Bobby Lopez, Jose Llana Named TOFA-NY Nominees

New York, September 15, 2013--Tony Award winner Bobby Lopez ("Book of Mormon," "Avenue Q") and Broadway actor Jose Llana ("...Spelling Bee," "Here Lies Love"), alongside fellow theater practitioners with Filipino ethnicity Ching Valdes-Aran ("Smash," "Flipzoids") and Brian Jose ("Miss Saigon," "Imelda"), are nominated for this year's The Outstanding Filipino Americans in New York (TOFA-NY) Awards, whose awarding ceremony will be held at Carnegie Hall on Saturday, October 26.

Winners in each category--Lopez and Llana are competing with Rockettes' Christine Sienicki (Entertainment); Aran is competing with Hollywood cinematographer Matthew Libatique and SohoFilmFest's Sibyl Raymundo-Santiago (Arts and Culture); and Jose is competing with LGBT advocates Irma Bajar and Noel Bordador (LGBT Advocacy)--will be determined via Facebook votes.

Voting instructions are found HERE.

Hint: Anyone with a Facebook account can vote until Monday, September 30.

TOFA-NY Awards are given to role models in the New York Tri-State region with a population of more than 300,000 Filipino Americans. The awarding ceremony coincides with the celebration of Filipino American History Month in October.

Past winners include Tony winner Lea Salonga ("Miss Saigon," "Les Miserables") and Ma-Yi Theater Company ("Microcrisis," "The Romance of Magno Rubio").

Below is the complete list of nominees:

ARTS and CULTURE

Ching Valdes Aran

Matthew Libatique

Sibyl Raymundo-Santiago

BUSINESS and ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Sheila Marcelo

Michael Nierva

Jaena Valles

COMMUNITY SERVICE and ADVOCACY

Fe Martinez

Maya Rowencak

Ramon Villongco

COURAGE OF CONVICTION

Jen Furer

Dindi Gallardo

Harlan Ragay

EDUCATION, RESEARCH and TECHNOLOGY

Marietta Geraldino

Joel Natividad

Christine Pomeranz

ENTERTAINMENT

Jose Llana

Bobby Lopez

Christine Sienicki

FASHION and STYLE

Zaldy Goco

Guenevere Rodriguez

Stanley Ruiz

FOOD and RESTAURANTS

Jeepney

Pig and Khao

Aris Tuazon of Ugly Kitchen

HEALTH CARE

Noilyn Abesamis-Mendoza

Flor Nebres

Menchu Sanchez

LGBT ADVOCACY

Irma Bajar

Noel Bordador

Brian Jose

MEDIA and PUBLISHING

Katherine Creag

Howard Chua-Eoan

Frances Rivera

PUBLIC SERVICE and POLITICS

Judge Nina Elgo

Atty. Rio Guerrero

Chris Traumer

YOUTH and SPORTS

Esperanza Garcia

Philippine Community of Southern New Jersey-Youth Group

Jason Purino

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos