Boy Abunda will host the 16th annual The Outstanding Filipino Awards on Oct. 24, bringing internationally known entertainers together with nurses, advocates, entrepreneurs and community leaders for a celebration of Filipino achievement.
The ceremony will take place at the Terry Theater at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the program begins at 8 p.m.
Singer and actress Sharon Cuneta, Grammy-winning Black Eyed Peas member Apl.de.ap and veteran Philippine theater actor Arnold Reyes are among this year’s honorees. The complete roster spans five groups recognizing enterprise and community service, nursing leadership, health and human impact, culture and global service, and public leadership.
For TOFA founder Elton Lugay, the gathering connects those different paths through a shared sense of heritage and accomplishment.
“We wanted to create an annual source of pride for Filipino Americans,” Lugay told The Philippine Star in an August interview. He said the awards offer recognition recipients can share with their families, colleagues and communities.
Former White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford is scheduled to deliver the keynote address. Comerford worked at the White House under five presidents, from Bill Clinton to Joe Biden, before retiring in 2024.
Complete list of awardees
Enterprise and community service: Sally Esmena; Kyra Buenviaje; Vincent Gotti; Agnes Higley; Dino Alfonso; Ana Tecson; Linda Ravenscroft; Linda Jimenez; and Tita and Rudy Fernandez.
Nursing leadership: Job Mascardo; Dr. Dianne Roxborough; Carol Robles; Dr. Agustin Guido III; Dr. Romeo Devera; Dr. Samerah Razuman; Dr. Pamela Windle; Dr. Warly Remegio; and Rodolfo Lastimosa Jr.
Health and human impact: Mona Liza Santos; Redner Salonga; Melvin Dizon; Dr. John Paul Abenojar; Dr. Martin Amor; Dr. Christopher de Guzman; Dr. Jennifer Jose; Dr. Philipp Aldana; and Ismael and Josephine Jampayas.
Culture and global service: Bonifacia Orozco; Venazir Martinez; Sydney Loyola; Benito Bautista and Emma Francisco; Jenn Cuneta; Joey Omila; Demee Koch; Alfonso Zulueta; and Drs. Ramon and Benita Suarez.
Public leadership and headline honors: Grace Divina Valera; Maria-Threese Serana; Sharol Noblejas; Harry Thomas Jr. and Mithi Aquino Thomas; Henni Espinosa; Janet Salazar; Arnold Reyes; Sharon Cuneta; and Apl.de.ap.
An evening of recognition and performances
Several Florida community figures are among the recipients, including Noblejas, honorary consul of the Philippines in Florida and founder and president of Jax Filipinos Inc.; Omila, a longtime Tampa Bay community leader and PhilFest co-founder; and Jacksonville autism advocate Salonga.
Former U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Thomas Jr. and his wife, Filipina executive Mithi, will be recognized jointly.
Abunda, who has hosted TOFA since 2015, has described returning to the ceremony as a source of Filipino pride. His role brings a familiar voice to a program that places prominent entertainers alongside people whose contributions are often most visible in their workplaces and local communities.
Scheduled performers include the Philippine Performing Arts Company of Tampa, Parangal Dance Company of the San Francisco Bay Area and TOFA performers from New York.
Founded in New York, TOFA held its first 12 annual celebrations there before taking the ceremony to Los Angeles, Honolulu and Las Vegas. The Jacksonville gathering marks its return to the East Coast during Filipino American History Month.
“TOFA helps show that Filipinos are not defined by one profession,” Lugay said. “We are public servants, educators, artists, entrepreneurs, entertainers and leaders in many fields.”
Tickets start at $150 and are available through Ticketmaster.
