We are proud to have been the Presenting Sponsor of this year’s Golden Balangay Awards, held on September 20th, to honour outstanding Filipino Canadians who drive positive change across the country. The event brought together trailblazers, leaders, and changemakers from different walks of life, each representing the heart and spirit of the Filipino community in Canada.
About the Golden Balangay Awards
Founded in 2017 by Ronnie Dela Gana of IKUBO Media and Jovito Favila of Awards Online Canada, the Golden Balangay Awards is an annual national program that celebrates the success and contributions of Filipino Canadians. Multiple winners are recognized yearly across business, education, leadership, and community service categories. Beyond the accolades, the awards strengthen community pride, connect Filipino heritage with life in Canada, and create opportunities for recognition and networking.
LemFi’s Role and the Bigger Picture
This year, we proudly presented the Pinoy of the Year award, one of the evening’s highest honours. This award is reserved for individuals whose excellence and leadership have made a lasting impact on the Filipino-Canadian community. Our participation went beyond sponsorship; it was about standing beside a community that mirrors the values we hold dear: resilience, ambition, and collective growth.
The Golden Balangay Awards inspire Filipino Canadians to excel, uplift one another, and continue shaping their community and Canada as a whole.
At LemFi, we wholeheartedly share that vision, a commitment Raymund Abog, our Head of South East Asia, underscored:
“Supporting the Golden Balangay Awards is part of our commitment to empowering immigrants, celebrating their achievements, and recognizing how their stories of perseverance and success continue to enrich Canada and inspire others around the world.”
The alignment between our organizations is mutual, as Ronnie Dela Gana, President & Chair of the Golden Balangay Foundation, expressed:
“The Golden Balangay Awards is honoured to have LemFi as a partner for the Pinoy of the Year category. Their commitment to empowering Filipinos worldwide aligns perfectly with our mission to recognize excellence and inspire the next generation of leaders within the Filipino-Canadian community from coast to coast to coast.”
This sentiment was strongly echoed by Claire Dela Gana, Program Lead for the Awards, who specifically highlighted the importance of the Pinoy of the Year category.
“We’re deeply grateful to LemFi for sponsoring the Pinoy of the Year category — one of the most inspiring recognitions of the evening. This partnership reflects our shared mission of empowering Filipinos to reach greater heights while staying connected to their roots. We are proud to have LemFi alongside us in honouring those who continue to make the Filipino community shine,” she shared.
Spotlight: Dr. Edward Cruz, 2025 Pinoy of the Year
Each awardee reminded us that we were right where we needed to be. Take Dr. Edward Cruz, for instance, this year’s Golden Balangay Pinoy of the Year. Once an internationally educated nurse, he is now the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs at the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Nursing. Dr. Cruz was recognized for his dedication to nursing education and student success, and he is a true example of how immigrants continue to enrich Canada through hard work, leadership, and service.
For All The “Cruzs”
Recognizing individuals like Dr. Cruz is at the core of why LemFi chose to support this event. Celebrating such achievements honours their successes and inspires others to make a difference wherever they are. By standing alongside the Golden Balangay Awards, we celebrate every Filipino who continues to shape Canada’s cultural and social landscape meaningfully.
“Being part of an event that celebrates the achievements of Filipinos in Canada really hit home for us,” said Patricia Alonte-Estrella, our Growth Manager Southeast Asia. “At LemFi, in addition to helping people send money home, we aim to build connections, celebrate success, and support immigrant communities.”
Looking Ahead
As LemFi continues to grow and expand, our commitment to empowering and uplifting Kabayans and immigrants everywhere remains unwavering. This commitment shines through in everything we do, whether ensuring reliable, fast, and affordable transfers home through our recent partnership with GCash or showing up to celebrate the people who make these communities thrive.
.png)
