Lourdes Livas is a business owner, fashion model, beauty-titles holder, and talented ballroom dancer. Multi-awarded for her community involvement, her other awards include Hall of Fame award for Community Service & Dance Arts in 2006, High Profile Women by Fashion in Fashion, Most Outstanding Women, Calendar Moms of Pilipino American Social Service (PASS) in 2005, […]

Jon Cotay, age 40, is a fashion retail expert, entrepreneur, and philanthropist based in Chicago. After moving from his native Philippines to the U.S. at age 12, Cotay received his B.S. in Nursing at the University of Illinois. In 2002, he co-founded AKIRA, a women’s clothing boutique. Since then, AKIRA has grown into a lifestyle […]

Bruce was born and raised in Illinois. His grandfather was a Swedish-speaking, small-town dairyman who taught Bruce about fishing and hunting, the value of hard work and the importance of giving back. Bruce knew how to ride a horse at 6, milk a cow at 8, and shoot a rifle at 10. Bruce’s first job […]

Aeron Lancero was born June 13, to the parents of Armando and Rose Lancero. He was born and raised on the Island of Guam, which is a territory of the USA. Lancero is the second oldest among his three siblings. He was educated in the Philippines where he received his secondary, collegiate, and majored in […]

Born the 4th of December, this Sagitarrian is a true care topnotch in her own ways. Melencia Tolledo, or Mel as fondly called by many, earned her Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing at the De Ocampo Memorial College, Manila, Philippines. Ms. Tolledo worked as a Registered Nurse after her graduation and sailed through the […]

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 […]