of Sdlool bulll,ngs and la<;II " " lor Oft(ly COfTlfl'U'itn III
\tit Ph> ,ppones
..JY//I/nck J. .-?I3,,/'a/Ji, ,..., II q.
Utvted 51a19S 01 Amenca
Few people stnke a good b..af'Ce behoeen the.f ptOlesSlOllai
'~.·'••'•••"•••
'iRl CXlITIn'U'IlIyI«Vll:e ~_ pe:="" Il'iIIhebmer ....,..
he 1il11er. But for 0. W'~ndOJ Bul'.-"'. who rroograled IOIhe U~,ted
SIa!e$ 11'1 1965. excelong in 0l'llI& proIessoon and corrmunlly serw:.e _ the
prne lime os ilS 'Idflple as I\aVII'Ig the he.,. 10 do ~
precedes
Dr Buhaon IS one of toe lOP PUlmortiJil'f ,penaftolts 11'1 !he hlghly <XImpebl'.... medocaol world 01 WW_ og1Oi '.
DC In 1993 IheW3$hrlgtl:Iman maQaZJM"'lIld 0. Buhaon ilSarnol"ig ""lOPph~.., JOmedical speoalties
'" Ine WilStwlgloo, 0 C melropolJtan are_ He "'a, I sted .., The MMQlI'l W'lO'1 Who", Amotnc:lo Pub/icM.ootlI
80MrJ l'MCe, and iNlarded by It1e AMooallon 01 Ph ppll'le Physot<ans or> Amero;a ~APPA) as an ·Outs:.<lndong
Alumnus' in 2001 and as 'PhyslCian ot It1e Year" '" 2003 Also lasl year tile lnova Haallh System, !he lar~t
sy$1em on the Washington melrollol'tan .rea, recognIZed hls oulstand,ng SOI'\'oce as Chillr 01 the lnova Healtt1
Syslem
eat Afla'~ Couna
Moo
Yet, Dr 8ullaln s contribul'on 10 Ille communl1y lias been JUSl as menlollou, a. ll" accomplisllments In
the medlCllI neld. Apart from being ~s t>onorary cha,r lle ,s one of tlle most cons,stenl majOr benefactors of Feed
the HUllgry (F1Hj Inc" a Wasll'ngton, 0 C -baSlld. non-profit organization wll,Cll conducts education, llealth alld
... elfa'e, ClI'amily ,el,et, and hv&l,lloOd programs for street ch,ldren, the elderly and ....ndocapped, abused, and
ta-rmlnallyill indIviduals in tlle Pll,hpplne,. Or Bulla,nwas InstNmental,n sohc.tlng medlClll equ,pmenL such as
EI<G aotI dialysis mach",es Ifom Amencan hasp lals for sll,pmenllo lI>e Pll,1 pp,ne,
Far /rom torcenlrallrg ,n llealllHelatecl g'lII"t&. Of. BuIlain prov'ded n....nCla' corlr,bUllons lho'ooglllhe
CorTII'IIIssoon on FlIlpIr'lO$ Overseas LlNI<APIL Program amounlirlg 10 P200.000 for lhe corstruellon 01 a ne...
dasst'oom in 8acoor. Cavlle lie also WppOI'I$ i",loiI1JveS for eclueaOOn iW'd pn;moIKlI" 01 FI ,poro Ilef1tage. A
danong enthusiast Ihe doctor IS also
10 be a geeal ~pportef of progtiIms lhal promote Ph~'ppone cuftuf'e
-
"'own
Despo1e hr$1lectK: l~e "'\he US, Or Buhco.,!inO& lIml! 10 COfI'8 home every \,_10 pet'&OIllllIy extend llos
_ 4 . n > g medfl;al IT'GS s...o FIti'& g.4't-gvrog progr .. I• ., ~_, ~ _ . , . If' \he 0'lUIltry. It IS
dln'oglhese ilClMIIeS where......-." U5Uilty hOI. CI'OMled lI'Id 1ar-l\u"oglMl 0. ~ lS.llo& be&I enamounng
ever,a ~ ...Il ho& dleerluIlI'Id COIfI98I"'- nillU"e Hrs presence _des flO( onty \he 8br l'y to help people !lui.
If&O ho& del9'11o do so
col"""lib.""""
R_rUb~ a"ler all "" I'>QtiIIbJe aJ
l& .....t>aI f& most S\nI< n;; aboul 0. &.r\aII'I os \he respect and
love bequlldled upon twn by hoi
n \he CllI'I'OO'lU\tt)I at Iarve He" , . . . f t both '" etI'Ood.mef't of
cornpa&&lClfl and ger>e'"05rty and a menlO" for gudance.1ortltudl! and ...sdom
'&9,,,,,,,,t,
Ai hos lellow F LpoIlO commun ty leaIer' IolJ)' d Or 8utI8u> -He
Ihe krnd 01 'ole rnodeI1!la1
lf1'&Pores 0Uf corn....... n~.,. 10 iIlways milke tomorrow a better day for others lie lI'V&& hoi If"" lime 10 ""'Ip •
In confemng Ihe &onaag A... ard to Or W Indo J Buhain, llle Pre&odent r&eog"lZU hoi "'marllable abollty
delicate balance as ill! oulslandong 11eat:h care proIeWOl"l• ..-.d COI'f'lI'I'lU"~ IefVic& leader wa1hy
of emullllIDn by 1l1e F,hplllO-Amencan commuMy,
In ma"ltaon"'ll8
"
!?Ao/aJt./ ~ YhtUmu'na
United $tatesofAmenca
Everyone thOOght ~ cwtd nOl be done. DespIte m(ln~ ellO"l$ I; :...II:: I
Filipino community center, It remained a dream fo, the 150.000 F_ _ ..
Haw,.., - until Mr. ROland C. Casamina tool< on the JOb 01 tumng trllS Vl$IClr' 1Wl
a reality
Insp"ed by a German community center he saw in Canada ",.
Casamina assembled a group of Filipino community members to inst t..rte the
FilipinoCommun~y(FiICom)Center. Inc, in Waipahu, Hawal' As its Pres,dent
and CEO, he embar~ed on a 1o-year fund-raising campaign for Ihe construcbon of a th'e....storey, 50,000 square
1001 community center
The tas~ was not easy PrevIOUs atternpts 10 establish a community cente, had faltered and people were
apprehensive /hat one could ever be buIll To 'egaln the confidence and support of his community. MI Casam,na
conlributed personal funds Into the building fund, and !!\len more lor fund·,aising activities, Ertorts !!\Ienlualty pa,d
off. FilCom Cenfe, sollciled a total 01 $t4.5 mllhool,om financoal assistance and granls lrom the government,
charity loundations, and private business nrms
Today, the FIiCom Cenler is the largest community center dedicated to the Filipino community and
culture located overseas. It serves as a venue lor community meellngs and various cullural events like craft
worl<shops, art eXhibitions. and the annual F,hpino Fiesta, RecogniZing Its valuable contnbutioo in promoting
Filipinocultufe and heritage in Hawaii, the FilCom Cente' was awa,ded the "Sanaag Awa.d"lor the Yea, 2002
Pre:;.denbal Awards While the tull feaiizalion 01 the FiiCom Center is a p'oduct 01 fhe coIlechve ertOl1s of fhe local
Fi~p<no commufllty, the Slale and Federal governments, aro;l various pnvate enhlles and indIViduals, Mr. Casam;na
togethe, with Mr. Edd'e Flores. Jr are credited W<lh leadersh,p and genera ling the momentum to rally various
sectors behInd the project. Hence, in 2003, Mr Casamlna was given thedisllnClion of President Emerifus forlife
In recognition 01 hIS commItment in oompletlnglhe project
ThiS is not the lirstt,me that Mr. Casamlna's vi$ioo met conSIderable success ShOl1ly after hIS famity
settled in Hawa". the 14·~earold Roland worl<ed as ajanitor. While studymg lull-bme, he waslaterempioyed as
a n;ght busboy In a local Hawaii restau,an!. Eventually promoled as assistant manager. he kept his ,estaurant JOb
until hegfaduated from the Uno"",r$lly of HawaII in Hawa.. w,th a Bachelor'S Degree In Suslness AdministratIOn
At the age of 22, Mr. Casam,na became 1I>e youngeslSrancli Manager 01 infernatlonal SaVings Sank (now
as Cit~ Bank), a record held to thIS day. He was eventually promoted to VIce P'esldent in charge 01 all
bfanch managers. then Vice President 01 ISL CapItal Corporabon. In 1995, he estabiished hIS own financiai
,nstitulioo, fhe House of Finance. Inc" lhe ooly Filipino-owned. non-deposltory ban~,n Hawaii The ban~ was
named as one of Ihe top fi~e non·depos<lory Flnanoal InSlitubons In 2003
~nown
A successful entrepreneur ~nown for hIS Stfoog bus,oess sense and high ethical staooa.ds, he serves as
an inspirabon and role model to Struggling Filipinos in fhe bus'ness field A devoted and tireless leader 10 an enbe
Fiiiplno oommUnlfy, he was instrumental In building more than an edifice, but also a home away from home where
Filipinos can galher together and celebfate their hentage
In conrening the 6anaag Award 10 Roland C. Casarmna, the PreSIdent recognizes I10s outstandIng leadership
and invaluable contnbuHon to the establIshment of fhe Fil'plno CommunIty Center in Hawaii, the largest FilIpIno
convnun,ty center overseas
Yifenbe!" diir/0in"" fcentre 'flliplnos
United Kingdom
Filipino migrant workers began settling in the United Kingdom in the lale 19605, in respoose to the
country's need lor inexpensive labor. More llIan three decades have passed and Ihe UK n<:IN hosts almost a
hundred thousand Filipinos Established ,n 1979 as a support organial'Ofl to the grQwmg number of mogrants. the
Centre lor Filipinos is probably unsurpassed in terms of sodal sarvices it provides to Filipinos in lhe U,K
Formerly known as \hll Commission for Filipino M;grant Workell;, tile Ceotre IS one of the oldest regIStered
charitres operating on princ'pJe.s of equality and justice, empowerment of Filipinos to enrich the quality of their
li'ffl$, maintenance of th.." unique Cullural kh.mtlty, and (acilHatlon 01 thelf social development and inlegfatioo to
Ihe mainslfeam Blilish society Tt>e Centre presootly runs two community cenlefS in the London 6ol'ougtls of
C3m<;Jem ar>d Hammersmith, where there a.e large e<>ncentrat",ns of FilIpinos
The Cen!fe achleves its mission ttvough networking, information and advocacy campaigns, educational
training af>d out.each p<og.ams. Wo<king closely WIth several organizations and otl\erelhnlc communities, the
po-og,-ams offered by tile Centre may be coosideled ooe 01 tile mosl comprellensive in te.ms of providing Filipinos
information on a broad spectrum of social and legal issues soch as Immigrat,on, welfare rights, houSIng and
employmenl. It provides up-to-date government programs and services that ha"ll signIficant bearing on Filipinos In
the UK It assists and orients flll'My-anived Filiploo spol.lSeS and ct>iid.en of &lish nationals about living in BritaIn
so that tl>ey <;QUId easily aCcllmatio<e to Bntt$h culture In 2004, the Centre pl.tlhslled Hinebing GUMa, a compilanon
of writings and reminiscences of Flhpinos who have sellled in the UK for the las! 30 years Essentially. It
chronicles the &me'gence of the Fihplno commumty and I!S gradual recognItion within a multicultural Briltsh
society.
Giving pa.amount priority 10 educatIon and skills enhancement, the Centre provIdes training courses on
English and info<mation technology. 11 also organrzes fora and semInars addl&sslng tl>& needs and probl&ms of
Filipinos in the UK S'9ntf\cantiy, II offers socio-cukural and educational serv;ces for the youth by promollng
Ptiijppine history and wilure, and orgamzing aher·sc:hooj actIVities, annual youth summer camp and youth outreach
programs,
Health care and gene'al welfare has also been one of the lop prroritles of the C&ntre It COflducts heallh
open days as well as WO<1lshops on firs! aid and compl&m&ntary approaches to health. It eV&n h&lps allong clients
register w)lh a general medICal praCbtJoner. Most omportantly, cognIzant of problems facong Filipino workers in
lhoei, field of work or wilh their family, it offe.s confidenltal counsehng services or refers clients to professlooal
counselors. Moreover, the Centre has a Golden Club which coordinates outreach projects lI.al upi,fts the morale
of older people
With lhe aim of slrengthening the FIlIpino community, the Centre assIsts in setting up community groups
and semce-onenled Filipino organizations such as the Baltlly Kubo Housing Association, Philippine Resource
Cente<, WlllmgWllling, KlllllYlilln and lhe Philippine National Council of Rep<esentalives, the first network of
Filipino organizations in the UK AI p<esent, ttle Centre is working with several nlW$es, trade unklnS and agendes
in addrasslng employment issues confronting Filipino nurses recruited from the PhilippInes. Rernar1<.ably, the
Centre has a comprehensive information and advisory system on employment maners which is posted on lhe
organizalion's offidal webSIte, lor Fihpmos in the PhilIppines interesled 10 worll as nurses in the UK For its
oustanding conlnbulloos to the community, the Centre was awarded w,th the "Queen's Golden Jubilee Award" in
2003
In COnlfllTing the B8neeg Award 10 the Centre for FilIpInos, the PreSIdent recognizes Its Invaluabte role in
providing extensive services and exemplary voluntary wor1<. in response to the needs and inlerests of FilipInos in
lhoe United Kingdom,
"
Oi'/
.,.
Q? Q9 .
-FtJ<!luW Q/.
l()(l{xon
Germany
CommunIty service for many 15 bUI "n(lltle, diversion or something to
pass tome with Fa< some. however, being 01 service to the communIty and
pl'ov'd'''9 asslstance 10 those ,n distress comes naturally. This is true 01 Mr
Virgilio G CU;ZOfl, a dependable community leader in Gefmany.
Mr. CUllOn'S personal quest of providing assIstance 10 hIS kababayans
started In 1983, when he and other young Filipinos established the Barangay sa AJemanya (8SA), it FIlipinoGerman assooahon based ,n Germany. As 8SA's founding presklenl. he began to organize SOCial. athletic. and
cullUral aCI""~es whIch are aimed at promoting PhilipPine culture In Germany and ,n other European countries,
One of his major projects was the first three-day Plstang PiJipino. a major 98lhefiog 01 Filipinos and Germans from
allover Germany in celebration of the richness and grandeur of FilipIno cullu,... and t<ad'lion. He also<;QfldUCiOO a
series of workshops on leadershIp, Filtpino cu'ture aod tradiUon, aod stage play presentaUon lor Fi~pino youthS,
WIth the view of uillizing theIr talents aod skills In promoting Filipino music, art, and lastlion, and instilling in them
a sense of appreciation of theIr heritage
Duling hiS term as founding president 01 Baranllay sa Europa, aod Associalion Lending Assistance in
Exigencies al Home (ALA EHj, Mr Cuizon p!llyed a VItal ro~ In implementing successful projects thatloster
cama",derie and lriendshi9, maintaIn physlClll and menial fitJlEtSS. aod rIltnfOl'ce posjtive Filipino values and tradilions.
He helped organize con<;:erts of PhIlippine-based choirs, SUch as Cora Classico, UP F~iptnlana, DLSU Choir,
DLSU-CSB Choir, UPLB Choir. Palawan Choral group, and UE Choir, in European OMS In 1992, eight yWrs after
the successful PiS/ang PiI,p'no, Mr, CUllan spearheaded the PhIlIppine Week Fair, where the besf of the country's
mUSIC, art, fash>onand cuisine was shO'W'cased In the city of Langenfeld. Germany.
Promoting the arts and organizing chanty prOjects seem to be two disllnct tasks, but Mr. Cuizon linked
the two in t991 when the Phtllppines was struck by a series of natural calamitieS The erupl>on of Mount Pinatubo
and the attack of super typhoon Ruflng left parts of the country devastated In cooperation with thl! Philippine
ConSulate in DDsseldorl, Mr Cuizon organized a fund-raISing campaign for lhe displaced Indlgenoospeople in
Porac, Pampanga and the typhoon victims through the Phtllpptne National Red Cross, In 1993, he initiated the
project '!-lelp BUild the Philippines' Whlch led to the const'uetion of classrooms, health centers, sanitary amenities,
mUltipurpose halls, and deep-wells in unoerOOveloped areas in the country, About 20 mumcipaliUes benefited from
the twe>-year program In dIrecting the rock mUSIcal play -Jesus ChriSt Superstar', Mr. CUlzon was able to help in
raising financial proceeds that resulted in the construction of an operating room in Mati Hospital, Northern Davao
Last year, he dlrocted two more mU8ICIlls, 'Grease' and 'Ito Ang Filiplno- in connection WIth fund-raising project of
ALA EH Both plays were successfully presented at the ALA EH Charity Gala and 2003 Independence Day
Celebratoo.
Unh'ndered by all his contributions aod achIevements, Mr, CUlzon is now working on the publicalKln of a
coffee table art book that will showcase the beauty of the Phil,ppines and ItS peo~e through the works of four
contemporary Filipino anisls.
In confernng the Banaa" Award 10 Virgilio G, CUlzon, lhe President recognizes his aCllva leadefshipin
orgamzlng events that provlde assistance for the beflef,t of corTYTlullities in lhe Philippines and his re<narkallle
conlfibuhoos In promoting Fillptno talent and culture in Europe.
Q'%"eJ/a
Q'3r11kna
qanC(? Q7;ol'!'e O/'tRIIUn/a
"""'"
Younger g8llera~ons of OIIerseas Flilponos who oover had the chance of experiencing life in the PhdlPPlooS
find It hard to appreciate the nchness of their cultural hentage. Luck,ly, Ihe F,eSla FIliprna Dance
Troupe of Canada lound an engagingway to provi09 Fi~p'nos overseas with an opporluntly to discover a kaleidoscope
of Phihppme folklore and culture through music and dancing
some~mes
Known as one of the oldesl premtere Phi~ppine dance groups, the F,eslll Flilpina ;s a by-word in the
entertainment world In Canada. Based in M'sslssauga, Onlano, il was founded in 1966 by a group of Torontobased Fihpinos headed by Dr Jose Teodoro and M;ss Eleanor Calt>es, who aller years 01 being away /fom
Philippines, longed lor the cultUr<l of their birthplace The acclaImed ensembJe, made up exc usively of FilIpino
volvnleer dancers, is dedIcated to preservIng and promolLng Phillpp,ne arts and curtore thl'QUgh <lance and mus'c
HighlighlLng the cullural diverslly of FilipOl1O$, the" repertoire Includes dances Inspired by the culturallegac,es of
Igorors of Cord,lIera, Muslims 01 Mindanao, various ,nd'genous Iribes, and Spa",sh CQ(IqUl$ladores The;r latest
produclion in 2003 is entitled 'Kulay', an ethno-cultural mosaic of dance that blends vanous coiol's which are
woven lnto the Phllipp,ne bpes1ty
ThrO\l9h Ihe years the Fiesta Filipina has become an effecli\le ambassac\or for:;:.o:l1 Canada and the
PhilippOnes. It has performed extensively across Canada, EurOllll and the U S 'Ild.....-.g O<$I'&y s EpcolCentre
in O~ando, Florida In 1991, the Fiesta bursl into the ,nlemallonal scene as one of Canada s representatives al a
folklore feslival in Portugal. The'r frrst European appearance has led to a fturry oI ..tet"".al:JOf'.al .. , laMns, many of
wtuchtheyhave accepted indud,ng dance gatherings in Austria, France, Greece /tal)' I,\e.o::oand Spa,n Some
of the Troupe's prom,nent performances have been al the Olymp,c Games MeIOCQ Ct) af>d Montreal, the
txIt'l the Ontario
Commonwealth Games in Edmonlon, Expo '67 ,n Montreal, as well as open ng
Place and Sky Dome Since 1966, the dynamic group has recewed .....merous ... I 'ol+lM liUd'I as 1lesl Enterlairrnem
lor TorontosFestwal Caravan and Carabram" "Dance Troupeofllle Yea( and 'Oncan;: ~ .3 Award" The
Troupe holds thed,stinction of being named 'MOSI Outslanding Dance Grc lP ~ ....~
lesl7>...... .
Despite the Internat,onal attention il has receIved, the FieSIll f, p.na ............ iI~"1 supporter 01
vaflous civic causes. In Canada, It performs special concerts in support 0I1t>e .. "9- '. r;t ~ chanties and
organizalionssuchasthe Canad'an Caneer Sociefy, Interim Place, Our PI<tCl! ..., ~ ..... 2)I : ;)Jsoo'i,Janizes
dance workshops for OIher organizallOns and dance troupes, teaching Ptu ,ppne tilt ~ ¥c ::>II use 01 native
filipino musical inslrumenls In 1997, il viSited the Philippines for lhe frs! ~~ ;;>e1ao .. a senes 01 cu'tural
shows across the country under Its "Back.to-Your.RoolS" program. The fu'U ~
lIS ~:YmlInces _re
allocated lor the scholarship program of the Nabonai PoI,ce Commisso::><" ~
~ churches in
Pampanga and Misam,s Onental. and worthwh,leprojects of Boyslown~"
p •• '" Roo CrossDavao, Girl Scouts 01 the Phllippines·lloilo, and Univers,ty of San Jose·R~
The Troupecontnbutes eXlens,v\l1y tocu tural v,sibl 11y and cu :~'iiI,.m~ r
;::~,n the,r home
country and Canada, and in the Canadian communtly In general Ind\!< ~..
