Born in Flushing Queens, New York, Brandon is the only son of Ron and Cristina Magtalas. The family moved to Port St Lucie 12 years ago. Brandon grew up with many family values with a strong influence from his grandfather who once quoted him," Your mind and heart are all you need to accomplish your goal, don’t waste it."  

As he grew up, Brandon became involved in many activities typical of an energetic youth. He had participated in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He also has been involved in Tae Kwon Do for the past 11 years and participated in regional and national tournaments becoming a two-time junior Olympian at age nine. He is now an assistant instructor for Tae Kwon Do. For about 12 years, he has also been involved with the Phil-Am Youth, volunteering in different cultural events as a dancer and demonstrating the Filipino culture. Academically, he is ranked 36th out of 256 students from Lincoln Park Academy Class of 2008 and will be graduating with High Honors in International Baccalaureate Program. He has also been involved in performing music for the 4-County Honor Band and St. Lucie Honor Band as a French horn player. 

With a weighted GPA of 4.818, he plans to attend the University of Florida with a major in bio-medicine and pursue his passion of helping others by becoming a doctor. He believes that he can make his own future and do what he needs to do to get to where he wants to be.

The oldest son of Paco and Ellen Bernabe, Zachary was born in Hinsdale, Illinois and was raised in Port St Lucie since the age of 2. He has a 12 year old younger brother Kyle.

Zach is an International Baccalaureate Senior Class of 2008 from Lincoln Park Academy with a GPA of 4.33.  He plays guitar for the LPA Jazz Band with numerous styles and has over 30 songs written. Played and performed national acts with 5 rock bands. Conducting guitar lessons as well as playing drums and piano is also his passion.  Relaxation for Zach is writing his own composition and photography.

Zach enjoys sports and ran for LPA Track and Field, and LPA Cross Country.  Also loves skateboarding, playing football and weight lifting.  In addition with Phil-Am, he is a dedicated volunteer for the C.A.S.T.L.E to put an end to child abuse.  He participated in plays advocating messages to teens for Drama Class ex: "Don't Drink and Drive".  Zach is also a recipient of Outstanding Performance Award for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in Mathematics in which he has been awarded college credit in Math due to outstanding grades.

Zachary has been accepted to four universities with scholarships in addition to the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship.  He plans to attend the Florida State University in Tallahassee, majoring in Health and Biology.  Family and friends play an important role for Zach to accomplish his goals and always with humor.  In ten years he sees himself living in Chicago pursuing health or medical career.

The only child of Edilberto and Lydia Cabansay, Elj was born in Manila, Philippines. He then moved to the United States with his parents to have the opportunity to live a life in total freedom and privileges that some people can only imagine. In life, Elj enjoys working.

Elj has participated in school organizations over his high school years including becoming a member of the Beta Club, Drama Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Japanese Club, Key Club International, National Honors Society and Teens Restoring Earth’s Environment (T.R.E.E.). Additionally, he has held office in Latin Club as secretary and Art Club as P.R.O. He has also participated on the varsity tennis team for four years. Some of the community service projects he has participated in include March of Dimes, Habitat for Humanity, Sue Arnold’s Wildlife Preserve and other various works at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Also, Elj became an experienced billing person while working at a doctor’s office for the last four years.

Elj is ranked 5th out of 343 with a 4.58 weighted GPA, and qualified for Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship and IRC’s Academic Scholarship. He plans to complete an A.A. Degree at Indian River College in a year and to take the masters at the University of Florida in Accounting and becoming a CPA.

James is the youngest son of Drs. Miguel and Leni Espiritu of Okeechobee, Florida.  He initially enrolled at the University of Florida in 2001 for a Bachelor of Arts Linguistics degree. However, his real passion is in the fashion industry, so he moved to New York in 2003 and enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology, a College of Art, Design, Business and Technology of the State University of New York.  He graduated in May 2006 with a degree of Associate of Applied Science, Fashion Merchandising, Summa Cum laude.  He wanted to focus on Textile Technology so he proceeded to complete a Bachelor of Science Textile Development and Marketing degree.  He has always been on the Dean's list with a GPA of 3.91.

Some of James' accomplishments include winning first place in Marcraft's Reinventing the Suit competition (fabric development).  He was captain of the winning team in Cotton Inc.'s sponsored debate on BT cotton.  He is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and a student member of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists. 

James started to work as an intern at the Polo Ralph Lauren Corporate office in New York City in Nov. 2006.  He spent 7 months in the Men's Blue Label and Sweaters division.  In June 2007, he transferred to the Men's Sportswear and Concept Design.  In addition to clerical work which involves sample cataloging, storage and organization, he does visual merchandising of sales showrooms, and sample shopping of current trends as they pertain to the Ralph Lauren aesthetic.  He helped develop conceptual seasonal merchandise groups for multiple brands (American Living, Polo - Black Label, Purple Label and RLX).  He also serves as a liaison from senior management thru all product categories (sweaters, rough wear, knits, outerwear, shirts, tailored clothing, accessories, neckwear, & graphics).

After graduation, James will either continue to stay with Polo Ralph Lauren and go thru their Executive Development Program or he might work for one of the major leading designers in the fashion industry.  He hopes to develop and produce his own label someday.

Gayle is the only daughter of Dr. Rolando and Gemma Mendoza. In 2005, she graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychobiology and minors in Business Administration and Chemistry. Gayle is currently living in Boston, MA, where she recently completed her Master in Public Health Program in International Health at the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH). She is a public health advocate and strong believer in adequate, equitable and accessible health care for all individuals, both nationally and internationally. She emphasizes the need for collaboration between clinicians and public health professionals, noting that they are equally essential in bettering the health of all cultures and nations. 

Some of her accomplishments include:  Her concentration Paper: Involving community organizations as a means to improve local health programs within the Philippine; Certificate Course: Program in International Health Practice in the Philippines, (1/07-6/07); Intern, Consumer Health Quality Council, Health Care For All, Boston, MA (1/08–5/08); Co-Chair, Boston University Student Global Health Organization, Boston, MA (7/07–5/08); Program Coordinator, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines, Siniloan, Laguna, Philippines (3/07–5/07); Community Health Care Financing Program, Sister Dulce Corazon Velasco, MD, MPH, Mindanao, Philippines (3/07–5/07); Health Education Intern, World Endeavors, Recife, Brazil; Itapissuma, Brazil (6/06–7/06); BU Planning Committees: World AIDS Day at Boston University, Town Hall Meeting: Accountable to Humanity: JUSTICE in Darfur, Boston University Students Promoting Health: BBQ and Health Fair.

 After graduation, Gayle plans on working with an international health organization based in the Northeast for two years as a program coordinator or within the field of public health advocacy. She plans on attending medical school in Fall, 2010.

Lisa is the youngest daughter of Chet and Theresa Canoy.  As an Architecture student working part-time, Lisa was dedicated and hardworking, sacrificing most of her weekends to get projects done.  Lisa has fully enjoyed her four years as a Florida gator and traveled with her class last summer to study the architecture of China and Hongkong. She was also a member of the American Institute of Architecture Students and hopes to progress her education into the professional world.  Lisa plans to work for an architecture firm in Los Angeles for a year in hopes to gain experience before committing to graduate school.