A full house filled the Orleans Showroom last Friday as the 15th annual The Outstanding Filipino Awards (TOFA) recognized 100 of the most influential Filipinos in the world in a three-hour celebration of culture, excellence, and pride in the “Entertainment Capital of the World.”
Hosted once again by the Philippines’ “King of Talk,” Boy Abunda, the star-studded event lit up Las Vegas, home to the third-largest Filipino community in the United States, during Filipino-American History Month. The night blended glamour with purpose, remembrance with reinvention, and applause with reflection on Filipino identity across generations and borders.
Founded by journalist and advocate Elton Lugay, TOFA began in New York in 2010 to celebrate exceptional Filipino Americans. Since 2022, the awards have expanded to honor influential Filipinos worldwide. Lugay said in his opening remarks that TOFA’s mission remains “a living, forward-looking tribute to Filipino excellence,” emphasizing that no past honoree is repeated to ensure that “new changemakers are given their rightful spotlight.”
“As we celebrate Filipino American History Month this October, we remember trailblazers who paved the way and honor achievers who inspire the next generation,” Lugay said during his speech. “TOFA stands as proof of the Filipino spirit—hardworking yet visionary, humble yet powerful.”
Line producer Vic Perez echoed the sentiment, saying the ceremonies were “a resounding success, uniting Filipino shakers and movers from the local community and across the globe.” He added, “The event served as a powerful celebration of excellence, recognizing the best and brightest among us – individuals whose achievements continue to inspire pride and uplift the global Filipino spirit. Kudos to the TOFA team!”
The night’s most talked-about moment came from keynote speaker Bianca Nepales, vice president of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Lionsgate, whose fiery address reframed the evening’s message. “This isn’t just a variety show,” she said. “This is a movement builder.”
In her speech titled “Filipinos Uprising,” Nepales declared, “The stories told about us will never be as powerful as the stories told by us.” She challenged the audience to embrace a reimagined identity she called “TOFU: The Outstanding Filipinos Uprising.”
“Not your soft, bland, forgettable tofu,” she said to laughter and applause. “We absorb whatever adversity gets thrown our way and make it taste so good. The uprising isn’t coming—we’re already here. And we’re just getting started.”
Her spirited message drew standing ovations and became an unofficial theme for the 15th TOFA – a reminder that recognition is not the end, but a platform for continued advocacy.
The audience featured honorees, community leaders, and artists from across the U.S., the Philippines, and the Middle East. Among the luminaries honored were musical powerhouses Nonoy Zuñiga, Pops Fernandez, Jaya, Ai-Ai delas Alas, Christian Bautista, Kris Lawrence, Rachel Alejandro, and Dessa.
Cultural icons like Cher Calvin, Larry the Musical, Manila Luzon, Chef Abi Marquez, Imah Dumagay, RS Francisco, and Nonito &Rachel Donaire also graced the TOFA100 roster. A special posthumous tribute was presented to the late superstar Nora Aunor for her enduring impact on Philippine cinema and culture.
Accepting the award on Aunor’s behalf, attorney Claire Espina shared emotional reflections from her time as the actress’s former counsel. “Nora carried an entire nation’s aching in her bones,” Espina said, quoting critic Cleve Arguelles. “We face overwhelming challenges, but I hope no child ever grows up like Nora—selling water by the train tracks. Thank you for honoring my client, and loving her.”
Representing the first batch of honorees, Las Vegas Honorary Consul Amie Belmonte described her recognition as “a testament to the Filipino spirit of bayanihan—unity, resilience, and love for one another.” She urged her fellow awardees to “pursue your ‘why’ passionately, purposely, and progressively,” quoting from scripture that “whatever you do, work heartily as unto the Lord.”
From the second batch, Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano connected her award to her city’s principles of service. “This recognition coincides with Filipino American History Month,” she said. “Our brand of leadership is rooted in the Filipino values of pakikipagkapwa-tao, bayanihan, and immense love for family and community.”
Gloria Caoile, a veteran Fil-Am community leader, represented the third batch with a message of shared achievement. “Tonight is an affirmation,” she said. “These men and women have played their parts with excellence, resilience, and heart.” She called on honorees to remember that “the spotlight is not a destination—it’s a reflection of the light we’ve shared with others.”
For the fourth batch, Washington-based activist Maximo “Kuya Max” Londonio received the award on behalf of the Tanggol Migrante Network. “Our kababayan are not criminals,” he said. “They are hardworking individuals tied to their communities. Migrants deserve dignity, truth, and liberation.” Londonio’s emotional account of his detention experience underscored the human rights advocacy TOFA seeks to amplify on a global stage.
The evening’s three-hour show moved seamlessly through speeches, tributes, and powerhouse performances that transcended generations. Ai-Ai delas Alas, Dessa, Tootsie Guevarra, Garth Garcia, Mark Mabasa, Rizza Navales, and Shar Santos brought the house down with their musical numbers.
The TOFA Performing Artists from New York, the Starlink Artists from Los Angeles, the Parangal Dance Company, and San Augustine’s Children’s Choir from the Bay Area highlighted the diversity of Filipino artistry across regions. The program, described by guests as “flawless” and “beautifully paced,” proved that Filipino showmanship is second to none.
TOFA’s 15th anniversary reflected on its growth from a local recognition in New York to a global celebration of Filipino impact. From Broadway to healthcare, politics to culinary arts, each awardee symbolized a chapter of a global Filipino story still being written.
“Filipinos are innovators, leaders, and culture-shapers,” Lugay said. “From state capitols to the White House, from Hollywood to our hometowns—we continue to shine, loudly and proudly.”
As the cheers echoed through the Orleans Showroom that night, Nepales’ words became the evening’s gentle refrain: “the uprising isn’t coming. It’s already here.”
