| Ophelia Gloria Balcos Minneapolis, Minnesota Commissioner Chairman & An Outstanding Community Leader |
Dick Larumbe of Ashland, Kentucky, a T.O.F.A. '94 awardee,
phoned excitedly one day and informed FIL-AM IMAGE that a "most
deserving person, Ophelia Gloria Balcos of Minnesota, should be
included in the prestigious Twenty Outstanding
Filipino-Americans in the United States and Canada, and be
inducted into the "Circle of Leaders." She was a registered nurse
in the Philippines and was the first woman appointed as
Commissioner for the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota." Doc
Larumbe informed us that Ophelia is very active and very visible in
the mainstream community for her volunteer activities, not only
with the city but nationwide as well.
Indeed, Ophelia Gloria Balcos, voted Outstanding Filipina in
Minneapolis, was in the front cover recently of the Women's
Journal, a news magazine published in the Philippines, extolling
Ophelia for her humanitarian services and activism for human
rights and justice for all.
phoned excitedly one day and informed FIL-AM IMAGE that a "most
deserving person, Ophelia Gloria Balcos of Minnesota, should be
included in the prestigious Twenty Outstanding
Filipino-Americans in the United States and Canada, and be
inducted into the "Circle of Leaders." She was a registered nurse
in the Philippines and was the first woman appointed as
Commissioner for the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota." Doc
Larumbe informed us that Ophelia is very active and very visible in
the mainstream community for her volunteer activities, not only
with the city but nationwide as well.
Indeed, Ophelia Gloria Balcos, voted Outstanding Filipina in
Minneapolis, was in the front cover recently of the Women's
Journal, a news magazine published in the Philippines, extolling
Ophelia for her humanitarian services and activism for human
rights and justice for all.
She was the first woman president of the Fil-Minnesotan Association, a very active organization of
Filipino-Americans in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has been involved not only with the Filipino community,
but with the City of Minneapolis where she was appointed to the powerful and controversial Commission on
Civil Rights. Ophelia was later elected by her peers to be the first woman and the first Asian to be chair of the
Human Rights Commission. She holds the distinction of holding the top position of the Commission for five
years. It was as chair that Ophelia was involved several controversial issues affecting the civil rights of
minorities, including the women's rights, and successfully did marvelous works. She was often called a
"Peace Maker" and "Guardian of Civil Rights. A devout Catholic, she is a very active member of the Parish
Council for the Basilica of St. Mary and serves on the committee to celebrate racial diversity.
Commissioner Balcos is also active in the following groups: Minneapolis Public Schools, Asian Pacific
Council, Nenepin Medical Society Alliance, Minnesota Medical Association Alliance, National Association of
Human Rights Workers; Black, Indian, Hispanic, Asian Women of Color Community, Fil-Minnesotan
Association, Filipinos in Minnesota and many other associations.
Among the numerous accolades she received are the following: The City of Minneapolis Award and a
proclamation in her honor was signed by the Mayor and the City Council. Her latest recognition was given by
the Association of Philippine Physicians in America (APPA), and by the Filipino American Women's Network
of Minnesota for her activism and services to the community and as a commissioner of civil rights.
She is a woman proud of her roots and prouder still to serve a bigger cross cultural community. She has not
only paved the path of leadership for Filipino women in the community but is regarded as the matriarch of
the Filipino community in Minnesota.
Married to Dr. Emmanuel Balcoses, Chief of Colon Rectum Surgery in Minneapolis, the Balcoses have five
children: Edwin, 36; Earl, 35; Eileen, 31; Eydie, 29; and, Eric, 25.
Ophelia came to the United States in 1959 after graduating from the Far Eastern University in Manila with a
degree in Nursing a year earlier. Her original purpose of coming to this country was to take post graduate
studies in nursing in Chicago, Illinois but later decided to settle here. Ophie, as she insists to be called by all,
is one of the six siblings of Pedro Gloria and the former Flora Calangi of Manila. #
Filipino-Americans in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has been involved not only with the Filipino community,
but with the City of Minneapolis where she was appointed to the powerful and controversial Commission on
Civil Rights. Ophelia was later elected by her peers to be the first woman and the first Asian to be chair of the
Human Rights Commission. She holds the distinction of holding the top position of the Commission for five
years. It was as chair that Ophelia was involved several controversial issues affecting the civil rights of
minorities, including the women's rights, and successfully did marvelous works. She was often called a
"Peace Maker" and "Guardian of Civil Rights. A devout Catholic, she is a very active member of the Parish
Council for the Basilica of St. Mary and serves on the committee to celebrate racial diversity.
Commissioner Balcos is also active in the following groups: Minneapolis Public Schools, Asian Pacific
Council, Nenepin Medical Society Alliance, Minnesota Medical Association Alliance, National Association of
Human Rights Workers; Black, Indian, Hispanic, Asian Women of Color Community, Fil-Minnesotan
Association, Filipinos in Minnesota and many other associations.
Among the numerous accolades she received are the following: The City of Minneapolis Award and a
proclamation in her honor was signed by the Mayor and the City Council. Her latest recognition was given by
the Association of Philippine Physicians in America (APPA), and by the Filipino American Women's Network
of Minnesota for her activism and services to the community and as a commissioner of civil rights.
She is a woman proud of her roots and prouder still to serve a bigger cross cultural community. She has not
only paved the path of leadership for Filipino women in the community but is regarded as the matriarch of
the Filipino community in Minnesota.
Married to Dr. Emmanuel Balcoses, Chief of Colon Rectum Surgery in Minneapolis, the Balcoses have five
children: Edwin, 36; Earl, 35; Eileen, 31; Eydie, 29; and, Eric, 25.
Ophelia came to the United States in 1959 after graduating from the Far Eastern University in Manila with a
degree in Nursing a year earlier. Her original purpose of coming to this country was to take post graduate
studies in nursing in Chicago, Illinois but later decided to settle here. Ophie, as she insists to be called by all,
is one of the six siblings of Pedro Gloria and the former Flora Calangi of Manila. #
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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