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About Us
Tayo Help Desk provides vital, trustworthy, and culturally relevant information to help Filipinos navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about the Editorial Desk, and this project here.
About the Tayo Editorial Desk
The Tayo Editorial Desk is responsible for the creation and curation of content around COVID-19 on the Tayo platform. The information and materials on Tayo is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice or official legal advice. We will continuously add experts to grow knowledge base and breadth of subject matter expertise. Information found here is for educational purposes only.
Organizational Partners
Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Washington, D.C.
The Embassy is the principal representative of the Philippine Government in the U.S. It advances Philippine national interest largely by engaging US-based constituencies such as: government, business community, media, academia, “think tanks,” NGOs and the Filipino-American community.
Minority Psychology Network
The Minority Psychology Network strives to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health within minority communities by spreading education about how stigma is formed and maintained culturally and environmentally.
Leadership Team
Leezel Tanglao
Project Director, Spokesperson for Tayo
Leezel Tanglao is a bridge journalist at the intersection of editorial, product, marketing, business development and tech. She is currently the Director of Audience Insights & Innovation at The Points Guy. Her previous stints include HuffPost, Associated Press, CNN, CBSNews.com, VICE News, Nowthis, ABCNews.com, KCBS/KCAL and The Press-Enterprise. She is FYLPRO's VP and the chair of the COVID19 Task Force.
Brian Tajo
Project Manager, Tayo
Brian Tajo is a successful business professional having held prominent roles at various Fortune 500 organizations.
Dr. Melissa Palma, MD, MPH
Health Advisor, Tayo
Dr. Melissa Palma, MD, MPH graduated with degrees in biochemistry and medicine from the University of Iowa. Her medical school capstone project focused on health ed programs for rural migrant farmworkers.
Mark Calaguas
Product Counsel, Tayo
Mark Calaguas is the Product Counsel for Tayo. An attorney based in Chicago, Marks practices at the confluence of law and technology, with a focus on data privacy and electronic discovery. Mark is a founding board member and current at-large trustee of the National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA) and serves as president of the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Chicago (FALA Chicago), as well as vice board chair of the Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment (AFIRE). Mark also sits on the Illinois State Advisory Committee of the United States Commission on Civil Rights.
Jobel Vecino
Special Projects Manager & Technologist, Tayo
Jobel Vecino is the special projects manager and technologist for Tayo. He is currently a software engineer working on podcasts at Amazon Music.
Krystle Canare
Fellowship Director, Tayo
Krystle Canare is a Program Specialist for the Georgetown University Center for Child & Human Development’s SAMHSA funded Center of Excellence on Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (CoE). She oversees FYLPRO's fellows program.
Senior Advisors
Gerry Palon
Founding President of Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce (COFACC)
Gerry Palon is Founding President of Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce (COFACC). COFACC is umbrella organization of 16 orgs including 12 FilAm Chambers of Commerce in SoCal and Texas.
Melany De La Cruz-Viesca
UCLA Asian American Studies Center, Associate Director
Melany also runs AASC’s Census Information Center and serves as Managing Editor of AAPI Nexus, a nationwide journal focusing on Asian American Pacific Islander policy, practice, and community issues.
Dr. Joyce Javier, MD, MPH, MS
Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Dr. Javier is an Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.
Dr. Monica Caffey
California Behavioral Health Planning Council, Governor Appointee
Dr. Caffey also serves as Regional Director, Asst. Professor of National University’s Psychology Dept., and Chair of the Behavioral Health Commission for San Bernardino County 4th District.
Dr. D.J. Ida
Executive Director, National Asian Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
Dr. Ida has over 30 years experience working with Asian American/Pacific Islander communities. She is the National Alliance of Multi-ethnic Behavioral Health Associations’ Executive Director.
Expert Reviewers
The Hon. Joshua Ang Price
Election Commissioner and SBA Public Information Officer
Joshua Ang Price is an Election Commissioner in Pulaski County, Arkansas, the largest county in the state with 400,000 residents and home to its capital city of Little Rock. He also serves as an Public Information Officer for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
Juliet Bui, MSW, MPA
Public Health Analyst at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health
Juliet Bui is a public health analyst in the Office of Minority Health (OMH) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Isabella Aquino (she/her/hers)
Community Health Organizer & Manager
NAKASEK VA
Zowee Aquino is a 2nd-gen social worker with a background in public health and experience in mobilizing, healthcare and social policy, and support services coordination for individuals and communities
Marielle Kabin
COO/Owner of Travelwise International
Secretary of Philippine American Chamber of Commerce – D.C.
Ms. Kabin is recognized in the industry as a rising star and was named Top 30under30 travel agents by Travel Agent Magazine. She is the Pres. of the American Society of Travel Advisors, Philippines Chapter.
Dr. Melissa Palma, MD, MPH
Dr. Melissa Palma, MD, MPH graduated with degrees in biochemistry and medicine from the University of Iowa. Her medical school capstone project focused on health ed programs for rural migrant farmworkers.
Joel Vazquez (he/him/his)
Diversity and Inclusion Recruitment Manager
Venture for America
As a new Recruitment Manager focused on diversity and inclusion within Venture for America, Joel aims to recruit 200+ Fellows that are reflective of the communities they serve to ensure an inclusive, welcoming experience.
Fellowship Program
Fellows 2022
Lorenzo Garcia
Third Year Student,
Northwestern University
Ciboney Reglos
Junior Student,
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Emily Paras
Rising Sophomore,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Bianca Vinoya
Institutional Partnerships Manager,
Breakthrough New York
Frances Angela Maher
Associate,
Avalere Health
About Tayo and the Caretaker Project
The Caretaker Project was developed by FYLPRO’s COVID-19 Task Force in response to the ongoing pandemic and to tackle the specific needs of Filipinos in the diaspora and back home. The project features a virtual help desk, Tayo, which connects Filipinos with vital information and services. Tayo's pilot launch location is Los Angeles, California.
About the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO)
The Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of high-performing, next-generation leaders that have a passion for advancing the Philippines and the Filipino people.