80 for 80 by the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago

Mae Espina is a seasoned banking leader with more than 20 years of experience helping middle-market businesses, manufacturers, and nonprofits grow through strategic financial guidance. As a Regional Banking Relationship Manager Sr. at Huntington Bank, she specializes in SBA/USDA lending, CRE financing, and tailored solutions that support expansion, succession planning, and long-term sustainability.

Beyond her banking work, Mae proudly serves as President of the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Chicago, where she champions community building, professional development, and cultural engagement across the region.

A fitness enthusiast, former triathlete, and active spin and boxing instructor, Mae brings passion, resilience, and service to everything she does — from the boardroom to the community.

Coming to America — this has long been a dream for many Filipinos. For me, however, it was never really on my radar. My goal then was simple: finish college, help my parents with our daily expenses, live comfortably, and be happy. But life, as they say, is full of surprises.

My journey to America began when I moved to reunite with my husband. The first two years of relocation were filled with curiosity, life-changing experiences, and, at times, difficult challenges. I am a first-generation Filipina American who came to Chicago after graduating from the University of the Philippines. I believed my college education had prepared me well, but I quickly realized that many challenges awaited me.

I had to learn the nuances of American culture — something I was not fully prepared for. During those early years, I often felt isolated, alone, and at times discriminated against. In my first job, I was the only Asian in the department, and it was there that I first experienced discrimination firsthand. Eventually, I decided to leave that position and pursue a career in real estate. That decision changed my life. In real estate, I found my purpose and a place where I could truly thrive.

Real estate has provided my family and me with stability and opportunity. I strongly believe in the power of homeownership — not only as a means of building wealth, but also as a pathway to financial security and generational investment. What fulfills me most is serving clients from all walks of life: from first-time homebuyers, to growing families looking to move up, to seasoned investors.

More importantly, however, I found deep fulfillment in giving back to the community. Through Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA), an organization dedicated to advancing sustainable homeownership within AANHPI communities, I discovered a mission larger than myself. As the first Filipina American National President of AREAA, I led the organization’s “No Other” campaign — an advocacy effort that successfully pushed for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to be recognized as a distinct category in the U.S. Census Bureau’s Quarterly Homeownership Report.

Previously, the report categorized Americans only as White, Black, Hispanic, and “Other.” We were labeled simply as “Other.” The campaign sought to change that — because our community deserved visibility, representation, and a voice. Today, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are recognized in their own category, no longer hidden behind the term “Other.” This achievement was more than symbolic; it created meaningful representation for a community whose contributions continue to shape America. Although Asian Americans make up only about 6–7% of the U.S. population, they generate approximately $1.9 trillion in business activity.

Leadership has a way of opening new doors for service. As a servant leader through AREAA, I later became involved with the Chicago Association of REALTORS®. Once again, I had the honor of becoming the first Filipina American President in the organization’s history, representing more than 16,000 members.

My career in real estate and the leadership opportunities I have been blessed with have allowed me to dedicate my life to service and community empowerment. Looking back, I realize this spirit of service began at home. Growing up, my parents always opened our modest home to relatives from the provinces. At times, as many as 17 people lived under our roof. My parents welcomed them without hesitation — housing them, feeding them, and helping provide them with an education.

That generosity, compassion, and willingness to serve others became the foundation of who I am today.

VICKY SILVANO
Realtor, Illinois

Ms. Cate Cauguiran is an award-winning journalist based in Illinois. She is an Emmy and Murrow award winning reporter at ABC 7 Chicago Eyewitness News.

*The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago recognized Ms. Cauguiran for her outstanding contributions to raising the profile of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in Illinois, particularly through her work in documenting the surge in Asian American and Pacific Islanders hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Born and raised in the Philippines, I came to the United States as a Registered Nurse in 1995 carrying with me the strong faith, traditions, and values instilled by my family and my community.

As a wife to a politician in the Philippines and a mother of two children, life in America was filled with both challenges and opportunities. Like many immigrants, I worked two jobs as a nurse while raising my family and building a new life, always striving to balance work, family, and faith. Through it all, my husband has been my greatest partner and inspiration — a man with a golden heart who is always willing to help others selflessly and wholeheartedly.

Despite my busy schedule, I often wondered how I could serve the Church so I had always prayed to lead that path for me. In many ways, that calling found its way to me.
Santacruzan Cultural Group of Greater Chicago was formed in 2021 with my husband as the Founder / President. Its dedicated officers and members were a group of young Filipino parents and retired professionals who worked hard to keep their children and
grandchildren as well as the community connected to their faith, Filipino traditions, and
cultural heritage and we are very proud and grateful to have them!

In 2022-2024 I served as the Western Cluster Simbang Gabi Coordinator communicating with church coordinators and helping ensure that each Simbang Gabi celebration was meaningful, organized, and successful for the Filipino Catholic community.

