{{short description|Filipino-born American journalist}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Use Philippine English|date=October 2025}}
'''Alex Esclamado''' (April 2, 1929 – November 11, 2012) was a Filipino-born American newspaper publisher, lawyer, and journalist. In 1961, Esclamado founded the ''Philippine News'' out of his home in the Sunset District neighborhood of San Francisco, California.<ref name=sfgate>{{cite news|first=Drew|last=Joseph|title=Alex Esclamado - Philippine News publisher |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Alex-Esclamado-Philippine-News-publisher-4042553.php |work=San Francisco Chronicle |publisher=SFGate |date=2012-11-15 |accessdate=2012-12-10}}</ref> Esclamado became a vocal opponent of former Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos after his government declared martial law in 1972.<ref name=sfgate/>
==Awards and recognition== In October 1986, Esclamado was recognized as the only Filipino-American recipient of the congressionally sponsored Ellis Island Medal of Honor award.<ref>{{cite web |title=ALEJANDRO ESCLAMADO | website=Legacy.com |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/obituary.aspx?pid=161072196 |accessdate=27 September 2018 |date=15 November 2012}}</ref>
On May 9, 1989, President Cory Aquino conferred the Philippine Legion of Honor on Esclamado.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Macabenta |first1=Greg |title=Alex Esclamado: An Impossible Dreamer Dies |url=http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/2012/11/19/alex-esclamado-an-impossible-dreamer-dies |accessdate=27 September 2018 |work=Positively Filipino {{!}} Online Magazine for Filipinos in the Diaspora |date=7 November 2012}}</ref>
==Later life and death== Esclamado returned to the Philippines in August 2011. On November 4, 2012, he died in his home town of Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte, from pneumonia, after a 10-year battle with Parkinson's disease. He was 83. He is survived by his wife, Lourdes, 7 children, 14 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.<ref name=sfgate/>
==Legacy== The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and GMA Network continue to acknowledge and give tribute to Esclamado's works and contributions to the Filipino-American community by giving the Alex Esclamado Memorial Award for Community Service to deserving Filipino people.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-11 |title=3RD Alex Esclamado Memorial Awardees Announced |url=https://naffaa.org/3rd-alex-esclamado-memorial-awardees-announced/ |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=National Federation of Filipino American Associations |language=en-US}}</ref> The winners for the awards are screened by the Council for Filipino American Organizations of Central Florida, the West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service, Inc., Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Texas, and the Pilipino American Unity for Progress, Inc.<ref>{{cite news |title=NaFFAA and GMA Network Announce first Alex Esclamado Memorial Awardees {{!}} News and Events {{!}} GMA International - Bringing Filipinos Closer to Home |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/international/articles/2014-07-31/372/naffaa-and-gma-network-announce-first-alex-esclamado-memorial-awardees |accessdate=27 September 2018 |work=www.gmanetwork.com |date=31 July 2014}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Esclamado, Alex}} Category:1929 births Category:2012 deaths Category:American newspaper publishers (people) Category:Businesspeople from San Francisco Category:Lawyers from San Francisco Category:Filipino emigrants to the United States Category:20th-century American journalists Category:20th-century American male journalists Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:20th-century American lawyers Category:People from San Francisco Category:People from Southern Leyte
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