10-year-old girl wins 'I Am Filipino-American' contest

A 10-year-old Filipino-American student from New Jersey was named winner of the “I Am… Filipino American" contest for school-aged children, for an essay that showed her pride for her “strong and steadily beating Filipino heart." Danielle Mangabat of Millburn, NJ entered an essay in the Grades 4-6 category of the competition launched by the Filipino School of New York and New Jersey for the Filipino American History Month in October. “As a ten-year-old born and raised in New Jersey. I consider myself as having the best of both worlds. I have all the opportunities and means to experience all that America has to offer, complemented by the rich culture and solid foundation and backing as only a Filipino family can provide," the young Mangabat wrote in her essay. Last Nov. 5, the 10-year-old received her prize—a gift basket of Filipino pride items worth $150—from representatives of Guerrero Yee LLP, one of the competition’s sponsors. Founded in 2008, the Filipino School of New York and New Jersey is a “for-profit organization that promotes the teaching of Filipino language and arts, and the understanding of Filipino culture, values, and tradition." It is open to all students—regardless of race and religion—from pre-school to 12th grade. - VVP, GMA News