San Francisco Consul-General Marciano Paynor Jr. warmly welcomed the launch of GMA Pinoy and Prowave Media’s newest 30-minute weekly documentary program ‘Power ng Pinoy’ as a whiff of fresh air in the midst of negative news often hugging the headlines.
In the recent launching event held at the Cheryl Burke Dance Studio in Mountain View and aired live over the internet, Paynor decried that for so long now, many of the media, both in print and video, have concentrated on the negative variety of incidents referring to Filipinos as first-class criminals, mandurugas (thieves) and embezzlers that nothing was heard much from those who have been successful and helped the community.
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| Prowave Media Head and Power ng Pinoy Executive Producer with Pinoy TV US Marketing and Affiliate Jush Andowitt |
“That was until Power ng Pinoy comes to show that we do indeed have people who can also be as successful as anyone else,” Paynor exclaimed. “Good news should also be presented so that viewers will come to know about it and Power ng Pinoy hit it right on the head.”
Asked on why he sounded so optimistic of the show that he wished it would last 15 seasons, Paynor explained that he is confident that there are many other Filipinos out there that can be tapped to be guests in the program because of their achievements and their acts of sharing back to the community.
“In the U.S. alone, there is an estimate of around 4 million Filipinos. I am sure you can find a good number of them who will embody the ideals that we know Filipinos have so that they become role models for everyone else,” Paynor added.
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| San Francisco Consul-General Marciano Paynor, Jr. |
For his part, Prowave Media head and Power ng Pinoy’s Executive Producer Arnold Pedrigal revealed that the program had its inception last year at a parking lot in a talk with top GMA Pinoy TV US Marketing and Affiliate Jush Andowitt and that eventually led to a series of events that evolved to what would become Power ng Pinoy.
“Who would have thought that we will be here tonight celebrating the launch of this new show? To me this is a very huge personal accomplishment, of course with a lot of sacrifices,” Pedrigal asked.
Pedrigal also promised to pursue the vision to make Power ng Pinoy not to remain just yet another TV show but to make Power ng Pinoy a household word that shall be synonymous to the Filipino values of us being “Madiskarte, matiyaga, at hindi sumusuko”.
“More importantly, we always advocate the value of giving back, for success will not be truly meaningful if not shared with others,” Pedrigal maintained as he also thanked his co-producer and head writer Carol Marcelino-Hirt who is based in Chicago, his advisory team, the twenty-four featured guests, and his crew and staff led by hosts Anthony Rivero, Jessica Cabuay, Abby Borgonia, Lilwyn Lucas and Dara Bascara for making things happen.
Representing GMA Pinoy TV, Andowitt was on hand to formally welcome Power ng Pinoy to the Kapuso network.
“Yes we were the ones who started Power ng Pinoy practically in the parking lot,” Andowitt admitted. “And the guest lineup for season 1 truly best exemplifies true Power ng Pinoy in action. These men and women are not only special but also inspiring and remarkable. They are our constant reminder that we are powerful and that our power as individual could all make a difference not only to our community but to the world as well.”
Speaking on behalf of the guests, Milpitas City Mayor Joe Estevez believes that the characteristics of Filipinos, of the katangian (qualities) to be successful and outstanding different from the rest, family values, dedication, hard work, good heart, and above all, faith in God are part that what constitute Power ng Pinoy.
“Be proud of what we are, do not forget that we are Filipino in origin and bring honor and respect to the word Filipino,” Estevez exhorted his mostly Filipino audience at the end of his speech.
In welcoming the guests and participants to the launch, Cheryl Burke’s mom Sherri Burke saluted GMA and Prowave Media for coming up and launching Power ng Pinoy in her daughter’s dance studio.
She also talked about the different ways she and Cheryl gave back to the community as they raised money victims of typhoon Ondoy years ago, gathering gang members including bullies in the nearby areas to conduct dancing lessons and more recently, raising fund for earthquake victims in Japan
“Cheryl would have wanted to welcome you personally if not for the start of the season for Dancing with the Stars,” Sherri confided.
Other prominent guests who lent their precious time for the launch included Philippine Trade Commissioner Josephine Romero, Filipino Entrepreneurs Network President Earl Valencia, Comcast Marketing Executive Stephanie Martin, and Phildev Trustees Atty. Denny Roja and Catherina Buan Peterson.
Set to start airing over GMA Pinoy TV on September 18, 2011, Power ng Pinoy, will feature Filipino shakers and movers that made and continue to make a difference in the lives of Filipinos in the U.S. and in the Philippines and will also feature entertaining side stories that would strengthen and further solidify the bond of the Filipino community in general.
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| YAN ANG POWER NG PINOY stance by launch party guests led by TV program’s featured guests |
Among those in the line-up of guests are veteran entrepreneur and venture capitalist in the Silicon Valley, California Dado Banatao, Dancing With the Stars perennial champion Cheryl Burke, the FAA-certified armless Filipina pilot Jessica Cox, Gawad Kalinga Board Member Joe Millares, the first Filipino UC Berkeley Professor Ben de Lumen, Milpitas, California City Mayor Jose Estevez and Project Runway finalist Jay Sario, among others.
