Meet the 2016 Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Famers

Dr. Glenn V. Amante is the president and owner of Amante Dental Center and Lisle Dental Center, two thriving dental practices located in Schaumburg and Lisle, Illinois. Dr. Amante has been practicing in the west/northwest suburbs of Chicago for over ten years. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Illinois at

Chicago, and has pursued postgraduate certification in Cosmetic Dentistry from the University of Minnesota. He also received his certification in Orthodontics and completed an intensive Implant Dentistry training after dental school. He held various student leadership positions while in dental school including the class presidency of the International Dentist Program class of 2006.

Dr. Rosalyn Aranas is a wife, mother, physician, business owner, political activist, and a beginner karate student. Dr. Aranas is married to her husband of 15 years, Martin Aranas, and both have a 7 year old son, Julian. Dr. Aranas is a board certified neurologist in the State of Illinois by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She also has completed a dual fellowship-training and holds board certifications in the neurological subspecialties of Clinical Neurophysiology and Sleep Medicine. Dr. Aranas has been in practice since 2009. She specializes in the diagnoses and treatment of neurological conditions such as stroke, epilepsy, migraines, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, concussion, and ALS, and more. She owns her own neurology private practice, Neurology & Sleep Clinics of Chicago, S.C. located in Schaumburg, IL. She is a medical staff at the Alexian Brothers Health System and Northwest Community Hospital in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.

Christine Cadlaon Cabiltes, soprano, was born in Manila, but grew up in Cebu City. She comes from a musically-inclined family.“Sweetie,“ as she is fondly called, was a member of her Mom’s choirs in the Philippines, and is the Soloist of the Sampaguita Singers of Chicago. She went to the University of Santo Tomas College of Music and the University of the Philippines College of Music. Her teachers were Professor Irma Ponce-Enrile Potenciano and Professor Gay Quinitio.

Consul General Calonge is a career diplomat whose career in the Foreign Service spans more than three decades. He has served in Philippine diplomatic missions in Tel Aviv, Washington DC, Moscow, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Saipan in various capacities, as well as in the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Office of the Undersecretary for Policy, Office of the Undersecretary for International Economic Relations, Office of the Undersecretary for Special Concerns, Office of Legal Affairs. Office of Intelligence and Security Services, Office of Middle East and African Affairs and Office of Asia and Pacific Affairs. Consul General Calonge was Ambassador to Israel for three years before his assignment to Chicago in the summer of 2014.

Born in Cebu, Rudolfo “Rudy” Campos grew up singing. From the age of nine, he performed in churches and local contests. He was a standout on the PMC Amateur Hour on Sunday nights at the local radio station, where he reigned as champion for several weeks. While attending school at the University of the Visayas, Campos was the lead singer of his school orchestra by day, and a club performer in several Cebu clubs by night with his band Triple C, and had gained a loyal following.When he was 23, Campos’ music career truly began when he became a singer in the famous KikoGatchalian’s Big Band at Clark Air Force Base, where he performed with the likes of Johnny Mathis, the Righteous Brothers, Ike and Tina Turner, Lou Rawls, and many more. This singing career opportunity led to his migration to the United States in 1972.

The Floro family, as a model family, is a family of successful professionals—educator, business executive, civic leaders, good parents. Starting out from the mother. Dr. Lourdes Floro, who painstakingly instills good education for her children (even through the years of her husband’s (Dr. Rodrigo) absence upon his death) who is not an ordinary kind of mother. Dr, Rodrigo Floro who passed away on Sept 26, 2004, attended University of Santo Thomas Medical School and served in theMedical Staff of Little Company of Mary Hospital for many years.

Drs. Lourdes and Rodrigo Floro are blessed with four children who are professionals in their own right…Christine Floro O’Hara, D.M.D., is a practicing dentist in Chicago and the current owner of Cristina D. Floro, DMD PC Dental Practice.; Clarissa Floro-Rhode, M.D., is Assistant Professor of Radiology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, from 1996 to present.; Rodrigo Floro, Jr., Esq., graduated from Northwestern School of Law and works presently as the legal director (Asia) vice president of World Fuel Services in Singapore.; Robert Joseph Floro, an educator, is currently the Assistant Vice President, Operations Support at Iqor.

Born of city schoolteachers, Menchee, as she is fondly called by her friends, was valedictorian at Paco Catholic Elementary and High School. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, cum laude from the University of the Philippines, a Masters in Education (Guidance and Counseling) from the University of San Francisco, and received her Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education from the New York University.Dr. Fulgado has an extensive and impressive career in counseling and education in New York. She was a Counselor with the New York City Orientation Program for the Youth, Counselor then Founding Director of the Office of Student Financial Aid at York College of the City University, Assistant Dean of Student and Director of Financial Aid at Malcolm King College, and Assistant  irector of Student Financial Aid at St. John’s University. At St. John’s University, Dr. Fulgado was also an Adjunct Professor who taught Freshman Orientation, Psychology 101, and Developmental Psychology. She has written several education columns in Filipino newspapers published in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Hawaii.

