6th Philippines' Empowered Men and Women of the Year

 Joel Cruz, GMA artists among awardees of PEMAWOTY 2023

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

Entrepreneur Joel Cruz led the awardees in the recently concluded 6th Philippines' Empowered Men and Women of the Year (PEMAWOTY) awards at the Teatrino in Greenhills. He also received two other trophies for his labels Aficionado and Takoya Tea as outstanding social media brands for 2023.

GMA artists David Licauco and David Chua, together with other young Kapuso talents were among the honorees of the evening. The other entertainment industry awardees were Miss Saigon alumna Ima Castro, show director Bobbit Patag, playwright Ronaldo Carballo, singer-actors Jessa Zaragoza and hubby Dingdong Avanzado, and Teejay Marquez. 

The Lifetime Achievement honorees, on the other hand, were sustainable energy advocate Jenny Ngai, critically-acclaimed movie director Elwood Perez, TV host Dante Salamat, beauty queen Evangeline Pascual, entrepreneur Cecilia Bravo, medical practitioner Dr. Rey Salinel, talent manager Wilbert Tolentino, businessman Raoul Barbosa, and civil servant Hon. Niña Taduran.

"I have witnessed how success, as embodied by all awardees and honorees, has been duly recognized and how each one gives back to their respective communities. Nakikita natin ang kani-kanilang mga kuwento ng pagsisikap. Good faith can bring success to anyone who possesses it. What you give to the world is what it will exactly give back to you in return," intimated DSWD undersecretary Hon. Niña Taduran in her keynote speech.

Others in the roster of awardees were supermodel Gerone Olorocissimo, entertainment editors Evelyn Diao and Jojo Panaligan, writer John Fontanilla, as well as blogger Melvin Tagulao, publicist Rein Escaño, and singer Sheryn Regis 

Among the beauty queen award recipients, aside from Miss World 1973 1st runner-up Evangeline Pascual, were Miss World Philippines 2021 Tracy Maureen Perez, Miss Supranational Philippines 2021 Dindy Pajares, Miss Environment International 2022 first runner-up Michelle Arceo, and Reina Hispanoamericana 2021 3rd runner-up Emmanuelle Vera.

The Social Media Brands of the Year went to Immuno (supplement), Kapemeric (beverage), Aficionado (fragrance), Takoya Tea (food kiosk), Love & Everythang (TV show), SOGO (hotel chain), Sunsmart (sustainable energy), Steps of Gold (dance crew), and Net 25 (TV network).

This year, teens and young adults were likewise recognized to serve as inspiration to their peers. The outstanding teen awardees included Jada Avanzado, Jeff Moses, Devon Seron, MJ Manuel, and Wil Ashley together with Sofia Pablo and Allen Ansay who were also named Best Dressed Teens of the Night.

The other awardees who were named in the Best Dressed List were TV host Dante Salamat, beauty queens Tracy Maureen Perez and Evangeline Pascual, maquillage meister Noel Flores, and media person John Fontanilla.

This year's beneficiary is the Blessed Virgin Missionaries of Mount Carmel Children's Home in Dipolog City. The abandoned children from the province of Zamboanga del Norte are the recipients of the proceeds generated during the event.