Filipino American National Historical Society - Hampton Roads Chapter, Virginia Beach, VA (2026)

10/15/2026

🇵🇭 "The 12th Anchor": Honoring Basilia Torres Steward ⚓🇵🇭
For this Filipino American History Month, the Filipino American National Historical Society Hampton Roads Chapter is proud to focus on the unyielding spirit of a true WWII heroine: Basilia Torres Steward! 🇵🇭🇺🇸

Born in Cebu in 1913, Basilia married U.S. Navy Lieutenant Jerry A. Steward in 1938. When Japanese forces invaded the Philippines, she volunteered to join the medical frontlines. When 11 U.S. Navy nurses were taken prisoner, Basilia—a Filipino civilian nurse—willingly went with them, earning her legendary title as "The 12th Anchor" for her strength and resilience.

Basilia and the Navy nurses endured 37 grueling months of captivity at the Santo Tomas and later Los Baños prison camps. They faced severe starvation, brutal conditions, and disease. Yet, Basilica and the nurses never stopped, continuing to care for sick, injured, and desperate military and civilian patients. Their presence was the embodiment of devotion, keeping hope alive in the camp's darkest hours.

On February 23, 1945, Basilia and her fellow captives were freed in a dramatic Allied rescue. She eventually reunited with her husband, settled in the United States, and became a naturalized citizen. For her incredible courage, Basilia Torres Steward became one of the first Filipino women to receive the Prisoner of War Medal.

Drop a 🌸 or 🇵🇭 in the comments to salute "The 12th Anchor," Basilia Torres Steward! 👇

10/15/2026

🔥🍢 The Flavor of History: Celebrating "Inihaw" and the Legacy of Chef Nora Daza 🍢🔥

This Filipino American History Month, the Filipino American National Historical Society Hampton Roads Chapter celebrates the rich, smoky tradition of Filipino-style BBQ (Inihaw) and the pioneering woman who became the nation's first culinary ambassador: the legendary Nora Daza! 🇵🇭🇺🇸

🍢 The Art of the Grill
Inihaw has a rich history dating back centuries. While the technique of grilling meat over an open flame was introduced by Spanish colonizers in the 16th century, Filipinos truly put their own spin on the tradition. By incorporating local marinades, sweet-and-savory glazes, and indigenous ingredients, they transformed a simple method into a unique, beloved culinary experience!

At the heart of the Philippines' modern culinary story is Batangas native Chef Nora Guanzon Villanueza-Daza (1928–2013). Remembered simply as Nora Daza, she was the nation’s first culinary icon, a television host, a best-selling cookbook author, and a true global ambassador for Filipino flavors. She even brought her culinary genius to Paris, showcasing the richness of Filipino and French hospitality at her famous restaurant, Au Bon Vivant.

Daza’s legacy reminds us that food is more than sustenance—it is our connection to heritage, community, and the shared joy of a sizzling grill.
What’s your favorite thing to put on the grill? Drop your favorite Inihaw go-tos in the comments! 👇🔥

10/13/2026

⚓🌊 From Stewards to Flag Officers: The Mercado Family's Hampton Roads Navy Legacy ⚓🌊

This Filipino American History Month, the Filipino American National Historical Society Hampton Roads Chapter honors a multi-generational naval legacy that spans three generations and came full circle right here in Hampton Roads! 🇵🇭🇺🇸

In 1953, Victorino R. Mercado enlisted in the U.S. Navy during an era when young men of Filipino descent were largely restricted to steward ratings. Proving his exceptional drive, Victorino cross-rated to Storekeeper, excelled, and advanced to the rank of Storekeeper Chief Petty Officer (SKC)!

⚓ Born at Portsmouth Naval Hospital:
While stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, Victorino and his wife celebrated the birth of their son, Victorino "Vic" Mercado, right at Portsmouth Naval Hospital (now Naval Medical Center Portsmouth)!

Rising from those local roots, Vic Mercado embarked on his own distinguished naval career:

🎓 Naval Academy Graduate: Earned his commission and served decades as a Surface Warfare Officer.

⭐ Historic Promotion: Promoted to Rear Admiral (LH), becoming one of the highest-ranking Filipino-American flag officers in U.S. Navy history!

