Humanitarian Golden Heart Awards 2016

The Pilipino American Social Services (PASS) and Human Resources has been serving the Filipino American community of Chicago for twenty years, with service and humanitarian mission for the community. Other services include health outreach, food distribution, training, socialization, recreational and cultural programs for Filipino Americans in Chicago particularly the low income and senior citizens.  It is a non-profit organization with (501-c3 exeption), located at 1511 W. Irving Park Rd. in Chicago.

In order to sustain itself, PASS and HRC has to utilize the community’s support through its annual fundraising events, such as, The Calendar Moms, Dads & Grandmas and through the Humanitarian Golden Heart Awards for distinguished individuals with golden hearts to give and support its cause.

PASS President, Dr. Virgilio Jonson, aptly says the following about the 2016 Humanitarian Awardees…”We are honoring these individuals who have distinguished themselves within our community for devoting their time, talent, effort and financial help to the underprivileged people to make their lives easier and better. They go out of their way in different directions on how they will be able to help these people by giving back some of the things they have and enjoy to share with the people who need it. I believe there are many more people out there who are servicing humanity, and are deserving, but these awardees are only few examples. We will be looking for more shining examples and we will recognize and honor them in the future.”

During his speech, teary-eyed Dr. Jonson made a sad and shocking pronouncement that the PASS officers and its board of directors might be forced to close down and terminate its services to the community for the reason that the rent for the property has been raised about 100% by their landlord, thus getting quite unaffordable for this organization to survive and serve the community. PASS is reaching out to the community for help, and let us not turn our backs on its appeal for help.

The 2016 recipients of the PASS Humanitarian Award who have been honored and recognized for their humanitarian deeds in this community are the following….

The peerless career of Dr. de Leon as a community and hospital leader culminated in his being made the president of the Medical Staff for a year in 1988. Aside from his own personal scholarship program of which he is the benefactor, likewise notable was his involvement in the many charitable initiatives of the Century Lions Club of Chicago. In all Dr. de Leon had been in the surgical team of at least 12 Norwegian-American Hospital-sponsored medical missions, and in 4 of the recent medical missions of the Philippine Medical Association in Chicago. These had brought Dr. de Leon and his devoted wife to numerous missions to the Philippines, in Mexico, and in Peru in South America. It has been his passion these past many years to regularly mentor rotating medical students sharing with them his knowledge and vast experience in the practice of Medicine. Dr. de Leon is Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery for the Ross University School of Medicine.

Adeline Fajardo is a prime example of a community service leader who serves for the common benefit of the Filipinos in Illinois and the Philippines.  She has the resourcefulness and initiative to utilize opportunities or find sources of support and collaboration in activities that serve the common good of the Filipinos. She has provided outstanding service to the Filipino Americans in Chicagoland thru the successful completion of projects by taking the responsibility such as:  overall chairman of Piyesta Pinoy, overall coordinator of Filipino American History Month and recognition of Most Outstanding Seniors over the age of 75; co-chair of fundraising activities for the typhoon victims in the Philippines; promoted educational programs with respect to issues affecting or of interest to Filipino Americans; instrumental in the participation of PACF Performing Arts group and other cultural groups in several mainstream festivals; spearheaded charitable, humanitarian and educational activities that lead to the betterment of Filipinos communities here and abroad;  collaborated with various cultural groups and community organization in several cultural and educational projects.

As per Dr. Hernaez’s experience in leadership, he always worked cooperatively with dedication.  He has joined several medical missions for many years.  He helped fundraise for the victims of Tsunami and Katrina, and supported the Gawad Kalinga, PASS, Lions Club, and several other organizations.  He distributed emergency medical kits to the different barangays and donated to the less fortunate in the Philippines.  His generosity was highly admired on his 50th birthday when he donated money through the Gawad Kalinga to feed malnourished kids in Manila and Quezon City.  As recognition, he was given prestigious awards by the various organizations.  He was a recipient of the prestigious Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame in Medicine by Via Times/CPRTV, Asian American Hall of Fame, and PACF as Ideal Couple with his wife, Dr. Nida Blankas-Hernaez.  He was recognized as the American Top Family Doctor in Consumer Research Council of America since 2007 and was granted the 2009 APP Exemplary Physician Award. With his strong determination, Dr. Edward is committed to serve the community and more so, to serve his Motherland, and his needy kababayans.  He firmly believes in, “The more you give, the more you are blessed.”

A dedicated and experienced Lady Physician, Dr. Hilao was a Physician Ambassador Group to China (Interact with Chinese pediatric practice compared with western practice) CME.  She had served as on-call attending physician back up with many Consuls General of the Philippines assigned in Chicago, First Lady Imelda Marcos and to the Philippine Ambassador to United Nations, General Carlos P. Romulo.  She has worked full time with the following medical hospitals and centers:  Ransom in Streator, IL, Professional Medical Center, Chicago; New City Medical Center, Chicago; Bunilsor Medical Cebter. Chicago, and presently with Roseland Chicago Department of Health.

