NEW YORK, NY – The recent visit of ABS-CBN President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Content Officer Charo Santos-Concio to New York provided an opportunity for many to advance their understanding on the significant role that the head of the Philippines’ leading information and entertainment multimedia conglomerate plays in the global Filipino community and in the international media industry.
Casting A Spotlight On The Next Wave of Global TV Santos – Concio 
reinforced her role as an international industry leader by being the first Filipina media executive to chair the gala of the International Emmys (iEmmys), now on its 43rd year, with the awards ceremony last November 23 at Hilton Midtown Manhattan drawing a global who’s who of the industry.
Hosted by popular Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef, dubbed the “Jon Stewart of the Arab world”, the iEmmys was graced by, among others: Downton Abbey creator and writer Julian Fellowes who was presented the honorary International Emmy Founders Award by the show’s executive producer Gareth Neame and actress Elizabeth McGovern, who stars in said show as Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham; award-winning actor Michael Douglas who presented the honorary International Emmy Directorate Award to Richard Plepler, chairman and CEO of HBO; Tovah Feldshuh and Michael Cudlitz who play Deanna Moore and Abraham Ford, respectively, in AMC’s The Walking Dead; Mozhan Marnò who plays former Mossad agent and assassin Samar Navabi in NBC’s The Blacklist; Robin Taylor who plays The Penguin on Fox’s Gotham; Tony Best Actress in a Musical (Pippin) awardee Patina Miller of The Hunger Games Mockingjay Parts 1 and 2; Lea DeLaria of Netflix’s Orange is the New Black; George Takei of the classic Star Trek TV series and films and who currently stars in the hit Broadwaymusical, Allegiance, with Filipina Laurence Olivier and Tony Best Actress in a Musical (Miss Saigon) awardee Lea Salonga.
The Philippines’ foremost lead actor Piolo Pascual, who joined SantosConcio at the red carpet, presented with Karla Mosley, Maya Avant in CBS’ daytime soap opera, The Bold and the Beautiful, the Best Telenovela award to Brazil’s Imperio (Empire).
In the December 4 issue of The Hollywood Reporter, the iEmmys was described as “the gold standard for global TV, consistently ahead of the curve on worldwide viewing trends.” Bruce L. Paisner, president & CEO of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, is quoted in said story as saying that “this is truly the era of international television, and we are the people to showcase it.”
“Ms. Charo Santos-Concio is an internationally respected broadcast producer and executive who has spearheaded the growth of her organization to a leading position in the Philippines and the region beyond,” said Paisner. “We are delighted to have her Chair our 2015 International Emmy Awards Gala.”
Joining Santos-Concio and Pascual at the iEmmys were ABS-CBN Head of Integrated Acquisition and International Sales Distribution Evelyn “Leng” Raymundo, ABS-CBN Talent Management and Development Center Managing Director Mariole Alberto, ABS-CBN Head of Integrated Corporate Communication Kane Choa and SantosConcio’s stepdaughter Rina Concio-Quinto.
Promoting Filipino Identity and Leadership One of the liveliest legs of Santos-Concio’s visit to New York was the “Lunchtime with Ms Charo” on November 21, a Welcome Lunch Reception organized by the United Mindoro International, Inc. and held at the Astoria World Manor in Queens.
Headed by organization president Juliet Payabyab, the event led Santos-Concio back to memory lane with a surprise meeting with her childhood friends and classmates in elementary and high school from her hometown, Calapan City, capital of the province of Oriental Mindoro in the Philippines. Described by Payabyab as their batch’s “forever Snow White and pinakamagandang babae sa balat ng Mindoro (the most beautiful woman from Mindoro)”, Santos-Concio thoroughly enjoyed the nostalgia, the jokes, the playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks and the warmth of a solid Mindoreno camaraderie.
Throughout her visit, Santos-Concio mentioned that she was filled with gratitude for the very warm welcome by the Filipino community of New York and her colleagues at the iEmmys, for the rekindling of childhood friendships, and for the learning and discoveries about the lives of overseas Filipinos in the region. More than ever, her passion to serve them burns more fervently knowing what empowering community and industry milestones could be accomplished working hand in hand with her international media peers and the overseas Filipinos worldwide. (NMFernandez)
