The 12th annual Outstanding Filipino Awards
Hosted by Boy Abunda, this annual awards show based in New York City recognizes the contributions of successful Fil-Ams to the Filipino community.
Lined up along 43rd street, outside The Town Hall, were people dressed in cocktail gowns decorated with dazzling sequins and the oversized Filipiniana shoulder sleeves; some of the men wore the cream colored barongs, others a tuxedo or suit and tie. Next to the star-studded red carpet looks that night, I looked like a bland business-woman with my black pants and polka-dot Filipiniana-like top with the puffy shoulder sleeves and alternative-cashmere long coat. The buzz of the Times Square lights and the hustling of the Titos and Titas coming out of their black Cadillacs raised the excitement in the air for what’s to come.
On September 16, the Town Hall hosted the 12th annual Outstanding Filipino Awards — a prestigious awards show that recognizes the successful contributions of Filipinos, both nationally in the US and internationally. With honorees including Michael Cinco, a Dubai-based Filipino designer, and Instagram-model-turned-reality star Bretman Rock, it was a night of celebration for Filipino success. I was invited by a good friend who interns for Steven Raga’s political campaign, one of which is another honoree in the program.
Rocking in the classic all-black outfit stood Boy Abunda, the host. Mr. Abunda is a well known TV host and media personality in the Philippines with shows like The Buzz, Bandila, and Boy and Kris. With his light-hearted charm and ease on the stage, Abunda was born to hold the microphone. Along with a string of performances in between the awardings such as dancing and singing, including a special performance by Lydia Gaston who plays Jo Koy’s mother in Easter Sunday, the program showcased a variety of talent of the Filipino community aside from the awardees.
A brief appearance was made by the New York Mayor Eric Adams, who gave a personal speech about his advocacy for the Filipino community in New York, as well as a short anecdote about his experience in Texas. I don’t know what his stance is with the Filipino community, seeing as he hasn’t made any explicit moves that shows his support and advocacy, but I guess it’s nice to see an appearance from the New York mayor.
To make the award show even more prestigious, they awarded Filipinos in politics, journalism, activism and advocacy, public policy, and community management with an award that was signed by President Joe Biden himself to show his recognition of the honoree’s contributions and achievements. Amongst these awardees included Hon. Steven Raga, the Democratic nominee for the District 30 Assembly seat in New York; Brendan Flores, the youngest leader of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA); Amb. Mario Lopez de Leon, the Consul General of the Philippine Consulate in New York amongst many things; and Odelia Tablit, a NATO knighted veteran who served in the US Army Corps for three decades. Here is the list of all the other honorees.
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