Rick is the only certified Filipino ballroom instructor among the 58 registered ballroom instructors in the
whole State of Illinois by the National Dance Council of America, the organization that supervises and
controls dance competitions in the U.S.
He studied to be a dance teacher under Brenda Gardner, an English woman and owner of the former
International Dance Studio in Chicago. Rick took the examination in 1978 from Roy Mavor, a Ballroom
Examiner from Texas, an emcee of the first tele- vised ballroom competition. In the same year he became a
member of the United States Dance Teachers’ Association, registered by the National Council of Dance
Teachers Organization, now known as the National Dance Council of America. (Website: NDCA.ORG).
During the time of the Joe Reyes TV Show, Rick performed the spot number every last Sunday of the month.
He taught for eight months at the Rizal Center during the era of Mr. Carmelito Llapitan. He also taught two
days a week at the Mattison Ballroom Studio on Clark Street until the studio closed. Consequently, Rick
moved to the Chicago Dance Studio in Irving Park Road, then owned by Frank Romani and taken over by
Bob Urbon until the end of 2000. He likewise used to give private lesson at the Dancers Delight on Lincoln
Avenue. Always a very generous person, Rick taught a lot of Nursing Homes for free, and at the Jewish
Community Center on Touhy Avenue.
Rick performed dance exhibitions around Chicago and the suburbs. During summer, he is a regular at the
Daley Plaza particularly during Live Band music. Rick did not limit himself to a few dance studios but rather
virtually toured the Chicago area Among the places he performed at are the International Dance Studio, La
Classique School of Dance, Dance Connection, Dancers Delight, Mattison Studio, Chicago Dance, Vito
Bertucci at Irish Heritage, and the 16th. Hole (now Dance for Fun). He taught the Filipino Ushers and wife at
the Queen of All Saints Basilica, the Bolero and Tango formation of ten couples in 2004 and 2005. He did
the following dances in the shows arranged in alphabetical order: Bolero, Bosa Nova, International Cha-
Cha, Charleston, American Fox Trot, Lambada, Mambo, Matador, Meringue, Paso Doble, Polka, International
Rumba, Samba, Swing, American Tango, Tango Argentina, Gaucho Tango, Tarantella, American. As an
ultimate test for his dancing, Rick used to compete at the Harvest Moon Competitions with his daughter.With
another partner, he won First Place in Cha-Cha/Mambo in the 1988 Grand National Competition in Miami,
Florida. In a Detroit competition and in Miami, Rick and Vito Bertucci another expert, paired with four ladies to
dance the Six Pack Mambo, three Mambo routines continuously for about eight minutes.
Rick considers dancing just a hobby. Rick is a Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois, one of only two
Filipinos who got his License without taking the required examination. Evidently, his good academic record,
a 16th Place finish among 512 candidates in the 1955 Board Examination for Civil Engineers, and his very
rich engineering experience helped to convince the Examiners to waive the required written exams.
Rick finished High School curriculum in three years time. He graduated Salutatorian at the National
University in Manila. After graduation from College, he worked with a contractor building schools and motor
pool for the Philippine Army. He moved to the Philippine American Life Insurance Company starting with the
Housing Project in Quezon City and eventually the Company’s Home Office Building in Manila. He likewise
supervised the construction of Philamlife branch offices in Naga City, Cebu City, Bacolod City, Iloilo City, and
Legaspi City, and the Company President’s residence at Forbes Park. Rick moved to another private
contractor and handled many more projects. Among the most notable are, the United Laboratory in
Mandaluyong, Rizal and the ABS-CBN radio television complex in Quezon City. He finally decided to
immigrate to the U.S. in December of 1968.
In the U.S., Rick started to work in the Design Section of the State of Illinois Dept. Of Transportation in
January 1969. The major job he handled was the rehabilitation of all Kennedy Expressway bridges from 18th
St. To O’Hare in 1972.. Three of his Design Concepts became part of the State Bridge Design Manual,
namely supporting the bridge structure from above rather than from under during repair work to continuously
keep open traffic below especially on busy highways, and two (2) types of steel Expansion Joint Details over
the bridge abutments and intermediate piers.
In 1976, he transferred to the City of Chicago DOT, Bureau of Bridges. Rick’s name as Design Engineer is
on a plaque of E. Diversey Bridge Inlet, adjacent and east of Lake Shore Drive, an honor being the only
Filipino given such distinction. On the formal opening of the bridge, Rick did the honors of cutting the
ceremonial ribbon with no less that Mayor Daley himself.
Rick likewise was a recipient of many awards. He was one of the awardees of the Philippine Time-USA
News and People Magazine, Panday Pira Award in Engineering, August 9, 2002, and Asian-American Hall of
Fame, May 10, 2003 also in engineering. Rick is a fourth degree, officer and honor guard with the Knights of
Columbus, Council 5025 and one of two honorees given by the K of C in February 17, 2006 for his
outstanding support, loyalty and dedication.
Rick serves as an usher at the Queen of All Saints Basilica (Q.A.S.) and at St. Peter Church in downtown
Chicago. He assists his wife, Fannie Mae, in coordinating the Perpetual Monday night novena for the last 24
years at Q.A.S. Basilica. Given the keys to the church, he did layman’s job like bringing novena prayer books,
turning on the lights, assisting the priest and ringing the bell during twice a month benedictions. He received
a Certificate of Appreciation from the Filipino American Community Association of Q.A.S. Basilica in
November 28, 2005.
whole State of Illinois by the National Dance Council of America, the organization that supervises and
controls dance competitions in the U.S.