“I am indebted to, and stand on the shoulders of, a generation of Filipino Sailors who enlisted in the '50s. Through their example, I found my own opportunity." — Rear Admiral Vic Mercado

From the docks of Norfolk and the halls of Portsmouth Naval Hospital to commanding fleets across the globe, the Mercado family's story exemplifies the grit, dedication, and rising leadership of Filipino-American sailors!

Drop an ⚓ or 🇵🇭 in the comments below. 👇

10/13/2026

⚓🌊 Returning to Norfolk: The Pioneering Legacy of Miguel Guillera & The Great White Fleet ⚓🌊

This Filipino American History Month, the Filipino American National Historical Society Hampton Roads Chapter is proud to share a landmark moment in U.S. Navy and Filipino-American history: the incredible journey of Miguel Guillera and the Great White Fleet! 🇵🇭🇺🇸

On February 22, 1909, an armada of U.S. Navy battleships known as the "Great White Fleet" returned to Norfolk, Virginia, after completing an epic, round-the-world cruise spanning over 40,000 miles and visiting 20 foreign ports spread across six continents!

🚢 A Historic Enlistment:
When portions of the fleet stopped in the Philippines around September 1908, scores of English-speaking Filipino natives were allowed to enlist in the U.S. Navy as messmen and stewards at the Cavite Navy Yard.

Among this "first wave" of trailblazers who returned to Norfolk with the armada was Miguel Guillera! Guillera proudly served a four-year enlistment aboard the battleship USS Kansas (BB 21), paving the way for generations of Filipino sailors who would follow.

🗽 A Journey of Resilience:

🎖️ Serviceman & Citizen: After his Navy service, Guillera earned his U.S. Citizenship, lived in Camden, New Jersey, and eventually settled with his family in New Orleans, Louisiana.

💼 Multifaceted Civilian Life: Over his lifespan, records show Miguel served his adopted country in diverse ways—as a postal worker in New Jersey, a prohibition agent in Louisiana, a merchant seaman, and even owned his own business: the "Filipino Colony Bar, Grocery and Refreshment Co." in New Orleans!

🕊️ Resting in Peace: After marrying and raising a family, Miguel Guillera passed away on March 25, 1943, at the age of 54, and was laid to rest at St. Vincent De Paul Cemetery in New Orleans.

From the ports of Cavite to the shores of Norfolk and beyond, the courage and service of Miguel Guillera and his fellow sailors remain a foundational chapter of our shared heritage.

Drop a ⚓ or 🇵🇭 in the comments to honor Miguel Guillera and the historic "First Wave" of Filipino Sailors. 👇👇

10/13/2026

🇵🇭🇺🇸 To Avenge & Serve: The Unyielding Will of Florence Ebersole Smith 🇵🇭🇺🇸

This Filipino American History Month, the Filipino American National Historical Society Hampton Roads Chapter is proud to share the story of a World War II heroine, covert resistance operative, and pioneering veteran: Florence Ebersole Smith (1915–2017).

Born in the Philippines to a Filipino mother and an American soldier father, Florence’s life was forever altered on February 8, 1942, when her husband, USN Chief Electrician’s Mate Charles Smith, was killed in action during a Japanese P.T. boat attack. In the wake of unspeakable grief, she transformed her sorrow into courageous resistance.

✊ Underground Operative:
After Manila fell, Florence hid her American connections, took a job with the Japanese, and covertly collaborated with the Philippine Underground. She bravely helped arrange acts of sabotage and routed vital aid to those resisting. In October 1944, her actions were caught. Arrested, imprisoned, and subjected to months of brutal torture, interrogations, and starvation, she refused to break. On February 10, 1945, she was finally liberated—her spirit battered, but entirely unconquered.

On July 13, 1945, she enlisted in the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve aboard USS LST-512 in Buffalo, New York (at the time a component of the U.S. Navy), resolutely declaring she had joined "to avenge the death of my husband."

🌟 Groundbreaking Legacy:

🎖️ First Filipino woman to be decorated with the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon.

🏅 Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November 1947 for her heroic resistance.

🏫 In 1995, the US Coast Guard honored her by naming an administration building at Sand Island, Hawaii, after her.

Though she received grand national honors before she passed in 2017 at the age of 101, she remained humbler than most:

“I feel very humble because my activities in the war effort were trivial compared with those of the people who gave their lives for their country."

