Pulitzer winner among 12 outstanding Fil-Ams in NY

Twelve Filipinos— including Pulitzer recipient Jose Antonio Vargas, actress Lea Salonga, and former top model Bessie Badilla — were voted outstanding Filipino Americans in New York through Facebook “likes." Vargas, who confessed in a New York Times article that he was an undocumented immigrant, received 547 likes in the Courage and Conviction category of the first “The Outstanding Filipino Americans in New York" (TOFA-NY) awards. Meanwhile, Badilla— who ruled the Philippine model platform during the ‘70s and ‘80s— garnered almost 3, 000 likes in the Arts and Culture category for promoting the musical genre “Brinoy," or Brazilian-Philippine music. Most ‘liked’ Aside from Vargas and Badilla, the community voted for 10 other Filipino American persons and groups in various categories:

marketing professional Grace Hufano-Labaguis for “Business and Entrepreneurship";

Philippine Forum for “Community Service and Advocacy";

deputy US Marshal Roland Ubaldo for "Public Service and Politics"

pop and ballad ensemble Sounds of Manila for “Entertainment";

events designer Jerry Sibal for “Fashion and Style";

Payag Bar and Restaurant owner Rena Avendula for “Food and Restaurants";

Dr. Lorna Bayes for “Health Care";

transgender woman and advocate Michelle Manangan for “LGBT and Advocacy";

ABS-CBN International reporter Don Tagala for “Media and Publishing"; and

the Filipino School of New York and New Jersey for “Youth and Sports." A total of 54 individuals and organizations were nominated for 12 categories of the awards, including respected journalist and Columbia University professor Shiela Coronel, famed fashion designer Josie Natori, and Penguin Classics editorial director Elda Rotor. Heritage awards Aside from the community-determined awards, TOFA-NY will also give out the special Heritage Award to several Filipino Americans “whose involvement with the community are deemed invaluable and immesurable." Headlining the list of honorees that will also be at the Carnegie Hall on Oct. 29 is Broadway star and Tony award recipient Lea Salonga. Salonga will be joined by Craig and Samantha Abaya, who won the hit TV contest “Dancing with the Stars" junior championship, and Fil-Am community leader Loida Nicolas Lewis. The Heritage award will also be handed to organizations:

Filipino American Human Services, Inc.;

Filipino American National Historical Society; and

weekly newspaper "Filipino Reporter." Celebrating Fil-Am in NY TOFA-NY was created in line with the Filipino American History Month in the area, to recognize “individuals and organizations that have raised the profile of the Filipino American community in a unique and positive way." Unlike other award-giving bodies, TOFA-NY gathered the community’s voice through Facebook, where voting was done until midnight of October 8. This is the second year of the Filipino American History Month, after New York Gov. David Paterson and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg dedicated October for this celebration. - VVP, GMA News