(Part 2)
After having successfully attained the vocation they had long ambitioned aside from being on the top of their craft, there’s a great number of flourishing and accomplished men and women who could still find time to be actively involved in various worthwhile community activities while altruistically contributing their proficiency to the growth and development of society.
In this connection, the Pan American Concerned Citizens Action League, Inc. (PACCAL), in its continuing effort and unprecedented advocacy to recognize and honor Filipino-Americans who have distinctly excel in their chosen fields of endeavor and, at the same time, being of service to the community and inspirational guide to those walking behind, the organization incorporates a grandiose ceremony with their up-coming noteworthy event.
On Saturday, October 10, 2015 at the Ramada Plaza Newark Liberty International Airport Hotel (160-A Frontage Road, Newark, NJ 07114) at 1:00 PM, eighteen (18) successful Fil-Ams will be distinctly honored with a dinner-dance gala while the event’s vigor and mood will be heightened with magenta motif for universal harmony and emotional balance.
PACCAL 23rd Founding Anniversary has Dr. Elizabeth B. Divinagracia as its Honorary Chairperson with Joanne Sy Bhatia as Honorary Co-chair while Ramona S. Gapasin and Rebecca Samanyaphon are designated Ball Chair and Co-chair, respectively.
After a thorough screening and meticulous selection process, PACCAL’s Awards Committee came up with 18 official recipients of this year’s Award of Distinction.
Here are the final nine (9) official awardees:
Eloisa Porto – Community Leadership
Eloisa Algozo Porto has been in the community service for nearly two decades. Her involvement with community affairs started in 1996 when she joined SJBUSAA, the hometown association of her husband, Armand Porto. Since then she had joined other groups such as PAFCOM, PACCAL, the Catholic Action of Mary and the Seniors Club, Inc., not just as an active member but officer, as well. She had widened her involvement with community- based organizations when she participated in organizing the Ladies for Rizal-New Jersey Chapter in 1999 where she held positions from Treasurer, then Vice President and presently leads the association as its President since 2013. As President, she was responsible for a Declamation Contest on Dr. Jose Rizal’s “My Last Farewell’ held at the City Hall of Jersey City in 2014. Eloisa holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce and a Certified Public Accountant.
Rodrigo Castillo, MD – Medical Profession (Pediatrics)
Dr. Rod Castillo migrated to the US in 1980 ably armed with a medical degree from the Far Eastern University and had his pediatric residency training in Brooklyn, NY. Conscientiously active in private practice in West New York and Secaucus, NJ, together with his personal and professional partner Dr. Elma De Villa Castillo, Dr. Rod (ditto with his wife) is a member of the Philippine Medical Association in America, Philippine Pediatric Society in America, American Academy of Pediatric in NJ, and an active entity in every Filipino-American Community event. His compassionately generous nature (he sponsors poor but deserving students to medical school) and empathetic ways (he sends medication and financial support to indigent families back home) duly earned for him (and Dr. Elma, of course) the distinct NJ Parents of the Year and recognized by the National Parents of the Year in NYC, as well.
Angel Ram – Female Vocal Entertainer
Joan “Angel” Dacayana Ramchand, more popularly known in the entertainment arena with an intriguing moniker as Angel Ram, has forayed and gradually explored the vastness and diversity of the tri-state area’s demanding entertainment hubs, merely armed with her powerful voice, strong will-power and keen determination to make it big. The sultry chanteuse, aptly gifted with a dominantly high-pitched vocal range and cleverness in lyrical interpretation, performs adeptly sans qualms and reservations. Enviably equipped with a wide array of repertoire that suits her extremely variable vocal range, Angel Ram is currently the toast of every event, be it in an undersized cozy nook or colossal dome, and admittedly enjoys the never-ending blessings that come her way. If there’s but one magnificent obsession there is, that would be to penetrate the mainstream industry and release a self-titled album.
Saif Titi – Pharmaceutical Profession
A non-Filipino married to a Filipina, Saif Titi has a heart that throbs of Pinoy sentiments while instantaneously adapting to the Filipino way of life. A distinguished alumnus of the University of Wyoming (1979) and a Registered Pharmacist for the past 36 years, Saif was a clinical pharmacist prior to the opening of his own pharmaceutical business in 1983, the Noble Pharmacy. He has selflessly served the community of Jersey City with the same length of time that he has had his diploma. His unparalleled dedication to his profession and the unconceivable service he has accorded the public didn’t escape from the scrutiny of award-giving organizations that justifiably recognized his invaluable contribution. A current events writer of a local paper he manages, Saif is an entrepreneur by trade and a pharmacist at heart… and enjoys life to the fullest with the support of his 3 children and inspiration he derives from his 2 grandkids.
