Facebook voting for outstanding Fil-Ams in New York ends Oct. 5

The voting via the social networking site Facebook for the annual awarding event "The Outstanding Filipino-Americans (TOFA) New York" will end on October 5. According to the award's official Facebook account, to vote, "just click Like under a nominee’s name, and you’re done. You may click as many nominees, but you cannot like a nominee more than once." Previous nominees can be nominated again after two years. This year's nominees include: FOR ARTS AND CULTURE

• Kilusan Bautista: artist and activist known for his spoken word performance;
• Miguel Braganza: dancer and artistic director.
• Cynthia Guerrero de Leon: pianist and piano teacher at the not-for-profit Children’s Orchestra Society;
• Sarah Gambito and Joseph Legaspi: co-founders of Kundiman, which promotes poetry by Asian American writers;
• Ernie Pena: Lifestyle and documentary photographer;
• Lolita Valderrama Savage: artist who has done solo shows internationally;
• Eduardo Sicangco: stage and costume designer for Broadway and Hollywood, and
• Roberto Villanueva: classical arts dancer and founder of BalaSole Dance Company.

FOR BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

• Gerry Austria of American Pinoy Food Mart: Founder and proprietor of Asian grocery stores in New Jersey;
• Gloria Cabrera of Gloria Cabrera Salon: Founder and owner of 30-year-old spa salon on Times Square, previously on Fifth Avenue;
• Oscar Fernando of Oscar Printing: founder and proprietor of long-time printing press serving Jersey City community;
• Lito Gajilan of RTA Travel: Community leader and president of family-owned travel agency in New Jersey;
• Edwin Josue of Halstead Realty: Real estate broker, and
• Nicole Ponseca of Maharlika Filipino Moderno: first pop-up Filipino restaurant in New York, now with three locations.

FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE AND ADVOCACY

• Marilyn Abalos: East Coast coordinator for Phildev’s Tri-State team;
• Dr. Gino Ang: Connecticut anesthesiologist who conducts medical missions overseas;
• Christina Baal: Social worker, immigration advocate and union organizer;
• Handang Tumulong Foundation: nonprofit that organizes fundraisers for Philippine victims of typhoons and other natural disasters;
• Yves Nibungco of Anakbayan NY/NJ: chairperson of progressive group serving mostly new immigrant youths;
• Steven Raga: community organizer of multiple young professionals, student and youth organizations, and
• Atty. Jesus Martin Reyes: immigration lawyer.

FOR EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

• Ernabel Demillo: head of the journalism minor at St. Peter’s College;
• Agnes Magtoto: Adjunct Professor teaching Elementary Filipino I & II, a language and culture course at NYU;
• Joel Natividad: software developer who won apps competition in New York for the application NYCFacets, and
• Michael Purugganan: plant biologist and dean for science at NYU.

FOR ENTERTAINMENT

• Kirby Asunto: young singer, a protégé talent of Manny Pacquiao;
• Gigi Dement, Stephen Dypiangco, Stefanie Walmsley: Filmmakers and producers of “God of Love” which won the Oscars for best live action short film in 2011;
• Anna Maria Perez de Tagle: Broadway star of “Godspell;”
• Ali Ewoldt: Broadway actress who has performed in “Les Miserables” and “West Side Story;”
• Victor Lirio: actor, director and artistic director of the independent Diverse City Theatre, and
• Nina Mojares: young actress, singer and dancer.

FOR FASHION AND STYLE

• Danelle Izza Dungca: fashion designer and creative director of ONE 10 Collection.
• Erno Hormillosa: beauty pageant director and choreographer.
• Mary and Michelle Mangiliman of Dalaga NYC: Boutique owners with two shops in New York;
• Victor Palmos: makeup artist and fashion stylist, and
• Bobby Yalong: Filipiniana and couture designer.

