Filipinos have been in the United States since the 16th century, yet many of their stories remain untold. For the past years, 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.

Steven B. McLaughlin, Brigadier General

Brig. Gen. Steven McLaughlin *(Photo by Minerva Amistoso)*

McLaughlin assumed command of the 100th Training division (Leader Development) at Fort Knox, Kentucky on November 1, 2019. A native of Hillsborough, California, he obtained his commission as a second lieutenant in 1994, through the Reserve Officer Training Corps from Santa Clara University, California. He has been deployed to Germany, Hungary, Kuwait among other places. His awards include: The Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3OLC), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (1 Silver OLC), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Medal (2), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Army Overseas Ribbon (3), Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, and the German Army Truppendienst (Bronze).

Brigadier General McLaughlin’s military schools include the Transportation Officer Basic Course and Advanced Courses, Combined Armed Service and Staff School, Intermediate Level Education (ILE) Common Core, Army War College, Joint Combined Warfighter School, BN/BDE Pre Command Course, the Force Management How the Army Runs Course (HTARC) and the Anti-Terrorism Officer Course (Level 2 and Level 4).

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a minor in Political Science from Santa Clara University and a master’s in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College. He is the grandson of Maria Avenido and Vitalino Balitaan who survived the civilian massacres in Laguna, Philippines during WWII.

Myrna Lynne Willkom Chai, Retired Nurse

Myrna Lynne Willkom Chai *(Photo by Mona Lisa Yuchengco)*

Chai, a retired Filipino nurse from Los Angeles flies to Lourdes, a small French town in the Pyrenees every spring and pushes wheelchairs for a week. She does not get paid. She pays her own airfare. She buys her own meals.

Born in Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao, the second of seven children in a Catholic household, she emigrated to the United States in the late 1970s on a nursing visa, the way thousands of Filipino women emigrated in those years — through a hospital that needed bedside nurses and was willing to sponsor the paperwork. She spent the next four decades on hospital floors in Los Angeles County. ER nights. ICU rotations. Oncology days. Hospice in the final years. She raised two children on those shifts and put them through college on those shifts and buried her husband on those shifts. By the time she retired, she had been a registered nurse for 41 years.

At 68 years old, she signed up to be a volunteer to help the sick and the aged who visit the grotto and basins of Lourdes in the hope of a miracle. Later on, she trained the new American volunteers in the basin protocols — how to position a paralyzed body in the cold spring water, how to time the lift with the breath, how to speak quietly to a woman who has not been touched in a year. She does it in English and in Tagalog and in the kitchen Spanish she picked up on Los Angeles oncology floors. She has gone back every year since.

Flomy Javier Diza, Immigration Lawyer

Diza is a Filipino American immigration attorney, community leader, and advocate whose journey began as the son of a farmer in the Philippines. A lawyer in both the Philippines and the United States, he is now a Senior Partner at Reeves Immigration Law Group, where he manages the firm’s San Francisco and Concord offices. He is a Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law by the State Bar of California and has spent over two decades guiding immigrants and families through complex legal pathways before USCIS, immigration courts, and U.S. consulates worldwide.

Diza has uplifted the Filipino community through education and advocacy. He initiated Talakayan, a series of public forums in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, creating accessible spaces for dialogue on immigration and community issues. He also co-hosts the widely followed radio program, Immigration Law On Your Side, where he delivers timely and practical legal guidance to the Filipino diaspora.

His work has earned both international and community recognition. He was named one of The 2025 Outstanding Filipinos in America (TOFA) and received the Best Regular Radio Program award at the Migration Advocacy and Media Awards by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. In recognition of his direct assistance to Filipino nationals detained during heightened immigration enforcement, he was awarded a Plaque of Commendation by the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco. He was also honored as an Outstanding Advocate for Immigrant Justice by the Amerika Prestige Awards. -Submitted by Ben Loveman

Shawn Felipe, Comedian

Felipe’s victory at the prestigious 2025 San Francisco International Comedy Competition underscores his exceptional talent and dedication to his craft. The Breaking the Mold tour alongside Jo Koy provided invaluable experience and exposure, further honing his comedic skills. In reality television, his win on The Great Food Truck Race with Team Aloha Plate, shows his diverse skill set and competitive spirit. He has performed at over 200 colleges and universities, for U.S. military personnel, at major cruise lines, and Day Bar Comedy.

