The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County focused this year’s signature event in celebrating tomorrow’s leaders at the 22nd edition of the Annual Awards Gala last Oct. 7 at the Magic Kingdom Ballroom of Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.
Indeed the magic of continuous leadership lies on the shoulders of future leaders on whose hands are entrusted the next generation of leadership who are better attuned to the intricacies of the changing business environment.
Some members of the current crop of student leaders had been invited to highlight the thrust of FACCOC’s future thrusts which currently rely significantly on the members’ spirit of volunteerism to achieve its mission in the community.
Focusing on the future leaders highlighted the importance roles they would play given today’s constantly changing circumstances, with market trends coming and coming and customers’ preferences changing.
Five student leaders from University of California, California State University, Cal State University and Cal Poly Pomona had the spotlights shared the center stage as nominees for “Fil-Am Scholars of the Year” and “Graduate of the Year”, the first time ever that campus figures had been given due recognition by the Chamber.
This year’s “Scholar of the Year”, Anthony Cantal of Cal Poly Pomona is a mechanical engineering graduate whose major study had emphasis in vibration, robotics, HVAC and alternative energy.
FACCOC Annual Awards Gala: The 22nd Annual Awards Gala of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County focused on the upcoming generation of business entrepreneurs and acknowledging their future roles in the business community. Here, the Officers, the members of the Board of Directors, guests from the business and political fields and awardees take a brief timeout to record the signature event.
The other scholars included Anthony Garcia (with major in History), Heidi Carreon (Journalism), Jacqueline Mayuga (Applied Math) – all from University of California- and Celina Saludes (Communication Disorders) from Cal State Fullerton.
FACCOC has through the years built strong partnership with business players in the community in achieving its four-fold mission of serving the members’ businesses and the community. Some of them were also acknowledged and accorded the rightful recognition for the fruitful collaboration.
US Bank had been a faithful supporter of FACCOC’s programs for its members and the community and was awarded the FACCOC Corporate Advocate Award. The bank has been “recognized as one of the safest, most respected and most trusted bank in the county” and which shares a strong tradition of joining forces to build great places “they call home”.
US Bank works business conscience has enabled it to “work with community partners who understands the needs of individuals, families and organizations”. Ms. Joanna Favis Pamaran, USBank vice president, received the award for her company.
First Choice Bank, represented by VP Natividado Maneja, was awarded the Corporate Advocate Award of the Year while Fullerton-based restaurant On-Season Meals, a meal service “for healthy style and catering” had been honored as the “Start-Up Company of the Year”.
The event also occasioned the installation in office of the Chambers newly elected Board of Directors and Officers officiated by the new Philippine Consul General Adelio Angelito S. Cruz which included Edwin Baloloy (President) Neil Estrada (President-elect), James Valle (Treasurer) Cristina Espiritu (Secretary), Elena Lapid-Salonga, Gloria C. Rull, Edith Andres, Maria Dumatol (Past Presidents), Christine Consunji-Chen, Joseph L. Joseph, Diana Zuniga, Jay Ungos and Rico Bautista.