Celebrity fashion designer, Jhoanna Alba, & Alba Legacy's Chief Visionary, was born in Cardona, Philippines, and now is one of the most sought out & bespoke clothing manufacturers in the entertainment industry, and co-author for the book, In Her Purpose. Earvin “Magic” Johnson is her mentor & one of her first clients, he encouraged her to start her own company at a young age that was named after her father, Romy Alba & grandfather Miguel Alba. Jhoanna now has over 1,200 professional athletes, executives & celebrities as clientele, that include Terrell Owens, John Wall and Justin Turner to name a few. Her mom, Adeluisa San Juan, was reluctant to come to America at first, because she enjoyed her life there, but when she reflects back, realizes it was the best decision she could have made for her family. She made the decision to move here with her 3 young children after Romy's sisters Sonia Lucero & Evelyn Alba moved to the United States first, recommending the Alba family should follow.
Now the duo work together to help people beyond fashion, to create “A Light Beyond Appearance.” Together with her team, they help each client define THE LOOK OF YOUR LEGACY. The company prides itself mostly on their philanthropic work, helping raise money for causes like the Big Brothers and Sisters organization Jho’s biggest accomplishment in life is her daughter Ashley, who helped raise thousands of dollars for various charity causes and the school named after their grandfather in the Philippines.
Watch the trailer below and full episode of Jhoanna Alba’s “Making it in America” episode here via VIDEO DEMAND on MYX.
This month’s series, sponsored by McDonald’s, features special AAPI leaders making history in America in honor of APAHM month.
ABOUT JHOANNA ALBA:
Chief Visionaire and modern day muse, Jhoanna Alba, is blazing trails and defining trends with her signature looks and fashion-forward designs. Founder and principal designer of ALBA Bespoke Clothing, Jhoanna is a men and womenswear maven and style enthusiast. Entrusted by pro athletes and entertainers alike, Jhoanna Alba is one of the most sought after celebrity designer in the world. With over 25 years of experience, Jhoanna is recognized as the foremost designer for premium men’s and women’s attire. Her stellar client roster includes the most recognizable sports heroes and superstars on the planet. From Magic Johnson to Crown Royal, Jhoanna’s custom suits and garments are worn by the most elite professionals in sports, business and entertainment. Born in Manilla, Philippines, Jhoanna came to the United States when she was only a year old.
Growing up in Los Angeles, Jhoanna’s fondness for fashion, sports and entertainment started early. Hand sewing since the tender age of six, Jhoanna’s first designs included up-cycled dresses from her older sister’s clothes and patchwork ensembles made from her father’s old clothes. In high school, Jhoanna would spend hours on her Singer machine designing outfits and prom gowns while watching sports. By 19, her creative talent and penchant for fashion design would land her a job at Gary’s famed Tuxedo Shop in Beverly Hills, CA. As her expertise and love for luxury menswear grew so did her entrepreneurial aspirations. At 22, Jhoanna started her own custom clothing company and she hasn’t stopped since. Today, she is transforming men’s and women’s fashion and dressing some of the most fascinating people in the world. Driven by her keen sense of style and flair for contemporary clothing, Jhoanna is the creative force behind ALBA (A Light Beyond Appearance). A master designer with an affinity for bold, colorful yet timeless custom creations, Jhoanna’s apparel typifies individuality.
Designed to showcase her client’s personality, style and intrigue, Jhoanna’s bespoke clothing exudes sophistication and class. Using only the latest patterns and finest fabrics, Jhoanna’s custom wardrobes are not only well-designed but extremely polished. Impeccable fit and quality construction mark her collection of distinctive personal wear. With over 1100 professional athletes, celebrities and business clients to her credit, Jhoanna knows how to deliver stunning results. Her clients top the yearly lists of best-dressed athletes and her entertainment clients turn heads on TV’s hottest red carpet events. Together with her team of master tailors and stylists, Jhoanna has built an impressive conglomerate and solidified herself as a fashion phenom. When she’s not managing her L.A. showroom and production house, Jhoanna spends her time helping others. An active and compassionate community leader, Jhoanna uses her platform and gifts to support those in need.
