The Officers

Elaine Antonio Bordeaux Esq.

Elaine Antonio Bordeaux is a Filipina American lawyer and sculptor based in Colorado, US. An immigrant advocate, a veteran immigration lawyer and a multi-talented visual artist. She is the President and Executive Director of the Dr. Jose Rizal Legacy International Foundation, a nonprofit with a mission of promoting Philippine arts, culture and History. Elaine’s current project with the Dr. Rizal foundation is an 8 ft sculpture of Dr Ri- zal which will be installed at the George Fellows Public Library Park in Colorado Springs, CO.

Elaine is a member of good standing of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the New York Bar since 2008. She founded her own immigration law firm in 2008. In her 15 years of law practice in the United States, she successfully represented hundreds of human trafficking victims and Filipino workers in the United States for violations of labor laws. She is a volunteer lawyer of the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network where she helps children immigrants from war torn countries like Ukraine and Afghanistan. Her current immigration law office is located in Broomfield, Colorado.

Elaine recently successfully exhibited “Courage” in Colorado Springs, and internationally in Barcelona and Madrid, Spain. Last October 29, 2023, Elaine was awarded the 2023 Most Influential Filipina Woman in the World Award in Prague by the Filipina Women’s Network

(FWN). Her global pitch project with FWN is the bust sculpture of Magdalena Leones, a Filipina war he- ro during World War II which will be unveiled in 2024.

“Courage Exhibit” is a one-woman exhibition with the theme “katapangan”. It showcases the bronze sculptures of Elaine which depict her Filipino heritage, her life experiences in the Philippines and the United States, her dreams, her faith and aspirations for her people. Each piece in the exhibition is very personal to Elaine. She choose bronze as her medium because of its strength and enduring quality.

Elaine’s “Courage Exhibition” will continue in the United States

Honorary Consul Donna LaVigne

Donna Bandiola LaVigne was born and raised on Boracay, a remote island that is now the prime tourist destination in the Philippines. Boracay was so small, she had to travel to Kalibo for high school and college. She worked at the Ministry of Public Works and Highways, and later became a Language Instructor for the US Peace Corps Volunteers.

While working in Kalibo, she met her husband, Atty, Jay LaVigne, as he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer. They moved to the United States and have lived in Colorado since 1983. They have a daughter, Mahal and a grandson, Ellis. Donna’s father was a Barangay Captain on Boracay for many years and instilled his commitment to community service in his family. Donna was very active in Community service when she was in the Philippines. It is no wonder she carried that trait when she moved to the United States. She has been trailblazing for Filipino-Americans and even Asian Pacific Islander Americans in Colorado.

Donna has been active in the Colordo’s Filipino and Asian-American Communities since her arrival in 1983. Her efforts include being FACC President and Life Member, past Co-chair of the Aurora Asian Pacific Community Partnership, on the Governor’s Asian American Advisory Council, Founding Member of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), multi-term Chair for NaFFAA Region V, Board Member of the Colorado Dragon Boat

Festival and even served on local Commissions that guided the founding efforts of the City and County of Broomfield. Even today her initiation of the FACC Filipino Festival 28 years ago and her creation of NaFFAA Region V’s Filipiniana 20 years ago are both going strong.

Particularly near and dear to Donna’s heart has been her efforts in facilitating cleft lip and palate missions to the Philippines. First as a vice-president of Uplift Internationale, and then as a co-founder of Mending Faces. Donna has been active in making these life-changing missions for hundreds of less fortunate children for more than 25 years.

All of her commitment did not go unnoticed by the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco, as well as, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila, who choose her to be the first Philippine Honorary Consul in Colorado and Southern Wyoming. Donna takes great pride in maintaining the connection between the Colorado Fil-Ams and their homeland, facilitating consular outreach missions and otherwise allowing Filipinos to more easily do business in the Philippines, as well as, simply keeping their love for their homeland thriving.

She is currently the Vice President of the recently founded Dr. Jose Rizal Legacy International Foundation, a non-profit with a mission of promoting Philippine arts, culture, and history. Its first planned project is the installation of a life-sized statue of Dr. Jose Rizal, Philippine National Hero, in Colorado Springs.

Donna received recognition and accolades to mention a few that includes: Humanitarian Award from Uplift Internatioanale, and Mending Faces; Honorary Chair for the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival; Honorary Proclamation from Colorado Governor as Council Member of the Governor’s Asian Pacific American Advisory Council; Asian American Heroes of Colorado; Leadership and Service Award from the Aurora Asan/Pacific Community Partnership; Lifetime Achievement Award from NaFFAA Region V, and Ms. Naturelle Well Earth International; Outstanding

Leadership, and Lifetime Membership Award from the Filipino-American Community of Colorado; Prism Award for Women with Style and Achievement, Gintong Pamana Award, Chicago; Most Outstanding Alumni, Northwestern Visayan Colleges, Philippines.

