Jaycees PH-NY lauds 2016 Fil-Am ‘Icons of Impact’

 WATCH: Jaycees PH-NY Chapter Icons of Impact Awards gala. CONTRIBUTED

NEW YORK CITY — After almost nine years the Jaycees Philippines-New York Chapter re-launched its Distinguished Service Awards and recognized three individuals as “2016 Icons of Impact: A New Breed of Excellence.”

Dr. Michael Avaricio, Janet Salazar and Miguel Braganza II were honored with the Distinguished Service Award on Dec. 28 during the chapter’s gala night at the Sheraton La Guardia East, Flushing, New York.

It was a special occasion for the chapter since the awards was first presented in 1972 was last given in 2007. Some 160 people attended. Lora Nicholas, a Broadway star, pianist Eric Celerio and David Vernon served as the night’s musical entertainers.

The Icons of Impact: A New Breed of Excellence is the highest award a non-member can receive from a Jaycee chapter that recognizes a member of the community who has shown exceptional leadership qualities and an outstanding record of personal and professional achievements and contributions to society.

Three Distinguished Icons Awardees

Michael Avaricio, MD, was honored for Medical Achievement and Youth Empowerment. Dr. Avaricio is committed to educating future doctors, nurses and medical assistants through his mentoring program at various medical institutions in New York City. For several years now he also has managed and coached Filipino American youth in intercity basketball tournaments and baseball leagues.

Miguel C. Braganza II was honored for being an Artist Extraordinaire and Empowering Children.

He was in the original Broadway mega-musical “Miss Saigon” that brought him all over the world for

almost 14 years. He organized several theater groups worldwide and takes pride in developing young artists through his Street of Dreams in the Philippines.

Janet Salazar was honored for Women Empowerment and Impact Leadership. Salazar is a social innovator, human potential activist, serial entrepreneur, speaker and global thinker. She is the CEO and co-founder of IMPACT Leadership 21 TM, a global platform providing leadership solutions that drive change toward inclusive economies.

Icons Honorees

The chapter also recognized three Icon Honorees/ Ismael Jampayas received the Outstanding Humanitarian

Award. As a medical technologist he supervises students and helps them pass their Medtech Board exam. He is an adjunct professor of NY Community College-York College in Queens. He helps in screening programs for poor senior citizens and immigrants without any medical coverage.

Ma. Consuelo Almonte was honored as Champion for the Aging. Almonte founded and became president of Philippine American Group for Aging Seniors of America and is concurrently vice-president, Eastern Region of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association.

Jaycees International (JCI) President Stevenson Van Derodar (left to right) with Icons of Impact awardees: Carol Tanjutco for Outstanding Legal and Finance Advocacy; Luis Pedron for Outstanding Community Leadership by an Alumni Jaycee; Consuelo Almonte as Champion for the Aging, Fernando Mendez for 2016 Phoenix Award for Exemplary Community Leadership by an Alumni Jaycee; Jonathan Wong for Outstanding Community Leadership by a Current Jaycee; Ismael Jampayas for Outstanding Humanitarian Award; Deputy Consul General of New York Felipe Carino. ROLAN GUTIERREZ

Carol Tanjutco was given the Outstanding Legal & Finance Advocacy award. Tanjutco, an alumna of Ateneo College of Law, became an Anti-Money Laundering compliance officer for various financial institutions and is a licensed investment advisor. She conducted the program “Raising Financially Responsible children,” which was rolled out in several public schools in New York City. (Disclosure: Tanjutco is also an INQUIRER.net US Bureau correspondent.)

Young Icons of Impact

Newly introduced this year is the Young Icons of Impact category, which builds on the JCI USA’s TOYA program recognizing Ten Outstanding Young Americans and with Junior Chamber International’s (JCI) program TOYP (Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World).

This award category recognizes a select group of outstanding young individuals between the ages of 18 and 40 who exemplify the best attributes of the nation’s young men and women:

Percival Cunanan for Business and Ecological Innovation; Tiffany Ma for Legal Affairs and Asian Empowerment; Venessa Manzano for Cultural Achievement and Children Empowerment; Steven Raga for Government Affairs and Social Services; Jessica Robinson for International Affairs and Women Security.

Three special awards were given to current or former Jaycee members who have made a name for themselves in their local communities:

Fernando Mendez for Exemplary Community Leadership by an Alumni Jaycee; Luis Pedron for Outstanding Community Leadership by an Alumni Jaycee; Mahwah Township Councilman Jonathan Wong for Outstanding Community Leadership by a Current Jaycee.