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.

Benjamin Santos, Judge

Judge Benjamin Santos *(Source: Northwest Asian Weekly)*

Appointed by Governor Bob Ferguson to the King County Superior Court, Santos has more than two decades of experience as a county senior deputy prosecutor. At the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Santos has led the Misdemeanor and Special Assault units and currently serves as Assistant Chief Deputy in the Juvenile Division. “He has worked to protect the rights of both victims and the accused, inside and outside the courtroom. This lifelong commitment to our justice system combined with his broad legal experience will serve Washingtonians well,” Governor Ferguson said. Santos is a first-generation American whose parents fought for Filipino cannery workers and against the Marcos dictatorship in the 1970s, shaping his sense of justice and commitment to public service. Prior to earning his law degree, Santos advocated for marginalized residents in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District, where he helped mitigate the impacts of development projects. Santos earned a bachelor’s degree from Washington State University, where he co-founded the Filipino American Student Association and one of the first Filipino American fraternities in the country. He earned his law degree from American University in Washington, D.C.

Jocelyn Thompson-Jordan, Lead House Manager, Actor

Jocelyn Thompson-Jordan *(Source: brava.org)*

Jordan is a native of San Francisco with over ten years of singing and performance experiences. She developed a passion for music and theater during her childhood. Recent credits include Larry the Musical (Dawn) and Every Saturday Night (Ensemble). She finds inspiration in the diversity and creativity of her hometown. She is currently the Lead House Manager for Brava Theater in San Francisco where she creates outstanding event experiences ensuring seamless service, safety, and client satisfaction.

Melissa Ann Nievera Lozano, Healer

Melissa Ann Nievera Lozano *(Source: Evergreen Valley College)*

Lozano is a queer second-generation Filipino American of Igorot and Waray heritage. Born and raised in San Diego, she first joined the Filipino American National Historical Society at the age of 19. With over 20 years of community-based, critically engaged cultural work in the Filipino American community, she ties historical preservation to the ancestral healing work she practices in her teaching, community organizing, and parenting three children. Lozano sees storytelling as medicine. Her research sources from women-of-color radical thought, which guides her community work on the intersectional struggles against racism, classism, and heteropatriarchy impacting lives across families and generations. She also teaches ethnic studies courses at Evergreen Valley College.

Laura Corina Sanders, Soprano

Melissa Ann Nievera Lozano *(Source: Facebook)*

Sanders’ notable accolades include First Prize in the Lotte Lenya Competition in 2018, First Prize in the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Houston Career Grant Competition in 2023, Encouragement Award in the 2023 Camille Coloratura Awards, and two-time winner of an Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council competition. In 2025, Sanders was named a finalist at the Carolyn Bailey Argento Vocal Competition at the National Opera Association Conference, as well as a finalist in the Dallas Opera Lone Star Competition. She will next appear onstage as Elvira in Rossini's L'Italiana in Algeri at both Opera in The Heights and Anchorage Opera. In the summer, she will appear as Berta in Il Barbiere di Siviglia at Central City Opera. While earning her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees at the Eastman School of Music, she received multiple accolades and notable performance opportunities. A keen lover of musical theatre, Sanders was praised by the Kurt Weill Foundation for her “vocal prowess, dramatic risk-taking, and canny choices of repertory” as a Lotte Lenya Competition Winner. She will be featured as a performer in Volume II of the Lotte Lenya Competition Songbook, a recording series by the Kurt Weill Foundation to showcase new and lesser-known musical theatre repertoire. She is a passionate advocate for music outreach and for developing new and innovative ways to engage audiences in the world of theatrical arts.

