Filipino Educators Set to Shine at 2026 Global Recognition Gala in Daly City

DALY CITY, CALIFORNIA — The International Association of Multicultural and Filipino American Educators, Incorporated (IAM FAME, INC.) will host the highly anticipated 2026 OUTSTANDING FILIPINO EDUCATORS’ RECOGNITION on July 3, 2026. This premier event, titled the “Extraordinary Ability & National Interest Awards,” is dedicated to celebrating the pinnacle of teaching excellence and pedagogical innovation within the Filipino American community.

Celebrating Global Excellence

Hosted in Daly City, the program serves as a strategic platform to showcase educators as “top-tier global assets”. Each award is designed to provide “objective evidence” of extraordinary ability, often aligning with international standards for professional excellence.

Honored Awardees and Their Distinctions

The following individuals have been selected for their transformative impact across various educational domains:

Institutional and Visionary Leadership

• The Sovereign Award for Institutional Leadership: Zaldy D. Alima. This honor recognizes leaders who have demonstrated extraordinary ability in innovative governance and school transformation.
• The Global Chancellor’s Medal for Organizational Management: Roderick B. Bargamento. Awarded for masterful command over modern educational systems and strategic institutional management.
• The Visionary Leadership Award in International Education: Dr. Jake Raymund Fabregar. Honored for scaling educational frameworks that transcend national borders.
• The Presidential Citation for Global Advocacy: Krizza Mae R Crisolo. A direct commendation for elite global ambassadorship in educational equity.
• The Medal of Instructional Leadership: Ma Corazon Quinay. This medal honors leaders of teachers whose instructional guidance sets new standards for academic achievement and professional development.
• The IAM FAME Medal of Instructional Leadership: Jeynalyn Pascua. Conferred upon Filipino educators who have demonstrated unparalleled excellence in academic administration, pedagogical oversight, and teacher mentorship.
• The Leadership & Innovation in Inclusive Education Award: Elisa Soneja Suarez. Awarded to individuals whose achievements and systemic contributions meet the rigorous standards for Extraordinary Ability and National Interest.

Special Education and Inclusive Pedagogy

• The World Exemplar Award in Special Education Advocacy: Revitche Quijano. Recognized for a transformative impact on the global Special Education (SPED) landscape and neurodivergent advocacy.
• The Premier Innovator in SPED Instructional Design: Marie Joy S. Maestro.  Celebrated for engineering adaptive technologies and original materials for neurodivergent learners.
• The Distinguished Pioneer in Neurodiverse Instructional Design: Renelle Ojano. Awarded for creating new, data-driven pathways for cognitive accessibility.
• The Grand Architect of Inclusive Pedagogy: Audrey Ann Bayogos. Honored for designing structural, policy-based frameworks for equitable education.
• The Premier Scholar-Practitioner Award in SPED: Joyce Vernadeth B. Cruz. Recognized for bridging the “research-to-practice gap” in special education.
• The Exemplary Teaching Award in Inclusive Education: Evelyn Juntilo. Awarded for implementing innovative frameworks meeting the rigorous standards of Extraordinary Ability and National Interest.
• The IAM FAME Award for Excellence in Specialized Instruction: Mary Antonnette B. Guzon. Recognized as masters of “Adaptive Pedagogy” who transform complex curricula into accessible, high-impact learning for students with disabilities and exceptionalities.

Pedagogical Innovation & Research Mastery

• The National Laureate in Pedagogical Innovation: Joana Salas Bundoc. Honored as a pioneer whose innovations set new benchmarks for teaching methodologies.
• The Global Medal for Breakthroughs in Mathematical Instruction: Hennie A. Rostata. Celebrated for pioneering novel mathematical pedagogies, such as proprietary algorithmic systems.
• The Global Award for Excellence in Research: Dr. Maredy C. Melo. Awarded for original, peer-reviewed knowledge that provides breakthrough solutions to global challenges.
• The Nexus Award for Transnational Educational Research: Dr. Jovan B. Alitagtag. Recognized for critical research linking diverse international educational systems.
• The Distinguished Master of Pedagogy: Rhazel Anne T. Gajol. Acknowledged as a sovereign authority on complex instructional techniques.
• The Global Medal for Breakthroughs in Instruction: Karen A. ApaAp for creating scalable, high-impact teaching strategies that solve major pedagogical challenges and improve global learning outcomes.
• The Global Exemplar in Pedagogical Excellence: May E. Madrid. Awarded Recognized in delivering high-impact instruction and consistently achieving superior student outcomes.
• The International Compendium Award for Scholarly Excellence: Miriam L. Agustin. Honored for making significant, original contributions to the global body of educational research and literature.

Multiculturalism and Global Impact

• The Global Fellow of the Year for Multicultural Curricula: Annabelle C. Dacua. and Marivic D. Domingo. Recognized for expertise in building culturally competent and inclusive learning environments.
• The Distinguished Global Educator Excellence Award: Dr. Pablo S. Dejan. One of the highest honors for a career trajectory is defined by pioneering international influence.
• The Centennial Laureate for Excellence in Teacher Training: Dr. Marielle C. Galvez. Honored for large-scale initiatives that have fundamentally improved pedagogical competencies globally.
• The IAM FAME International Teacher of the Year: Allan Rogelio Sobrevilla Jr. Personifying the “Global Teacher” through transformative pedagogical mastery.
• The Distinguished Fellow of Multicultural Education: Levi C. Hedderman for bridging cultural divides, fostering inclusive environments, and developing curricula that represent diverse global perspectives.
• The Elite Educator Fellowship for Exceptional Contribution: Janice S. Armas. It honors educators for exceptional contributions to pedagogy, research, or leadership, granting them a specialized rank in the global academic community.

Mentorship, Technical and Specialized Distinctions

• The Gold Standard Medal for Classroom-Based Formative Assessment: Marissa R. Alcantara. Awarded for data-informed instruction that measurably closes achievement gaps.
• The LIFE Visionary Brand Ambassador: Christine S. Aires. Serving as the global face of IAM FAME’s mission to harmonize pedagogy with leadership.
• The Chief Architect of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Systems: Hapibel B. Duque. Honored for designing cultural blueprints that integrate emotional intelligence into academic missions.
• The Premier Scholar-Practitioner Award in STEM: Febe Articulo Lusica. Recognized as the “Gold Standard” in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math education.
• The Medal of Organizational Leadership: Shaira D. Mangawang. Awarded for strategic management that drives socio-economic transformation.
• The Premier Envoy for International Pedagogical Standards: Erika Anne M. Rosel. Recognized for bridging international gaps by implementing, setting, or elevating global pedagogical standards.
• The Impact Award for Socio-Economic Transformation: Dr. Melody R. Espina. Awarded on how her teaching improves the future workforce and the community.
• The Exemplary Mentorship Award for International Educators: Jennifer Castro, Chona Samson, and Dr. Ana Isabel G. Espino. Recognized as “teachers of teachers,” these educators cultivate a global talent network that strengthens U.S. educational capacity.

A Legacy of Advocacy

Beyond individual honors, the 2026 Recognition emphasizes the collective power of Filipino educators to influence international policy and champion the rights of learners worldwide. As IAM FAME INC. founder and co-founder Dr. Archie Manalo, Dr. Eleuterio F. Timbol, and Dr. Myleen P. Legaspi have previously stated, this mission is about empowering others through best practices collected from years of global experience.

The upcoming gala in Daly City represents more than an awards night; it is a validation of the extraordinary contributions Filipino educators continue to make to the global academic community.