On behalf of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), Consul General Josel F. Ignacio conferred on 19 November on Ms. CAROLINE B. ONG, the PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR FILIPINO INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS OVERSEAS (PAFIOO), Pamana ng Pilipino Category.

Ms. Ong is a multi-awarded advertising executive, entrepreneur, and one of the movers of Shanghai’s Filipino community.

Established under Executive Order No. 498 of 1991, the PAFIOO honors Filipino individuals and organizations overseas who have rendered services, shared actionable ideas, and performed other acts that have contributed to the Philippines’ prestige and growth and advanced the cause and welfare of migrant Filipino communities.

The Pamana ng Pilipino Category recognizes Filipinos who have brought honor to the Philippines through excellence in their profession.

Travel restrictions hindered Ms. Ong from attending the main PAFIOO awards ceremony in Manila on 29 June this year. The CFO requested the Philippine Consulate General to present the Award to the Shanghai-based awardee.

The conferment rites were attended by Ms. Ong’s family, close friends and personal guests, as well as leaders of the Filipino community.

Ms. Ong was recognized for her many standout achievements and contributions. Her advertising work has been the honored with advertising awards from the Cannes Lions, International Festival of Creativity and has been listed multiple timed in 1998-2020 in Asia’s Hottest Creatives List.

Active in the Filipino Community, she co-founded and helped lead the Philippine Chamber of Business and Professionals-Shanghai (PHILCHAMSH), a group that brings together and supports Filipino professionals and entrepreneurs in this sprawling metropolis and financial center.

She currently runs her own business, BebeBalm Inc., which manufactures and markets her self-developed line of plant-based skin salves. Initially developed as a safer alternative home remedy for her children’s sensitive skin, Bebebalm products are gaining a growing and loyal following in China, and is also being marketed in the Philippines and the US.

In her response following the conferment, Ms. Ong extolled Filipino creativity, and expressed her fervent hope that more doors be opened for Filipino creatives and artists. END