As a Registered Nurse, he migrated to Chicago, Illinois in the summer of 1994. He found himself often in-tasked of organizing and hosting parties for his friends in the early days of their young home-sick life here in America. While his career as a Certified Critical-Care Registered Nurse flourishes, his once hobby of entertaining his friends bloomed from being a passion into a business. Encouraged by friends, he founded Funky Dragon Productions in 2002 with a humble vision to provide event/party planning, consultation, hosting and DJ service to Filipino-American families in Chicagoland. The Party Master, as he is now known, have been a part of various events such as baptisms, birthdays, debut, weddings, holiday parties, reunions, and organizations/corporate events to name a few. His service now expands to all communities not only in Chicagoland but to the entire Midwest and the Philippines. Known to be a vibrant, interactive, no-dull-moment host emcee and entertainer, The Party Master excels in crafting memorable fun and emotional moments during his events that are meant to be treasured by his clients and their guests.

Raja Krishnamoorthi, 42, has a unique understanding of the challenges facing the U.S. economy and their implications for families and future workers. With successful experience in both the public and private sectors, he will go to Congress with clear ideas to help more Americans find good jobs and economic security in a changing world. Raja currently serves as President of Sivananthan Labs and Episolar, Inc., small businesses that develop and sell products in the national security and renewable energy industries. He is a co-founder of InSPIRE, a nonprofit organization that provides training to Illinois students and veterans in solar technology, and was formerly Vice-Chairman of the Illinois Innovation Council, whose mission is to promote innovative technologies that support economic growth and job creation in Illinois.

Josey Nieto currently serves as the Principal Business Project Manager for the Office of the President and CEO of ComEd, Anne Pramaggiore. With a background in engineering, Josey brings a unique point of view to the Office of the President and CEO to support all meetings and events that ensure that operations at ComEd keep powering lives. Josey received her Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from the University of Central Florida and is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration (MBA) through DePaul’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. As a member of the Society of Women Engineers, Josey was recruited by ComEd at a national conference to intern with Transmission Operations Support. After graduation in 2010, Josey officially began her career at ComEd in the New Hire Rotation Program where she spent 6 months touring the various engineering departments within the company. Upon completion of the program, she was placed in Capacity Planning as the Chicago Low-Voltage Network Planner. In addition to maintaining the Low-Voltage Network, Josey developed and issued numerous projects to ensure regular operations of the distribution system including distribution automation (smart switch) projects that were key to the implementation of the Energy Infrastructure Modernization Act. She then became the Area Planner for the Central Business District area, north of the river, in downtown Chicago.

Nicolas Ramiro Pacis, Jr., more popularly known as Nhick Ramiro Pacis, is a Filipino-American music composer, arranger and pianist in Tampa, Florida.

He holds a Bachelor of Music degree, majoring in Piano from the University of the Philippines College of Music. He was also a member of the UP Concert Chorus from 1989-1999 and has joined its 1988,1990,1976 and 1997 International Tours in Europe, USA and Canada.

He grew up and worked in the Philippines but moved to Tampa in 2001 and is now working at the Philippine Cultural Foundation (PCFI) as in-house Music Director, web designer and graphic artist. He also has a post at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in nearby Ybor City, Florida as a resident organist and choir director.

Merly served as the Interim President of the Philippine Nurses Association of Illinois  in 2010-2011 during the Historical Dispute of the two PNAIs in Illinois that they finally won over in court in 2011. She served in the Board of Directors of PNAI for many years. She has served as past president of the following community organizations in Chicago…Philippine Ladies for Rizal, Filipino International Couples Society with her late husband Frank Perricone; Bayanihan / Sampaguita Lions Club; West Suburban Philippine Civic Group; she is an active member of Filipino Association of South DuPage and Secretary of Philippine American Cultural Foundation. Merly became an Overall Chairman of the Philippine Week Committee in June 2010 and joined the PWC Mission to the Philippines when she was chairman. The proceeds from PWC was donated to the Philippines for the installation of ten artesian wells in Cavite and Quezon Provinces.

Rodolfo T. Poblacion, Jr. comes from a martial arts family and as expected, has excelled in the field. His uncle, Grandmaster Romeo Tabano, founded the Martial Arts Training Center of the Philippines (MATCOP) in Quiapo in 1975. Many world-renowned martial artists of all styles visited MATCOP during its heyday, including Shotokan Karate’s Hirozaku Kanazawa, and Kali Grandmaster Antonio Ilustrisimo. Rodolfo began his training at MATCOP while in elementary school. Grandmaster Ramon Ribay was one of his first Karate instructors. Grandmaster Rodel Dagooc was one of his first Arnis instructors.Rodolfo has crosstrained in multiple martial arts styles, but it was the Filipino Martial Art of Arnis that struck his passion. Rodolfo has achieved “Master” status in Modern Arnis, reaching the level of 6th degree black belt under Grandmaster Samuel “Bambit” Dulay, Vice President of the International Modern Arnis Federation Philippines (IMAFP).

