15 World-Class Filipinos Everyone Should Know

We have Lea Salonga, Bruno Mars, and Nicole Scherzinger—but, wait! There's more!

1. Jaclyn Jose

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Jaclyn Jose has been working as an actress for over 20 years, and has always been lauded by teleserye-loving Filipinos. But it wasn't until 2016 that Jose won an award for Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in the Brillante Mendoza-directed film Ma'Rosa (2016).

2. Arnel Pineda

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Arnel Pineda is the Filipino lead singer of legendary American rock band Journey. He first joined the band in 2007, after he was discovered on YouTube by band members Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain.

3. Michael Cinco

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Michael Cinco is a born-and-raised Filipino fashion designer based in Dubai, but whose clothes are worn by everyone, from Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach to Jennifer Lopez. Kris Aquino also wears his creations in Crazy Rich Asians.

4. Ana "The Hurricane" Julaton

@anajulaton / Via instagram.com

Ana Julaton is a Filipino-American professional boxer and MMA fighter who was trained by Manny Pacquiao's coach Freddie Roach, and later by boxer Nonito Donaire Jr.'s father Nonito Donaire Sr. She was the first to win the Women's World Boxing Organization and International Boxing Association Super Bantamweight titles in 2009.

5. Cristeta Comerford

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Cristeta Comerford, born Cristeta Pasia, has been the White House's executive chef since 2005. She was brought in by the Obama administration and is the first woman and first Asian to hold the post. The Filipino-American chef studied food technology at the University of the Philippines Diliman, and immigrated to the United States at the age of 21.

6. Meredith Talusan

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Meredith Talusan is the executive editor of LGBTQ-focused Condé Nast title them. They were born in the Philippines and moved to the United States at fifteen, attending Harvard for their undergraduate degree, then Cornell for a PhD in comparative literature.

7. Dr. Josette Biyo

Philippine Department of Science and Technology / Via sei.dost.gov.ph

Dr. Josette Biyo is a Filipino teacher, and first Asian educator to win the International Excellence in Teaching Award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in 2002. Because of this, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology decided to name a minor planet after her. "Planet Biyo," also known as asteroid 13241 Biyo, is found between Mars and Jupiter.

8. Nico Santos

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Nico Santos plays undocumented Filipino immigrant Mateo Fernando Aquino Liwanag in NBC's comedy series Superstore. He was born and raised in the Philippines and attended high school at the University of San Agustin before moving to the States. He is known as one of the only actors speaking fluent Filipino on Western television. We'll be seeing more of him on the big screen as Oliver Tsien in Crazy Rich Asians.

9. Alex Tizon

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Alex Tizon was a Filipino-American author, and a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who wrote The Atlantic's June 2017 cover story, "My Family's Slave." The controversial piece was talked about for months after its publication, and has definitely left a mark on the journalism industry. It also allowed Filipinos to discuss the culture surrounding hired household help. Tizon died on March 23, 2017, before seeing his essay published.

10. Rachelle Ann Go

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Rachelle Ann Go sure has come a long way—from Filipino variety show Eat Bulaga to London's West End. Go was named Best Featured Actress in a Musical at the 2017 Theater Fans' Choice Awards for her role as Gigi in Broadway's revamp of Miss Saigon. Now, she plays the role of Eliza Hamilton in the West End's production of Hamilton, and has a Billboard chart-topping single called "First Burn" singing alongside four other Eliza Hamiltons.

11. Ruby Ibarra

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Ruby Ibarra is a Filipino-American rapper who hails from Tacloban, and moved to San Francisco. She raps in Tagalog, Waray, and English about immigrant identity, trauma, and Filipina feminism. When she was young and still living in the Philippines, she was inspired by Francis Magalona and 90's style rap. So far she's released one album in 2017 called Circa91 and two videos this year.

12. Margarita Forés

@margaritafores / Via instagram.com

Margarita Forés was named Asia's Best Female Chef in 2016 as part of the annual Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list. Forés had no formal culinary training until she went to Italy to study under the wing of Masha Innoscenti in Florence, Jo Bettoja in Rome, and Ada Parasiliti in Milan. Now she incorporates Italian techniques into Filipino cuisine, as well as infuses Filipino flavors in Italian. She owns Cibo, Lusso, and Grace Park in Metro Manila.

13. Josie Natori

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Josie Natori, born Josefina Almeda Cruz, is a Filipino-American designer and entrepreneur. She started out in finance on Wall Street, but soon shifted to fashion in the 70's. Now she owns multimillion dollar company, The Natori Company, which sells lingerie, sleepwear, accessories, and more to upscale stores internationally—most of which are made in the Philippines. Yahoo named her as a "self-made immigrant millionaire."

14. Miguel Syjuco

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Miguel Syjuco is a Filipino author, journalist, and professor at NYU Abu Dhabi who won the 2008 Man Asian Literary Prize for his first novel Ilustrado. The New York Times also named Ilustrado a Notable Book of 2010. He recently published an opinion piece in the Times on "The Bumbling Corruption of Rodrigo Duterte."

15. Bretman Rock

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Bretman Rock is one of the biggest names in the beauty industry. He was born in the Philippines, and moved to Hawaii with his family at a young age. He still speaks some Tagalog and Ilocano. He was named one of TIME's 30 Most Influential Teens in 2017, and has also released his own makeup line with brand Morphe.

16. Kelsey Merritt

@kelseymerritt / Via instagram.com

Kelsey Merritt is a Filipino-American international model who is now based in New York City. But she graduated from Ateneo de Manila University, right in time with her classmates, despite having to travel back-and-forth from New York. Filipinos see her in ads for local brands, and she has also modeled for online retailer ASOS and Seventeen magazine. Her latest gig is with Victoria's Secret's sportswear line.