Let's vote for Eduardo ‘Toto’ Sicangco ASAP!

ELECTION time is here with hopefuls filing their certificates of candidacy until Friday. With the casting of votes still next year, allow me to give you something to vote for or "like" NOW as in ASAP!!!

There is an organization in the United States called TOFA NY. Tofa is an awards event held annually in New York during Filipino American History Month celebration which is this October.

TOFA was founded in 2010 and its mission is recognizing individuals and organizations that have raised the profile of the Filipino American community in a unique and positive way and celebrate their achievements.

Comprised of multimedia professionals well plugged into the community, TOFA claims while they may know personalities in traditional as well as grassroots advocacy organizations, they are not associated with any group in any way, which makes the recognition process independent. Pre-selection is based entirely on merit.

This year's TOFA-NY voting remains in progress via Facebook, further energizing a community that is said to be among the most engaged social media networkers. The voting was launched in July will end midnight of October 5. That's why I say its ASAP!!!

So, who am I recommending? Or truth to tell, CAMPAIGNING for? Eduardo "Toto" Sicangco, nominee for Arts and Culture.

Toto is the son of Tito Titong and Tita Nena Varela Sicangco. A native of Bacolod City, after studies in local La Salle, he became a student of National Artist Salvador Bernal at the Ateneo de Manila University. He later became Bernal's protégé at the Cultural Center of the Philippines where Toto designed Le Carnaval for Ballet Philippines. Upon finishing an MFA in stage design at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, he was given the J.S. Seidman Award for Excellence in Design. Toto was a Master Teacher of Design at NYU until 2004. He has Thirty-two years of scenographic work in American theaters and various international design.

Eduardo Varela Sicangco's name is recognized in most stage productions for Broadway, opera and illustrator and Hollywood films. He is included in the Lynn Pecktal book Costume Design: Techniques of Modern Masters." To know more about Toto, you can go to his website eduardosicangco.com.

A year or more so ago, he had an exhibit at the Ayala Museum in Makati, Manila. I marveled at his work. Toto is a friend. A good friend but I did not realize how celebrated he is in Broadway as well as in Hollywood until I saw the extent of his display in stage and costume designs. I was very proud am very proud that he has been nominated to this prestigious event.

So how do you get to vote for Toto? All you need to do is enter into the TOFA NY page in Facebook and click Like on his photo in the list of nominees. Or click this: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=131609880311827&set=a.1316097469.... The good thing about this is that you need not be a New Yorker. You and I in any part of the globe can vote for Toto.

A friend in Facebook, Maddie shared this comment: "He needs to have the most votes among all nominees in his category of Arts and Culture at least. You will need to like his nominee page. One like is one vote.

There is another nominee close on his heels and determined to get this win. Toto's lead is only about 170 votes as of now, something that one can rally for in a day or two at most. Need all the votes for this last stretch."

TOFA SAYS: "Voting will be conducted in all transparency via Facebook. We are trying this novel idea for the first time. We believe social media is crucial in getting the word out about the many personalities and organizations that have made us one significant and dynamic community in this part of the US."

Twelve winners will be awarded in a gala ceremony to be held on October 27 at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. with TV coverage provided by GMA International. Its President says that: "On behalf of the Tofa board, I am delighted to announce that Cheesa from The Voice and Charice will be joining our event at Carnegie Hall."

Last years' honorees were led by Pulitzer winning journalist and Define American founder Jose Antonio Vargas, exponent of Brinoy (Brazil-Pinoy) music and former fashion model Bessie Badilla and US Marshals Southern District of New York spokesman Roland Ubaldo. Mayor Mike Bloomberg praised last year's winners for "contributing to the city's amazing energy and spirit."

With the deadline of "like" only until October 5, let us support our very own Negrense, Eduardo "Toto" Sicangco. This is a vote that has no party affiliations but a vote for all of us Negrenses! Thank you!!!