| Armando “Mando” P. Placides Virginia Beach, Virginia Community Leader and Champion of Worthy Causes |
Armando P. Placides was born in Bato, Camarines Sur, Bicol
Region, Philippines, home of the smallest fish in the world,
“Tabius”. He attended high school at Bato Institute where he was
very active in school extra-curricular activities including the school
student government, dramatic guild, sports and as regimental
commander of the school Preparatory Military Training (PMT)
program. He graduated as salutatorian. He studied at the
University of the East, College of Commerce as self-supporting
student while employed with People’s Car of Volkswagen
Philippines. He completed basic ROTC and was a member of
the volleyball team of the University of the East. Armando is the
eldest of 14 brothers and sisters.
On August 23, 1963, while a junior in college, he enlisted in the U.
S. Navy at Sangley Point, Cavite, Philippines. He graduated top of
his class at steward class “A” school that earned him an
automatic advancement to Third Class Petty Officer upon
Region, Philippines, home of the smallest fish in the world,
“Tabius”. He attended high school at Bato Institute where he was
very active in school extra-curricular activities including the school
student government, dramatic guild, sports and as regimental
commander of the school Preparatory Military Training (PMT)
program. He graduated as salutatorian. He studied at the
University of the East, College of Commerce as self-supporting
student while employed with People’s Car of Volkswagen
Philippines. He completed basic ROTC and was a member of
the volleyball team of the University of the East. Armando is the
eldest of 14 brothers and sisters.
On August 23, 1963, while a junior in college, he enlisted in the U.
S. Navy at Sangley Point, Cavite, Philippines. He graduated top of
his class at steward class “A” school that earned him an
automatic advancement to Third Class Petty Officer upon
reporting to his first duty station, the USS EDISTO (AGB-2), an Icebreaker ship home ported in Boston. While
embarked on board the Edisto, Placides made three deployments in the Arctic region/North Pole and spend
six month deployment in Antarctica (South Pole). Subsequent duty assignments included: The USS
Nantahala (AO-60), USS Severn (AO-61), both in Newport, Rhode Islands, which made six months
deployment in the Mediterranean, USS Arlington (AGMR-2), USS Pasumpsic (AO-107) both in Long Beach,
CA, which made six months deployment during the Vietnam conflict. Placides first shore duty station was in
Point Mugu Naval Air Station, Oxnard, CA. It was on this duty assignment that Placides laterally converted to
Data Processing Technician Second Class from Mess Management Specialist; Fleet Combat Direction
System Support Activity in Dam Neck, Virginia Beach, VA and was advanced to First Class Data Processing
Technician; USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) for another 6 months Mediterranean deployment, whose duty
include as Tactical support for carrier based antisubmarine warfare; Naval Regional Data Automation Center
(NARDAC) where his duties include programming in FORTRAN, COBOL, DBASE and BASIC Computer
Languages and as member Micro-computer evaluation team. Placides was advanced to Chief Data
Processing Technician rank. During these tour of duties, Placides was assigned as Division Supply/OPTAR
Petty Officer, Career Counselor, Drug and Alcohol Counselor, Chairman, Command Human Relation Council
and Military Training Officer. Placides served 23 years of faithful naval service in defense of this country.
Placides retired from the U.S. Navy on August 23, 1986. Placides took advantage of a college education
under the GI Bill and subsequently earned his Associate degree in Computer Science from St. Leo Collage in
1989.
His military awards include: Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Good conduct Medal (5th
Award) National Defense Service Medal, Viet Nam Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Antarctica
Medal, Battle “E” (4 awards) and numerous letter of appreciation and commendations.
Upon retirement from the Navy, Placides joined the U.S. Civil Service as Computer Specialist at the Operation
Department, Readiness and Training Division of the headquarters, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet
where he served as the guru or point of contact for the fleet as resident expert in readiness reporting system
for the entire CINCLANTFLT fighting forces. Placides retired for the second time on March 31, 1998 after 11
years stint with the U.S. Civil Service. Armando is now working with Star Travel as travel consultant/partner.
