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Ilocano teen in US receives award from Michelle Obama

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Grace Alba , ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/world/12/28/bitanga-obama-1.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Ilocano teen Rafael Bitanga receives an award from First Lady Michelle Obama.</div></figcaption></figure></div><p>LAOAG CITY - An Ilocano teen in the United States met First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House after receiving an award for filmmaking.</p><p>Laoag City native Rafael Bitanga, 16, a grade 10 student of Kodiak High School in Alaska, received an award in behalf of Baranov Museum from the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program.</p><p>During the awarding, Bitanga got a special mention from the First Lady.</p><p>&quot;We have a young man Rafael Bitanga who is here all the way from Kodiak, Alaska. A few years ago, Rafael and his family came to the United States from the Philippines and like so many young people who’ve immigrated to this country,&quot; Obama said.</p><p>&quot;Rafael worked hard in school and quickly established himself as a leader and as a role model. And through the Baranov Museum and Film Intensive, he both became a filmmaker and a photographer and even established his photography business to help support his family,&quot; she added.</p><p>Bitanga said he feels honored to have met the First Lady.</p><p>&quot;It’s just an honor to be up there. At noong nandoon ako, sabi ni Michelle Obama, go to school, finish college, and she pointed out her finger right at me,&quot; he said.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/world/12/28/bitanga-obama-2.jpg"/></figure></div><p>Bitanga, who is now planning to take a vacation soon in the Philippines, has a message to students like him.</p><p>“Don’t lose hope. Don’t feel fear. Just know that if you keep on working hard, you’ll get to places like the White House where I went to. You just really need to work hard, that’s the only way,” he said. </p><p>Bitanga, accompanied by film instructor Maria Acemah, represented Baranov Museum’s Summer Intensive Film Class. Baranov Museum is a historical museum that offers film workshops for students.</p>

<p> An Ilocano teen in the United States met First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House after receiving an award for filmmaking.</p>

An Ilocano teen in the United States met First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House after receiving an award for filmmaking.

Ilocano teen in US receives award from Michelle Obama

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Ilocano teen in US receives award from Michelle Obama

Grace Alba ,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 28, 2016 12:32 PM PHT

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Updated Dec 28, 2016 02:42 PM PHT

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Michelle Obama

Rafael Bitanga

Ilocos Norte

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