As a multi-ethnic, stand-up comedian, Shawn Felipe believes that comedy is derived from real life. Shawn always tries to find humor in various situations, even the toughest of struggles he has encountered so far in life. He believes God has blessed him, so that, regardless of the problems or challenges he faces, he can laugh at them and help others see the humor in them as well.

Shawn was born in Victorville, California but raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. He attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Theatrical Arts and TV production. Shawn's stand-up comedy acts have been featured on various networks, including Worldasia TV, AZN TV,IA TV,The Filipino Channel,Sprint Comedy-Time Network, and National Lampoon Comedy Radio.

Bea Millan-Windorski, Beauty Queen

Bea Millan-Windorski *(Source: Wikipedia)*

Millan-Windorski is the Philippines’ new queen at the Miss Universe Philippines 2026. Born on August 15, 2002 to a family of immigrants, she traces her maternal roots to San Juan, La Union, where her grandparents, Alfredo and Marcela Millan, lived before moving to Nueva Vizcaya, and later deciding to emigrate to the United States in search of better opportunities. In the U.S., her mother met her American father, who comes from a family of Polish-German immigrants. Growing up in a predominantly white area of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Bea initially struggled with identity and belonging, but eventually found a sense of responsibility to discover and introduce her Philippine heritage to the community.

The 23-year-old beauty queen earned a double degree in International Studies and History “with comprehensive honors” at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, focusing on Southeast Asian Studies, where she learned the Filipino language and completed a thesis on Filipinos in the U.S. Navy. She was also awarded a fellowship with the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in the U.S. and got an internship at the East-West Center in Washington, DC, which paved a path for her to learn more about U.S.-ASEAN relations, as well as hone her Filipino language literacy. Beyond her strong academic background, the 5-foot-11 stunner excels in the performing arts, as she was also a high school varsity dance team member and a ballet dancer in the Milwaukee Ballet School.

Mark Philip Valerio Santos, Owner, Valerio’s Bakeshop

Mark Philip Valerio Santos *(Source: Instagram)*

Mark Philip Valerio Santos was recently recognized as one of the 100 Global Entrepreneurs for his contributions to business leadership, community engagement, and the continued global presence of Filipino entrepreneurship in the United States. As a Filipino American entrepreneur based in San Diego, he represents the next generation of leadership built on heritage, innovation, and community impact.

Santos is the third-generation owner and operator of Valerio’s Bakeshop, the family-owned bakery established by his grandparents, Victor and Milagros Valerio. Under his leadership, the company has continued to grow while preserving the traditions and Filipino identity that shaped the brand through generations.

Valerio’s Bakeshop received national recognition after winning at the 2025 World Bread Awards USA during IBIE Las Vegas, one of the world’s largest baking expos. Beyond the family business, Mark also serves as a Board Director for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, National City Chamber of Commerce.

Andi Therese Sycip, Lab Researcher

Andi Therese Sycip *(Source: Upenn.edu)*

SyCip, a biology major at the University of Pennsylvania, conducted research on how minor genetic alterations to estrogen-relation receptor binding sites impact heart functions. She was mentored by Dr. Daniel Kelly (Department of Medicine). She graduated Magna Cum Laude. SyCip, a pre-med student, was offered a Fulbright 2026-27 to conduct field-based research in Leyte, Philippines, evaluating the effectiveness of mass drug administration programs for schistosomiasis to inform targeted, culturally responsive care.

SyCip studied at the International School Manila. She also did research and report writing at the Philippine Daily Inquirer Editorial Department.

