LOS ANGELES—PinoyWatchDog.com has named Robbie Fabian of ABS-CBN Foundation International as the first ‘Dog of the Year’ winner for exemplary acts of courage, integrity and transparency as a civic leader, it was announced by Atty Joel Bander and Rene Villaroman, founders of this fortnightly newspaper.
Bander and Villaroman were inspired by the selfless and courageous decision made by Mr. Fabian and the board of directors of the ABS-CBN Foundation International when they pulled out from participating in the 100 Outstanding Filipino Americans in the United States (100 OFAUSA), a dinner award event organized by Ms. Darna Umayam, the beleaguered chairperson of Philippine Children’s Charities, Inc.
Mr. Fabian’s last minute decision to pull out from the awards event on July 26, and the Foundation board’s decision to decline a donation to the Foundation’s Bantay Bata project came to the fore after Ms. Umayam anti-Semitic statement against PWD Senior columnist and founder and that proved to be the last straw in the Foundation’s decision to pull out from the awards event and to decline PCCI’s planned donation to Bantay Bata.
The ‘Dog of the Year’ award stemmed from the newspaper’s avowed commitment to total and unbridled press freedom, and its advocacy for transparency, truthfulness and courageous community service. PWD’s editorial board, which consists of President and Executive Editor Al Aquino, Founder and Senior Columnist Joel Bander, co-founder and Managing Editor Rene Villaroman, Editorial Ombudsman Larry Pelayo and Chief of Reporters Diony C. Grava are unanimous in their vote for choosing Mr. Fabian as the first ‘Dog of the Year’ Award recipient.
Joel Jacinto, Director of Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), said, “Robbie Fabian’s act of turning down the funds was an extraordinary act of principle, and I applaud him for looking through the lens of was giving the money. As a fundraiser, it is never easy to turn down money. Hats off to Robbie Fabian. PinoyWatchDog.com has made a good choice.”
“He did not hesitate to make a judgment,” opined Mutch Carino, another community leader. “He was not inhibited to be a whistle blower; not afraid to use integrity and transparency as his standard operating procedure. If I were voting, Fabian would get my vote.”
Arnel Dino, a concerned citizen and community advocate said: “Interesting choice. As I think about it, I cannot think of anyone else more appropriate to receive the award.” Producer-director Vic Perez said, “He is truly a man of virtues, and I respect the guy.”
The low-key corporate executive Fabian, who was informed about his selection of PWD’s first ‘Dog of the Year’ recipient this week, played down the announcement, saying, “I have been cautioned in the past about accepting awards. However being named PinoyWatchDog.com’s ‘Dog of the Year’ is a great honor. I am very pleased to be the first recipient.”
Fabian, has served as President of ABS-CBN Foundation International since 2009. He is a candidate for a Master’s Certificate in Business Administration, Marketing and Economics from Boston University’s School of Management. In 1992, he was Director of Development of the Shanti Project in San Francisco, the first AIDS education and direct services organization in the US. He has also served, from 1992 until 1996, as Director of Development at KQED, Inc., a San Francisco Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate. He served as Vice President for Resource Development of the Galef Institute, an education think tank, then he organized his own consulting business named J. Robbie Fabian Development Consulting, and began his presidency at ABS-CBN Foundation International in 2009.—Rene Villaroman
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