S O U V E N I R P R O G R A M

Consulate General of the Republic of the Philippines San Francisco

M E S S A G E

The officers and staff of the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco and its partner agencies join me in congratulating the Philippine American Press Club, USA on its 27th

anniversary and for organizing the 2015 Plaridel Awards Ceremony on October 8, 2015.

We truly appreciate the hard work of the PAPC in providing the Filipino community in California and throughout the United States with news and information on important issues and developments in the Philippines and the United States such as nationalelections, overseas voting, economic and investment prospects, immigration and labor issues, national security issues such as the West Philippine sea, among others.

I commend the annual presentation of the Torch Bearer and Plaridel Awards becausethey recognize and promote service to the community, excellence in career and discipline,and leadership qualities. The Plaridel Awards will undoubtedly inspire Filipino American writers and publishers to further raise the bar of excellence for their profession, with a view to deepening our community’s engagement in and appreciation of issues affecting their lives as well as those of their families back home.

To the members of the PAPC, may you continue bringing important news and information to our community in a relevant, timely and objective manner. I also wish to convey our heartfelt congratulations to this year’s awardees and nominees. May you be inspired,through your work, to further engage and empower the Filipino American community.

Congratulations to the Philippine American Press Club. Mabuhay po kayo!

San Francisco PCG17 September 2015

447 Sutter Street, 6th Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94108, USATel. No. 1-415-433-6666 Fax No. 1-415-421-2641 info@philippinessanfrancisco.org

www.philippinessanfrancisco.org

2015 Plaridel Awards4

Welcome to the Fourth Plaridel Awards! This institution is our collective accomplishment, built by all the journalists who have submitted their work, by publishers who have encouraged their reporters, correspondents and producers, and by judges who have devoted uncompensated time and whose only reward is the knowledge that they are helping keep Filipino American journalism to a high standard.

Of course, we would have not been able to initiate this journey if not for our sponsors, who continue to believe in the objective of the Plaridel Awards and the efforts of the Philippine American Press Club, U.S.A. May you continue to grow and prosper.

To our Torch Bearer Awardees, you are the inspiration for all this.

Mabuhay!

MESSAGE

Esther Misa ChavezPresident

2015 Plaridel Awards 5

The Plaridel AwardsOver a century ago, Marcelo H. del Pilar, a Filipino journalist and publisher went into exile in Europe. His fearless commentar-ies against the oppressive Spanish rule made his exile inevitable. Through it all, his desire to be a jour- nalist never waned and he continued his writing while abroad. He was unrelenting in his pursuit of truth, fairness, and the upliftment of his constituents. Plaridel was his nom de plume, the anagram of his surname, Del Pilar.

2015 Plaridel Awards6

2014 Plaridel Awardees, Sponsors, Publishers and PAPC Board Members

In him the Philippine American Press Club, U.S.A. (PAPC) has found a hero - a person to emulate and an inspiration to Filipino American writers and publishers everywhere who continue in their journalistic aspirations and in service to their constituents in the new land they now call home.

As we celebrate the 27th anniversary of the Philippine American Press Club, U.S.A. we wish to honor our hardworking press corps, and the media agencies they represent. They have made the vi-brant Filipino American community well-informed, entertained and involved through the years.

Torch Bearer Awards

Ambassador Albert Del Rosario Secretary

Department of Foreign Affairs

ABS-CBN InternationalThe Filipino Channel

“For bearing the torch of the Filipino ideal and keeping it aflame through the winds of change and the passage of time.”

2015 Plaridel Awards 7

It was at Mira Mesa High School in San Diego when a question in the yearbook asked, what my plans are going when I grow up.My answer at the time was sports anchor.

Close to 20 years later after that moment I don’t anchor sports, but I do anchor with the best news team in the Bay Area.

