INDIVIDUAL LIST OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS TO BE PROUD OF (Page
1 / A - L )
These are the list of Inspiring Overseas Filipino who was recognized
through their extra ordinary works and achievements in the foreign
land.
They are also those Filipinos who are not only thinking about their
own self but they are also serving the Filipino Community back in
the Philippines while working abroad by giving some donations, financial
help or any kind of charity assistance to those who are in need.
They are also those Overseas Filipino Workers who came back home
(mostly ordinary people) but manage to gather investments and set-up
a successful business to create jobs for local Kababayan.
But,
These are just according to news, articles and awards given by recognized
institutions, it is very sure that there are more lots of individuals
who are serving their compatriots or been successful and achieved
extra ordinary achievements but wasn’t heard by many.
AN INVITATION
If you know someone, though he/she has or hasn’t been given
an award yet, you can inform us by sending
us their details and their extra ordinary works or achievements by
email and we will feature them here too.
This is to inspire others and follow their path.
This is also for the world to know that Filipino’s Migrant
workers though they’re working as Maids or Laborers overseas,
we are the kind of people who are full of courage, determination,
perseverance and good hearted people who are willing to become slave
as long that we can reach our goals and dreams in life, not only for
our own family but towards both our motherland and the foreign country
that we served.
OFW NAMES ARE ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY.
If you need further details about their story, please always refer
at the enclosed source of an article at the end of the details.
:: AGNES LETICIA MARERRO – She work as a maid
in HK at the age of 45, but From the drudgery of house-cleaning and
scrubbing bathroom floors, Manang Letty, as Marrero is fondly called,
now manages a throng of family businesses based in Mt. Province: a
three-pool garden resort, a dry-goods store and a banana plantation.
(Phil Star/Newsflash.org)
:: ALLAN PINEDA – A member of the famous Black
Eyed Peas honored his homeland with a rap in Tagalog, 'Bebot' that
became a surprise phenomenon. (David Pierson, Staff Writer, Los Angeles
Times)
:: Alejandro Vinluan is a physician based in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin who founded the Filipino American Medical Association (FAMA)
in 1965 and, a year later, the Rizal-MacArthur Memorial Foundation,
Inc. which operates a free medical clinic in Urbiztondo, Pangasinan.
He personally funded a doctor in the Philippines to regularly visit
six barrios in Pangasinan which do not have doctors. (Rodel E. Rodis
/ Rodel50@aol.com)
:: AMBER MARIE ALEJO ROWLEY - Under Viva Records,
Amber released her debut album that bespeaks of a unique blend of
Filipino and American heritage. Amber and her songs are now gaining
popularity all over the country. And with all these blessings, she
does not forget to be grateful to her Maker. (Phil Star/Newsflash.org)
:: ANNA FERMIN : Filipina from San Carlos City heads
famous country rock band in U.S. She is a song writer, singer and
head of a famous country rock band under her name called “Anna
Fermin’s Trigger Gospel” in Chicago, USA. (http://ofw.balita.ph)
:: ANNIE YANAGIDA : Filipina owns English school
in Japan - A “Dabawenya” has owned and managed an English
school in Japan for 20 years now. Annie Yanagida, president of the
famous Annie's English School, said she opened the school to help
her husband's colleagues learn the language. Yanagida, who is a graduate
of the Holy Cross of Davao College, said Japanese are not proficient
in the English language, which works against them when they get to
travel outside of their country. (Goodnews Pilipinas)