A regular volunteer and advocate, Jhoanna supports The Justin Turner Foundation, The Wiley Center for Autism, youth empowerment initiatives, ingenious women’s groups and communities impacted by natural disasters. Her personal philanthropy extends to ALBA’s company culture as well. A committed corporate citizen, ALBA encourages and collaborates with its high profile clients to bring attention to a variety of worthy causes. ALBA raises funds and contributes to local charities throughout the year. Her passion is not only in giving back but also in designing the look of your legacy. From the hardwood and gridiron to the boardroom and big screen, Jhoanna Alba is an innovator and icon. She is the consummate clothier. She is a timeless treasure. She is a light beyond appearanc
YouTuber, boxer & influencer Alex Wassabi looks back at his rise on YouTube, before he had 12M+ social media followers. Through his parents sacrifices and migration from the Philippines, he’s been able to accomplish his dreams and also give back to the family that help make him the man he is today. He details of his memorable trips to the Philippines and the process of how boxing brought him back to YouTube after taking a hiatus to focus on his mental health& overcoming burnout. His parents, the Burriss’ provide commentary on Alex’s inspirational story and why they are proud of him, currently living in a home that he helped buy for them in North Carolina.
Watch the FULL EPISODE HERE of this special Asian Pacific America History Month edition of “Making it in America” sponsored by McDonald’s, highlighting the next generation of leaders making history in America and the trailer below:
ABOUT ALEX WASSABI:
Alex Wassabi, also known as Alex or Alexander Burriss, is a YouTube star who runs a comedy based channel called Wassabi Productions and his very own vlogging channel named after him. Alex Burriss was born in Great Falls, Montana, U.S. When he reached the age of 1, Alex moved to Kentucky with his family and lived there for the first half of his childhood. Eventually, he moved again to North Carolina, U.S. when he was in fifth grade. Growing up, Alex was the class clown; he wanted to make people happy. He was very interested in basketball, that he participated in the Local Leagues for 6 years until he went to high school.
In Middle school, Alex was diagnosed with ADHD, which meant that it was hard for him to pay attention in class without getting distracted. However, he usually pays attention only to topics that he's interested in. After college, he moved to Los Angeles, California as a part of being a YouTuber.
Alex has a big family of 6: his mother, his father, his older brother Aaron, his younger brother Andrew, his sister Mariah, and himself.
Alex recently became a winning boxer, a moment he had described as a "dream that actually came true," he mentioned he will use the earnings to help put his brother through college. He writes on his YouTube, "I can't thank you all enough for the support and love throughout it all. You gave me the best experience of my life. I love each and every one of you!"
Stay tuned for more to come from Alex Wassabi.
ABOUT "MAKING IT IN..."
Making it in... is a new MYX & TFC original series that follows the multigenerational journey of migrant families that have created top Filipino entrepreneurs, artists, leaders in various parts of the world like America, Canada, the Philippines, Europe and beyond.
Featured talent include but not limited to:
Ez Mil, Asia Jackson, Alex Wassabi, Rechie Valdez, Keith Pedro, Nelita V., Chef Vallerie & many more.
Asia Jackson is a talented actress, producer, content creator & activist that represents everything good the next generation has to offer. Watch her full "Making it in America" episode as she takes us through her inspiring story as a Filipina and Black creative in the world of entertainment and media. See how Asia tackled colorism with the creation of #MagandangMorenx, watch her get vulnerable as she talks about the importance of mental health, and get a look into the business behind the influence that all started with the ongoing support of her parents. Currently a Long Beach, CA resident, as an Air Force brat, she had moved nine times around the world by the time she was thirteen. She spent two years of her elementary studies in Tokyo, Japan as well as Baguio City, Philippines. She discovered her passion for modeling and acting while attending college for computer science.
