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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Commerce – Magna Cum Laude, De La Salle University, 1967 Master in Business Administration – Finance T h e W h a r t o n S c h o o l , U n i v e r s i t y o f Pennsylvania, USA, 1970 H.E. […]

Stacey Baca is a triple threat on the ABC 7 News Team. She’s a multifaceted journalist who anchors, reports, and blogs for the station’s website. On the anchor desk, Stacey delivers Chicago’s #1-rated weekend morning newscasts – ABC 7 News Saturday and Sunday Mornings. As a reporter, you’ll see her covering every topic – breaking […]

Anthony A. “Tony” Armada is the President for Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and Advocate Lutheran General Children’s Hospital.  Lutheran General is one of the flagship hospitals of Advocate Health Care, the largest health care provider in Illinois.  Lutheran General is a 638 bed teaching, research and tertiary care hospital and Level 1 trauma center.  Lutheran […]

As a young child of three, Mae’s mother enrolled her at the Cultural Center of the Philippines where she studied ballet. She was also accepted to the prestigious Children Repertory Theatre in Makati, where she studied theatre, and was also admitted to various reputable dance academies in Manila, where she studied and fine-tuned her dance […]

Orlando C. Cabalona Sr. is a native of Jaro Leyte, Philippines. A born musician, he started playing at a very young age by watching his classically trained grandfather secretly and imitating him play behind his back. This led to him studying piano through the tutelage of Ms. Leonor Almeria and furthered his education at the […]

Raised in a prominent clan of Misamis Oriental, Fr. Carlos Agcopra Llagas has always been associated with the Agcopra Clan’s dominant traits: intelligence, gray hair, audacity.  A consistent honors student, Fr. Carlos graduated valedictorian three times–in Grade School, High School, and Graduate School.  Fr. Carlos entered the seminary system of the Roman Catholic church at the […]

Kampilan Eskrima System A natural athlete, Edie was engaged in different sports most of her life. She went to college at the University of San Carlos in Cebu on a basketball scholarship. While playing for her college team, she was also offered a slot in her school’s tennis varsity team. Edie’s martial arts journey began […]

Jason Lee is the pride of the Filipino-American communities of Central Illinois. His great compassion for Filipinos and his desire to promote Filipino culture has gained him respect from many Filipino-American associations from around Illinois. He is currently the Founder and organizer of the Filipino American Association of Decatur, the 2012 President of the Central […]