Pinay Businesswoman – Multi-award Recipient!

Filipina businesswoman Patricia Berberabe – the 67-year-old owner of the famous Filipino store on Newark Avenue (Phil-Am Trading, Inc) – is set to receive four awards, including the Presidential Awardees to be handed by the Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself. In a week, she will be flying to Manila to personally receive her Banaag Award.

“Sa tanda kong ito, hindi pa ako nakarating sa Malacañang” she told Asian Journal in her interview last November 20, 2008 during the PAFCOM’s Press Conference for Community Heroes Award where she is also an awardee for being an outstanding leader in our community.

Congratulations and cheers po, Aling Patricia!

Read the full news inside the post …

JERSEY CITY—Patricia Berberabe has a lot to be thankfulfor.

First, her family business is thriving despite the bad economic times.

Second, her family is bringing Max’s, the famous fried chicken restaurant in the Philippines, to New Jersey and New York.

On top of that, she has been reaping awards left and right.

Earlier this year, she was one of four Filipino recipients of this year’s Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Awards, awarded by Asian American Business Development Center (AABDC) to honor achievements of entrepreneurs and corporate professionals.

The 67-year-old Pat is president of Phil-Am Trading, Inc., an importer and distributor of various Philippine food products. Her family also owns different restaurants and groceries that cater to the Fil-Am community.

A couple of weeks ago, she received another wonderful news. She was chosen by the Commission of Filipino Overseas as one of this year’s Presidential Awardees and in two weeks, she will by flying to Manila to receive the award from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself.
“Sa tanda kong ito, hindi pa ako nakarating sa Malacañang,” the soft-spoken Pat told the Asian Journal recently. Needless to say, she is looking forward to receiving her Banaag Award from the president. More than the awards she has been receiving, Pat is visibly excited about bringing the famous Max’s fried chicken to the East Coast.

“Medyo nakakainip na,” she admits, adding that plans of bringing the chain, first to Jersey City, was an idea hatched back in 2006.
“We already have weeks of training, from Hawaii to Manila to Glendale, California. I can’t wait,” Pat adds. Aside from being a hands-on business woman, Pat is also known in the community as a leader.

Among the organizations where she plays an active role are the Philippine American Friendship Committee (PAFCOM) and Pan American Concerned Citizens Action League (PACCAL). PAFCOM is also set to honor Pat with an award in community service at the 2009 Community Heroes Awards scheduled for next year in recognition of her efforts in leading, supporting, volunteering and participating in community undertakings big and small.

Source: Asian Journal