~ _I
'~ooor to the
Ph,hppines and Canada many limes belore, and In years to come
..:.:::.:
t ..cognizes
In conferring lIle Banaag Award to the Fiesta Fil1p,na Oance Troupede-::~
~ ilI'ld musical
ils remarkable achievements In showcaSing the dlverstly of F,lip,no hentage ~
__
performances, and bring,ng Ihe Ph,IIPPlnes closer to overseas FIllptfIO$""" _
c::J:%"/0ino '(f?,/!I({Jtal 'fir/at
""""
.,~",
The year 1990 proved to be a difficult year lor overseas Frl'llr[l() workers rrlKuwart when the lraqr government
launched an unexpected invasion of Kuwa,l. The war lasted for almost a year. beanng down on thousands of
ove<seas F~ipIoo IWrl<ers in fear of their lives and the future of therr loved ones at home. Am'dst lhe prevalllnQ post.
war atmosphere of unce<tainty and suuggle to oormalize Interrupted affa"s. one group Of Filipino arMts in KuwM
found an even heightened sense 01 SOCIal awareness
The Fllipooo CUltural Club (FCq was established In 1981 tl1rougl11he efforts of 15 talenled Filiproos from
d,ffereot professional affiliations bound together by their common passion for lhe arts. especially musrc and
drama. AIming to promote the cullural, sp,r,lual, social, and inlel~lual values of rts members. FCC organized
successful cultural actM~es such as the Fiesta Fllipimana. a three-houl cultural eventfeaturing Filipino songs and
dances, In a country where its people are strictly bound by ~s dose knit cullural and religIOUS beliefs and
prachces, Kuwa;t in,bally opened ItS doors to diverse Frlipino cullure and arts However, the Iraqi rnvaSlOn of
Kuwa~forced the club to cease rts ac~v~ies, Ihwartlng an admirable start
A few years thereafter, a group of FCC pIOneers slowly re,ntroduced the club. but Ihrough a drfferent
perspective. This t'me. lIs programs and servrces cenlered not only in enhancing Fil,p,no lalent or promo~ng
FilipLno cullure and tradrtion in the Middle East. but afso rn asslst,ng underpnvlleged kababayans in Kuwait and In
the Phil,ppines Instanlly FCC's membershipglewtoa far greater number than rt Inrtlally started with
The new FCC became koown for conductlrlg socio-cwic programs fordist'essed Filipino workers in KuwM
When one of ItS members was raped and later Incarce'ated as she was counterdlarged as a prostitute, FCC
organized a lh,ee·hour Z8rzuela p,esenting FII,pino songs and dances to raise funds tor her la~r's fee n also
staged "Beauty trom a Culture", II beauly pageant and "Nena - Sa Kabila ng Islorya' , a play depreting the posrtive
aspects of worl<lng overseas as a housemaKl, Pcoceeds tOf lhese actrv,tres wenllo purchase ftight tickets back 10
the Philippines tor F~lpino workers who were dll.mlssed by lhei, employe's
To adoress the emolional needsof F,lipmossheltered at the Philippine Overseas LaborOffrte (POLO)'s
Fillll,nO Workers Resource Center FCC aSSisted 'n arrar>glng a gift·g'ving and Chrislmas party for them Such was
FCC'S contrlbut,on in promoting the welfare of overseas workers In KuwM that POLO-KuwM and the Council of
Leaclers of the Fi~p'no Communit>es In Kuwait commended ils support to the needs of drsadvantaged F,lipioos in
KuwM.
Aside f'om Its continUing work for d,stressed Filipinos in Kuwar!. FCC also extends assiSlance for
underserved sectors in lhe Phr ipprnes. FCC organized several activilies SUpportlOg various programs tor the
benefol of the Verilas Foundation, Inc .. Banllty Batlt Foundation, and the Philiflllrne governmem's "Handog
Classroom"
Now approad1ing~s16" year, FCC conLnues to expand ~s nobleendeavors by workingon a new scholarship
program fo, indigent and deserving studenls In the Philipprnes. Laying OUt the project's init'al plans. the group
created a special commillee that ""II Identify particular areas in the country that will serve as its f'lSt reciplenls
In conferring the 8<lnaa!! Award to the Frlipino Cultural Club, the PreSident recognizes ·ts notable
contributIOns in developing and supporting programs that promote lhe rights and interests of Filipinos In Kuwait
and in the Phrllppines. while showcasing FiI'pino talenllhrough arts, music and drama
"
~Q yldle fft/xli('-ke
Germany
Every year, thousands of local and foreogn lounsts flock to Sagay CIty
in Negros Ocodental to admire ~s collectIOn oIaxobc manne reserves and lush
vegelatlon of rice, sugar cane, and other agricultural resources Any visitor
enchanted by Sagay's scooic beauly will find It dIfficult 10 Imagme that thIS
busUing and prosperoos cIty used to be an obscure, sleepy town engulfed by
extreme poverty
Sagay Coty's transformatIOn can be greatly aMnbuled to the selfless
dedicatIon and tIreless labor of Ms Cha~olte GOdicke. a German teacher who
almosl SIngle-handedly brought progress and development to the communoty
Ms GOd,cke first came to Sagay in 1980 as part of a team working under the Sagay-Ostemo~ Partnersh.p, a
three decade friendship between the Sagaynons and the people of Osterholz Distrlcl, Germany that fostered a
mutual exchange of culture, hentage, and resources The 1980's was a bad ~me for the SagayflOns _ sugar
rocession struck the already impovenshed town, beanng down on ~ndowners and farmers alike Its ecoflOmic
COnll.lIQn severelyWOr5enO)(l; and doaths of children due 10 infectiOus diseases and malnutribon was r_pant Ms.
GOdicke, extremely affected by the;r condihon, began he.- crusade to change the lives of 140.000 Sagaynons
Upon return.ng to Gennany, Ms. GOd,cke began her campaogn 10 help Sagay, soliClMg services. funds
and donations from government and non-government organizahons. educa\lonal "SI~utlOnS, church C(KfVnunrtles,
and youth unions in various areas In Germany. For 25 years, she spent her Summer vacallOns In Sagay. bringing
......th her resources she gathered Through Ms. GOdlcke's hardwork, Ihelong list of prOjects implemented under
Ihe Sagay·Qsterholz Partnership expanded, that Ihe list seemed endtess
Of ali initiatives she has helped Implement. Ms. GOdicke priontozed the hoalth coooi1ton of Sagay children.
Figuring oot that poor sanitaUon caused the" weak physical state. she facilitated the constructIon of toilets and
sewage pits 10 secure safe waste disposal She also provided for the Installahon of water tanks, deep well pumps,
and water popellnes Ihat supply safe drinkmg walef 10 homes, health centers, and schools. To re;nforoo the local
government's health progfilms, she worked for the esta~ishment <:I health centers. wtnle ensuring Ihe availability
of med.cines, medIcal suppl'es and equIpment
As an educator. Ms. GOdicke valued the role thai quality educatIon plays in promoting socio~conomic
develOPment. No~cing that Sagay teachers were forced to hold classes under trees or inSide private houses due
to lack of classrooms. she inl~ated projeCls that eventually led to the const,uction of 12 dassrooms in five
elementary schools. day-care centers. a school stage. and a school garden. She even went on 10 faohtale the
conduct of I~eracy classes for adl.lls. wncn included sessions on basK: leaderstllp skills Ifa;ning, parental education,
and dressmaking. At present, Sagay boasts of a 92% literacy rate
A firm believe' of seU.rellance and in the idea of helping people help them~ves, Ms. GOdicke ensured
that additional means of livelihood is available to Ihe unemployed and season-depenoent workers. She assIsted
24 baranggays in establlsh,ng the" own livelihood projects, whIch includes swine fa,slng, home and community
gardening. r.shing boat b\Ji~d.ng, smocking and handicrnns·making for the fisherfoJks, sewing. and oys\\lf farming,
She also helped new OOlr\lPreneurs put up the" own r,shing ood hortK:ulture cooperatives
Sagay City is decades away from Ihe sleepy town It once was. C,ted as one of the fastest deveioping
in the oountry, it serves as a model for other localltres to emulate Ms. GOdicke, who became Sagay's first
adopted daughter. Is now retlfed from her 25 Y"'ars of work WIth the Sagaynons. StIlI. ·Lotte" will remain in the
hea~ of each Sagaynon, remembered as Ihe "white woman· who gave Ihem courage to put thelr destrny in thlllr
ownhaflds
CI~es
In conferring the Banaag Award 10 Charlolte GOdicke. the President rocognizes her lifelong Invo/vemtlOt,
unlinng efforts, and selflessdedicat,on in promo/,ng progress and developmentthroughout Sagay C'ty, Negros
Occidenlal and uplifting the qual,ty of hIe for many of its poor people
Q/C))Jte- :i.?I?ea('k Q}0eotf/ation, du·.
United $fafesofAmenca
~ad
Founding membe<s of the Home-Reach Foundat'on, loe 'efllhe Phil,ppines Wllh viv'd memones ollhe
stale of their poor kaMbllyliM back home. Now. they are fulftlling the" prom,se to relurn and help
An offshoot 01 the successlul 1993 B1111k·&;hol Me<I'cal Missoon, Home-Reach was lormed alter a group
01 Fihp,,,,, doctors in the Un,ted States led by Of. Ramlro Cadag w,tnesse<llhe press.ng need 01 Philippine rural
prov,nces for access,ble heallh ca,e, educat,on and p,oductive hvehhood tn 1994, the foundat,on was lormally
reg,stered as a non-profit, Charitable orgalllzation under New York LillO', with a m,ssion to p,ovide health care.
education and employmenl for the pooreslllnd mOS1 needy Fihp,nos. Spann,ng a decade of funding life-sav.ng
medical m,ssions, nutriuonal pr'ograms, donations 01 med'cal equipment and health care laclhues, and sctvJlarstup
;>rogr ams in rural Ph,l,ppines, Home-Reach has ,ndeed lived up to ,Is commitment 01 reach,ng out 10 the homes of
needy ;>eopJe
Within lhe six years from 19114-2000. Home-Reach conducted four major medical missions ,n Bohol It
has hel;>ed at least65,000 ;>atienls from vanous parts 01 the counlry in on-slle m,ssjons, provid,ng free medical
suppllesand health care. Almost 20,000 ;>atlents were treated through minor and majo' su,geries. Medical equ,pment
Ike anestheSia machines, cardiac monitors, and othe, medICal supphes were Shipped from 1he Urllled States to
lhe Ph'hppines to assosl the foundation volunteers. Health care practllioners based ,n 'ndigent communrhes in
various ;>rovinces and Cltles In the Ph,hpp,nes were also given furthet medIcal tra,n,ng The success 01 the mISSions
has been alltib\lte<llargely to the team 01 doctors, nurses. anCillary volunteers and local med,cal pract,t,oners
who not only prov,de<l med'c'nes and supplies lor free, bul also;>aid lor the" own transportal ion and lodging
expenses in go,ng to remote areas in the country
Dedicated to provld,ng medical care assistance to poor Children ,n the Philippines, Home-Reach in'haled
in 2000 Ihe Phil,ppine Gilt of LIfe prOject wh,ch helps Fihp,no children avarl 01 the benefits of heart surgery In the
United Slates It has a1soeslabhshe<l som,lar pr'ogramsat 1he Phllipp,ne Heart Cenle, and the Phlllpp,ne General
HoSPItal. In the ;>ast three years, ,t has helped ove' 39 ch,ld,en. A total 0187 ;>alLents have been provided w,th free
heart surgery and 25 more are scheduled 10 undergo I,ee heart surgery at the PGH for 2004
AddresSIng the lack of adequate nulntion in lhe rural areas, Home-Reach launched the "Mama Make Me
Heallhy Program", aimed al pr'oVidong nutrillOnal supplemenls 10 expeehng mothe<s Al present, 8ohoJ was chosen
as the benef,ciary of 3.5 m,lIion doses 01 m'cronutnems lor expeel,ng mOlhers to be ava,lable unlil 2006
As'de lrom lis healthcare programs, Home-Reach runs a host 01 other communtty-uphftment proJects
seel<ing to promole literacy and educahon It has financed scholarshi;> p,ograms and building 01 hbra'les, and has
donaled books and olher school facil~les to VarlOUS individuals and commun,hes Through the help 01 ,Is genet'''''s
s;>onsors abroad and the local government, Home-Reach waS able to finance the installalion 01 a waler syslem
benelillng 425 households .., Cogloog, Botd. To generate funds to continlJ()l;sly support the needs 01 ~s beneflClane5
Home-Reach organ,zes vanous fund-raising evenlS such as dinner-and-dance parties, fun runS and Chflslmas
Harooos
Apart from sponsoring v""ous huma",taflan m'SSlOns ,n the Philip;:xnes. Home·Reach 's also engaged i,
the promOlion 01 F",pino culture and tradl1ion ,n the Un,led Slates, through Ihe holding of the Independence Dal'
;>arade every 12~01 June and performances of Ihe FoIkloncoF,hp'IlO. a FiJipino Dance Com;>any ,n NewYorl<
In conlernng the Bllnallg Award to the Home-Reach FOUndation, Inc., the Pres,denl recognizes its untlnng
dedlcalion 10 promote Ihe wen-be,ng of less-fortunate Bohoianos, and answer,,'9 for Ihe medICal and heallh nee<lS
01 Ihel' kabaooyans ,n rural areas ,n the Ph",pplnes
Gltf;e/UlXU/OJlf! Q:1r10t'1tO
Walh'o/,(- Yrommumly
South Korea
For years now Filipinos have known thai worktng overseas's a senous matter While several have
succeeded, many have also la,led and suffe'ed numerous hardships In search for a b<:!lle, life Some 01 our
kitOOOOyans face ,solatIOn, dosaminatlQn. abuse, ~ckness and even mprisonmem In Sooth Korea. one organizabon
stands by togive Filipmo workers reason to hOjltl for the best _ the Hyenwadong Filipino Catholic Community
(HFCC)
Founded in 1992 through the assistance 01 Filip,no pnests and nuns. HFCC was oryarized to give coml<X1,
Sjlintual and financial support, and sense olbelongongness among Fillp,nos working in SOUth Korea. Sa,d to be
the la,gest and most influential Fil,pono g'oup In South Korea HFCC is not exclusively Catholic in membership
and welCQrrO.!S people 01 olhe< lallhs Since Its establoshment. HFCC has been advety involved ,n issues oonceming
Filip4no mIgrants. and ,eadles out to dist,essed Fllip4no nationals who suffer ~Inesses, work-related problems and
domes~c violence
Ac\lng as a safety net, HFCC IS often relOed upon to assIst undocumented or irregular FilipinO workers
who suffer abuse as a result of their status In several instances, the organization has helped ill, undocumented
workers get proper medical a1\entlon by shouldenng the" hosp,tallzaloOn expenses At limes, the o'!lantza~on
handles shipment of the remains 01 deceased Filipino wo'kers
As a testament to itS grow·'ng innuence and ministry. HFCC estabhshed the Pasto'al Center lor Filipino
Migrants, a facilIty that receives gene,ous support from the Archdiocese of Seoul Primarily a shelter for runaway
trainees and entertainers, as well as lor v'C\lms 01 spousal abuse and Illegal recruItment, the Pastoral Center al$O
hOUSes other services lor FilipIno mig,ants and serves as a gathenng place for membe's ollhe community
Extending its mantle of concern for overseas FilipulQlS ,n South Korea, HFCC also aSslsts in the selliement
Filipino natlonalswhidl are filed in Korean courts From 200010 2002 alone, HFCC dea twith
more than 40 cases, at times involving as many as th'ee complainants per case Apart from catering to dIstressed
Fihpino natoonals. HFCC also operates Bafley Kellngeng Pambala (BAKAP), a day ca,e faality for chlld,en of
overseas F~Ip4rJO worker:; BAKAP alms towable parents to engage in productIve work during the Iormative years
ot the" chlld,en,
oIdlsputesi~vollllng
Apart Ifem providing services Ioroverseas Filipinos. HFCC is at the tOfet"oot of several adllOcaDes seeking
to promote the well-being 01 overseas Fi ,p,nos in Korea. The organiza~on aCllvely seeks the at>olitlon of the
trainee system and the institutionalization of an employment perm,t system to elimonate abuse against trainees
HFCC's advocacy work bore fruit when in March 2004 the Philipp4ne Overseas Employment Admirust'atlon began
registering Fillp4nowofkers lor the inrt",t Implementation of South Korea's employment permit system for Io,e~n
-~
HFCC has indeed made a difference in Ihe lives of Filipinos In South Korea, The Phllipp,ne Embassy In
Seoul acknowledged the organ'zatlon as a "condull of the Philippine Embassy in addressing many cases and as
a helpful partner In promoting the welfare of Filipinos In Korea" Serving as the embassy's ·cntrc", HFCC's 'ole is
vrewed as a healthy means ot checks and balance
In conferring the Banf,log Award to Hyeh"(Idong Filipino CatholIC Commun<ly, Ihe President recognizes
its role in providing invaluable assistance to distressed FlhpinO$ In South Korea and creatIng a sense of solidarity
and belortglngness within the Fillploo community in Seoul,
32
Q/C)ule~/ulf: :'!fYult/0/llen
Germany
When typhoon i Ji/ang sweplthrough Central PhilippInes in 1984, German nabooal Juergen Schnetdt did
_late to aid the Southem Leyteno survivors. Mr Schneidt, who leels disheartened every time he sees
lall prey topnvabQrlS broughlabout by poverty and dIsasters, teamed up WIth the local government of
Leyte In caring for the chiklren of famil es who were left homeless by the calamIty. Rewarde<l WIth a
satosfactlon ',n helping others who were desperately in need, he eventually decided to eSlablish the
'fe Philippinen or Phllip~ne Chiklfen's Hope Association, wilh the aIm of uplolting the lives 01 indigent and
~~"te children in the PhilippInes
Atter aimost 20 years, a Ch,ldren's viilage now stood arrestongly in the peaceful coastal town cI Padre
Leyte. Nestled ,n a lush environment the village has been a haven and refuge to numerous
1. abandoned, abused and ind,gent ch,ldren who were given the chance of rebu'ldlng and reshaping thelf
"es The ch,klren, who Ireat each other as brothers and sisters. are pfowled not only with basIC food,
and educa~on but moSI importantly WIth love and guidance. They are well·taken care of by SOCIal workers
mothefs who look after them, They are able to go to schoo from daycare to college. For years, the
of hope never ceased to sh,ne for lhe chIldren of the village and they have KinderhiUe 10 be 10fever thankful
j
~;~s~outhern
S,nce ,ts establiShment 'n 1985, Kindemiife has raised and spenl P33 million in provid,ng foster homes
eWcational services for F,I;"'noch'klren. W,lh referral from the Department of Sodal WeUare and Development,
!,~~choldren up to 18 years old from allover Region VIII. In 2003 alone, ,t had a total of 109 childfen in its care
of \hejr beneficiafies have already rece'ved the>r college diplomas and are already working
Aware of the depress,ng plight of several marginalized Southern Leytenos, Konderh,;fe has also grown
,::;~.~:to their social needs. For almost two decades, Kinderhilfe has be<ln an active panner of Ihe local
nt un,t iI1 the development of Padre Burgos and aldLng lis const tuents. In the area of health services, It
t.r<led several infrastructure projects of the Southern Leyte Provincial Hosp;tal such as the renovation of ;ts
....~ ward and nurses station, as well as the Installation 01 an ,nfant IncUbator It also funded the construction
""OXIem heatlh center, considered one 01 the best In the entire Leyte province. These projects were completed
l\$ continung program oIg'VIOQ free medIcines and assisl'ng the MunICipal Social Welfare and Development
hospltailzlng indlgentpabems fre<lol charge
~
_of
,,,,' n support of efforts to pfovide quaiity education, Kindemlife funded the renovation and construction of
.:
~I dingsandclasStooms, and donatllm of computers and other schoQj equipment on St James College of
&'90S Padfe Burgos Elementary School, and Lunsodaan E'ementary~. Moreover, it is also involved
::;';~P<'Ojects Such as the ,nstallat>on of water systems and conSlruCI.on of day cafe and fe<lding centers, and
~
plaza II also extends relief assistance to V;Clims of natural disasters and calamities The organization
:o-fnbute<l alfrlOst P60 mIllion worth of rnf'as!nJcture p,ojects for the town of Padfe Burgos alone, and has
_ted oarious ,nfrastructur" projects In the neighbonng mlmiopal,tles ofLlmas"....a, Macrohon, and Maasm
_~
K,ndemi.fe has grown Into a vibrant and well·loved organization in the prov<nce of Southern Leyle Its
undoubtedly be Ireasured by Ihe people It has helpe<l and supporte<l ooer the years
*'
n oonlemng the
Bafl88g Award to
the Klndem,lle Pholipp,nen, the PreSIdent recognIzes its humanItarian
:",~~.gs In provid,ng a blight future to less privileged children and indwiduals, and lor being a staunch partner
b:<III govemment of Southern Leyte 10 loog·term SOCIal progress and development
Q9/JJl(J}<
c9Zw -(") lie rfj,()( )lejJ
United States ofAmenca
AmIdst the hmel'gh\. muSIC and appliluse the golden voice of a Fihpina
has made an Indelible mark In the hearts of many. For most of her mature life,
this has been how the illustrious Ne..... Jersey-based soprano Amor lIaoMcGuinness ived he< dream, rende"rIg soullul music and touchirlgthe lilies of
so many Filip nos aloog the way
Ms, McGUinness, who grew up in the looming Wofid War II era in San
Pablo City Laguna C'arms shedeveloped a 'ove for singing when shewas six
years old. An eloquent lady who favors Italian songs, Juie Andrews and Etllel Merman. she al1eOOed the Juill",f<l
School 01 Music and took up vok:e lessons With several coaches before becoming a lamed sJJ'lger. She performs
opera songs and Broadway hits With fiair, but mostlmpoJtantly her sense of nationalism is re~ected in her soulful
rendition of Filipino classIcal kundimans Accof<lmg to revIews. she moved the aUdience wrth her sllrring
interpreta~ons of Fllplno folk songs at her Carnegie Hall debut. He< commuruty theater credits indude the ali-time
favontes South Pacific and TM King and I. She has been a regular guest artist at various FIlipino events aOO
gatherings held not only In the U S but also rn Canada CUba, Jordan and the Philippines. She had sung before
then U S Pres,dent George Bush as well as then PhilippIne Presidents Corazon C. Aquono and Joseph E
Estrada
Gifted w,th a golden voice and a big heart, Ms McGuinness carnes her charitable spirot ""th her in
everything thaI She doos. She 's a big supporter of events that are organized to raise fuOOs for WOr1hy causes such
as the "Read Phdipp,nes ProJect" of the Phrlippine ConSUlate in New York Showing strong concern in provid'lng
young FiliponoAmencans informabon about their mothe~and, she performed ,n a concert at New Jersey Performng
Arts Center In Nev..ark In 2003 The concert whICh was held In commemoratIOn of the t 05~ annrversary of PMppine
Independence. was also a fundraising event for her group, Fnends of the llbrary, whICh IS dedicated to prOViding
books about the Philippines to 10Callib'arles in the US She also performed in several henefit «mcerts In the
Phllipp,nes for the PhilippIne General Hospital and students of St Anne de Beaupre School of Quezon C,ty, the
forst private school for the mentatly hand,capPed in Metro Mamla.
In 1992. Ms McGUInness foonded the UniVe'Sl1y of the Phltippines and Friends Rondalla. a Spanishonsp<fed string orchestra composed 01 unive<sily alumni and others who aim to preserve and populanze trad,t,ooal
Filipino music, Thegroup has performed at several dlploma~c re<::eptlons and art shows, as well as concerts in
New York, New Jersey. Ohio. M,nnesota, Texas, Vi,ginia and Flonda
UndOUbtedly an accomphshe<l woman In the world of musLC, Ms. McGUinness is a nUrSe by prolession
At Ihe age of 22. and soon after graduating Irom Ihe Philippine General Hosp,tal School 01 Nurs,ng. she m'grate<l
to the U.S. to continue her studies at John Hapklns School of NurSJng. She then worked as an opera~ng room
nurse In seve'al New York and New Jersey-based hospitals. She now owns and runs the South Terrace Manor,a
residentIal health care center for elder women in Bontoon In essence, her Career as a nUrSe has ,nstilled In her
the resolve 10 extend assistance to as many people and diverse commumt,es she can reactl. Her community
servo<;(! ",willeS ,n I\ew Jersey and the states of New York, Rhode ISland. and Pennsylvania, focused on volunteer
work With the v,sualiy Impaired, hospice services 10 terminally"ill Pdtlents. and training on lirst aid and health care
fO( school ctlildren, Together 'Mth the San Pablo Associabon and the UmveJSJty of the Philppmes Alumni Associatlan
of New Jersey, she spearheaded donahon drives for medIcal supplies and equipmentfor San Pablo City Hosprtal,
as well as educahOnal matenals for hand,capped children of the Pag-ibig al Pag-asa School in San Pablo City,
laguna, A recipient of various humanitarian and community service awaf<ls, she has proven that a Flliplna can
accomplish so much if she w,ils her mind to do II
In conferring the Banaag Award to Amor lIao-McGu',nness, the PreSident recognizes her unparalleied
efforts in utilizing her gift of singing in uplifting the Image of Filipinos In the U S and supporting humanolarian
causes lor the benefi! of her fellow countrymen in tile Philippines
Q("lhc{({
0, I(;kf){(ku~ ::£1 PA.
