Filipinas Mag

Daly City, CA, October 6, 2009 – On Thursday, October 1st, the Filipino American community gathered to honor nine distinguished individuals at the 12th Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awards held once again at the South San Francisco Conference Center.

Arriving guests were greeted with a serenade by the Fil-Vets Rondalla Band, led by George Gange and were handed Hawaiian Airlines Gift Bags containing goodies from category sponsors Anheuser-Busch, Genentech, GMA Pinoy TV, the Philippine Department of Tourism, PG&E, Robert Half International, Seafood City Group of Companies, Wells Fargo and the U.S. Navy. Additional promotional items were provided by table sponsors DelenTavel.com, Filipina Women’s Network, the IW Group, NAFAREP, Mabuhay Alliance, National Federation of Filipino American Associations, Seton Foundation and the Oakland Raiders.

The event kicked off with a Filipino Food Fair organized by Tito Gonzales, featuring delicacies like Lechon, Paella, Empanaditas and Bangus Sisig from some of the Bay Area’s premier Pinoy restaurants including Alimango, Patio Filipino, Nayong Pilipino, Ongpin, Kalesa, Karilagan, Tastebud, Goldilocks, and Ongpin Express.

During the reception, Filipinas Staff Writer Maricar Liberato led a drawing for gift certificates from the various Food Fair restaurants as well as tickets to an upcoming Oakland Raiders game. Wells Fargo Bank presented a $100,000 check for the American Red Cross Philippine Typhoon Relief Fund to Harold Brooks, CEO for the Bay Area Chapter.

To signal the start of dinner, Color Guards from Burton High School skillfully paraded the U.S. and Philippine Flags through the hall and up to the stage, where Derick Macabenta provided a beautiful rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” followed by Mark Alegre, Charito Benipayo and Romy Benipayo leading the crowd in singing “Lupang Hinirang,” the Philippine National Anthem.

Dinner was a three-course meal, with guests enjoying Stuffed Pork Medallions with Roasted Red Potatoes or Grilled Tilapia with Tomato-Mango Salsa and Rice Pilaf for entrees. Members of the Philippine Martial Arts Academy, under the direction of Master Alex France, opened the program with a high-speed demonstration of escrima, utilizing single and double fighting sticks, all performed to pulsating lights and dynamic drum ‘n bass beats.

Greg B. Macabenta, Filipinas Magazine’s Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, welcomed guests, reminding everyone that while there were many things to celebrate that evening, they must not forget about the devastation that Typhoon Ketsana/Ondoy has brought to the Philippines. He once again acknowledged Wells Fargo’s generous contribution to the Red Cross relief efforts, and encouraged everyone to continue to provide support to local fundraisers.

The awards ceremony was hosted by Christina Dunham, Associate Publisher of Filipinas Magazine. This year’s awardees included:
• Arts & Culture: Michael Dadap| Artistic/Musical Director and Principal Conductor, Children’s Orchestra Society of New York, presented by Rene de los Santos, Director for Northwestern U.S. and Western Canada for the Philippine Tourism Office
• Entertainment: Charmaine Clamor | Jazz Artist and Queen of Jazzipino, presented by Jim Cho, Senior Manager for Community Affairs of Anheuser Busch
• Corporate Leadership: Margaret Lapiz | Vice-President, Strategy & Integration, The Permanente Medical Group, presented by Rick Guitterez, Division Director at Robert
• Entrepreneurship: Go Family | Founder, Seafood City Group of Companies, presented by Teddy De Rivera, Executive Vice President of the Internet Services Group at Wells Fargo
• Public Affairs: Robert Bunda | Senate President Emeritus, State Senate, Hawaii, presented by Capt. Myles Esmele, Chief Engineer for the U.S. Navy
• Medicine: Dr. Eustaquio Abay | Neurosurgeon/Founder, Kansas Spine Hospital/National Director, Gawad Kalusugan, presented by Dave Santos, Director for Tarceva Marketing at Genentech
• Communications: Cher Calvin | News Anchor, KTLA-CW Channel 5, presented by Jush Andowitt from GMA
• Community Service: Faith Bautista| Executive Director, Mabuhay Alliance, presented by Ophelia Basgal, Vice President of Civic Partnerships and Community Initiatives at PG&E
• Lifetime Achievement: Rodel Rodis | Lawyer/Educator/Author/Community Activist, presented by Steve Go from the Seafood City Family of Companies.

Awardees were honored with two minute videos, produced by Ringo Macabenta, that provided a snapshot of their life and highlighted their achievements. Maila Gumila adroitly directed the flow of the show with the help of her SilverMesh Productions staff, with Rich Compestine of Rich Audio productions providing lighting and audio support.

During the intermission, guests were treated to a preview of “Harana,” a documentary about the dying art of romantic serenades, followed by a world-class performance by classical guitarist, Florante Aguilar, and Arts & Culture awardee Michael Dadap. Charmaine Clamor surprised everyone with an impromptu performance as part of her acceptance speech, accompanied on guitar by both Florante and Michael Dadap.

About the Achievement Awards

The Filipinas Achievement Awards recognizes Filipino Americans who have achieved excellence and distinction in the fields of Arts & Culture, Sports & Entertainment, Communications, Science & Medicine, Entrepreneurship, Community Service, Public Affairs and Corporate Leadership, thereby making a significant impact in their local community, as well as in the national and international scene.
Past recipients include Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin, “Iron Chef America” star Mark Dacascos, Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga, retired Major General Antonio Taguba, NASA Physicist Dr. Josefino Comiso, Hollywood Producer Dean Devlin, and Pulitzer-prize winning Journalists Byron Acohido and Alex Tizon. For more information, contact Christina Dunham at (650) 985-2530.

About Filipinas
Since publishing its maiden issue in May 1992, Filipinas magazine has managed to turn itself into more than just a household name. The only nationally-circulated Filipino American monthly magazine in the United States - with its pioneering brand of community journalism- has become a clear alternative. And now with a tri-media presence in print, TV and the web, Filipinas has expanded its reach to service the burgeoning Filipino community around the world. For more information, visit http://www.filipinasmag.com.

The Bud Light Girls at the Anheuser Busch table during the Filipino Food Fest at the 12th Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awards.

2009 Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awardees Sen. Robert Bunda, Faith Bautista, Dr. Eustaquio Abay, Cher Calvin, Charmaine Clamor, Michael Dadap, Margaret Lapiz, Rodel Rodis, Esq., Steve Go, special guest Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton and Filipinas Magazine’s Gigi Macabenta.

The Fil-Vets Rondalla entertained the crowd during the Filipino Food Fest reception at the 12th Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awards.

GMA Pinoy TV representatives at the 12th Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awards.

Filipinas staffwriter Maricar Liberato hosts the preshow raffle. Harvey Barkin wins a pair of tickets to the Oakland Raiders Mabuhay Fiesta game.

The U.S. Navy provided the color guard and Derick Macabenta sang the “Star-Spangled Banner.

Representatives of PG&E during the Filipino Food Fest reception at the 12th Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awards.

Restauranteur Tito Gonzales, Filipinas Publisher Greg Macabenta and Denny Roja, Esq.

U.S. Naval officers at the 12th Filipinas Magazine Achievement Awards.

Wells Fargo donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross' Philippine Typhoon Response Fund.