PHILSELA Celebrates Local Student Scholars and New Graduates

The Philippine Society of Southeast Los Angeles (PHILSELA) welcomed 10 new college scholars and congratulated seven scholars who recently
graduated from high school and college during a breakfast banquet held at the on Sunday, June 24.

Gloria Perlas Pulido, chair of the PHILSELA scholarship committee, announced the 10 new college scholars, which included:

• Ronalie Baldovino, St. Joseph High School
• Jessanne Bulquarin, St. Joseph High School
• Arleen Castro, St. Joseph High School
• Melanie Galano, St. Joseph High School
• Czarina de Jesus, La Mirada High School
• Stephen Frianeza,
• Edward Zosa,
• Adrian Maglaqui,
• Adrian Navarro, St. John Bosco High School
• Alysza Permalino,

The PHILSELA scholars who recently graduated from college included:

• Aileen Castro, BS Nursing (cum laude) from Loma Linda University
• Christina Dwyer, BS Business Administration (magna cum laude) from University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business
• Larina Oriel Palacpac, BS Business Administration from University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business
• Roy Poblete, BA Theater and Communication Arts from Whittier College

The honorees who graduated from high school included:

• Ray Daniel Magtoto,
• Victoria Simbol,
• Rhea Umalin, Mayfair High School

Ricardo Brown, principal of and the first Asian and Filipino-American to become a principal in the , reminded the scholars of the importance of hard work and determination during his keynote speech. In the 1980s, Brown, who is very popular in the Philippines, was the first Filipino-American to play in the Philippine Basketball Association play-for-pay league where he was voted Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, and helped his team win seven championships.

Other notable local officials and community leaders in attendance included Cerritos councilman Mark Pulido, ABC School board member Lynda Johnson, and ABCUSD Deputy Superintendent (soon-to-be Superintendent) Dr. Mary Sieu.

Philsela’s scholarship program, which was started 26 years ago by past president and current board chair Linda Bautista, has granted scholarships to more than 160 recipients.

The scholarship committee is composed of Gloria Perlas Pulido, chairperson; Lestie Lampino, Violet Mislang, Tatiana Yokoyama, and Alice Ramos, who is also the current PHILSELA president.