In 2023, my husband was asked to help reestablish and lead the World Apostolate of Fatima Joliet Division, and I found myself again actively helping him organize and coordinate its future activities and programs for the community . Today, as President of the Santacruzan Cultural Group, I am proud to help continue one of the Philippines’ most cherished religious and cultural traditions. The Santacruzan Group was formed with the mission of promoting faith, unity, and Filipino heritage within the Filipino American community. We are very proud of what we have achieved for the last 5 years.

Through our events and celebrations, we aim to bring generations together, preserve our traditions, and honor our devotion/faith while fostering a strong sense of community and cultural pride. Santacruzan Group have dedicated themselves to serving both the Church and the Filipino American community especially our Filipino American children. We continue to rely on God's Blessings and faithfully follow where the Blessed Mother leads us in service to the community.

JoAnne S. Turija
President / Santacruzan Cultural Group of Greater Chicago

*The Philippine Consulate General in Chicago recognized Ms. Turija for her outstanding efforts in raising the profile of Philippine culture in Chicago in her work as president and member of the Board of Director of the Santacruzan Cultural Group of Greater Chicago, and for her selfless dedication as a registered nurse in helping Filipinos and Filipino-Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Associate Professor Melissa Borja is the director of Asian and Pacific Islander American Studies at the University of Michigan.

She was awarded USA Today 2022 Women of the Year in recognition of her work addressing anti-Asian racism during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a co-founder of Hoosier Asian American Power in Indiana. She is a graduate of Harvard University and Columbia University.

I am a first generation immigrant, who left my mother and five siblings in the Philippines for the USA on June 3, 1972.

I graduated with a B.S. in Commerce, Banking & Finance major from the University of Santo Tomas in 1966. When our father died in 1968, I convinced my mother to allow me to migrate to America. In 1976, a brother joined me here as a student, followed by my mother in 1979. My remaining four siblings joined us in 1982. In 1990, we found out our mother had cancer. We lost her in 1998.

I started my community involvement in 1999 by representing our community in our Village of Skokie during the celebration of Festival of Cultures, Coming Together in Skokie, and the July 4th Parade. I was appointed as Human Relations Commissioner, then as Planning Commissioner by the Village Mayor.

From 2003 to the present, I am with NaFFAA, as an officer in Illinois and the Midwest, then as National Secretary in 2016-2018 and as National Treasurer in 2022-2024. Elected President of FANHS-Midwest (2016-present), was appointed FilVetRep Midwest Director (2015-2022), chaired the AACC Festival held at the Daley Plaza in 2009.

As a founding member of CEW, I advocated for victims of domestic abuse and violence.

I have coordinated biennial humanitarian missions providing free medical, dental, and optical services in selected areas in the Philippines from 2005 to 2019, with help and support of family, friends, and a few organizations and ABS CBN Foundation.

The above involvements earned me recognitions, such as Philippine Presidential Banaag Award in 2008, University of Santo Tomas College of Commerce Most Outstanding Alumni in 2013, Merit Award from Houston Royal Oaks Lions Club in 2014, Volunteerism Gold Award from President Biden in 2022 and Community Service Award from Former Mayor Richard Daley.

To my younger self, “Do not be sad if all your ambitions did not materialize. With God's grace and love, He directed and guided you to what He meant for you in making a positive difference in the lives of the less fortunate. Continue sharing your blessings.”

Angeles “Jelly” Carandang
Founding member, Circle of Empowered Women (CEW)
President-elect, Filipino-American Historical Society (FANHS)-Midwest

Judge Jasmine Hernandez is an Associate Judge in the First Municipal District of the Circuit Court of Cook County, IL, appointed in September 2021. Based at the Richard J. Daley Center in Chicago, she is notable as a Filipina-American judge with a background in veteran affairs and juvenile justice.

She is the first Filipino-American to be appointed to the Illinois state bench in 16 years. She is also a founding board member and past president of the Filipino-American Lawyers Association of Chicago (FALA Chicago).

Dr. Natividad served as President of the National Federation of Filipino American Association (NAFFAA), Midwest Region for 2019- 2024 and President of the Philippine Engineers and Scientists Organization (PESO) for 2023-2025.

She was a recipient of the Presidential Banaag Award for Outstanding Individuals & Organizations Overseas in 2024, the Rizal Woman of Malolos Award, the Order of the Knights of Rizal, Chicago Mayor Daley’s Award of Appreciation & Recognition for Exceptional Contribution to the City of Chicago in 2003, the Community Service Award in 2002, Asian American Coalition, Asian American Leadership Award, and the Jose Rizal Monument Project Award for Outstanding Service as Executive Officer and Chairman given during the Unveiling Ceremony of the Jose Rizal Monument on 19 June 1999.

Evelyn De Asis Natividad, Ph.D.
President, Philippine American Cultural Foundation (PACF) (2024-2026),
and president, Philippine Normal University Global Alumni Association (PNUGAA) (2025-2026), Illinois

I am a proud first-generation Filipino-American, and both of my parents are Filipinos. My roots are deeply grounded in the values of resilience, faith, and hard work that define our culture.

One of the most defining influences in my life has been my mom. She raised me as a single parent after my dad left when I was 6 years old. Despite the challenges, she never allowed our circumstances to define our future. Instead, she introduced me to entrepreneurship at a very young age, not through words alone, but through action.