Watch the original MYX series "Making it in America" special Asia Jackson episode, presented by McDonald's in celebration of young leaders making history during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, watch the full episode HERE and the trailer below:
ABOUT ASIA JACKSON:
Asia Jackson is an actress, entrepreneur, content creator & activist based in Los Angeles, CA. She is of African-American and Filipino descent. An Air Force brat, Asia moved from California to Mississippi when she was just two weeks old. Since then, she'd moved nine times around the world by the time she was thirteen. She spent two years of her elementary studies in Tokyo, Japan as well as Baguio City, Philippines. She discovered her passion for modeling and acting while attending college for computer science.
ABOUT MAKING IT IN AMERICA:
"Making it in..." is a new MYX & TFC original series that follows the multigenerational journey of migrant families that have created top Filipino entrepreneurs, artists, leaders in various parts of the world like America, Canada, the Philippines, Europe and beyond.
Featured talent include but not limited to:
Asia Jackson, Alex Wassabi, Ez Mil, Rechie Valdez, Keith Pedro, Nelita V., Chef Vallerie & many more.
Keavan J. Yazdani is a JUNO & GRAMMY-nominated multidisciplinary visual artist from Toronto, Canada. Born to a Persian father and Filipino mother, influence from both of these cultures was prevalent in his youth, which left a lasting impact on his approach to creativity and art. He has done creative direction for GRAMMY award-winning artist, Daniel Caesar & has also worked with such artists as Koffee, H.E.R, Brandy, Sean Leon, River Tiber & Justin Bieber. As of late, he has started expanding his brand, JOAQUINA (named after his Lola - grandmother in Tagalog) as a creative outlet for his design endeavors. Keavan has recently opened a new studio in Toronto, dubbed Toy Store Studio, that will soon be open for people to utilize for their own creative projects. See Keavan’s story and get an inside look into his journey as a creative and artist through the lens of his mother and himself on this episode of “Making it in Canada.”
Keavan just walked the red carpet at the 2022 GRAMMYS as he was nominated alongside Justin Bieber for his work on the hit single, "Peaches," that was nominated for "Song of the Year." JB performed a special slowed down version that night with his co-songwriters in the crowd and on stage with him.
Make sure to keep up with Keavan on his Instagram @keavanx and follow his affiliate accounts, @toystorestudio, and @joaquina.world to keep in touch with what he is working on. Watch the FULL episode below:
See the trailer below:
About The “Making It In” Series:
The “Making It” series is a new MYX original series that follows the multigenerational, challenging journey of successful Filipino entrepreneurs, artists & community leaders globally. The story documents the sacrifice and immigration of their parents & friends from the Philippines, that worked hard to help raise them and kickstart their careers.
Keith Pedro is a Fil-Canadian JUNO Awards “Comedy Album of the Year” nominated comedian, actor & producer. The "Trillipino" is known for being featured on Russell Peters' Roast Battle Canada that was also nominated for a Canadian Screen Award this year. He has been making waves on the Kevin Hart's new Laugh Out Loud network, along with his covid based comedy EP, entitled the Vaccine.
After a 2 year hiatus due to the pandemic, Keith recently performed in Las Vegas at South Point Hotel's legendary Dirty at 1230 and V Theatre in Las Vegas, opening up resident comedian Edwin San Juan. Pre-pandemic, Keith has been touring all across the globe spreading his hilarious wit to many different audiences. From Montreal's Just For Laughs comedy festival all the way to performing in Honolulu. He is known for his off-the-top improvisational and crowd work skills displaying his in-your-face persona and his fast-talking, smart-ass swagger. Even aside from stand-up comedy, Keith has done everything from being a part of the Sketch Crew "THE BOOM" all the way to acting on Degrassi The Next Generation. He looks forward to continuing his international travels & attending the JUNOS in Toronto, which will be documented on the TV original series, The Crossover, airing on MYX this May.
Watch his “Making it in Canada” episode of the MYX original docu-series, that was filmed in his hometown of Toronto, that details his journey into comedy below. Learn how Keith’s turned his passion to purpose, with the help and sacrifice of his mom. As an immigrant born in the Philippines, she sought out life for better experiences as a successful RN in Canada where Keith is raising his family with unlimited opportunities today.
