Bayaning Pilipino Pilipino sa Amercia 2004

INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY

Primitiva Ranoa-Gador (Country Winner-North)

• Bonde Way Fremont, California

She left the Philippines when she was just five years old and has been living in the US since then.  In spite of that, she has not forgotten her native Filipino tongue and still is as Filipino as she can be.  Mrs. Prim Ranoa-Gador is now 84 years old and has devoted most of her life being available for her fellow Filipinos abroad.

She grew up having witnessed the struggles of fellow immigrants fighting for survival and at the same time withstanding loneliness and homesickness.  At an early age, she vowed to do something about it.  She started by joining organized Filipino communities such as the Filipino Community of Alvarado and Vicinity composed mainly of farm workers who could barely aford house rent.  With the organization, she took part in cooperative financing of common dwellings which provided affordable home rents.  Filipinos got to live together under one roof sharing one common history, language and culture.  Together they helped each other fight off loneliness and maintain their dignity.  Later as president of the organization, she represented them before the city council and other governing agencies.  She aslo started other organizations in the area with the goal of helping other Filipino-Americans assimilate in the community in order  for them to have better opportunities.

Perhaps one of her most significant contribution would be being a court interpreter in English to Filipino and Filipino to English in Newark, Fremont and Union City municipal courts.  This she does to see to it that justice is carried out and not denied to Filipinos only because of language barrier.  She was on call for the past 40 years for this purpose.

Salvador F. Partible (Country Finalist-North)

• Ambrose Drive Salinas, California

As a competent certified public accountant, Mr. Salvador Partible worked side-by-side with a fellow accountant, Franco Consolacion to fight the California  Board of Accountancy for the recognition of Filipino CPAs who wanted to take the California CPA board examination. Because of their advocacy and courage to fight, they enabled over 300 Filipino CPAs to get their licenses and practice.  This fight paved the way for other Filipino professionals, namely dentists and pharmacists, to get their licenses too.

A self-confessed Marcos loyalist, Mr. Partible ironically was part of the core group who fought Marcos in exile with Heherson and Cecil Alvarez, Steve and Precy Psinakis and Raul Manglapus.  In spite of his admiration for the late president, he was very much convinced that the welfare of the Filipino people had to be given top priority inspiring him to lead the Movement for Free Philippines.

At present, he is active with various church and community activities.  He also cares for the children of poor families in the Philippines.  He sends monthly financial support to some Filipino kids for their education.  True enough, he has not forgotten his humble beginnings and continues to live with generosity, all for his fellowmen.

Danongan S. Kalanduyan (Country Finalist-North)

• San Francisco, California
• Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao

A prized professor of the University of San Francisco, Mr. Danny Kalanduyan has not forgotten his valuable roots.  His kulintang music has given back his Filipino-American Colleagues and students a sense of identity that apparently they felt was lost when they immigrated to the U.S.  Kulintang music has restored their pride in being a Filipino and somehow alleviated their sense of emptiness and confusion.

His passion and dedication to his craft has earned him various awards and recognitions. He happens to be one of the most renowned artists in California after having been honored the National heritage Fellowship, a recognition he has earned for his continued passion and devotion in teaching the music of Mindanao particularly the kulintang across America.

Accolades have indeed added more detail to his now too colorful cap.  But this honor is insignificant as compared to the magnanimous sense of pride he gives the many Filipinos who has long lost their connection to their Filipino roots.

Francis P. Papica (Country Winner-South)

• Chino Hills, California
• Camarines Sur

A lot in our midst has gone on their way in search for that "American Dream."  Some we have heard of making it big and bearing good fortune, others chose to remain unheard of.  Mr. Francis Papica left the country as a young boy full of dreams and aspirations.  He one aspired of making it big.  And like most of those who left, he had that dream in his young heart too.

Almost twenty years later, here now is Mr. Francis Papica, a young lawyer, who unlike the others, chose to come back and reach out to the less fortunate.  Through his determination he was able to put up the Francis Padua-Papica Foundation, Inc. (FPPFI).  The foundation aims to provide opportunities for young persons to develop their leadership and social skills through offering scholarships and sponsoring various seminars geared at enhancing their talents and potentials.

Through FPPFI, Mr. Papica hopes to educate and empower the Filipino youth and thereby strengthen the nation through community service.  He makes it a point to fly home to the Philippines at least once a year to oversee the activities of the foundation which is involved in a whole gamut of programs designed to involve and empower the youth of Bicol.

In providing avenues to hone leadership skills of the youth, Mr. Papica has greatly affected the lives of numerous individual, a clear step toward nation building and advancement of the public at large.

Lina Razon-Philipp (Country Finalist-South)

• Rancho Palos Verdes, California
• Pasig City

Mrs. Lina Razon-Philipp founded the Mann Manor, a non-profit agency that offers housing and treatment services for at-risk-children who are emotionally troubled and in need of psychiatric and psychological attention.  This agency not only helps these troubled kids but also gives employment to a lot Filipinos whom she has granted working status in America thus alleviating their livelihood situation.

With her husband's support, they started this foundation in order to reach out to these children who are in need of emotional and medical assistance.  Unfazed by the rigors of establishing and getting permits for their institution, they somehow made a big difference in the lives of who they have assisted.

More than 15 years  and six houses later, the Manor has reached out to more under privileged children.  In spite of Mrs. Philipp's earned success and adulation from the people around her she has remained humble about it.

JR. Nocon (Country Finalist-South)

• Vista City, California

JR has inspired many Filipino lives both in California and in the Philippines.  A florist by profession, he is the first Filipino to have represented and won in the American Floral Olympics and World Floral Olympics in Europe.  He is actually America's first winner after 40 years.  With this he was featured in the CNN and later in the FIL-AM Achievers book.

With his success and know competence, an annual designer contest in LA has been named the JR Cup in his honor.  In spite of the resistance by some American florists and designers, the said award never failed to inspire more people who share his craft.

Born in Cavite, he migrated to Guam in 1969.  He studied Civil Engineering but found work as a florist.  He has not gone to any formal school but learned his craft through self-study and constant innovations.  Not forgetting his roots, he is known for his authentic Filipiniana designs using native materials to his creations.  He also regularly comes home to the Philippines to impart his learned knowledge to the local florists oftentimes voluntarily and using money from his own pocket.