As a member of the Filipino American community, and also a leader in his own right, Armando is involved with
many socio-civic, religious and charitable organizations. He was president of the Bicol Association for two
terms; president of the Philippine American Community of Tidewater, Inc. for two terms; co-founder of the Fil-
Am Tennis Association; co-founder of the Fil-am Forum; board of director of the Philippine Chamber
Orchestra of Virginia; volunteer; American Cancer Society; member of the board of Operation Smile and its
liaison to the Filipino-American communities; logistics coordinator for Operation Smile mission to the
Philippines; current president of Operation Smile Volunteers of Hampton Roads; Executive Secretary of the
Filipino Apostolate for three terms; member, Filipino Apostolate Choir; vice-chairman, local Filipino American
Political Association (FAPA); vice chairman, local National Filipino American Council (NFAC); Chairman & co-
founder, Scholarship Foundation of Batoenos in America, Canada and Saudi Arabia (SFBACSA); vice-
president, Bikol National Association of America (BNAA) for the southern region; chairman, BNAA Operation
Smile project; member, BNAA scholarship committee; appointed by the city Mayor of Virginia Beach as a
current member the Social Services Board; member, steering committee, ODU student cultural center;
Hampton Roads coordinator and official delegate to the National Federation of Filipino American Associations
(NaFFAA); member, executive committee of the local Philippine Centennial celebration. He is a member of
the Ascension Catholic Church.
Armando is a model volunteer, warm, always smiling, everybody’s friend and is indefatigable in his
willingness to raise funds for charity, be it the causes of the Bicol Association of Tidewater, the Philippine
American Community of Tidewater, Inc. (PACT, Inc.) the Filipino Apostolate-San Lorenzo Spiritual Center,
Operation Smile, BNAA Operation Smile project and scholarship project, Mission of Mercy, a calamity project
for the Philippines and Scholarship Foundation of Batoenos in America, Canada and Saudi Arabia for indigent
college students in Armando’s hometown.
Armando is a recipient of several awards recognizing his outstanding and dedicated community service and
humanitarian efforts. From the Bicol Association of Tidewater, the PACT, Inc., Filipino Apostolate, BNAA, each
a Community Leadership Award; PACT, Inc., “Leader of the Second Decade” during its 20th anniversary;
“Community Builder Award” from the Grand Lodge of Mason, Commonwealth of Virginia and Appreciation and
Achievement Award from the Philippine Centennial Committee. He also received appreciation awards from
Operation Smile Philippines, and from each Operation Smile mission sites, such as Naga City (5 awards),
Baguio City, Davao City and Iligan City. Armando was nominated twice by Operation Smile for “Golder Rule
Award” sponsored by JC Penny for volunteerism.
Armando is married to the former Estrellita Epi of Boston who is a nurse by profession. Lita provided
Armando the moral support and inspiration and extra hand in his many undertakings. They have three
children Elisa, Roberta married to Garrett Rockey and Gregory and all reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia. #
embarked on board the Edisto, Placides made three deployments in the Arctic region/North Pole and spend
six month deployment in Antarctica (South Pole). Subsequent duty assignments included: The USS
Nantahala (AO-60), USS Severn (AO-61), both in Newport, Rhode Islands, which made six months
deployment in the Mediterranean, USS Arlington (AGMR-2), USS Pasumpsic (AO-107) both in Long Beach,
CA, which made six months deployment during the Vietnam conflict. Placides first shore duty station was in
Point Mugu Naval Air Station, Oxnard, CA. It was on this duty assignment that Placides laterally converted to
Data Processing Technician Second Class from Mess Management Specialist; Fleet Combat Direction
System Support Activity in Dam Neck, Virginia Beach, VA and was advanced to First Class Data Processing
Technician; USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) for another 6 months Mediterranean deployment, whose duty
include as Tactical support for carrier based antisubmarine warfare; Naval Regional Data Automation Center
(NARDAC) where his duties include programming in FORTRAN, COBOL, DBASE and BASIC Computer
Languages and as member Micro-computer evaluation team. Placides was advanced to Chief Data
Processing Technician rank. During these tour of duties, Placides was assigned as Division Supply/OPTAR
Petty Officer, Career Counselor, Drug and Alcohol Counselor, Chairman, Command Human Relation Council
and Military Training Officer. Placides served 23 years of faithful naval service in defense of this country.
