Filipinos have been in the United States since the 16th century, yet many of their stories remain untold. For the past year, Positively Filipino has been running a series on notable Filipino Americans who have made their marks in this country. There are hundreds, or maybe even thousands more, that need to be added to this story, and we need your help. If you know of a Filipino American who deserves to be included in this line-up, please send us their names and any supporting documents you may have to pfpublisher@yahoo.com. For now, we are including only those who are currently active and visible in the media and the community, regardless of their religious, sexual or political orientation. Thank you.

Sibyl Reymundo Santiago, Actor

Sibyl Reymundo Santiago *(Source: IMDb)*

Born in San Francisco, Santiago was raised in New York City and has been an actor since the age of two with her first walk-on-role with mom, veteran actor Lorli Villanueva in Lino Brocka’s Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag. She went on to play the role of Charlie Perez in the very popular Soap Opera "Flor de Luna" and was a mainstay in television shows like "Kulit Bulilit" and "Kaluskos Musmos", and the film "Maricris Sioson: Japayuki" to name a few. She runs Sitting Cat Productions, with several films slated for release including the feature "SAM" with Executive Producer Mel Brooks, and directed by Nicholas Brooks. Sibyl is a recent recipient of The Outstanding Filipino Americans in New York, Arts & Culture Award at Carnegie Hall, and remains an active member of both SAG-AFTRA and Actor's Equity. She trained with the Philippine Educational Theater Association and has performed in several high profile companies including La Mama, May-I Theater and INTAR's "Night Over Taos", directed by Academy award-winning actress Estelle Parsons. Sibyl also serves as Executive Director and Head of Programming for the SOHO International Film Festival.

Nicole Salaver, Program Manager

Nicole Salaver *(Source: Balay Kreative)*

Salaver is the new Program Manager of Filipino arts accelerator Balay Kreative. Founded in 2019 by Desi Dinagunan, Balay Kreative provides workshops, public art and grant opportunities, and a pop-up studio space where creators can connect, learn, and sell their artwork. “It’s important to have spaces that support and nurture visual artists, musicians, and content creators because traditionally — even as Asian Americans — we aren’t really told, ‘Yes, become an artist. It’s possible.’ We’re told to focus on making money,” Salaver said. “We must change perspective and reframe what we see as art. We can make money while being artists. It’s just finding different ways to see outside the box and think past your limitations.” After ten years of living in New York, it was time for Salaver to return to the Bay Area, to return home. She began writing a feature film dedicated to her uncle, Pat Salaver. Heavily involved in the Philippine American Collegiate Endeavor and Third World Liberation Front throughout the 1960s, Pat joined the fight to create the country’s first and only School of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University.

Joseph Bernardo, Diversity Leader

Joseph Bernardo *(Source: LMU Newsroom)*

Bernardo joined Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Loyola Marymount University in 2015 and currently runs its leadership development programs: He also manages LMU’s Implicit Bias Initiative. Prior to coming to LMU, he worked in several sectors including government, philanthropy, and non-profit. Bernardo holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Washington, an M.A. in Asian American Studies from San Francisco State University, and a B.A. from UC Santa Barbara. He continues to be active in the Asian/Filipino American community. In his free time, Joe likes to play basketball, go fishing, and practice Filipino Martial Arts and yoga.

Yonas Asuncion Kibreab, Actor

Kibreab plays the title role in Pixar’s next film, “Elio,” an out-of-this world adventure film slated for release in 2024. At 13, Kibreab is one of the most prolific young actors in Hollywood today. Other credits include: a feature film "Blood Moon", a series regular role for the Disney show "Pretty Freekin Scary", a series regular role for a Netflix show that was shot in New Zealand, multiple guest star roles, including Obi-One Kenobi, and Peabody award winning series ‘Better Things.’ He and his father would make funny tennis-related Instagram and Vine videos; and the U.S. Tennis Association sent an email asking if he would like to be a kid-caster at the U.S. Open in New York. Auditions followed for commercials.

Zaire Barnes, Football Player

In high school, Barnes was ranked the number 45 player in Illinois by 247 Sports, Class 7A honorable mention all-state as a running back and safety, two-time all-conference, all-area selection, all-state pick and MVP in 2017. He studied Computer Information Systems at Western Michigan and continued to play football. He finished his final collegiate year with 94 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, 8 passes defended, and 1 interception. Banres was selected by the New York Jets in the sixth round at pick number 184. The Jets believe that Barnes’ speed, versatility and length will contribute to their defense.

Rose Cameron, Artist

Cameron and her family left the Philippines due to the political turmoil and instability when she was only 12 years old. She attended Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts and received her Fine Arts and Art History degrees. She continued her studies at FIT and Parsons School of Design to learn architecture, interior design and marketing. Early this year, she previewed her work during Singapore Art Week with a show titled “The Three Sisters” where she revealed selected artworks celebrating her siblings, their relationships and the lives they led in the Philippines. Recently, her first solo show was held by Sara Nightingale in Brooklyn, New York at the Designers Collab Space, titled “A Small Bag, and Nothing More” where she introduced her art, story and the inspirations for her work. She now resides in New York with her two children. She has exhibited in Venice, Paris Barcelona, Miami, Los Angeles, Jakarta and Singapore.

