In front of a few thousand Filipino, FilAm and some American crowd, the award show was filled with pageantry and tears.

It brought together the meeting of two worlds - the Philippines and the US, and Filipinos and FilAms in the arts and entertainment field.

They are so alike yet so different.

So when Apl.de.Ap and Martin Nievera met for the first time backstage during the award show it was more than just a meeting of two artists that had admired one another from a distance.

It was a symbolic meeting.

It was a meeting of Filipinos who have made it in their native country and FilAms succeeding in their adopted country. That although these Filipinos and FilAms are more than 7,000 miles away they are connected because they share the same passion for their work.

“That’s what the Visionary awards is all about bringing together artists – Filipino and Filipino-Americans - together to celebrate their achievements,” added Nievera. “This is a big night not only for Filipino artists but also for the fans. It’s a historical moment in history.”