Ruben Salazar is the founder and chairman of Samahang Kapatid Filipino-American Cultural Youth group
and the current president of the Filipino-American Association of South Du Page. He works in the
Information Technology department of Quaker Tropicana Gatorade, a division of the PEPSICO, where he co-
founded and led the Asian American Employee resource group, now known
as the Pepsico Asian Network.
Benru ,as he is fondly called by his former teachers and classmates from the University of the Philippines
from where he graduated with honors, has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics (which he was
awarded after only three years of study) and two master’s degrees: Masters of Science in Computer Science
from the University of Detroit in Detroit, Michigan, and Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Loyola
University in Chicago, Illinois. In recognition of his academic excellence at the University of the Philippines,
Benru was appointed Instructor of Mathematics, an appointment he held for three years until he came to the
U.S. in order to pursue his graduate study. Here in the U.S., he has had his teaching stint at Marygrove
College in Detroit, the Oakton Community College and at DeVry University in Addison, IL where he was
professorial lecturer in Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics.
Ruben Salazar’s career in the U.S. started as a computer lab assistant at the University ofDetroit and later
became a computer programmer and systems analyst at UNISYS in Detroit,. Michigan. After five years, he
moved to Quaker Oats Company, now a division of PEPSICO in Chicago, he continues his career in the
information technology department for over twenty years.
Testimonial of Ruben’s leadership includes the prestigious Harvey Russell Inclusion Award given by
PEPSICO for being a founding member of the Quaker Asian American Alliance Employees Resource Group,
now known as PepsiCo Asian Network; and his active participation at the National Asian American
Professional conference in Chicago last year and in Seattle, Washington this year. Ruben is also an active
member of the Midwest Asian American Affinity Business Network group.
He has undertaken the promotion and preservation of Philippine cultural heritage. He and his wife founded
Samahang Kapatid, an organization for young Filipino-Americans who learn Philippine folk dances and
various aspects of Philippine life and culture through lectures, workshops, and interactive classes. Starting
with eight members performing folk dances at a cultural fair at Eisenhower Junior High School in Darien, the
group now has had over 100 members whose ages range from five to 18. Samahang Kapatid has been
invited to participate in many events in the Chicago area (Taste of Chicago, Skokie Festival of Cultures,
Asian American Festival in Chicago, Woodridge Culture Fest, Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum to
name a few) as well as out of town performances including the DisneyWorld in Orlando, Florida, the Phil
Fest in Tampa, Florida, the Asian Moon Festival in Milwaukee and at the CelbrAsian Festival in Iowa. This
year, Ruben partnered with Xilin Asian Community Cneter in Naperville and became the first Filipino
American to chair the yearly celebration of the Asian American Heritage month in the western suburbs. The
program held in May 2006, was participated by the Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian and Filipino
American communities.
Ruben Salazar has excelled in his dedication to his studies, to his career, to his community service, and to
his family. He and his wife Merle have two children: Lenore, a senior at the University of Illinois in
Champaign, and Carl, a senior high school student.
Ruben is deeply honored to receive the prestigious 2006 Filipino American Hall of Fame award. He
congratulates all his fellow awardees and wishes to thank Via Times and the Chicago Philippine Reports
TV, the Quaker Tropicana Gatorade /PEPSICO, the Samahang Kapatid, the Filipino American Association of
South Du Page, families, friends, and guests who helped and supported him.
and the current president of the Filipino-American Association of South Du Page. He works in the
Information Technology department of Quaker Tropicana Gatorade, a division of the PEPSICO, where he co-
founded and led the Asian American Employee resource group, now known
as the Pepsico Asian Network.
Benru ,as he is fondly called by his former teachers and classmates from the University of the Philippines
from where he graduated with honors, has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics (which he was
awarded after only three years of study) and two master’s degrees: Masters of Science in Computer Science
from the University of Detroit in Detroit, Michigan, and Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Loyola
University in Chicago, Illinois. In recognition of his academic excellence at the University of the Philippines,
Benru was appointed Instructor of Mathematics, an appointment he held for three years until he came to the
U.S. in order to pursue his graduate study. Here in the U.S., he has had his teaching stint at Marygrove
College in Detroit, the Oakton Community College and at DeVry University in Addison, IL where he was
professorial lecturer in Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics.
Ruben Salazar’s career in the U.S. started as a computer lab assistant at the University ofDetroit and later
became a computer programmer and systems analyst at UNISYS in Detroit,. Michigan. After five years, he
moved to Quaker Oats Company, now a division of PEPSICO in Chicago, he continues his career in the
information technology department for over twenty years.
Testimonial of Ruben’s leadership includes the prestigious Harvey Russell Inclusion Award given by
PEPSICO for being a founding member of the Quaker Asian American Alliance Employees Resource Group,
now known as PepsiCo Asian Network; and his active participation at the National Asian American
Professional conference in Chicago last year and in Seattle, Washington this year. Ruben is also an active
member of the Midwest Asian American Affinity Business Network group.
He has undertaken the promotion and preservation of Philippine cultural heritage. He and his wife founded
Samahang Kapatid, an organization for young Filipino-Americans who learn Philippine folk dances and
various aspects of Philippine life and culture through lectures, workshops, and interactive classes. Starting
with eight members performing folk dances at a cultural fair at Eisenhower Junior High School in Darien, the
group now has had over 100 members whose ages range from five to 18. Samahang Kapatid has been
invited to participate in many events in the Chicago area (Taste of Chicago, Skokie Festival of Cultures,
Asian American Festival in Chicago, Woodridge Culture Fest, Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum to
name a few) as well as out of town performances including the DisneyWorld in Orlando, Florida, the Phil
Fest in Tampa, Florida, the Asian Moon Festival in Milwaukee and at the CelbrAsian Festival in Iowa. This
year, Ruben partnered with Xilin Asian Community Cneter in Naperville and became the first Filipino
American to chair the yearly celebration of the Asian American Heritage month in the western suburbs. The
program held in May 2006, was participated by the Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian and Filipino
American communities.
Ruben Salazar has excelled in his dedication to his studies, to his career, to his community service, and to
his family. He and his wife Merle have two children: Lenore, a senior at the University of Illinois in
Champaign, and Carl, a senior high school student.
Ruben is deeply honored to receive the prestigious 2006 Filipino American Hall of Fame award. He
congratulates all his fellow awardees and wishes to thank Via Times and the Chicago Philippine Reports
TV, the Quaker Tropicana Gatorade /PEPSICO, the Samahang Kapatid, the Filipino American Association of
South Du Page, families, friends, and guests who helped and supported him.
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