Fritz Friedman, Chairman
Mr. Friedman has been President of The Board Of Directors of the Filipino American Heritage Institute since 1999 during which he oversaw the move of The Filipino American Library to its current headquarters in Los Angeles. Born in Manila, he was raised in Boston, Massachusetts, received his BA in Asian Studies at Vassar College and a Masters in Communications from The Annenberg School of The University of Pennsylvania. Besides sitting on the Institute Board, Mr. Friedman is Executive Director of The Assembly For Justice, Chair of the Asian American Alumni of Vassar College, a member of the board of directors for the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival andthe advisory board for the San Diego Asian American Film Festival. Mr. Friedman is also Senior Vice President of Worldwide Publicity for Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment and Sony Pictures Releasing.
Rose Ibanez, MPA, President
Rose Ibanez is returning as a Board member after completing her graduate program with honors in the Masters in Public Policy and Administration at CSU Long Beach. She has continued to be a community activist for over 30 years, from student organizing as one of the founding members of UC Irvine Kababayan to advocating for immigrant and human rights work as the Los Angeles Chapter Chairperson of the National Filipino Immigrant Rights Organization (NFIRO) and a member of the Filipino Civil Rights Advocates (FILCRA) and a Planning Commissioner for the City of Carson as former Councilwoman Lorelie Olaes’ appointee. She was a former senior field deputy for Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Gloria Molina for 8 years, as a Senior Field Deputy for the east County area of the First District. She is currently employed as a Legislative Analyst for the Los Angeles County Community Development Commission/ Housing Authority, Intergovernmental Relations Unit. Recently, Rose was appointed to sit on the Los Angeles County Community Action Board (CAB) by Supervisor Gloria Molina to represent the public sector of the First District, which discusses the allocation of Community Service Block Grants (CSBG) for low-income families. Rose is a mother of two beautiful and talented young women, Gabriela and Mikaela, and is married to a life long partner and another community activist, Florante.
Christi-Anne Castro, Vice President
Christi-Anne Castro received her Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from UCLA with a dissertation on cultural politics and music in the Philippines. She is currently teaching at the University of California, Riverside and continues to hold rondalla classes in Eagle Rock.
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Van Gerard Dichoso, C.P.A., Treasurer
Van Gerard Dichoso, C.P.A. is President of Dichoso and Company, CPA, Inc., a successful CPA and business consulting firm with offices in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, California. Mr. Dichoso's involvement with the community has earned him the distinction as one of the most prominent CPAs of Filipino-American descent that he was awarded the coveted "Twenty Most Outstanding Filipinos in the United States and Canada" by the prestigious Fil-Am Magazine in Washington, D.C. in 2001. In September 1999, he was also awarded "Who's Who Among Filipino-Americans in California and Nevada" presented by Governor Benjamin Cayetano of Hawaii. In May 2000, he received the "Community Leadership Award" at the Philippine-American Convention and Exposition, the largest and most recognized Filipino-American trade show in the West Coast. He has also received numerous awards as former officer and board member of the Philippine-American Society of CPAs (PASCPA), including the "Presidential Award", the highest award of recognition given to a PASCPA member.
Abigail Ameri Treanor, Secretary
Abigail Ameri Treanor is secretary of the Board of Directors of the Filipino American Heritage Institute. Ms. Treanor’s involvement with the Filipino American Library began in the fall of 2000, when she was drawn by the inspiring and educational speaker series provided by the Library. Born in Manila, Ms. Treanor was raised in West Covina, California. She received her law degree from UCLA School of Law and her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Southern California. Ms. Treanor has clerked at the State Bar of California, Commodities Futures Trading Commission, Miramax, and the Los Angeles Superior Court. She has also served as a board member to the Asian Pacific Islander Law Students Association and La Raza Law Students Association.
Luz Saldana-Mamawal
Born and raised in Manila, earned a B.S. in Pharmacy degree from Philippine Women's University in 1953. Married and settled in LosAngeles in 1960 and pursued a Master's degree in Pharmacy from U.S.C. School of Pharmacy finishing in 1964. Retired after working in Retail Pharmacy for 33 years for a major drug chain. Past President of the L.A. Philippine Women's Club (1999-2001) a volunteer organization affiliated with the California Federation, and the General Federation of Women's Clubs.
Cisa Payuyo
Cisa Payuyo works as Secretary for the Filipino American Library and has volunteered since 1996. Besides supervising the library's daily operations, Cisa coordinates the Children's Filipino Community School during the summer, and organizes the Children's Storytelling Hour. Cisa is also active in her faith community, as the Regional Moderator for the Pacific Southwest Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Executive Board Member of the North American Pacific Asian Disciples. She is currently pursuing a Certificate of Ministerial Studies Program, sponsored by the Disciples Seminary Foundation and the Pacific School of Religion.
Ed Ramolete
Ed Ramolete has worked in many aspects of the entertainment industry. He is a playwright and actor, as well as a board member and volunteer for the Filipino American Library. He is a member of the David Henry Hwang Writers Institute and a recipient of the Garrett H. Omata Scholarship. His play, "Shadow Dance of a Mosquito Boxer",was a finalist in the East West Players Y2K Playwriting competition and had a reading at the theater. He has worked with the East West Players, Playwright's Arena, as well as the Hereandnow Theater Company, where he is also a member of its Board of Directors. A member of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), he is Co-Chairman of the 2002 National Conference to be held in Los Angeles. Ed is a graduate of Loyola Marymount University.
Lee Respicio Colomby
Lee Respicio Colomby has been a board member (and past treasurer) of the Filipino American Library since 1998. She set up and coordinates the Staged Play Reading Series, and is working toward presenting full play productions in the near future. She initiated the committee to secure plays written by Filipinos for a Filipino American Playwright's Shelf and Library website resource. She also serves on the Program and Fund Raising Committees. She is past Vice President of the Filipino American Historical Society and is a member of Assembly for Justice, an organization devoted to justice for Filipino veterans. She is a partner in the film production company, Katzendogs Productions, Inc.
Joselyn Geaga Rosenthal
Joselyn Geaga-Rosenthal, L.C.S.W. is a manager with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. She received her Masters in Social Work at the University of Southern California in 1971 and her BA from UCLA in 1969. Her wide ranging experience in the field of social work includes clinical practice in the public and private sectors, teaching at CalState Univ. L.A., and publishing wrtten work, most notably in the book entitled CHILD WELFARE, A MULTICULTURAL FOCUS, Ed. Cohen, 2000, 1992, Allyn & Bacon. She is appointed to the L.A. County Mental Health Commission by Supervisor Gloria Molina and serves on several other non-profit boards. She is president of the Board of the Temple Westlake Neighborhood Development Corporation, general managing partner of the Manila Terrace in Historic Filipinotown. She is also an elected board member to the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council.
Candice Clarke, Administrator (Staff)
Candice Clarke is the Filipino American Library Administrator. Although born in California, Candice grew up in Subic Bay, Philippines and Okinawa, Japan. She returned to Orange County for high school, then later attended the University of California Santa Cruz and received a BA in Community Studies, with an emphasis in Multiculturalism through Artistic Expression. At UCSC Candice coordinated a high school outreach program for prospective Filipino American students. After her first year coordinating the program, there was a 60% increase in registered Filipino American at the Universityóthe biggest increase out of all UC campuses. She was also involved with the Pagkakaisa Dance troupe, People Power theatre group and sang with the Isang Himig Choir. Candice has a background in fund development, and is most passionate about cultivating social change through community involvement.
Teresita C. Dery, Librarian
(Staff)
A graduate of Library Science from the University of the East, Philippines, with unfinished Masters Course Program of Studies in Librarianship, I decided to migrate to the United States upon approval of my immigrant visa. When I arrived in Los Angeles in 1982, I was immediately ushered into the world of librarianship. Armed with experience from my former job as Chief Librarian at the Board of Investments, a government agency involved in trade and industry, I worked at the Los Angeles County Law Library, Technical Services Dept. Prior to working at the Filipino American Library, I had an extensive experience in legal librarianship from the Law Firms of Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro & Thelen Reid & Priest, in Los Angeles downtown offices. I conducted research for attorneys, maintained the collection and handled circulation functions of said firms. For a change, and after ten years of continuous service with the latter firm, I left in mid-January of 2003. My relation with FAL started while working as a week-end volunteer librarian for about two years and became a paid staff part time librarian, after I left my full time job early this year. For my professional development, I am involved as an active member with the California Library Association & Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association. My outside interests, includes ministering to pre-school children, for the past fifteen years at Angelus Temple/Dream Center, Sunday School Dept. (on leave this year). I also do volunteer time at Christ Bible College, Los Angeles, organizing the library collection.
Paul Estuar, Esq., Legal Counsel
Paul Estuar, Esq. is a civil rights and class action litigation attorney for the Los Angeles firm of Litt & Associates. Prior to that, he specialized in general civil litigation at Vakili & Leus LLP. He is the incoming President-Elect for the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County. He is a past president of the Philippine American Bar Association and former chair of its Board of Directors. A graduate of Loyola Law School, he received the school's Dean's Service Award and served as President of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association. Mr. Estuar has been recognized for his pro bono work on behalf of indigent clients, including receiving the Pro Bono Service Award from the Asian Pacific American Legal Center. Mr. Estuar serves as Legal Counsel for the Library.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Staff:
