SOLD OUT – GYP’s Culinary Passport: The Philippines

Riza V Mauricio, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC/AC, FCCM, CCRN, is a seasoned Advanced Practice Nurse Intensivist in pediatric critical care medicine and an Assistant Professor at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston. She is the former Director of Advanced Practice Providers at the Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas, USA. She was inducted Fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine.

Dr. Mauricio is actively engaged in several professional organizations such as American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Society of Critical Care Medicine, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, and PNAA. She is past Board of Director of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. She is currently the Chair of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, Quality and Safety Committee, Chair of the PNAA Advanced Practice Committee, and Chair of the PNAA Kabalikat (Emotional Wellness) Program. She currently represents PNAA to the Texas Healthcare Coalition – advancing independent practice of APNs in the state of Texas, the US coalition of Nurses Improving the Health of Women and Children, and the All In Wellbeing First for Healthcare initiative. She is also a Board of Director of PNAMH Foundation.

Cybil Joy Pallugna-Saenz is the President of the Filipino American National Historical Society – Houston, Texas Chapter (FANHS-HTX). A birthright citizen born in Chicago, Illinois to parents from Infanta, Quezon, Cybil moved to Houston, Texas in 1982 with their parents and older sister – a journey that laid the foundation for a lifelong connection to community and culture.

Cybil’s involvement with FANHS-HTX began in 2019, when the chapter’s founder, Christy Poisot, invited them to participate in a public reading of Journey for Justice: The Larry Itliong Story alongside their eldest son, Apolonio, during its national book tour with Gayle Romasanta. After being inspired by the experience, Cybil became an official member in 2020, and was soon appointed Vice President, serving alongside Dr. Patlindsay “Pinky” Catalla-Buscaino through 2024 on a volunteer basis.

Now serving as President, Cybil is proudly leading the chapter through its 10th anniversary year as the 32nd chapter of FANHS. To celebrate this milestone, they are spearheading the publication of a commemorative book and the production of a documentary film spotlighting the 2024 FANHS National Conference in Houston. Cybil is also focused on growing chapter membership, supporting other Filipino American nonprofits in archiving their legacies for future generations, and empowering the community to engage civically—especially around the sacred right to vote.

Nathaniel Uy is a Master of Global Affairs candidate at Rice University, specializing in international political economy and security. He is currently a Research Intern at the Baker Institute for Public Policy – Center for China Studies, where he supports research on China’s global energy investments and soft power strategy. At Rice, he is a recipient of the Expanding Horizons Fellowship and the Best Policy Paper Award from the French Consulate’s D.I.P.L.O. Program. He also serves as a Graduate Student Ambassador for the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and the Doerr Institute for New Leaders, and is President & Founder of the Filipino Graduate Student Association.

He previously served as Senior Research Associate at the Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute, focusing on maritime security and East Asian affairs, and as a Program Intern at the Office of the Mayor of Pasig City, supporting civil society engagement initiatives. He has worked closely with embassies, civil society groups, and industry leaders on national defense, energy diplomacy, and cybersecurity.

Nathaniel holds a BA in Social Sciences (Area Studies), cum laude, from the University of the Philippines Manila.

His work centers on policy research, stakeholder engagement, and regional security in the Indo-Pacific.

Nixxio Luarca Castrillo, a sculptor, artist, and designer, immersed himself in the art world from a young age, spending time in his father’s studio. Eduardo Castrillo, his renowned sculptor father, crafted notable pieces such as the People Power Monument along EDSA and the Bonifacio Shrine beside Manila City Hall.