Ryan Tejero – OUTSTANDING ASIAN AMERICAN 2021 BY US PINOYS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE MICHIGAN

Promoting a positive image of leaders and organizations through journalism towards a stronger Filipino and Asian community.

The US Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG) Michigan is a non-profit organization that strongly supports diversity and community building efforts. This year, USP4GG Michigan celebrates its 4th Annual Philippines American Friendship Day on July 4, 2021 through a virtual presentation. Featured in this celebration was honoring Twelve Outstanding Asian Americans 2021. Representing various fields and coming from different Asian countries of descent, the honorees included outstanding individuals from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Hmong, India and the Philippines. Three of the honorees were Filipino Americans. This event was sponsored in part by GMA Pinoy TV, Chicago’s Via Times, One Philippines Texas News, Michigan Fil Star News, Comcast and many more.

Bringing pride to the Filipino American community is VIA Times columnist-writer for 20 years, Ryan Tejero. He is being recognized for his work in journalism and media advocacy. Ryan’s Via Times’ column, Club President – Feature/ Story, has unveiled empowering accounts of leaders in the Filipino and other Asian American communities. Ryan believes that each organization or leader has a story to tell, has personal achievements to take pride and own, and has numerous projects and programs that leave a lasting impact on American society.

Ryan became the online newsletter publisher and editor of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) for 5 years until 2017. He also wrote true stories on the journey of Filipino migrants from around the world between 2014-2015. His articles were published and circulated in print by Planet Philippines/PASA Pinoy newsmagazine in Melbourne, Australia. In 2014, Ryan co-founded the first Filipino community newsletter in Romania. It was a quarterly online publication that captured the community life of Overseas Filipino Workers in Romania. “Pinoy sa Romania” newsletter was acknowledged by the Philippine Embassy in Budapest as an “avenue for all Filipinos in Romania to be updated on the activities of the Filipino community and become an efficient information tool that will empower our kababayans.” Pinoy sa Romania ended its circulation when Ryan’s co-founder lost her battle with cancer in 2016.

In addition to Ryan’s VIA Times column, he also writes a monthly column in the only Filipino American newsmagazine in Texas, One Philippines Texas News. His column of two years now, Fil-Am Builders: Leaders and Organizations, pays tribute to the many contributions of Filipino Americans in the social, cultural, political, business and spiritual aspects of community life in Texas.

Truly an inspiration in the community, Ryan vows to continue his work as a journalist and media advocate. He believes that genuine support to people is offering your time, talent, and compassion without regard to any incentive. He said, “When we rise above the expectation of receiving in return from our good deeds, then we experience true happiness. This, to me, is the essence of giving back and advocacy.”

Ryan graduated with the degree in Philosophy from the University of the Philippines.

Ryan, with daughter Kayla Tejero (also a Via Times columnist), with the current President of US Pinoys for Good Governance Michigan, Brenda Sanagustin during the Philippine American Friendship Day Celebration in 2018 in Troy, Michigan.

Ryan became the President of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Chicago in 2016.

Photo with VIA TIMES Publisher/ Owner and CPRTV Executive Producer, Veronica Leighton at the 25th Chicago Filipino and Asian Hall of Fame in 2019 at Hyatt Chicago O’Hare.