Bobby Ramiro – Piano Virtuosity
When they say singers are born and not made… so were musicians…specifically, pianists. Bobby Ramiro, “The Pianoman” as a he’s fondly addressed, has played in the best hotel chains worldwide before finally settling in New York. Formerly a child actor, teen heartthrob, and one of the most promising recording artists of his time, Bobby has evolved into a most sought after pianist, singer, and musical arranger. With skilled fingers that could gently caress every ivory and ebony key and a great sense of musicality, Bobby, is no doubt, a living master of his craft and on top of his peers. His performances carry a lightness that has been characterized as childlike yet mesmerizing while echoing the depth and maturity of a self-made artist that he is.
Joey Bautista Cruise – Aesthetic & Beauty Enhancement
Calamba, Laguna-bred Joey B. Cruise is the middle child among 6 boys and 6 girls born to a couple of hand-to-mouth existence. That adverse domestic situation earnestly fueled his aspiration to strive doubly hard, deliver change, and make a difference. Gifted with a keen business acumen Joey was able to send himself to school from peddling dried fish and other commercial goods. A graduate of Physical Therapy from the Pine City Doctors College he landed job at the Philippine Military Academy. His idea of the “greener pasture” was the USA where he migrated in 2004, worked at an Engineering company and studied Cosmetology with masters as a Skin Care Specialist. Initially concentrated on house-to-house service, “frugality with a focus” effectively made Joey a successful skin care entrepreneur and in just 7 years, he productively established 6 branches in diverse locations: Jersey City, NYC, Virginia Beach, Jacksonville (Florida), Orlando (Florida), and Hawaii.
John Gadia – Entertainment Production
Little John or Li’l John’s (John Gadia’s alter moniker) foray into the business that made him affluently comfortable started from a mere hobby…playing music, hosting parties, and renting lights and sounds but his skilled service laced with affable charm attracted growing numbers of clientele and his zone of operations broadens. That inspired him to fully invest and give his passion a blast. His entrepreneurial expertise gained prominence and business turned even more lucrative that helped in organizing fundraising events to benefit Typhoons Ondoy (2009), Sandy (2012), and Yolanda/Hayan (2013). Blessings abundantly shower on John for he generously shares whatever he bountifully receives. Li’l John has successfully mounted well-attended concerts topbilled by big named stars recently of which was the legendary Air Supply at the Town Hall. Inspired by generous Filipinos, Li’l John created a Facebook page account: F.A.T.H.E.R. (Filipinos Able To Help Eager & Ready).
Rio Guerrero – Legal Profession
In his 17 years of legal practice, Atty. Rio Guerrero is a founding partner with the boutique immigration law firm Guerrero Yee LLP located in Manhattan. A nationally-recognized expert in the niche fields of family, corporate, and healthcare industry immigration, Guerrero is the recipient of a number of awards from legal and Filipino-American organizations including a National Asia Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) “Best Lawyers” national award and the Filipino-American National Historical Society’s “Contributions To Excellence” award. For the past 8 years he has taught as an Adjunct Professor of Immigration Law with the CUNY School of Professional Studies. Married with 2 kids, Guerrero is currently the President of the Filipino American Lawyers Association of New York, Rio also serves as a Co-chair on the Immigration Law Committees of both NAPABA and the Asian-American Bar Association of New York while holding leadership positions within the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and various Fil-Am community organization.
Pancho Bernaldez – Teaching Profession
Pancho Bernaldez is a professional teacher with more than 28 years of combined teaching experience here in New York City Department of Education and Philippine DepEd in Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao. A tenured staff in middle/high school being a Math specialist, Pancho has been a guest speaker and lecturer to various colleges and universities of the Philippines, and Philippine DepEd Divisions on the “Balik-Turo” or “Return to Teach” Program, aside from having an international reputation for founding the Association of Filipino Teachers in Eastern America, Inc. (AFTEA, INC.). Throughout his career he has blurred the boundaries between education, practice and research by creating and developing as a researcher of the Filipino association’s website, worked as community service coordinator of Filipino teachers and had experienced teaching college and high school Math in Philippine Department of Education. Aptly armed with both Bachelor and Master’s Degree from Bukidnon State University, Philippines with a BSE in Mathematics and MA in Math education as Philippine DepED Scholar in addition to Gifted And Talented (GATE) Graduate program from Touro College in New York City, Pancho was one time math coordinator and math coach in Division and Regional Philippine Math Olympiad competitions and chess coach at New York City DOE.
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