Canad8
If peop e say only engll".ee<s can bUIld b<ldges, they probably halffl not
met a person like Alicia Natividad. a highly·regarded barrister and solicitor
credr.ed for booSbng the entrepreneurial spirit of the Fil,p;no co<mllXl'ly in Onawa,
and reInvIgorating economic and commerCIal ties between Canada and the
Phll,ppones
As the fi~t Filipina to be adm,tted In the Ontario Bar, in 1983 Ally
NatiVIdad is one of the lounde~ of the Canada Phrllpplnes BUSIness Council,
"1'Ie rorst and onry natIonal business associalioo geared to promoting trade and economic relatrons between the
"",uppines and Canada. As its incumbent president, she organil;ed various bUSIness fora, semInars and reoeptlOflS
~smg on economic and trade opportunities in the PhilippInes, She has assiduously encouraged Canadians
ZloUl doing business in the Ph, ippines, providing essential in/ormation about the sQClo.econc>mic and political
~ mate olthe country, Notably, she spearheaded the cooduc:lof business conferences in support of the official
~tevlSils of then President Fidel v Ramos in t997, and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo In 2002. asweli as
IS of other officials lrom the PhilippInes. To a large exlen!. she has added momentum to inItiatives in rekIndling
::.vadoan interest in the Philippines, and encouraging partne~hips between the Canadian and Phliipplne
• ,..,emments, businesses and NGOs, Her efforts have earned the respect and esteem 01 the highest Canadian
a' offk:lals and has created a poSllilffllmage of Filipino professionals and busmessmen not only in Ottawa but
:he entrre Province of Onla(lO
A lawyer in Canada w,th a Fillp'no heart, Ally Natividad is dedicaled in advanCIng Ihe welfale of the
no CanadIan oommunlty. Stie Vlews volunteerism as a covic duty to make her city and country a beller place
everyone As a law studoot at the Carleton UnIversity. she was already engaged '" a wide range olvolunteer
t es In supportolthe FIlipino hentage, equal rights for women, and the oommunity at large As president of
Ottawa Women's Network from 1992-1993. shefacolltated lInkages WIth other advocacy groups and created
al o<ogramsol mterestand assIstance to women
An ad,.,med lemlnist WIth a strong sodal conscience Ally NatlV,dad volunteered her services to the
......, House, a sheller for women and their children fleeing violence from t992 to 1997 DespIte her busy
'le<lule, she always finds time for Ihose in need, giving Iree legal adVIce to needy F,l,pino CanadianS WIth
- ogtatiOn, labor 0( marital problems She has also assisted several organil;ations such as the Multicultural
U'ISe> of ProfesSlOflal Women, Science and Technology CCMJocil, lIle Phllppine Centre Canada, and the Canaoa
Hef1Iage Foundation. Moreover, she shares he< legal knowledge WIth the local communoty by contnootrng
~s Filipiro Canadian publications
With her unparalleled profess",nal aCCOlTl'hShmenlS and civic work, Ally. Natividad has been recognized
years by numerous awards bestowed on her such as t~e "Queen's Goldeo Jubilee Medal", -OinQinesh
" '2003 Most Outstanding Fdlplno". and "BUSIness and Pro'23sional Women's Week Award", Wilh a
reoord of public and communily S9Nice, she is admired for her \1eat inte\1,ty, enthusL8Sfl"l and boundless
"I enJoy my work and what I do". she saId. Many years lror,' now. she Sl,ll sees herseW dOIng the same
i'f but maintains lhat changes will not faze her because she co,lsiders herself a flexible pe~on
.~
::::;;"?"e
In conlening lhe Sanaag Award to Ally. Alicia Natrvidad, the Presidentrecognizes her ded,cated service
clOg the econom,c welfare ofthe Filiplno Canadian COmmufllty, and commItment to a vibrant Fiiipino
_ :y engaged in successful bUSIness and economic relations between lhe Phli,pplnes and Canada
'if"etj;a iJ.@! G ia'(i'HJad- ;:y:y,. q.
Umted States of America
EvoMng Oller thousarJds oIyears. lilt! brealtltak,ng coral fEHIf ecosystem
which soppor1s the highest concentration of marine biodIversity in the world
thrives in Apo Island, Negros Oriental, PhilippInes In May 2003, these
underwater ie".....el swere unve<!e<! as a permanent ""id feef exh,tHt in the renowned
John G. Shedd Aquarium in ChIcago. showcaSIng Ihe bJod,versily and beauty
of the Phi ipp,nes. Cred,t 10< the latest Shedd attrac\lon goes partly to Dr Eveleyn
Q,A NatIVIdad, co-<:hair of Ihe PhilIppine Reef Gala Comm,tt&e 300 who
spearheaded raising S60,000 10 support Ihe marine e,hibn
The femarkab~ eXhibil., wh,ch according to Dr. Nalovidad "has definitely
pullhe Phllipp,nes in the map among the work". most mterestlng tou,ist destinat,ons". is Just one 01 many
causes that highlighted her as a community leader Upon imm,gratmg to the U.S. in 1988, she Immedialely
demonstrated her commItment nol only ln the pUrSl,,,l of profeSSIonal excellence, but also In the service to fellow
FII'plnos. An actIve member ollhe FIlipino Civil Rights Advocate, she was amon9 Ihe lhousands of Filipino
Americans who in(;eSS3nlly lobbied for lIle passage ollhe Filipino Veterans Equty Act, Being the chair of both the
Phillppme Week Commillee 2004 and Puno ng Pagkakaisa of lhe Ph",ppine Amencan Cultural Foondatlon, she
organiZed fundrai5ing aCllviMs for the building of the PhilIppIne Communoty Cenler in IIlmOls. The Community
Center is inlended to house a center for the elderly. a place of worship. and the Paaralang Pilipino, where she os
presenllya volunteer educator teaching Filipino language and cu lure to young Filipino Americans. She is also
affiliated wilh several FilipIno group$ SUCh as the Philippine Engineers and ScientISts Organizalion, Phllippme
Nonnal UniverSIty Alumni Associabon, and the Nalional Federation 01 Fil,plno Amencan Assoclalions, where she
currenlly serves as its vice chair lor Ill,nois,
Blessed wtlh a supportive and ICMng family, some of Or NalMdad's wortImhite undertakings are SUppor1ed
by her husband Cornelio, a 2000 "Banaag' awardee, One of their accomplishments as a dynamic team was the
Inslallatlon oOhe 11 fl. monumenl 01 Dr. Jose RiUll,the only Asian 0010 monument ever erected in Chicago. The
couple has also conducted medical missions. service forlhe poor and blind, and awarded scholarshlpgranlslO
poor but bright stU<lents in the Phihppmes
Or Natrvkla,fs endeavors also extend to the AsIan commun~y in !he U.s. An appointed coun,;;1 membef
of the Chocago Commis5<on on Human Relalions AdvisOly Council on ASIan AffaIrs, she advocates for racial
equalily _ra Slng al'/aleness on the prevalence of discrlmmalion and hale crtmes. When Fllir>no Amencan Joseph
Helo was murdered In 1999 because he was a "non"white" postal worker in U,S.. she coordinated a memorlal
service for hom as well as a nalional remembrance for olher AsIan American victims of racism To promote
multJcu'turalism. Dr. Natividad was responsible on organiZing the I~Asian American Fesbval in 1999 The event.
whiCh has become an annual ceHlbration, showcases the dIVerse and rich cu~ure and lra<l,tKlns of Asian countries
A public schoc.> leacher by profession, Or Nalividad holds a masw's degree in Library and InformaUon
Science, and a doctorale in Philosophy. She has worked dIligently in Halnlng her slUdents to become prolif.c
wnters and has 10$"1100 In them the klVe of reading through Ihe Unks /0 Literacy Program whIch is sponsored by
the Chu;ago Publ,c School and library She also conduCls hee lraining sem,nars on compulel and technology for
intelesled sludents al Oevry Instilute ofTechnology
A woman of no ordinary achHlvemenls, Or. Na~vida(fs outsland,ng community WO(k can be gleaned from
Ihe numerous Ifflards she has deservingly receIved over lhe years, 10 name jusl a few, "Asian American Coalihon
Community Service Award", "Rlzal Women 01 Malolos Award", "Recognition Award" from Mayor Richard Daley 01
Chicago, and "Filipino American Hentage Award"
In conferring lhe BanaagAward to Or. Evelyn O.A Nabvidad. lhe Presldenl recognIzes her outstanding
efforts in increasong FII'pino ViSlblllly in Chicago, and lor community work Ihat bene filS Ihe general well"being of
Fillp,nos and Asians in 1I11001S,
"
_.
d,mJ i.lf'i"l'{rl ({ N';('/It/';;
08""'"
Perhaps the most bcauMul way of expressing a swect concord amo"9 1'001'10 is through music. or SO
believed by tho Panday Tinig Choral Ensemble, a celebraled FilipinO C<lnadian choir whiCh is truly a sllOWease 01
F~ipino
mlJSlcal ingenuity and excellence The name 01 tho Ensemble, dorivod from F,lipUlO words panday(Cfaflsmanl
and rinig (volee). suggests that its members, who aro Filipinos in Montreal and its surrounding subums. are voiced
craltsmen Thougtl not possessing academic diplomas Or lonnaltrain1ng in voice Or musiC, members of the
ensemble worl< intensely in refining tho ar1 0' choral sin9,ng
RegIStered under the Canada CorporatIOns Ac1 as a non·profil and Chantable organization, P,mday Tinig
wasassemb10d by accomphshed po"",;Sl Edilha Fodalizo in 1985, By 1987, ,t had alreadY established a Montreal
mus,c tradItIOn through its actNe partic,palion in various mu'bcultural events and productions Worthy of mont,on
are the As,an Heritage Festival, Chinese Gardens' Summer Fest,vat, and Orucnmondvllie Choral FestNal, WLlh
hopes of developing the musical talert 01 young FillpLro:lS In the Greater Mont'eal area, the ensemble formed in
1991 Salingsr'ng, the children's ch"" olthe Panday Tin,\!
Portraying the beauly of Filipino culture through Its unique rendition 01 traditional Filop;no songs and
choreography Panday Tinig's pet10rmances afO always a hi, often mesmerrZll19 and transporting their aucl"mces
back 10 a place and lime 01 idyllic Ilv'ng One of their repertOireS, BaI'k_T"n"w, IS set In the rufal areaS ollhe
Ph,lopplnes Wllh ils tYPical nlpa huts and farmers at work in the fields depicting the b"yanih"n spmt of the rural folk
as expressed in tradilLOnal songs like Inday Sa Bali!aw and Kalesa, In 2004 the ensemble through its PmllfJ ng
Baylln show, inlroduced the SlIrswlI!a, a Spanish-inspired Phihppine mus,cal presentation, lO its Montreal and
Ottawa-based speClalOrs, The ensemble also pet10rms dasslcal, Indogerous, avant-garde. pop and modem music
,n French, English and Filipino dialects like Hocano, Blsaya, Bioo!ane and liongge.
To Insp"e the Filipono Canadian communily, Panday Tin'9 holds annuai presentations In cooperallOn with
other Flilpino orjJanizotlons, celebrat,ng Ph",ppine Iradil",nal festiVIties and re Ig",us actlVllleS, at the same time
promot,ng Philippine tourism, art eXhibits, and inter-cultural harmony, It has sung lor a documentary film tOflhe
Canadian National Film Board as well as for an educalional CD, an 11Onor that makes atl Filipinos in Canada proud.
In 2001. lhe group released a CD recordIng at F,.ip,no 'olk songs. Pmagkllwing H,m,g Polip,no, whICh is regislered
andliled inthe Canadoan NatIonal LIbrary
Just as singing COmeS naturalfy to ensemble members so IS their wil, to help others who are in need.
Some 0' their community involvement Include tienefrt concerts for victIms of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991 and
Ilashlloods In Saguenay-LaC SI. Jean in Ouebec in 1996 Also, proceeds 'rom the" nUmerous gala sllows were
donated to Charitable orgaflfzatJons helping lhe homck)ss populabon In Canada, and forthe bui'ding 0' the Phl,ppone
Center in Ottawa The Ensemble has also establiShed a music schotarsl~p Il¥ld in two universrties in the Philippines,
and supported cultural projects of the Philippine Independence Commiltee and Ottawa Vatley's FllipillO newspaper,
PiflQY Ell Their soullul secuiarmusicalso provides Ihe heartbeallo several wershipserv,ces In Canada such as
Ihe 51 Anthony Parish ChUfCh. Uflion UflIled ChurCh, and Good SIIepherd Church,
Hav'ng had the privolege of performing In lhe 'amous Carnegie HallIn New York, Panday Tinog plans to
orchestrale a cross conlinental lour with the aim o'lurthenng Phi;ippine trad,tional music. Its members' COmmon
asp,ral",n is 10 reinterpret traditional Filipono mUsJc wlllch once seemed passe. and rekindle apprecial+on 01
F,llplno mus,c among FilIp no Canadians
In con'errlng the Banaag Award 10 the Panday Tinig Choral Ensemble, the President recognizes ils
dedIcation in explessing the Iiclllless 0' Filipino heritage through music and lending Iheir vOICeS to support
human,tarian acw baS in Canada and the Ph;liwines
38
'fllflHU
.'-?13.
n le~H(lJaJtI
Ul1Iled States ofAmenC8
F,I.pmo nurses have often distinguoshed themselves Ir,,", thelf other
rounterpans by the r unparalleled sk,lIs, rompas",on for otners, and de<l,cabon
to dUly For he, outstanding accomphshmeOls as a dynam,c leader and excelleflt
nurse edllCalOr, Emma B Nem,vant has set a new l>enchmark and ra<sed the
slalus 01 Filip.,'10 nurses overseas
For 24 years, Ms Nemivanl taught maler""y nursmg rou,ses at tile
Un,v'''Slly of 11I111015 at Ch'cago (UIC). whIch IS 7~ in the ran~ of senior uniVerSlb&S
in the UllIled Siales Because of her ded,catloo, professional,sm and teaching
sk,lls She wenl on to assume various POslt,ons in college·wide commillees
_oed as faculty advisor 10 me Undergraduale Sludenl Council. A f'fSl for a Fil'Plno at UIC. hilr role as facully
~~:'~as Ihe POsl"on she treasured most, being an active student advocate. Her career al Ihe UIC was
by other s<gn,ficanl accomp"shments. among lhem, her appoin1ment as a contenl reviewer for the
-RN ha'Tllnalioo, a IliIllonally adm,nislered accredilahon examination for foreign·tra ned and educated
;;;;;.';he '5 also a ronsultant and aulhor of vanous pubhcabons 00 materna~chlld care and other nursing
;
n the area 01 research and olher scho~rly act>"I'es, Ms Nem,vanrs act,ve parlJcipallon as a eo-'nvesbgator
"Ioderalt)/·funded 4.year research project t,lled, 'Poslparrum Early Oischatg(l· Eff&Cls on Low !ncOlOO MOfhers
""'/s' has helped advance the fronllers of nursing knowledge. The resu Is of Ih" research gave her and her
",,!>Onal prom,nence and have st,mulated olhe< pfaCllCII'IQ nurses to o,ploro prol)lems ,n mtlternal":h,kj cafe
tonner Clinical inveshgation
Before coming 101M UMed Stal&S in 1965. Ms Nemivant organ<Z.ed ard facolilated tne opening 01 a
Maternity Unit and the Chafily Oulpatienl Departmell1 at the Chinese Generat Hospital In the Ph,lippines,
;~:_~ worl<:ed as a supe","sor and inslll.Jctor. The eSlabl,shment 01 these units provided comprehens ve and
care to the poor and dISenfranchISed populalOn 01 the community As the founding adviser oflhe
: ' . e Gene<al HOsp,lal N"Slng A1umn' Assoc<abon InternalKlf'lal. Ms. Nem,vam encouraged her fellow alumni
- " the" alma mater by dona ling books. joulflals and medical equ,pment. and by sUPPOrl'''9 ,ts scholarship
~~; WhMl Ch nese General Hosp;1a1 celebrale<! Its 75~ anniversary ,n 1996, "Is NlIIt1ivant helped organ,ze
a."Ch of the hospotal's D'amond JubHee Book. Through !he sale of ltt&Se boob, Ihe orgalllzalloo successfully
.::::~~;S10.000 whIch was used to establish the hospItal'S ,nleract,.e leaming laboratOl'y equipped w;th the latest
er and relaled technolog,es. Ms. Nemivant's donation of boo~s to the Ch,oese General Hosp,tal's College
_
~ prompted the opMling of a separate w'ng in me library named lhe "Emma Bafquiedra.Nem;vam Reading
'
••
A lhre....lerm Preskjeot 011he Ph'i,ppine Nursos AsSOClalion of II ,nOlS (PNAI). Ms. Nemivant has been a
for minority nUfses, speaking oul 00 Issues that ensure the nurses' nghllul place ;n SOC ety Her
:::
ncy made an indelIble mtlrl< in the organ,nmon's histOl'y wtlen she assumed an actNe role ,n rais'ng fundS
.... "md,&s of the t'M) F" Plno nursos whO were murdered by an Ame"can ,n 1966, ana provided moral and
tJIroa support 10 lhe lone su",i"",. Under PNAl's banner, she successfUlly lobb'ed 10rlhe ehminahoo of at,zensh,p
• I> ~u"ement lor protessKlf'lal rElll'S1raIJon 01 nursos ,n II ,no s and successfully campaigned lor lhe re"slon 01
Mo'S Nurs,ng ACI wh,ch perm,lted nursing candidales to rela~e the Slate Board Examinatioo six hmes
:;;~_. I
~oIlhree
Outspoken and willful. Ms. Nemwafll cont,nue<! 10 champion the rOghls of FiliPIno nurseS. alter her term ,n
ended. As presklent of the Ph' ,ppine Nurses Assoaa~on of America IPNAA) she led and won lhe protest
-;;;lOnstlhe Amefk;an Medical AsSOClahon's proposal to creale new categories 01 heMh care worke<s to alle..ate
.n."g shortage in the U S, She also lobbied W1th lhe INS and aucceeded to gel an e"ens'oo for expired H·1
a "etory savore<l by many FiliPIno nurses Because 01 hef exemplary worK and achl<lvements. numerous
-.rds had been beSl0wed 00 her by various nursing and co"c o'93nizations nabonally and ,mer""IIOf\ilIty'
In conlernng ltle Baflllag Award to Emma B Ner....varl. the Pres<denl recogniz&S her unequaled conl"OObons
promoltnglhe profess,onal ad.anceme"t and Ihe ,ights of Fi ipino "Urses in the Unlled States and in the
poes. and for se"'ing as a role model lor F pino he3llh care prOfeSSiOnals here and overseas
"
.::1Pltrlsl0/ne
c9;orlJ
nC!uJlra!tiOt
aN!"/ Yilt/lure,
cfl:u:,
Austtalia
The F,hpLno'slove for sports is evident in almost every S1refll corner in the Phillppmes where one is sure
'>OJ a billiard hall. makeshift baskelball CO'JfI. and Imp,ovise<! Chess boa,d on awood bench. Evenwhen they
• the coumry. FilIpinos carry W,lh them a natural paSslon for sports. It was lh,s passion that brought logether
o.Jp of Fil,plno sports enthu$lasls to form an organizing body lhal cruld arrange ........Jor sports evenls for early
o rmgrants in Sydney. Auslralia
This gathenng of overseas FIlip;r\O sportsmen set the stage for the found,ng of the Philippine Australian
CrunCII, Inc. (PASC) m 1979 As PASC's membership grew, it expanded its programs from Ihe "ek:! d
10 the promOlion 01 Philippine culture in AuSlral,a thrrugh the Grand Phllipp'ne Fiesta and several concerts
FII'pino afllsls. In 2002, The PASC Board of Management and members decided to amend Its name
"" IllPIr>e Australian Sports and Cullure, Inc to belter reflect its expanding areas of interest
""""own
One of the longest servIng and most accomplished Filipino commur\lly orgamzalions In Austra ia, PASC
tamed vanous awards and rec<:gnl~on from promlf>Cnt gove'nmenl and pnvale agencies In 1992, lhe ElhnK:
Commission of New SOulh Wales awarded a commendahon to PASC for Its c'eahve contnbubon during Ihe
~~~'tural Market,ng Awards, The Multicultural Affairs Program 01 the Organising Committee for the Olympic
_ s a'so recognIzed PASC's 5Uppofl and contribulion to th6 success of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games
from Ihese, PASC reee.ved vanous convnendatlons from lhe Philippine Consurale Gen8l'al,n Sydney and
ous F,lip,no-Australian associatIons for its valuable assIstance in promoting F,llpino community undertakIngs
Working to promole SPorts development oj overseas FlllplnO$ for 25 years, PASC initialed several major
:;;",,;men,ts in Syli'ley and other malor CII",S in Australia In 19<12, lhe then Philippine Austrahan SpOflS Coundl
•
ed the firs! Sydney vs Melbourne SpOflS Feslival, an annual achvity that drew thousands of FII,p,no and
...J=llpino sports fans together to ""mess FIlipino prOl"8SS in the fJeld 01 sports. T,ue to ItS cause. PASC
-..t opportunites for F,lip,no athletes to particIpate and excel in overseas compe~lIons. It sponsored the fivetraining and enlry 01 the Phllpp,nes' second rank,ng tennIS player to the 1991 South EaSI Asian Games
the participation of a team 0( handicapped Filipino children in the 1988 Pacific School Games held In Sydney,
Apafl from lIS ach",vement in II!l sports-related endeavors, PASC Inc has hKe'wise organIzed successful
~,,:~events fo, the benefit of various Phl-lppine and Australian chanty organlzalion projects. PASC is cred,led
:x-ganizlng the annual Grand Phllpp,ne Fiesta In Australia since 1989, which was dUbbed by newspapers as
"..-orld'$ largest gathering of Filipinos outside the Phllippmes' Attended by tens of thousandS of F,lip<l\(ls,
• allans. and other members of elhnic cornmunit.es in AU$tral,a, the Fiesta was awarded as the "best non·
mafkellng efforl of any ethnic community" by the NSW Ethnic Affairs Commission. From the p'oceeds oflhe
and ~sothercultu'al programs, PASC extended ass, stance to vanous Phllpplne and Australian chaflhes
.:;;~~.ornote SpoflS developmenl for children and the handIcapped, Phlllppine colieges and univer$ll,es that
~
schoIarshops for deserving stuOOnIS, and PhI'pp,,,.,.Auslraian orga"'zatlQrls. A prime mover in ttle prcmQbon
Pt..: pp,ne sports, culture and othercommunily endeavors PASC Indeed. established llself as an Inspiraj,on
madelto F'llplno organlZat>ons OV8l'seas
In confemng Ihe Banaag Award to Ihe Phllipp<ne AuSlrallan SPOflS and Culture, Inc the President
n ze$11!l efforts in strengthenin9 Filip<no community 'elallons 'n Australia through the promollOn of SPOflS
"CUltural acliv,lIes
39
,!'l... ''''1
9'3:,lv0/nc ~((II(lral
P(lum/a!ion 0/ C'ytZwar'"
United $IatesofAmenca
In '90EL the first 15 Filipino
sa~8d"s
came 10 HawanlO help fill in
~s
demand for m,granllaOOf, AJmoII
'00 years laler, Filipinos have gone a long way and are cons,dered one of the I'1os1 v'slble, vibrant and a<gea
ethnic groups in Hawa,", conlnbuting slgn'ficantly 10 the slate's economic, social and political developmenl n.