:: ANTONETTE BINSOL : At one click, Binsol barrages
Yahoo! email groups with numerous appeals to raise funds for an Aeta
child’s scholarship, a livelihood project, and multiple other
development initiatives. At another, this assistant manager at Mizuho
Securities in Japan has raised the needed amounts and sends the money
to intended beneficiaries. All that philanthropic effort Binsol tries
to execute —from the first mile (Japan) to the last mile (the
Philippines)— using her computer. She never forgot thanking
50 Filipino donors from seven countries through the website of Binsol’s
cyber non-profit group Tulong Pinoy Movement, www.tpmovers. org. (Jeremaiah
M. Opiniano / OFW Journalism Cons.)
:: Arthur Lucas, a trainee-worker in South Korea,
demonstrated world-class skills in a construction event that won for
him second prize, proving once again that Filipinos have the capability
to compete in the global arena. Lucas won at the 13th Construction
Association of Korea Competition on Korean Construction Techniques,
held recently in Seoul. He was awarded a plaque of appreciation and
700,000 won ($674). Lucas was the only Filipino among four foreigners
and 276 Koreans who joined the competition. (Manila Times)
:: ASIA NITOLLANO: A teenage mom from New York who
is part Filipino and part African-American bested eight other contestants
to become the seventh member of the all-girl pop group The Pussycat
Dolls. Asia Nitollano, daughter of R&B musician Joe Bataan (Nitollano),
won the first "Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next
Doll." (Phil Star/Newsflash.org)
:: CARLOS SALINAS : of the Philippine Transmarine
Carriers Inc. was awarded the Most Inspiring Maritime Service Provider/Entrepreneur
for dedicating 46 years of his career in the maritime field, learning
the ropes from the ground. (OFWBalita)
:: CHRISTINE AND JENNY SYQUIA -Filipina's bags in
Bloomingdale's & Nordstrom. Their kitschy, fun styles are now
carried in more than 1,700 stores in 25 countries, including Nordstrom
and Bloomingdale's - a miraculous feat for a company that just celebrated
its second year of business. The line is also now the fashion picks
of some of the more trendy magazines and stores in the US. (Goodnews
Pilipinas)
:: CONSUELO VALENCIA - A former domestic drudge
in London who rose to be a successful businesswoman by setting up
remittance, freight and travel services, in addition to venturing
into the sales of phone cards and real estate and recruitment and
publishing house business. (OFWBalita)
:: CRISTETA COMERFORD : PINAY CHEF GIVES BUSH A
PAUNCH - the executive chef at the White House. The 42-year-old Comerford,
a veteran of the White House kitchen for 10 years, was selected last
August by US First Lady Laura Bush after screening hundreds of applicants
for six months. (Phil Star / Newsflash.org)
:: DIANA RAMOS –A 20-year-old Filipino-American
Skater and part of the American ice-skating group performed at the
Ninoy Aquino stadium for the "Melanj on Ice" series of shows.
:: DIVINA C. PAREDES : was named best magazine
feature writer (information and communications technology) during
the 2007 Qantas Media Awards in New Zealand (Goodnews Pilipinas)
:: Eugenio Dayag - One of the recipients of the
Overseas Filipino Entrepreneurs (OFEs) awards for outstanding excellence
in his endeavors abroad by Go Negosyo. (Phil Star / Newsflash.org)
:: ELEANOR ODUCAYEN - Fil-Am Role Models : A role
model is one who is compassionate and who feels obligated to better
society and work for the common good of the community; one who has
developed powerful and effective habits of the mind and soul; one
who can work through challenges and is committed to what he or she
does; one who has the capacity to achieve goals and obtain self-fulfillment;
who possesses high standards and values; and one who is admired for
courage and strength.
:: Dr. Felipe Tolentino is a distinguished scientist
and ophthalmologist and a senior faculty member of the Harvard Medical
School in Boston, Massachusetts. The author of 107 essays in Opthalmology
published in US medical journals and the author of 7 books on vitreoretinal
surgery and the inventor and innovator of eye surgical instruments,
Dr. Tolentino was nominated for his work as the founder of the Opthalmological
Foundation of the Philippines (OFPHILS) which he organized in 1989.
He also founded the Restoring Sight International Inc. (RSI) in the
US to solicit tax-exempt donations for the blind, indigent patients
in the Philippines; and the Asian Eye Institute in 2001 to make world
class eye care available and affordable in the Philippines. Over 65,000
Filipino eye patients have been treated by the various organizations
founded by Dr. Tolentino. (Rodel E. Rodis / Rodel50@aol.com)
:: GARILANDY “GORIO” VICUNA –
Barnyard: A Showcase of Pinoy Artistry - Along with Filipino musicians,
Pinoy animators are the country’s best manpower exports and
sources of homegrown pride. Garilandy "Gorio" Vicuna is
a fine example. Bluth and Sullivan, headed by the well-known team
of Don Bluth and Gary Goldman, recruited Gorio and 39 other Pinoys
who passed qualifying examinations held worldwide to work on such
gigantic 2D animation projects like Anastasia, Bartok the Magnificent
and Titan A. E. (Phil star / Newsflash.org)
:: Honesto Tria is a 77-year old retiree from Fremont,
California who, in his golden years, founded the Save-a-Tahanan, Inc.
