Galing Pinoy

Galing Pinoy showcases the triumph of the Filipino spirit — the Filipino’s innate perseverance to rise above. A double entendre, Galing Pinoy literally translates to both coming from (or brought to you by) the Filipino and Filipino ingenuity.

Dr. Vilma Logronio-Labrador - An Educator for Life

Saturday, 07 February 2009 01:29 Joseph Pimentel / AJPress Los Angeles

"It makes me proud when people say that Filipinos are the human resources of the world," said Dr. Vilma Logronio-Labrador as she sat confidently on the podium during a press conference at the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles.

Logronio-Labrador takes pride in this statement. As the Philippine Undersecretary of Education, and National Chairman of the Commission of Arts and Culture, she has dedicated her life to educating Filipinos. She has spent her life in the Philippine education system and has written more than 24 books on Education in language, reading and values.

Chief Storekeeper Chester V. Gorriceta, US Navy - Pinoy with a Purple Heart

Monday, 02 February 2009 21:31 Cynthia de Castro / AJPress

(3 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)

Chief Storekeeper Chester V. Gorriceta, US Navy - Pinoy with a Purple Heart

The Purple Heart (the Badge of Military Merit) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving with the US military. Very few Filipinos get to receive the Purple Heart, which is the oldest symbol and award given to members of the US military. But last Jan 6, 2009, one such outstanding Pinoy was awarded during ceremonies on board US Naval Base San Diego.

Chief Storekeeper (SW) Chester Villanueva Gorriceta was presented the Purple Heart by the Commander of Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers, Rear Adm. Andy Brown.

Bringing Filipino Cuisine to the Mainstream

Saturday, 24 January 2009 05:17 Malou Liwanag-Aguilar / AJ Press

A CERTIFIED Executive Chef, culinary educator, television personality, consultant and restaurateur to America’s finest city, Chef Larry Banares’ list of achievements is not a short one. He is also a familiar face to television viewers, as he appears twice a week in San Diego’s local channels with his popular cooking segments and on cable with Chef’s Larry Cuisine, his half-hour cooking show. A true "culinary ambassador," Chef Larry is heard around the world on his popular radio program, The Chef Larry Show on World Talk Radio and he writes a food column for the Asian Reader.

Socrates Inonog - Master Chef

Friday, 16 January 2009 21:42 Joseph Pimentel / AJ Press

(2 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)

YOU’D expect any man named Socrates, the famous Greek Philosopher, to be a well-educated and worldly person.

Fil-Am Socrates Inonog certainly lives up to the famous name.

The 79-year-old was the former Dean of Emeritus of Culinary Arts at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. He currently sits atop the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NAFFAA) serving as the Regional 9 Chair that covers the Greater Los Angeles community. He’s also the first ever Filipino to be bestowed as the Certified Culinary Educator in the US and received a number of awards from the Philippines.

"When you work hard, just love what you’re doing this will be the result," said Inonog, pointing out his long list of accomplishments. "This country is really the land of opportunity."

From Maid to Best-Selling Author

Sunday, 11 January 2009 23:14 Cynthia de Castro AJ Press

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

A few years ago, a slim book written by a Filipina domestic helper, Crisanta Sampang, made it to the top ten non-fiction bestsellers of Singapore’s The Strait Times within the first two weeks of its launch. The book, Maid in Singapore, immediately became a hit, not only in Singapore, but also in Canada, where the author currently lives after having worked for years as a nanny/ housekeeper in Singapore.

Crisanta has proven her talents as an author, being also the editor of the first Filipino newspaper in Vancouver. She also formed Crazy Planet Films together with two other Filipinos in Vancouver while working as a researcher for the news desk at Canadian TV. Sampang’s dabbling in filmmaking and scriptwriting has earned her awards at the 2001 Vancouver International Film Festival and a Jury Prize at the National Film Board Contest in Banff, Alberta.