Watch the full episode here:
Directed and filmed by Axel Villamil & Red Label Studios. Executively produced by Roslynn Alba Cobarrubias with Supervising Producer, Nino Llanera of MYX.
Get a new ab workout at Keith Pedro’s upcoming “Trillipino” MYX Comedy Special taping at the end of March in Los Angeles in partnership with SoCal Filpinos. More details to come.
ABOUT KEITH PEDRO:
KEITH PEDRO is a Fil-Canadian JUNO Awards nominated comedian, actor & producer known for being featured on Russell Peters' Roast Battle Canada, Kevin Hart's LOL Network, Sirius XM's "Top Comic," Degrassi & MYX original series, "Making it in Canada." His "Trillipino" album is nominated for "Comedy Album of the Year" at the 2022 JUNOS.
Kayla Sanchez is one of those most prominent Filipina-Canadian athletes. She’s represented Canada on the Olympic and World Championship levels. She’s a two-time Olympic Medalist, bringing home a silver and bronze medal from the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Her first major international competition was in 2017 when she competed in the World Junior Swimming Championships in Indianapolis, representing Canada. At that first major international competition, Kayla took home two individual medals and a slew of gold medals with her team. Kayla then went on to compete with Canada’s 2018 Commonwealth Games team, and in 2019 she was a member of the inaugural International Swimming League.
Follow as Kayla, and her parents reminisce on her incredible journey and see how her parent’s sacrifices helped her achieve these dreams on this episode of “Making it in Canada.” You can catch the full episode of Kayla’s story premiering on MYX 1/30/22 at 7 pm PST.
About The “Making It” Series:
The “Making It” series is a new MYX original series that follows the multigenerational, challenging journey of successful Filipino entrepreneurs, artists & community leaders globally. The story documents the sacrifice and immigration of their parents & friends from the Philippines, that worked hard to help raise them and kickstart their careers.
M. Cynthia Goh is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Toronto. She is the founder of the Impact Centre, an institute that aims to bring science to society, and was the inaugural Academic Director of the University of Toronto Entrepreneurship. Her research interest centers on the interactions and properties of very large molecules, which impact nanotechnology, biomaterials, and bio diagnostics. Her other passions are the translation of scientific discovery to technology/products that benefit society, the training of scientist-entrepreneurs, and technology development for low resource settings. Her research has led to 8 science-based companies, which she has co-founded with her students, including Axela (medical diagnostics based on diffractive optics), Vive Crop Protection (nanotechnology in agriculture), Pueblo Science (non-profit for science literacy in low resource communities worldwide) and Phantin (nanomaterials coatings for environmental issues). In 2003 she originated Entrepreneurship101, an introduction for students who want to be entrepreneurs, which expanded to thousands registered annually.
In 2010 she founded Techno, an intensive training program for scientists/engineers who wish to create science-based companies; in its 10 years, this program nucleated and nurtured 150+ student-led start-ups based on university research. Her current work involves applications of nanomaterials to health and environmental issues and building community-based innovation systems in Canada and the Philippines. Follow Cynthia and her colleague and co-founder of Pueblo Science, Mayrose Sandoval, as they walk us through Cynthia’s journey. See how Cynthia's passions and skills have led her to head a project on lighting up remote villages and developing a virtual library system for remote communities on this episode of “Making it in Canada.”
About The “Making It” Series:
The “Making It” series is a new MYX original series that follows the multigenerational, challenging journey of successful Filipino entrepreneurs, artists & community leaders globally. The story documents the sacrifice and immigration of their parents & friends from the Philippines, that worked hard to help raise them and kickstart their careers.
Josephine Yam is an AI lawyer, AI ethicist, and the CEO & Co-Founder of Skills4Good. She is a passionate advocate of equity, diversity & inclusion to advance fairness, accountability, and sustainability in this AI-driven world. She is also an equity, diversity, and inclusion specialist and climate change advocate. She migrated to the Philippines to Canada to pursue a new career that came with its own challenges. See how she overcame them alongside her husband and children, inspired by her Grandfather in her "Making it in Canada" episode.
