SampaguitaPA

Wilfredo Ramos

He is affectionately called Kuya Johnny in the Filipino-American community. He was born in Bayambang, Pangasinan, Philippines and grew up surrounded by loving family and relatives. Highly accomplished and well-regarded person, he met and married Cindy Marie Ramos during her employment tenure in the Philippines. He arrived in the United States in 1982 and has been a long-time resident of Lebanon, Pennsylvania. One of productive members of a society, he served the community as the owner of JRRamos Dental Lab which offered employment opportunities to the locality and to some friends in need. Johnny and his wife have three grown and married children - Jonathan, Joseph and Joel. They are blessed with grandchildren - Dax, Judah, Freddy, and Camilla. Gifted with natural talents, Johnny enjoys singing, playing guitar, and ballroom dancing. Come and join our Sampaguita events and hear him sing! Bonus performers are his sons when their schedules are available and Cindy along with the fun. Family and community are truly the focal point of events here at Sampaguita Socials.

Dr. Jose Prudencio

Dr. Estela Prudencio

Erlinda Cornett

Born in Culaba, Leyte, Philippines, she married Mike Cornett and they lived in South Carolina in 1978. Due to Mike’s military assignments, they returned to the Philippines for five years. Thereafter, they moved to Colorado for another five years. Eventually, they were settled in Lebanon, Pennsylvania in 1992. In their family life, they have two children – Debbie and Tom, and one granddaughter, Chloe. As a long-time resident of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Erlinda is well-loved and a respected elder in the Filipino-American community. She loves to cook food to share for both of her American and Filipino friends such as Lumpia, Pansit, and Fried Rice. On her free time, she enjoys playing bingo, dancing, and joining in karaoke time with friends.

Roseleen T. Watson

Originally from Malolos, Bulacan, Philippines, Roseleen Tenebro Watson has been a resident of Lebanon, Pennsylvania since 2013 with her husband, Joe and their children. The family has three beautiful children – Leensjei, a CNA and a nursing student; Liana, a US Navy reserve and college Student; and the youngest is the seven year old, Liam. The family has been blessed with a five year old granddaughter, Alani. Roseleen and daughters received their US citizenships in 2021 and takes pride in being Filipino-Americans. Roseleen works as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a nursing home facility in Annville, PA. Volunteerism is in Roseleen’s heart and she believes in giving back to the community. As a founding Board Member of Sampaguita Socials, she contributes her time and decorating skills in support of the organization. Roseleen donates her time and resources to make beautiful decorations for all of the guest’s enjoyment and photo opportunities. A beautiful setting helps set a tone for a friendly, warm, and welcoming atmosphere for all attendees, may it be during Winter Party, Summer Fiesta, Children’s Valentines Party, and other events in between. Roseleen is also passionate about cultural exchanges and social connections. She serves in her capacity as Secretary for Sampaguita-PBFC and actively participates in organizing the events. She encourages initiatives that celebrate Filipino heritage while promoting inclusivity and sharing the culture with others. Roseleen also participates in cultural performances for Sampaguita. She values teamwork and strives to make a positive impact by fostering unity and collaboration within the association.

Jessel Hearn

Jessel Romero Hearn greets you, Mabuhay! She was born in Caloocan City, Philippines and moved to the United States of America with her husband Brian and their children in September 2010. They celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary on June 10, 2025. She spends her days making fantastically nutritious food for Elementary students in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In the evenings, she enjoys spending time with family, playing games, cross stitching, and working with her sisters in their online business. Sampaguita Socials is her connection to other Phil-Ams (Filipino-Americans) like herself. She hopes to meet all of you at the next wondrous events. In closing, she says, salamat po! Translation, thank you!

