New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. AP FILE PHOTO
NEW YORK, New York 鈥� Mayor Bill de聽Blasio聽congratulated the annual, independent search for exemplary Filipino Americans in the New York metropolitan area that will highlight Filipino American History Month in October.
The Outstanding Filipino Americans in New York (TOFA-NY) are chosen by popular vote conducted via social media, and awardees will be honored at a ceremony set for October 25 at Carnegie Hall.
鈥淲ith an estimated 200 spoken languages and more than three million residents born outside of the US, New York鈥檚 diversity in unparalleled,鈥� de聽Blasio聽said in a statement. 鈥淥ur large and thriving Filipino population is an invaluable thread in the fabric of our city.鈥�
As in previous years, Consul General Mario de Leon Jr.聽andbusinesswoman聽and philanthropist聽Loida聽Nicolas Lewis will deliver inspirational messages.
The other speakers are retired Army Gen. Tony聽Taguba, AARP鈥檚 community ambassador; Jason聽Tengco, senior advisor at the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; and Miss USA 1st runner-up Audra Mari, who is a Fil-Am.
Maria聽Ressa, formerly CNN鈥檚 bureau chief in Manila and Jakarta, and one聽ofthe聽founders of聽Rappler, the Philippines鈥� first Internet-based news organization, will host the event. She has been covering Asia for more than 25 years. She lived in Toms River, New Jersey with her family, and graduated from Princeton University where she studied biology and English.
This year鈥檚 TOFA-NY awards will also feature a stellar lineup of entertainers led by Darren聽Espanto聽of 鈥淭he Voice Kids Philippines 鈥漚nd Geo Ed聽Rebucas, a 鈥淧ilipinas聽Got Talent鈥� finalist.
Also featured are 叠谤辞补诲飞补测听叠补谤办补诲补,聽Enteng聽Evangelista and the UST Singers, 鈥淰oice of McDonald鈥檚鈥� finalist Richard聽Tuozo聽and the Pilipino American Cultural Arts Society of Washington, DC.
The following are nominees for 2014:
Arts & Culture聽
碍颈苍诲颈苍驳听厂颈苍诲补飞
Society of Philippine American Artists
Teresa Rodriguez
Business & Entrepreneurship聽
Pete & Shirley Domingo
Dennis Josue
骋补谤测听搁别濒辞箩
Community Service & Advocacy聽
搁测补苍听尝别迟补诲补
Rommel del Rosario
Roger Santos
Courage of Conviction聽
狈补苍肠测听叠耻濒补濒补肠补辞
骋别别苍补听搁辞肠别谤辞
Education, Research & Technology聽
Emelyn聽de la Pena
尝别尘耻别濒听厂颈蝉辞苍
惭颈肠丑补别濒听痴别补
贰苍迟别谤迟补颈苍尘别苍迟听
叠谤辞补诲飞补测听叠补谤办补诲补
Deep Foundation
闯丑别迟迟听罢辞濒别苍迟颈苍辞
Fashion & Style聽
Ryan Jordan
贰濒濒别听惭补诲谤辞苍补
顿补苍颈肠补听惭补驳辫补苍迟补测
Food & Restaurants聽
Liza de聽Guia
Joel Javier
Papa鈥檚 Kitchen
Health Care聽
Nemcy聽Cavite Duran RN
搁补苍诲辞濒蹿听笔补濒尘补颈谤补
颁辞谤驳别听搁别测别蝉
LGBT Advocacy聽
RJ Mendoza-Nadal
闯别苍补产-颈听笔补谤别箩补
Marin Watts
Media & Publishing聽
Gina Apostol
搁颈迟锄听惭补锄辞苍听颁谤补惫别蝉
罢颈苍补听笔补尘颈苍迟耻补苍
Public Service & Politics聽
尝耻诲颈听贬耻驳丑别蝉
R Sonny聽Sampayan
Maria Torres-Springer
Senior Welfare & Advocacy聽
Filipino American Senior Citizens Association Queens NYC
闯耻濒颈别迟听笔补测补产测补产
PAGASA Social Foundation Inc.
Youth & Sports聽
贵谤别苍颈别听础肠辞产补
Jonathan de Castro
罢别补尘听罢补办产辞
Heritage Awards will be awarded to five individuals and organizations whose skills, competence, professionalism and talent helped elevate the profile of Filipino Americans throughout the Tri-State.
This year鈥檚 recipients are Oscar Award-winning songwriter Bobby Lopez, CEO Josie Natori of The Natori Company, Dean of Academic Affairs at Columbia Journalism School Sheila Coronel, Fiesta in America business and cultural trade exposition, and the Philippine Medical Association of America.
The people behind TOFA-NY are multimedia professionals and entrepreneurs, with Elton聽Lugay聽as founding chair, and Sally Nunez, Cristina DC Pastor (Nominations) and Oliver聽Oliveros聽(Publicity) composing the board.
Here is the link to vote:
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