Drop a 🎖️ or 🇵🇭 in the comments to salute the incredible bravery and legacy of Florence Ebersole Smith! 👇

10/12/2026

🇺🇸🇵🇭 A Historic Recipe: Celebrating Executive Chef Cristeta "Cris" Comerford

This Filipino American History Month, the Filipino American National Historical Society Hampton Roads Chapter honors a true culinary pioneer whose talent and dedication have graced the highest tables in America: Cristeta "Cris" Comerford! 🍽️🏛️

Born in 1962 in Manila's Sampaloc neighborhood as one of 10 siblings, Cris grew up inspired by her mother's natural culinary gifts:

“Many well-known chefs will tell you that their earliest and greatest influence was their mom. My mom was indeed the best cook I knew." — Cristeta "Cris" Comerford.

In her 20s, she immigrated to the United States to join her brother Juan Pasia in Chicago, diving straight into the food service industry. Through sheer talent, grit, and passion, she earned her way into the prestigious White House kitchen in 1995 as an assistant chef under President Bill Clinton.

⭐ A Landmark Appointment:
In 2005, First Lady Laura Bush appointed Cris as the White House Executive Chef—making her the first Filipino woman, and the first woman in U.S. history, to ever hold this esteemed position!

For nearly three decades, her leadership, mastery, and grace saw her prepare meals, coordinate grand state dinners, and supervise kitchen teams across the administrations of five U.S. Presidents (Presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden).

Her groundbreaking career is a proud chapter of Filipino American history, showing how passion, heritage, and hard work can take you from Manila to the White House.

Join us in celebrating Cristeta Comerford’s exceptional legacy! Let us know your favorite traditional Filipino dish in the comments! 👇🍲

10/11/2026

🌊⚓ Overcoming Fear & Making History: The Legacy of Rear Admiral Babette "Bette" Bolivar 🌊⚓
This Filipino American History Month, the Filipino American National Historical Society Hampton Roads Chapter honors a true trailblazer whose courage and leadership shattered glass ceilings across the U.S. Navy: Rear Admiral Babette "Bette" Bolivar!

Born in Hawaii to Filipino immigrants Ted Cereno and Virginia Dolor Bolivar, young Bette survived a terrifying near-drowning at age eight. Instead of shying away from the ocean, she made a defining choice:

“When I was eight years old, I was a near drowning victim and had to be resuscitated. From then on, I told myself I would conquer both the seas and my fear of the seas by learning more and becoming part of the underwater environment." — Rear Admiral Babette Bolivar

🎓 1985: Graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, following in her father's footsteps to serve her country.

🥽 1989: Qualified as a Navy Diving Officer and later as a Special Operations Diver in the EOD & Salvage Community.

🚢 2003: Became the first woman to command Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One (MDSU-1).

🏆 2005: Inducted into the Woman Divers Hall of Fame.

🏛️ 2007–2010: Served as the first Filipino Commanding Officer of Naval Weapons Station Yorktown in Virginia's Historic Triangle.

⭐ Historic Milestone: Promoted to Rear Admiral, becoming the first Filipino woman in U.S. Navy history to achieve flag rank!

Rear Admiral Bolivar's journey shows us what happens when determination turns fear into purpose, paving the way for future generations of women and Asian American & Pacific Islander service members.

Drop a ⚓ or 🇵🇭 in the comments to salute Rear Admiral Bolivar's groundbreaking legacy! 👇

10/11/2026

🌸 Honoring a Trailblazer: Dr. Fe Villanueva Del Mundo (1911–2011) 🌸

This Filipino American History Month, we celebrate the extraordinary life of Dr. Fe Villanueva Del Mundo, a pioneering Filipino pediatrician whose lifetime of groundbreaking "firsts" and humanitarian service transformed medicine in the Philippines and across the globe! 🇵🇭🩺👶

🕊️ A Life Inspired by Love & Loss
Born in Manila, Fe del Mundo faced immense tragedy early on, losing three infant siblings and later her beloved 11-year-old sister to appendicitis. It was her sister’s unfulfilled dream of becoming a doctor that inspired Fe to dedicated her own life to pediatric medicine.

🎓 Breaking Barriers & Making History
She graduated at the top of her class from the University of the Philippines in 1933. After earning a presidential scholarship to study in the U.S., she made history in 1936 as the first woman to attend Harvard Medical School.