I am a third generation journalist. My grandfather was a news-paper reporter in the Philippines. My Dad, Ernie Flores, Jr., was also a newspaper journalist in the Philippines and here in the U.S. I’m very proud of my Dad becoming the first Filipino journalist for the Arizona Republic and San Diego Union in the late 1960’s.

My Dad also started a “The Filipino Press” newspaper from his home in National City, CA. But my love for TV reporting can be attributed to the countless hours of news I watched on TV with my mom.

Growing up I enjoyed watching the news with Peter Jennings. We would also watch 60 Minutes, and 20/20 and of course Sportscenter. There was a certain comfort for me doing that, being raised in a single-parent household.

I graduated from California State University, Northridge with

Brian Flores

This Year’s Keynote Speaker

a journalism degree. My first job out of college was one-man band journalist/anchor for KVEW in Tri-Cities, WA.

It was tough being far away from family for a few years. But I learned a lot, and it gave me the confidence that I can do this job.

That confidence led me to coming home to San Diego and helping launch Fox 5 San Diego in 2008 as a reporter. After working there, I actually left “the biz” for a while to work for a Public Affairs firm in San Diego.

It didn’t take long to get the itch to come back to news though. And in October 2012, I got hired here at KTVU!

Above all of that, my family and faith makes me who I am. I would not be even close to the person I am now without running into a woman who just so happened to walk into a Jamba Juice in San Diego several years ago.

That woman became my wife and we have three wonderful kids. So humbled and blessed. See you on TV!

–KTVU.com

2015 Plaridel Awards8

PRINT/ONLINE

BEST INVESTIGATIVE/ IN-DEPTH STORYThis award honors in-depth or investigative stories or series that identify and explore issues relevant to Filipinos in America.

Prosy Abarrquez-Dela Cruz, JD, Asian Journal, “Lillian Galedo’s Clarion Leadership: Styled by Openness, Sacrifice and Progressive Social Change”

Patricia Araneta, Positively Filipino, “T’Boli: It’s Better to Weave Than to Leave”

Cecile Ochoa, Inquirer.net, “DACA - Confessions of a Formerly Undocumented Youth”

BEST COMMENTARY/ EDITORIAL ESSAYThis award honors the best editorial or commentary by a colum-nist, editorial writer or independent contributor.

Prosy Abarrquez-Dela Cruz, JD, Asian Journal, “Unmuzzled Voice of Leadership: Snuff Out the Fires with Truth and Justice”

Emil Guillermo, Inquirer.net, “Are You Charlie Hebdo? Or Just Charlie Adobo?”

BEST INTERNATIONAL REPORTINGThis award honors the best reporting on an international issue related to Filipinos or the Philippines.

Dr. Jorge Emmanuel, Positively Filipino, “My Battle with Ebola”

Aurora Almendral, Positively Filipino, “Selling” My Story

BEST ENTERTAINMENT STORYThis award will be given to the best article on the journey or success of Filipinos in the entertainment field in America or the world.

Christina Oriel, Asian Journal, “The Renaissance of Giselle “G” Töngi”

Lisa Suguitan Melnick, Positively Filipino, “Maseg: An Artistic Tempest”

Myles Garcia, Positively Filipino, “My Manila Movie Memories”

BEST SPORTS STORYThe article will be given to the best article that spotlights remark-able sports figures independent of celebrity and also explores the impact of their sport on ethnic communities. Judges will consider originality of topic, unique angles, and freshness of perspective.

Myles Garcia, Positively Filipino, “Before Elorde, Before Pacquiao, There Was Luis Logan”

Anthony Maddela, Positively Filipino, “Jordan Clarkson, the Lak-ers’ Fil-Am Sniper”

Malou Liwanag Bledsoe, Asian Journal, “Philippines in the Inter-national Cheerleading Stage”

Emil Guillermo, Inquirer.net, “Baseball’s Mt. Pinatubo erupts again- Lincecum throws a 2nd No Hitter”

BEST FOOD STORYThis award will be given to the best article that explores cultur-al diversity and unique perspectives on Filipino cuisine. Judges will consider originality of topic, unique angles, and freshness of perspective.

