Overseas Filipino Achievers, Part 5

In keeping with Positively Filipino’s goal of celebrating the 13-million-strong (and counting) Filipino diaspora, we are launching a new series titled Overseas Filipino Achievers. The series recognizes outstanding Filipinos making their mark in various countries around the world. It builds on our popular and long-running feature, “FilAms Among the Remarkable and Famous.”

But we need your help. If you know Filipinos outside the Philippines and the United States who are doing exceptional work in their adopted countries, please send their names, supporting documents or links, and photos to pfpublisher@yahoo.com.

FRANCE
Erica Paredes, Chef

Erica Paredes (Source: Instagram)

Paredes has two restaurants in Paris. Reyna serves dishes such as crispy chicken wings sprinkled with bright peppers and offered in three spice levels. At Mischief, she serves the home-cooked meals she prepares for her daughter and friends.

Reyna is a nod to her grandmother and a love letter to all the strong, wonderful women who raised and nurtured her. The menu is influenced by her Filipino upbringing and her extensive travels. Reyna started as a supper club in Chef Erica's apartment in 2017 with her business partner, Cyrille Marc. Every weekend, they welcomed guests who did not know each other to their dining table to enjoy good food, share wine, and meet new people. Through Instagram and word of mouth, their renown grew.

In 2018, due to popular demand, Chef Erica began hosting pop-ups around Paris and has since taken over the kitchens of Greenhouse, Le Grand Bain, Dirty Lemon, Les Foodies, Haikara, Botanero, and others. She also completed a successful three-month residency at Mokoloco after seven months of offering takeout during the long confinement of 2020. Born in the Philippines, Paredes has lived in Paris for more than a decade. She is a business owner, mother, and former beauty editor. She starts her day with a good coffee from Kape, a Filipino coffee and bakery shop.

THAILAND
Johnny Anfone, Actor

Johnny Anfone (Source: Facebook)

Anfone is an actor, host, singer, and politician. He is a former member of the Thai string combo band GRAND EX, where he played keyboard and sang. His best-known international role is portraying Lord Worawongsa in the 2001 Thai epic film The Legend of Suriyothai.

Anfone was born in Thailand to Filipino musician Rene Anfone and Thai-German mother Laongtip Puboon. He later joined Kantana, a popular Thai film and television company, and made his acting debut in the drama Miti Muet. Since then, he has appeared in more than 60 dramas and films. In 2022, he became a member of the Thai Sang Thai Party, a political party founded by Sudarat Keyuraphan.

Richy Oranate Caballes, Actress and Badminton Player

Richy Oranate Caballes (Source: Instagram)

Caballes comes from a mixed heritage. Her father is of Thai, Filipino, Australian, Swiss, British, and Spanish descent, while her mother is of Thai and Chinese descent. Before entering the entertainment industry, she competed in Miss Teen Thailand 2011. Her acting debut came in 2013 in the war-romance film Sunset at the Chao Phraya. In 2020, she competed in badminton at the 47th National College Games as a member of the Ramkhamhaeng University sports team, whose women's squad won the gold medal.

GERMANY
Maria Renker, Author

Renker moved to Germany for love and now feels at home there while teaching her children about their Filipino heritage. She always dreamed of becoming an astronaut, and today she works as a contractor for the European Space Agency, supporting missions that launch satellites into space. She enjoys her work and the opportunity to meet interesting people, especially astronauts.

Renker is also an author. She created the Pastel Dinos series, the inspirational children's book Maria's Dream Beyond the Stars, and the young adult novel Bratwurst and Batchoy, which explores themes of cultural identity, love, and self-discovery through the eyes of a Filipina navigating life between Iloilo and Germany.

Gerrit Barba Holtmann, Football Player

Gerrit Barba Holtmann (Source: worldfootball.net)

Holtmann was born in Germany to a Filipino mother, making him eligible to represent both Germany and the Philippines. A professional footballer, he plays as a winger for 2. Bundesliga club VfL Bochum.

He was called up by the Philippines for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against China, Guam, and the Maldives. However, he was unable to make his debut because of a lack of documents. He was later included in the Philippines' 25-man squad for the 2022 FAS Tri-Nations Series but was unable to participate after contracting COVID-19 while preparing to fly to Singapore.