Nacho Tambunting, Actor

Tambunting is a New York–based actor working across television, film, and theater. Born and raised in Manila and trained at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, he is drawn to emotionally layered stories of identity, family, power, and belonging.

On screen, Nacho has recurred on NBC’s Rise and Apple TV+’s Dickinson, with guest appearances on Netflix’s Ashley Garcia: Genius in Love and BET+’s First Wives Club. His film credits include Asian Persuasion and Come Into My Arms, and he can be heard in the iHeartRadio scripted series Does This Murder Make Me Look Gay?

Nacho made his Off-Broadway debut originating the title role in Felix Starro with Ma-Yi Theater Company. His theater work includes Trilogy and The Play You Want at Two River Theater, the world premiere of Everything Beautiful Happens at Night at Capital Stage, and most recently, Melchior in Sandbox Collective’s Spring Awakening in Manila.

In addition to acting, Nacho develops new work for stage and screen. He is currently producing Mercury Makes the Skin Glow with playwright Gaven D. Trinidad following sold-out readings in both Manila and New York.

Rear Admiral Victorino Mercado, U.S. Navy

Rear Admiral Victorino Mercado *(Source: AUSA)*

Rear Adm. Victorino Mercado is a native of Virginia and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in May 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics/Computer Science. Mercado holds a master’s degree in systems technology in Joint Command, Control, and Communications from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, completed Air Command and Staff College and is a graduate and a Commandant’s Writing Award winner from the Joint/Combined Warfighting Senior School at Joint Forces Staff College.

He was confirmed by the Senate in 2019 as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities. He was responsible for advising the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy on national security and defense strategy; the forces, contingency plans, and associated posture necessary to implement the defense strategy; nuclear deterrence and missile defense policy; and security cooperation plans and policies. Mercado ensured that the Department's program and budget decisions support and advance senior DoD leaders' strategic direction, especially as articulated in defense planning guidance.

Mercado graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in May 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computer Science, and he holds a master's degree in systems technology in Joint Command, Control, and Communications from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. His decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (three awards), the Legion of Merit Medal (four awards) and various individual and unit campaign awards. He is also a former Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet Shiphandler of the Year award winner.

Marie Husa, Relations Director

Born in Manila, Philippines, Husa has been an Alaskan since 1984. She was an investigator for the Anchorage Equal Rights Commission for 17 years, probing discrimination complaints. Currently she is the Constituent Relations Director where she ensures Anchorage residents of all backgrounds have a direct line of communication with the Mayor’s office.

She holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Alaska Pacific University and is a licensed professional career and life coach. She is a past president and board member of the Alaska Federation of Filipino Americans. She lives in Anchorage with her husband of 26 years; they have two daughters, one attending law school in Seattle University and the other studying Business and Psychology at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

J Rey Soul, Singer

Jessica Joy Seria Reynoso aka J Rey Soul, is a Filipino American singer known for participating in the first season of The Voice of the Philippines and collaborating and touring with the Black Eyed Peas since 2018.

Starting her musical career at an early age, she appeared on the first season of The Voice of the Philippines and joined coach apl.de.ap's team, becoming a finalist on the show. After a couple of released singles and a collaboration with apl.de.ap, Reynoso joined the Black Eyed Peas, replacing Fergie as their singer in 2018.

Reynoso was born in Hong Kong to an African American father and a Filipino mother. Having been abandoned at some point by her parents, she would later be adopted and raised in, San Pedro, Laguna, Philippines by her adoptive parents who exposed her to music at a young age. In 2007, she joined the competition show Popstar Kids at age 10. In a later interview, she says that she didn't get much attention due to her skin color. She completed her contract with the GMA Network, which produced the show, in 2012. She attended PATTS College of Aeronautics taking Air Freight Operations.

In 2021, she signed with Epic Records and released the single Pull Up with will.i.am featuring Nile Rodgers, which was used for the Mercedes-Benz AMG campaign. That same year, she sang the national anthem of the Philippines at the professional boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Yordenis Ugás.

The Magazine

FilAms Among The Remarkable And Famous, Part 81