CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Eight Capampangans who have made marks in their respective fields and brought distinction to the country were named and feted with honors Thursday in grand rites at the SM City Pampanga Event Center.
In ceremonies that succeeded the opening of the mall giant's 16th "Global Pinoy Center," the umbrella of SM's corporate social responsibility programs, the "Global Pinoys" were cited for helping boost the US$18 billion overseas Filipino worker (OFW) remittance industry.
Named as "Global Pinoys" were Efren "Bata" Reyes for sports; Beatriz "Patis" Pamintuan Tesoro for international fashion design; Dennis Villanueva Sun for arts and journalism; Rodolfo Espinosa for international dance; Lamberto Garcia for tourism promotion; Lerma Aquino for restaurant development management; Edna De Jesus Eufemio for tourism; and Rafael "Paeng" Maniago for arts.
The world renowned Reyes was born in Angeles City and was the first Asian to be enrolled into the Billiards Congress of America's Hall of Fame.
Multi-awarded Tesoro also traces her roots in Angeles City, and has been a byword in the international fashion industry from New York to Paris.
Sun, also from Angeles City, is the editor-in-chief of "Jeepney Press," a non-commercial publication for Filipinos in Japan. The renowned artist contributes to, and organizes charity events for Filipino groups in Japan.
Espinoza has won titles in the Espen Cup in Taiwan and many other dance sports competition like the Singapore International Dance Sport Competition.
The other awardees include Garcia, from Sta. Ana town, who founded the Fil-American Travel Agents Association, which is dedicated to helping the plight of Filipinos working abroad by addressing their concerns.
Aquino, meanwhile, is the chief financial executive of Worldwide, which owns a chain of 12 TGI Fridays and 800 restaurants in Japan 100 bars worldwide.
Eufemio holds the distinction of being the only Filipino to work as tourism advisor for the World Bank and USAid, while Maniago, a locally bred painter, is a distinguished member of international painting clubs, with over 1,000 paintings on his cap.
In feting the Capampangan Global Pinoys, SM Supermalls president Annie Garcia said their efforts and contributions to the overseas Filipino market is an indication of the hard work the "new heroes" of the Philippines do abroad.
"It was always the global Filipino who had buoyed up our economy in the time of crisis," she said.
League of Cities of the Philippines president and City of San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez said the success of Filipinos working abroad is a sign of a bright future despite the sacrifices and longing for their families left here.
"What SM does is aligned with our aspirations here in the city of San Fernando, that is, to provide each and everyone with a decent life. And recognizing our OFWs and global Pinoys is one tribute that will ease their pain and inspire them to work for their families and for the country," Rodriguez said. (Jovi T. De Leon)