'ncreasingly 'mportant role lhat Fil,plnos play in Hawaii has inspHed a group of FiI'plnos to create a comm.nlr
that preserves and promotes liS CUlture, lrad,llO/1 and hentage. Thus, the Ph,llppine Cullu'al Foundabon (ll H _
(PCFH) was born
Established in t969, lhe PCFH has proved its oommitmenlto the F, 'PlllO youth. family and oommunlt'o
Hawaii lhrougn actN iMs tr.a'l'l'lI!lp In tr.e\u'lil>'ltrnl\\ til 'O\'.>\l~)\$'I<lo' w.,'!A~"t-.'f:§:f;,. ~<loW:Jl, <j, H~'ii> (~~~ ~~~
and presefVatlOn 01 natIOnal culture, tradi~on and history. Work,ng towards th,s end, PCFH developed seh
p1'09rams lor prtlmlS'ng FII'plno students in Hawaii. org.amzed Iund·raising PrtlJects in suppon of Filiprno co<fW'lUendeavors, and sponsored cultural presentations that leature tradlhonal and elhnic songs and dances
As one olthe lew F~Fpmo org.aniZallOnS whch actively supported lhe eSlabilShment 01 Ihe F~""no ComITU'lt
(FilCom) Cente' ,n Waipahu, Hawaii, PCFH raIsed approx,malely $100,000 in support of 'IS construChO:":_~:
amount came from the proceeds 01 PCFHs Ms. M,llennium Fil,p,na Chanty Pageant ,n 2000 and Ms Phil
Hawaii Pageant III 2003, Asjde f'om supportlllg a worthy cause, these events also alms to celebratethe
and talents 01 Filip,no women and the" mu~i"aceted'oles as ind,vil:lual achievers, 'esponsible homemakers
pro-actNe commun~y members,
True to ,ts goal 01 insp;nng Filipino commlXlFty with lrad,booallamlly values PCFH holds a yearty recogr-oll
banquet for outstanding Filipino parents and students. Along with a cultural presentatIOn of FilipIno songs
dances, the event culminates with the awa'ding for Parents of the Year and Students of the Yea', The Pare<1b
the Yea' Award is given to exceplLonal Filipino couples who ensured the college educahon (lIthe;' chlld'e<1 ...
fostered in them values that made them achievers and row models in the" communrties As of 2004. nine FI I~
couples have been conle'red the Parefl1s 01 the Yea' Award. The StUdents oIthe Yea, Awa'd, bestowed to Fih..,.
students who graduated from h'!lh school or oollege With academic 'e<:ognibon, seeks to inspIre and m011vale It'O'
youth to st,ive 10' scholastiC excellence
To lunhef encourage g,aduatlng students to pu,sue higher learning, PCFH provides college scholal"Sl1
grants 10 outstand,ng Fil,p;no h'!lh school stude~ts As 012004, ele,en students have been '6Clplents of the PCA'
scholarship program
PCFH's years 01 notable contnbuhons to the FilipIno commumty In the Stale of HawaII captured
allention of the state government. In May 2004. the senate of the State of Hawa" p,esented PCFH w lh •
commendation for its success in fulfilling Its objectives. Th,ough Its efforts to promote awareness on F' prno
values, culture, and excellence, PCFH managed to elevate and emphas<ze lhe contributIOns of F,lip;no commurube5
in the de'elopment of Hawaii
In conferring the B8naBg Awa,d to the Philippine Cultural Foundation 01 Hawa" the Presidenl recogmzes
,ts wonhy ach'levements in p'eserving FII.prno values, culture and lradi1ion among Filipinos in Hawai, and
add'essing the educational needs of Fi1iplllo youth in Hawaii
~
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q.J!! .o.Y1/'0,r;
('>
...,
If. 9.
United Stares ofAmenca
In Ill;n",s hV8$ a mulb·talented Filipino Amencan w,th many inte<estS,
A doctor, nl$lor"'''. P'Ol""50<, wnter, mJI,tary man, lead .... and philanlhropist
folled·into-one. he is Dr. V"Il,lIo 0 R P,13pll. Deswbed by h,s peers as a
renaissance man, on lhe spint 01 the Ph",ppone rllliional hero, Dr Jose Rizai. he
is an influence lIlat keeps F,IIPlnoS acl,ve and uni~ed into a cohesive force in
the Midwest U.S
A nalN" of Bacao,. Ca'lte Dr. D,lapil graduated f,om Far Eastern
Unlvers,ty Institute of Medicine in Manila and left Ihe Philippines in January
1963 underlhe U S exchange VISItOrs Program By 1970, he Slar1ed to practice
at the Spnngf.eld Clinic. where he became a mOO>ca1 pIoneer. Not only was he the f"S1 Asian to er>gage in medical
praClice In SPfIOll'iold, he waS also the fi",t pediatric ca'd'ologist ,n Ihe area AIf,I,ale<! w,th seve,al notable
med,cal soo"t,es, he use<! to be a clin,cal assoc,ale professor 01 Pediatrics al Southern Illinois Un'versily 01
"led'C1ne lor 24 yearfo and an ,nslructor of Pe<l,atncs at Ihe University 01 M,SSISS'PP" School of Med,cine At
ptesent. he has reli,ed afler wa,k,ng for yean as a me<l'cal staff at the St. Johns Hospital and MemOlial Me<l,cal
Center. and is currenlly a medical consu'tant at Ihe Stale of lII,r>o's Department 01 Human Services He has
published O\Ie' 25 medical articles in d lIe",nl AmerICan me<lJcal Journals
Wilh,n lhe Filipino Ame"can commuMy. 0, P"apil is tooke<! upon as Ihe pnme mover in promo\lng
PhJj,pp,ne cullu", and history Slnce 1988, he has made many inroads in popular,Zln\l prev,ousry unknown F,I,por>o
American histor,cat informat'on, Ihrough the creal,on of h,storical SOClebes such as Ihe Filip,no American H storlCal
Soc,ety. Fllip,no Amerkan Nat,onal H,Slorical Sooety, and Bacoor H,sloncal Society. A rer>owned speaker, lhorough
","earcher. aoo ed,tor of several historical publ,cat"""s, he has traveled eXlens,vely to many c,lIes ,n Ihe U.S and
!fie Ph, ,ppines in punuit of h" goal. His histoncal ,nlerest nOW translates into se....ral researches ranging from
ancoenl alphallel Aetas In America. World War II heroes of Talaoo, and Dogtown and contlibut OnS of Igorots on
the 1904 World Fair In Sl LOUIS, M,ssouri. MOre<lver. he was aCli.... in suppo"in\l fundraisl"9 aClivilies for th"
.,stallalloo mlhe R,zal monumenl in ChicaQo and the bu'ldin\l of Ph,I'POJne Cu:tural Center ,n IllinoiS. He also
founded Ihe lJ(lc~nland Chapler ot Ihe Mamla-OOsed Order 01 the Kn,ghls 01 Rizal serving as Its Commander for
the paSI sevetal years
A man who highly values educat-Oll. Or. Pitapil's work 's nOI only conf,ned w'th,n Ihe circle 01 FilipJno
Amencans. Aller 17 years, he Sl,il serves as Cha.rman 01 the SCIence Scholanh,p Comm,ttee of the Assoc",t,on
01 Filip,no Physic,ans m Southern Illinoos, wh,ch grants college Scholarships 10 Ihe w,nners of Ihe,r annual OULZ
Show Remarkallly, he In,haled the establ,Shmenl of AFPSI Sc;;ence Scholarship Trust Fund to subsidize ttle
s.cl'lolarsh,p prOQram for CeOlral and Southern III,oo,s sludents
A'9O \leiter" leader, 0<, Pitapilleads in develop,ng prOjects lhal help his less 10Munate brOlhers arid
s,Slers back home Aside from P8"'C1pallng in annual medical m,s..ons to the PhoIiptl,nes. he init,ated, tOQether
",ttl the Ph,l,pp,ne Pediatroc SOCIety in Amenca, dona~on of med'cines and medocal equipment to public hospitals
In Manila, Cav,te and M.rldoro He also helped In ra'sing funds lor the establishment of the St. Ezekiel Moreno. a
vocational t,ainlng center fo, the poor ,n Bacolod C,ty, and Fnends of Andres Bomfacio Memmal Hospital, a
foundation coord'nating med,cal projeC1s for the ,nd,genl on Trece Ma"'",s, Cavlte He also oniHated the·Adepl-A.
Library·PrOQram'· Which alms to prO\lide libranes of Philippine hospitals with medical books and other educational
malenals He also spea'headed several bOok dona~ons lor Ihe Nat,onal H'storkal Institute Library, Municipality of
Bacoor, De La Salle Un,versJty.Oasmarinas, and Talaba Elementary School in Bacoor
One mlhe '1994 Twenly Outstand,ng Filipino Americans in North Ame"ca' as well as an 'OulSland'''9
U S MJIJtary Vol un",...' and ·Outstand,ng Phllipp<Pe Historical Advocale-. Or. Pilapil is included among the celeb"ues
,n the DicIJonary of Internat,onal Biograplly and PersonaMies of tile S",,'II
In coofemng the Banaag Award to Or Virg."O 0 R. P,lapiI, the Pres,d""l recOQnlzes his ass"luausness in
promoM\I and enhancing F,lipiOO Ame,ican hislory and cultu,e ,n the U.S Midwest as well as his generous
etlol'1S in helping his tellow Filip,nos in Ihe Philippines
"
'::lo{(nle;
,-,el
roYa/axa)'
Hong Kong
The sp,nt of unity and nationa'ism among FII,p,nos seem 10 become
more pronounced when they are far from their motherland In a country ke
Hong Koog where there are more than 150,OOOoverseas F pinos at any 9 ven
tJme, Fillp.no corrmunlty leaders playa big role in keep<ng our m'gram ",or_ers
connected to home. OrganizIng one active FI"plno group's no easy task.
spearhead,ng one successful Fil,plno oommuMy event is commendable o~ liS
own. Ms Lourdes A. Salazar went beyond this feat by concurrently ead ngthree prominent F,tiptnoorganizat,ons
,n operat.ng prOjects that benefit F.,ipinos in Hong Kong
Establlsh.ng a reputation as a reliable prime-mover, Ms Sa'aza! IS the Execut ve D"ectorof the Philippine
C'lamt>er of Commerce-Hong Kong, Ihetreasurerof PhLilppJneArls. CUllure and Society (PACES). and a Trustee
of the Hong Kong Bayanihan Trust. She alSO chalfed the Philippine Assoclat,on of Hong Kong ,n 2002. where she
organized a Ph 'ippine Independence Day Chanty Bait during "er term
One of he' rTXlSt Imporlant prOjects for the Fit,plno commun ty 's t"e a'l"ual -Harmony in Cultures' Tn,s
prograJ'r', developed In cooperalion wlth Ihe Funding Scheme of t'le Hong Kong HOTY'e Affairs Bureau_ a,ms to
prorrotes harmony and cultural dioerslty awareness arTXlng me d,lferent emn c minOrity groups and the locals In
Hong Kong. The first "Harmony In Cullures' was al1ended by more tha.o a thousand participants and Included a
cu:tural parade by nat,onals from the Phil,ppines Indones'a, SrI Lanka Nepa Tha and India, and Hong KongCmna The parade culmlnatell In an an exh,M, where pan'CJpants sho,,,cased their country's arts, crafts, food.
gamesand~ances
Asa trustee oIthe Bayanrhan Trust, Ms Salazar opened the Bay3M>anKenned, Town Centre as a oenue
for promot,ng not only s<)C,al and cultural growtn, but skills enhance",ent of f, p,no I>ousehold workers as ",ell
She organized training programs on food processIng and l'vel:hoOO, aM ne d theNs: PAG-IBIG Housing fa" at
the Bay"",han Centre. To prorTXlle language prolioency and corr.puter 1,lerac, she eSiat> sned a I brary Wlth,n the
Centre by solicltrng book ~onations from the American Boy Scouts and 60 se<:oM-hand computers from Hong
Kong Interna:ional SChool. She exlended ass;slance 101M Philippine Consu a:e Genera, In the conduct of the
O'Ierseas absentee votong through the use of the Bayanihan Centre as a POII,ng p ace In tnt! 2004 elections
ASide from being a respected comrrunity leader, Ms, Salazar IS a so kno .." in the bus,ness world as a
high-'evel corporate OffiClal in oarlOUS fInancial inst,tuuons In Hong Kong. Usoflg her experlJse n the field of bankmg
aT\dfinance, she paved the way for trade opportuMies between the PI> P>l nes and Hong Kong China. and other
countries. She iniliated the ins1i1uliOnal.zation of the Phllippine Charrbe, efCOm-.-ce n "<>ng Kong, where. as
Executive Director, she spearheads lhe promoloOn of business relat ons a""""ll; '!lino. Ct"nese, and other
Asian-Pac,fic businessmen She also assists large and small-scale F,I,p,no _..p-_"rs In prorroMg_ launch,ng
and susialoong the" products in Hong Kong. She also organizes foras a~
an: venues for informalion
exchange, and foslers congenial relations with other bus.neSSTY'en In HOl\<il 1<0I'lg_
'**'.....
Inronfening the BanaagAward 10 LourdesA Salazar, the Pres de"t recogc .zes he'd,llgence In in,Mtlng
and implerrenling prqecls Ihat promote fhe professooal and socio-culll.. ra' ad .aramen 01 f pino entrepreneurs,
overseas workers and other sectOj1; of the Fitiplno comrrunlty in Hong Kong
&arCh to
C}';MJO(f)('
~(0/no os>lmencam
United Siaies of America
Forty years ago, too Tumplu-8eveny Corridor was the heart 01 Fil.pino culture in Los Angeles, and one 01
the targest Filipino communities In the United $tates of Amenca. When the next generation 01 Fltlplno Americans
moved to ltle suburbs, the communily slid Into abandon and neglect Two years ago. the area has been offiCially
(lesignated as "Histone FlllpinOlown' commemoraling Ihe presence 01 Fihplno immigrants whiCh contnbuled
.mmensely ~ the area's growth in ean,er years. Today. one <Yganizahon Slands proud in preserving lhe legacy 01
the FiliPino people in Historic Fjjip<notown - the Search ~ InVQlve Pil,plno Amencans ($IPA)
Organized in 1972 SIPA posillOOS Itsellto be 100 prermere advocale of Fillp<no-Amencan heatltl, wellare,
polilical and cultural e~owerment. Far Irom ~mply enhanCing the vlsobllity 01 FilJpJnos In Ihe mainstream. StPA
also Oilers a vanely of programs and servrces to Fihplnos resJd,ng in Historic FilipinOIOWn and throughout Los
Angeles County. The range of programs and serviceS II offers Include affordable housing, career and oosjness
counselIng and promotion of Philipp'ne spons and CUlture, among others In 2003, SIPA received more than SI
millIOn 01 governmenl and private seclor granls, Including pUbhc contributions and donatKlns from lundraising
activities
Seeking to Improve the quahty or life 01 filipino Americans. SIPA took the itlilfative of making affordable
hoUSing available 10 Filiprno Americans in Histonc Fillplnotown $IPA built Normandle Village In 1998, a 16-unit
housing project for low-to-moderate Income families, Which also won a nahonal speCial projects award from ltle
Urban Land Insl,lule. Realizing its positive Impaclon the lamllJes who availed of the units, SIPA completed the
construction of a 76-unlt housing complex In 2004. the Sacatela Village
True to its ~iSlOn of preserving the filipino heritage. SIPA ImplemenlS after School programs lor filipino
youth thai enrich their knowledge of Filipino culture. This InclUdes cultural crahs classes. sports clUbs and
leagues. martial arts and Filipino Iolk dance classes. among others Realizng the problems commonly eJ<perienced
by filipino Amencan youth, SIPA also oftcrs case management and counseling services, as well as empowermenl
and inlormation programs diSCUSSing issues 01 generat inlereSI such as substance abuse and teen pregnancies
Manilesting the importance of dealing w,th youth .ssues and concerns, $IPA constructed Ihe Temple Galeway
Youth and Community Cenler, a 5.000 square fOOl mullr·purpos<llacilily lor youth and community development
programs. wh,ch earned broad community support
Catenng to a community wtlere a high percentage 01 tiS residents I'~e below the poverty level. SIPA also
encourages people to engage in small buSinesses Through Its Small Susiness Development Program. $IPA
assists prospective entrepreneurs by providing counselJng and workshops on busoness plan development, permit
and IOCOOse applicatons. credjt and finance sourong, marketing and ad~ertisong, boo4<.keeping and tax management
for more Ihan three decades. $IPA's perseverance and hard work has resu·ted inlO a Unl~e<l, culturally
FII,pjoo communily that cuts across social consciousness and emphastzes the nee<l to celebrate
one's unique heritage
e.pressl~e
In conferring tM Sanaag Award to the Search to Involve Pllijl<nO Americans, the Pres4dent recogruzes \ts
remarkable efforts in enhancing the quality of lile of Filipino Americans in Histone f,lipinotown and Los Angeles
County, Ihrough programs that promote self suffiCiency, economic stabiloty and the hentage of the ftl,plllO people
~aJl
,!J1wl vr::nlJ'ad('1t
Belgium
One need oot be a Filipono to scrve the poor and noe<.ly in tha Phil,pp.ne
countryside. Mr. Jean Paul Verstraeten easily pro,'ed tnls po,nl wh<>n he lOOk
On the I3sk 01 p,omoting h_elihoo<l health, and educalion prog'ams in
uooerprivileged communitIes in !he counlry for almosl 30 years
1
A former medical student .....th an unwa_enng ,nlerest In nealth Issues,
M'. Ve,straelen's extensive commun~y service on tha PhIlippInes whICh started
in 1977 cenlered on heallh programs for the moSl destllute and underscrved
groups _ the hand'capped. leprosy patIents (or Hanserutes). people inflIcted
with HIViAIDS, and cultural mmor,t",s Displaying a rare kind of de\lOtlOn and
;;;;;;;;;;;;
concern, he worked wth varoQUS !lOvemmem and non-go_ernment organlzatklns 10 faeililate the transferof d
from BelgIum. United States, aoo Olller counlnes 10 the PhIlippines. In less Ihan three decades. he was able
solICit donaboM 01 eyeglasses. mOdiclnes. and medocal equ,pment from overseaS donors w,th an eSbmated
of P20 millkln
Ultimately, his fearless in_alve""'nt in programs f... Hanscn,tes coofined al Cution San,tafOum ard
AIDS patlenls unde' the care of the Department of Health (DOH) gained pUblIC attention, He was leatu-ed
"","eral local and intemalional teie_ision P"ograms such as The 70G-Club. The World Ton'ght, TV Patrol In
Slary. Flashback Show. The Esscntial Chrisl, and Metterdaad Netherlands In 1990, the Philippine M
Pr&Ct,!ooners Assoc~t,on c,ted hiS aceomplishmems by prescnt,"Il him the 'Outstanding HumaMarian Se
and Ci_ic leader Award" He also recel_ed nominatIOns for Rotary Club ollnlramuros' "Nallonal Award lor Com,,Serv""," and -Mother Theresa Award" in 1992 and 1993 ,especti_ely
H,s conlfibutlOns in upilling the slandard of educahon in underpn"leged baraflg~Ys and munic'pal \1
the Philippmes are Just as worthy of 'ecogn~ion, NObng the shO't~se 01 sChOol buildings in the more remote ar_
in Culion, Mr. Verstraeten aSSisted in ra,slng funds fo, lhe conslruClion of two school buildIngs in Galdat ....
JardIn. Cui ion_ He was instrumenlal in dellveMg donated academiC and acli_ity boo~s. blackboardS. SC'"
machines, and othe, needed SChool supplies and equipment 10 d,fferent pUbl,c SChoolS ,n Caiapan OIle~
Mindoro and Culion, Palaw~n. He also introduced an annual scholarship progra'" where deoorvlng and ind»
Sludents were preSenled with a beltor opportun'ly lor a h~her lc\'(!1 of educat,on and a brighter Muro In rocogn
of his numerous contr,butions to Ihe;r munl<;,pailly. lhlI Sangg<Jniang Bayan of Calapan, O"enlal M,ndoro pass«
a resolution proclalm,ng Mr Ve'Slraeten as the munlc.paUy's adopled son
Wish'ng to extend educationa~ and ',ve"hood ass,s~~ro:e 10 olhe, areas as well. he provided help whene
and whe'ever it is needed. When the PIlIllpp;nes was de_astaled by a scries of typhoons In 1993, M'. Vorstraoi
lost no time 'n sending food, clothes. and medlcmes. He is also ~nown to be a diligent benefactor of SO'"
go_emmenl projects, such as Oepa,tmenl of EducatlOn's Classroom Gal/fig sa Mamamay,mg p,l,p,no Abro-'
ICGMA) Project and several feeding programs of local go_emmonls in Metro Man,l"
Any doubts that Mr Verstraclen has a FI!>p,no heart wdl go away after reading the variouS researches..
publ,shed books and art,cies he wrOle aboul the life of the Fil,pino nalional hero, Dr. Joso Rizal. His de_olion ard
respeCI for our national hero also mot"ated him to work lor the Installat,on of a marker In a house in Brussels
where 0,. RlZal stayed during h,S SOjourn ,n Europe. Al present, he IS an o/flcer of KllIghts of R,zal, a d~1J
chartered civic, palrlotic, non-scctafOan and non-partIsan orgalllzall0n, establ.shed to honor the WIsdom aev;:
memory of Dr. RiZal
True 10 h,s lifetime pursut In conlr,buMg to the counlry'S development, Mr. VerSlraeten is currMtt)
worI<ing on the -Kababayan Model Village' Project In Bal'bago, Calatagan, Batangas Tho proJecl a,ms to b...1d
the 'nlrastructu,e for Ii_elihood and skills tra nlng, housing for d,spl&eed children and the eldeny, and a healll'l
wnle, lor nea'by lowns. Approximately 25 barangays and 6,000 lamilies in Calatagan are expected to lien",,"
from lh,s program
In conferring the Ban"ag Award to Joan PaUl Verstraeten, lhe Presidenl recognizes h,s unwaver"'g supp""
and commitment 10 promote the heallh and educatIOn of disadvantaged Filipinos. and h,s invaluable contribulJO(o
in p'opagating the teach'ngs and ,dealS of Dr Jose Rizalm the Philippines and n Europe
"
The Pamana n9 Pilipino Award is conferred on Filipinos overseas
for excellence and distinction in their work or profession
Awardees
Felipe P. Abinsay, Jr.
