Robert Leonardo received his Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines 1992. He received Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) certification from the California Department of Health in 1994 and MT certification from American Medical Technologists (AMT) in 1997. In addition, he holds multiple Microsoft MCSE IT certifications. For […]

Dr. Lili Wells was born and raised in Quezon City, Philippines. She received her Bachelors in Physical Therapy from De La Salle University and went on to receive her Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Des Moines University in Iowa. Her interest in Physical Therapy comes from years of observing her mother who was the […]

Dr. David P. Calimag started from very humble beginnings. David was born in Aparri, Cagayan on December 20, 1947, the fifth of six children, to two loving parents, Placido Calimag Sr, an elementary school p r i n c i p a l a n d J u a n a P a m i […]

Mark is the President/Owner of The Javier Law Firm, P.C., located at 3029 N. Kedzie, Chicago. He writes a Law column for VIA Times monthly publication. He is a graduate from The John Marshall Law School JD in 2006 and finished his bachelor’s degree from University of Illinois in 2002. His extensive law practice includes […]

T h i s e n e r g e t i c n e w l y – e l e c t e d President of Philippine Nurses of Illinois Inc (PNAI) graduated from St. Anne’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1968. While working at the National Mental Hospital as a staff nurse, […]

Dr. Rufino Crisostomo has devoted himself to do humanitarian w o r k a s a m e d i c a l m i s s i o n a r y, e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e H e a r t C r […]

Vernie Velarde-Morales is the Philippine Department of Tourism’s Director for the Central Region of North America (USA and Canada). Her office’s area of coverage encompasses 19 states of the U.S.A. and 2 provinces of Canada. Vernie is a Philippine Career Executive Service (CES) Director. Prior to her posting in Chicago, she served as the Department […]

Vinson Villena has been practicing Taekwondo for almost 30 years and has over 20 years of experience teaching this martial art at several universities, schools, fitness centers and park districts in the Philippines, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Some of his many accomplishments in this sport include being a Fifth Degree Black Belt, an NCAA Taekwondo […]

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 Engineering/Waste Management from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Over the course of his career, he […]

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 and felt the need of this organization and found her niche to tap human and […]

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. At her very young age, she always dreamt of becoming a nurse, not only to […]

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, in Jolo, Sulu, Philippines. Born fourth out of five siblings, NVP was raised by Pastor […]

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 the allocation of BCBSIL grant dollars to community partners in support of the goals of […]

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 aunt had customized the belts of her dresses to be double and triple in length […]

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 “ODM”) into a nationally recognized firm that designs, manufacturers and ships imprinted wearables that communicate […]

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 school to college enabled her to attain the best education her native country had to […]

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. In the 5th grade and at the age of ten he formed his first band […]

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, David has chosen to continue his medical vocation and maintain his own solo private practice, […]

President, 2012-2014 The Philippine Nurses Association of America 8303 Windfern Road Houston, Texas 77040 Director of Clinical Quality Johns Hopkins Medicine International 1300 Thames Street, Suite 200 Baltimore, MD 21231 Ms. Victoria Navarro is the 17th President of the Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA), leading its more than 45 chapters across the United States. […]

Dr. Dulcelina Albano Stahl ‘s passion for education is par excellence as exemplified by her engagement as an Adjunct Faculty for over 15 years at universities in the Chicagoland area teaching in the MBA, Masters in Health Services Administration, Master’s in Management, and Bachelor of Science in Management while holding executive positions as Corporate Vice […]