Press Release
November 6, 2012

JINGGOY HONORED BY FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN USA

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada is the 2012 recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award of the 11th Gawad Amerika Foundation.

Gawad Amerika is a non-profit organization based in North Hollywood, California which provides socio-economic assistance to struggling Filipino-Americans. The organization also gives financial support to students, and offering shelter and jobs to some 60 families and individuals.

Gawad Amerika Awards was first conducted in September 2002, a year after the historic 9/11 incident, and honored the victims and fallen heroes in the Filipino-American communities. Today, Gawad Amerika recognizes the accomplishments of respected individuals which serve as inspiration for the younger generation.

Founding Chairman and President Mr. Charles Simbulan says they chose Sen. Estrada for his "personal success and remarkable achievements" and his "sincere dedication and commitment and being a good example for the Filipino people."

"I am deeply honored for this distinction. This definitely inspires me to work harder and do better for the Filipino people. I would also like to commend the organization for actively helping and looking after their kababayan in a foreign country. It just shows that bayanihan is very much alive in every Filipino, no matter where they are," Sen. Estrada says.

Sen. Estrada personally accepted the award last November 3 at the Celebrity Center, Los Angeles, California, as the occasion also served as an opportunity to check on the condition of the migrant Filipino workers, in his capacity as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development and Congressional Oversight Committee on Labor and Employment.

Other awardees for this year's occasion include boxing champion and Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao and veteran actor-director Eddie Garcia.

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