NEW YORK—What started out in 1988 as an idea of showing the rich heritage and culture of the Filipino people has become one of the most prestigious organizations in the city that has reached out to the multi-ethnic community of Queens and that of greater New York.
This year marks the celebration of the group’s 20th anniversary and with a dinner gala at the Marriott La Guardia, the Foundation and its members and friends honored three distinguished women.
Helen Marshall, Queens Borough President; Pat Edwards, Citibank’s VP and Community Relations Director and international artist Lolita Valderrama Savage all took the centerstage to share the evening’s honor.
"The foundation has done so much to promote Filipino artists and I am very proud to receive this award with these two women. I hope we have more projects in the future as we share the essence of art and unite people from all over the world," Savage said as she received her award.
The indefatigable Aida Bartolome, the Foundation’s founder and executive director, was thankful to everyone who has supported to the group for the past 20 years.
"On behalf of our the officers, members, and to the many volunteers who are instrumental in reaching our 20th anniversary, I would like to thank you all for your unstinting support, loyalty, enthusiasm and generosity for championing our cause," Bartolome said.
As a non-profit organization, FFAI helps artists promote and develop human awareness and cultivate the utmost potential of people. Since 1988, FFAI has actively served the local community in offering different programs to promote Filipino artistry and creativity as well as multi-cultural understanding.
It has also presented local and foreign Filipino artists’ performance in concerts, as well as visual arts through exhibitions in galleries and prominent places in New York and in other parts of the country.
"I am aware of the good deeds you have been doing, not only for the Filipino artists, but also in preserving and enhancing Philippine cultural heritage. I admire your commitment to share your talents and resources in launching projects and programs hat introduce Filipino arts and Filipino artistic talents to the American mainstream society," Ambassador Willy Gaa said in his congratulatory message to the Foundation.
The awardees weren’t the only lucky ladies that evening.
Carmen Harris bought weeks earlier one of the $15 raffle tickets being sold. Little did she know that this one ticket would win her the grand prize: a brand new Mercedes Benz.
"I couldn’t believe it at first, I thought the lady who called me was just pulling a prank. I kept saying, ‘This is not a joke, right?’," Harris recalled. She bought her winning ticket from a Filipina who was a fellow nurse at the hospital where they work.
"We promised you a Mercedes Benz, that is why we are giving you one. We couldn’t have done this without the support of Silver Star Motors and every single one who bought tickets from us," said Ruth Deguzman, chair of the raffle draw.
( Published on November 28, 2008 in Asian Journal New York p. 12 )
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