Maligayang Pasko po sa inyong lahat!
I hope you are having a great time creating wonderful moments and memories with the people that matter most in your life, despite the hardship and challenges of our present time.
Indeed, 2013 has gone by so fast, and as we celebrate Christmas, we are reminded once again that we only have a week left to complete any unfinished business we have set to fulfill in 2013. The holiday rush may have been overwhelming us, but I hope we all? find some time to assess what we have accomplished in the past year, where we are right now in fulfilling our life goals, and what we have yet to work on and achieve in the coming year.
It is also important for us to collectively do this introspection as Fil-Am community in America.
Abangan po ninyo ang Balitang America Yearend Report 2013 — isang pagbabalik-tanaw sa sampung pinakamalalaking balita ng taon sa ating komunidad.
This two-part special presentation will be aired via The Filipino Channel on December 31 and January 1.
We will also be announcing who the viewers of Balitang America voted to be the Fil-Am who has made the biggest impact in the community in 2013.
Here are the five finalists this year as presented by Balitang America:
First in Balitang America’s list of Pinoys in Action for 2013 is California Assemblyman Rob Bonta, the first and only Filipino to be elected into the state legislature.
In time for Filipino-American History Month in October, Bonta’s bill was signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown. The bill mandates public schools in California to include in their curriculum the contributions of Filipinos like Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz to the farm labor movement of the 1960s and 1970s, which fought for workers’ rights.
Bonta also raised over $40,000 for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.
Next in the list of Balitang America’s Pinoys in Action is heroic Filipina nurse, Menchu Sanchez.
When Hurricane Sandy pounded the Easr Coast last year, Sanchez, who was working at her hospital in New York, evacuated 20 high-risk babies, carrying them to safety, through flights of stairs.
In February, Sanchez was chosen by the White House to sit beside First Lady Michelle Obama during the President’s State of the Union Address. President Barack Obama even mentioned Sanchez’ heroism during his speech.
Third in Balitang America’s list of Pinoys in Action is perhaps the most influential Filipino community leader, Loida Nicolas Lewis.
Lewis, widow of the first Black billionaire in America, Reginald Lewis, is the National Chair of US Pinoys for Good Governance.
Lewis led Filipinos all over America and in different parts of the world to protest massive corruption within the Philippine government, as well as condemn China’s so-called bullying of the Philippines as they face-off over territories in the South China Sea.
Fourth in our list of Pinoys in Action is perhaps the most undocumented immigrant in America, Jose Antonio Vargas.
This Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist’s life story is featured in a feature film, Documented, which was shown all over the country and recently acquired by CNN Films.
Vargas founded Define American, a non-profit organization that promotes discussion of immigration reform all over the country.
Throughout 2013, Vargas also testified before Congress on the importance of creating a pathway to citizenship for more than 11 million undocumented immigrants.
Last in the list of Balitang America’s Pinoys in Action for 2013 is Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra, the first and only Filipino and Asian to coach a major US sport.
This year, Spoelstra led his team to a second NBA championship. The Heat also won Best Team at the 2013 Espys.
Spoelstra and The Heat also raised over one million dollars for the victims of the super typhoon in the Philippines.
WHO among the aforementioned Pinoys in Action will win?
Join us on December 31 and January 1 at 6:30pm for the Balitang America Yearened Report. Together, let us look back to the year’s biggest stories and get to know more about our kababayan who made the biggest impact in the community.
Abangan!
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column?are are solely those of the author?and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
