Salute and Recognition to the Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Famers 2014

By: Veronica Leighton

 

VIA Times and CPRTV proudly present the 2014 recipients of the Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Famers on its 20th annual gala event to be held on October 4, 2014 at the International Grand Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Rosemont. This red-carpeted formal function is the most prestigious awards ceremony that many members of our community look up to and has been compared to the annual Oscar’s awards ceremony of the moviedom. The following inductees who will be receiving the most coveted HOF crystal trophy award are: MARIA FIDES BALITA, CPA, CIA (Excellence in Finance/Accounting); ED CABANAYAN (Excellence in Performing Arts); JESSE CORRES, M.D. (Excellence in Medicine; JON COTAY (Man of the Year); MARITESS CUMBA, M.D. (Young Achiever); NANCY ECONOMOU (Friend of the Filipino-Humanitarian); MARY JANE EVANGELISTA, BSMT.BSN,RN,MAS (Excellence in Education); DARRIN P. KRAMER (Dance Art); LOURDES LIVAS (Woman of the Year); AERON LANCERO (Executive Leadership in Hospitality Business); CLARITA MIRAFLOR, Ph.D. (Excellence in Nursing-International); DENNIS MONDERO (Community Service); BRUCE RAUNER (Friend of the Filipino in Public Service); DR. JOJO SAYSON, DMT (Science/Humanitarian); CONSTANCE SHAY-HADLEY (Friend of the Flipino-Nursing); LAKHI MANGHARAM SIAP (Community Youth Leadership); GRACE SIELAFf (Art/Interior Design); MHEL TOLLEDO (Nursing/Home Health Care. Mr. Bruce Rauner, running for Governor (R) of Illinois and who is receiving the Friend of the Filipino in Public Service award, will serve as the guest speaker. Dancing to the wonderful music of Ladies Choice Band will be until 1:00AM. Below is a list of the appetizing menu from passed hors d’ouvres/ cheese table to post-awarding ice cream sundae bar for the night.

Exciting line-up of topnotch performers include: Nick Vera Perez, Ed Cabanayan, Jovie Calma, Sama Sama Project featuring Lou Maningas-Cabalona, CPRTV’s David Rivas, Arizza Marcelo and Michaela Aloba, Chaz Patron, Marie Girlie Pascual, Darrin Kramer, and popular pianist Bong Penera. These honored HOF awardees will be VT’s featured cover for the month of October with their impressive write-ups, in time for the celebration of the Filipino American History Month.

About Bruce Rauner, Our Honored Guest Speaker

Bruce was born and raised in Illinois. His grandfather was a Swedish-speaking, small-town dairyman who taught Bruce about fishing and hunting, the value of hard work and the importance of giving back. Bruce knew how to ride a horse at 6, milk a cow at 8, and shoot a rifle at 10. Bruce’s first job was flipping burgers, his second job was parking cars. A dedicated and good student, Bruce worked while he attended Dartmouth College, where he graduated with top honors, and then earned an M.B.A. from Harvard. Returning to Illinois in 1981, Bruce began working at then startup investment company Golder, Thoma, Cressey (later GTCR). As one of its earliest partners, Bruce helped build the firm into one of the most successful and respected businesses in Illinois. In fact, GTCR has been trusted for decades to oversee the retirement investments of first responders, teachers and other Illinois workers and has created tremendous returns for them – far surpassing the stock market’s performance – while providing exceptional value for taxpayers. Bruce makes no apologies for his success. He is a self-made businessman who had no inheritance or family wealth. He is proud to show people how he has reinvested much of that success into the state he loves through supporting education, the YMCA, local hospitals and community organizations. His greatest passion is education. He and his wife, Diana, have spearheaded efforts to develop charter and choice schools. Bruce has never let his success change him. He still drives a 20-year-old camper van, wears an $18 watch, and stays in the cheapest hotel room he can find when he’s on the road. He is the proud father of six children – two boys and four girls – and his wife Diana is the love of his life. He hunts birds, hikes, loves riding his Harley, and jumps at every opportunity to fish. Bruce isn’t interested in a political career. He is running for governor because he loves Illinois and refuses to stand by while career politicians drive it into the ground. He is willing to take the special interests controlling state government head on and reform the way Springfield does business.##