Outstanding Filipinos
By Dr. Florangel Rosario Braid
January 28, 2011
MANILA, Philippines – We are making waves not only in sports and entertainment, but in other fields as well. Just recently, President Aquino was recognized in this year’s prestigious Public Affairs Asia’s Gold Standard Award for Political Communications. Public Affairs Asia is a network of senior government relations, public affairs, and corporate communication professionals in the Asia-Pacific region. Selected over international notables like first Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kwan Yew, British Prime Minister David Cameron, ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan, and India’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ambika Somi, the award, given in Hong Kong was in recognition of his efforts to put government publications online. Specific mention was made of the Official Gazette which was intended to communicate online all historical documents emanating from the government. These consist of presidential speeches, pronouncements, and other events, thereby allowing easy accessibility by the public. The impact of his message, “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap” was likewise noted. Last year, the award was given to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyomo for his successful achievement in addressing corruption in Indonesia through the Corruption Eradication Commission.
Then there are my Fil-American friends from Syracuse and UP, all successful professionals and civic leaders. Honolulu-based Cicero Bernales and his wife Dr. Teresita Bernales are active with the Filipino community in Hawaii as well as Syracuse New York where they lived for about three decades. Bernie, an engineer, has worked in R &D in the food processing and chemical industries. They are in the country helping out with a medical mission in the Bicol region and visiting a Gawad Kalinga project which they help support. Tess, an educator, is coordinator of the Global Youth Center which links young people in Hawaii and youth from around the world. The former Jovy Rodas, formerly of the Manila Chronicle and husband Carl Zimmerman, formerly Manila representative of Associated Press and news editor of the Honolulu Star Bulletin, were regular Manila visitors for many years. Jovy has authored several books and helped establish the Philippine exhibit at the Honolulu Museum. Dr. Ludy Ongkeko, columnist of Philippine News, and husband, the former Col. Hermie Ongkeko, and children, all successful professionals, are also active in the Filipino community.
Amada Valino, a fellow alumna of Syracuse University updated us on the status of old friends Emma and Joe Pagcaliwagan. Emma, herself a civic leader and educator, is here to supervise the establishment of a library and museum in Batangas to honor the memory of her husband who passed away in 2009 She also manages a scholarship program for poor but deserving students. Joe has been a recipient of several medals for heroic deeds as a teenage guerilla fighter for the US Armed Forces during World War 2 With only six years of basic education when he joined the US Navy, he worked his way through college and obtained an electrical engineering degree with honors. For 34 years, he was with the Sonar Defense Systems of General Electric where he designed significant projects.
Another piece of good news is the appointment of a 49-year-old Filipino to the presidency of America’s oldest diocesan university. Amado Gabriel Esteban, a UP alumnus in mathematics and business administration, is now president of Seton University, New Jersey’s largest Catholic university with a student population of 10,000.
Even in pulchritude, our Filipino women are never left behind. After Venus Raj, our own Danica Magpantay, a 17-year-old UP student was chosen the World SuperModel for 2010. It was reported that Danica won this prestigious title when the head of the top Ford model agency “found so striking the fusion of feminine and masculine features on her face, and that hers is a very unusual facial bone structure – squarish on top, but softer toward the chin.” But I am sure there is much more beyond the physical appearance.
Congratulations and good luck Danica.
Then there are my Fil-American friends from Syracuse and UP, all successful professionals and civic leaders. Honolulu-based Cicero Bernales and his wife Dr. Teresita Bernales are active with the Filipino community in Hawaii as well as Syracuse New York where they lived for about three decades. Bernie, an engineer, has worked in R &D in the food processing and chemical industries. They are in the country helping out with a medical mission in the Bicol region and visiting a Gawad Kalinga project which they help support. Tess, an educator, is coordinator of the Global Youth Center which links young people in Hawaii and youth from around the world. The former Jovy Rodas, formerly of the Manila Chronicle and husband Carl Zimmerman, formerly Manila representative of Associated Press and news editor of the Honolulu Star Bulletin, were regular Manila visitors for many years. Jovy has authored several books and helped establish the Philippine exhibit at the Honolulu Museum. Dr. Ludy Ongkeko, columnist of Philippine News, and husband, the former Col. Hermie Ongkeko, and children, all successful professionals, are also active in the Filipino community.
Amada Valino, a fellow alumna of Syracuse University updated us on the status of old friends Emma and Joe Pagcaliwagan. Emma, herself a civic leader and educator, is here to supervise the establishment of a library and museum in Batangas to honor the memory of her husband who passed away in 2009 She also manages a scholarship program for poor but deserving students. Joe has been a recipient of several medals for heroic deeds as a teenage guerilla fighter for the US Armed Forces during World War 2 With only six years of basic education when he joined the US Navy, he worked his way through college and obtained an electrical engineering degree with honors. For 34 years, he was with the Sonar Defense Systems of General Electric where he designed significant projects.
Another piece of good news is the appointment of a 49-year-old Filipino to the presidency of America’s oldest diocesan university. Amado Gabriel Esteban, a UP alumnus in mathematics and business administration, is now president of Seton University, New Jersey’s largest Catholic university with a student population of 10,000.
Even in pulchritude, our Filipino women are never left behind. After Venus Raj, our own Danica Magpantay, a 17-year-old UP student was chosen the World SuperModel for 2010. It was reported that Danica won this prestigious title when the head of the top Ford model agency “found so striking the fusion of feminine and masculine features on her face, and that hers is a very unusual facial bone structure – squarish on top, but softer toward the chin.” But I am sure there is much more beyond the physical appearance.
Congratulations and good luck Danica.
No comments:
Post a Comment