FAA Staff

Jilly Salumbides Canizares, Executive Director

With a background in both business and arts, Executive Director Jilly Canizares was instrumental in transforming FilAm ARTS from a festival production into a fully operational nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. With more than 15 years experience in multi-disciplinary community arts, she was selected as one of eight leaders for the Los Angeles County’s 2009 Arts Leadership Initiative.  Jilly Canizares is also a flautist and orchestral arranger.

Roque Bucton, Pilipino Artists Network Director

Roque is a founding facilitator and current Director of the California statewide Pilipino Artists Network , a program of FilAm Arts.  He is also one of the founders of the annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC) and has produced and participated in all of the 19 annual FPAC festivals. He is now involved in the production of FPAC’s 20^th Anniversary Celebration.  As a professional musician, Mr. Bucton has over 30 years of production and performance experience. Mr. Bucton has worked with the World Kulintang Institute, the Braille Institute, the Very Special Arts California, and the Arts and Disabilities Network.  Mr. Bucton is also a Certified Permaculture Designer, environmental activist,  and Certified in Social Enterprise from the Center for Cultural Innovation.  Mr. Bucton earned his undergraduate degree in World Music form the California Institute of the Arts.

Ben Biscocho Jr., Administrative Director

Ben Biscocho holds a B.A. in Sociology from Loyola Marymount University and has been working with FilAm ARTS since 2008. Biscocho currently serves on the advisory board of the Southern California Pilipino American Student Alliance where he is also the former Programming Director. Ben is also a first year ally and the S. Mark Taper Fellow with AmeriCorp's Public Allies program in Los Angeles. Originally from Milpitas, California in the San Francisco Bay Area, Ben began working with FilAm ARTS through the Los Angeles County Arts Internship Program working as the Vendor Coordinator for the Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture.

Jennifer Santos, FPAC Co-Director, Programming

Jennifer has been a volunteer for the Festival for over five years, and has been part of the FPAC Builder team ever since. Currently as the Programming Director, she has managed and curated both the Main Stage and Generation Stage. Jenn was born and raised in Buena Park, graduated from Cal State Long Beach and outside of FPAC works in the marketing field.

Missy Austria, FPAC Co-Director, Marketing

A graduate from the University of California, Irvine, with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science with an emphasis in Public and Community Service, Missy's community involvement stems from her experiences with UCI Kababayan and Kappa Psi Epsilon Filipina sorority. Born in Long Beach and raised in Carson, she has attended FPAC with family since she was a child and has performed with PAC Modern at previous FPAC's. Missy has previously interned with FilAm ARTS as the Pan Pavilion Coordinator.

Wes Gabrillo, FPAC Co-Director, Logistics

Born in Delano and raised in the Inland Empire, Wes has been involved with the Filipino American community in Southern California since his time at UC Irvine, where he graduated with a B.A. in Drama and in Multicultural Studies. He has previously worked at Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) and is continuing community involvement with Kabataang maka-Bayan (KmB) Pro-People Youth. Wes also enjoys the theatre arts as an actor and comedian, performing at various venues throughout Los Angeles. 

Dave Masen

Dave is a native Los Angeleno, born and bred. He holds a Bechelor's Degree in Business from CSUN, and was also a member of FASA and LBA. He brings 15 years of advertising agency experience in Media, with stints at various media agencies. Raising his children in Los Angeles, he saw the need to seek out Filipino Arts & Culture and expose it to them, which brought him to FilAm ARTS.

Interns:

Veejay Atilano, PAN Pavilion Coordinator

Melisa Bautista, Business and Marketing 

Laarni Cordero, Business and Administration

Sherina Ong, Community Outreach Assistant

Mara Pangan, Donor Relations Assistant