Uniled States of America
Dante C. Fuentes
Indonesia
Rodolfo S. Bernardo, Ed.S.
Umted Slates of America
Lenore R.S. Lim
Wilfredo R. Buhay
Eliodoro C. Cadawas, Jr.
United Slates of America
Alejandro A. Esclamado
Javelle LaoagFernandez, M.D., Ph.D.
Japan
Rodolfo C. Quiambao
United Stales of Amenca
Maj. Gen. Antonio M. Taguba
United Stales of America
Constancia S. Uy, M.D.
Gundelina A. Velasco, Ph.D.
Uniled Kingdom
Arturo T. Viola
Canada
d10/0e ~ (Jr;;/t/ma//~ nfl.
Umted Srates of Amenca
One measure 01 a man's capabLhtes and leadersh,p 's how well he 's
trusted and respected by his peers and by Ihe people under his care. In the
Kah,h and Moanalua d'slnct 01 Hawa11 there 's no line' example 01 one with
these virtues than Rep,esenlatve Fel,pe P. Ab,nsay. Jr
Known 10 many as an active Filipino community leader prior to holding
olloce. Rep. Ab,nsay is CUfren~y servong hiS fourth lerm In office as a
memberollhe Hawaii House 01 Representatives HIS firstloray in !he Hawa"
legis'ature be9an In 1995 when !hen Hawaii Governor Benjamin Cayetano
appointed him to represent the Kahih and Moanatua d,Slnc1. Since 1996. he
-... been eleCled tour I mes wilh an overwhelm,ng margin against h,s conlenders AI presenl. he serves as
\oliIjor,ty WtllP 01 the House 01 RepreStlntatives and cha" 01 the Comm,tlee on Agriwlture He is aiso a member 01
-,Commilleeson Business and Econom,c Oevelopmenl, and TOl,lnsmand CUllure
pu~oc
Rep Abinsays s1rOflg1les WIth the PMppine motherland can be gleaned from lIle advocacies he espouses
.->d legislatiOns he aUlhored throughoullhe yea,s In support 01 !he ptighl 01 Flhp,na.American World War II
o<e1efans. Rep. Abinsay authored aocI passed House and Concurrenl Resolutions u,ging lhe Congress and Preslderrt
Qt tr>e U.S. 10 support ,n,lIa1lves grantng beneftlS to veterans and theLf famll'es. He was aiso the aulhor 01 Hawaii's
e.tIzenshlp T,aining Program which funds English language t,a,ning lor Filipino immigrants prepanngfOf US
ctIzensh'p exam,nat,cns. Reallz,ng1he serious env,ronmental and publiC heallh problems posed by toxic wastes
lllf! beh,nd at former U.S m"llary bases ,n the Phil,pplneS, he ,ntrodLJCed and lobbied Iorlhe passage of a house
resolution ca ling on Ihe U.S. governmenl to take acton on the matter
As part ofh,s efforts to promote good relations between Hawaii and Ihe Philippines, Rep AbinsayaUlhored
House Concurrent Resolulion No. 28 in 2002, promptng the establishment of State·Prov,nce relations between
Hawaii and Pangasinan In the same year he authored House Concurrent Resolution No. 48, seek,ng !he
estabhshmenl of sister-stale exchanges between Hawaii and llocos Sur In !he fields of education, culture and
economy. ToenhancelourismexGhanges, he passed House Concurrenf Resolution No. 146. urging the HawaII
Tourism AUlhOfrty 10 remove lJ.arriers and promole travel between Hawai, and !he Philipp;nes. He ;s also credited
lor co-authorlng the law creatng lhe Fihplno Centennial Celeb<at,on Commission, which was !asked 10 plan.
coordinate and irJlllemenl acIMtes 10 commemorate the 100" anniversary of the arrival of !he firsl Filip;no migrants
to Hawa,1 ,n 2000
Prior to assum,ng pU~ic office, Rep Ab,nsay is already known for h,s remarkable leadersh,p ab,llties
From 1994 to 1996. Rep. Ablnsay served as presidentollhe Oahu FWplno Community Council During h,s sbnt,
he ,mbaled lhe F"pino VOlers Re9istration Campaign to raise awareness w,!hin Ihe Fii,pino commJn,ty over lIIelr
"'lIuence in local and Slate polJbCS, His impacI is most felt on youth deVelopment, when he crealed a serres of fora
on rolaboration with the Honolulu Pohce Department on youlh gang involvement This led to !he es!a~ishmentof
youth programs, such as organrzed sporlsaClivibes to keep lhe you!h away from gang activ,I'es. Rep. AbOnsay
... as also instrumental ,n adm,msle,lng a scholarship fund Intended 10 help Hawa',i high school g,aduates 01
Fliopino ancestry pursue college educauon,
Rep Abinsay has also part,copated in calamity rel'el efforts In the Ph,hpp,nes and Guam When typhoon
Ferra struck lIocos None, 40 panshes roce,ved ~naflClal ass,sfance from the fund ra,slng comm,ttees he set up
The Tama9 ProvLnCial Hasp'fal ,n lIocos Sur benefited Immensely from lhe donabon dnve he spearheaded fa.medicines hospilal beds and o!her medical eqUipment and supplies,
In conlerring the Pamana ngPlI,pinoAward to Rep Fetipe P. Ab,nsay, Jr the PreSldenl recognizes h,s
outsland,ng leadersh,p in being elecled lour times as Representat,ve of the Kahili and Moanatua District to the
Hawa,i House of Representatives. lor authoring in'~abves a,med at allev,at,ng !he plight of F,tipino World War II
veterans, and promoting good relations between the Stale of Hawaii and the Phll,ppmes
,t!lIN/OIj6
('51' .?IJ('J'}!a)t(/o~ ~{/C'Y
UOIted Stares ofAmerica
Teaching, many people say, ;s the noblest profession of all, ThIS is
probably because leaching requires paMnce, understandIng and compass,on
in order to i"""an ~nowledge10 learners, In AJlen Elemenlary in Dayton, Ohio,
leachers never hoolt easy, The school ranked 28~ OUI ot 33 schools in terms of
sluOent aeh,evement and only 10% at the slLJdenls bnng completed homeWOfk
10 class Absenteeism and inlerruphons Irom inapproprIate behavk>r was the
hIghest on the district wllh teacher morale the lowest That is. until Rodoifo S Bemardocame along and turne<:
all around
Upon his appointment as prinCIpal ot Alien Elementary in 1989, Mr. Bernardo lecogOlzed the scho:> s
problems and together with his staff, embar1<ed on a yearlong in-service workshop to change sluOents' altitudes
towards the school, learning and themselves Thus, lhe ·Changing Lives' characler educatron program was bo<r
'eaturing new lessons on posilNe values each week
Six years after Mr, Bemardo's appointment Ailen Elementary became a d,lIerent school, ~iinquency
was reduced to a miOlmum, Parents praised the school and faculty morale improved cons>defably, with the schOOl
haVing the best teacher attendance records In the dIstriCt. The changes In stvdent achievemenl, however. we'e
most astonishing, From ran~ 211 in test scores, AJlen ci,mb6d 10 5~ place in 1992 and ranked 1" in 1995. Tile
school's Image improved tremendously andlhe school has been keeping a waIling list of parents wanting to enrol
their chIldren
AJIen Elemenlary's ll'anslorma\iOn from problem school to model school d>d not go unnoticed, Mr, 6emardos
·Changing LiVes' program was featured in the American School Board Joumal, Dayton Daily News, USA Today
N\lWSweek, Forbes Magazine, CNN Future Walch, and the Wall Street Journal, among several other newspapers
publicallOnsand TV programs, The ·ChangingLlves·program 's now being Implemented In 14 states acrosstl>e
UMed States of America and In schools in Russia Canada New Zealand and Virgin IslandS
Determined 10 bring lhe benefils of his program lathe Philippines, Mr, Bemardo secured a USS50,OOO
grant from Makng A Difference Foundallon, enabling him to pilot !he ·Changlng LIves· character educabOO prograJT'
In three schools in the PhltipplOes, The P,O Valenzuela Elementary School (Valenzuela Maniia), Sacred Heart
School (AJfonso, Cavlte), and the Philippme Normal Univefsity Gemer for Teaching and Learning were chosen as
pilot schools for Ihe program, Said schools have reported Increases In Ihe students' mid· year aeadem>';
achievements, improvements in student attendance arKl parent involvement. and better behavior among slvdents
Upon Mr. Bernafdo s appoinlmenl as pnncipal of Broadmoor Academy In 1997, the SChool was deS!9nated
as Nalional PIIoI and Demonstration Center tor Character EducaUon and awarded ,""th US$500,OOO If! grant
money. The city of Trotwood, Ohk> also declared June 2, 2000 (IS Rudy Bem<'lrdo Day in reeoglltlOn of hiS war\( on
eharacler deveklpment of sludentS. Now retired tram teaching, Mr Bernardo devotes his tIme in improving h,s
program and has signed with Mark1 to pubiish and markel the Changing LNes Character Educalion Curriculum
In conferring the Pamana ng PII'pinoAward to Rodolfo S Bernardo, llle President reeognJZes his pKlOOOring
on character education and itS Impact on student achIevement, which drew nat,onal allentlon and gained
wide acceptance In School systems in the United States of America, RussOa and New Zealand
WO(~
Jf//ijJ'fY/O .o/t ?!3uhay
United $taresofAmeriCa
Overseas Fi!,pJOOS eXPfess appo-ooatioo ofthel, Fillploo heritage through
vanOuS forms Or medIums. Some express ~ through music, dance, thealre,
hleratureo< the visual arts. FOf Wj~redo Red Buhayof Chicago. Illinois, expressing
the diversilyolhis Filipino herilage has become a way of life
•
Gradualing w,th hollQfS from the UniversIty 01 510. Tomi\5 Wlth a degree
in rme arts and ,nteriOf des,gn. Mr. Buhay sustained his strong affil1lly WIth
Ph"ippme art when he opened his own design studiQ in Manila in 1973. Pnor to
gra~ng to the United Stales, he served as artislic dirado, for design lor the Cultural Center of the Ph,hpp,nes
....d FOlk Arts Theatre SInce then, he defined Ihe cultural niche he would eventually occupy as a reSIdent of
"'-
Mr Buhay has a long history of service 10 the f,lipOno commumty through his adive membe,sh<p in
se',Elfal Of93nizabons In ChK:ago. Since 1992, he has served as vice pres<dent of the Fillploo Amer;c;an Historical
SoClety of Chicago. True 10 hiS own national.sm. he holds the rank of Commander in the Chi<:ago Chapter of the
Order of the Knights of R,za', an organizalion dedicated to commemorating the life and works of the Philippine
natKlflal hero. Dr Jose P R,zal
Among hiS olher involvements Wlthin the FiliPino COmmUnity, Mr Buhay IS best known for being the
curator and co-founder of the Filipmo American HiSlorlcal SOCIety of ChICago (FAHSC) Museum. Ihe only ASian
and Fd.p;no museum In Ch~, The museum sought to promote publOC intereslln the history of Filipino Amencans,
and educate individuals and groups to gain belter appredat<Ofl and underslanding of Fil,pino herilage, From 1999
..nt,l,ts closing in 2002, the FAHSC MUSllum featured more than 24 art eXhibits, book roceptlons and Fi ,pino
tanguage and hislory classes From 198910 2004, Mr Buhay featured more than II art shows and paintlngson
Dr Jose Rizal and h,s ;,fe. Dr Rizal'swritlngs have also been Ihe subject of Mr Buhay'sresearch presentations.
stage ptays and several other adivilies.
Emphasozmg the importance of Filipino American hislory, Mr Buhay co-autho<ed the book, "Filipinos in
Chicago" woth Ms ESlrella A1amar The book feaMed phOlo essays about the earty FiliplOO immigrants to Chocago.
which was published by Arcad<a Publishenlln 2001. The publicatKln dlronocled the story of"pensionados", FiliPinos
who obtained scholarships from the U.S government in the eariyyearsofU S colonial rule in the Phllippmes
Far from simply showcaSing Phihpplf\e art and lilerature, Mr. Buhay has produced hiS own artistic and
hterary pie<:es When the FAHSC museum opened in 1999. It featured Mr. Buhay's mural entitled "The Family
Tree of Fllipmo Immigration" He is also credited for designing the first Rizal monument in Chicago, which was
unveiled in June 1999 at Lincoln Park in North Manne Dnve, In 1993, hewon the Stafeof Illinois Governor's Art
Award for hiS painling whd' was reproduced as a poster dunng the Asia Pacific American Heritage Month,
making h,m a rousehold name for many,
UocIer Mr BUhay' s crealive guidance, several olher orgamzallons ded<cated 10 espous<ng FiliP<OO artand
CIJlture have fiourished in Chicago. raisong cu tural awareness wrthin the communify. Some olthese organizalions
are the Phllipptne Perlorrmng Arls of ChICagO. DeSlinASl3n ArllSlS Coa!i~on and the BISUAl ,cilipino American
Arbsts Circle, among Olhers. H<s work as an artist, wnter, histonan, curator and educator has been recognrzed by
dlfferenl organi~~ons, and can be gleaned from the awards he recelved such as, "Most Outsla(\Cjjng Filipino In the
Mrdwest Award for Humanllies·, "Ana haw Award for Intenor Design", "Chrcago FtilpinoAmerican Hall of Fame
Award for Visual Arts', and many others.
In cor'lferring the Pamana ng Pi/Jpino Award fO Wifredo Red Buhay, the President recognizes t.s unparalelcd
contnDutions in the preservation and propagatlOl1 of Philippooo art, language and cu~ure in Chicago and 1cK contr'tluhng
to bailer undeflifandlng of the life and WOr1<$ of Dr Jose Rizai,
"
rltOdom
Yf?
't&-ftlawaJ,
cfr.
Umted $18resofAmeriC8
Destiny takes people 10 unexpected situations and unexpected places
For Eliodo.-o C, Cadawas, Jr., fate may have laken him to lIle Unoted Slates but
from lhen on. he carved his destiny with h,sown hands lilerally,
Priorlo mog",Mg 10 the unoted State5 Mr CadawasworkedaS an Ice
carver and buffet Chel ,n cruise ships toun1g the Med,terranean and Canbbean
seas. On his lasllrip, he jumped ship and sellled in a village somewhere '0
V'rginia As circumstam;es would have~. he mel several hard5hlps pnor to
regularizing hisslay Inllle U S. Wilhout money or relatives to ,ely on, hehad 10
trade his carvings tor dee, meat. An accident nea~y cla.med hiS lite as ~ could
nol se"k medical anentiO'l because of his "regular s1.11us Through the generos,1y Of tellow Filip.'1Os. he evenl
oblalned a permanent resident visa purely on lhe mer~ of his exceptlOnaltalent in wood carving,
Mr Cadawas firsl foray Inlo competlog came about when he was working at 0' Hare Hilton Hotel as a
chef gardemanger. Simultaneously, he joined mhonal and International competitions unlil he buill himself a nill""e
and gained a strong foothold 111he wood and 'ce calVing profe5SH)n Hi5 talenl wa5 firsl PUbl,clZed InternaliOn
when hewas featured In Wood Carving Magazinewhlch Is published in London. SinCelhen, hehaS consist
been featured ,n Chip Chats, a nahOnally circulate<! magazine oIlhe National Woodcarvers Association. speo,,"
for commissioned WOrks such as lhe fhree feet high and 5even feet long -lasl Supper" and -Chlld,en of God"
AJ'long the awards he ,eceived, Mr Callawas IS proud l(I havewon the "Exr.bitor's Awar<!' for two consecut
years (1996 and 1997) ,n lhe North Suburban Carver's Associabon annual competition: the first, second and
ptacesand the Best In Category Award allnternat,onal Woodcarvers Congress held in 1992 and 1997: and
first place In the Mylh,cal Category at lhe GlObal Carving Challenge held ," Florida in 1994. Forh,s except'()I"I.lII
talents, he has been featured in NBC 5 Chicago Morning News and has been dubbed in various anicles
America's fasle5t wood carver
As Mr Callawas continued to rereve sogoificanl commssioned orders from mainstream clients, he rea tZ:8ll
lhe vasl polenlial of h.s art. He developed a markeh1g plan 10 help him become more produCtive. TOday, Ik
Cadawas owns a stUdio. housing his award WInning creatIOns and serves as a venue tor him to create h,s an anc!
leach hisskilis 10 olllers He teacheswoodcafVI1g alWoodwor!d, Inc.•n Chicagoas well as In his own Slud 0
has also traveled "' dillerent cihes 0/ the Uoited States to give semmars and C01duct exhibitions on ice and woed
caMng. $Omeofhls students went on towln various wood carving compelilions
Expand.og h.s ,nfluem;e over wood carving enthus,a5ls, Mr, Cadawas co-aulhored the publ.cation "Deep
Rel'ef Carving The JR. Cadawas Melhod." He Is alwo/ten invited 10 demonstrate tor 1001_making companoef
such as the American Tools Company and Sollngen Tools, Always the Innovator. he developed his own UnlQOl!
tools for carv,ng and has set up a faclory In the Philippines to make the toolS available for sale throughout Ire
world.
Desp"y n.s success, Mr. Cadawas findS time to Share his talent by helping rerl(lvale and restore variou
sculplures decorating churche5 in Chicago, He has also donated some of his anworks to Filipino commu
orgao,zallons ,n Chicago for fund raising projecls, II is lIlerefore 01 no surpnse that he was conferred ",,111 honors
by vanouscommun,ty and stale organizalions. In 1998 and 1999. he receiveda"DislinguishedService Medal
from Franc,s Cardinal G8O(ge and the Philippine Consulate Gene"'l in Chicago. He haS also been conferred with
an "Appreciation Award 1(1, As,an PaCIfic Herilage- in 2000 and "Outstand,ng Asian Pacific Amencans Award" •
2004 by Ilhf1QlS Governors George Ryao and Jesse White, reSpedively,
In conferring the Pamana ng P1I,pmo Award 10 Eliodoro C. Cada",as. Jr, the President recognizes h,s
notable aClllevement 'n lhe art ofwoodcarvl1g. wtllch was commended by the International Woodcarvers Coogress
and conSIStently featured by Ch,p Chars Ihe Nallonal Woodcarver's AssociatiOn's nalionally circulate<! magaz"'"
In the Unlled Slates of Amenca
50
()(tffjcfmi)'c ("//"/ 'ifxlamadC
United Stales ofAmeriCa
For Fili~nQs in !lie Uniled Sl<lles 01 Amer,:a, there has never IJHn a
13d< of ta'ent and enterpnse. In terms of op'nion makmg and orgarUlnll e!fo<ts
to promOie broader feCO\lnlhon oI1he ngllls 311<1 interests of the F,j'o,no Amencan
commumty, tew could poss<bly comp".e wilh Ihe colo.rul acn,evemen15 01
Alejandro A Esclamado
.•
A hard-hilling JOurnal..! by p,ofess;on Mr. Esclamado was the ed'!o<In_ct"e! and publisher of Ihe PhilipPIne News. acknowledged as tne 1,.gMt
Flhp;n~AmeriC3n nempaper CIrculated ,n Ihe UMed Slat" and CanaGa, and
a leading op,n,on·maker ",,\hin the Fihp;no-Ame'i<;an oommunity. Eslatlhshe<l
:,,;;,,85 a weekly nemp"pe<, Ihe Philippine News has six regiOt1a1 ed,loons. and bureaus In Los Angel".
•
and New York
",,",,"";;;15 de hiS profession Mr Esclamado '. recogniZed as a premier advOo;lIle 01 ossues concerning l/1e
and F,lLplnDS ,n the
_
Un~ed
Sll1les As one of the 83 honorees sel... ctl!d from among 15.000 nom,na\lons,
-slOO lIS Ih... only FilipinO In h S balch 10 be awarded the "Ellis Island Meda 01 Honor" 10f repor1:mg on
:",,::~commltled during lhe Marcos dicllliorship In 19a9, he was conferred lhe 'Ph,I,pplJ'le Legion of Hor>or" by
""'-",denl oIlhe Philippines for his test.mooy before lhe U.S. Congress re'·...allng lacls about lhe Aqui
~~~~hon and lhe suppress<on of CIVil frt>erLes in l/1e Philippines undor tho Ma'cos reg mo. Tho C1W'on a so
~;.;;
-
•
hiS 'ole In proposing for II "mini·Marshall" plan tor Ihe U.S. to as",SI Philippine do,etopmont ahef the
Power Revolutron. Adopled la!er as Ihe Mullilateral Aid In,t.alI,e. s<lId aSSistance was 'alued at USS"5
The Slale 01 Cal,fornia has recognized M' Esclamltdo s Itd,ocacy work on the rights of Fihp,nos m
In 1989, Iho Govomor 01 Caillorn,a signee a ,esolut,oo C1hng M,. Esciamado' s efforts in fight,ng for larm
. . . rights and immigraUon rotorm. Tho resolutIon relerre<! loh.. reporting of the deplorable woil<mg corn,l,ons
lMd on larm wofke", in Delano, Cahlorn.a and his 'ole ,n lobbying lor an equal quOia 01 F,llplno immigranls
m. U.-.led Slates, Tho California &lnale also passed a ,esolullOO lauding hIS work 'n lObbying lor tho
ng arn accred,l<lt,on 01 Filip,no professoonals, lhe nalura Ilaloen 01 World Wa, II vele,ans, ""d the ,epeal of
9-15 ReSCISSIon Acl whIch depri'ed Filipino W!le,ans 01 benefits due 10 lhem. In 2003. the Gfeenl .... JTQ
IUttl corlerre<! lhe "L,!el,me Achie,ement Award" 10 Mr Esclamado for his successlul campaogns "10 secure
"'prove lho economic and political fIghts 01 hiS commuMy as well as all underserved groups."
