| Leo Pastor San Diego, California A Leader Among Leaders - Chairman of the Council of the Filipino-American Organizations in San Diego County |
He was just barely nineteen years — a pure blooded Caviteno
from Imus, a stone throw-away from the bustling Manila — when
Leo Sanchez Pastor enlisted with the U.S. Navy “for greener
pasture and for adventure.” Hurdling all the stringent and
necessary requirements to join one of Uncle Sam’s armed forces,
which was then actively conducting manpower recruitment
program at the U.S. Naval Base at Sangley Point, Leo Pastor
shipped out of the Philippines in 1957 for basic training in San
Diego, California. “When I joined the U.S. Navy, foremost in my
mind was to seek the golden opportunity of adventure in America
and to see the world. As a young man, the possibility to settle
permanently in this country, more particularly in San Diego where
the climate is pleasant and similar to Imus, Cavite, was not part of
my plan then,” explained Leo Sanchez Pastor. “For twenty-one
years, I diligently served the U.S. Navy where I had exciting
adventurous memories to last for a lifetime. I had the
opportunity to visit several cities in the world; but above all, I was
able to learn various skills and expertise to prepare myself for
civilian life.”
Shortly after his retirement in 1978 from the Navy, Leo gained a
civilian employment with the San Diego Community College
from Imus, a stone throw-away from the bustling Manila — when
Leo Sanchez Pastor enlisted with the U.S. Navy “for greener
pasture and for adventure.” Hurdling all the stringent and
necessary requirements to join one of Uncle Sam’s armed forces,
which was then actively conducting manpower recruitment
program at the U.S. Naval Base at Sangley Point, Leo Pastor
shipped out of the Philippines in 1957 for basic training in San
Diego, California. “When I joined the U.S. Navy, foremost in my
mind was to seek the golden opportunity of adventure in America
and to see the world. As a young man, the possibility to settle
permanently in this country, more particularly in San Diego where
the climate is pleasant and similar to Imus, Cavite, was not part of
my plan then,” explained Leo Sanchez Pastor. “For twenty-one
years, I diligently served the U.S. Navy where I had exciting
adventurous memories to last for a lifetime. I had the
opportunity to visit several cities in the world; but above all, I was
able to learn various skills and expertise to prepare myself for
civilian life.”
Shortly after his retirement in 1978 from the Navy, Leo gained a
civilian employment with the San Diego Community College
District as an instructor in the Military Training Program. “I wanted to be fully qualified, trained and capable of
my position, so I pursued formal education in my line of work. In 1986, I completed and received a Bachelor’
s of Science Degree in Vocational Education and Vocational Arts from San Diego State University. I have been
an instructor with the San Diego Community College District for almost 16 years now and enjoyed every
minute of my job,” related Leo.
Born and raised in Imus, Cavite, Leo completed high school from Imus Institute. He is one of the three sons
with seven sisters of Marcos B. Pastor and Francisca Sanchez, both of Imus. “My parents and most of my
relatives came from the same place in the Philippines where most of the young men were recruited by the U.
S. Navy at Sangley Points during the recruitment heydays. As a matter of fact, almost every family in the entire
province of Cavite has a son or a relative’s son that was enlisted with the U.S. Navy,” explained Leo.
Active not only with the Filipino-American community even during his military stint, Leo and his wife, Julieta,
have been very visible in civic, cultural, political and religious functions. Currently the Chairperson of the
powerful Council of Filipino-American Organizations (COPAO), an umbrella organization of more than sixty
Filipino-American groups in the vast San Diego county, Leo has spearheaded either as chair-person or
an active prime mover of major projects highlighting positive Filipino-American image. He was Co-
Chairperson of the highly successful and well-publicized 1990 Philippine Fair where several dozens Filipino-
American organizations participated in presenting to the mainstream America the rich Philippine cultures and
traditions.”Leo’s leadership is unique because he would rather work quietly in the background for any given
project and would not care so much to get credit for his efforts and contributions to the success of it,”
observed another Fil-American community leader who has been with Leo on several community projects.
“What ever he does, he does it above and beyond what is expected of a dedicated volunteer. He spent his own
funds and time and does not expect to be reimbursed. He is truly deserving to be publicly recognized for all
his unselfish efforts for the past two decades in enhancing Filipino-American image.”
Leo’s extensive involvement with the Filipino-American community in the San Diego County included serving
as President of the Imuseneans of San Diego, one of the most active organizations in the area. He also
served as President of the Cavite Association of Southern California whose membership are from the
Province of Cavite, one of the major provinces in the Philippines who has a large number of Filipino-
Americans across the country. Other organizations where Leo actively participates are: Fil-Am North County of
San Diego, the Ternate (Cavite) Association of San Diego and the Retired U.S. Navy Personnel.
Leo has been a resident of the San Diego County since 1975 and currently resides in fashionable Rancho
Bernardo residential area with his wife, the former Julieta Tagle of Lipa City, Batangas. Mrs. Pastor is a
Library Assistant at the University of San Diego. The Pastors have two children: Aure Marie, 26 and Marc, 25.
my position, so I pursued formal education in my line of work. In 1986, I completed and received a Bachelor’
s of Science Degree in Vocational Education and Vocational Arts from San Diego State University. I have been
an instructor with the San Diego Community College District for almost 16 years now and enjoyed every
minute of my job,” related Leo.
Born and raised in Imus, Cavite, Leo completed high school from Imus Institute. He is one of the three sons
with seven sisters of Marcos B. Pastor and Francisca Sanchez, both of Imus. “My parents and most of my
relatives came from the same place in the Philippines where most of the young men were recruited by the U.
S. Navy at Sangley Points during the recruitment heydays. As a matter of fact, almost every family in the entire
province of Cavite has a son or a relative’s son that was enlisted with the U.S. Navy,” explained Leo.
Active not only with the Filipino-American community even during his military stint, Leo and his wife, Julieta,
have been very visible in civic, cultural, political and religious functions. Currently the Chairperson of the
powerful Council of Filipino-American Organizations (COPAO), an umbrella organization of more than sixty
Filipino-American groups in the vast San Diego county, Leo has spearheaded either as chair-person or
an active prime mover of major projects highlighting positive Filipino-American image. He was Co-
Chairperson of the highly successful and well-publicized 1990 Philippine Fair where several dozens Filipino-
American organizations participated in presenting to the mainstream America the rich Philippine cultures and
traditions.”Leo’s leadership is unique because he would rather work quietly in the background for any given
project and would not care so much to get credit for his efforts and contributions to the success of it,”
observed another Fil-American community leader who has been with Leo on several community projects.
“What ever he does, he does it above and beyond what is expected of a dedicated volunteer. He spent his own
funds and time and does not expect to be reimbursed. He is truly deserving to be publicly recognized for all
his unselfish efforts for the past two decades in enhancing Filipino-American image.”
Leo’s extensive involvement with the Filipino-American community in the San Diego County included serving
as President of the Imuseneans of San Diego, one of the most active organizations in the area. He also
served as President of the Cavite Association of Southern California whose membership are from the
Province of Cavite, one of the major provinces in the Philippines who has a large number of Filipino-
Americans across the country. Other organizations where Leo actively participates are: Fil-Am North County of
San Diego, the Ternate (Cavite) Association of San Diego and the Retired U.S. Navy Personnel.
Leo has been a resident of the San Diego County since 1975 and currently resides in fashionable Rancho
Bernardo residential area with his wife, the former Julieta Tagle of Lipa City, Batangas. Mrs. Pastor is a
Library Assistant at the University of San Diego. The Pastors have two children: Aure Marie, 26 and Marc, 25.
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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