Marilene Shaffer

Family and friends call her, Mayen as her nickname. She originates from Guiian, Eastern Samar, Philippines. She arrived in the United States in September 1991 and worked for Cardinal Health in Nuclear Pharmacy capacity. She retired from employment in 2017. She is married to Derek Shaffer and they are a family of five with their three children. She enjoys playing mahjong and travelling, visiting family and friends in the USA and abroad. Her role as one of the founding Board Members of Sampaguita Socials offers a positive influence in showcasing the Filipino heritage and highlights the significance of having of community. Connecting with fellow Filipino expatriates is an important aspect of living abroad and keeping alive the family and community mentality learned in the old country.

Dat Hoang

He was born in Hongkong. At ten years old, he moved with his family to the United States. Dat completed his associate studies at the Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) in Pennsylvania and proceeded with advanced education at Penn State Harrisburg. He is a long-time employee of Capital BlueCross from his early employment days as a Customer Service Clerk, to Records Control Special Enrollment Processor, up to his current position as an Underwriting Specialist II. The only non-Filipino founding team member, he enjoys spending time with his Filipino-American friends, tasting Filipino cuisines, assisting at events, and finds himself at home with this community.

Richelda T. Adorno

Known as Richelda Tenebro Adorno, she likes to be called Yuri as her nickname. Born and raised in the Philippines, she met her husband, Lui while she was living in Japan. Lui was serving in the United States Air Force stationed in Japan. They are a resident of Lebanon, Pennsylvania and blessed with a beautiful family of two daughters and a son. Yuri works at the VA Medical Center as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant handling patient care services and administrative tasks. She is also a volunteer committee member for Asian American Pacific Islander at the VA Medical Center. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and helping others. As one of the founding Board Members of Sampaguita Socials, she serves in her volunteer capacity as an Assistant Treasurer. She brings her family to Sampaguita gatherings, assists in event preparations and decorations, and participates in cultural performances. She is proud to showcase the Filipino cultural heritage. Looking forward, she wishes to continue to grow personally and professionally, and always strive to make a positive impact in the lives of others.

Norma Gerrick

A recently retired Mathematics teacher from Baltimore City Public School, Norma has been a passionate and motherly teacher for 38 years, serving for 15 years in Baltimore, Maryland in the USA and 23 years in the Philippines. She is passionate and very enthusiastic in making a difference in the existence of diverse lifelong learners. She has the ability to fortify that learning about numbers are adaptable, lovable, and delightful specifically Algebra and Geometry as these are applicable to real life circumstances. Its basic manipulations are exciting, requiring a lot of patience, perseverance, preparation, and focus on underlying concepts. She was born in a beautiful town in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines. With Academic Scholarships, she graduated as Valedictorian in High School and Cum Laude in College with the degree of Bachelors of Science in Secondary Education with Mathematics as major field of specialization and a General Science for minor. In 2005, she completed her Masters in Mathematics in the Philippines before coming to the USA in July of 2007. Norma started her challenging role as a Middle School Mathematics teacher in Baltimore City School District of which she described as a very arduous noble journey from the start to retirement. At the same time, it is a very rewarding and fulfilling mission, she exclaimed. In homemaking side, Norma graduated as a Valedictorian in Dressmaking, a skill not afforded to many. She is an enthusiast in both flowers and vegetables gardening. She can cook delectable Filipino dishes as she was once a teacher in Technology and Home Economics in the Philippines. Norma has a great love for entertainment and music. She can sing, can choreograph different types of dances, play musical instruments, and can train choral group for performances. She holds the Chairmanship as the Sampaguita-PBFC Entertainment Committee and she is one of the founding Board of Directors of the organization. She is an asset to this community and her dedication is beyond compare. She puts her mind and soul into what she does with unwavering support. She is married to Scott Gerrick and they have a blended family of five grown up wonderful children. Scott is not just an ordinary farmer; he is also a skilled- generalist and versatile handy man. He is very compassionate, generous, supportive, and sympathetic of what the beloved wife Norma has been into. He is in full support of the wife’s love of music and thus became a DJ. They are both members of SAMPAGUITA-PBFC group in South Central Pennsylvania. Many friends have asked Norma “why do you like to join a group or organization?” Her answer was simple but deep, it provides her a sense of belonging, facilitate social interaction, and offer opportunities for personal and professional growth and development. It can also enhance social skills, boost self-esteem and simply meet new friends of diverse culture and provides self-fulfillment by offering her services with the talents, skills, and expertise GOD has bestowed upon her. Thank GOD for the graces and favors. She always pronounces gratefulness to the Almighty.

