ShareThisPreparations for a grand awards ceremony to honor Filipino Americans from all across the U.S. heighten as the day of the event draws nearer.
Rosemont, IL, August 16. It’s that time of year again for the much awaited Gintong Pamana ‘Golden Legacy’ Awards gala night event. Scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 27 at 6:30 P.M. at the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, the 17th Gintong Pamana Gala will honor the following prominent community members and leaders:
1. Marjerie Badilla, MD, Chicago, IL. , PRISM AWARD
2. Justine Alvarez-Barnes, Wheaton, IL – ANAHAW AWARD IN FASHION DESIGN
3. Maria Fe Corpuz-Bato, Gurnee, DMD, Gurnee, IL – PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE (DENTISTRY)
4. Perry Diaz, CA – PLUMA AWARD IN JOURNALISM
5. Thelma Tupaz Fuentes, RN, Chicago, IL – TANDANG SORA AWARD IN NURSING
6. Christopher Guerrero, MD, Chicago, IL – KAMANYANG AWARD IN MEDICINE
7. Elizabeth Horner, Greenville, OH – GINTONG BUTIL ‘Golden Seed’ AWARD for ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE (Rizal’s hope of the future)
8. Nadia Catarata Jurani, CPA, ESQ, Las Vegas, NV – PRISM AWARD
9. Nena Lozada Kaufman, New York, NY – PRISM AWARD
10. Donna B. LaVigne, CO –PRISM AWARD
11. Leo B. Madanguit, Wilmette, IL – PILAK AWARD IN BUSINESS
12. Gus Mercado, Dallas, TX – APOLINARIO MABINI AWARD IN BUSINESS & COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
13. Van Sullan Ong, RN, Novi, MI – APOLINARIO MABINI AWARD IN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
14. Nathaniel Ignacio Rubio, MSOT, Houston, TX – PAG-ASA ‘Hope’ AWARD
15. Noel Ignacio Rubio, MD, Chicago, IL – PAG-ASA ‘Hope’ AWARD
16. Nunilo Ignacio Rubio, MD, Houston, TX – PAG-ASA ‘Hope’ AWARD
17. George Samson, MI –LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (World-wide Humanitarian Service)
The Prism Award for Women of Style & Achievements is unique to the Gintong Pamana Awards Foundation, Inc. (GPAFI) as it likens the qualities of the prism glass to women. The multiple colors the prism projects from different angles as light enters through this glass are symbolic of the many facets of a woman’s personality or the various roles a woman is able to perform and juggle based on circumstances.
The Prism Woman is an interesting blend of style and achievements. Style is used here in a much broader sense. It denotes fashion style but it also connotes lifestyle. Achievements, on the other hand, refer to an aggregate of her accomplishments in all her pursuits – academic, career, community service and leadership, etc.
Though highly accomplished in their profession or business, this year’s Prism Women prefer to tell instead, the story of their humanitarian work and the many things they do to reach out to people in need, not to be lauded for their work but to tell people that they, too, can do something to help make this world a better place to live.
Gintong Pamana or Golden Legacy as the name suggests, is a title given to outstanding Filipino Americans who excelled in their respective areas of expertise or fields of endeavor. Whenever possible, Philippine symbols or terms are used as award titles. Kamanyang is the local term for incense, a substance that gives off a fragrance, mostly a pleasing scent, when burned. Herb doctors (arbularyo) used them in early Philippine history to cure the sick.
Gintong Butil or Golden Seed symbolizes a very young person who has shown great potentials and achieved so much in his or her young life. He or she answers to Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal’s hope of the future.
Pluma is the Tagalog word for pen which has always symbolized journalism.
Tandang Sora is the Philippines’ answer to Florence Nightingale. An old woman who cared for and fed the revolutionary men that sought temporary refuge in her home is now GPAFI’s award name for nursing.
Pilak means silver; it can also mean coin, therefore, money. Pilak Award in Business is given to a successful Filipino American business entrepreneur who has created jobs and consequently help the country’s economy.
Apolinario Mabini is a Philippine hero, known also as the Sublime Paralytic. He was the brains of the Philippine Revolution against the Spanish colonizers and then, the Americans. He was drafted the constitution of the Philippine Republic and several rules for the organization and government of municipalities and provinces. He was an able and brilliant leader, his disability notwithstanding.
Pag-asa means hope. Gintong Pamana chooses young professional achievers whose outstanding academic records and early success in their careers make them worthy of the hope that the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal had so often invoked in his writings and quotes.
Finally, Gintong Pamana is a golden legacy of a generation of immigrants who have chosen to live in America for a shot at better opportunities, not to forsake their land of birth but to be able to go back and help rebuild the country they will always call home in their hearts.
The 17th Gintong Pamana Awards Night is sponsored by Liberty Consulting & Management Services LLC, Fox Valley Volkswagen, Magnum Advertising, United Home Health Services of Illinois, Carefirst Home Health Services, Inc., VIP Home Helath & Hospice, Alternative Home Health Care Plus, Quality Home Health, Inc. and Ms. Lourdes C. Livas.