'CI
*'"
AmIdst tho numerOUS accolados ho r&Cowed, Mr Esclamado Is t>est known as lhe Tound,ng nat.onal
r 01 the Nallonal Federll~on of Fihpmo-Amencan ASSOCIationS (NaFFAA), a non-part.san, non,pfol~ nahonal
l!Oo of F,hp,no-American inshluhons and umbrolla orgamzatlons. Formed n 1997, NaFFAAs goal is 10 un,le
no Amellcan assoe'lIt,ons m the UnIle<! Stales wllh the View 01 Increasmg F",p,no onfiuence o"e' U.S
.....oqmakers M'. Esclamado OS credlled for bUIk!,ng NaFFAA lrom scratch, lraveling across the country, talking:
Filip,no-American commun,ty ~aders and groups abOut 1M need 10 unole to achieve empowerment
St....Mg w;th a small
na~onal
offee, Mr. Esclamado dorode<! NaFFAA In Its Tormative yea"" appo;nbng
-.g anal leaders and gUIding lhem, roach,ng oUI to 01lle, Fllipmo Amer'can organllahonS and enloshng affiliates
Today. NaFFAA has twel,e regional chaplers aeross the USA cover,ng lhe mainland U.S., Ha",ai" Guam and the
\talianas NaFFAA has SinGe oocome an advOCale of Pll",pp,ne in1erests on Amenca, Tho organ"abon's pos,loon
!'las been heard on 'ssues such as 'oleran'- eqUlly_ ,mm<gration "ghls and 10000bying 10' dual cihzensh,p. all'lOf'lg
oilers. Seeking 10 eXlend lhe vos,on of uMy ooyond Ihe United Slales, NaFFAA organiZe<! lhe ~rsl and second
Global FilipIno NetworkIng Con'enllOO which was attended by se'e,al Filipmo commun~y leaders all 0''''' t"oe
-..orId. In 2005. NaFFAA plans to hOI<! the 3~ Global Fillp,no Netwoil<,ng Con,enbon ,n Cebu C,ly
In conterring 11>1I Pamalla IIg Pflipmo Award 10 Alejandro A EsciamadO, lhe PreSident ,ecognizes hiS
;)8r"lo,",d Career as 1110 cd IOr~n·ch,ol and pubhshor of Ph,bppme News, tho largest FilipinO Ame~can newspaper
., lhe United Stales ot Amorica and for being l/1e lounding nat'Onal chai, 01 the National Fe<le,ahOfl 01 Ftttpioo
A.metican "'SOClal,ons, one of the lead,ng ad"ocales 01 Philippine InlereslS In the UMod StatoS loday
Japan
In lOday's medIcal centers, lives depend upon the acumen arid skillful
hands 01 dOC1ors and $lIrgeons. However, the methOds!hat1hey use in managJr.g
or treating affliclions such as cancer, were sludled and developed by clinical
researchels whose new discoveries gIve people a second chance in life In
Japan, Filipina doctor Jovelle Laoag-Femandex has emerged as a trailblazer in
the field 0' clinical research,
Or. Laoag-Fernandez is a lecognized clinical researcher in the field of obstetncs and gynecology. She
forst came IOJapan in 19~ as a recipienl of a Japanese government scholarship and as a research fellow until
1999 SOOn after, she began her Ph.D. SILJd es (medlclnelwhk;h she completed in March 2003 In the course 01
her research and slud,es, she was commended for her exce'lence In the field of obstelrics and gynecology
Demonstraling her sdenljficacumen, she besled several 'oreign part'clpants when she W<)n the grand
poze for a research oompe~tlon sponsored by the Japan Socfety 01 Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1999 FolloWIng
StOrJgCfll guidelines Se1 by Japan's MInistry 01 Health, Lat>our and Welfare she received a Cerbf,callOn for Advanced
Medical TraIning for two years, a special med,callicense for fore,gn dOC1ors In Japan
Her exemplary work led to an offer 10 W<)rk as a research asslstanl In Kobe UniVersity's Graduate School
of Medicine Asa research ass,stantand Ph D. stlJdenl Or Laoag-Femandezcontinued loreap honors. winning
rllst poze on a research writing compehhon organIZed the PhllPPIM SOCIety of ObstetriCS and Gynecology in
2002. Five months later she was awarded a posl-doctoral research fellowship granl by lhe Japan Soc,ety for
PrOmOIlOn of Science,
To dale. Dr. Laoag-Femandez has authored and co-aUlhored alleast 17 researches on rllprodUc1lve
health. Includong the treatment of ovarian and cervical cancer and lowenng the incidence of birth mortality among
olhers. Her lnvesllgations in 1he chemotherapy 01 ovarian cancer have Shown enormous polenllal in InhibIting the
growth of cancer cells She pioneared in female reconslruClive surgery lechn",ues wilh lhe use 0' new malerials
Her work on lumor downslaging has enabled management 01 previously inoperable advanced cervical
cancer, throo.>;;lh surgery, chemolherapy and radiolherapy. She al$O pioneered lhe useof Ambroxol forthe preventk:ln
ot Infant Respiratory Dislress Syndrome (IROSl, decreas.ng the incidence of infanl deaths resulting f'om p'ema1l.l,e
birth
Recognizlng the Increasing nurrtlerol Pi lpinowomen married to Japanese men w!lO seek medical attenlion
because of pregnancy and other conditions, Dr. Laoag-Femandez regurariy conduc1S semInars to Japanese
nurses and midwIves to teach them how to manage pa~ents. The program has helpe<J Japanese hea th workers
become more supportJVe of foreign pat,ents, Wilh her colleagues, she also forme<J lhe Inlemahonal Matemal and
Ch,1d Health Cafe Group, an organlzahOn that conduCls research collab(lrahOn WIth dOClors, nurses and midWIVes
in the Phil ,ppines in order 10 Improve lhe deliVery of health care to Filipino pat,enls
In conferring lhe Pamana ng Pi/,pine Award to Or. Jovelle Laoag-Fe'nandez lhe President recognizes her
excellence III climcal research In lhe field of obstetrics and gynecology in Japan. and for pioneering new melhods
In lhe treatment of ovanan and cervical cancer and the prevenbon oIlnfanl Respiratory D,stress Syndrome as a
wad,ng cause 01 ·,nfant mortality
qaJlI(!
'e'
~ell{eJ
Indonesia
The changIng landscape of urban cenlers with their grandeur of highlise t~rs and posh resden~al aleas aA! crealed Ulthe minds 01 gifled archlleCts
Thelf ImagInation is engrossed w,th lhe lask of combining aesthehcs.
funcbonality and durability 10 create slruclures that would last beyond a Melime
in Jakana. a FII,pi1o archlled is Cf~ite<l for llesigmng prorllLnent infrastru<;1(lr!lS
and urban cenlers that dot the Indooe~an archipelago He is Dante C Fuentes
FiniShIng hIs bachelor's deQl;:ee 'n arch,tecture atlhe Mapua Inshlute of Technology In 1965 and later, an
engirJllllr",g management program at the UnivefSlty of Callforma In Los Angeles In 1979, Arch Fuenles worked for
seven years in Philippine-based companies before try,ng his luck overseas From lhen on. he has been employed
in 10 companies ,n various capacities He is presenfly a IIl<;hmcal advisor for prolect development at PT Patramas
Adhiloka, amajorprojecls managementanddes,gn Firm in Indonesia
Arch Fuentes IS probabtyone oflhe moslprol1fic Filipino archllects. haoing design~ or helped deSign
nearty 60 construction pro/llClS rang,ng from commerCial OOild,"gs, induslrial cenlers. airports, and educational
and research institutions. To date he has been the deSl9n archotect des,gn director or dlrector-in-charge of four
award winnIng des'gn projec1S in Indonesia, These are the Tala Bank HeaclGuarters. Lemba9a Indones,a Amenca
Jakarta International School and the Krakatau Sleel Headquarters in West Java. Indonesoa As a testamenllo his
competence, he has been appointed as desogn consultanl and projecl manager ,n the construction of seven WoOd
Bank assisl~ research centers inWestJava, East Jaoa, Sumatera Utara and Bali, Indonesia
Arch. Fuenles' work IS mainly found in vanous parts of Indonesia. although he had handled projects in
Guam, Jordan. Saudi ArabIa, S,ngapore and lhe PhilIppines, He was a member of the design team in the
construction of the Makali Stock Exchange Building, In associalion wilh Grand Melropolilan of London, he
conC6ptualiz~ the des'gn of the Sentosa Amusemenl Park and Casino ,n Senlosa Island, one of SIngapore's
prime touriSI deSl,naltons
DeSPIte hiS obvious success in hIS career, Arch Fuentes finds lime 10 be an aclive member of the Filip,no
oommunity in IndonesIa and has supported init.atrves ofllle Phillpp'ne Embassy ,n Jakarta, In 1993 and 1998, he
served as presil!enl of lhe Fil,pino Commufllly in Indonesia (F lI(:om,") 80wllng Assoc,ahon and presklenl of Ihe
Flicomin Golf AsSOClahon, respechvely.
ASIde from being the senlOlllesign adv,sor in lhe conSlrucllon of the offkoial res,dence of the Philippine
ambassador to IndonesLa, Arch. Fuentes enliSl!ld lhe ass,Slan~e of the Filcom'n Bowling Associaton In donatng
one molllOfl rupiahsfor the Inltal relurbishingol said resklence in 1993 He was alsocommenl!ed by the Ph,lippine
Embassy in Jakarta for h,s role in then PresKlenl Fklel V Ramos· slalevisit to Indonesia. In 1996, he receIVed a
~ilalion from the lhen Secrelary of Foreign AffaIrs for his invaluable services 10 lhe Philippine embassy in Jakarta
and the Filip,nocommun,ly In Indone~a
In conferring the Pam/Ina ng Pilipmo Award 10 Arch Dante C, Fuentes, the President recogn,zes his
t>ghly Successful cafeer in urban planning, deSign and conslruction 01 residential and commer~ial cenlers on
Indonesia, and for his invaluable sopport 10 a~~vi~es of lhe Phllipplne Embassy In Jakarta
Ye!lo}'f'
:?If. rY :;tim
United Siaies ofAmerica
Creating sUrring images that beckon one to meditate, to be romanlic.
to search one's soul. this IS how art enthusiasts descnbe the art of Lenore
R.S. Lim, an IIltelllationally renowned Filipino artist and considered to be one
of the loremost Fihpina prinlmakers
Featured in 0~er40 solo and group shows all o~ertheworld, Ms Lim's
artworkS are produced throogh a mIX of printmaking and computer serigraphy
lechniques In maklllg her art, she uses a ~ariety of Philippine matenals and
landscapes to Insp.re her, i,ke her mother's wedding ~eil, landscapes of Tagaylay. and Images frOOl a garden,
among olhers. F,om 1993 to 2003 Ms Lim had exhlb,ted her works In solo shows in SIX countries IIlcludlng a
solo show at the Umted Nations Secretariat Lobby in New York. Her solo exhibJts were held in Delta Gallery
(Ottawa Canada) Universltyofthe PhilipPllles(QuezonCity. Philipp_nes). McGill UniverSIty (Quebec. Canada).
Phillpplroe Center(New York U.SA), PhilJpplne EmbassyGallery(Amman Jordan) Fordham Univers<ty (Broox
New York). Collegio de F IppHlO (Italy) GSIS Museum (Pasay. Philippines), Avenlda de loS Art'StaS Gallery
(Vienna Austna), Vanoouver Public Library (Vancoover, Canada), Yare Universily Asian American Cultural Center
(Connecticut U SA), Ayala Museum (Mak"" Phiipplnes)and Ph I ppjneConsulate in San Francisco(Cat,fomia
USA,),
Havin9 participaled In nearly 30 group shows in various parts of the U",ted States of Amenca, Peru.
Japan, Italy aoo Iraq, Ms Lim made history in 2000 by being the only FilipjllO artlstto be included In the international
art exhbltion, "Progress 01 the World's Women,' Sponsored by the United Nations De~elopmen1 Fund fo, Women.
the arl exhlb,t featured artworkS of 60 artists from 50 countr'as. In thiS exh_blt, Ms Lim portrayed the courage of
F,lipino comforl women during the Japanese occupation 01 the Philippines dunng World War II to overcome the
shame and humil,ahon they we,e subjecled 10. Media star,es covenngthe event published a photo of Ms Lim
diSCUSSing her art With Ihe UN Secretary General
True to her international caliber Ms, Lim waS invited to exhiM her work durUlgthe Venice Open 2002. The
art exhibil featured 43 internationally known femate artists, whose works were dlsptayed along ma,n streets aro;l
piazzas of the VenetIan Island,
A teacher by profession, Ms Lim takes joy in sharing her artistic knowledge and techOlques to o1her
art'sts She has conducted Iree printmaking worI<sllops for F"p,no artlsts in the PhilIppines throogh the Uni~ersity
of the Phll,pplnes College of Fine Arts_ Th,ough her classes, Filipino artists who do not have the resources 10
study abroad learn cunlrtg edge techlllques and techoology to Improve thelf artistry To SOOle extent, Ms Lim has
also provided a venue for emerging Filipino artists 10 exhibit their works and Inlroduce them to the buying market
As can only be expeCled from a lOp-rated a".st, various news aft'cles have descnbed Ms. Lim s work with
awe aoo admiratlOO of hEll un.que style aoo"new level of artlst,.; matunty." The Chairman and Presodenl Emerita 01
the Museum of Modern Art in New York says, -I have had the pri~llegeofowning LIm's work and sharing it with
olhers. Herworkmade an immed,ate impreSSIOn upon me much as the printmaking process makes an Indel'ble
Impression on paper. Her work stays with you brings you strenglh and beauty. and also challenges us to think
again about prinlmakers aoo their rightfUl place in the art canon at the beginning of Ihis new mmennla •
In conlerTIng the Pamana ng PJl,pono Award 10 Lenore RS. Lim, Ihe Pr~denl recognizes her in(jefll)QUS
use of prinlmakong techniques on creal,ng Filipino-Inspired art, which earned her nalional and lntema~ona acclaim
from vaflOuS art cr,lics, and raised awareness of the creative ta'enls of FIlipino artists abroad
.Jft().{/olfo '-f;. -d.!Ut'am(,{ffl
Unlled Slates ofAmerica
FilIpIno engineer.> have IIQt always foond It easy 10 enler the UnJled
States 'abor market Profess,onal qualificabons oblalned in th", Ph,lippines
frequently COrn<l into question despite a track record of good experience at
home. Every once in a while. however. someone comes along to break that
ethnw; bamer and prlWe to the wortd that FiliPloos are just as good, Of even
better than the other.>. One shllllllgexample is Engr. Radolfo C. QUiambao.
A graduate 01 CIVil eog,neeling from !he Mapua Insbtule 0/ TechllQiogy in
Mamia Engr Q".ambaocameto Seatfle In 1968as an associateeng,neer in a Boe,ng 747 prOJect. He assumed
.arious capac,tles for companies such as Cahn Eng,neering, Chemplant Des,gn, Inc. and Treadwell CorlX>fation
Defore .enluring out on a business 01 his own
In 1988, Engr Quiambao founded Rudell and Assoc;ales, tnc upon the encouragemen1 01 his Mfa
Starllflg out w,th two employoos Rudell has grown cootin\JCOJSly to become a mUltl..(!ISClplme englneenng company
whIch now employs 61 people. RUdell has commendab'Y accomp"shed a long 10s1 of prOJects. mosl notable of
whiCh is the engineering and Inlenor design 01 the John F Kenoedy InternatIOnal Alrport Tenn,!lal No 4 Iglesia 111
01510 Chulch III Forest Hills, ongOlllg contr"cts WIth Con Ed,son, Ihe New York Department of Design and
Construcbon throogh Con EdIson, and the reconstruction of the World Trade Center, among others. Rudell's
contlibulOon to the engineer-,og and design of Wot1d Trade Cenler 7 was featured in the ABS-CBN news program.
The Correspondents
For his outstanding accomphshments in the lield of engineering Engr Quiambao has been featured in
'Mlflonly Business', a publ,caton Ihat leatures success stones by minOflty-owned businesses In the U S His
company was also chosen by Con Ed'son. one oItOO largesl U.S based energy companies, as the "Best Mlnonty
BUSIness Enterplise' in englneeling selVices HOs photos appeared in New York CIty subway stations, local and
,nlemahonal magazines and newspaper.> as pM of Con Ed,son's public re atLons campa'gn
Behevlng in the talent 01 his fellowcoontryrn<ln, Engr. Qu'ambao has been hiring F;lipillQ engineers and
architects Irom!he Philippines Since 1999. who are fIIJW resldlllg in New York With thetrfamil'es, RealiZIng thata
hand!ul of F,lipino engIneers expenence difficulties linding jobs and end up as clerks. bank tellers, mochanlcs
Janilors. dlivers Or hospital aderl.es. he co-founded and became the second presodent of the FL Ip,no American
AsSOCIation 01 Engmeer.> (FMEl·
FAAE asSiStS newly arrived engineers and engineer.> who couk:! not land decent jobs in I,ne w,th the..
professlOf1s through mentoring and accredItation. Through this, more FilipIno enginoors food surtable employment
and are able lopracbce theirproleSSlOn. Forthese efforts 1I.'Ie"lllynch awarded Engr. Quiambao w,than"Award
of Recogn,tlOn' The AsIan American DemocraticAsSQClatlOn 01 Oueens, Inc. also awarded himw,th a "Plaque of
Recoglll1lon" for h<s conllibullOns 10 the COmTnln,ty
As a sign 01 confldence on hIS dedicallOn. commItment and professional' sm Fi!lpino community leaders
in New YOfk unanimoosly elocled Engr. Ouiambao to be the Grand Marshal in the 2004 Ph, ,ppine Independence
Day Celebrations, HIS ele<::tlOn a'so came as a form 01 re<::og!llllon from the community for enhanC1ll9 the Fliipmo
Arnencan image
In conferring the Pamana ng PlbplflO Award to Engr. Rado~o C. Ou,ambao, the Presidenl re<::ogn,zes h;s
profesSIOnal and entrepreneurial abilIties which led 10 the establishment of Rudell & AssOCIates, Inc .. a competitIVe
F, p,no-owned and staffed engineering ~rm which was entrusted with the daunting task of prOViding design and
englneen"'9 'M}fk lor the reconstruction of the World Trade Center
55
C'lt:i fYrH'
Cl:/nlod'o
011
D::7a,/uba
United Stales of Amenca
For free countJJes throughoultheWOlld the prICe Offreedom 'S sometLmes
borne by lhe sinews and resolWl 01 the courageous men of lIS armed forces,
who braWllrenches and battlefields 10 defend their Ideals and keep their country
a safer placelo live In, In lhe United Stales of America. a F,lipino 5Umds as an
exemplary model for Amencan soldiers H,s name is Major General Antooio M
T_
80m inSampaloc, Manila in 1950and migraledlo lhe Umted Stales when he waS 11 years old, Maj. Gel'
Taguba is the son of an army sergeant who served Wllh the Phll,pp,ne Scouts during Wond War II. and fought
along~de American Ioroos in lhe Battle ofBataan during the Japanese occupalion. Alter graduabng with a degree
inhislory from Idaho Stale University, he followed the footsteps of his father by joining the United StalesArmy
Maj. Gen. Taguba attended pre51tglous mil,tary training schools and completed master's deg~s '"
PublIC Adml"'51rabOn. International Relations, and Naltonal 5ecunty and Strateg'c Stud'es. H,s career began w It>
Iroopleadlng as5ignmemsln Korea and steadily rose from the ranks. Apan from his command assignmenlS, Ile
served as commander of !he 2'" Brigade 4" Infantry D,vislOn at Fort Hood, Texas; Material Systems Analyst at the
Office oIlhe Chief of Staff, Army, The Pentagon; Executiw Offooor and Chtef-o/·Staff. U S Army Reserve Comma""
at Fort McPherson, Georgra ASSlstanl Di",slon Commander·Forward of the 24" Infantry D,vis<on and Deputy
Commar><ling General (South), First US Army al Fort Jackson. $Oulh Carolina
Maj. (3(!n Taguba 's currently the Depuly Command,ng General for Support oflhe Th"d US Army, US
Army Forces Central Command, Coat;bon Forces lar><l Component Command The New Yorl< T,mes reported Iha1
he woutd soon take up a new post on Washington, as deputy asslstanl secretary for reserve aflarrs, For h,s
decorated service, he received numerous awards ,ncluding Ihe DistingUIshed Service Medal, legion of Ment To
dale, he is the second highesl rankIng Fillp,noAmencan oUicer in the US Army
Amidsl his decoraled service in the U S Armed Forces, Maj. Gan Taguba is known 10 many as lhe
authof of the 53-page report deta,ling the systemiC abuses committed by American soldiers agaln51 the pri50JJen
of the Abu Ghralb pn50n facility in Iraq. Testifymg before Ihe Senate Armed Servicll'S Committee, Maj Gel'
Taguba descnbed the exlenl of hum,I'alton suffered by Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib from Amencan soldiers. The
report, completed in February 2004 (tho<.Jgh not mean! for public release), drew pfOlonged international attent"",
and led to punrshmenl of those who were found gUilly
Published reports havequoled MaJ, Gen Taguba'scolleaguesde5albing him as a man of;nteglity, Cable
News NetWO(l\ (CNN) ....hich broke the story oolhe reporl described Maj Gen Taguba as 'fearless' The $an
Francisco ClToolde has dedared thai Maj, Gen Taguba "represenls the image of a profes5lOnai AmerICan sold,er
that the uniled Slates would no doubll,ke to project to the world in Ioghl of the Images of the abuse"
In confefring lhe Pamana ng Ailpino Award to Mal Gen Antonio M Taguba !he President recognizes hiS
sterling milItary career In Ihe Umled Slates Army thaI also dramalically brought about jusltce and reforms w;!hln
the insblubOn he represenls.
"
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r'/ fly, ') II q.
United $fafesofAmenca
As a people wIth a strong ethic for care. il is no wonder that Filipinos
'lave made thE!Ir presence fell in d'fferenl health care inslltullons allover the
wor1d Wheliler as doctors. nurses, physlcallherap,sts or medical technicians,
one can assert thai health sCIences and education In Ihe Ph,lippines Is wend
ctass, and no one could prove Iilat bener than Dr. Conslanc;a S Uy,
Throughout her career as a pediatrician, Dr. Uy haS sel hersell apart by
beUlg one of only ten board certlfoed pediatnc nephrolog,sts in New Jersey. She
has to her credl\, nearty 40 awards and ertatlOns tor meritorious service, excellence
In prolession and community service from various award-giving bodies s,." as
New Jersey State Federation of Women's Ctub, Amencan Med,cat Women's Assooall()1l, AsIan American Hentage
Council. NatIonal Kidney Foundalion _ New Jersey, Nephrotogy Society 01 New Jersey, Med,cal Society of New
Jersey. Amer'lcan Medical Associalion and theAmerican Academy ofPed'atncs. among olhers
As an aulilorily on her field, Dr. Uy has cOllducted lectures and spoke betore confe'ences, seminars and
symposia in different parts ollhe Un'led Sates and Ihe Philippines. She has also written more than 30scienlilic
artIcles and abstrac1S lor ditterenl sc,en@cpublicatlons
Dr. Uy's dinlcsl practice is matched only by her leaching experience, She is presenlly lhe course dJl"ector
01 electives on acid base I electrolyles aOO pediatric nephrology at New Jersey Mec,cal School Concurrenlly, she
holds lhe pos,tion of associate professor since 1998 aOO di'ector of pediatric nephrology since 1972 at Ihe same
schooi. Since 1996, she has received lile"Golden AppleAward", sllVen times, for excellence in leaching, During
her stInt at the University of Medlc,ne and Denlistry of New Jersey, she was awarded the -Exce lence In Teach,ng
Award" Irom 1I1e school's fouOOation
For beinglile Ilrst Filipino 10 become secretary of lhe Academy Of MediCIne III New Jersey, Dr Uy was
chosen 10 receIve the 1995 "As,an AmeriCan Achievement Award" In celebrallOn of lhe Asian American Herilage
Month. She was also honored by the American Medical Women's Association w,th lhe 1994 Gender Equity
Award tor her role in promoting a gender-fair environment lor the educatlOIl and tralnrng of women phySIcians and
assunng equal opponumty lor women to study and prachce med,clne,
Far from resling on her laurels, Dr, Uy is actively Involved In prolessional and civic organizalions Which
have benefited sP8C'fic sectors In lhe PhilIppines, She holds the dist,ncllon olbelng the first F,liplno to assume
IhepresldenC)' of Ihe Nephrology Society 01 New Jersey (1987 - 1988) During herlerm, she launched a lundra,smg ac1iv,l)'. In whICh proceeds were donated to support research undertaken by Nephrology Fellows. As past
president Of the Phllippine-Amencan Medical SOciely In New Jersey. she served as a reviewer forlhe pedialric
course sponsored by the sOCIety to help physicians pass ri90rous examlnallons
Among her Fihpino colleagues, Dr. Uy is perhaps most known as the Iounding pres,denl 01 the f rsl
chapler oflhe Univers~y oflhe Phillpp;nes Medical Alumni Soc'ety in Amenca (UPMASA) in New Jersey. After
three years of service as president of UPMASAs New Jersey chapler. Dr. Uy Weill on to become Ihe nalional
pres1Clent 01 UPMASA /rom 1986 to 1988. Under her leadership, UPMASA'5 four chapters across the U. S. increased
to 13 Today, UPMASA reportedly hasan endowmenllund olmo,elhan US$1 ,5 million and is Ihe primary donor
10 Ihe University of Ihe Phlhpp1nes College 01 Medicine and ltie Philippine General Hospllal. For her invaluable
contribUlionslothe oommun,l)'. Dr Uy wascooferTed lile"Community ServiceAward' twice (1992 and 1998)by
lhe Amencan Med,cal Women's Association, March of Dimes alsoconlerred this award 10 her In 1994
In conlerring the Pamana ng Plkpino Award 10 0... Constancia S Uy, the Presdent recogni;zes her excellence
In Ihe field 01 pedIatric nephrology in the academe aOO in dilllcsi practice, and for her tLreless efforts ,n charlIleling
developmenl assistance 10 Ihe Ptiil,ppme General Hospital as the founding pres,dent of the Univers,l)' ollile
Philippines Medical Alumni SOCiety in Amer,ca - New Jersey chapter
!:fjUJUIeItJIa cPl o/{laxCQ~ :~. Q.
