Mel Tobias
Mel is a man with many lives - former corporate executive, movie critic, lifestyle and entertainment editor, foreign correspondent, festivalier, author, amateur actor, television and radio broadcaster, and world traveller with a special affinity to the South of France. He writes regularly for the Manila-based broadsheet Philippine Star, and various Vancouver-based papers. He re-invents himself every two years. Today, he is a bookseller and collector of European movies. What he will want to do next or where, God only knows.


Cely fortaleza
Cely has worked full-time in Reyfort Publishing since she resigned from her accounting job. A mother of three, she’s the one in-charge of the business side of the company’s publications. The success of the Philippine Asian News Today and Philippine Showbiz Today is a testament to her business acumen and sound management. Her steady hand has been a source of strength for her publisher-husband Rey. Expect Cely to be a part of new publishing endeavors in the future.

Yul Baritugo
Yul is a veteran newsman He was a correspondent for Bulletin Today, The Evening Post, later moving to the Evening Express, all in Manila. He joined People’s Journal as senior reporter, and was also a business reporter for a sister publication – Makati Business Daily. He was later promoted as copy editor. He earned his journalism degree at the Silliman University where he was the editor-in-chief of the Sillimanian Magazine.

Anna Pansacola
Anna finds fulfillment in her various roles as a musician, writer, counselor, and facilitator/educator. She was featured in the Georgia Straight’s 2008 Best of Vancouver issue for providing the best lunchtime music every Wednesday at the HSBC building on West Georgia Street. Her column “New Beginnings” ran in the Philippine Asian Chronicle. A UBC-trained facilitator and educator, she has facilitated countless wellness workshops.

Irene Querubin
Irene is tri-media journalist, with extensive experience in print, radio, and TV. After graduating from the University of the Philippines, she has worked in various media projects before moving to Canada in 2003. A regular contributor to the Philippine Asian News Today, Irene is currently finishing a broadcast journalism program in Vancouver. She looks forward to camping every summer after hibernating for most of the winter.

Lhu Florentino
Her name “Tita Lhu” is a byword among culinary enthusiasts. She is sought by housewives who are interested about cooking, and nutrition. Lhu is a graduate of Manila’s St. Paul College. She is a nutritionist-dietitian who has established her niche in the food business. She is currently connected with product research development and commercialization for a Vancouver-based food industry.

Aggie Roldan
Aggie is a registered member of the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants, and an active member of the Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants. She graduated from the UBC with a BA degree in international relations and political science. She also completed an immigration practitioner certificate program, also from UBC.

Lia sindac
Lia is a production artist at a creative agency in West Vancouver. She is a mass communication graduate from St. Scholastica’s College in Manila. In Canada, she took up desktop publishing at BCIT, and has a graphic design certificate from the Art Institute of Vancouver. Lia has extensive experience in magazine and newspaper layout design.

Alex Mino
Alex is a sports journalist. The 41-year old father of four has a Mass Communications degree from Manila’s Far Eastern University. He started as a reporter in August 1989 with the now defunct Daily Sun newspaper. He was first assigned to do feature stories before plunging into the sports beat, an assignment that he carried on with Abante Tonite for 12 years.

Dean Guzman
Dean is at the cutting edge of the convergence of IT and multimedia. A consultant, he works with several firms and independent businesses. In addition to his core business of computers, his company has a strong clientele in digital photography, video, audio and home theatre systems, home lighting automation and security. Dean has been in the consulting business since 1991.

Dionisio Buccat III
Dioni won second place in the ASEAN Editorial Cartoon Competition in years 2005 and 2007. Dioni began his career as an illustrator and photographer in Mirror Magazine. He then joined Manila Times. His work has appeared in Mirror Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Manila Times, Manila Standard, and Kabayan. Philippine Daily Inquirer’s sister publications Tumbok and Libre carried his comics strips “Gulp Adventure” and “Inoid”.

JONATHAN ALDAY
Jonathan is involved in producing concerts, events, and managing local and international talents. He is also a fashion designer, and showcased his collections at the 2003/2004 Vancouver Fashion Week, and in 2006, in New York City’s Powow fashion show. He also worked for a Vancouver based streetwear clothing company 69 Evolution as head designer for one season. Jonathan was trained at the University of the Philippines.