Behind-the-Scenes at the VT/CPRTV’s 2015 Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame

By: Maria Girlie Pascual

 

“Wow”, “Amazing”, “Fabulous”, “Classy”…these were some of the remarks heard and overheard at the recently concluded Via Times and the Chicago Philippine Reports TV’s (CPRTV) 21st offering of the Chicago Filipino American Hall of Fame (HOF) which was held at the Rosemont Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency O’Hare last November 14, 2015. The biggest yet the prestigious annual gathering of noteworthy Filipinos, Americans, Filipino- Americans, our awardees over the years have included the likes of current IL Gov. Bruce Rauner, State Attorney Dick Divine, Vice Gov. Corinne Wood, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Larry Wert, CBS Channel 2 President Joe Ahern, Philippines’ABS-CBN TFC International President, Raffy Lopez, his sister Gina Lopez of Gawad Kalinga & Gawad Kalikasan, cousin Rina Lopez of Knowledge Channel educational foundation in the Philippines, and world-famed Filipino entertainers Ryan Cayabyab, Fides Cuyugan Asensio, Bernardo Bernardo, local TV anchors Lily Loo of Fox TV and Stacey Baca of Channel 7, multi-millionaire Filipino entrepreneur Dado Banatao, several ambassadors like the late Amb. Willy Gaa, Amb. Larry Baja, Jr., Amb. Libran Cabactulan, and the current Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Cuisia, Jr. , past Consuls General of Chicago, members of the clergy like Chicago-based Father Carlos Llagas, Pastor Richard Mirpuri and Pastor Archie Agngarayngay.

We have awarded engineers, architects, doctors, nurses, accountants, novelists, poets, philanthropists, dancers, painters, singers, and anyone and everyone who has contributed in uplifting the Filipino image or humanity through their good works and accomplishments. Our number of attendees and awardees have been growing through the years, much to the amazement and wonder of our Filipino-American community of Chicago, and have dumbfounded our critics over our well-attended annual event.

So what makes our HOF the successful yearly gala that it is? Why would a nominee spend time, effort and resources to be part of this elite circle of achievers? The answer is really simple, a common sense phrase that has been used as an idiom for generations. “Success breeds success”.

Accomplished achievers understand the process. They know that to properly put together an event of this scale, as the HOF has been known for, it would take a good candidate, an impartial vetting and screening process, a good budget to assure the quality, and qualified professionals behind the scenes to pull it all together.

In other words, it is the combined efforts of all participants—the awardee, their close circle of family and friends, their supporters, sponsors on one side, and on the other side, it’s the staff and personnel of VT/ CPRTV working the sidelines, overseen by our Executive and Publisher, Veronica Leighton, and her resident adviser and partner, businessman, and former corporate executive Joe Mauricio.

“A money maker,” some critics will say, “a showcase of elitist recipients,” others will venture, and to both comments I say, “Yes–of course!” For those of us who have tried to organize even a simple house party, it would take planning, funding and execution—all three elements present in any function or get together, and to multiply those elements of a simple house party on a grand scale, and it will take the same three elements magnified upwards in order to produce what the HOF has been known for, a classy, elegant and fitting tribute to deserving men and women that have graced our stage year after year. If our naysayers are calling this company of achievers “elite,” then yes they are, for they have separated themselves from the pack, daring to dream bigger, achieving loftier goals but never losing sight of their need to give back to their small towns, their communities, their countries.

From the simple task of inviting their guests, deciding on their formal wear, hair and makeup at the day of the event for the women, to bow tie or necktie for the men, the HOF guides the awardees to project their best, to be proud of their achievements, to give the community the opportunity to recognize their good deeds, and hopefully help to inspire the younger generation. From planning to execution, it takes a full year to put the gala together, and in fact, the 2016 HOF already has a date of Saturday, October 29, 2016, for our next awards ceremonies.

We, the staff behind-thescenes, are proud to be a part of this prestigious gathering, witnesses to what has now grown to be the highly anticipated, well-attended gala of our media group. We have seen the hard work of its founder, Veronica, to make this day special for the deserving candidates who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of excellence, and to be recognized for their efforts is what has made this festive fete the town’s coveted ticket, the one to watch, the one to emulate. I have been an awardee myself, and the feelings that accompany the honor-excitement, giddiness, joy, pride and gastrointestinal stirrings, have made that night all the more memorable.

Be a part of our 2016 Chicago Filipino-American Hall of Fame. Nominate, participate, and experience for yourself what it’s like to be surrounded by successful people in their own fields of discipline or endeavor, to feel the thrill, the energy and to witness the next batch of awesome individuals that have made the cut.

You can’t really say anything about it unless you have been there, so be there to join us at our next event. Just call or email us, and you could be part of this exciting event to find out what the fuss is all about. I can assure you that you will have a great time amongst upbeat people and, if anything else, it will be a social media moment that you will never forget.

For information, please call Viatimes at (773) 866-0811 or email us at viatimes@sbcglobal.net.

Inside the make-up room, artists Robert Chavez and Froilan Cabrera (back) hectically doing their beautifying jobs for the awardees and staff.

Attending to the orchid centerpieces are Jovie Calma, Karla Maglantay & Ryan Tejero;

Overall Chair & Founder, Veronica, overseeing things inside the ballroom.

Serious discussions for red-carpeted step-and-repeat welcome interviews by Girlie, Jovie & Veronica

final pose before the grand start-up of the glorious gala event.

 

VT/CPRTV staffers, L-R, standing: Brian Evangelista, Dino Dizon, Melody Dizon, Mary Jane Evangelista, Joe Mauricio, Veronica, Lou Cabalona, Girlie Pascual. Front: James dela Cruz and Baron Cabalona.