President

 Dear PAA members and families,

I am Toti/Gus Verzosa. I am a new PAA member (2008). I am an Electrical Engineer from the University of the Philippines and I took postgraduate studies in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In my college days, I was a councilor of the first student council of U.P after martial law – the U.P. College of Arts and Sciences Student Council of 1977.

 My experience is primarily 23 years in information technology. I have been CIO/Chief Information Officer/IT Head for 5 organizations (Sun Life of Canada, Lippo Life, Insular Life, Jollibee, and On Semiconductor) in Asia, in the Philippines, and in Indonesia. I have also been Consulting Director/Solutions Manager for 4 organizations in the Philippines and in Australia, among which was SAP. 

My most significant achievements have been: being adviser to President Ramos under the Padolina Commission for the whole IT program of the Philippine Government; receiving the CIO 100 Asia Award as one of the top 100 CIO’s in Asia Pacific in 2001; graduating CUM LAUDE in Electrical Engineering from the University of the Philippines; topping the UP College Admission Test in 1977; and graduating as valedictorian of the Philippine Science High School class of 1977. 

I migrated with my family (Rosa Lee, my wife is Systems Manager at the Australian Maritime Safety Authority; Michael, Gabrielle, Raphael, and Mary – our kids) to Australia in 2004.

I am currently both the Business Solutions Manager and Public Sector Business Intelligence Systems Manager at Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC - one of the largest IT services organizations worldwide) in the ACT. I play the piano and guitar, compose songs, write poetry, paint, and play basketball and chess. I hope to help in uplifting the Filipino’s status and role in Australian society, so that we as Filipino Australians contribute to the development and strength of Australia. I also hope to help foster strong relations between Australia and the Philippines, so as to encourage our new country, Australia, to help our brothers and sisters in our old country, the Philippines. 

Internal Vice President 

Profile Credentials TBA

External Vice President 

Profile Credentials TBA

Secretary

Profile Credentials TBA

Assistant Secretary

I am Emely Mills and I am revisiting an old role as PAA Secretary, having been a member of the PAA, on and off, since 1980.

I come from a military background and heritage, and my life and career in the Philippines centred on Camp Aguinaldo. I was born in a military hospital and into a military family, and educated in Camp Aguinaldo junior and secondary schools.

In 1969, I enrolled in the Philippine College of Commerce, majoring in Secretarial Studies. My father’s battle wounds, typing prowess and pursuit of the law inspired my own values, beliefs, career and future directions. In 1971, I obtained my first employment as steno-typist in the staff section, Headquarters Service Group, Camp Aguinaldo. My work as court stenographer in the Military Tribunals has been the most memorable, for the prominent people and historical events linked to cases I worked in, notably the arraignment of the late Senator Benigno Aquino.  

In 1986, I revisited memories of Camp Aguinaldo, as it became the scene of the People Power Revolution, which once again changed the political landscape and Philippine history and ushered in a new era and leader in President Cory Aquino. In 1975, I walked out of the shadow of Camp Aguinaldo. I joined the Papua New Guinea Banking Corporation in Port Moresby, where I met and married Chris Mills. I later moved to private enterprise and briefly worked for the Board Secretary of the PNG Harbours Board. 

Now in retirement, I volunteer my services to Red Cross and other organisations. I love reading, psychology, undertaking personal and professional development courses, music and poetry. I am passionate about the rights and the protection of children against abuse, issues concerning the aged and people with a disability. I am looking to volunteer in the areas of emergency services, the police, migrants and refugees. 

I cherish spending time with our “apos”, Lauchlan (12) and Jaxson (10) and my greatest treasure is our family, our four wonderful sons – Ray (36), Mick (35), Jason (31) and young Chris (29). I acknowledge my loving husband Chris as my partner in my humble work. 

Treasurer 

I first saw Canberra in May 1972 on my way back to Manila finishing a year as a Rotary exchange student in Camperdown, Victoria.  With it's magnificent autumn colours, I was sad to leave not knowing when I would be back.  After finishing my high school in San Agustin College, Dasmarinas Village Makati, I went to the University of the Philippines Dilliman Quezon City where I finished a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration.

In 1977 I migrated to Australia and settled in Canberra with Jan.  Canberra was a small city of less than 100,000 then and only a handful of Filipino families.  With no internet, no Filipino cable, no Asian groceries and very expensive overseas telephone charges and airfares, I became very homesick very quickly.  I heard about the PAA later on that year and joined.    

Throughout all those years of busily climbing up the ladder of the Commonwealth and ACT public service, raising two beautiful daughters, obtaining another Bachelor of Economics, major in Accounting at the ANU and a Graduate Diploma in Information Management at UC plus running Royale Travels with Evelyn de Jesus, the PAA was always there to provide that little bit of the Philippines that all Filipino expatriates long for. 

I recently converted 30 years worth of film negatives to digital pictures.  While scanning through them I noticed how many of the pictures were of PAA members and PAA activities, and how much the association has been a large part of my and my family's lives.  So when Kym asked me to help out and act as the Treasurer for the next six months, I really could not refuse.

 Public Relations Officer

Abigail Schol was born in Canberra and is the daughter of Filipina, Zenaida O’Reilly, The Philippine-Australian Association (PAA) President of 2007-8; and Juan Schol from Uruguay. She studied in Canberra up to Year 12 at Flynn Primary, Canberra High School and Radford College; then went on to study a Bachelor of Creative Industries at the Queensland University of Technology. Abigail finished her degree with Distinction, and minors in Interior Design, Entrepreneurship and a minor in Journalism.  

Abigail is the PAA Youth Coordinator and Public Relations Officer (PRO) in the PAA. Her aim is to bring youth in Canberra together to expend their friendship groups, knowledge and interest in Filipino culture and to be active in the community. Her long term goal for PAA Youth is to raise funds for charities, namely in the Philippines; and to have youth perform and participate in local Canberra events.

Abigail is currently working on starting a PAA Youth dance crew and is organising other events for the Canberra community as the PRO. Her main aim in PAA is to make a difference in society, whether that be by bringing people together through events or helping out with charities wherever possible.