Elena Pilapil

Elena Esguerra Pilapil
Springfield, Illinois
A Highly Visible National Achiever and
Dynamic Community Leader

Elena “Nena” Esguerra Pilapil is one of the few Filipino-
Americans who resides in the famous birthplace of President
Abraham Lincoln in the picturesque Springfield, Central Illinois,
a good two hours drive from buzzing windy city of Chicago. An
active participant, not only with Filipino groups but as well as with
the mainstream organizations, Nena is a spearheader of
humanitarian causes locally and nationally. Elena is widely
known in the Central Illinois region. Nena served in various
responsible capacities as well as serving as National President
of the Association of Philippine Physicians in America (APPA)
Auxiliary. Currently, she is President of Organization of Asian
Americans (OAS) in Central Illinois, a prestigious and politically
influential group composed of Asian members from various part
of Asia and South Asian countries. She is also a member of the
Board of Directors of the National Filipino-American Council.

“Nena is a typical “can do” leader who compassionately proves to
others that in order to be a good leader, one has to a be good
follower as well,” remarked Judy Libo-on Bofill of Man, West
Virginia, a 1995 TOFA awardee and current APPA- Auxiliary
National President who felt fortunate to convince Nena Pilapil to
assist her administration.

Nena Pilapil is well known for her leadership and organizational and management skills. She served as an
officer and still an active participant with various groups. She was past president of YWCA, Springfield,
Illinois, a non-Filipino group. Admired and respected for her unique ability as a leader, she was Past
President of Central Illinois Philippine American Society (CIPAS); Past President of Filipino American
Historical Society (FilAmHis So) of Springfield, Illinois; twice Past President of the Philippine Pediatric Society
in America (PPSA) Auxiliary; Association of Filipino Physicians of Southern Illinois (AFPSI) Auxiliary; twice
Past President of Organization of Asian Americans (OAS). Nena was asked to serve twice as President of
Illinois’ elegant Carillon Belles gala of Springfield, a distinct honor for a Filipina to head one of Springfield’
s social organizations tasked to annually sponsor an elegant banquet and ball honoring Springfield’s young
society belles and formally introducing them to Illinois’ society.

As a spouse of one of the highest ranking Filipino official in the United States Armed Forces, Nena is
currently the President of the Filipino American Military Medical Officers Society (FAMMOS) Auxiliary. Her
husband, Dr. Virgilio Pilapil, a 1994 TOFA awardee, is as active, if not more, as Nena, when it comes to
participating and leading various humanitarian and community-oriented group in the country.

Now that her four children are all adults, Nena and her husband, Dr. Virgilio Pilapil, a physician, are both
semi- retired, trying to slow down a bit, focusing most of their free time in participating with various
organizations. One of her good friends in APPA aptly describes her: “Nena is an ideal person to be in any
project or worthy endeavors. She has the ingredients of the 3Ts: talent, time and treasure. Ingredients to be
successful in any projects.” The same friend also described Nena as a dedicated and “can do” leader who is
indefatigable and inspirer and motivator of others.

Nena is well liked and admired by her fellow members at APPA, more specially when she accepted the
position of Executive Secretary to the APPA Auxiliary President Judy Libo-on Bofill, a 1995 TOFA awardee, in
order to assist Judy in her administration despite having already served in the past the Auxiliary as
president. “I will do anything just to help APPA and my friends at the Auxiliary,” remarked Nena.

Nena is one of the two children of Estaquio A. Esguerra and the former Rosa B. Libunao, both of Bulacan
Province, Philippines. She was born in Manila and attended the Francisco Law School High School and
graduated college in 1962 from the Philippine Women’s University. Two years later in January 1964, she
came to the United States to join her physician husband who was then pursuing advance studies in
medicine in Jacksonville, Florida. The Pilapils children are: Catherine, Caroline, Virgilio, Jr., and Raymond.
(NM)

Washington D.C. Since 1987

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Washington D.C. Since 1987