VIA Times Filipino American Lifestyle and Culture in the Greater Chicago Area

Greg Vanderlaan is a Senior Vice President with ARCADIS, a world-wide engineering consulting company. He holds a B.A. in Biological Science from Southern Illinois University, an M.S. in Environmental Science/Air Pollution from Washington State University and an M.S. in Environmental ...

Starting out as one of the participants in 2012 PASS (Pilipino American Social Service) Calendar Moms, an annual social service fundraising activity for the purpose of sustaining its noble objective of giving assistance to our aging population, Angie instantly saw ...

Carmencita C. Floro is an outstanding community leader whose strengths and perseverance she traces on her life’s humble beginning. She was born and raised from a small town in the northern part of Luzon called Narvacan, Province of Ilocos Sur. ...

Known as Alvin Tan to most, Nick Vera Perez was coined to create a character suited to entertainment. NVP began singing at the age of three where he performed at a local restaurant called Ngo Hiong House and Native Foods, ...

Clarita Santos is Director of Community Health Initiatives at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL). In this role, she oversees BCBSIL’s community investments, volunteerism and community engagement across Illinois. Since 2007, she has provided guidance and recommendations on ...

Born October 23rd, 1972, as Maria Odiamar, to Roger and Ofelia Odiamar, Maria was outgoing, social and outspoken from a young age. Arriving to Chicago from the Philippines a year after her parents, similar to many first generation immigrants, Maria’s ...

Anthony V. Olaes was born (and raised) in San Diego, California to first generation immigrant parents from the Philippines. As a twenty year veteran of the apparel industry, Tony Olaes founded and has grown Olaes Enterprises, Inc. (commonly known as ...

Maria Victoria “Vicki” A. Grageda-Smith was born in Angeles City, Philippines, the eldest among ten children in a family of modest means that valued education, above all, as an effective way to transcend poverty. Full academic merit scholarships from high ...

Dale is a professional musician born, raised and performing in Chicago as a solo musician, with various bands, several churches, and retirement communities. He has been playing guitar for audiences from all walks of like for most of his life. ...

Dr. Calimag and his family claimed Chicago as their city and Morton Grove, Illinois as their home in 1982. Dr. Calimag had been an Attending Neurologist for the Cook County Hospital Bureau for 26 years from 1982-2008. From 2008 onward, ...