Former singer-actress Gem Castillo Amante continues to reap awards due to her innate humanitarian efforts. After receiving trophies and citations from Gawad Dangal Awards, Asia’s World Class Filipino Awards, 3rd Southeast Asia Achievement Awards, Most Outstanding Woman Philanthropist, and Builder Master Award Philanthropist of the Year, Mayora Gem as she is fondly called has been chosen as 2023 AmerAsia’s Most Outstanding Filipino in Humanitarian Services awardee.
Gem is set to receive the award on April 22 at the Celebrity Centre International Pavilion, Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, California.
Now in its fourth year, the Amerasian awards is held to honor deserving Filipinos with great achievements living in the US and the Philippines.
What has prompted other award-giving bodies and Amerasia International to pick her as the best in the league is her endless and tireless acts to provide sustainable livelihood projects generating income among the poor to alleviate poverty, and not just giving them short-lived sustenance.
One is her donations of tricycles to extremely poor individuals and families, which are equipped with essential goods for sale, serving as a mobile store.
Mayora Gem also has scholars from poor families, who she sees as future professionals and good citizens of the country. She even provides them with school supplies and food assistance. She also serves as a conduit to free hospitalizations for people who cannot afford high medical assistance.
She largely attributes the realization of her efforts to her husband, San Pablo City Mayor Vicente Amante who gives her full support.
“Without him, it is impossible for me to realize the good end of these endeavors,” says Mayora Gem. “Mayor Amante is not only my husband but also my best friend, my anchor, the best provider who knows that in my heart, helping other people has been in me since I was young.”