Aris Tuazon

Day Three of Explore Islands Philippines brings a glimpse of its colorful culture and cuisine, from dance theater showcasing the living traditions of the indigenous communities, to Hollywood media views on trends in filmmaking in the Philippines. The Expo runs until May 12.

Heroism and excellence in the nursing profession won the predominantly Filipino American audience that gave a well-deserved standing ovation to NYU Langone nurse Menchu De Luna Sanchez--superstorm Sandy's hero nurse--when she personally received her The Oustanding Filipino Americans in New York (TOFA-NY) award from Deputy Consul General Zaldy Patron and Southern District of New York Judge Lorna Schofield at the Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall Saturday night.

Philippine Consul General to New York Mario L. De Leon, Jr., United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York Honorable Judge Lorna Schofield, and Former Chairman of the Board for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Ruben Nepales will keynote the third annual The Outstanding Filipino Americans in New York (TOFA-NY) Awards on Saturday night, October 26, at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall, the official venue of the TOFA-NY Awards ceremonies for the past three years.

Tony Award winner Bobby Lopez ("Book of Mormon," "Avenue Q") and Broadway actor Jose Llana ("…Spelling Bee," "Here Lies Love"), alongside fellow theater actors with Filipino ethnicity Ching Valdes-Aran ("Smash," "Flipzoids") and Brian Jose ("Miss Saigon," "Imelda"), are nominated for this year's The Outstanding Filipino Americans in New York (TOFA-NY) Awards, whose awarding ceremony will be held at Carnegie Hall on Saturday, October 26.

Organized by Filipino Mundo-NYC, a meetup group of young professionals and visual/performing artists, and the Filipino American Press Club of New York, The Public Theater's 'Here Lies Love' cast members: Ruthie Ann Miles, Jose Llana, George Salazar, Jaygee Macapugay, Debralee Daco, Jeigh Madjus, Renee Albulario, Melody Butiu, Nathaniel P. Claridad, Carol Angeli and Maria-Christina Oliveras engaged in a public conversation about the infamous legacy of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Imelda, during a coffee break (kapihan) held at Ugly Kitchen in the East Village Saturday, July 20.

Remember these names: Renee Albulario, Carol Angeli, Melody Butiu, Nathaniel P. Claridad, Natalie Cortez, Debralee Daco, Joshua Dela Cruz, Jose Llana, Kelvin Moon Loh, Jaygee Macapugay, Jeigh Madjus, Ruthie Ann Miles, Maria-Christina Oliveras, Clint Ramos, Conrad Ricamora, George Salazar, Trevor Salter and Janelle Velasquez. These Fil-Ams are the talented stars and crew of HERE LIES LOVE, the immersive musical event by David Byrne and DJ Fatboy Slim, currently performing at the Joseph Papp Public Theater.