The evening of the Filipino American Hall of Fame was fraught with many emotions. Excitement, wonderment, fear, anticipation, honor, the list goes on and on. I've never been to one of these gala events, and I didn't really know what to expect. It was only a couple days ago that I realized that I wasn't going to be sitting with the rest of my guests.

The idea of sitting at a head table just puts so much more importance, pomp and circumstance, to the evening. Arriving at the hotel late, problems with the tuxedo sizing, and even finding the hotel with improper directions, all added to the stress of the evening.

Once we got to the hotel everything started to fall into place. I was able to get the pictures displayed without any problems. Guests were arriving, and apparently having a lot easier time at finding the hotel than I. Everyone was able to get into their rooms, shower, get dressed, and get downstairs in our respective tuxedos and dresses, looking mighty dapper I might add.

Being around the other honorees was very humbling. I really didn't feel as if I were worthy to be standing next to all these awardees in Music, Education, Engineering, Sports, Real Estate Development, not to mention that the Unites States Philippine Ambassador was among them. Had a mistake been made in choosing me. That's what kept going through my mind.

As the evening wore on I somehow started to feel better and more at ease with the idea of accepting the award. Hoping I would be able to represent, with all the dignity and achievement that surrounds me, not just at the head table, but all around me in the ballroom. Looking around in the ball room, I see so many successful Filipinos. Seeing this many Filipinos under one roof just doesn't happen in Chicago. Being associated with this event in anyway is definitely something that I am proud of.

So many pictures, so many videographers, so many flashes, I thought I was going blind for a moment. This time I am on the other end of the camera lens. Usually I am the one behind the camera, taking the pictures. Now, I am posing in the pictures. It really feels foreign to me, a little awkward. Throughout the entire evening I didn't take any pictures, a whole gala event, and not one picture taken by me. I was still on cloud nine. Taking pictures, or even holding a camera was the last thing on my mind. Had a camera been made available to me, I don't think I would have had the faculties to compose a shot. There definitely was a buzz, an excitement in the air.

I didn't want the evening to end. After the line dancing, and there was a lot of line dancing, I had to wind down with a nice cigar, and quiet conversation. Smoking a nice Nat Sherman with a friend of mine capped the evening off with just the right touch. All the hub bub, all the gallantry, all the wonderful speeches, made the evening a lot to take in. I can't wait to go to next years event.

Charlie