White House chef, banker & artist win BPinoy Awards

This award mean so much to all the pilipinos that lives abroad and to be recognized for their hard work and sacrifices these people have risen above the obstacles and made good! So I say to all the winners of the BPINOYS awards.. WELL DONE TO ALL OF YOU…and may it continue to inspire all other pilipinos around the world! Thank you Good News Pilipinas for such wonderful articles to all of us living abroad! 🙂

Three overseas-based Filipinos were awarded for their world-class skills at the 4th BPinoy Awards in Manila.

White House executive chef Cristeta Pasia-Comerford, Eli Remalona, chief representative for the Asia and the Pacific of the Bank for International Settlements, and renowned painter Anita Magsaysay-Ho, were chosen by the Bank of the Philippine Islands as this year’s 4th BPInoy Awardees.

The recognition is given to outstanding Filipinos all over the world who have served as excellent examples of how to “Be Pinoy” even when one is working outside the Philippines.

The BPInoy Awards is an annual initiative of BPI to encourage nationalism among Filipinos abroad and to communicate BPI’s commitment to excellence in the service of overseas Filipinos.

Former BPinoy awardees include world-renowned musical theater artist Lea Salonga, US-based technology entrepreneur Diosdado “Dado” Banatao, internationally-known fashion designer Monique Lhuillier, famous heart surgeon Dr. George Garcia of Asian Hospital & Medical Center, International Fashion designer Josie Natori, and BBC World News Anchor Rico Hizon.

Both Comerford and Remalona despite facing discrimination in their work in the past, either because of their race and or their stature, said that they remained focused on doing their jobs.

“You can’t let it put you down. Deal with it and move on when someone’s picking on you,” Remalona said.

Comerford, on the other hand, said that although one can not control other people, Filipinos can always control themselves and how they would respond to any mistreatment.

The Filipina chef, who was handpicked by former first lady Laura Bush in 2005, said every dish she serves to the United States’ first family always carries that distinct Filipino quality.

Comerford remained as executive chef when US President Barack Obama assumed office this year.

“It’s not necessarily serving them ‘adobo”, but there’s always that sense of family, sense of community. In the Philippines, it’s good to be part of the community. That’s the ‘Pinoyness’ in what I do – having that “Bayanihan Spirit”,” she said.

Remalona, on the other hand, said he is most proud of the Filipinos’ “combination of hard work and good humor.”

“I’ve never met any group of people who face hardship and adversity and still have a sense of humor. Despite ill conditions, Filipinos can still laugh,” he said.

Comerford said like most families, the Obamas are just simple people who ask for simple meals and that the Obama couple just want to have food that is healthy and good.

“It’s more a circular thing for me because I came from a huge family. We were 11 in our family. I think it was in the second or third grade when I volunteered to take care of preparing my family’s food. Back then, for me, it was just a fun thing to do. Right now, I don’t take it as a career but a calling,” she said.

She said Michelle Obama’s kitchen garden, where the first family gets the vegetables served on their table, was reminiscent of her childhood summers spent in the houses of her grandparents either in Bulacan or in Batangas, where vegetables abound.