[ written for Filipino Migrant News, this post appeared in Issue #152, the Awards and Independence Day issue. Thanks and acknowledgment to Mel and Shiela Fernandez, editor in chief and publisher of FMN! For more news and backstories, please visit filipinonews.nz. Please send ylbnoel a pic that you may have taken during the awards, thanks! ]
To reward, highlight and inspire excellence in the Filipino / Pinoy community in New Zealand. Envisioned in 2014, the gem of an idea came from the Filipino Migrant News, taken off with a hiss and a bang, and has paid itself forward with continuous excellence ever since.
Migrant communities have always been overachievers in Aotearoa, owing to the need for migrants to know, adapt to and conquer their transplanted environments.
The Filipino / Pinoy community is no different, having outdone itself in terms of contributing to the NZ economy and serving fellow Kiwis season after season, year after year.
But, with no apologies for subjectivity and bias, Filipinos do it with love, dedication and gratitude.
Pinoys love what they do and love their hosts and fellow migrants, manifesting it in their daily deeds. Having dedicated themselves to their second home, Pinoys likewise dedicate themselves to their jobs and communities. Just as importantly, pinoys show how grateful they are as adopted members of the NZ community by giving the latter their fullest measure of effort, respect and cooperation.
These are the stories the Filipino-Kiwi Hero Awards look for and retell in the most meaningful way possible, if only because with all the negativity in the world, everything positive must be highlighted, but also because telling others about their kabayan encourages other Filipinos to do similarly.
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The selections this year would stand out in any other year, but the urgency and singularity of the covid pandemic made the awardees achievements even more.
The selflessness, improvisation and willingness to go the extra mile of many awardees was caused by the nature of the pandemic, and many of the awardees proved equal to the task.
In other cases, the awardees produced and exceeded their creative outputs to gain notice in their chosen fields, whether it be in the arts or in sports.
In any other year, these awardees by virtue of work output, dedication and excellence would be impressive choices. For excellence in the year of the virus, the achievements stand tallest
Mabuhay to this year’s Filipino – Kiwi Hero Awardees!