At just 12 years old, I was already helping in her sari-sari store and selling frozen goods in different areas. We didn’t come from wealth but we had grit, resourcefulness, and determination. Those early years taught me that survival is one thing, but building something better requires initiative.

A major turning point came when my Uncle W***y, who owns Rio Villa Nuevo Mineral Water Resort in Indang, Cavite—offered to sponsor my education through a scholarship when I was in high school. I didn’t see it as just financial help; I saw it as an opportunity to create something bigger.

Instead of simply spending my allowance, I used it to start a retail business. I bought wholesale goods from Chinese suppliers, where I learned how to negotiate, build business relationships, and secure better deals. At a young age, I learned how to confidently communicate and “hustle” with experienced businessmen to maximize every peso.

People often say I don’t “look” like I struggled but my journey was built on sacrifice, discipline, and perseverance. I turned scholarship money into business capital, helping my family cover monthly expenses, pay for private catholic school tuition, and gradually improve our quality of life. That experience shaped my mindset early: every cent matters, and every opportunity is a seed, if you’re willing to nurture it.

By high school, I was already working as a construction clerk, where I learned the fundamentals of operational costs and payroll. That experience reinforced another principle I carry today: in business, every detail counts.

In college, I continued building retail business while studying and proudly graduated debt-free. At the same time, I pursued my passions, I became active in campus journalism, won 1st place in Feature Writing at the national level, joined beauty pageants, side modeling, and singing competitions. I didn’t just participate; I maximized every opportunity, even competitions, as a way to grow and earn.
After college, I pushed myself even further, working 3-5 part time jobs simultaneously. I discovered that I thrive in challenges, that I am driven, adaptable, fast-learner and resilient.

By the age of 21, I had traveled across several countries and became a proud Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in Saint Lucia, where I served as a General Manager overseeing 7 duty-free stores. Many people in my family feared for my safety, worried about risks because I left the Philippines at a young age, all by myself. But I chose courage over fear, and I proved that growth happens when you step beyond comfort.

As a Filipino-American in the Midwest, my experience has been both humbling and empowering. I first lived in Ohio, but I eventually found my true home in South Dakota. There is something powerful about building your dreams in a place where you can grow freely, think boldly, and create meaningful impact.

Brookings, SD gave me the space and clarity to build. It was here that I officially registered my first business, which eventually evolved into Worldwide Shipping & Logistics, a smart shipping platform powered by AI, and that vision continues to expand with StarSpree-AI (Launching Soon in the Philippines), the first model of an AI B2B and B2C online marketplace integrated with marketing and an exclusive shipping platform.
At its core, my mission is simple yet powerful: To connect people, remove barriers, and create opportunities that change lives. I am building not just business but systems that can create impact.

The greatest lesson I’ve learned is this: Every failure teaches you something you didn’t know before. Every mistake sharpens your decision-making. Every obstacle builds resilience.

With faith in God, perseverance, and a clear vision— Anything is possible.

I would tell my younger self: “Trust God’s plan and trust your journey. There will be moments of doubt, struggle, and uncertainty, but every one of those moments is preparing you for something greater. Don’t rush the process. Don’t question your worth. And don’t be afraid to take bold risks. One day, everything you went through will make sense. The pain will turn into purpose. The struggles will turn into strength. And your story will become proof that anything is possible, if you have faith in God, in yourself, courage, and the willingness to keep going.”

Richelyn Toth
Co-founder, Worldwide Shipping & Logistics (WSL)
Founder, StarSpree-AI & Deal Partner, Brookings, South Dakota

I am a second-generation American, who is the child of immigrants who were a union service worker, a farm worker and a decorated US Army war veteran.

I was the former Small Business Administration (SBA) Great Lakes Regional Administrator appointed by President Biden to lead the agency’s field office programs, communications and public affairs strategy, and grow the SBA financing program alongside a team of directors’ outreach operations in the six states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin and 36 sovereign tribal
nations.

At the SBA, I signed the first agreement for an SBA field office to coordinate small business training with soon-to-be released individuals at state prisons; focused on AAPI and Filipino outreach, plus, her strategic leadership helped to expand SBA capital of affordable lending in the Great Lakes region by roughly 370% to diverse communities in urban and rural areas.

In my role as Director of the Midwest Region and National Director of Women’s
Entrepreneurship, I also advanced public affairs, strategic communications and the crafting of equity-focused federal and state legislative and administrative policies, as well as helped to develop online products and financial platforms.

I have experience in crafting and translating workforce, small business and economic policies on banking, health care, care economy workplace benefits and taxes, fraud especially for those located in underrepresented areas, as well as advising elected officials.

In my spare time, I coach for a girls high school flag football.

Geri Sanchez Aglipay
Senior Fellow for policy and research at Small Business Majority

*Ms. Aglipay is the first Filipino-American woman to be appointed to a regional position of a cabinet agency by any president, following the path of the first Filipino American, legendary civil rights activist Bob “Uncle Bob” Santos who served under President Clinton.