With her effective help in the annual fund raising event of the Pilipino American Social Services (PASS), she became the Calendar Mom in 2011 and Calendar Grandma in 2014. Gloria’s social-civic engagements included the membership in Jose Rizal Lion’s Club (as treasurer for 2016), and USA Regional Ladies of Rizal. She also volunteers as a community organizer for Alliance of Filipino Immigrants Rights and Empowerment (AFIRE). She is greatly involved in organizing caregivers and working hard with the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA) coalition in passing the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights for the State. With her effective help in the annual fund raising event of the Pilipino American Social Services (PASS), she became the Calendar Mom in 2011 and Calendar Grandma in 2014.

Veronica’s media vehicles of VIA Times Publication and Chicago Philippine Reports TV (CPRTV), and lately the social media, have been recognized as a noted media service in promoting the Filipino American community in mainstream North America for many years. For her VOLUNTEERISM/HUMANITARIAN INVOLVEMENT, she has donated to the following humanitarian/social service organizations through funds raised from the Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame gala events (a joint fundraising pet project of Via Times & CPRTV )…Pilipino American Social Service (PASS); Typhoon Haiyan Victims in the Philippines; Bantay Bata; Northwestern Institute of Health & Technology; Watts of Love;  Chicago Archdiocese’s Seminarian Students; KIANA ( Kananga International Association of North America, and many others.

Always thinking of helping out other people, Ernanilla had passion in involving herself in the feeding program for the indigent people in her hometown of Santo Rosario Padre Burgos in Southern Leyte, likewise donating fixtures and funds for the improvement of their church, and donating a piece of their land for 20 homeless families. In Chicago, she has devoted her time and efforts and donated to some community organizations, including the Pilipino American Social Service (PASS), Philippine Independence Week Committee (PIWC) and Pilipino American Senior Citizens Association of Chicago (PASAC).

After receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine from Far Eastern University, Dr. Mon served as instructor in anatomy and histology in his medical school.  Thereafter, he has joined various medical missions to the Philippines for his humanitarian services and has volunteered in Medical and Surgical Missions in the Philippines. He also served as the Medical Director, DHS-School of the Blind, 1151 Wood St., Chicago, IL.

A graduate of Journalism from Silliman University, Elsie  lives up to the dictum of her profession, calling ”a spade a spade.” She is a very popular |”Notebook” Columnist of the VIA Times Newsmagazine, being followed and read by many. Her Pastor sums it all about Elsie’s humanitarian, kind and giving heart… The Rev. John Chu, Pastor, Faith Community Presbyterian Church, Elsie’s church: “ For the past four years that I’ve known Elsie, I found her  as a humanitarian, compassionate and a generous person – giving without being asked. She manifests her Christian Faith and Love for Christ by reaching out to her Neighbors, so to speak. Elsie is very genuine in her relationship with people: truthful and outspoken. She  is one of the Ruling Elders  at Faith Community Presbyterian Church — and a member of the Presbytery of Chicago Women Ruling Committee.”

As a zoologist, a professor, a nurse, researcher, medical director, entrepreneur, linguist, a physician, a consultant, and an educator, her dedication is to serve and touch people, help and heal them. In May 26, 2010, her husband founded the Advent Charities with her in Las Pinas City, Philippines. The organization is very active in giving medical and dental mission, giving free medications, routine labs, EKG, and free blood sugar checks. This has been possible with collaboration with their board of directors and many physicians, dentists and a lot of volunteers.

Noe founded the Advent Charities in May 26, 2010 with his wife, Dr. Mercy Palomares. Very active in providing medical and dental mission with his wife, together with their board of directors and volunteers. His efforts in providing food for the needy and less fortunate people were never meant for him to be recognized in his special unidentified ways.  His motto is to be an instrument of God in touching people with his talents and resources living a very simple life. His goal is to leave a humanitarian legacy for the next generation.

Susan Alforque Silvano,

CPA & watercolor artist, was the first female president of PCPA Chicago, the local Filipino CPA association & of the National Council of Philippine American Canadian Accountants, the umbrella organization of Filipino CPA associations in North America. She chaired the 1999 Philippine Independence Week Celebration in Chicago. She serves as a lector for St. Gregory Church & was a precinct election judge. Since 1991, she  & her husband Tony were volunteers at the Pilipino American Social Services (PASS), a not for profit food pantry where she taught art classes in 2015. In January 2016, Susan served as a volunteer & lunch sponsor of the Olongapo Medical Mission sponsored by the Philippine Medical Association in Chicago.  In 2008, Susan started her second career as a Watercolor Artist, and In appreciation for the gift of a second career, Susan shares her art through teaching art classes & her calendars.

A nurse and educator by profession, Liza devotes her time to both civic and ethnic organizations to include: the Chicago Filipino American Lions Club President and Melvin Jones award recipient,  Director for the Pilipino American Social Services (PASS), Vice President of the Edison Park Chamber of Commerce, Director for Autism Speaks, Member of Alzheimer’s Foundation, Member of the Midwest Center for Palliative and Hospice Care, Asian Advisory Committee for the Secretary of State, Jesse White, and the Public Relations Officer for the Ladies of Rizal, just to name a few. She is also an active member of her parishes, Holy Name Cathedral and St Eugene as a member of the choir, lector and Eucharistic Minister.