🏥 The "Angel of Santo Tomas"
Dr. Del Mundo returned to the Philippines just before the outbreak of WWII. During the Japanese occupation, she bravely volunteered with the International Red Cross to care for children detained at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) internment camp. Under brutal conditions, she built a makeshift hospice to protect and treat the children—earning her the name the “Angel of Santo Tomas.”

💖 A Lifetime of Boundless Care
After the war, she went on to establish the first pediatric hospital in the Philippines in 1964, even selling her own home to help finance the Quezon City Children's Medical Center (now named the Fe del Mundo Medical Center).

Her devotion was tireless: she lived on the second floor of the children's medical center and continued to make hospital rounds—using a wheelchair when she could no longer walk—until she was 99 years old! She passed away in 2011, having earned countless global awards and the honor of being a National Scientist of the Philippines.

In 2018, Google celebrated what would have been her 107th birthday with a dedicated Doodle.
Dr. Fe del Mundo’s legacy remains a shining example of courage, genius, and deep compassion.

🌟 What part of Dr. Del Mundo’s story inspires you most? Let us know in the comments below! 👇

10/11/2026

🇺🇸🇵🇭 Serving Seven Presidents: The Legacy of Master Chief Ricardo Javier Sanvictores.

This Filipino American History Month, the Filipino American National Historical Society Hampton Roads Chapter is proud to honor the extraordinary life of Master Chief Ricardo Javier Sanvictores (b. 1938), whose 44 years of dedication to the U.S. Navy and the White House left an indelible mark on history.

Born in TayTay, Rizal Province, Philippines, Sanvictores was among the 1,000 Filipinos who joined the U.S. Navy in October 1960, during an era when ratings for Filipino nationals were largely restricted. He quickly proved his excellence, embarking on a historic career.

⚓ A Witness to Crisis and Duty:
For over 12 years, Sanvictores served as a Steward to Admiral John S. McCain, Jr. On October 26, 1967, while in England with the Admiral, it was Sanvictores who personally received the heartbreaking call that the Admiral's son—LCDR John McCain—had been shot down and captured in North Vietnam, a poignant moment of shared history he vividly recalled decades later.

🏛️ To the White House:
After his service with Admiral McCain, Sanvictores’ Captain surprised him with a life-changing order: "report to the White House."

Arriving in 1974, he started off in the pantry and went on to become one of the first Filipino U.S. Navy Stewards to serve the White House under President Richard Nixon. He remained a trusted presence on the White House Staff for 30 years, attending to seven consecutive U.S. Presidents until his military retirement in 2004!

From historical military moments on the global stage to the high-stakes diplomacy of the White House, Master Chief Sanvictores' story highlights the resilience, honor, and deep impact of Filipino American service.

💬 What part of Master Chief Sanvictores' journey inspires you the most? Let us know below! 👇

10/11/2026

🇺🇸🇵🇭 A Witness to History: The Legacy of Sotero “Terry” Abiba

For Filipino American History Month, the Filipino American National Historical Society Hampton Roads Chapter honors the remarkable life of Sotero “Terry” Alferos Abiba (1908–2003)—a native of the Philippines whose Navy career placed him at the center of world history

In 1927, Abiba enlisted in the U.S. Navy at a time when steward and messman roles were among the very few ratings open to Filipino nationals. His exceptional dedication led him to the White House, where he served as a Steward for 16 years, attending to the needs of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, President Harry S. Truman, and their guests—from preparing meals and maintaining living quarters to managing fishing tackle aboard the presidential yacht.

🎣 A Favorite White House Memory:

I spit on my bait and told him [President Roosevelt] my old man said it was a sure thing, sort of good luck. When I put another bait on his fishing line, he spit on it, and in about another minute he caught a fish. So he told his guests to spit on their bait." — Terry Abiba

🌟 A Lifetime of Dedicated Service:

📜 Accompanied FDR to the historic Yalta Conference in 1945 and witnessed the signing of the Philippine Declaration of Independence.

🗽 Became a naturalized U.S. Citizen in April 1943.

⚓ Retired from the Navy in 1947 and continued serving in civil service until 1979.

🏡 Beloved Virginia Beach Resident: Abiba made Virginia Beach his home, living a long, inspiring life until his passing in 2003 at the age of 95.

Stories like Terry Abiba’s remind us of the deep historical roots and invaluable contributions of Filipino Americans in our military and national history.
Drop a 👍 or 🇵🇭 in the comments to honor his incredible service!

Filipino American National Historical Society - Hampton Roads Chapter

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