Fil-Am youth achievements lauded in New York PH Center fete

Filipino American graduates proudly display their PGRAD certificates and medals awarded by Consul General Mario De Leon and St John’s University President Conrado Gempesaw; also in photo are Vice Consul Khrys Corpuz, Legacy NY CEO Kristina Joyas and NaFFAA NY State Vice Chair Laura Garcia after the ceremony.   PHOTOS BY WENDELL GAA

NEW YORK CITY — Young Filipino Americans in their academic regalia once again swarmed the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center here to celebrate their scholastic achievements, at the 3^rd Metropolitan New York Philippine Graduation (PGRAD) June 9.

Consul General Mario De Leon addressed the 38 graduates present who traveled from all over New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and even as far as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, whose majors ranged from various fields such as aerospace engineering, biomedical science, art history, and criminal justice. The event was organized by the Philippine Consulate General in cooperation with Legacy NY, Pilipino Unity for Progress (UniPro) and NaFFAA New York State.

“As your father in the community,” de Leon remarked, “my wish is that as you go on to fulfill your career goals, may you wear your identity as Filipino Americans proudly and represent the Philippines in your respective fields.”

Clockwise from top left: Consul General De Leon imparts his fatherly advice to the graduates; graduates, their families and friends fill the Kalayaan Hall; Dr. Gempesaw recalls his childhood in the Philippines; St John’s University PARE does a manlalatik and sayaw sa bulaklak during their performance.

De Leon stressed the importance of understanding their heritage as Filipino Americans and keeping a strong network of like-minded people who share their values as a support group while they build their careers.

He urged them to try an immersion trip to the Philippines at least once in their lives to truly experience how it is to be Filipinos and somehow give back to their mother country using the knowledge and talents they acquired in America.

Conrado Gempesaw, Ph.D, first Filipino president of St John’s University in New York, gave his inspiring talk during the keynote address. Gempesaw related his humble beginnings as a son of a middle-class couple in Davao who had to help support the family as he was trying to make a future for himself. His move to the US to pursue higher studies paved the way to an accomplished education administration career.

He left this advice to the graduates, “If a simple guy from Mindanao can come to America and be the first Filipino President of a distinguished private school, so can you.” He urged them to believe in themselves and trust in their capabilities as world-class Filipinos.

Left: Northern Star Award nominees (left to right) Carlo Limbog, Raubern Totanes, Katherine Pangilinan, Kristina London, Marc Andre Densing, Christopher De Leon and Stephanie Chrispin receive their flag tassels from President Gempesaw (5th from left) and ConGen De Leon (4th from right); Right: Katherine Pangilinan delivers her valedictory remarks.

St John’s University’s Filipino student organization Philippine Americans Reaching Everyone (PARE), champions of this year’s talent competition Battle of the Barrios, reprised their award-winning performance during the intermission, charming the audience with their folk dance, street dance, kapwa-themed skit.

The Northern Star Award was introduced for the first time this year, to recognize students who displayed exemplary commitment to community and civic work, aside from their academic pursuits.

Seven graduates were nominated for the award, and the panel comprised of representatives from the organizing committee all voted for Katherine Pangilinan, who interns for UniPro and Legacy New York and a member of the Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue board. She received her bachelor’s in Advertising and Communication major in Journalism in Baruch College, where she is an active member of the Filipino student organization FUSION.

All the graduates received a custom PGRAD 2015 medal and a certificate in Filipino signed by the Consul General.

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