(Clockwise from top left): Gary Valenciano performs at TFC’s 20th anniversary gala; Martin Nievera hosted; TFC pioneers Ramon Lopez, Raffy Lopez, Gabby Lopez, their mother, Conchita Lopez Taylor; from left Raffy Jison, Billy Ick, Olivia De Jesus, Raffy Lopez and Monchet Olives; Filipina American “X factor” standout Ellona Santiago; VP and Head of Bayaning Pilipino Chit Guerrero, UGAT Foundation Executive Director Fr. Nilo with the 2014 North America Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning Pilipino Awards finalists. PHOTOS BY MARTIN/JING AURELIO, PIXELCREATIONS.ORG/ RICHARD LAO, BRADFORD ADKINS
• TFC started in 1994 with just eight employees in a garage in Daly City
• Now has a global workforce, offices in North America, Asia, Australia, Europe and Middle East, millions of viewers
• Martin Nievera, Gary V, other celebrities dazzle at gala
REDWOOD CITY, California — ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel (TFC) marked its 20th anniversary with a glittering formal gala April 23, at the Elizabeth A. Hangs Theater of Santa Clara Convention Center in Silicon Valley.
Before hundreds of company employees, leaders of the Filipino American community and cable and satellite industry executives, ABS-CBN North America Managing Director Olivia De Jesus acknowledged three Filipinos who implemented vision of Eugenio Lopez Jr. to communicate with Filipinos the world over.
His two sons, ABS-CBN Chairman Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III and ABS-CBN Global COO Rafael “Raffy” Lopez, and former ABS-CBN International Manager of Network Operations and Director Jose Ramon “Monchet” Olives are credited with making TFC a household word among Filipinos overseas.
It was in the 1980s when ABS-CBN Corporation Chairman Emeritus Eugenio “Geny” Lopez Jr. articulated his vision of serving “the Filipino wherever he may be –- worldwide.” How exactly that would come about was anybody’s guess then.
“Without their persistence, tenacity, and vision, we would not be enjoying the stories from people back home, get the news as it happens back home, and bring Home just a little bit closer every time we turn on TFC,” De Jesus said in honor of the three.
COO Raffy Lopez paid tribute to everyone who worked for TFC, a channel that started in 1994 with just eight employees in a garage in Daly City.
Now with a global employee workforce and offices in North America, Asia, Australia, Europe and Middle East and millions of TFC viewers, Lopez praised the employees, the organization’s ability to evolve for helping TFC through the challenges it faced in the last 20 years.
The also gala presented the 2014 North America Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning Pilipino Awards finalists: Joji Babuschak of the Filipino-American Cultural and Development Center, Inc. (FCDC) of Toms River, New Jersey; Daisydee Bautista of Aksyon ng Ating Kabataan, Inc. (ANAK) of Winnipeg, Canada; and Dr. Arturo De Leon of the Carolina Medical Mission from Raleigh, North Carolina.
UGAT Foundation Executive Director Fr. Nilo Tanalega and ABS-CBN Corporation Vice President for Special Projects and Head of Bayaning Pilipino Chit Guerrero handing plaques of recognition.
Food, drinks and merriment filled the reception, which included the unveiling of the TFC History, Community and Achievement Walls designed by well-known Filipino American muralist Eliseo Art Silva, filmmaker Nelson Datu Anderson of Cinemagago and their team from Los Angeles.
A TFC gala show opened with the channel’s first ever goodwill ambassador as host, “Philippine Concert King” Martin Nievera.
The show’s director, ABS-CBN Global Head of Theatricals John-D Lazatin, and his creative and technical teams wove the TFC narrative by blending firsthand pioneer stories on video, stunning visuals from giant screens using cutting edge technology, and matching storytelling songs from Nievera.
The show featured local celebrities from long-running TFC shows like Gel Santos-Relos, Henni Espinosa and Yong Chavez of “Balitang America,” Angelo Barga of “Barangay USA,” Atty. Michael Gurfinkel of “Citizen Pinoy,” and Michi Valeriano, Lee Robin Salazar and Tet Hernandez of “Adobo Nation.” Also much applauded was the live performance by Filipina American “X Factor” standout, Ellona Santiago.
It climaxed with the appearance of “Mr. Pure Energy” and TFC 20th Anniversary Ambassador Gary Valenciano, who dazzled the audience with his voice and dance moves. His set consisted of a nostalgic trip down memory lane via the TFC teleserye medley, a call for homecoming to the motherland through the song, “Babalik Ka Rin” (You Will Return), and the official public debut of the TFC 20th Anniversary theme song, “Galing ng Filipino” (Greatness of the Filipino) composed by Jonathan Manalo and Jay Santiago and arranged by Valenciano.