Meet the FILAMemphis Leaders

Full name: OLIVIA ORDONA CABIGAO, MD

Nickname: Olive
FILAMemphis Role: President
Define happiness: Ed, my husband, and my four children. Seeing my children grow and excel in their activities. I love watching football. I am also happy when I am able to help people and know that I have made a difference in their lives.
What do you do at and after work? I am an anesthesiologist. After work, I take care of my family's needs and the different projects of FILAMemphis.
Five words to describe me: Driven, hardworker, sincere, short, helpful
My FILAMemphis vision: To get our community united and be able to accomplish our biggest project-to build a multipurpose cultural center for all the filipino-americans in the mid-south.
To continue to grow as a community and to nurture our Filipino heritage. To continue our humanitarian project:yearly medical mission.

Full name: MAITA EMILY TORRALBA VELEZ

Nickname: Maita
FILAMemphis Role: Vice President
Define happiness:
What do you do at and after work?
Five words to describe me: Friendly, patient, outgoing, love sports and nature, likes to read, dance
My FILAMemphis vision:

Full name: MA. NATALIA ANGELES FLORES-SANTOS

Nickname: Mariles
FILAMemphis Role: Secretary
Age: Ngiiii!
Define happiness.  Happiness is family, friends, love, health, and mostly my Christian faith. I find pleasure in the good things money can buy, but I do not rely on them for happiness.
What do you do at and after work?  Nurse and a full-time Mom and a part-time lover
Five words to describe me:  Very friendly, compassionate, and a fun-loving person.
My FILAMemphis vision:  Involvement of each and every member.

Full Name: VERONICA AUSTRIA JUPSON

Nicknames:   Sol,  Veronique
FILAMemphis Role: Asst. Secretary
Age: ....ty-two
Define happiness.  To me, happiness is a feeling of fulfillment and satisfaction, a feeling that I am creative, helpful and loved.
What do you do at and after work?  I help people with substance abuse problems.  After work, I'm a driver educator, cook, laundry lady and if I have free time, I read and sew.
Five words to describe me:  mothering, giving, quiet, busy, Beatlemaniac 
My FILAMemphis vision:  I dream of the days when Filipinos are more united, when there are eager, young people who will participate in our activities.  I want to see the community enjoy the cultural center we hope to build .  And I want to see the younger generation showing more interest in our native land.

Full Name: LORENZA S.HARDIN

Nicknames:  Lorrie, Angel, Ltllola
FILAMemphis role: Treasurer
Define happiness?  Having fun with families & friends; hugs & kisses from my little sweetie
Wesley, shopping till I drop, ha! ha! ha!
What do you do at and after work? 
I'm retired!!!!!!
Five words to describe me:  Loving, friendly, thoughtful, considerate, wonderful, etc. etc
My FILAMemphis vision:  That all of us Filipinos here in the midsouth will come together,
work together, help and cooperate with each other to preserve our cultural heritage and to
build a cultural center as our legacy for our children, their children, their children's children
and all the generations to come. 

Full Name: REXIE PARFAN CONOPIO

Nickname: Rexie
FILAMemphis Role: Assistant Treasurer
Define happiness: Happiness is my family, especially my parents, whom I am still able to call and talk to anytime I want to.
What do you do at and after work? I am a lab technician. After work, I am a full-time housewife. If I have time I read e-mails or play the piano.
Five words to describe me: I like to dance, sing and give my two girls all the attention they need.
My FILAMemphis vision: That all co-Filipinos will join, cooperate, and be a member of our community so that our dream to have our own cultural center will come true and we can pass it on to the next generations.

Nickname: Bob
FILAMemphis Role: Business Manager
Age: 34
Define happiness: Happiness is being able to do whatever I want, whenever I want, while continuously make money.
What do you do at and after work? At work, I have fun selling Toyotas. After work, I spend time with my wife, Denise and family.
Five words to describe me: Ambitious, aggressive, focused, sincere, and hard-working.
My FILAMemphis vision: My vision is to teach our children about their Filipino heritage and to be able to pass it to more generations to come.

Full Name: CARMENCITA CARILIO CABANERO

Nicknames: Ochie, Carmen
FILAMemphis Role: Assistant Business Manager
Age: 45
Define happiness: Happiness is being with family and friends, success in career and love life, and helping other people.
What do you do at and after work? I'm a supervisor at Woodson Tenent Lab. I go to school after work to get my nursing degree.
Five words to describe me: Hardworking, friendly, patient, ambitious, caring.
My FILAMemphis vision: With the way things are going now, I see a bright future for FILAMemphis. Our biggest project, the multi-purpose cultural center, will become a reality.

Nicknames: Fred, Pedring, Doc
FILAMemphis Role: Public Relations Officer
Age: 80
Define happiness: Happiness is retirement in the U.S.A.
What do you do at and after work? Watch movies from my classic video collection; read, write, garden, drive, church and collectiing memorabilia.
Five words to describe me: Happy, loving, short, paternal, old
My FILAMemphis vision: Wow! I am realizing my dreams after 37 years in Memphis.

Full Name: EDGARDO LEDESMA JUPSON

Nicknames: Ed, Coach Ed, Mr. Clean
FILAMemphis Role: Logistics Officer
Age: 53
Define happiness: When I feel good about myself and others, especially those who are closest to me.
What do you do at and after work? I process and distribute mail using the automated system. I like watching the news and sports. On my off days, I work in my yard.
Three words to describe me: Serious, responsible, persistent My FILAMemphis vision: I would like to see our fellow Filipinos come together regularly with a common purpose of conveying and preserving our heritage and traditions.

Full Name: FORTUNATO IGNACIO MORAGA

Nicknames: Ka Nato, Renato, Nato, Nat
FILAMemphis Role: Auditor
Age: 62
Define happiness: Everyone has his own definition of happiness. Good deeds, good health, good relationships make me happy. No financial stress.
What do you do at and after work? I'm retired. I do consulting work at home, cook, and a lot of things for FILAMemphis.
Four words to describe me: Hardworking, friendly, modest, humble
My FILAMemphis vision: To have the cultural center and all the Filipinos supporting the project.  We're doing this for the younger generation who will live in Memphis area.  It will be a disaster if we build this and then they abandon it.

Full Name: CARMELITA BOSTRE-TEETER , MD

Nickname: Mely, Dr. B.
FILAMemphis Role: Chief Operating Officer
Define happiness: Satisfied fulfillment of one's desire
What do you do at and after work? What work? I tend to my garden and oversee our clinics, otherwise I spend a lot of my time with my husband with projects like providing scholarship and supporting University Foundation.
Five words to describe me: Friendly, pleasant, generous, careful, positive.
My FILAMemphis vision: With increasing sincere support and cooperation, our group will keep and flourish.