Filipino animator Jess Espanola gained the country an honor when he received an award at the 2008 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Animated Program (for programming less than one hour) for his work on "The Simpsons - Eternal Moonshine of the Simpson Mind." The first Filipino to receive an Emmy, he was also an assistant director for another award-winning show, "Futurama," which won in 2002. The Emmy Awards are given by the Academy of Television, Arts and Sciences.

A fine arts graduate from the University of the Philippines, Espanola was raised by a single mother in a depressed area of Central Luzon. In their trying situation, he experienced real hunger, but used his talent to overcome their circumstances. He worked hard and stayed at the top of his class, and eventually gained a scholarship at the UP.

He was later hired as a team supervisor and lead animator when Hanna Barbera established Fil-Cartoon Inc., a subsidiary in Pasig. Other TV credits include "Tom and Jerry Kids Show," "The Pirates of Dark Water," "The Dream Stone," and "The New Yogi Bear Show."

With such an achievement, Espanola has proven that Filipino talent is world-class!