NGANTOK: December 2005

Victoria Manalo Draves

Victoria Manalo Draves
AKA Victoria Taylor Manalo

1st Filipina-American, 1st Eurasian, and 1st Woman in Olympic history to win Springboard and Platform Diving Gold Medals (1948)

QUOTE

“You never know what a wonderful experience it is to concentrate on something, to set your goals and to work hard for them and then to eventually attain the ultimate. There is so much that happens to you along the way that is so wonderful. The discipline that you learn for yourself, believing in yourself, and meeting other fine people who are involved in whatever activity it is that you are trying to attain.”

ALIAS
"Vicki"

DATE OF BIRTH
December 31, 1924

BIRTHPLACE
San Francisco, California, USA

FATHER: Teofilo Manalo
MOTHER: Gertrude Taylor

HUSBAND: Lyle Draves
SONS: David, Jeffrey, Dale and Kim

USEFUL LINKS

The triumph of Victoria Manalo
An Olympian’s Oral History: Vicki Draves
She Would've Been RP's 1st Olympic Gold Medalist, But She Won For The U.S.
Draves Park

Virginia Oteyza-De Guia

1st Filipina Acting Mayor of Baguio City (1946)

DATE OF BIRTH
December 26, 1917

BIRTHPLACE
Baguio City, Mountain Province, Philippines

HUSBAND: Victor de Guia, Sr.
Virginia and Victor have four children.

USEFUL LINKS

Virginia Oteyza-De Guia Photograph by Isa Lorenzo
Filipinas: Portraits of thirty outstanding Filipino women
Mayors of The City of Baguio
Mariang Maya Awardee

Pops Fernandez

Pops Fernandez
AKA María Cielito Lukban Fernández

1st Filipina multi-awarded singer to perform at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, USA

QUOTE

"If we can unite and understand each other, our country would be better."

ALIAS
"Concert Queen"
"Pops"

DATE OF BIRTH
December 12, 1966

BIRTHPLACE
Quezon City, Philippines

FATHER: Eddie Fernandez
MOTHER: Dulce Lukban

Ex-HUSBAND: Martin Nievera
SONS: Ram and Robin

USEFUL LINKS

In Confidence
Pops Fernandez from A to Z
Pops Pops Everywhere!
Filipino stars visit Norwich
pops.pinoycentral.com/
Pops Fernandez: The way she feels inside
Wikipedia Article on Pops Fernandez

Meryll Soriano

1st Filipina to win the 1st Best Performance by an Actress award for the full length film Room Boy at the 1st Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival (2005)

QUOTE
"My goal is to be the best in what I do. I want to build a career in and outside show business."

DATE OF BIRTH
December 9, 1982

FATHER: Willie Revillame
MOTHER: Bec-Bec Soriano

HUSBAND: Bernard Palanca
SON: Elijah

USEFUL LINKS

Cinemalaya '06 finalists bared
Meryll gives birth to baby Elijah
Meryll Soriano moves on, expects baby boy
Will Love Conquer All?
Do you like the sound of Meryll Palanca?
Meryll Soriano: The make-believe bride