In June, Holtmann was finally called up to the Philippines squad for the Asian Cup qualifiers under coach Thomas Dooley. He made his debut against Mongolia in the third round of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, starting the match and scoring the game's only goal in the 93rd minute to secure a 1–0 victory.

ARGENTINA
Christina Sunae, Chef, Restaurant Owner, and Culinary Instructor

Christina Sunae (Photo by Eduardo Torres, courtesy of Christina Sunae)

Sunae is a renowned chef and culinary instructor based in Argentina. Originally from the United States and of Korean heritage, she spoke her first words in Japan and spent her childhood in the Philippines with her Filipino family.

Today, she lives in Argentina, where she cooks and teaches Filipino cuisine at her Buenos Aires restaurant, ApuNena – Asian Tapas. She created ApuNena after two earlier ventures: a closed-door restaurant that launched her gastronomy career in Buenos Aires and Sunae, a concept featuring flavors from Southeast Asia. In 2020, she brought the concept to Sunae BGC in Manila, Philippines.

In 2021, she released her book KUSINERA FILIPINA, which combines Philippine recipes, culture, and landscapes. She has appeared as a guest judge on Celebrity MasterChef Argentina and was featured in her own episode of the Maridaje series, showcasing Filipino cuisine paired with Patagonia products and the local Sauvignon Blanc of Argentina's Chubut region—an homage to her many cultural influences.

AUSTRIA
JJ Johannes Pietsch, Singer

JJ Johannes Pietsch (Photo by Pedro Pacheco, wikipedia, Creative Commons)

Pietsch won the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 for Austria with the song Wasted Love. Born in Vienna to an Austrian father and a Filipino mother, he spent most of his childhood in Dubai, UAE, where he was introduced to pop music through family karaoke gatherings and to opera through his father. His musical style combines elements of both opera and pop.

In 2016, the family returned to Vienna. He became the first Eurovision winner of Southeast Asian descent. In December 2025, Pietsch won two fan-voted Eurovision Awards in the categories Outstanding Vocals and #ALBM Cover of the Year for his and Conchita Wurst's mashup of their Eurovision entries, Rise Like a Phoenix and Wasted Love. Pietsch has said that he wants to be a voice for Austria's queer community.

CZECH REPUBLIC
Bryan Gandola, Singer

Bryan Gandola (Source: Instagram)

Bryan Gandola is a Filipino singer, guitarist, and songwriter based in Prague. He gained recognition as a contestant on the reality singing competition Česko Slovenská SuperStar in 2018, where he showcased his musical talent. Gandola is known for his engaging live performances and has released original music, including the singles Crush and Living Free. He has been in the music industry for 13 years and has been performing in Prague for the past six years.

Crisjel Kuklovsky, Entrepreneur and Community Supporter

Crisjel Kuklovsky (Source: Roots and Wings Online Magazine Facebook)

Kuklovsky owns a grocery store that serves the Filipino community in Prague. She provides assistance, consultation, and services to Filipinos (kababayans) and foreigners regarding trade licensing, business visas, and family reunification in the Czech Republic.

She is actively involved in Filipino community events, including promoting Philippine culture and food at the Festival of Embassies in Prague. She is known for her professional and friendly approach to helping Filipinos navigate living and working in the Czech Republic. Kuklovsky is often associated with Pinoys Groceries and other Pinoy-focused enterprises in the region.

NORWAY
Grace Orbon-Emmelot, Photographer

Grace Orbon-Emmelot (Source: https://ift.tt/sVrdn0f)

Visual storyteller Emmelot says, "My photographic journey began in the Philippines, where I honed my craft and built a diverse portfolio. Now based in Norway, I explore portrait, event, documentary, and corporate photography through my evolving practice, Emmelot Grace Photography."

She is passionate about documentary work, creative collaborations, and capturing moments that resonate. In October 2023, Emmelot and her daughter participated in a Plan International Norge campaign to protect and promote the rights of young girls around the world. They chose to represent their home country, the Philippines.

Source: Google and Wikipedia

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