Christine Abuel Pompa is Senior Patent Counsel at The Kraft Heinz Company. She is responsible for developing and managing the strategy for the company’s global patent portfolio. She is also heavily involved in the company’s technology transactions and supply-chain agreements. Prior to joining The Kraft Heinz Company, Christine was a partner at Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery, a boutique law firm specializing in intellectual property law. Christine was the first Asian Pacific American female attorney to be promoted to the ranks of partner and then equity partner at Fitch Even. During her time there, Christine was a litigator with trial experience whose practice focused principally on patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright litigation as well as opinion counseling and technology transactions.

Patrick Joseph “Pat” Quinn, Jr., is the 41st Governor of Illinois who served from 2009-2015. As a member of the Democratic Party, his political career started as an activist and founder of the Coalition for Political Honesty. In the 2002 gubernatorial election, Quinn won as Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. He assumed the governorship on January 29, 2009, after Governor Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office on corruption charges. Quinn was elected to a full term in office in the Illinois 2010 gubernatorial election, but lost the Governor’s seat at the Illinois 2014 gubernatorial election to the current Gov. Bruce Rauner. But former Gov. Quinn did not just “sit there” after losing his chair in Springfield. He did volunteer work for the masses. Currently, he is busy working on an advocacy project called “Take Charge Chicago”, a petition for referendums to limit the Mayor of Chicago to two four-year terms and to create an Elected Consumer Advocate in the city, and “not another appointee by the mayor,” he added during his speech at the City Club of Chicago, lately.

She received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the University of Sto. Tomas, Manila in 1976. After graduation, she worked briefly at the UST Pay Hospital as an Emergency room nurse. She immigrated to the US in 1978 and found her first nursing job in Quanah, Texas. She moved to Kansas City, MO in 1979 and completed her work visa program at St. Mary’s Hospital and NKC Hospital. She worked as a clinical nurse in various specialties including Telemetry, Medical Surgical, Pediatrics, Cardiac Rehab, Palliative and Hospice nursing. She has over 18 years in clinical nursing and 22 years in nursing management as the Director of Nursing of a family business, a nursing staffing Agency, Reliable Healthcare Services. Beth completed the Holistic Nutrition Consultant Program in 2009 and Parish Nursing in 2010. Beth and her husband are both nurse entrepreneur and civic community leaders in the Greater Kansas City area.

Dr. Nunilo Ignacio Rubio, Jr. (or Jun Jun as he was affectionately called) was born to Drs. Nunilo and Elenita Rubio in 1971 at the start of their new life together in the United States doing their residency at Hines VA hospital in Chicago (Model Family awardees 2011 & Excellence in Medicine, Dr. Nunilo Rubio, 2004, Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame). in college, he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree not only in Biology, but French and Psychology, as well. Armed with this strong foundation, he entered into Medical School at The University of Illinois at Chicago in 1994 and earned his Doctorate in Medicine in 1998. From there, he was torn as to what to do – both of his parents were Internal Medicine physicians and his father was a well-respected Adult Endocrinologist in Chicago and the Filipino American community. But ‘Jun Jun’ also loved Pediatrics and had a special knack for communicating and relating with children. In the end, being the overachiever, he entered into a combined Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Residency at The University of Texas at Houston in 1998 and completed his residency in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. But he did not stop there. He loved watching his father practice the complicated art of Endocrinology, the study of hormones, and knew he was destined for that specialty which would constantly challenge him and feed his inquisitive nature. Because of this, Dr. Rubio continued his studies at The University of Texas at Houston and entered into the combined Adult and Pediatric Endocrine Fellowship in 2002, which he completed in 2006 and eventually became Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Adult Endocrinology.

Money Smart Guy, Matt Sapaula, has dedicated his professional career to empowering individuals and families from all walks of life, to take charge of their personal finances. For over a decade he has proactively educated the community in financial strategies, helped clients identify hidden assets and encourages his audience to turn missed opportunities into second chances. Matthew began his career in the financial services industry by working at a large brokerage firm in southern California in transition from active-duty service in the United States Marine Corps. In the Marines, Matthew’s dedication to his country, his unit, and his duties propelled him to become a decorated military veteran while serving in Somalia, Africa, through Asia and the Persian Gulf. This time also gave him the values, discipline and drive that he brings to the financial services industry.

Philippine-born, award-winning author Maria Victoria A. Grageda-Smith writes poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, following an earlier law practice career in Manila distinguished not only by the prestige of the law firm (Sycip, Salazar, Hernandez &Gatmaitan) and company (San Miguel Corporation) she’s worked with, but by her significant pro bono work for indigent clients and other social justice and human rights advocacy. She is an alumnus of The University of Michigan School of Law (L.L.M.), the University of the Philippines College of Law (L.L.B.; Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence; Justice Alex Reyes Scholar), and the University of the Philippines College of Arts and Sciences (A.B. Political Science; Magna Cum Laude; U.P. Government Scholar). After marriage to an American that led her to immigrate to the United States, she pursued her childhood love