He studied to be a dance teacher under Brenda Gardner, an English woman and owner of the former
International Dance Studio in Chicago. Rick took the examination in 1978 from Roy Mavor, a Ballroom
Examiner from Texas, an emcee of the first tele- vised ballroom competition. In the same year he became a
member of the United States Dance Teachers’ Association, registered by the National Council of Dance
Teachers Organization, now known as the National Dance Council of America. (Website: NDCA.ORG).
During the time of the Joe Reyes TV Show, Rick performed the spot number every last Sunday of the month.
He taught for eight months at the Rizal Center during the era of Mr. Carmelito Llapitan. He also taught two
days a week at the Mattison Ballroom Studio on Clark Street until the studio closed. Consequently, Rick
moved to the Chicago Dance Studio in Irving Park Road, then owned by Frank Romani and taken over by
Bob Urbon until the end of 2000. He likewise used to give private lesson at the Dancers Delight on Lincoln
Avenue. Always a very generous person, Rick taught a lot of Nursing Homes for free, and at the Jewish
Community Center on Touhy Avenue.
Rick performed dance exhibitions around Chicago and the suburbs. During summer, he is a regular at the
Daley Plaza particularly during Live Band music. Rick did not limit himself to a few dance studios but rather
virtually toured the Chicago area Among the places he performed at are the International Dance Studio, La
Classique School of Dance, Dance Connection, Dancers Delight, Mattison Studio, Chicago Dance, Vito
Bertucci at Irish Heritage, and the 16th. Hole (now Dance for Fun). He taught the Filipino Ushers and wife at
the Queen of All Saints Basilica, the Bolero and Tango formation of ten couples in 2004 and 2005. He did
the following dances in the shows arranged in alphabetical order: Bolero, Bosa Nova, International Cha-
Cha, Charleston, American Fox Trot, Lambada, Mambo, Matador, Meringue, Paso Doble, Polka, International
Rumba, Samba, Swing, American Tango, Tango Argentina, Gaucho Tango, Tarantella, American. As an
ultimate test for his dancing, Rick used to compete at the Harvest Moon Competitions with his daughter.With
another partner, he won First Place in Cha-Cha/Mambo in the 1988 Grand National Competition in Miami,
Florida. In a Detroit competition and in Miami, Rick and Vito Bertucci another expert, paired with four ladies to
dance the Six Pack Mambo, three Mambo routines continuously for about eight minutes.
Rick considers dancing just a hobby. Rick is a Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois, one of only two
Filipinos who got his License without taking the required examination. Evidently, his good academic record,
a 16th Place finish among 512 candidates in the 1955 Board Examination for Civil Engineers, and his very
rich engineering experience helped to convince the Examiners to waive the required written exams.
Rick finished High School curriculum in three years time. He graduated Salutatorian at the National
University in Manila. After graduation from College, he worked with a contractor building schools and motor
pool for the Philippine Army. He moved to the Philippine American Life Insurance Company starting with the
Housing Project in Quezon City and eventually the Company’s Home Office Building in Manila. He likewise
supervised the construction of Philamlife branch offices in Naga City, Cebu City, Bacolod City, Iloilo City, and
Legaspi City, and the Company President’s residence at Forbes Park. Rick moved to another private
contractor and handled many more projects. Among the most notable are, the United Laboratory in
Mandaluyong, Rizal and the ABS-CBN radio television complex in Quezon City. He finally decided to
immigrate to the U.S. in December of 1968.
In the U.S., Rick started to work in the Design Section of the State of Illinois Dept. Of Transportation in
January 1969. The major job he handled was the rehabilitation of all Kennedy Expressway bridges from 18th
St. To O’Hare in 1972.. Three of his Design Concepts became part of the State Bridge Design Manual,
namely supporting the bridge structure from above rather than from under during repair work to continuously
keep open traffic below especially on busy highways, and two (2) types of steel Expansion Joint Details over
the bridge abutments and intermediate piers.
In 1976, he transferred to the City of Chicago DOT, Bureau of Bridges. Rick’s name as Design Engineer is
on a plaque of E. Diversey Bridge Inlet, adjacent and east of Lake Shore Drive, an honor being the only
Filipino given such distinction. On the formal opening of the bridge, Rick did the honors of cutting the
ceremonial ribbon with no less that Mayor Daley himself.
Rick likewise was a recipient of many awards. He was one of the awardees of the Philippine Time-USA
News and People Magazine, Panday Pira Award in Engineering, August 9, 2002, and Asian-American Hall of
Fame, May 10, 2003 also in engineering. Rick is a fourth degree, officer and honor guard with the Knights of
Columbus, Council 5025 and one of two honorees given by the K of C in February 17, 2006 for his
outstanding support, loyalty and dedication.
Rick serves as an usher at the Queen of All Saints Basilica (Q.A.S.) and at St. Peter Church in downtown
Chicago. He assists his wife, Fannie Mae, in coordinating the Perpetual Monday night novena for the last 24
years at Q.A.S. Basilica. Given the keys to the church, he did layman’s job like bringing novena prayer books,
turning on the lights, assisting the priest and ringing the bell during twice a month benedictions. He received
a Certificate of Appreciation from the Filipino American Community Association of Q.A.S. Basilica in
November 28, 2005.
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