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.

Alyssa Thompson, Soccer

Alyssa Thompson (Photo by Gina Ferazzi /*Los Angeles Times)*

A Los Angeles native, Thompson is of Filipino and Peruvian descent. She is a soccer forward for Angel City FC and the United States national team. She was named the 2021 High School Player of the Year after scoring 48 goals in 18 games with Harvard-Westlake School. In the 2022 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship she won a gold medal playing in five matches and scoring three goals. On January 12, 2023, Angel City FC of the National Women’s Soccer League selected Thompson with the first overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft. Her younger sister, Gisele, is also a soccer player. Both signed up with Nike, becoming the first high school athletes to sign a name, image and likeness deal with the brand. Thompson also runs track, and in April 2022 ran 100m in 11.74 seconds, the second fastest 100m sprint in California.

Monsignor Anthony Celino, Bishop

Pope Francis named Monsignor Anthony Celino, a priest born in northern Philippines, as the first auxiliary bishop of El Paso, Texas – and the third Filipino bishop in the United States. The Pope announced Celino’s appointment on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Celino, 50, is the first auxiliary bishop of El Paso since the diocese was established in 1914. As auxiliary bishop, Celino assists the bishop who heads the Diocese of El Paso, Mark Seitz. He is set to be ordained as bishop on March 31. He is currently parish priest of Saint Raphael Parish and judicial vicar of the El Paso diocese. “He brings a unique experience as a Filipino immigrant serving our border community as a priest for the past 25 years, a steadfast dedication to pastoral ministry, and fidelity to the Gospel,” Seitz said in a news release, noting that Celino previously served as his vicar general or right-hand man.

Sapphire Sandalo, Animator, Podcaster and Professor

Sandalo is an animator, podcaster, host and paranormal historian in Los Angeles. From 2013-2016, she was an animator and character designer for various commercials and TV series for Adult Swim, Comedy Central, FXX, and MTV. She hosted and wrote "Toon Buzz" on Channel Frederator (2013-2014) where she covered the latest news in animation and appeared as a guest on several episodes of "Cartoon Conspiracy." In 2016, she created the web series "Something Scary," where she animated and narrated ghost stories. The series spun off into a podcast in 2018, which was nominated for a Digital Hollywood Podcast Award in 2019. She left the show in October 2019 and is the host of the award-winning and multi-nominated podcast "Stories With Sapphire," where she shares her personal exploration of paranormal and supernatural phenomena through stories, interviews, poems and art. She can also be seen on several Trvl Channel series, giving her paranormal expertise on "Paranormal Caught on Camera" and "Paranormal Nightshift" as well as investigating on "Ghost Town Terror." Outside of animating and creating paranormal content, Sapphire is also a professor at Loyola Marymount University, where she teaches a course about creating socially and culturally conscious media.

Addison Russell, Professional Baseball Shortstop

Addison Russell (Photo by Keith Allison/Creative Commons License)

Born in Pensacola, Florida, Russell is the eldest of four children raised by Filipino mother, Milany Ocampo, and stepfather, Wayne Russell. The full name on Russell's birth certificate is Geoffreye O'Neal Addison Robert Watts Jr. III. He nearly died from human respiratory syncytial virus at three months old. He was adopted by his stepfather at 13 years old and took the name Addison Wayne Russell. He was drafted 11th overall by the Oakland Athletics in the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2014. In 2015, Baseball America listed Russell as the third-best prospect in professional baseball. He made his MLB debut with the Cubs in April 2015 and was an All-Star in 2016. That same year, Russell won the World Series with the Cubs. On December 11, 2022, Russell signed with the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League.

Vince Bugtong, Pastry Chef

Bugtong, pastry chef, moved to Abaca, a modern Filipino restaurant in the Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco early this year after more than three years with Viridian in Oakland, California. He is a semi-finalist at the 2023 James Beard Foundation for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker. The awards will be announced in June 2023. Inspired by Asian cuisine, his inventive creations include Thai tea tiramisu and chocolate black sesame cake.

