SBMA Chairman, Fil-Am Mayor Honored at the 24th Annual Chicago Filipino-Asian American Hall of Fame 2018
Consul General in Chicago Gina A. Jamoralin (center) with Veronica Leighton (second from right) and the awardees. (Chicago PCG photo)
CHICAGO 10 December 2018 — Twenty dedicated and exemplary Filipinos and Americans were honored for their contribution to the Filipino community in Chicago at the 24th Annual Chicago Filipino-Asian American Hall of Fame, organized under the auspices of the Chicago Philippine Reports TV (CPRTV) and the Via Times News magazine.
The awarding ceremony, a culmination of the month-long celebration of the Filipino-American History Month in Illinois, was held on 10 November 2018 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma Eisma (public service); Brunswick, Ohio Mayor Ron Falconi, Fil-Am, (public service); and Jerry Joyce, an American, (public service) were three of those recognized that evening.
Other awardees were Sgt. Ronald Bongat (police empowerment), Prof. Robert Boyer (education), David & Jane Cannon (humanitarian), Elena de Jesus (nursing), Marilou Dichosa (entertainment), Geraldine GAden (nursing), Geraldine Guidote Hernandez (entrepreneurship), Winnalynn Kantaris (law), Gloria Key (religion), Ginalene Lopez (homehealth entrepreneurship), Jennifer Roan (finance/accountancy), Rowena Salas (Via woman of the year), Joel Sebag (music), Harold Sy (medicine), Nick Vera Perez (VIA man of the year), and Salina Vest (film), and Rommel Ramel Yarcia (nursing leadership).
Consul General Gina Jamoralin delivered her inspirational message paying tribute to the dedication and example showed by the awardees in various fields of endeavors.
SBMA Chairman Atty. Eisma delivered an impassioned speech narrating the challenges faced by SBMA in the early years after the US forces left Subic naval base at the height of the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo and how the Filipinos rose to the challenge of converting the former US naval base to a successful international free port economic zone guided by the vision of then Olongapo Mayor Dick Gordon, now a Senator and the sense of mission and hard work of the early Subic volunteers, such as Atty. Eisma.
Mayor Falconi enjoined the Filipino-Americans to be active in political processes in their respective communities to reflect the voice of the Filipinos in America.
Via Times Publisher and CPRTV Executive Producer Veronica Leighton and organizer of the annual award ceremony thanked all the sponsors and awardees for the success of the event which is now on its 24th year. END
For more information, visit www.chicagopcg.dfa.gov.ph; www.chicagopcg.com or https://www.facebook.com/PHinChicago.