Board of Directors

Melany Dela Cruz – Viesca, Chair, is the Assistant Director of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center and the Managing Editor of AAPI Nexus, a nationwide journal focusing on Asian Pacific Islander policy. Holding a Masters in Urban Planning from UCLA, Melany currently sits on the City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission.

Gerald G. Gubatan is a Senior Planner with the Community Redevelopment Agency of L.A. He previously served as Chief Planning Deputy and Legislative Deputy for three L.A. City Council Members and was a Legislative Assistant in Sacramento for a California State Assembly Member. A graduate of UCLA and Belmont High School, Gerald was born and raised in L.A.'s Historic Filipinotown. He is founding board president of FilAm ARTS; former board president of SIPA, Inc.; current president of the Pilipino American Los Angeles Democrats; a Trustee of First Baptist Church of Los Angeles; and a Trustee with AFSCME Local 585, the union representing redevelopment professionals.

Hon. Casimiro Tolentino, Treasurer has been a California State Law Judge since 1992. Judge Tolentino has co-founded Visual Communications, the Philippine American Bar Association and is on the board of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center. He is currently the Vice President of the City of L.A. Fire Commission. A former attorney for the Writers Guild of America West and Embassy Television, he also served as President of the City of L.A. Civil Service Commission.

Abby Abanes - iHerb.com

Joe Arciaga - Filipino American Chamber of Commerce, San Fernando Valley

Winston F. Emano is the principal/founder of mano Y mano Media, a media consultancy which provides exclusive content for television networks in three continents. Additionally, he has represented close to 100 feature films for theatrical exhibition, film festival and awards campaigns. A William Paley scholar at Syracuse University, he is a founding board director and chair emeritus for FilAm ARTS. He co-founded the Asian filmmakers Reception at Sundance, and TheirFightIsOurFight.org and currently serves on the Academy Awards Host Committee. He blogs for a popular pop culture site.

Rachelle Reyes - Catholic Healthcare West

Tony L. Ringor is the Executive Director of Diversified Services for Youth & Seniors, Inc. (DSYS). He is a member of the San Pedro Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, an active Licensed General Contractor, Realtor and Notary Public. "Manong [Elder] Tony" is a life member and former Board Chair of the Filipino Community of Los Angeles Harbor Area. Tony is a board member of Friends of Banning Landing and is formerly board member of the Wilmington Neighborhood Council and representative to the Port Community Advisory Committee.

Nerissa V. Silao is an independent Public Relations consultant, specializing in developing and implementing communications programs and planning events and promotional campaigns. She was formerly the Management Supervisor at Rogers & Associates, one of the West Coast's largest public relations firms.  She holds a Bachelor’s in English from UCLA.

Aris Tagle is the director of online marketing analytics at Guthy-Renker, a leading direct response marketing firm in Santa Monica. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from UCLA, and an MBA from Yale University School of Management. Tagle also sits on the board of directors of the UCLA Alumni Association, and is an active member and past chair of the Pilipino Alumni Association (PAA) of UCLA.