Placides retired from the U.S. Navy on August 23, 1986. Placides took advantage of a college education
under the GI Bill and subsequently earned his Associate degree in Computer Science from St. Leo Collage in
1989.
His military awards include: Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Good conduct Medal (5th
Award) National Defense Service Medal, Viet Nam Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Antarctica
Medal, Battle “E” (4 awards) and numerous letter of appreciation and commendations.
Upon retirement from the Navy, Placides joined the U.S. Civil Service as Computer Specialist at the Operation
Department, Readiness and Training Division of the headquarters, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet
where he served as the guru or point of contact for the fleet as resident expert in readiness reporting system
for the entire CINCLANTFLT fighting forces. Placides retired for the second time on March 31, 1998 after 11
years stint with the U.S. Civil Service. Armando is now working with Star Travel as travel consultant/partner.
As a member of the Filipino American community, and also a leader in his own right, Armando is involved with
many socio-civic, religious and charitable organizations. He was president of the Bicol Association for two
terms; president of the Philippine American Community of Tidewater, Inc. for two terms; co-founder of the Fil-
Am Tennis Association; co-founder of the Fil-am Forum; board of director of the Philippine Chamber
Orchestra of Virginia; volunteer; American Cancer Society; member of the board of Operation Smile and its
liaison to the Filipino-American communities; logistics coordinator for Operation Smile mission to the
Philippines; current president of Operation Smile Volunteers of Hampton Roads; Executive Secretary of the
Filipino Apostolate for three terms; member, Filipino Apostolate Choir; vice-chairman, local Filipino American
Political Association (FAPA); vice chairman, local National Filipino American Council (NFAC); Chairman & co-
founder, Scholarship Foundation of Batoenos in America, Canada and Saudi Arabia (SFBACSA); vice-
president, Bikol National Association of America (BNAA) for the southern region; chairman, BNAA Operation
Smile project; member, BNAA scholarship committee; appointed by the city Mayor of Virginia Beach as a
current member the Social Services Board; member, steering committee, ODU student cultural center;
Hampton Roads coordinator and official delegate to the National Federation of Filipino American Associations
(NaFFAA); member, executive committee of the local Philippine Centennial celebration. He is a member of
the Ascension Catholic Church.
Armando is a model volunteer, warm, always smiling, everybody’s friend and is indefatigable in his
willingness to raise funds for charity, be it the causes of the Bicol Association of Tidewater, the Philippine
American Community of Tidewater, Inc. (PACT, Inc.) the Filipino Apostolate-San Lorenzo Spiritual Center,
Operation Smile, BNAA Operation Smile project and scholarship project, Mission of Mercy, a calamity project
for the Philippines and Scholarship Foundation of Batoenos in America, Canada and Saudi Arabia for indigent
college students in Armando’s hometown.
Armando is a recipient of several awards recognizing his outstanding and dedicated community service and
humanitarian efforts. From the Bicol Association of Tidewater, the PACT, Inc., Filipino Apostolate, BNAA, each
a Community Leadership Award; PACT, Inc., “Leader of the Second Decade” during its 20th anniversary;
“Community Builder Award” from the Grand Lodge of Mason, Commonwealth of Virginia and Appreciation and
Achievement Award from the Philippine Centennial Committee. He also received appreciation awards from
Operation Smile Philippines, and from each Operation Smile mission sites, such as Naga City (5 awards),
Baguio City, Davao City and Iligan City. Armando was nominated twice by Operation Smile for “Golder Rule
Award” sponsored by JC Penny for volunteerism.
Armando is married to the former Estrellita Epi of Boston who is a nurse by profession. Lita provided
Armando the moral support and inspiration and extra hand in his many undertakings. They have three
children Elisa, Roberta married to Garrett Rockey and Gregory and all reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia. #
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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