Melan Peeling

Melan Ruiz Peeling, our Sampaguita-PBFC Information Table Manager was born in Luca, Tanjay City, Philippines. She went to Luca Elementary School and Immaculate Heart Academy in High School. Taking 3 years in BSBA in Saint Paul College, Dumaguete City, Philippines. In 1977 she stepped on American soil following her marriage to a military man, Gary Peeling. They were blessed with two wonderful children. A typical Filipino mother, Melan dedicated herself as a devoted housewife and family woman. She cared for the beloved children, taking them to school and providing them with all necessary things growing up while the husband was in the active military duty. When the children were grown and settled into their respective lives, she decided to do something outside of home. At the age of 52 she accepted a job as an assistant manager at the Furniture Outlook in Hanover Pennsylvania for three years. She performed her best and exceeded expectations which earned her merits and recognitions on the job. She moved on to another challenging and enjoyable employment working for Master Brand Fed Ex Department for nine years in Littlestown, Pennsylvania. After these fruitful years, she found a job that fits her time and schedule working for UTZ Chip Company until retirement. After retiring, she fulfilled her life-long dream of accomplishing humanitarian community service by working as a volunteer at the VNA Hospice and Cross Keys Village in Health Care. Melan has an extraordinary motive of giving services to the community. She is an individual who generously contributes her time and effort to an organization or cause without seeking compensation. She is dependable and responsible, consistently fulfilling her commitment and taking ownership of her tasks. Melan also loves to have fun as she dives into dancing for fun and exercise such as Zumba, which is incorporated in to her morning self-care routine. Friendly and dynamo doer, Melan greets you with her radiant and reassuring smile on duty at our Sampaguita-PBFC gathering entrance.

Kristina Henderson

Born in Lucena City, Kristina was fortunate to spend her early childhood surrounded by both sides of her family in the Philippines. She would spend her week in Lipa, Batangas at her Lola Olga's to attend preschool and then travel to either Lucena or Manila every weekend to spend time with other family members. At age 4, her parents were offered jobs in the US that would serve as the opportunity for them to provide a better life for their children. During this time of adjustment, Kristina and her younger brother Ben stayed behind with their grandparents. It was through this unique situation that Kristina has such a strong bond with her family back home and the reason why she always wants to return home, despite spending most of her life overseas. Kristina officially moved to the US at age 6. Through her parents' endless sacrifices and incredible courage to start a new life abroad on their own, Kristina was granted the good fortune of growing up abroad and being able achieve so much more of her own goals. After completing high school in Camp Hill, PA, Kristina moved to Philadelphia to attend La Salle University where she graduated as a dual major in Marketing and International Studies. She spent 16 years in the pharmaceutical industry training doctors and their site staff internationally on the process of prioritizing patient experience during their participation in clinical trials. She now works alongside her husband on their various business ventures - from real estate development to serving federal government customers with medical equipment, trauma supplies, personal protective equipment, and logistics services. Kristina and her husband Dave finished building their home in 2020, and after years of being away, they returned to the Mechanicsburg area with their growing family. Now a family of five, they have wholeheartedly enjoyed planting their roots here. Of all things, Kristina is most excited to see such a thriving Filipino community here after missing the feeling of back home for so long. Her children Ethan (10), Isabelle (6), and Lucas (4) have been loving the opportunities to learn about their culture and meeting so many new warm and welcoming people...who have also started to feel like family. :)