NOMINEES FOR FOOD AND RESTAURANTS

• Mario and Susan Albenio of Tito Rad's, a restaurant in Queens.
• Elma Santander of Philippine Bread House, a bakery that has endured in Jersey City for more than three decades.
• Anthony and Lisa Siopongo of Casa Manila.
• Margarette Villanueva: caterer and restaurant owner.

FOR HEALTH CARE

• Dr. Alice Almendral: family physician, geriatrician and cosmetic doctor;
• Drs. Rod and Elma Castillo: pediatrician couple from New Jersey, supporters of Santacruzan religious tradition;
• Dr. Prospero Lim: Psychiatrist, he set up the psychiatric unit of Bailey Seton Hospital in Staten Island;
• Dr. Gracelyn Santos-Mroczek: dentist from Staten Island;
• Marcelina Pena: vice president of Eihab Human Services, a nonprofit that provides services for people with developmental and behavioral disabilities, and
• Jona Jane Tajonera: health care consultant.

FOR LGBT ADVOCACY

• Cecilio Asuncion: Filmmaker behind the documentary “What’s the T” about the lives of five transgender women;
• Boots Babushka: makeup artist;
• Dia Dipasupil: photojournalist who created the social media site TransNewsDaily for transgender awareness;
• Rich Kiamco: Comedian at Pacific Punchlines Comedy Tour;
• Manila Luzon: Drag queen and runner-up in Ru Paul Drag Race, and
• Felix Manuel: Nurse and chronicler of beauty pageants.

FOR MEDIA AND PUBLISHING

• Darren Demeterio: talent producer for ESPN Sports, previously for David Letterman Show;
• Randy Gener: George Jean Nathan Award-winning editor of the American Theatre magazine, artist and critic;
• Nina Pineda: WABC-TV reporter and consumer correspondent.
• Ryan Songalia: boxing reporter for RingTV.

FOR PUBLIC SERVICE AND POLITICS

• Mayor Guillermo Udarbe: doctor and Mayor of Ridgway, PA, and
• Atty. Lorna Schofield: counsel at Debevoise & Plimpton and President Obama’s nominee for N.Y. district court judge.

FOR YOUTH AND SPORTS

• Advancement for Rural Kids, Inc: nonprofit that raises funds to improve the health and provide education for school-age children in the Philippines;
• Filipino Adoptees Network: resource and support network for adoptees -from the Philippines and their American families;
• Queens County Parents Autism Coalition: support group for families caring for special needs children, and
• Tim David: skating champion, 2005 and 2007 U.S. Adult National Gold medalist.

Awarding ceremony The awarding ceremony will be held at Carnegie Hall, New York on October 27 this year. Twelve nominees from each category who had the most votes by the deadline will be declared as winners. Last year’s awardees included:  

• Arts and Culture: Bessie Badilla
• Business and Entrepreneurship: Grace Hufano-Labaguis
• Community Service and Advocacy: Philippine Forum
• Courage of Conviction: Jose Antonio Vargas
• Entertainment: Sounds of Manila
• Fashion and Style: Jerry Sibal
• Food and Restaurants: Rena Avendula
• Health Care: Dr. Lorna Bayes
• LGBT Advocacy: Michelle Manangan
• Media and Publishing: Don Tagala
• Public Service and Politics: Roland Ubaldo, and
• Youth and Sports: Filipino School of New York and New Jersey.

Heritage Awardees Lea Salonga, The Filipino Reporter, the Filipino American Human Services Inc., Filipino American National Historical Society Metro NY and NJ and dancing siblings Craig and Samantha were also given recognition last year.   New board members Meanwhile, TOFA has new board members: Rolan and Myrna Gutierrez of Thera Management, and Ronald and Grace Labaguis of ECS Consulting. They will join TOFA founders Elton Lugay, Marisse Panlilio and Cristina DC Pastor.   Deputy Consul General Tess Dizon de Vega lauded TOFA for the morale it gives to the Fil-Ams who are working hard in the US. She also noted that the use of social media promotes “transparency.” “TOFA is one of the highlights of the Fil-Am History Month celebration in the East Coast,” De Vega said. - VVP, GMA News