After months of preparations, two prestigious Orange County groups dedicated to almost identical audiences, the Orange County entrepreneurs and professionals, the organizers from Asian Business Association of Orange Country (ABAOC) and the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County (FACCOC) were able to breathe a sigh of relief having done their parts in their respective signature events which were able to attain the objective of recognizing the exemplary achievements of their members and supporters.
Separated only by a couple of days, ABAOC and FACCOC had the limelights reserved for extraordinary achievers at prestigious venues, ABAOC at the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach last November 20 and FACCOC at the Paradise Pier Hotel in the world famous Disneyland Resorts in Anaheim last November 22.
OC FIL-AM 20 YEARS: Next year’s challenges for the Orange County Fil-Am entrepreneurs and professions, find worthy allies in the new set of officers of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce inducted into office by Cong. Ed Royce at its Gala and Awards Night last Nov. 22 at Paradise Hotel in Disneyland where it also honored the 20 pass presidents of the organization.
Combined, ABAOC and FACCOC have a total of 43 years of service to the Orange County business sector in the county’s 34 cities. Orange County is the third-most populous county in California, the sixth-most populous in the United States, and more populous than twenty-one U.S. states.
ABAOC and FACCOC had both events highlighted by installations in office of the new set of officers who will set the tone for next year’s thrusts “in the service of entrepreneurs in Orange County with ABAOC anchoring its 19th edition of celebration on the theme “Celebrating 23 years of Service and New Generation of Business Entrepreneurship”.
FACCOC for its part celebrated (in masquerade mode) its 20 years of service to the Fil-Am entrepreneurs by honoring its 20 past president who have volunteered their talents, business, and leadership skills for Fil Am business people and professionals to enable them to gain inroads in the competitive business milieu of Orange County.
ABAOC has the newly-elected congressional representative Young Kim as their inducting officer who took the occasion to thank the organization’s membership for its trust and support. FACCOC had their officers installed and sworn into office by Congressman Ed Royce. Philippine Consulate General Leo Herrera- Lim was the night’s guest speaker.
ABAOC officers inducted into office by Congresswoman Young Kim included;
Tom Nguyen, President (Wincorp Solutions); Gloria Rull, Past President, New York Life Insurance; Roger Chen (CB Technologies, Inc.), Anthony Ozogu (Oznet Systems)- Co-Secretaries and Kent Foltz (Kent Steven Foltz and Associates), treasurer.Board of Directors: Sun Hi Ann, Keri Osaki (Director Emeritus, Lily Otienno, Christine Tan, Edith Andres, Suzanna Choi and Marlene Gomez.
ABAOC MEETS 2015 CHALLENGES: Newly-elected Congresswoman (behind the rostrum) inducts in office the officers and members of the board of directors of the Asian Business Association of Orange County at its 23rd Gala and Awards Night at Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach.
Awardees – US Bank – Corporate Eagle Award, Southern California Edison – Executive Eagle Award, Orange County Transportation Authority – Executive Eagle Award, Rockette Richardson Ewell (US Bank) – Corporate Advocate of the Year, Jimmy Mai (Wells Fargo- Corporate Advocate of the Year Award, Lidia S. Martinez (Southwest Airlines) – Corporate Advocate of the Year, Michael Cooper (Disneyland) – Corporate Diversity of the Year Award, Valerie Lertyaovarit (Southern California Gas Company) – Corporate Supplier Diversity Person of the Year Award, Joseph F. Alderete (Southern California Edison) – Special Lifetime Advocate Award, Bekele Demissie (Orange County Transportation Authority) – Special Longevity Eagle Award, Linda Young (Elite OC Productions) – Entrepreneur of the Year Award., and Linda Dumatol, Lifetime Recognition Award..
Carrying on the torch for the FACCOC in next years thrusts include the officers and members of the board of directors: Elena Lapid-Salonga (President), Edwin Baloloy (President-Elect), Rodolfo “Jun” Jao, Kasia Gola (Treasurer), Marita Jao (Secretary), Directors: Chris Andal, Edith Andres, Christine Consunji-Chen, Andy Edralin, Neil Estrada, Joseph Joseph, Natividado Maneja, Roger Ledina, Troy Nguyen, Gloria Rull, Virnie Tordera, Thomas Wong and Linda Sarno as Director Emeritus.
FACCOC Awardees include: New York Life, Corporate Maharlika Award; Linda Sarno, Individual Maharlika Award; US Bank, Corporate Advocate Award, (Dante and Fannie Cantal ofTwin Eagles, Inc., Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year Award; Mendrei and Menard Leelin (Leelin Bakery and Café), Emerging Entrepreneurs of the Year Award..
Life Achievement Awards were given to Rodolfo Jao, Chris Andal, Gloria Rull, Edith Andres, Maria Dumatol, Ernie Delfin, Norberto Reyes, Dr. Carmelita Co-Casquejo and Clemencio Cruz Apeles.