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The recently concluded Gintong Pamana Awards Night Gala last Saturday, August 24th at the Grand Ballroom of Hyatt Regency O’Hare was an awards gala event like no other. In the words of most attendees, awardees and their families and guests as well as the GP volunteers and crew, it was the best ever – fast paced, lively and classy! The food was great too! Everyone had a great time, even the dancers who came with nothing but dancing in their minds didn’t feel cheated out of their time to dance.
Bart and Yoly Tubalinal presented a plaque of appreciation to the 2013 Gintong Pamana’s major sponsors, Rev. Pascula and Ms. Lydia Alberto R. Tayco of the Great Commission Christian Church of Chicago.
The 2013 Gintong Pamana and Prism Awardees with Bart and Yoly Tubalinal. Seated left to right: Bart, Yoly Tubalinal, Herminia S. Aczon, Elba A. Torre and Malou G. Campos. Standting left to right: Joseph Alvin Tibudan, Judge Jessica a. O’Brien, Evelyn D. Tolledo, Irene A. Rhodes, Dr. Doree Ann Espiritu, Dr. Rosemary A. Angeles, Apostles Sarah and Abraham Gaor.
Kultura Pilipiniana., Iowa (KPI) and their Itik Itik dance performance.
PRISM Trophies
Gintong Pamana trophies.
Irene ‘Miss Saigon’ Alano Rhodes was more than what the Gintong Pamana audience could hope for. Her powerful performance begs an Encore for a larger concert in the immediate future.
The evenng’s program which featured Iowa’s Kultura Pilipiniana’s Itik Itik dance set the mood of the celebration. The colorful costume of the Itik Itik dancers and the lively music set the tone and mood of the evening. Toward the end of dinner, guests were treated to one of a kind collection of Elba Torre’s intricate designs of Philippine ternos and Maria Clara gowns capped by a hand beaded off white wedding gown especially designed for and modeled by Ms. Lydia Alberto R. Tayco ..
Like always, the great teamwork of couples Alpha and Emil Nicolasin ensured an orderly and timely program. As program host, Alpha and her gift of gab and charm proved to be the best and most effective hosting combo yet to beat in the Filipino American community events of Chicago.
The highlight of the evening’s celebration was the successful awarding of Gintong Pamana and Prism trophies to the 2013 honorees, viz; Elba Torre, Anahaw Award for Excellence in Fashion Design, Evelyn Tolledo, Lingkod Kapwa Award for Outstanding Community Service, Bishop Abraham and Sarah Gaor, Gintong Aral Award for Outstanding Evangelical Work, Joseph Alvin Tibudan, Lingkod Kapwa Award in Community Service and Herminia Aczon, Gabriela Silang Award for Outstanding Community Leadership and the recipients of the Prism Award for Women of Style & Achievements, namely: Dr. Rosemary Aquiler Angeles, Dr. Dory Ann Espiritu, Malou Guieb Campos, Irene Alano Rhodes and Judge Jessica Arong O’Brien.
The biggest surprise of the evening was the spectacular performance of London’s Miss Saigon, Irene Alano Rhodes who captivated the heart and soul of every guest that heard her. Irene is a topnotch singer and performer and deserves to be famous. ‘A Taste of Broadway’ was the perfect end to that evening’s program. Now everybody’s talking about the 20th Gintong Pamana Awards Night in 2014.
Reflections on 19 years of Gintong Pamana: Looking Back and Moving Forward
Hosting an annual event like Gintong Pamana Awards Gala Night for 19 years has been extremely challenging to say the least. Each year presented a different situation and its success depended on our ability to handle those situations. Honestly, we fell short a few times but we never stopped looking for ways to improve on the project in hopes of presenting a better event each year.
But of all the problems we’ve been faced with each year, we find the challenge of sustaining public interest most crucial because it is tied to finding the most qualified awardees and inspiring them to cooperate with us on ensuring the success of the event. As in the case of long running tv show that the viewers often outgrow, Gintong Pamana ought to make its theme and celebration relevant to the time. At a time of economic crisis and uncertain future, an ostentatious display of wealth is a taboo. The public will get turned off by a seemingly insensitive display of materialism. Gintong Pamana needs to show support for its community especially at a time when it is hurting the most. It’s achieing this delicate balance of its goals and methods that has tested its resolve through the years.
Today, having just celebrated its 19th year, Gintong Pamana looks forward to a huge celebration of its 20th anniversary. There will be a lot of brainstorming sessions and research to do to ensure its success. As part of its najor change, the 20th GP Awards Night Gala will be celebrated either on the last week of September or the first week of October 2014.
After the 20th anniversary of Gintong Pamana, we have decided to pause for a much needed respite. We will have other projects in the interim and hope that the re-launching of theGintong Pamana Awards in 2017 on its 21st anniversary will be met with renewed support and excitement.