Ten Filipino American educators will be honored this September in Jacksonville, where the IAM FAME INC. Florida Chapter stages its annual G.A.L.I.N.G. Educators Awards on September 5, 2026, at the Embassy Suites Hotel on Baymeadows Road.
Now in its latest edition, the program takes its name from the Filipino word for “shine,” rendered as the acronym Global Achievers Leading Innovation Nurturing Growth. Organizers describe it as a tribute to teachers whose work has reshaped classrooms, strengthened communities, and left a mark on education worldwide, with recipients chosen for holding to rigorous professional and ethical benchmarks.
Jose Taguinod Jr. takes the night’s top distinction as G.A.L.I.N.G. Educator of the Year, an honor the chapter reserves for leadership, innovation, and service that resonates both close to home and abroad.
The nine other honorees span a range of specializations. Dionicio A. Pacpaco earns the Global Educator Award for cross-cultural work and the promotion of global citizenship, while Christine Gunay receives the Global Cultural Ambassador Award for championing Filipino heritage overseas alongside diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Classroom practice and school leadership figure prominently among the remaining categories. Michael Reyes is cited for inventive teaching methods under the Innovative Educator Award, and Kasandra Lee R. Estrella takes the Instructional Leadership Award for mentoring peers through professional learning. Ralph Torres is recognized with the Excellence in Educational Leadership Award for steering school improvement initiatives, and Crezel R. Concepcion wins the Excellence in Educational Technology Award for weaving digital tools into student learning.
Scholarship and service round out the list. Dr. Gerald Paolo L. Patrimonio is honored for evidence-based research, Salvador B. Quigaman for community outreach and partnerships with families and stakeholders, and Lovelyn Villar for more than ten years of committed service to the profession.
The chapter has opened the ceremony to educators, community members, and stakeholders, framing the evening as a look at how teachers drive lasting change in the field.