United Kingdom
An estImated tOO m,lhon children li~e In the weets in many pans of
the world today. Exposed to the haza'ds of an uncaring and dange,ous
environment lh6se child,en a'e al ris!< of l>ec:oming pan of organized cnme that
make our streets unsafe Thanks 10 Dr Gundellna A. Velazco, many such
child,en need no1 face a bleak future
Dr Velazco is a re,..,...ned climcal psychotherapISt cwnselor and trainer
who specialIZes In treal<Og children at nsk, parbcularly streel children. Educaled
and trained In the Philippines. U.SA, Engklnd and France. Dr Gundelina Velazco
ho'ds a bachelor's degree In nurSing, master's degree in educahon major In
gUIdance and counseling. and a docto,ate degree in clinical counseling psychology, among other trainings
cert,ficatlons abroad She has taughl sooal workers in several countries. methods used in caring tor children
""
Dr. Velazco's recognized for spearheading the Pa~ement Project, a London·based ini~ative Jor
ch,ld,oo, Launched In 2003, the Pavement Project marked \he end of four years oIunprecedented ~eld researd>
carefully trained workers In vanous countries, led and supervised by Dr. Velazco. Inle lhe psychology 01 traum
child,en living In the streelS. Work was conducted in BraZil, South Africa. India. Colombia. and the Phili
From thiS research. malenals haY(! been developed to e~oke a sense 01 self-worth among children In cnslS
Ihe ultimate objecbve being to reach oul to as many street Children as possible
Two oflhe products Dr, Velazco developed th,ough research include Picture Me and Pocket Cards
conSist of therapeutoc processes and visual tools to help child'en f'nd emot'onal and spontual healing, 10 o,'~.'
their low self·esteem, and to relnro,ce a message of healing and hope. He, ,esearch tindlngS, inclUdIng
Worldvi6ws of Street ChJldren. were published In a series olmonographs by SGM International, a Chnst an
government organ'zanon based In the U.K
Gi~en her extenswe educahon and experience in counseling and WOrkIng with street chHd,ef'l, Dr. Ver_
has authored and developed more than 15 pubhcahons and Inslruclional matenals concerning therapy
rehaboiilahon of street cMdren who are exposed to negallve influences includ'ng drug dependence. RealiZIng
there IS also a need to address the work haza,ds sooal workers and ca'eglve,s a,e exposed to when dealing
children al 'isk, she aulhored"A Handbookon Caring tor Ca,egive,s."
Dr Velazco has spoken aod cooducted workshops to o~er 30 conferences ,elated 10 her field of expeftJ!110
aod ha~e l,alned soc,al worke,s in different countnes 'ocludtOg South Afflca. Naml~la. Cambodia. Malay
Ireland, the Ph,1 pplnes. UnIted Kingdom and U.SA, among others. Most ollhe tra nings she has conducted_
sponsored ~y lOternallonal organizabons such as UNICEF. Tearfund International. ChildHope Asia aod SGM
Inlernat<onal She ,emains, to thiS day, a consullant oflhe Department ot Social Welfare and Deveropment ,n tI
PhlHpplnes, specifically concerning child'en who are ~ictims of phj'l;ical and psychologIcal abuse
Dr. Velazco holds membership In different p,ofess>ooal organiZallons such as. Internalional AsSOCJallU
for Counseling (where she is also a board member of !he Research Team from 199Q - 1998), European Nelwcrt tlr
Street Chlld,en Worldwide, Intemabonal Council oj Psychologisls. Intemabonal Honor SOOety ot Phi Kappa pt,
Pi Gamma Mu Honour Sociely 10' Social Sciences and Association for Women in Psychology
In conferrtng the Pamllrnl ng PiJipinoAward to D,. Gundelina A. Velazco, the Pres,dent recognizes " work as an authority in the reha~iiilatjon and treatment of streel children in seve,al count"es a,ound the worl;l 31
for de~e"P1ng new \herapeut>e methods to helpchildren al nsk find emotional and spintual healmg, overcome ~
iow self·esteem and rejnforce the message of hope,
"
CS--ht" ro d
"'7,~/o
Canada
When people retlfe trom worl<, many choose the laid bad< way of 1.le
and ""JOY the twilighl 01 their years in lhe comforl 01 lheir hobbies and Ia"ed
one •. The oommunHy 01 Nlagara·on·the·Lah•. however. had $Ometh.ng el.e
p~nned for Artur<;l T. Viola
80m and raised ,n Saot'a9O, I"",bela, M'. ViOla emOgraled 10 Canada In
1967 aller study,ogler almostlhree yea", On Tennessee and New Me..co as ao
exchange ,"Sitar panicipanl. In Canada he wor!<ed al Sl Catharine. General
Ho.pdal and N,agara_on.the_Lake Genera: Hosp,tal unt,1 h.. reliremenl ,n 1994
A well-known and l,ked volunleer, Mr Viola enlered pol,tics aod gained Ihe
"Ilhest number 01 votes amoog those nmnir>g lor alderman dUriog the 1994 el(l(:100ns This wide margin 01 votes
a"'Ong his peers gave t>m the ltle 01 Depuly Lord Mayo,
AS Depuly Lord Mayor from 1994 to 1997, Mr. Viola became lhe chalfman 01 the parks and re",eallon.
lind public wOr!<s commidees He 11'$0 served on the Niagara P,-""phouse V;Sll81 Art Cenlre Board, ove"",eing an
IIrlS centre in a restored local land mar!< Mr. Viola also served as member of the Local Arcl'lIt(l(:tural Conservalion
M"sory Commillee
Lillie did Mr, Viola know !hal bOg thiogs have yet to come In the 1997 munlopal elecllons, 1.1, V,ola WOn
a three·way eleCloral raCe againsl a forme, Lo,d Mayor and an alderman of 12 years. to become lhe flN;1 As~an
a'ld FlllpirJO Lord Mayo' 01 Niagara-on-Ihe-.Lake Mr Viola won w,th 70% of lhe vote. cast As Lord Mayor. he he4d
.-anau. posts includ,ng: Commissione, of the N,agara Par!<s and NJagara-orHhe-Lake Hydro CommisslQfls. and
Governor ollhe Shaw FeshvalTl>ealre Board 01 GoV<lrnors. among other oomm,ttoo membersh,ps, In 1998, he
added 10 his ci,,;c obliga~ons, the horJOrary cha,rmanship 01 flndra s,oglor lhe Niagllra Regional Na~ve Cenlre He
ro--cha red me cenler's S5 million program fo, sell-prof~ciency
Mr. ViOla momenlarily left pol,t,cs in 2000 and conl,nued h,s InvoJvemenl wllh d,fferent oommuMy gfOlJPS
,ncludiog lhe Niagara Hon'cultural Society. His polillcal oomeback in 2003 was as colorful when he li",1 ran lor
publIC offICe. Mr Viola once agaIn. proved h,s popular"y by gaininglhe h,ghesl number 01 votes amoog candidales
runnirlg lor alderman. gaIning the rare OpportuMy to serve as Deputy lord Mayo' 10' Ihe second tIme
Uoknow' ngly. the seeds 01 Mr VIOla s pol,t,cal soccess may haV<l been planled much eart,er lhfOlJgh h..
various commun'ty involvements pnor to runn,ng for publ,c olliee Dubbed as the ubiqu,tous photographer at
community lunClions, he has been presjdenl 01 N",gara Lions Club and he4d hIgh office in Lions Club International
Among the causes he has championed ooer the years, is Ihe N,agara-on-the-Lake Annual Diabeles ~peal. He
served as fundra'slog cha'rman lor IDe O,abele. Awareness Program from 1985 10 1993. From 1987 10 1996, he
was also Iu"ldraJSing cha'rman of the Heart and Stro~e FoundalJon and served as hN;t presJdent of 11. N,agara-on·
lhe-l.a~e chapt..He Is a lrequent fund,a,se, and volunteer lor ttle Head Injury As.ooa~on of Canada and a supporter ollhe
Anagram resodenllal rehabllitalion romple>, a pioneer in neurolog>cal disorder Ireatmenl, based ,n Niagara-on.the
La~e Among other cause. he espoused are research funding for treatment of cancer arid mUlt'ple sderosjs
For his outSland,ng communily serviC<l, Mr. Viola was chosen "Clt,zen of the Year" by lhe lawn of N,ag,r,"
on·lhe.Lake in 1988. He was oonlerred wilh the "Volunleer Service Award" by lhe govemment 01 Ontario in 1992
'nd was gl.-en a rommemorarive medal in the same \"lar in celebra~on 01 Canada'S confederation. In 1994. he
was declared a Melvin Jones Fellow by Lions Club InternalJOnal for h.. "commitment 10 humanitar",n serv.ce"
Last year, he ,e"",ved the -Queen E',zabeth II Golden JubOlee Medal" The award .. conferred to persons who
"have made a s'gnllicanl contnbut.on to Canada. to lhelr communily Or to the,r lellow CanadIans."
In conlefrlng the P"mene ng PI/,pino Award 10 Anuro T Viola, the PreSIdent recogn,zes h,s ellorts for
be",g the f'N;t Filipino and Asian 10 be eleCled Lord Mayor 01 Nlagara-On· The-la~e Canada and for having sef\'e<l
as OepUIy lord Mayo' oI1he same <:>ly lwice, a leat thaI ,nsplfed many olher FoI,plOO Canadians in public sernee
"
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The Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas is a biennial
awards system intended to give recognition to Filipinos and other individualS or organizations
thai contribute to Ptlllippine development and progress, or promote the interests of overseas
Filipino communities The awards are also given to Filipinos overseas who have distingUished
tI1"m'Sew"'SlT'l'inelr proieSSlon. anil'havebrought honor to the FIlipino people
The awards system was institutionalized in 1991, With the signing of Executive Order
NO, 498 The awards have so far been extended to one hundred ninety (190) Filipinos and private
organizations overseas since its establishment The first and second sets of Presidential Awards
were given by President Fidel V Ramos to 22 and 45 individuals and organizations overseas in
1993 and 1996. respectively In 1998, President Joseph E, Estrada conferred the awards on 30
awardees while 59 individuals and organizations overseas were awarded in 2000. Pres Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo conferred the awards on 34 awardees with one special Citat<on in 2002
The Presidential Awards consistoffour categories. The Ungkodsa Kapwa Pillpjno Award
is conferred on Filipino aSSOCiations or Individuals lor their significant contribu\lOns to Philippine
na110nal development effons, The Kaanib ng Sayan Award is accorded to foreign organizations
for their contribution to Philippine progress and development. The Banaag Award is given to
Filipino and Ioreign individuals or aSSOCiations for contnbutions which have slgnifican~y benefited
a sector or community in the Philippines, or advanced the cause of FiliPinO commun'lIes abroad
The fourth category, the Pamana ng Pillp,no Award, is conferred on Filipinos overseas who have
consistently pursued their wor1< or profession with excellence and distinction,
On December 15, 2004, Presldent Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will honor 45 distingUished
Filip4no individuals and organizations overseas, who by their excepllonal achievements or
humanit<lrian efforts, have given form and substance to Filipino excellence and the time-honored
values of pakikipag-kapwa, paglulr)/ungan, and pagkaka,sa
The awardees include exemplars of Filipino excellence. indiViduals who have dedIcated
their work In the seNice of the Filipino people, stewards of community inItiatives that promote
cooper<ltion for the common good, and advocates for the promotion and protection of the roghts
of others Civil society organizations based overse<lS, whose progr<lms for inteNention h<lve
helped improve the lives of others, particularly the marginalized, will also be honored in ObseN<lnce
of Ihe timeless tradition of utang na kJob and bayanihan,
Th,s year's awardees were selected from a lotal of 150 nominations from 29 countries
through 43 Philippine Embassies and ConSUlates Of the 45 awardees, 31 are individuals while
14 are organizations, The awardees came from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Hong
Kong Special Administrative Regioo, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, South Korea, Switzerland United
Kingdom and United States of Amenca
"
r;t/'r- r4j'((~.tN -~ .¥'n'Jlhwkal,-.r /'lJanL/~
--:It!?"o/( rYm/',¥(llIa!.dlJ,,1 (5fljCulti.a!f( rl.. (J Ilf ~Ai(I...
""""'""'"
HOIl AJberto G Rom~1o
SecretaI)' 01 Fore.gn Affa rs
VICECHAlR
Amb l rogllngay F lacarua'e
Ch sf of PreSldentoal Protocol
MEMBERS
Fr Fabio Bagg>o
D'fcctor. SC.llabnnl ""gr3110n Center
Ms Belinda Olivares Cunanan
ColumniSI PhilippIne Daily InquIrer
Hon Jose Z Molano. Jr
Executive D,rector, COmmISSIon on Fdlplrlos Overseas
Mr RamonY Sy
Preslllcnt and CFO IntematiOflal Exchange Bank
D€PARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
E~ocuttve Dre~Of, Off>Ce of
Mr Pedro 0 Chan
lhe Undct$eoI,:mtary IOf "1'9'anl Wo'.ers Affa.rs
"''II' W .1,000 C Santos
Spel. al Assistant Olfice 01 tile Se<.:retary
COt,".lISSIOf'; ON FllIPll'.OS OVERSEAS
Mr
F.rncsloNOEIP_C3i~a
Anad1e
Officer
Irl
Atty Golda Myra R Roma
Charge Planning Research and Policy Office
Lmgkod S8 Kapwa Pillpino Award
Kaanib ng Bayan Award
Gagas Cosme R , M D
GaoIIe. Glona T
Feed the Hungry, Inc
PAG-ASAGI"oup Japan
Pn.lipplne Development Ass,sianee
HOP E Fwndabon
HO. Jesus T.. M D
,.,,1ootero, Juao II M M D
Nacano. Emanuel N
Navarra. V,etona C M D
PMppne Arnencan Foondat>on
PhilippIoe ChiIdrer1 s Chanty F und
Ph, ippoe Cultural Orgal'lZa: 01'111"I Saartarld, e V
Ph I,ppoe Economoc and Cu~uraI Endowment
Soence and Technology AdlnSOfY Cwntll
San Franosco
Tan, EltOn See
Tono kabeloS
VIJUngtO. Jose G
World Bank i lFC-IMF
F~,plno Assooaton
Kaakabay ng Bayan Award
Aloha "'Ied,r;aI f,l'»oon
BalIkatan sa Kal.rIlaran .. Hong Kong Counol
ConfedefallOO of Fll1WlOS Overseas Organza'lOn
F. 'plno--Amencan COmmuIllIy of Colorado
f"lpinO Community in Thai and
Fl 'piOO Communrty In the Convnomwalth
of Nonhem Manana Islands (CNMI)
Fd,P'OO Con'wnl.l1lty of Guam
FWndat>onfor AId to the PhJhpp,nes, Inc;;
Volunteer Bus,ness Counselors 01 Doha
Kaanib ng Bayan Award
Anesvad Founda~on
AssociatKlfl A10uette
AsSOClat on Pt-"I,ppnes InlemalJonal of Geneva
BooIi;s for tM Barrios
Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundat,on
Intemahonal Medical Helplor Chi dren
Jules and Paul- Emile Leger FoundanOl1
Operat,on Smile Internatlona
-=~
Salamat Po Kat
Tsakos Shipptng and TradlOQ. 5 A.
Banaag Award
Acebuche. Nestor A.
Acosta Rodngo C
AI Zedjal<. Essa Mohamed
Andes. Phoebe Cabota,e
Angelical LTI3
Aranilla, lellaa R
AsUIlero Moh d AJ Cart 10. M 0
Baba~. . - Sw tzertand
Bal BohoI MediCal t.1Isslon
BalllJSta. AntOOlO C
Bayoum', Mohammad Ahmad
Beatty. Estrella C
BenzOl\, Norma R
Butos. Allee P
Cl'II'1tre for PhlIipplne Concerns - Australia
Cheng. SI3fl Chun
Compas, lolita B
Coocepaon. Zenaida S. M D
Covam.Jb'as. Grace F N (.)
Cueto.AlexM.MO
Cunanan Jl(Juedo a
Curuna Orgaruzat'on
Dasadas. Cathenne D
DeG!Jzman-Formoso.RubyL MO
Dechaves W,I am 0
Del Rosano. Soma 5
Dela Paz, James Ailan
Docoy, Fr Eugene
Evang~lsta, Jose L M 0
Fi IponO AmenCiln Human Services, Inc
Fi ,pono Association ,n Brunei
Fi 'pirlO Coalition for Sol danty, Inc
Fihpino Communities Coune,1 of AuSlralia, Inc
Fi ,pino Community Center. Inc
Filip;no Ladies Associallon of Guam
Banaag Award
Banaag Award
FIorentlIlO. Sf /I,~na S . FMM (.)
Fqas, MarCOS R, M D
Gmete, Alex Jose R
GQ, Mildred Aires
Halasz, Fr, LUIS, SVD
l-lelblQ. Aurea
I-lernal'ldez Carmeoota
Hong Kong Bayafllha... Trust
lel<, Glawe R
Juele, Lil,a R
Stetner. Mona Lisa L
Tahaf'liln (DIOCesan Cenler for F, ,pno
M grants)
Talangbayan FranClsV MD
Tendencia Benita B
Tenono. PedroP
Theresa Ladeh
Tomeidef'l Jr 8e~1TIIn S
Tordpnan, PaulSemo
-~"
Vargas, Of1ando R
Victorian Community in Belgium
Zamora, Prospero C
Kanagawa Women's Space Ms La
Kawayan Philippine Lilnguage and Cultural
Uy.EmolooY
Sohool
KinOerhllfe PhoI ppmen, fI V.
Lal'lVl'l<l'lM Franos L
Pamana ng P,lIpmo Award
Lew, Bridgel
LUbang-LOQI; In:emaloOnal
Abaci. PatJ!a
Maharlilla _ Switzerland
Manglona, BenialTlln T
March. Manna Roma, M D,
Mataac. CelsoJr T
Missiooafy Sisler.> oItl'1e ImlllllClJlate Coocepaon
/I,"yake Chyo
Na\lOnal ~ d Profess,ooaI Teaehers -
Abella, MaooIo I.
AgUirre, Bayani S
Alcantra. Aflacleto R
Antonio. Camllo C
Aqu no Belinda A
Ararlda,JacobV.MD
AtrnlI, Arne til Aranas
--
Na1lVldad. Come 10 RUlz
Paragas. Rodolfo de Leon
Paterno. Ramon AP
Penang Support Group for Migrant Filipinos
Pt"loppme AssociatIOn 01 MetropoMan Washington
E.........
Pt'iIippnfI Hentage Band
PhIl,ppone lnsliMe of Certified PublIC
Accountants
PtI,IIPPlne S<:hool Bahrain
Ouiblado, Conrada P
Racinez. Sr Olivia WCW
Ramos Angel T.
Ra\olndrana:han. N M D
RJzal-BlLll'lflflInIl sooety Austria
Saboo Fr Raymond T
Seg,mla'l, Reuben
S,rmala (VISion) 2Q04
BaJeos.~G
Banatao. ()osdadoP
Bebars. Evelyn Panganlban. M D
Bobls, Merllnda
Camara Jorge G . MD
Cartota Lupo 1.. M D
Castrence, Pura Santlilan
Castro. Salvador P
Caye:ano. 8e.-.,am n J.
Cha,. Arlene Joan
Cllen, Anita B
Ciani, Lina L
C,elo, Angel B. M D
Clemente Lilla CaldefOn
Cordero. Paoen:eJr A
Cordo'va Fredenc and Dorothy
De Asis - Be",~ez. Joarne
DeGuzman. Rodolo A, MO
Del Rosano. Remedios K
Pamana ng Pilipino Award
Dela Cruz. Cesar
Dlaz Jose Duddley
F,tzs,mmonS, EdIth
Flores EddIe Jr
Garoa, JorgeM. MO.
GarcIa Manuel M
Garoa Renato B . MBE
Goh, Ma Cynthia J
GulOgOf\il. MlChil8' Piltrlck L
Hagedorn. JIlSSICiI
Haley, Ma LUISi! MiIbIlangan
1-10, Nr.il Magsaysay
19arta, VeruncioC
Kefty AnglW.iI Casuo
layosa, Er110da R
Lew,s, l.OIda NK:O!as
Llamils An:onoo GilfC1a (+)
Mandac, Evelyn L
Ma.-ana. NiiSset B
Medilila. David C
Menez, Emal1l G
MogueI. MJiagros K
o.zon
NatMCSad.IrWle
Naton Josie C
Pag'..lkhan, Rey D, M 0
PailS. Rosendo K
ParJgIl.nan, Manuel V
Recana Mel Red
Rodng\,lllz Manuel Sr, A.Sagon. Tere5lla B
Salin. Shanfa Zeannat Akt1
$antos, Emmanuel T
Sonaoo, Ed",ar(l
Sunloo. Raul M
Tabalba Camllo M
TablIena, Romeo V
Veloria, Velma R
ZWilenepoel, Rev, Paul
Special Citation
FiliplMS Magaz,ne
"
LlNKAPtLAwardees
Sane! G G Ablaza.