About The “Making It” Series:
The “Making It” series is a new MYX original series that follows the multigenerational, challenging journey of successful Filipino entrepreneurs, artists & community leaders globally. The story documents the sacrifice and immigration of their parents & friends from the Philippines, that worked hard to help raise them and kickstart their careers.
Belle Baldoza is a creative brand storyteller with over 15 years in the PR and Communications industry. She’s worked for leading and innovative companies such as Spotify, Netflix, Airbnb, Uber, and TikTok. A graduate of the University of the Philippines, her career has led her to Thailand, Singapore, and Canada as the Director of Global Consumer and Brand Communications at TikTok. Belle takes us through her journey, finding her way in the industry as she took chances on her career and herself, making sacrifices as a single mom with help and support from her loving family. Belle and her Daughter Clair re-call the years of being separated as Belle moved abroad and began to make her stamp in the industry. Follow along as Belle talks about taking these chances and leaps of faith and how she got to where is she is today on this episode of “Making it in Canada.”
About The “Making It” Series:
The “Making It” series is a new MYX original series that follows the multigenerational, challenging journey of successful Filipino entrepreneurs, artists & community leaders globally. The story documents the sacrifice and immigration of their parents & friends from the Philippines, that worked hard to help raise them and kickstart their careers.
Rechie Valdez made history as Canada’s first Filipina Member of Parliament. Prior to being elected, she worked in banking & owned her own baking businesses that inspired her to become the voice for the community. Originally from Zambia, Africa, she migrated to Ontario with her parents at a young age, and now has 2 children of her own. Discover her journey, parent’s sacrifice & hard work it took to get to live out her dreams on our new original series, "Making it in Canada."
Watch worldwide on 12/7 7:30P PST at www.myx.global/livetv or on the @iwanttfc OTT.
About Making it in...
Making it in... is a new MYX & TFC original series that follows the multigenerational journey of migrant families that have created top Filipino entrepreneurs, artists, leaders in various parts of the world like America, Canada, the Philippines, Europe and beyond.
Daniel Cancino is a Filipino-Canadian Chef and Owner of Mineral Restaurant in Toronto, Canada. He was born in Hong Kong, moved back to the Philippines, and eventually migrated to Canada with his family in search of better education and better life. Daniel takes us through his migration story alongside his brother, Richard. They give us insights into the challenges of settling in new environments and having to battle with their cultural identities growing up. See how Daniel’s high school job as a dishwasher led him to realize that he wanted to venture into the world of culinary arts and become a Chef, eventually also becoming an entrepreneur and opening up his restaurant in Toronto. Follow his story of taking a chance and trusting his talents and passion on this episode of “Making it in Canada.”
About The “Making It” Series:
The “Making It” series is a new MYX original series that follows the multigenerational, challenging journey of successful Filipino entrepreneurs, artists & community leaders globally. The story documents the sacrifice and immigration of their parents & friends from the Philippines, that worked hard to help raise them and kickstart their careers.
The comedian Keith Pedro is one of Canada's most known comedians. He has been featured on Kevin Hart's new Laugh Out Loud Network and Russell Peters' Roast Battle Canada. Keith has been headlining legendary Yuk Yuks and touring all across the globe from Montreal's Just For Laughs comedy festival to CBC's Halifax Comedy Festival & the Filipino Kings of Comedy Tour alongside Jo Koy.
Watch his "Making it in Canada" journey that included being featured on the E-Talk Sketch Crew "THE BOOM," acting on Degrassi The Next Generation, being on Sirius XM, and his comedy albums "Grindecology" & "Trillipino." Keith's mom sought a better life in Canada for her children early on as a migrant RN from the Philippines. Although it took some time for her to understand her son's career path, she can now enjoy seeing Keith and her grandchildren grow up with endless opportunities.
About The “Making It” Series:
The “Making It” series is a new MYX original series that follows the multigenerational, challenging journey of successful Filipino entrepreneurs, artists & community leaders globally. The story documents the sacrifice and immigration of their parents & friends from the Philippines, that worked hard to help raise them and kickstart their careers.