Dylan Harper, Basketball Player

Filipino American point guard Dylan Harper, a standout freshman at Rutgers was the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft for the San Antonio Spurs. Harper averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.0 assists, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors and breaking Rutgers’ freshman scoring record. Despite a midseason ankle injury and illness, he showcased elite scoring and playmaking — highlighted by 36- and 37-point performances against Notre Dame and Alabama. “I can do whatever it takes to win,” Harper said, drawing comparisons to a young James Harden for his smooth left-handed game and versatility at 6-foot-6. Harper, son of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, represents a growing presence of Asian Americans in elite basketball. Harper's father, Ron Harper, played 15 seasons in the NBA and won five NBA championships. His mother, Maria (née Pizarro), is from Bataan, Philippines and played college basketball for New Orleans and is currently an assistant coach at Don Bosco. Harper's older brother, Ron Harper Jr., played college basketball at Rutgers and played in the NBA for the Toronto Raptors.

Gina Alexander, Handbag Designer

Alexander is an L.A.-based designer who created a line of handbags and other kinds of accessories that allow the customer to design unique pieces with their personal photos– “Mementos that travel with you each day, reminding you of the people, places and things you love.” Alexander is a fashion veteran, having studied in Europe, apprenticing with LA-based fashion houses, and finally, opening her own kiosk stores at the Hollywood & Highland Retail complex and The Grove. Now, with a growing company, ALEXANDER's Photo Bags have been sold through Nordstrom, ICE Accessories and Saks Inc. department stores and can currently be found on partnered retail locations such as ebags.com, 40+ boutiques nationwide and over 600 professional photography studios worldwide.

Ellen Samson, Geriatric Care Manager

Samson is a Geriatric Care Manager with extensive training and experience in Senior Care Management and Dementia Care. She trained under Teepa Snow, one of America’s leading educators in dementia, studying Positive Physical Approach to Care. She is currently the CEO of American Geriatric Care Management, a licensed Home Care Organization and a full-service care management company. She is also the Founder/EVP of Arete, a business incubation company, and American Care Professional, a healthcare referral agency. Ellen’s trademark workshop Dementia: Up Close and Personal (Preserving family relationships at the onset of Dementia) have been very well attended giving a significant difference in the lives of the participants. She is the President of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles (FACCGLA), currently a Board Member of the Roaring 90’s Club, a social club for senior aged 90 and above and Founder/President of the Filipino American Caregiving Association.

April Joy Damian, Ph.D., Director of Weitzman Institute

April Joy Damian, Ph. D. *(Source: Greenlining Institute)*

Damian is a psychiatric epidemiologist, health services researcher, and classically trained public health professional with expertise in health equity, social determinants of health, and mixed methods. She serves as the Vice President and Director of the Weitzman Institute, a national research, education, and policy center dedicated to innovation and impact in primary care for the underserved. Damian concurrently serves as a Senior Scholar for Health Equity at AcademyHealth, and holds a faculty appointment at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is a sought-after speaker and thought leader in health equity, and serves in multiple leadership positions in the field, including on the National Academies Board of Children, Youth, and Families, Forum for Children's Well-Being; Chair of the National Academies Healthy Parenting in Primary Care Collaborative; and AcademyHealth’s Board of Directors Standing Committee on Advocacy and Public Policy. Damian completed her Ph.D. in the Department of Mental Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and master’s in Medical Sciences at Harvard Medical School. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies, Highest Honors.

Dolly Pangan-Specht, Community Volunteer

Dolly Pangan-Specht *(Source: Filipinaleadership.org)*

Specht is president of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), Oregon chapter. She is also the Board Chair of the Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc. and former chair of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Oregon. She is a professional service provider and loves to volunteer. She has authored a book, Filipinos in the Willamette Valley.

Pete Bufete, Unified School District President

Bufete was selected for another term as President of the Hayward Unified School District Board of Education. His term ends in 2028. Before entering the world of politics, Bufete was a senior advisor for his family’s two assisted living care centers, run by his mother, Gladys Williams, and his grandmother, Zeny Garcia. He graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Political Science. He was also a Board Member of the Hayward Public Library Board and Commissioner of the Hayward Library.

Source: Google and Wikipedia

The Magazine

FilAms Among The Remarkable And Famous, Part 69