Malou Liwanag Bledsoe, Asian Journal, “Connecting Food and Culture to Better Health”

Allyson Escobar, Asian Journal, “Cooking Hawaiian Style: The Art of Island Cuisine”

BEST YOUTH VOICEThis award honors reporting or commentary by young people about their broader communities. Writers should be between 16-24.

Agnes Constante, Asian Journal, “Filipino Cultural School: Pre-serving and Promoting Philippine Heritage and Identity Through the Years”

Allyson Escobar, Asian Journal, “Passion Planner: Creating Your Life Journey in a Notebook”

Christina Oriel, Asian Journal, “Through Telemedicine, Apl.de.Ap and Dr. Thomas Lee are Keeping Premature Filipino Babies from Going Blind”

Plaridel Awards Finalists

2015 Plaridel Awards 9

BEST NEWS STORYThis award honors the best straight reporting of an issue, an event or an incident that directly affects or is relevant to the Filipino American community. Judges will consider quality and compre-hensiveness of reporting and unique angles.

Agnes Constante, Asian Journal, “Maj. Gen. Taguba Shares “Un-filtered” Version of the Abu Ghraib Investigation”

Allyson Escobar, Asian Journal, “LA Mayor, Homeland Security Chief Urge Undocumented Immigrants to ‘Step Forward’”

Cecile Ochoa, Inquirer.net, “UFW Honors Filipino Leadership in the Delano Grape Strike”

BEST PERSONAL ESSAYThis award honors the best First Person essay. Judges will consider quality of writing, unique angles and perspectives, research input, and relevance to the community.

Prosy Abarrquez-Dela Cruz, JD, Asian Journal, “Intimacy”

Lotis Key, Positively Filipino, “Feeding My Filipino”

Jen Furer, TheFilAm.net, “My American Birthday”

BEST FEATURE WRITINGThis award honors the best feature story with focus on the choice of topic, the quality of writing, research input, unique perspective and relevance to the target market. Entries should not be more than 2,500 words.

Myles Garcia, Positively Filipino, “Good Help is Hard to Find: The Improbable Story of Huguette and Hadassah”

Agnes Constante, Asian Journal, “Lovelyn Marquez-Prueher- The First FilAm Teacher of the Year for California”

Christina Peczon Rodriguez, Inquirer.net, “The Life and Times of an Absentee Mother”

Christina Oriel, Asian Journal, “Series on Female Filipinas Who Champion Entrepreneurship”

Christina Oriel, Asian Journal, “Social Products: Why Mindan-ao’s Black Rice is the Next Superfood”

BEST PROFILE WRITING This award honors the best personality profile, with emphasis on the choice of subject, the quality of writing, research input and the scope of the interview. Entries should not be more than 1,500 words and should be in essay form, not Q&A.

Myles Garcia, Positively Filipino, “Love Baskets for Betty”

Anthony Maddela, Positively Filipino, “Above the Law Blogger David Lat Goes Long Form”

Prosy Abarrquez-Dela Cruz, JD, Asian Journal, “Self-worth Pow-

ers an Immigrant’s Dream”

Malou Liwanag Bledsoe, Asian Journal, “Building a Stronger Voice for the FilAm Community in SF and Beyond”

Agnes Constante, Asian Journal, “Carlene Bonnivier; Retracing her Filipino Roots and Enriching Cultural Identity”

Christina Oriel, Asian Journal, “Rheena Mae: Crafting Pieces Inspired by You”

BROADCAST CATEGORY

BEST COMMUNITY REPORTING IN TELEVISIONThis award will honor the exceptional coverage of an issue affect-ing a local Fil-Am community broadcast on a television program.