MO
GUillermo B de
Veneaa.MD
801 A1bul'y Ct
Moorestown. NJ
08057USA
TN 856-231-1446
fN 856-231-1246
AASOUAREDftCO
2194 Heywood Cor.,
TN 608-274-5769
075-523-6876
075-523-3699
FN 608-274-5769
gOeVenee@:WISC eC~
Oregon. WI 53575
USA
CAST NET
Free Rural Eye Clinics
Bolasi. San Fabian,
Pangasinan
Fillpmo Chamber of
Commerce of Hawaii,
do Vergel N Adonis
PreSident
905 Urnl 51 , Rm, 306,
Honolulu. HI 95819
U,S.A.
TN 808-371-6033
fN 808-847-6089
fcch@aloha,net,
ADQNISVOOf@HAWA/1
RRCOM
Bellj<lmm A Ileio. M,D.
g Westchester Ave
Jeficho. NY 11753
U.sA
TN 516-433-2338
718-990-4165
FN 516-433-2338
718-793-6919
benlleto@aolcom
TN 267-243-3952
FN 21s.-676-5903
p1d1aoon¢aolcom
TN 409-724-1550
409-985-3207
FN 409-985-5233
Af'sMartm@aoIcom
TN 3-3205-4863
fN 3-3205-4861
manmayang@aolcom
'00
70-35. 113th St Forest
Hils. NY 11375USA
IntemabOnal NelWO"k of
Fillpmos Ovefseas
p-
cio Dr
AIelc Cueto
5411N5lh5t.2IF
Ptllla<:Ielptl&, PA
19120USA
ArHnIO R Martn, M.D
314 YO<1\sh,re Lane. Port
Neches TX 77651
USA
2001 9Ih Avenue, Suite
102, Port Arthur TX
77642U5A
Man Bernabe Nlhel
1-22-1102 H,gashl Wmg,
Nlsh,-Waseda-1.
Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
"
LlNKAPIL Awardees
Alfredo T Tesalona
99 Hillside Ave., Apt.
6-A, New York. NY
l0040U SA
TN' 646-541-5242
FN 212-567-2984
Ih_alteS@hotmall,com
University of the
Philippines Medical
Alumni Society In
Amenca
clo Dr, Nerita E Ulep
President
123 Hampshire Dr
Deptford, NJ 06096,
TN 856-228·9324
FN 856'228·9324
pachoramosl@aoIcom,
Nulep@aol.com
TN 02102-46628
FN 02102-490367
VMCAeV@AOLCOM
USA
Visayas-MII'ldanao
Cultural ASSOCiation
OV
do Teresita 0 Golez
President
Berlinerstr 3,40660
Ratingen, Germany
Banaag Awardees
Imelda VollenweiderBerdos
Zilacherstrasse 21, 8424
Romas, SWitzerland
TN 4101-865-077
4176-457-5306
Wilfrido J Buhain, MD.
4170 Elizabeth Lane
Annandale. VA22003
USA
TN: 703-976-2709
FN: 703-978-1591
LOT197@aolcom
Roland C Casamina
2273 Hikino SI.
Honolulu, HI 96821
TN,606-377-5586
808-847-8493
FN 806-847-8747
rol alld@hofirlC,rlet
USA
1810 N. Kil'l9 St ,
Honolulu, HI96819
USA
Cerltre for Filipinos
clo Maria GOrlzaleS
Coordlrlator
Hammersmith Office,
St. Albans Church
CommUrlity Centre. 2
Magravine Rd .. London
W6 8HJ England
TN 44-020-7381-2600 cf@claranet
FN' 44-020-7381-2484
"
Banaag Awardees
Virg,ho G Cuizon
Von Bodenllaosen Weg
27,45133, Essen.
TN 49-20144-3418
FN 49-20144-3521
akorlo@webde
,;,,,,,,"y
F,esta Fl~p,na Dance
Troupe of Canada
-
cio Estrelhta M
TN 905-566-5734
FN 905-566-7819
.....
"'....,.".
829 O\Ieens Bndge
M!5S1SSauga.
0"1<100 L5C 3K3
'"
F~,ponoCu~ural
CluO
"""""
do Ma Socorro P AI-
Amoo
TN 96S-532-592J
FN 965--'83-4670
,.
TN 494791-7728
Char10tle GoediCI<e
maamn@safatk$l'
EKecutive DIrector
POBox 17599
Kt\aldiya Kuwa I
72456
Chanotte GodfCke
Achtem KnICk 5. 27711
0s18fhOlz-Scharmbeck
""~de
Gem>o"Y
Home-Reach
FoundallOn Inc
cJo Dr Teofilo Real<ls
Ct\a,rman
24 B,rdldale Lane
Port. Washlllgton. NY
11050U SA
TN 516-627-3173
FN 516-365-2960
pepe@homeread'l
Hyehwadong F~'p'no
Catholtc Community
C/o Rev Fr Glenn
C,ovannl B Jaron
Presoenl
1-115 So!'l9buk-gu
Songbukdong_ Seoul
South Korea 136-020
TN 82-765-0870
FN 82-765-0871
Jliron@Chollian.net
Klnderhllfe Ph,ILpplnen
c/o Juergen S Schneldl
PresH:ient & Founder
Children s Village, 6602
Padre Burgos, Southern
TN 053-573-0088
mklrensvlage@gro::r«
Loy,"
"
Banaag Awaroees
Arnor lIao-McGulnness
203 Old Wood lane.
Boonton, NJ 07005
TN 973-335-7660
973-334·8586
FN' 973-335-7660
USA
AMORILAO@optonhne
~,
Sooth Terrace Manor
PO Bo~404 Boonton,
NJ 07005 U,S,A
Alicia Natividad, U.S
56 Range Rood. Onawa,
Ontario K 1N 8J5 Canada
TN 613·565-3871
613-566-7045
FN'613-566-7086
asn@anatividad,ca
TN 773·342-0906
773-534·2025
FN' 773-342-9160
773-534-2069
piZzamuna@earthlink,nel
350 Sparks SI, SUlle
1210, Ottawa, Onlano
K1R7S8Canada
Evelyn DA Natividad,
Ph,D
2448 W Thomas,
Chlca9O,ll60622U.S,A
6110 North Fairfield Ave.
Chica90,ll60659US,A
Emma B Nemivanl
827 South loomIS 5t
Chlca90, Cook Il
60607 USA
TN,312·829-8668
FN,708-488--1102
Emolyn@aol.com
Panday Tinig Choral
Ensemble
cia Paul R Imperial
Chairman
5355 Cumberland
Ave. Monlreal, Quebec
H4V 2P1 Canada
TN 514-485-7281
FN 514-485-3995
panday@pafldaytinig,ca
Philippine Australian
Sports and Culture. Inc
clo Manny B Castillo
TN 02-9541-0181
FN: 02-9541·0181
Philippine Cullural
Foundation 01 HawaII
clo Magdalena P
Dommgo
PresIdei'll
2015 North King SI.,
Honolulu, HI 96819
USA
PresIdent
1 Yala Rd" Bangor, Now
Sooth Wales Austraha
TN. 808-841-2841
FN.808-841-2844
"
cvillafuerte@cb-hi,nel
Ban8ag AW8rdees
VirgiliO DR P,lapll,
MO,
8 Boulder Point Dr.
Springfield,IL62707·
7902USA
TN' 217-782·8351
217·787·8204
FN' 217-787·8204
gilpini46@yahooco-
PO, Box 1882
Springfield IL 62705
USA
Lourdes A. Salazar
16E Chffview Mansions,
25 Condu,t Rd,
M,dlevels. Hongkong
TN 852-252-43566
852·281·78928
FN 852-251-77917
SAR
Bayanlhan Center.
55 Victoria Rd ,
Kenne<!yTown,
Hongkong SAR
Search to Involve
Piliplno Americans
c/o Joel F. Jacinto
Executive Director
3200 West Temple
St, Los Angeles CA
90026US.A
TN 213-382·1819
FN' 213-382·7445
pcorpus@esipa 0"
Jean Paul Verslraelen
Vijversstraal46,3500
Hasse~. Belgium
TN' 32-1187-4869
32·49941-4477
FN 32-1187-4869
jpconsiJtancy@
Pamana ng Pilipmo Awardees
Felipe P. Ablnsay. Jr
1260 Richard Lane, B·
516 Honolulu, HI
96819USA
Rm. 402 Hawaii State
Capitol, Honolulu, HI
96813U,S.A
TN 808·842-4543
808·586·6010
FN 808-586·6011
repabinsay@capo
hawa,i,gov
Pamana ng PilipinoAwardees
203 Whispenng Wind
Cl . Englewood. OH
45322 US.A
TN 937-836-7396
FN 937-836-7396
rbernardo@mark1web
Wilfredo R 8uhay
3950 N, Lake Shore
Drive. 418C. Chicago,
IL, Cook Counly U SA
TN: 773-348-1816
FN 773-955-3635
ealamar@aolcom.
williredbuhay@aol,com
Eliodoro C Cadawas
4115N Lowell Ave ..
Chicago IL 60641 US A
TN 773-427-8503
773-575-4539
wlngs955@aol,com
TN 1-702562-3737
FN 1-702562-3572
alexburgos37@cox,nel
TN 81-78371-5506
81-78382-6005
FN' 81-78371-5506
81-78382-6019
docjovelle@yahoo,com
TN' 0855-788-6778
3903-204 to 05
FN 3903-209
pttpi@cbnnetid
TN' 212-679-9061
646-321-0505
FN: 212-251-0505
LenorersLlm@aolcom
Rodollo S Bernardo.
EdS
Alejandro A. Esclamado 10117 French P,ne Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89129
US,A
Jovelle La03gFernandez, MD
502 Kusunoki Helghls.
5-4-5 Kusunoki-cho,
Chuo-ku. Kobe, Japan
com
Dept of ObstetriCS and
GyneCOlogy, Kobe
Universily Hospilal, 7-5-1
Kusunoki-cho. Chuo-ku.
Kobe, Japan
Dante C Fuenles
2004 FeliCldad St..
Tobias Former Dao
Antique
81F Plaza Permata. JI
MH Thamrin 57, Jakarta,
Indonesia
Lenore RS. Lim
10 Waterside Plaza. 31 F
New York, NY 10010
U,SA
UN Inlernalional
School. 25-50 FDR Dr.
New York, N~ 10010
USA
"
Pamana ng PiJiplnoAwatdees
Rod<:1foC Ouambao
TN ]'8-672-9652
718-898-7500
FN 718-896-8064
56-47,211ltlSt
Baysode. NY 113&4
USA
74·16 WoodSIde Ave
EImh~I.NY11313
USA
Mal Gen Antonio M
HODA 200. The
T......
Pentagon. WA, 0 C
Constantia 5 Uy. M,D
10 Oak Lane, Pmebrook,
TN 703-69!H674
-.oT.....
i1nTly md
USA
NJ07058US A
TN 913-575·7431
973-972-0828
FN 973·972·7921
someraco@ ........
UMONJ,185south
QrallQe Ave. Newi!rl<.
NJ07013U S A
GondeilnaA Velazco,
Ph 0
Flat 9. No 4 AdaIr Rd
TN 44-798-5128-815 gaV@sgmorg
London Wl0 SED
FN 44-207-730-0240
Ul'IIled K'ngdom
SGM IntemallOnai
Radstock House. 3
Ecdeston 51 London
SW1W 9lZ UI'llMld
~Arturo T Viola
TN 905-468-2772
FN 90:>-466-3266
905-468-2959
11 The Promenade
PO 6<»; 273. Niagara-
On- TOO-lake, OntarIO
lOS 1Jl) Canada
1593 Four M Ie Creek
P.D Box 100. Virgil,
Ontano lOS
no
Canada
"
/oIIiulof'l
To promote Ille ,nle,esls of ove
hio'_ tneI. lu" pcleflllBlS as pari
s f hpono. and
'" PhI ,ppona
natoonlil de-.~
Cllenlele
The 0'0 " " a d'Sl.n:I c:fIe<lIde""" ~ noI CCM!'nld
by p,oo,a',,, ot oltle' a!lenc,e. 01 I"e P
Pll,ne
lIOW"onenl They.e the ~"O
f' (101'0 en'IO!I....... and permanent ~ ~
f'lCloftO na~OftlIls ""'0 leave the country .. f... ct ..
IllOUMI oIlt>reogn na:.onats
OeIco:!ndantll 01 F-.pnol ~ s as dc'Ined ,n
P 19
f"'P<no youlh O\Iersoas; and
EKchenge V,uor PfOg'II'" pa<1lClpanla
e
CFO P,oo,.mma F'..m.... o,k
I. Mlg'anl Social & Economic Inllll,allon
lis Objoct,.o II 10 OnSu'e that all F;I.p,no. mog.abno LO
otl>o. counl"o' a'o adequately p'eparod to mOOI Iho
p,acl,cal and psycholog,cal p,oblema In.ndant 10
Intefnl! onal mog,al"'"
A Pre-DflperfIJfO ReglsUatlOll
R"g••lra"on Df al dop.. rI,"9 F,"P"'" em'II'ant. and
~ of data 10 ptO\"de a ",scurca bll5e lor ~
Iom'IUabon and 1"O!l'.. mme. prorect
~
8 ~ ... C»enta1lOll s.~
Conduct of rG9U'~ and llnIClufed oncrut on wmonars
lor depaMlg F_opno em'gt;lnts. eove<"'lI topocs IU(1l
's l.a.el and lletllemenl. cof'Ol'l.oons ,n countr e' ...
deIIIniollOn f ....."" cIenlll)' and hentagol ~
"""IlOl' IOfId ng/'lts and Db"gabOflS of '~'n1I
.. _
-..01""
c
Co\Il""""" s.Moeos _
E CWnte/le
Feedb¥;~ ~
Ma,nt8l'"ng lIni<ages "" III O\IOfSnS F, ""..... lhrl:lo.ogh
leedback procedures and eKc:l\8tlge 01 oorrespondence
ber...een CfO .ta"! and """9,anl5 to oden·ty CfltoCll
areas 'Nhere!l""*"W& ( I"IleI'VenllOn or a1SOSliU'lCe moghl
be .... ossa<y
F Pri>Iic Inlcrmal.ol end A _
""",,1-,"51 t.'gel c:toont... t.><oug" d..."loptrlent .. nd
lbtnbu..... of onIorm3!_ ma"'llI~ lO'ld pad< "9""'.•nd
a>nduct"'!l communo1y 8ducIo1 on ac;I<. ' - 10 """"" !he
put>hc aboul ~_1ia18d problern5"" .......
G Pos/.·Amv. Orie<ttatO'l end A.ta5l..,.;e
E01endlng. t'"ough Coope"llJ'1g OfganlU1lOfls pOSl.
_ I onenlal"'" lor r>ew;~·""ved f~"""" Immogranl$
'n I!leif hOSt cou~t"os, and hnlung t>om w,1!'o ompII:)ymOOl
agoncies, mig,anl resource canlefS suPIlOf\ OItll.i91, and
filop1.... aS$OCillbons overs",s
II filipino Education & H.'i1alla
Th,S p"'{Iramme promotes educa""na' &eNICeS as well
as the conMuod O'poIU'e 01 young ... {Ienoralions ol
ove,,~eas FihJ-"nOllO PhIJ,pp,1Wl h,olory, culture, ~nguago
and ,nsmullons
A Lll~b.ay·Aflllllnd L.. ~Wyan ,. ~ s
Inlonn "ll am edIIca~ng 1M F,I,p'no If'Oll,anlS WI olher
coyntr,1lS about lhoIf herllltO' Ind cU'I",e thrOu{Ih an
,nl..... we SlUdY."l and ClIllural,n'Wne<soon progra..........
In Ill" F'tohppones
8 ~ SdIooIs o...--s
Enco,,' ..g ~g and p,o. d.no a,,",lance ,,, lhe
establShmen!oI PhI pPO'1e 1CI'IOCIis """'ere there .... "'9"
fl I',no populll: on Ibroad and illonglhen'ng the
OfIe!"a:.onal'eatwes 01 eOJ1lInlI onlI'$1O pn)'VcIe etlIIdren
of lM!fSOU f ~ ....... "edlcahOn tnaI ...... . . . . - !hem
10 be readily l'1Ulgrated 0< ~ ,,*, . . F't>iI'II9"'lll'
educallOnal system
P<o"a_ d
c
de¥QIq) o,Ioi"wod dIIczIoonI abo\l1 Ii'- '.mage ~ ....
.......e.. ooverong topics wcI'I as CUftiKaI dlf«enoes
_~bO<1 _iable .......are andsuppotl_
over-. and "O"lsand obI~s01 mogranlS......"...
Promoll"ll and ad..... iCl'Rli the l-.:t> "'II and $Iudy 01
f.iP>D language 81 .anaus ........ d leamong ""tI>on and
"",:sode ttIe scf><><>j syllem o.,,"aeas partK:.ullrly WI
COUnl'<es or 1"",'1OIle...... ,~ ha", , hlQ" denSIty of
perma'lenl f
ro.den1'
o
D ~ St~ Programma
~
10 f~ .'"9'ltl.ng
.. ~or",osMoffor"'9'lna_tol*P_
PNr CaunSllIorlg
P-OYlIIOtI 01 COUfl$OOng SOMCeS to departlnfl o;:hoklreon
of F,"pono """"11""nls 10 respond to lh<l floodS 01 f,'p 00
m'J,ant. under 20 yea's 01 age .• n onler 10 Mill tr\(ll'fl
cope ... ,Ill chlll19" in Ill"'. sodal "n."oronllf1t
~
/.MIgl>age let- ~~.
.op""
General',,!! awa<eness arol knowledge aboul Phi ~
hi.tory, cultu,e and Inst,tultOfll ,n .a'....... perl. ol tho
world by promot "II 1tIe ,ncIusoon of Ph.hpptne srudoes '"
d'If01enl loa,";ng ,n.I'M"'''S abl'Old
A PoiK:y Rw06w and FormularlOn
E. Ph"'PP'r19 Resource and InformatIOn Cenlers
Promoting the establishment of FilipIno Cenlers
Overseas. ,n coordInatIon with Philippine EmbasSies and
Consulates and FilipIno organlzalions. to Serve as
repos.lory of information about the Ph,I'PP,nes and center
for SOdo-cu]lufa, ac~v.ti<ls 01 Filipino cammun ties abroad
Undertaking mulll·d se<plinary rosoa'ch, prOViding pol c:y
advice and formulahon 01 policy initialives and measures
pe'taln'ng to the poM,ca!. economic and sociat ng~ts
Md obl,galions of OVeft;eas F"IP"lOS Among these..,
absenlee \f01Jng prac1 ces, dual citizenship, d,aspora fr"",
development, and recogn,hon and accredilation 01'
Phil'PP,ne academic degrees and profesSional trcen
in other countr.es
III. Filipino Unity & Nalional Oevelol>ment
This programme seeks 10 fosler beller uMy 01 purpose
wlthm and among the various overseaS Filipino
organlzalions for Ihe promolion of lheir own inle'ests
and well-being within a more formidab.e all-FlI1p,no
community
B Overseas Programm<J Evaluation and Formula/IOn
Undertaking revIew and evaluallon 01 variOUS prog'8ffi$
and sernces 0I1he \lOVemmenl In \lUneraj and (he CFO
In parUcu1a,. 10 serve as inputs to the formUlation
progra"ls and prOJects for OVel'$eas FillpOnos
A Lmgl<od sa KIlPWIl P"Ipino (UNKAPIL) Prog,"m
HarneSSing Ihe IXIrtnership t>elween Filipinos overseas
and those In the homeland by Jl'ovOd,ng a mechanism
lor lhe lransler of f,nanc'a' mate"al or lechnlcal
asslSlance In support of development aClivltles In the
counl'y
C. Dllt!. B8nh",g and Computerization Programme
De,elopOng and malnta,ni'g a dala banking sys:em on
~ II 1"110 em,gahon to support policy reconvnend,lIl00" a"ll
formulation iOl1 al,yl'S. Amon\l these a'e lis projeCl on
eConomIC and demographic mapping 01 overseas
B. Observance 01 Montl'l of Overseas Fil'fJ'rlOS
Generating special achv,t,es for December each )'ear 10
InvOlve Filipinos oyerseas and Il'Iu local counlerparts In
construclive endeavol'$ to promole commemoration 01
Ihe Month of Ovel'$eas Filipinos
~lIiplnos
D Cris,s Management and s..cw'jly Manual
Deyelop,ng a comp'ehensive security manual and
Olher procedures 10 provide management acd
implementation of security measures to prolect a'
safeguard F Ii P'no nat,onals overseas dUring C(llam.I)· ..:
criSIS silualions
C. Awatds and Recognition for OVllrS"lls Filipinos
Erect",g approprlale ,ecognllion through PresOdent,al
Awards, for Ihe mMy COOlrlbuilOOS 01 overseas Fi Ipinos
to developmenl ,n lhe Phll,pP""'s. lor the honor broughl
to lhe country b;' their Jl'ofessional excel.,nce. and lhelr
conlribulJon to the enhancement 01 F,llp'no Commun ties
abroad
O.gan;zational Set.up
The CFO is headed by a Chairman With cab,net ,a.....
and ,epresenlalJVllS of the follOWing departments
D. E~ch.'ng<l V,s,'or Progrllm (EVPI
CoordinaMg pOllc:y and ilT'plementalion of the Ph,IIppme
particlpahon In lhe U S. EVP and ensuring that Ihe
benefils denved from lhe EVP accrue 10 the best "'lerest
01 the country
Departmenl 01 Fore'9n Allall'$
Departm""t 01 Trade and IndUStry
OelXlrtmeol of Labor and Employment
Departmenl 01 Educal'on
Departmenl of Jusllce
Departmenl of Tourism
Office 01 the P'ess Secreta')'
CFO Execulrv<l Director
E PutJlicalions
Publication of the CFO newsleller, FIlipIno Ties
Handbook tor Overseas FiliP'nos, and olher ,nformal,on
malerials on a regUlar bas's 10 p'ov'de a vehicle and
forum for the mlerchange of news, Information, and
opInions 01 ",'eva'ce and Inte'esl 10 overseas FIIIP'nos,
and 10 serve as a vehicle for fosler"'g unIty 01 purpose
The CFO is supported by a Secreta"al headed by an
ExerolNe Olrector
IV. Policy Oevelopment & DaM Ban1dnll
This programme seeks 10 provide a conlinu.ng stUdy and
review oI1he econom,c, SOCial, legal and administrative
env"onment which have a bearing on the status of
ovel'$eas Filip'nos
The CFO consiSts of five (5) offiC<ls Mrg'anl Inlegrat>on
and Education Offree (MIEO), Protects Manageme
Office (PMO) Planning, Research and Policy Off,ce
(pRPOj, Management Inlormat,on Syslem OII,ce(MISO
and Administrallve and F..,ance Office (AFO).
,.
~H(
II'OMfN1
Ofe"U&IPP,..
SINCE
1900
P1l0~
MAIILt: "BULLETII
u".".,,,.....~. THE
JiTr-
NAnON'S LEADING NEWSPAPER

2004 - 2016 Presidential Awards - Commission on Filipinos Overseas

Transcription

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