Stuck in a Dungeon at the NuVision Filipino Awards Show

Last night was supposed to be a grand gala event for Filipinos, kind of like the Oscars or the Latin ALMAS. However, it was a crazy precarious event that didn't bode well for typical red carpet photogs who cover events like movie premieres, Oscar Awards, Independent Spirit Awards and the Golden Globes. As one of my only other Filipino American event photographer persuaded me to clear myself for the Nuvision Worldwide Media's First Inaugural Filipino American Visionary Awards I was hoping for the best. I'm sure that the producers of the event were trying to make this a star studded event that would become a worldclass award show to be respected by the Filipino and Filipino American Community worldwide.

For the negative, the press weren't treated with dignity. From coming to the event at 4pm to being stuck in the press room waiting for awardees and presenters to come back for photo ops and interviews, we were ready to keel over from lack of refreshments and food to keep our minds working overtime to ensure great coverage. Unfortunately, the major awardees that did not come backstage included Filipino rap star Francis Magalona, Tito Vic & Joey, Nia Peeples, Bong Revilla, Rudy Fernandez, Robert Jaworski to name a few.


Jasmine Trias belted out a few songs on stage.


Francis Magalona shows off his 3 Stars and the Sun pride necklace.


Host Dingdong Avanzado along with wife Jessa Zaragosa arrive on the red carpet.


Happyslip did not have and "Disaster" on the carpet.


Tito Sotto looks so mestizo.


Brian McKnight shines on the carpet.


Michael Copon is a boy in motion.


Rudy Fernandez and Lorna Tolentino take in the flashes from the photogs.


Bong Revilla and Lani Mercado made it to the carpet. No snobbing here!


Kuh Ledesma gives us quick smiles after performing the finale song.


Jesse Hart tells the photogs to keep it low. Whatever, I'm still shout "To Your Left!"

However we still were given great press opp from Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, Apl.de.Ap of The Black Eyed Peas, Presenter and WWE star Batista, Nora Aunor, Local Los Angeles newscasters Jean Marteriz & Bob De Castro, former Miss America Angela Perez Baraquio, famous Filipino Comedian Dolphy along with presenter Nora Aunor, The Basco Brothers. Also gracing the backstage was the lovely Veronica Loren of the Independent film "August Evening."


Anna Maria Perez de Tagle loves her Visionary Award.


Famous Filipino Comedian Dolphy poses with his award along with presenter Nora Aunor. No ganga backstage!


Richard Gutierrez shows off his Visionary award. But wait, take a look a little close I think he forgot to apply some wart remover on his finger.


Richard loves the camera and his award.


Batista removes his barong to display his Filipino Greek tattoo along with his guns!


Granted he is a big pop star in Europe, Billy Crawford is still proud of his Pinoy roots with his Filipino Adidas jacket. Now I'm gonna get me one.


Martin Nievera loves his media peeps. He actually missed the finale to hang out with the photogs in the press room.



Speaking to her manager Santiago Douglas, Veronica Loren will be gracing the Philippine Island with her beauty, acting skills and a debut single. Douglas believes that the Philippines should be one of the wonderful stepping stones for Loren's future world domination. I'm sure he sees the vision that Filipinos love their stars and hopefully Loren becomes one that will shine bright in the P.I.


The lovely Veronica Loren knows how to make yellow/gold the color of the night.

Anyways, being so used to the way Hollywood movie premieres and award shows are handled, to my surprise I couldn't believe not a single PR person was controlling the press room. I felt like I was at some fan convention as the other photographers started posing with the celebrities after finishing their duties in the press room. Imagine wanting to take pictures with celebrities at the Oscars. We'd be thrown out immediately. I guess there is definitely a different mentality in with the Filipino photogs.

Enough of my rant. I'd have to say that with a little fine tuning and including Filipino community groups or a committee to decide who receives awards will definitely give this event the respect it should have. Kudos to NuVision for trying to do an event on a large scale like this. Hopefully, they take after community based organizations like National Council of La Raza and the NAACP's award shows to give awards to true talent and individuals in the community no matter if they are Filipino or not, who shows their strength in helping empower and broadening the cultural importance of Filipinos in the U.S. and the world.

Until next year, we hope that egos are put aside to find the common goal of showing the positives of Filipinos no matter if they are in entertainment.