bio
The Board of Kababayan
Richmond Chua :: Presidente :: President
Richmond Chua is a 4th year Biological Sciences Major. Both his parents are from the Philippines. As a child, he did not have luxury of interacting with many other Filipinos as he grew up in a predominantly Jewish community in the northern suburbs of Illinois. But because his parents valued both their Filipino and Chinese heritages, they wished to pass down the same traditions that they had inherited from generations past. From language to food and even to mannerisms and traditions of respect, Richmond have come to embrace every single bit of my ethnicity and he hopes to continue learning what it means to be Pinoy from the friends and colleagues I now call his "Kababayan". He is also involved with the Pre-Medical Students Association, and works as an undergradate researcher in the Radiology Department of the UCMC. Richmond also enjoys CrossFit, and feels that the physical rigor of the program complements his academic intensity at UChicago.
After three years without a formal Filipino RSO, he believes that the foundation of KBB has been long overdue. Though his tenure as president will last just one year, KBB's plans for 2012 indicate such a fruitful future for the organization. From working with the Philippine Consulate General to raise funds for victims of Tropical Storm Sendong to establishing intercollegiate relations with Filipino organizations from other Chicago-land institutions, this year is certain to be one filled with long hours of planning and organization. But with such an enthusiastic founding board whose members represent not only different academic backgrounds but also different cultural backgrounds, Richmond believes KBB has great potential to become a widely-recognized and influential presence on campus.
Joann Torres :: Bise-Presidente :: Vice President
Joann is a 4th year Biology major student with a specialization in endocrinology. Her parents were born in the Philippines and later moved to California. She hopes KBB will form a proud Filipino family at the U of C, sharing the beauty of the Filipino culture through performance, cuisine, and other events.
Joann's apartment also serves as the home base for the all of Kababayan's culinary operations. Outside of her work with the KBB, you'll see Joann balling it up on the Women's basketball team. (Come watch her crush the opposition at UChicago's games!) She's also served in the 2010 Medical Global Brigades, working to promote health care in the Honduras.
Tiffany Young :: Tesorero :: Treasurer
Tiffany is a 3rd year English major from Orange County. However, although she was born and raised in California, she has a Filipino-Chinese background since her parents were both born in the Philippines, living there until graduating from college. She's visited the Philippines three times, and has really enjoyed being able to see her family and experiencing the different lifestyle there, which contrasts with the American way of life she is accustomed to. What she loves most about the Philippines are the friendly people, as well as fresh mangoes and coconut juice! Tiffany is very excited about the revival of a Filipino RSO on campus because it was a cultural presence that the U of C was lacking…but not anymore!
Her interests include tennis, yoga, pilates (basically trying new and challenging forms of exercise), fashion, cooking and baking. Outside of the KBB, you'll find her as an active member of UChicago's marketing and consulting service, The Mark, as well as representing the Japanese Student Association.
Anthony Gokianluy :: Sekretarya :: Secretary
Anthony is a first-year from warm and sunny Manila majoring in Political Science and Economics. Anthony and his parents are Filipino-Chinese currently residing in the Philippines. At his High School, International School Manila (ISM), Anton promoted Filipino culture and literature as Editor-in-Chief of the Newsflash Magazine and by working to develop the Filipino section in a literary digest. This promotion is something he would like to continue here in Chicago. Outside school, he worked to improve the conditions in the Manila slums as part of the Rotary Club of Dasmariñas.
He believes that the Chicago community should enjoy the authentic Pinoy experience as Kababayan expands; KBB, through its events, will showcase the "galing at talino ng Filipino" or the goodness of the Filipino that is indeed world-renowned. He enjoys working with the members of Kababayan to accomplish this task, starting with fundraising initiatives to help the victims of Typhoon Sendong. At UChicago, Anton is involved with ChoMUN and the University's Model UN team, going to conferences around the country, including Chicago and Berkeley. He is also a Staff writer for the News section at the Chicago Maroon. In his free time, he enjoys studying and discussing general history, critiquing Philippine politics, and occasionally building model ships and planes. He also enjoys listening to pop and soft rock, especially to the classic Filipino favorites of MLTR, Air Supply, and Kamikazee.
John Lim :: Direktor ng Fundraising :: Director of Fundraising
John Lim is a second-year in the college majoring in Public Policy and Economics, with a focus on education and education policy. Both his father and mother are Filipino-Chinese, moving to the US from the Philippines in the early 90s. He loves returning to the Philippines to visit family, and especially enjoys scuba diving through the gorgeous reefs of the country. Outside of his work with KBB, you'll find John teaching music theory and saxophone lessons for the South Side Free Music Program, an organization on campus that advocates education in the arts. He also dances for Phinix Dance Crew, and is involved with Model UN. John hopes that over time KBB will continue to grow, cultivating awareness and appreciation for Filipino culture in UChicago.
Megan Chua :: Direktor ng mga Programa - Director of Programming
Megan is a third-year majoring in Economics and Political Science who lived in the Philippines before moving to Seattle in 2006. Coming from a Filipino-Chinese background, she can speak both Tagalog and Hokkien, and has fond memories of eating taho after school, exploring caverns in the Philippine islands, and watching lion dance performances in school during Chinese New Year. Megan is excited about Kababayan, and hopes that it will gain enthusiastic members while hosting events that will give UChicago students a taste of the warmth of Filipino culture and hospitality (and of course, the food). Besides her work with Kababayan, she is involved with the University of Chicago Microfinance Initiative (UCMI) as the Co-Managing Director of Consulting, as well as with Artshould, where she mentors elementary school students in after-school art programs and works closely with the rest of the board towards the long-term development of the organization.
Julian Doromal - Direktor ng mga Adbertisement - Director of Publicity
Julian was born in Clemson, South Carolina. He is half-Filipino, on his father's side. His father immigrated during the 60s as a doctor. He hopes that KBB will bring together all of the Filipinos on campus, opening up avenues of networking at other universities as well.