May 23, 2014 (QUEZON CITY) – Two years after the first “Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Global Bayaning Pilipino Awards” was staged, both triumphs and tragedies have befallen the Philippines but ABS-CBN Japan, Inc. (ABS-CBN TFC) and UGAT Foundation continue to remember individuals and organizations in the Asia Pacific who have turned these into opportunities to help through the “Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Global Bayaning Pilipino Awards sa Gawing Japan” which will be held on June 8 in Chiba.
This year, ABS-CBN TFC and UGAT Foundation, in partnership with Stimula Productions, will honor the three finalists in the event “Saludo sa Bayaning Pilipino sa Japan:” Rachel Rakahashi, Charito Itoh and Jepie Dato Rammada.
Takahashi and Itoh are two distinguished ladies who helped Filipinos in Japan during the March 11 Tohoku great earthquake and tsunami. The third finalist, Jeppie Dato Ramada, the founder of United Filipinos in Gifu (UNIFIL-GIFU), is the brains behind the “Let’s Walk Together,” a fun run organized to gather funds for the victims of typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan).
Meantime, special citation will be given to Bayanihan Kessennuma Filipino Community, a group of Filipinos who were themselves victims of the earthquake and tsunami but were challenged to help other victims as well.
Chit Guerrero, head of ABS-CBN Special Projects and one of the moving forces behind the awards said: “When we were going through their entries, we were moved by the fact that these ordinary Filipinos actually suffered from the very reason why they were brought together – the calamities. They are worthy of being called heroes because they overcame the biggest challenge of their lives and overturned these to become opportunities to help.”
The four finalists will be honored on June 8 at “Saludo Sa Bayaning Pilipino sa Japan,” a free concert in honor of the Filipino modern day heroes. Showcasing the Filipino talent and paying tribute to the awardees are Angel Locsin and “The Voice” 2013 grand winner Mitoy Yonting. The event will be hosted by DZMM Teleradyo’s Maresciel Yao, anchor of “Usapang de Campanilla.”
Ailene Averion, ABS-CBN Global Ltd. managing director for Asia-Pacific shared, “’Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Global Bayaning Pilipino Awards’ has been honoring Filipinos in Japan since 1997 but this is the third time we are formally staging the ‘Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Global Bayaning Pilipino Awards sa Gawing Japan’ which includes winners from the country.” It is truly fitting for the network to recognize the exemplary acts because TFC is also celebrating its 20th anniversary by way of honoring the “galing” or “greatness of Filipinos,” including for service to fellowmen.
“Gawad Geny Lopez Jr. Global Bayaning Pilipino Awards sa Gawing Japan” within the event “Saludo Sa Bayaning Pilipino sa Japan” will be held in the Matsudo Citizen Hall at the Chiba Prefecture. The free event will be mounted in partnership with the Philippine Embassy in Japan, Philippine Overseas Labor Employment Office under the Department of Labor and Employment, Hawak Kamay sa Mahal Na Ina (HAKMI),” “Filipino Communities in Japan,” and Matsui Japan. For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/TFCJapan Connect with fellow global Filipinos and visit twitter.com/KapamilyaTFC and instragram.com/KapamilyaTFC
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