Page 6 - 2017 JAN-JUN - KAAKBAY

6 January to June
2017

Filipino-American Entrepreneurs Honored in Jersey City
Nine Filipino-American entrepreneurs were honored Dr. Elizabeth Bulosan of Hudson Rehab Spa, Mr.

at the 2017 Entrepreneurs of the Year Awards Gala held in Henry Racelis of Racelis Realty, Mr. Roger Gupta of Diamond
th
conjunction with the 10 year anniversary of the Jersey City Hut Jewelers, Mr. Glenn Castillo of Castillo Financial Group,
Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce on 19 March 2017 Mr. Fernando Mendez of Fiesta in America, Mr. Romulo Luz
in Weehawken, New Jersey. of RML Construction LLC, and Mr. Paul Dantes of Tri-State
Medical Marketing Inc.
The Jersey City Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce is a
nonprofit organization established to serve as the voice of The awardees are involved in various commercial
the Filipino-American business owners in Jersey City on concerns ranging from medical and wellness services, events
matters of commerce, industry, and development. planning and promotions, jewelry, real estate, financial
services, and construction.
The nine awardees were Dr. Rebecca River of In his remarks, Chamber Vice President Atty. Victor
Bridgeway Senior Care, Ms. Grace Labaguis of
Essential Consulting Services for events and promotions, Sison noted that the honorees were selected in view of their
determination and perseverance to establish and sustain their
respective business enterprises and for elevating the
presence of Filipinos and Filipino-American entrepreneurs in
Jersey City, one of the most multi-ethnic enclaves in the state
of New Jersey.

Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega who,
together with Chamber President Lito A. Gajilan, Jr., handed
out the awards, said that the Chamber and the honorees have
done the Filipino-American Community a great service by
highlighting the achievement of FilAm entrepreneurs.

Other Jersey City and state officials such as
L-R Honorees Fernando Mendez, Glen Castillo, Dr. Elizabeth Bulosan, Roger
Gupta, Chamber President Lito Gajilan, Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Assemblywoman Angela McKnight, Freeholder William
Vega, Dr. Rebecca Rivera, Henry Racelis, Paul Dantes, Grace Labaguis, O’Dea, and Jersey City Council President Rolando Lavarro
Romulo Luz (photo by NYPCG) were also present to congratulate the awardees.

Tribeca Film Institute Awards Fil-Am Filmmaker $10K Grant

Dean Colin Marcial, 28, a Filipino-American filmmaker born in Manila,
Philippines and raised in New York, was named a 2017 All Access Grantee by the
prestigious Tribeca Film Institute (TFI). TFI was founded by actor Robert De Niro, Jane
Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.

His feature film screenplay, “The Green Guerillas”, which chronicles the rise and
fall of an ecoterrorist group over an explosive decade in the Philippines, will receive year-
round support from TFI and will be presented at the Tribeca Film Festival which runs
from 19-30 April 2017 in New York City.

Marcial shared with the Philippine Consulate General in New York his reaction to
the award: “Writing always feels like shouting into a void,” he says. “It’s nice to know that
sometimes it shouts back. I’m incredibly grateful for Tribeca’s support – I actually Filipino-American Filmmaker Dean Colin
volunteered there my senior year in high school. To be a grantee ten years later leaves Marcial, 2017 Tribeca All Access Grantee of
me speechless.” the Tribeca Film Institute.

The Philippine Consulate General through Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega extended congratulations to
Marcia and expressed its support for his projects as part of its commitment to help promote and elevate awareness of Filipino
and Filipino-American filmmakers and films.

Marcial is producing the film with Manila-based Tuko Film Productions/Buchi Boy Entertainment/Artikulo Uno
Productions the team behind acclaimed films such as “Heneral Luna”, “Sunday Beauty Queen”, and “I’m Drunk, I Love You”
and New York-based Tandem Pictures (“The Eyes of My Mother”, “The Sleepwalker”). Marcial’s previous short film “Manila
Death Squad” starring Sid Lucero and Annicka Dolonius is in post-production and was screened as a work-in-progress at the
th
10 Borscht Film Festival. He is also the co-founder of Calavera USA, an award-winning production company whose credits
include “All That I Am”, “Fishtail”, and “Yearbook”. His first film “The God Phone” won Best World Short at the 2012 Little Rock
Film Festival.