Cheesa Laureta and Charice Pempengco
A town mayor, a boxing journalist and a Tagalog professor are among this year’s The Outstanding Filipino Americans in New York, based on Facebook voting conducted over a period of three months.
Mayor Guillermo Udarbe of Ridgway, Pennsylvania won in the Public Service & Politics category. Ring TV reporter Ryan Songalia was voted best in Media & Publishing. Agnes Magtoto, an adjunct professor teaching Filipino language and culture at NYU, topped the Education & Research category.
“Tofa has contributed to raising the profile of Filipino Americans in the US,” Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. said in a statement. “Tofa has created a platform (so that) FilAm talent ingenuity, perseverance and commitment are admired and recognized by many.”
The winners are:
ARTS & CULTURE
Eduardo Sicangco: Stage and costume designer for Broadway and Hollywood.
BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Edwin Josue, real estate broker at Halstead Realty.
COMMUNITY SERVICE & ADVOCACY
Yves Nibungco of Anakbayan NY/NJ: Chair of progressive group serving
mostly new immigrant youths.
EDUCATION, RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY
Agnes ‘Bing’ Magtoto: Adjunct Professor teaching Elementary Filipino I
& II, a language and culture course at NYU.
ENTERTAINMENT
Kirby Asunto: Young singer, a protégé talent of Manny Pacquiao.
FASHION & STYLE
Danelle Izza Dungca: Fashion designer and creative director of ONE 10
Collection.
FOR FOOD & RESTAURANTS
Anthony and Lisa Siopongo of Casa Manila.
HEALTH CARE
Jona Jane Tajonera: Health care consultant.
LGBT ADVOCACY
Cecilio Asuncion: Writer-producer behind the documentary “What’s the
T” about the lives of five transgender women.
MEDIA & PUBLISHING
Ryan Songalia: Boxing reporter for RingTV.
PUBLIC SERVICE & POLITICS
Mayor Guillermo Udarbe: Doctor and Mayor of Ridgway, PA.
YOUTH & SPORTS
Advancement for Rural Kids, Inc.: Nonprofit that seeks to improve the health and provide education for children in the Philippines.
The awarding ceremony will be held Oct 27 at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. with TV coverage provided by GMA International. Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. and CEO philanthropist Loida Nicolas Lewis will deliver inspirational messages.
Now on its second year, Tofa-NY is a community event that celebrates New York City’s proclamation of October as Filipino American History Month. The nominees come from the New York Tri-State, including Pennsylvania.
“Glee” star Charice and “The Voice” finalist Cheesa will topbill the event’s variety program. A powerhouse lineup of entertainers, led by Broadway actors Adam Jacobs (“The Lion King”), Ali Ewoldt (“Les Miserables”) and classical dancer Roberto Villanueva of BalaSole Dance Co., are among the performers. They will be joined by local artists Gail Banawis, Kay Habana, Alyssa Shoemaker and Tiffany Viray. The winner of this year’s The Filipino School of NY/NJ essay contest will do a public reading of the winning essay with the theme “I am Filipino because…”
The program will have as co-hosts former fashion model Bessie Badilla and immigration activist Jose Antonio Vargas.
The event will also honor with a Heritage Award organizations that have brought service and joy to the community over the years. They are the Association of Fil-Am Teachers of America NY-NJ; Ma-Yi Theatre Company; Philippine American Chamber of Commerce; and the San Lorenzo Ruiz Choir of New York and the Philippine Nurses Association.