Bobby Lopez, Josie Natori, Sheila Coronel, Fiesta In America, PMAA To Receive Highest Honors at 4th TOFA-NY Awards at Carnegie Hall, October 25

THE VOICE KIDS Philippines' Darren Espanto, Multi-Award Winning Composer-Pianist Yasuhiko Fukuoka Among Artists Set To Perform

New York, October 7, 2014--In its fourth year, presented by AARP, The Outstanding Filipino Americans in New York (TOFA-NY) Awards, the grandest celebration that caps the monthlong Filipino American History Month in New York City, has announced today that Filipino-American EGOT holder Bobby Lopez ("Frozen," "The Book of Mormon"); fashion designer and philanthropist Josie Natori; Dean of Academic Affairs at Columbia University Sheila Coronel; the people behind Fiesta In America, an annual trade and cultural expo; and the medical mission volunteers of Philippine Medical Association in America (PMAA) will be feted with the highest honors--The Heritage Awards--at TOFA-NY Awards ceremony, which will be held at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall (881 7th Ave, New York, NY) on Saturday, October 25, at 7 p.m.

Limited tickets ($70-120) are available at CarnegieCharge 212-247-7800 or visit http://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2014/10/25/0800/PM/4th-Annual-TOFA-NY-Awards/

Lopez, whose huge global hit song, the Academy Award-winning song "Let It Go," which he co-wrote with his wife, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, says, "I'm so proud of my Filipino-American heritage, which comes from my father's side and from which I learned a tireless work ethic and a challenge to always do my best...I'm honored to be one of the recipients of this year's Heritage Awards."

Lopez, together with Natori, Coronel, Fiesta In America, and PMAA, joins the roster of Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga ("Miss Saigon," "Les Miserables"), Philippine American Chamber of Commerce, Filipino Reporter, Drama Desk Award-winning theater company Ma-Yi Theater Company ("The Romance of Magno Rubio," "Microcrisis"), Filipino-American Latin soul musician Joe Bataan, Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF), Foundation for Filipino Artists Inc., and leading couture bridal designer Monique Lhuillier who were given out the Heritage Awards in previous years.

Besides the Heritage Awards, special category awards, whose recipients were determined via an online nomination and voting process, will also be handed out during the two-hour-long formal awards ceremony, hosted by Maria Ressa, former CNN reporter and multi-award winning journalist.

This year's special category award recipients are the following:

Arts and Culture

Kinding Sindaw, dance theater ensemble specializing in traditional dance, music, martial arts, and storytelling of the indigenous peoples of the Philippines.

Business & Entrepreneurship

Dennis Josue, owner of Fantasia Floral Design in the Upper East Side

Community Service & Advocacy

Roger Santos, COO and Executive Director of ANCOP Foundation of Couples for Christ

Courage of Conviction

Geena Rocero, transgender model and advocate for transgender rights

Education, Research & Technology

Michael Vea, teacher and co-founder of KIPP Infinity Charter School; co-director of U.S. Strategy Teach for the Philippines

Entertainment

Jhett Tolentino, Tony Award-winning Broadway producer, whose credits include "Here Lies Love" and "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder"

Fashion & Style

Elle Madrona, fashion stylist and blogger

Food and Restaurants

Joel Javier, Chef de Cuisine at Telepan Local in Tribeca

Health Care

Nemcy Duran, nurse and director at Dr. William O. Benenson Rehabilitation Pavilion nursing home in Flushing

LGBT Advocacy

Jenab-i Pareja, community outreach organizer for youth leadership and LGBT issues

Media & Publishing

Ritz Mazon Craves, sports writer for Philboxing.com

Public Service & Politics

Ludi de Asis Hughes, political organizer in New Jersey; CEO and founder at Hughes International Consulting

Senior Welfare & Advocacy

Juliet Payabyab; she has worked with the Philippine Consulate by assisting Filipinos in need

Youth & Sports

Team Takbo, an organization that promotes healthy lifestyle through running

To make the celebration even more momentous, Philippine Consul General to New York Mario De Leon, Jr., community leader Loida Nicolas Lewis, AARP Community Ambassador Major General Antonio Taguba, White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Senior Adviser Jason Tengco, and Miss USA First Runner-up Audra Mari have been asked to keynote the 4th TOFA-NY Awards.

THE VOICE KIDS Philippines' Darren Espanto, multi-award winning composer-pianist Yasuhiko Fukuoka, "Pilipinas Got Talent" finalist Geo Ed Rebucas, Philippine Chamber Singers Los Angeles, Broadway Barkada, UST Alumni Singers of New York, Enteng Evangelista, Richard Lelis Tuozo, Elaine Ficarra, and Pilipino-American Cultural Arts Society of Washington, D.C. are among the artists set to perform.

TOFA-NY Awards, organized by multimedia professionals and entrepreneurs, with Elton Lugay as founding chair, and Sally Nunez , Cristina DC Pastor (Nominations) and yours truly (Publicity) comprising the board, have been recognized by the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications, a premier organization focusing on multi-ethnic diversity in the communications industry.

Sponsors and partners include AARP, Dr Richard Holsman, Rappler.com, The Blakely, Rena Avendula, Apple One Banawa Heights, Philippine Fiesta, VynzNY Entertainment, Ava Lounge, RN Express, Cinco Concepts, Andrew Watson, RDR Cargo, DJ Filipino, FilAm Who's Who, and Filipino Reporter.

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