Filipino achievers turn up at L.A. awards night

LOS ANGELES — The best and brightest in the Filipino community recently took center stage during Celebration/Pasinaya 2008 at MGM Banquet Hall in Glendale.

The annual achievement awards night of Celebrity Chronicle is a brainchild of Tony Vizmonte, editor of the 12-year-old publication (and longtime entertainment publicist), who put up the events to celebrate talent and achievement among Filipinos in Southern California.

Top-tier awardees were Lydia Solis (Person of the Year), Dr. Ramon Geluz (Man of the Year) and lawyer Jemela Nettles (Woman of the Year).

Solis, a journalist and civic leader, worked for the City of Los Angeles for 31 years, and wrote columns and national stories for Philippine News for nearly 15 years.

In 2003, she was appointed as West Covina Senior Citizens Commissioner, a post from which she retired in 2007. She remains actively involved in community organizations, including two Filipino American press clubs, serving as president of one (Philippine Press Club International, from 2005 to 2007), and writing a regular column for Taliba.

Nettles has been hailed as an immigration expert not only of celebrities but nurses, businessmen and professionals all over the world. Starting with the Eraserheads and through word of mouth, she became known as a specialist in helping US-bound artist and entertainers, among them were Eddie Katindig, Rico J. Puno, Willie Nepomuceno, Ara Mina, Jed Madela, John and Camille Prats, Marissa Sanchez, Rey Kilay, Mahal and Mura, Paolo Santos and Raymond Bagatsing.

She has obtained green cards under the extraordinary ability category for April Boy Regino, Dingdong Avanzado and wife Jessa Zaragoza, Miguel Vera, Marco Sison, Mon David, Jolina Magdangal, and, just recently, Lorna Tolentino.

Through a foundation established in honor of her late sister, Nettles has spearheaded civic projects to assist cancer patients and their families, and build a church and support school children in her hometown, San Miguel, Zamboanga del Norte.

This year’s top professional awardees are Sarah Jane Gandia (songwriting), Matt Relox (global artist), Varon Panganiban (photo/video arts), Oliver Tolentino (fashion design), Lydia Solis (journalism), Jo Eiselstein (community service), Ros Paez (dentistry), Ivy Wisco (marketing), Vincent Olivar (real estate), and Robbie Carmona (events management).

Wisco is the first Filipino to land a prized post in the remittance industry, a vital player in the economic development of her homeland. As Moneygram Intenational’s US and Canada Outbound Marketing Manager for Asia, she handles remittances from the both countries to Asia — a job involving thousands of agent locations in almost 30 countries. 

Carmona heads Saga Events. He directs an average of eight to 10 grand fashion shows and corporate events a year for the biggest and most prestigious names in media and business. He is also credited with developing modeling talents to international-caliber winners. He served as judge in the maiden edition of the The Philippines’ Next Top Model, sitting alongside Wilma Doesnt.

Robbie’s award was accepted on his behalf by his father Derek.

The young but fast-rising Tolentino has created fabulous gowns for concert stars Regine Velasquez and Lani Misalucha, and Imelda Marcos in celebration of her 80th birthday. He is slated to represent the Philippines at Bali Fashion Week 2008 in August in the Indonesian city.

This year’s winner of the Marilou Popera Memorial Award is Mon David.

The award is given in honor of its namesake, who passed away in 2003 but left a rich legacy of service to the community that her family is now carrying on with. It recognizes excellence in the performing arts, and has been given to the Aldeguer Sisters, Miguel Vera and Ruby Karen.

David won the grand prize in the prestigious 2006 London International Jazz Vocal Competition, beating 106 vocalists from 27 countries. The award caps a brilliant 20-year career as one of the Philippines’ top singers and vocal coaches as well as a remarkable songwriter and record producer.

Early this year, Mon immigrated to the US as an alien of extraordinary ability. He is now starting to make his mark in the LA jazz circuit. Mon wasn’t present to receive the award due to a previously scheduled performance at Spazio, one of the premier  jazz clubs in Los Angeles. His award was accepted by singer and vocal coach Louie Reyes.

This year’s Lifetime Achievement awardees were  Ricky Lo (journalism), Nonoy Zuñiga (Music) and Maning Rivera (television).

Lo is currently the entertainment editor and columnist of The Philippine Star and host of Q-11’s The Ricky Lo Exclusives; his work is read and show is watched by Filipinos around the world via cable TV and the Web. He is the only Philippine entertainment journalist accredited by Hollywood companies for international press junkets in L.A. and other entertainment capitals. He has interviewed almost all major Hollywood stars.

Zuñiga hosts the long-running public affairs TV program Kapwa Ko Mahal Ko and MedTalk with Dr. Z, but is better known as the balladeer with a rich, reassuring baritone that has given everyone a lifetime of memorable songs like Never Ever Say Goodbye, Kumusta Ka and Doon Lang. He has won all major music awards in the Philippines, and has been performing abroad since 1981. He tours the US, Canada and Middle East countries annually with The Hitmakers.

Lo and Zuñiga were not able to catch a flight from Manila in time to accept their awards, and were represented by Raymond de Asis Lo and Bob Alba, respectively.

This year’s entertainment awardees were Edsel Sotiangco (Best Male Child Vocalist), Luis Arellano (Best Male Child Performer), Sarah Samadi (Best Female Rising Star), Michael Andaya (Most Promising Male Vocalist), Stacey Cacal (Most Promising Female Vocalist), Tori Berba (Most Promising Female Performer), and Maaikee Kiyoe (Star of Tomorrow), Ciara Najera (Best Female Recording Artist), Mon Concepcion (Best Male Folk Singer), Malou Toler (Best Female Folk Singer), Rocco (Best Male Vocalist), Ranella (Best Female Vocalist), Joshua Lopez (Best Male Performer), Ivory Cunanan (Best Female Performer), Jona Peralta (Best Vocal Coach) and Joseph Gelito (Entertainer of the Year).

This year’s Ms. Celebrity Chronicle and Mr. Celebrity Chronicle are Ivory Cunanan and Chris Cortez, while Erina Lightholder and James Curry are this year’s Binibining Pasinaya and Ginoong Pasinaya, respectively.

Highlight performances included those by Malou Toler and Mon Concepcion, while the pre-awards show featured young talents Edsel Sotiangco, Amanda Tucker, Ciara, Dominique Tanyag and Tori Berba, as well as Jonah Peralta’s talents including Matthew Serrano, who did an OPM medley.

A fashion show featured creations by Armand Remojo and other designers modeled by the Cover Guys including Vince Flores, Julius Soriano, Don Estacio, Jerome Dimaano, LA’s Handsomest including Derick Tucker, Shane Daniels  and LA’s Prettiest.

Joseph Gelito and Gabe Pagtama served as the evening’s hosts, with production assistance from Jo Atienza and Padsy Pardo (stage operations), Dani Ancog (stage design), Karl Kohl (choreography) and Nick Vizmonte (souvenir program), Lito Torres (men’s casual wear fashion show) and Nina Saspa, Wilma Valdez and Maru Lazatin (reception). Edgar Rame shared his exquisite floral designs; Alex Magallanes was the awards’ official photographer.