Rommel Conclara, Balitang America, “Grandson and Grandma Create Memories Through Art”

Troy Espera, Balitang America, “Year End Special”

Ricky delos Reyes, Power Ng Pinoy, “Power ng Pinoy Returns to Hollywood”

Giselle Töngi, KSCI- LA18, “Road to Merrie Finale on Kababayan Today”

Rachelle Ocampo, et al., Makilala TV, “Episode 16: Trans Aware-ness-Dealing with Ignorance and Bigotry”

Henni Espinosa, Balitang America, “Pinoy Mortician”

Adonis Tagala, Balitang America, “Meet the FilAm Navy Captain Commanding a Major Warship Upgrade Project”

Troy Espera/Paul Henson, Balitang America, “Legacy: The Pac-quiao-Mayweather Ultimate Showdown”

ROBERT HENRY MEMORIAL AWARD FOR RADIOAllan Alvarez, KPHI 96.7 FM

SPECIAL CATEGORY

BEST TOURISM FEATURE STORY Sponsored by the Philippine Department of Tourism

This award will be given to the most unique or convincing article on why “It’s More Fun in the Philippines.”

Senen Siasoco, Positively Filipino, “Positively Pinatubo”

Manuel Hizon, Positively Filipino, “11 Great Beaches You Proba-bly Haven’t Been To”

Christina Oriel, Asian Journal, “Huma Island: An Island Hide-away in the Tropical Paradise of Busuanga”

2015 Plaridel Awards10

Emil Guillermo, Inquirer,net

2015 Nominees

Agnes Constante, Asian Journal

Allyson Escobar, Asian Journal

Malou Liwanag Bledsoe, Asian Journal Myles Garcia, Positively Filipino

Aurora Almendral, Positively Filipino

Dr. Jorge Emmanuel, Positively Filipino

Patricia Araneta, Positively Filipino

Prosy Abarrquez-Dela Cruz, JD, Asian Journal

Jen Furer, TheFilAm.net

Paul Henson, Balitang America

Henni Espinosa, Balitang America

Ricky delos Reyes, Power Ng Pinoy

Troy Espera, Balitang America

Rommel Conclara, Balitang America

Lotis Key, Positively Filipino

Manuel Hizon, Positively Filipino

Allan Alvarez, KPHI 96.7 FM

Anthony Maddela, Positively Filipino

Lisa Suguitan Melnick, Positively Filipino

Christina Oriel, Asian Journal

Cecile Ochoa, Inquirer.net

Rachelle Ocampo, et al., Makilala TV

Giselle Töngi, KSCI- LA18

Adonis Tagala, Balitang America

Christina Peczon Rodriguez, Inquirer.net

Senen Siasoco, Positively Filipino

About the Philippine American Press Club, USA

Established in 1988, PAPC was founded by former members of the National Press Club of the Philippines who had immigrat-ed to the San Francisco Bay Area and saw the need for US based Filipino American media group. All fierce advocates for truth, fairness, and excellence in journalism, they realized the vital role of media education and advocacy for the fast-growing Filipino population. They represented a small but influential set of local Filipino publica-tions: Philippine News, The Eye, Filipino Monitor, Philippine Examiner, Philippine

Chronicle, Filipinas Magazine, and Filipino Guardian. We salute them all. We honor the vision of these men and women.

Two decades later, some of those earlier publishers and publications have come and gone. But have since been replaced by newer but similarly engaged publishers and broadcasters such as ABS-CBN, Asian

Journal, Philippines Today, FilAm Star, Filipino American Radio Network, Filipino Gazette, GMA Pinoy TV, Manila Mail, Inquirer.net, Philippine Headlines, Positively Filipino, Power ng Pinoy, and San Francisco Post.

For more info about PAPC, visit www. papcusa.org.

PAPC, along with the Philippine Consulate of San Francisco, NaFFAA and USP4GG sponsored a talk with Pag-Asa Island Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon, Jr.

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C��aulati�s to the Winn�s & N inees of the 2015 Pl�idel Aw�ds.

