ABS-CBN president Charo Santo-ConcioThe visit of ABS-CBN president, chief executive officer and chief content officer Charo Santos-Concio to New York provided an opportunity for many to advance their understanding of the significant role that the head of the Philippines’ leading information and entertainment multimedia conglomerate plays in the global Filipino community and in the international media industry.

Santos-Concio became the first Filipina media executive to chair the gala of the International Emmys (iEmmys), with the awards ceremony at Hilton Midtown Manhattan on November 23 drawing a global who’s who of the industry.

“Ms. Charo Santos-Concio is an internationally respected broadcast producer and executive who has spearheaded the growth of her organization to a leading position in the Philippines and the region beyond,” said Bruce Paisner, president and CEO of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. “We are delighted to have her chair our 2015 International Emmy Awards Gala.”
Santos-Concio, Piolo Pascual who was a presenter at the iEmmys, and their entourage were also given a private tour of the exhibit “Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms” at the Asia Society Museum on Park Avenue and 70th Street.

One of the liveliest legs of Santos-Concio’s visit to New York was the “Lunchtime with Ms Charo” reception organized by United Mindoro International Inc. at the Astoria World Manor.

The event led Santos-Concio down memory lane with a surprise meeting with her childhood friends and classmates from her hometown Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro.

Also joining the welcome for Santos-Concio were Consul General Mario Lopez de Leon Jr. and wife Eleanor, community leaders, entrepreneurs and friends from the media and entertainment industry.

In the evening, Santos-Concio, Pascual and the ABS-CBN TFC team trooped to the residence of the consul general for a welcome reception with Filipino American community leaders of New York.

Throughout her visit, SantosConcio reiterated that she was filled with gratitude for the warm welcome by the Filipino community and her colleagues at the iEmmys and for the learning and discoveries about the lives of overseas Filipinos in the region. (Story/Photo by: Nerissa Fernandez)