Candidate for
Director; Ambrose Recreation and Park District

I was born in Manila, Philippines and moved to the U.S. in 1988. My father is a lawyer and businessman and my mother was a high school teacher before she passed away in 1974. I have seven sisters and two brothers. Most of them live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I went to high school at St. Paul's College of Manila, an all-girls Catholic school. Then I studied at the University of the Philippines, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Tourism. As a young girl, my parents encouraged me to sing and perform on stage. I enjoyed this and became a professional singer and recording artist. I have also worked as a scriptwriter, a clothes designer, a duty free shop supervisor, a property manager and a fashion boutique owner. I am lucky to have traveled to Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Ecuador, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Singapore and Thailand --- meeting people from different walks of life and diverse cultures. I love experiencing the varied cultures of the world and learning to speak different languages. I work as the Corporate Partnerships Liaison of the University of California Office of the President. I work with businesses that aim to help students build their careers and become leaders in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. I enjoy walking, dancing, hiking and yoga. I was the captain of a bike team that raised funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. I also participated at the American Cancer Society Walk, the Best Buddies Bike Challenge and the Breath of Life Lung Cancer Walk. I organized high school reunions for my school, fun events at work and have emceed dinner-dances for church groups. My children, Tallulah and Yves, support my passion for giving back to the community. They benefited greatly from our California public schools and after school programs. Both of them are University of California, Berkeley graduates. I am proud to be the first Filipina elected to public office in Contra Costa County. I have been recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipinas in the U.S. I am currently serving a second term as a board member of the Ambrose Recreation and Park District. I am currently the Chair of the board. I am also the President of the Bay Point Garden Club and Chair of the Friends of the Delta Trail. I am married to Tom Torlakson, California Superintendent of Public Instruction. Tom and I share common interests in improving education and advancing park and recreation services.