56 Filipinos receive PHL Presidential Awards, including 5 from N.Y.
Outstanding Filipino individuals and organizations abroad are being honored with Presidential Awards for “dedicat(ing) their work in the service of Filipinos” and “excelling in their field of work or profession.”
The 2021 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO) will go to 56 Filipinos in 20 countries and territories. The batch includes three individuals from New York and two organizations.
– Science teacher Roxanne Racquel Cajigas from the NYC Department of Education. She has received several ‘outstanding teacher’ recognitions from FilAm organizations. (Linkapil Award)
– Kayumanggi Chorale, Inc., a not-for-profit choir group whose repertoire includes Filipino songs of pride, heroism, and unity, and songs of worship. (Linkapil Award)
-Nurse educator Laura Garcia who has served two-terms as State Chairperson of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations. She completed her D.N.P. at Fairleigh Dickinson University. She is currently Associate Professor of Nursing at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, and a clinical instructor at NYU. (Pamana ng Pilipino Award)
–Lord Leomer Pomperada who has served as president of the World Youth Alliance WYA for six years. He has traveled and lectured in over 60 countries. (Pamana ng Pilipino Award)
–Philippine-American Friendship Community, Inc. or PAFCOM., one of the biggest not-for-profit organizations created 30 years ago to advocate for FilAms in New Jersey and assist the elderly, the handicapped, the youth, the LGBTQ, and families in need in the community. (Banaag Award)
President Rodrigo Duterte will present the awards but details of the awarding ceremonies will be announced later because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a statement.
The awardees were selected from a total of 117 nominations received by the CFO-PAFIOO Secretariat since it opened the nominations in August 2019. The nominations came from 31 countries and endorsed by 39 Philippine foreign service posts across Asia, North and South America, Europe, and Australia.
The PAFIOO has four award categories: “The Linkapil Award is conferred on overseas Filipino individuals and organizations for exceptional or significant contributions to the reconstruction, progress, and development of the Philippines.
“The Pamana ng Pilipino Award is conferred on Filipinos overseas, who, in exemplifying the talent and industry of the Filipino, have brought the country honor and recognition through excellence and distinction in the pursuit of their work or profession.
“The Banaag Award is conferred on overseas Filipino individuals and organizations for their contributions that have significantly benefitted a sector or advanced the cause of overseas Filipino communities.
“The Kaanib ng Bayan Award is conferred on foreign individuals and organizations for their exceptional or significant contributions to Philippine reconstruction, progress, and development that significantly benefitted a sector or community in the Philippines, or for advancing the cause of overseas Filipino communities.”
(C) The FilAm 2022
