NEW YORK— Leading Philippine broadcast company GMA Network, Inc. believes in the greatness of Filipinos no matter where they are in the world.

This year, the Kapuso Network — through its international channels GMA Pinoy TV and GMA Life TV – partners with the Association of Filipino Teachers of America (AFTA) in recognizing 10 beacons of education via the 2012 Ulirang Guro Award.

In search for 10 model educators, the award is set to honor teachers who devote their lives to the development of the youth while showing exemplary dedication and competence in the school system of America.

For the Elementary division, the Ulirang Guro awards were given to Leonicita Dionson and Sarah Barias, both of Maryland. For the Middle School category, the awards were conferred to Ramil Buevaventura of New York City and Rogie Legaspi of Baltimore, Maryland.
As for the High School division, the awardees were: Emelina Emaas of Sacramento, California;  Juanito Hingpis of Brooklyn, New York;  Aristides Uy of New York City;  Jo-Ann grande Pjevac of New York City;  and Ramona Tabang of Maryland. While Nicol Miraflores of New York City became the night’s sole awardee for the Higher Education category.

This year’s ceremony was held on Saturday, May 12, at the Astoria World Manor in New York City. The event brought in nearly 500 attendees from various states including Philadelphia, Maryland, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.

Incoming AFTA officers were also inducted during the event, which also had New York Consul General Mario de Leon as the night’s keynote speaker together with AFTA overall chair Lumen Castañeda.