She believes that whether we are born on a small island like Boracay or a big State like Colorado, we are all capable of giving back and making a difference. You do not have to be a leader to achieve great things. Donna fondly recalls that all of her great projects were only realized because so many in the community stepped up to make it happen. Opportunities to make this world a better place can be found everywhere. You can volunteer at your children’s school, your church, your city, or your Fil-Am organization. There is no better feeling of accomplishment than giving your time, talent, and treasure back to a community.

Grace Morris

Grace Peña-Morris is a distinguished professional with a multifaceted career spanning over 16 years, showcasing her expertise, leadership, and commitment to community service.

Her journey began in the real estate industry, where she has been a dedicated agent for 16 years. Demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit, Grace ventured into establishing her own brokerage, Grace Morris Real Estate, seven years ago. This step marked a significant milestone in her career, indicating her prowess in the real estate market.

Grace Peña-Morris’s career is not only marked by professional achievements but also by her profound commitment to community service and exemplary leadership. At the heart of her endeavors lies a deep-seated passion for uplifting and empowering communities, particularly evident in her roles within various foundations and organizations.

Grace’s leadership qualities first shone through in her tenure as a two-term President of The Filipino American Community of Southern Colorado. In this role, she demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, fostering a sense of unity and cultural pride among the Filipino-American community. Her efforts in organizing events, advocating for community needs, and promoting cultural awareness have had a lasting impact on the community.

In 2015, her extensive community service and leadership were formally recognized when she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Federation of the Filipino American Association (NAFFAA Region 5). This prestigious accolade serves as a testament to her enduring impact on the community and her unwavering dedication to service.

Her dedication to service extends to her role as the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of the Naturelle Well Earth Foundation. Here, Grace has been instrumental in spearheading initiatives focused on mental health, positivity, wellness, mentorship, and healthy pro-aging. Her leadership in this organization reflects her commitment to creating a mentally

healthy and collaborative community where resources are accessible and available.

Similarly, as the Co-Founder and Secretary of the Dr. Jose Rizal Legacy Foundation, Grace has played a pivotal role in preserving and promoting Filipino heritage and history. Her work in the foundation underscores her dedication to cultural education and her skill in organizing community-focused events and programs.

Grace’s community involvement is further highlighted by her organization of The Faithful Filipino American Servants of Jesus and Children of the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph in Colorado Springs. This initiative showcases her commitment to fostering spiritual and community bonds, creating a space for cultural and religious expression.

Beyond these roles, Grace’s leadership extends to the realm of pageantry and celebration of women’s legacy and beauty from within, where she not only achieved personal success but also contributed to the community. As a co-director and managing partner of the Miss Earth USA 2023 pageants in Colorado, Oregon, and Washington State, she provided a platform for young women to showcase their talents and advocate for social and environmental causes. Grace’s foray into the world of pageantry has been equally remarkable. She won the prestigious title of World Elite – World 2021 at the World Elite Pageant in Las Vegas, and was crowned Ms. Filipino American Queen in 2001, demonstrating her grace and poise.

Grace Peña-Morris’s career is a shining example of how professional success and community service can intertwin seamlessly. Her leadership has not only propelled her own career forward but has also uplifted and inspired the communities she has served, leaving an indelible mark on each one.

Polly Cortez

Ms. Polly Santiago-Cortez is the current Treasurer and Board member of the Dr. Jose Rizal Legacy International Foundation. Since 2006, Polly has been the active officer of the Friends of U.P. Foundation of America (FUPFA), a federal 501(c) 3 nonprofit charitable foundation for the alumni of UP in North America since 1982. She was the Vice Chair/Executive Director from 2006 to 2019, and in 2020, she pivoted to the Chief Financial Officer position responsible for the day-to-day operations of the FUPFA.

Polly served as Federal Banking Regulator at the United States Department of Treasury for 38 years. In the midst of the savings and loan crisis in 1985-1986, she was involved in the closures of failed banks that she was specifically mentioned in the book “Inside Job” for her role in preventing shady characters from entering the banking industry. She held numerous senior-level positions with the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and served critical roles during the housing crisis of 2008-2009.

Over the years, she received various recognition for her outstanding performance and accomplishments as a federal banking regulator and as EEO/Diversity officer at US Department of the Treasury, University of the Philippines, Girl Scouts of Northern California, Sister Cities International, as a community service volunteer.

In 2007 Polly was one of the Top 100 Most Influential Filipinas in the US according to Filipina Womens Network. Polly was the president of the South San Francisco Sister City Program with sister cities including Pasig, Philippines, Lucca, Italy, Atotonilco, Mexico, Kishiwada, Japan, and Saint-Jean-Pied-de- Port, France. She was also the president of the Pasig Association of Northern California and remains on the Board of Directors. In addition to her accounting degree and MBA in Finance, Polly is a Certified Quality Manager/ Organizational Excellence (CQM/OE) from the American Society for Quality. She served as a Professional Judge for American Society for Quality’s International Team Excellence Award (ITEA) for 10 years until 2022 and was a member of the Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for the Bureau of Commerce.

Elaine Antonio Bordeaux, Esq.