Corazon Sandoval Foley, Community Activist

Corazon Sandoval Foley *(Source: virginia.gov)*

The 2017 Virginia Women in History honoree, Foley, is a native of Manila, Philippines, where she earned a degree in economics at the University of the Philippines. She moved to the United States in 1970 to pursue an M.B.A. at the George Washington University and has lived with her family in Fairfax since 1980. Like her husband, she joined the U.S. Department of State, first working overseas with the foreign service. She later transferred to the civil service as a senior economic analyst for the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research, focusing on economic and commercial developments in East Asia and the Pacific region. She sponsored several Asian-American themed exhibitions at the State Department, including "Witness: Japanese American Soldiers of WWII who Helped Liberate Dachau" in 1999. After retiring in 2007, Foley pursued her interest in documenting the history and contributions of Filipinos and other Asian immigrants who compose a significant minority of the population in Fairfax County. With the support of the county's board of supervisors she developed the Fairfax County Asian American History Project to research, record, and preserve the experiences of Asian Americans in the region. The first book containing oral histories was published in 2010 and a second focusing on Asian Americans serving in local law enforcement and the military was published in 2013. Foley has also reached hundreds of senior citizens in her community through the Burke/West Springfield Senior Center without Walls, which she spearheaded to provide supportive programs for aging in place.

Ted Benito, Entertainment Producer

Benito is the current President of the Apl.de.ap Foundation that aims to empower and enrich youth through education, specifically through technology and the arts. He is also the CEO and owner of LXV Enterprises, LLC whose mission statement is “to present, promote and produce the talents of Filipino and Filipino American artists in all genre and media: television, dance, theater, recordings, live events, concerts, movies and literature.” Prosy de la Cruz wrote in Asian Journal, “As first-generation Filipino immigrants and parents of second generation Filipino Americans, a Filipino connected to our cultural roots is a must. Or we become empty gongs. It is a conscious undertaking for aspiring to see our own role models represented in the mass media, newspapers, and cultural spaces. Unless these spaces are consciously created, our culture is left on the wayside, for casual appropriation. Hence the conscious undertakings of Ted, supported by Rosie Chua and an array of sponsors to have these artists perform, and as respectfully and with integrity.”

Robert Perlas Gomez, Baritone

Gomez has performed over 90 roles throughout the United States with a special emphasis on California. He has done multiple leading roles with most of the regional companies in the state. He has done numerous supporting roles with Michigan Opera, Los Angeles Opera, San Diego Opera, and San Francisco Opera. He has appeared regularly as soloist with the Verdi Chorus. Among Mr. Gómez’s many appearances in Southern California are several at the John Anson Ford Amphitheater: the baritone leads of Germanno in La scala di seta, Allazim in Mozart’s Zaide, and Riolobo in a concert version of Florencia en las Amazonas.

Gomez was five when he and his family moved from the Philippines to the U.S., and they bounced around in California – Oxnard, Santa Monica, Cerritos – before heading east. He pursued math and the sciences because he was good at it; a career in singing was not even a consideration. But hearing Pavarotti sing “Cielo e mar” changed his majors to physics and music.

Joseph Alvarico, Teacher of the Year

Joseph Alvarico *(Source: Contra Costa News)*

Mount Diablo Unified School District announced that Ygnacio Valley High School teacher Joseph Alvarico has been selected as a Contra Costa Teacher of the Year (2023). Alvarico was born into a family of educators but did not set out on a path to become a teacher until a full-ride college scholarship in his native country, the Philippines, was awarded to him. The scholarship required him to work as a teacher for at least one year. With a short-term commitment in mind, he became a teacher intern in the 1990s and has been “hooked” on teaching ever since. After immigrating to the United States, Alvarico has spent multiple years instructing middle school and high school students in Mt. Diablo Unified School District. With his on-the-job experience in the tech industry, he weaves real world experiences into his lessons. Teaching teenagers, being a lifelong learner, and building a community with his students is the secret sauce that has turned his robotics and yearbook students into design and engineering professionals. While helping underserved students for the past 23 years, Alvarico strives to show them their potential and the possibilities available when they leave high school. Alvarico has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Bachelor of Secondary Education degree. Prior to immigrating to the United States, he started the process for attaining master's degrees in both Business Administration and Biology. Alvarico has received many awards and accolades over the years; however, it is the impact he leaves on students that matters most to him. “Seeing my students work toward and achieve their dreams is the biggest reward I get from teaching,” Alvarico said. “The icing on the cake is for my students to return as professionals and give back to this community I serve.”

Source: Google and Wikipedia

The Magazine

Fil-Ams Among The Remarkable And Famous, Part 54