REDWOOD SHORES, CALIF., November 14, 2007 – Seven U.S.-based non-profit organizations – one each from Colorado and Wisconsin, two from California and three from Virginia – were named finalists to the Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Galing Bayanihang Pilipino sa Amerika Awards 2007.
Previously awarding heroic individuals, this year’s criteria for the Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning Pilipino Awards were made much broader in scope. A new category was created: the Galing Bayanihang Pilipino Award (Spirit of Cooperation).
The new Galing Bayanihang Pilipino Award category was created to give the spirit of bayanihan a face. It shall be conferred on a non-profit organization with a program or service that is either ongoing or a project that had been completed by June 2006 through communal effort or the bayanihan spirit. This program, project or service should have a measurable impact on a sector or community in the Philippines or in overseas Filipino communities like in the U.S. The award honors a Filipino group based in the U.S. or a group run by American citizens of Filipino ancestry.
Father Nilo Tanalega, SJ of UGAT Foundation (Ugnayan at Tulong para sa Maralitang Pilipino), a partner of ABS-CBN that handles the selection, screening and validation of the nominees, announced recently this year’s seven finalists:
• Filipino American Development Foundation of San Francisco, CA represented by Bernadette Borja-Sy;
• US-Fil Makibahagi of Corona, CA represented by Fernando “Fred” Capinpin;
• San Lorenzo Spiritual Center of Virginia Beach, VA represented by Resty Serrano;
• American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc. of Arlington, VA represented by Eric Lachica;
• Uplift Internationale of Wheat Ridge, CO represented by Dr. Jaime Yrastorza;
• Rizal MacArthur Memorial Foundation of Milwaukee, WI represented by Princess Emraida Kiram; and
• Feed the Hungry of Leesburg, VA represented by Tess Alarcon.
The winner of this year’s award was announced in a ceremony held at Studio 154 in ABS-CBN Global’s corporate office in Redwood City, CA. The San Lorenzo Spiritual Center of Virginia Beach, VA was awarded with a medallion and the honor of the Galing Bayanihang Pilipino sa Amerika Award. Its representative will receive a round trip ticket to the Philippines to represent the U.S. in the Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Galing Bayanihang Pilipino 2007 global awards ceremony this December.
The American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc. of Arlington, VA was likewise awarded with a special citation, a unanimous made decision by the Board of Judges, for its exemplary work, lobbying for full rights and benefits for Filipino war veterans.
The Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Bayaning Pilipino Awards – named after its founder, the late ABS-CBN Chairman Don Eugenio “Geny” Lopez Jr. - is a fitting tribute to fine Filipino values of humanitarianism, industry, determination and dedication to public service. It is intended to hold in high public esteem existing organizations that have rendered exemplary service to the Filipino people wherever they may be. It is in his memory that members of the family – Mrs. Conchita Lopez Taylor, Mr. Rafael Lopez, Mr. Eugenio Lopez IV and Mr. Devin Lopez – stood as presenters of the award that is close to the family’s heart.
About TFC
The Filipino Channel (TFC) is the number one Filipino network in the world and is operated by ABS-CBN International. TFC is viewed by nearly two million Filipinos around the globe every day. In North America, TFC continues to be the most watched source for Filipino-American programming on cable and satellite. Six unique channels - TFC, Cinema One Global, ANC, Pinoy Central, DZMM and DZRR - are distributed worldwide and are currently available on satellite.
About ABS-CBN Global
ABS-CBN Global was created 15 years ago to be of service to all Filipinos. With the launch of The Filipino Channel, the company became the first and most successful Filipino broadcaster in the U.S. The company offers telecommunication, retail, money remittance and cargo services, online audio and video streaming along with philanthropic support for Filipinos and the communities they now call home. Based in Redwood Shores, Calif., ABS-CBN Global is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ largest entertainment and broadcasting company. For more information, visit
www.abs-cbnglobal.com.
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