Outstanding Fil-Am creatives honored at NY Knicks Filipino Heritage Night

A panel of extraordinary Fil-Am creatives came together to spark a crucial conversation about representation. Courtesy of NaFFAA New York

NEW YORK – The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) New York yesterday honored outstanding Fil-Am creatives at the 3rd annual VIP Filipino Heritage Night with the New York Knicks pre-event at the Sunday Afternoon studio in Manhattan.

The awardees included TOFA, ‘Here Lies Love,’ Foundation for Filipino Artists, TagaLikha Collective, the Filipino comedy collective Banana Ketchup and Madison Square Garden’s Phil Young.

“The recognition marks TOFA’s first in the creative category and is a powerful acknowledgement of our unwavering commitment to uplift the Filipino American community,” said TOFA founder Elton Lugay.

TOFA founder Elton Lugay (center) says the award not only honors the Fil-Am creatives, but also the spirit of bayanihan that defines the Fil-Am community. Also in photo: NaFFAA National Chair Brendan G. Flores (leftmost) and Assemblymember Steven Raga (rightmost). CONTRIBUTED

“The soul of TOFA is embodied by our passionate volunteers, who selflessly dedicate their time, whether it’s to celebrate Pride, showcase our talents at NBA games or spread holiday cheer at the White House.”

At the pre-event, a panel of extraordinary Fil-Am creatives came together to spark a crucial conversation about representation and the impact they can have as a community.

Hosted by celebrated Chef Jordan Andino, the panel featured the voices of creative powerhouses Jaygee McQueen Macapugay, Michaela A. Ternasky-Holland, King Marie, Rich Tu and Kollective Hustle’s Romeo Marquez Jr.

Their shared wisdom highlighted the importance of recognizing Fil-Am creatives who are raising the Filipino American profile and shaping the American cultural landscape.

The event was not just a meeting of minds but also a celebration that brought together the vibrant younger generation of Fil-Ams and dedicated NaFFAA New York members.

NaFFAA honors outstanding Fil-Am creatives. In photo: NaFFAA National Chair Chair Brendan G. Flores (left) with former Knicks star John Wallace. CONTRIBUTED

NaFFAA honored the outstanding Fil-Am creatives following the panel session.

Lugay said the award not only honors TOFA and the other awardees, but also the spirit of bayanihan that defines the Fil-Am community.

He thanked the event organizers – Michelle Amor, Rachelle Peraz Ocampo, Dr. Laura Garcia, and NaFFAA National Chair Brendan G. Flores – and acknowledged the presence of former Knicks star John Wallace, Consul General Senen Mangalile and Assemblymember Steven Raga.

Lugay paid tribute to the TOFA volunteers’ dedication “which is the very essence of our pursuit of excellence and representation.”

“We believe in mutual support and growth, a value championed by organizations like NaFFAA,” he said.

The 3rd New York Knicks Filipino American Heritage Night was organized by NaFFAA and Madison Square Garden in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in New York, NYC Filipinos and Project Barkada.

The New York Knicks took on the Toronto Raptors, winning 126-100, for this tribute to Filipino Americans, the third largest Asian group in New York.

The Heritage Night also featured Broadway Barkada performing the national anthem and DJ Bles-sed.

Since 1997, NaFFAA has promoted the welfare and well-being of the four million Filipinos and Filipino Americans throughout the US. It is the largest national affiliation of Fil-Am institutions, umbrella organizations and individuals. Its 15-member regions cover the continental US, Alaska, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands.