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Change Makers

Filipino Change Makers

Designed by: Sal Flor, Felix Tuyay, and Judy Patacsil

Individuals from the South Bay represent different role models. They include an educator/researcher, entrepreneur, musician/producer, professional tennis player, radio personality, and the former White House Medical Doctor. They had a vision or interest in a non-traditional career, or the impact of their profession had national recognition.

Eleanor Academia, Musician and Producer

Center
Courtesy of Reynila Calderon Magbuhat,
Filipinos in San Diego
ELEANOR ACADEMIA Eleanor Academia is a recording artist who excelled in piano,  violin and percussion. She is an accomplished singer and producer and has worked with Epic, SONY, and Columbia Records. She started her own Indie rock label, Black Swan Records, and has produced three albums Jungle World in 1987, Global Conversations in 1992 and Oracles of the Black Swan in 1998.  She created and hosted an Indie radio show entitled the LA Music Pipeline to showcase new artists. Eleanor was born and raised in National City and continues to produce innovative and creative music.

Dr. Connie Mariano, White House Doctor

Courtesy of FANHS,
San Diego

ELEANOR CONCEPTION (CONNIE) MARIANO, MD, FACP 

Dr. Connie Mariano is one of the 1st Filipino American Military Woman to become White House Physician serving three sitting Presidents. She was a Woman Director of White House Medical Unit and a Filipino American Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy.  In 2010 she published her memoirs, The White House Doctor. She graduated from Mar Vista High School as valedictorian and UCSD Revelle College as Biology as Cum Laude. She completed her medical degree from Uniformed Service University from the University of Maryland. Dr. Mariano retired after 24 years of military service and continued her medical career in private practice.

Dr. Reynaldo Monzon, Researcher and Educator

Courtesy of Monzon Family

DR. REYNALDO INOCENTE MONZON, PhD

Dr. Rey Monzon is a 3rd generation Mexican Filipino (Mexipino) on his mother’s side and 2nd generation Filipino American on his father’s side. He is the first and only Filipino American to graduate with all his degrees from San Diego State University (SDSU) culminating with his PhD research dissertation entitled ” Collective Self Esteem and Perceptions on Family and Campus Environments among Filipino American Students.” In San Diego Rey was elected by his peers to serve as the President of SDSU AB Samahan, Filipino American Educators (FILAMEDA) and the Council of Philippine American Organizations (COPAO) and has championed many Filipino American causes.

Tony Olaes, Entrepreneur & Founder of The Filipino School

Courtesy of Tony Olaes

TONY OLAES

Tony Olaes is a 3rd generation Filipino American who is a successful self-made businessman who built ODM enterprises, a nationally recognized apparel industry leader. He brought his business acumen to support Gawad Kalinga USA and founded our local San Diego Filipino School to promote and ensure that American Filipinos raised and born in the United States  can establish roots with their ancestral homeland.

Marita Redondo, Tennis Professional

Courtesy of Redondo Family,
Filipinos in San Diego

MARITA REDONDO

Marita Redondo was a Filipino American tennis player. As a graduate of Our Lady of Peace in 1974, Marita played on the Virginia Slims tour from 1973 to 1980 and qualified for the Slims championships in Los Angeles and Oakland. She played World Team Tennis for the Los Angeles Strings in 1974, the San Diego Friars in 1975, and the Seattle Cascades in 1978. Her highest US ranking was five in 1976 and her career-best world ranking was nine. Subsequent to her years on the tour, Marita held the position of tennis director and head professional at the Handlery Swim and Tennis Club, director of racquet sports/childcare at Frog’s Athletic Club in San Diego, general manager at Frog’s Club One, and the sports director at the Lomas Santa Fe Country Club. Redondo was inducted into the San Diego Tennis Hall of Fame in 2012. Marita was born in San Diego and raised in National City. She was the 5th of 9 children born to Filipino naval officer Taquino Redondo and Martha Custado.

Xavier Soriano - The X-man, Radio DJ and Community Activist

Courtesy of Xavier Soriano,
Filipinos in San Diego

XAVIER SORIANO, X-MAN

For the last 23 years X-MAN has entertained our community through Magic 92.5 radio station and  has shared his pride in being 100 % Mexican and 100 %  Filipino blending both cultures to uniquely define his personality and voice.  Originally from Salinas, California, his father was a Filipino WWII Veteran who worked the fields in Hawaii and Salinas, and his mother from Mexico. He believes in amplifying marginalized voices with his work on “The X-Man Cruises for the Cause”, raising money for Emilio Nares Foundation, and highlighting his love for low riding culture. Starting as a “DJ” many years ago Xavier cultivated a career that continues to entertain through the airwaves.

Replace image with numbered version.

Title, Courtesy of:

  1. Championship Cup, Marita Redondo/Chris Evert Women’s Doubles
  2. Marita Redondo – Picture, Atlantic City Doubles Championship
  3. Marita Redondo, Tennis Professional – Picture
  4. Xavier Soriano, The X-man, Radio DJ and Community Activist – Picture
  5. Xavier Soriano – Magic 92.5
  6. Xavier Soriano – Vintage Microphone
  7. Xavier Soriano – 45 Record, “Cruise for the Cause”
  8. Xavier Soriano – “The Lowrider Oldies Volume 1”
  9. Eleanor Academia, Musician and Producer – Picture
  10. Kulintang Small Gong
  11. Dr. Reynaldo Monzon, Researcher and Educator – Picture
  12. Dr. Reynaldo Monzon – Doctoral Dissertation, “Integration of Persistance of Filipino American College Students: The Mediating Effects of Family Obligation and Reputation
  13. Tony Olaes, Entrepeneur – Picture
  14. Tony Olaes – The Filipino School Brochure
  15. Dr. Connie Mariano, White House Doctor – Picture
  16. Dr. Connie Mariano – Book, The White House Doctor

Description:

  1. Championship Cup, Marita Redondo/Chris Evert Women’s Doubles
  2. Marita Redondo – Picture, Atlantic City Doubles Championship
  3. Marita Redondo, Tennis Professional – Picture
  4. Xavier Soriano, The X-man, Radio DJ and Community Activist – Picture
  5. Xavier Soriano – Magic 92.5
  6. Xavier Soriano – Vintage Microphone
  7. Xavier Soriano – 45 Record, “Cruise for the Cause”
  8. Xavier Soriano – “The Lowrider Oldies Volume 1”
  9. Eleanor Academia, Musician and Producer – Picture
  10. Kulintang Small Gong
  11. Dr. Reynaldo Monzon, Researcher and Educator – Picture
  12. Dr. Reynaldo Monzon – Doctoral Dissertation, “Integration of Persistance of Filipino American College Students: The Mediating Effects of Family Obligation and Reputation
  13. Tony Olaes, Entrepeneur – Picture
  14. Tony Olaes – The Filipino School Brochure
  15. Dr. Connie Mariano, White House Doctor – Picture
  16. Dr. Connie Mariano – Book, The White House Doctor

Name and Title:

  1. Marita Redondo, Tennis Professional
  2. Marita Redondo, Tennis Professional
  3. Marita Redondo, Tennis Professional
  4. Xavier Soriano, The X-man, Radio DJ and Community Activist
  5. Xavier Soriano, The X-man, Radio DJ and Community Activist
  6. Xavier Soriano, The X-man, Radio DJ and Community Activist
  7. Xavier Soriano, The X-man, Radio DJ and Community Activist
  8. Xavier Soriano, The X-man, Radio DJ and Community Activist
  9. Eleanor Academia, Musician and Producer
  10. Eleanor Academia, Musician and Producer
  11. Dr. Reynaldo Monzon, Researcher and Educator
  12. Dr. Reynaldo Monzon, Researcher and Educator
  13. Tony Olaes, Entrepeneur
  14. Tony Olaes, Entrepeneur
  15. Dr. Connie Mariano, White House Doctor
  16. Dr. Connie Mariano, White House Doctor

Courtesy of:

  1. Redondo Family
  2. Redondo Family
  3. Redondo Family
  4. Xavier Soriano, Filipinos in San Diego
  5. Xavier Soriano
  6. Xavier Soriano
  7. Xavier Soriano
  8. Xavier Soriano
  9. Reynila Calderon Magbuhat, Filipinos in San Diego
  10. Herb Delute
  11. Monzon Family
  12. Sal Flor
  13. Tony Olaes
  14. Tony Olaes
  15. FANHS, San Diego
  16. Judy Patacsil

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