(STI), and the Save a Tahanan Movement Philippines (STMP), and the
Association of Former MERALCO Employees (AFME). He donated his 5.5
hectare farming land in Sta. Cruz, Laguna to Gawad Kalinga and raised
funds to build 27 clusters (200 houses) of 2-bedroom homes, a livelihood
and development area, school and recreation center for the homeless
people of his hometown. (Rodel E. Rodis / Rodel50@aol.com)
:: JANELLE SO - A broadcast journalist who worked
for six years in the Philippines before moving to Los Angeles is the
host of the very popular "Kababayan LA." It is the only
weekday program of its kind in the US that focuses exclusively on
the Filipino-American community. (Goodnews Pilipinas)
:: Filipino-Canadian Jeff Rustia awardee of Pamana
ng Pilipino Award for being the first Filipino-Canadian to own and
lead a successful and award-winning international television branding
and design agency based in Toronto, Canada. Among his agency’s
clients are Nickelodeon Global Networks and HBO. (Phil Star/Newsflash.org)
:: JESSICA BOLANDRINA : The story of Jessica Bolandrina
of Douglas, Massachusetts and a student of Boston's Iskwelahang Pilipino
is being featured in the latest best-selling inspirational book franchise
Chicken Soup for the Child's Soul 3.Her story titled, "Thinking
of Others" is among the top stories featured. Chicken Soup for
the Child's Soul 3 is co-authored by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen,
Patty Hansen and Irene Dunlap. Bolandrina was congratulated by the
publishers and notified that her story was "rated in the top
percentile out of hundreds of submissions." (Goodnews Pilipinas)
:: JESSE JAMES ATADERO AGUSTIN: Building Bridges
in Brunei - He should have been retired a couple of years ago but
the expertise and the distinct dedication to his work are the winning
qualities that prompted the employer of overseas Filipino worker (OFW)
Jesse James Atadero Agustin to request him to stay put and extend
his contract with them. But the employer, the diligent Filipino national
is referring to, is not an ordinary employer. Rather, it’s the
government of Brunei Darussalam, no less. (DOLE News)
:: JESUS SUMOOK: A Pinoy Seafarer Honored for Saving
the Life of a Ship Worker in Sweden. He was accorded appreciation
and honor by a premiere Swedish merchant marine foundation in Manila.
(DOLE News)
:: JOEL CORONEL: US Migrant Embraces Gawad Kalinga
Mission - Coronel, who is not even in the league of big-time philanthropists,
sold his house in the States to help build a village of 50 homes for
the poor in Baseco, Tondo. Then he borrowed $50,000 to build more
homes this time, for the indigent in Leyte. (Phil Star / Newsflash.org)
:: Joel Sebag is a registered physical therapist
in Harrison, Arkansas who is also a gifted pianist who utilizes his
skills to help people. In the last five years since he moved to Arkansas,
he was able to purchase the old Holiday Inn in Harrison and transform
it into the leading wellness center in the area providing a holistic
therapy clinic for the seniors and disabled residents. In 2004, after
seeing the abused conditions of the children in his home province,
he established the MountainCrest Foundation to provide physical and
occupational therapy and rehabilitation to the Bantay Bata Children
Village in Norzagary,
Bulacan. (Rodel E. Rodis / Rodel50@aol.com)
:: JOHN PAUL SU : US based Pinoy filmmaker wins
AEGIS award - John Paul Su was recently awarded the 2006 Aegis Award
for his short film " Happy Anniversary." The Aegis Awards
is the industry's premier competition for peer recognition of outstanding
film/video productions and non-network TV commercials from the US
and Canada. Happy Anniversary was honored in the "Drama / Entertainment"
category for its outstanding production quality as judged by distinguished
panel of industry professionals from around the nation.
:: Ken Mendoza may be a supervisor in the US Postal
Service in the Washington DC area but that is just his sideline. His
main job, as Leah Roa noted, is Managing Director of the Filipino
American Basketball Association (FABA), which he founded, and where
he serves as âœmaster coach and trainer, disciplinarian,
cheerleader, translator, and teacher to the hundreds of Fil-Am kids
who have gone through his programs.(Rodel E. Rodis / Rodel50@aol.com)
:: LEANDRO DELA PAZ MENDEZ - Now a resident of Vancouver,
who won in the ABS-CBN Scriptwriting Contest in 1997, the year he
migrated to Canada to join his family is also the writer for "TINA
— A Rock ‘N Roll Journey", a successful theater musical
biography of rock legend Tina Turner on which he was commissioned
to choreograph and direct as well. "TINA" had its world
premiere in Canada with a successful tour run with several sold-out
dates. Described by Leandro as a visual feast, "TINA" features
Luisa Marshall, a Filipino-Canadian singer/actress performing as Tina
Turner. (Bulletin)
:: LESLEY MOBO : PINOY PRIDE AT HARRODS - According
to Lesley, Mohamed Al Fayed’s daughter, Jasmine, who is very
young and also into fashion, wanted something new for Harrods. At
that time Harrods didn’t have a creative director and Jasmine
wanted to attract the younger crowd. Jasmine’s creativity came
to the fore — she got Lesley into her team. Jasmine and Lesley
hit it off so well even if they came from different backgrounds. Lesley
advises young designers to push themselves to the edge, be creative
and do things that have not been done before. (Phil Star/Newsflash.org)
:: LILY MANIQUIZ : Filipina nurse wins top U-S award
Nurses - A Filipino-American has been named one of the Best Nurse
Leaders of the United States by winning the 2006 ADVANCE for Nurses
Journal's Best Nurse Leader award. Los Angeles-based senior nurse
Lily Maniquiz is the nurse manager of the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare
System's Nursing Home Care Unit 213-2. Vital to Lara's winning was
the successful implementation of a program that she created for the
reduction of patient fall incidents. This program has been adopted
as model for other fall prevention programs. (Goodnews Pilipinas)
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