Major General Roy Macaraeg, National Guard

Maj. Gen. Roy Macaraeg (Photo by Staff Sgt. John Linzmeier/Air National Guard)

Macaraeg is the highest-ranking citizen-soldier of Filipino descent in the history of the Hawaii National Guard. He is senior Military Advisor for Manpower Policy and Quality of Life, Assistant Secretary of the Army. Born in Malasiki, Pangasinan, Philippines, his family moved to Hawaii when Macaraeg was only ten years old. His father was a construction worker and his mother was a teacher. When asked why recruitment numbers for the Hawaii Army National Guard are not as high as they used to be, Macaraeg said many people are unaware of the benefits. “The willingness to serve, I think it’s still there. We just need to make sure the Army and the Army National Guard really reconnect back to this generation. There are so many opportunities in joining the army, and I don’t think we do such a good job in telling the benefits of it,” he said. “I think the greatest part of my job is really the part that I serve the country and our state and communities, I think it’s fulfilling.”

Franco Finn, Golden State Warriors Hype Man

Finn, the Golden State Warriors’ Filipino American Hype Man, hosted Rising Stars Challenge last February 17, 2023 and then the big All Star Saturday night completion with the Dunk and 3 Point Competition, both nationally televised for the All-Star Weekend at the Vivint Arena, home of the Utah Jazz, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Finn has energized and entertained up to 20,000 Golden State warriors fans each night for 15 seasons. He is the TV personality and host for Warriors TV and Warriors Weekly. He also works with CBS as entertainment and lifestyle correspondent interviewing celebrities. His show, “The Hype TV,” provides content, red carpet coverage and exclusive celebrity interviews on CBS. He also manages his own professional interactive DJ/ MC/ Entertainment Production Company, Franco Finn Entertainment, conducting various corporate events and weddings. Finn is also a professionally trained auctioneer and has worked with some of the most recognized nonprofit organizations, including American Red Cross, March of Dimes, The Ronald McDonald House, the Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, Make-A-Wish Foundation and corporations, including Walt Disney Company, Coca-Cola and Verizon.

Alex Villafuerte, Executive Director, Pacific Arts Movement

Alex Villafuerte (Photo by Britanny Cruz Fejeran/*San Diego Union Tribune)*

Villafuerte is the new executive director of Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts), presenters of the San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF). As a local community leader and longtime supporter of the organization, Villafuerte comes to Pac Arts with almost a decade of experience as an advocate for LGBTQ and Asian American and Pacific Islander voices and stories. “I’m honored to join the Pacific Arts Movement family as their Executive Director,” he said. “I hope the San Diego community will join us in April as we kick off the Spring Showcase and continue amplifying the stories of our Asian and Pacific Islander community.” Villafuerte brings years of experience in event and community organizing for San Diego's largest civic event, the San Diego Pride parade where he formerly served as Director of Marketing and Communications. Villafuerte is excited to continue his work of uplifting underrepresented voices through Pac Art’s mission to present unique, culturally enriching programs that would otherwise be inaccessible to the public, through the annual San Diego Asian Film Festival and the upcoming SDAFF Spring Showcase slated for April 20-27, 2023.

Emily Ann Ramos, Councilor

Emily Ann Ramos became the first person of Filipino descent to be appointed to the Mountain View City Council upon taking the oath of office February 14, 2023, after Sally Lieber vacated her seat last year. In line with her experience from serving on the Rental Housing Committee, Ramos said her top priorities include stopping the displacement of longtime Mountain View residents and developing strategies for middle-income people to afford housing in the city. “We are in the midst of a housing crisis and Mountain View has done really incredible steps to move us forward, but the work isn’t done yet.” She also supports bolstering the city’s parks and open space. In 2022, Ramos was named Woman of the Year for the 13th Senate District in California.

Evan Samson, Marketing Director

Samson is now a resident of Sarasota, Florida. He was born in Saipan where his OFW parents met and got married, and then moved to Las Vegas in his 20s where he moonlighted as a restaurant worker. Now he is the Marketing Communications Director of Diversified Material Specialists Inc., an international company specializing in fiber optic product design and manufacturing for global markets. Last year he was among the top 35 under 35 for 2022 in Sarasota and Manatee by SRQ Magazine for taking leadership roles in their company and the local community. In early 2023, he was honored as one of the top 40 under 40 in North America by Business Elite Awards in Las Vegas, a program that identifies outstanding young executives and entrepreneurs. Aside from managing advertising, branding, internal communications, external communications and marketing of DMSI International, Samson initiates programs in the workplace to boost the morale of the young professionals, partnering with different non-profits for the company’s local community involvement through donations and volunteering, creating learning environments, reading books, and unwinding.

(Submitted by Jordan Sera)

Source: Google and Wikipedia

The Magazine

Fil-Ams Among The Remarkable And Famous, Part 46