INDIVIDUAL CATEGORY
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Rockwell Center, Makati City
A brilliant ophthalmologist with a mission - he is Felipie Tlentino. Born to a poor family in the Philippines, he has never forgotten the hardship that comes with being less fortunate. It is for this reason that he treats his good fortune with respect and uses it to help others.
His mission is clear: That no person should become, or remain, needlessly blind. This is how Restoring Sight International, Inc. (RSI), Opthalmological Foundation of the Philippines (OFPHIL) and Asian Eye Institute (AEI) came to be.
RSI raises funds for OPHIL'S community outreach missions and free eye care to poor Filipinos. AEI makes world-class eye care available and affordable in the Philippines. Both the institute and its physicians donate 20% of their time and profits to the care of the poor.
Dr. Tolentino's other feats are just as impressive. His initiative to launch the Mobile Eye Clinic, Miyake Eye Operating Room in PGH, and City of Manila-OFPHIL Eye Center were able to accommodate thousands of of underprivileged patients. He also participated in the United Nations Project that provided eye care to children under the age of 21, as well as the Philippines' Department of Health which assigned OPHIL to address cataract backlog among the indigent in NCR and Bicol.
To further fulfill his mission, Dr. Tolentino brings a standard of excellence to ophthalmology, placing a geat empahsis on the quality care. He realizes the importance of follow-up care and makes sure it is given to those who need it. He also trains young doctors in the field of ophthalmology. Some he brings to the United States for training. These same doctors go back to the Philippines to give free eye care to indigent Filipinos.
Dr. Tolentino's worldwide vision is no less than remarkable. He believes that when a person is helped anywhere in the world, then a part of the human family is healed, and that would make the world a better place to live in.
Joel Sebag (Country Finalist)
- Harrison, Arkansas
- Bukidnon
At only 32 years old, Joel Sebag has been fortunate in more ways than one. He was given a great musical talent, a good education and a chance to work in the United State. Joel used these gifts wisely and six short years after he landed in America, he was able to buy the foreclosed Holiday Inn in Harrison and converted it into Mountaincrest Rehabilitation, a center with state-of-the-art facilities for physical and occupational therapy.
In 2003, he founded the Mountaincrest Foundation, Inc. to raise funds for Bantay Bata 163. He played gospel and praise songs on the piano at concerts which are open to the public free of charge. During these concerts, he showed videos of the children of Bantay Bata which move many people who watched and prompted them to give donations.
At present, he continues to raise funds for his worthy causes using his musical talent. Proceeds from sales of his gospel CD's make it possible for the Mountaincrest Foundation, Inc. to pay for the service of physical and occupational therapists needed by children rescued from abuse by Bantay Bata.
Alejandro Vinluan (Country Finalist)
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Pangasinan
Most people perceive Alejandro Vinluan as a quiet, unassuming man. But there is more to him than meets the eye. He is well-respected in his community and many have come to realize his dedication to serving the less fortunate.
He co-founded the Filipino-American Medical Association (FAMA) and its charitable arm, the Rizal McArthur Memorial foundation (RMMF). The RMMF provides financial assistance, hospital equipment, medical supplies and medicines to the rual areas of the Philippines through its sister foundation, the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Memorial Foundation and Research Center. Dr. Vinluan heads all three organizations.
Every two years, Dr. Vinluan heads a medical mission of more than a hundred doctors and nurses to the Phi9lippines. On these medical missions, he brings with him more equipment, supplies and medicines and hope for a better quality of life.
Despite having a successful career abroad, Dr. Vinluan never forgets to look back from where he came from. He is a hero of other people and most importantly, to his fellow Filipinos.
Honesto Tria (Country Finalist)
- Freemont, California
- Calabanga, Naga City
Mr. Tria leaves no stone unturned. He provides information to fellow Filipinos on different kinds of businesses and how to run them. He holds seminars on values formation for personal growth and development. He teaches them accounting principles and techniques to keep track of expenses and to better appreciate profits.
All in all, each project is a success story. In Honesto Tria's world, the inconceivable has happened - people eat three meals a day and children to to school. It doesn't take a king, a president or a millionaire to do wonders for others. All it takes is a simple man with extraordinary deeds.
Norma Benzon (Country Finalist)
- Houston, Texas
- Sta. Mesa, Manila
- Deceased
She may have retired from being a senior manager in a prestigious company in the US, but Norma Benzon's work does not stop there. To this day, Norma continues to be a modern day hero, helping others, most especially her fellow Filipinos.
Besides helping the victims of hurricane Katrina, Norma has other projects that regularly help Filipino-Americans in her community in Houston. She also provides assistance to some outreach projects in the Philippines. to pursue her outreach projects, she raises funds from individuals and institutions given her connections in the Houston community.
Like most people, Norma faces her own personal problems too. When she retired from her job, she had to take care of her husband who contracted an eye ailment that required several eye operations. Still, after receiving a substantial retirement package, she remembers to help her close and distant relatives in the Philippines.
While there are people who need help, its comforting to know that there will always be someone like Norma Benzon - a true Filipino hero.
Teresita Calderon (Country Finalist)
- Virginia, U.S.A.
- Parañaque, Manila
Having the best interests of her fellow Filipinos in mind, Teresita Calderon lives a life dedicated to helping them. This is the driving force behind the project Feed the Hungry. Together with her husband, Pablito, Tessie started this worthy project to help the poor in the Philippines.
Feed the Hungry reaches out to Filipinos experiencing poverty. Through this projects, Tessie and Pablito conducts yearly visits to the Philippines interspersed with other outreach projects.
More than being a fund-raising organization, Feed the Hungry has attracted many Filipino Americans to come to the Philippines to help the poor. Through the efforts of Tessie and Pablito, their eyes were exposed to the poor condition of some of our fellow countrymen. Helping others is a great achievement in itself, but being able to encourage others to follow your lead is truly inspiring.
Ken Mendoza (Country Finalist)
- Virginia, U.S.A.
- Cavite City
An undertaking seemingly simple could essentially have a massive impact. This could be true for Ken Mendoza. He launched Filipino-American Basketball Association (FABA), a project that aims to develop the well being of Filipino American youth in Metro DC (Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC). At first, he thought of the project as an outlet for his own teenage boys and his friends. Later on, it proved to be more than just that.
Ken realized that this project keeps the youth in sports instead of other negative activities like drugs and gangs. It also inculcates and preserves Filipino values and culture amongst the youth. Many Filipino-American children born in the US are instinctively looking for their heritage and roots. Sports activity like basketball gives them time to bond and talk about the Philippines, the Filipino traditions and way of life, and they even get to speak in Filipino.
Because of its overwhelming success, the project has won the support of the parents and family of the members. Thanks to Ken, the Filipino youth in America will have a solid understanding of who they really are as Filipinos.
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