Ruben and Janet Napales, Edwina Aniag at the 2014 Plaridel Awards

OFFICERSEsther Chavez - President, Inquirer.netCaroline Ocampo - Internal Vice President, Filipino American Radio NetworkArnold Pedrigal - External Vice President, Power ng PinoyMark Alegre - Internal Vice President, Worldwide Filipino AllianceJoseph Peralta - Executive Secretary, Asian JournalJossie Alegre - Treasurer, Federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce

BOARD MEMBERSEdwina Aniag -FilAm StarRudy Asercion – National Federation of Filipino American AssociationsMaya Escudero - Philippine American Writers and Artists, Inc.Epee Rafanan - Manila MailAtty. Rodel RodisRaymond Virata –Positively Filipino

MEMBERSMargarita Argente - Philippine NewsJ. Bradford Adkins -Manila MailCarmen Colet - Filipino GazetteRene Ciria-Cruz -Inquirer.netMandy Chavez - Correspondent, Inquirer.netThelma Cruz -Philippines TodayGary De Guzman -FilAm StarNerissa Fernandez - ABS-CBN InternationalEmil Guillermo - Inquirer.netMarilyn King -Philippines TodayRichard Lao - Manila MailAtty. Crispin Lozano - SF PostThez Santos - Manila Mail

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSFely Santiago, Asian Manila TimesCharito Benipayo, The Islander Channel-28

FOUNDERSWillie Jurado, Dave Baquirin, Al Repato, Quezon Magawang, Pruden-cio Europa, Lilia Andolong, Art Madlaing, Mario Panoringan, Art Pad-ua, George Nervez, Angelo Castro Sr., Rodel Rodis, and George Bernal. Publications: Philippine News, The Eye, Filipino Monitor, Philippine Examiner, Philippine Chronicle, Filipino Guardian

PAST PRESIDENTSWillie JuradoSid Protacio, Manila Bulletin USA/Advent PublicationsLita Jurado, The Eye Gerry Palabyab, Manila Bulletin USA Fely Santiago, Asian Manila TimesCharito Benipayo, The Islander Channel-28

Torch Bearer Awardees with the PAPC Board

Ness Ocampo and Mona Lisa Yuchengco at 2014 Plaridel Awards

Ted Laguatan and PAL’s Sol Solleza

2015 Plaridel Awards 13

2015 Plaridel Awards14

Overall ChairEsther Misa Chavez

SubmissionsEsther Misa Chavez, Caroline Ocampo, Jojo Peralta

Souvenir ProgramRaymond Virata

Event ProductionLydia Neff

Floor DirectionLydia Neff

Lorna Dietz

Trophies & Prizes PAPC Board

Event ReceptionJossie Alegre, Mark Alegre, Lorna Dietz, Rudy Asercion,

Joseph Peralta

Livestreaming Raymond Virata

THE JUDGES Rene Ciria-Cruz, Wennie Connedy, Maya Escudero,

Carol Gancia, Wilfred Galilia, Odette KeeleyDebra Pacio. Benjamin Pimentel

Adelene and Marc Ramos

PRESENTERSFiona Chan, Ronald Quesada, Jennifer Cabalquinto, Bobby Fan,

Marilla Revilla, Ling Gomez, Maria Henry, Edwin Lozada, Carmen Colet, Joseph Bautista, Arnold Pedrigal, Director Pura Molintas,

Charito Benipayo and Brian Flores

SPECIAL THANKSDeputy Consul General Jaime Ascalon

Consul Reginald BernabeWendy Andong, CPA

Sonia DelenOdette Keeley

Raymond VirataAl S. Perez

Alexandra DrechslerMarc Padilla - Infanta Lambanog

Maya Escudero - HardfrescosMango Tours

2015 Planning Committee

Congratulations,2015 Plaridel Awardees!

fromWestern Union.com

In MemoriamPep Vasquez

Congratulations,2015 Plaridel Awardees!

fromPhilippine Airlines