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May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The number of Asian Americans in Vermont has grown by almost 55% over the last 10 years. That’s according to the nonprofit Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote.Still, Asian Americans only make up about 2% of Vermont’s population. The Filipino community in the Green Mountain State has been more visible in recent years, with more Filipino entrepreneurs opening businesses. JR Perez opened Nagueňos Filipino American Diner in Essex Junction last year with business partners. A year later, he and his wife, Emma, run the business while raising their two kids. Perez says his love for cooking started in his hometown, Naga City, Philippines, where his mom would make home-cooked meals for him and his six siblings.“Life is tough but then mom is making sure that every day we have fresh and delicious food,” said Perez.Perez immigrated to the U.S. in 2018 after working as a chef on a cargo ship. Determined to build a life for himself from scratch, he worked in the kitchen at the Hilton Hotel in Burlington before finally deciding to open his restaurant. Perez had to learn every aspect of the business, from ordering ingredients to navigating customer service. Through his hard work, Perez is using the success of his restaurant to help his family in the Philippines.“I just finished paying my brother’s college tuition fee. He graduates in June,” said Perez. The spirit of giving and lending a helping hand is strong in Filipino culture.“My husband and I decided to host a potluck for Filipino chefs last year. We did it again this year,” said Willie Docto, the co-owner of Moose Meadow Lodge in Waterbury and a Filipino American himself.Docto brought together the handful of Filipino American entrepreneurs, including Perez, living and working in the Green Mountain State — bonding over the culture that plays a part in each of their businesses.“When we welcome guests here we don’t ask them if they’d like a drink when they first arrive, we hand them a drink,” said Docto. Docto and his husband, Greg, opened the Moose Meadow Lodge in 1998. At that point, they had only lived in Vermont for two years. “When I moved to Vermont, I was prepared that I would be a little bit different from most people who already lived here,” said Docto.He immigrated to America from Manila, Philippines with his mom, dad, grandmother and two sisters in 1969 with just $100 to their name. Fifty-five years later, he’s living the “American dream” his parents had hoped for him and his siblings.When he’s not running his business or playing the violin with the Montpelier Orchestra and Vermont Philharmonic, he’s serving on the Vermont Travel and Recreation Council and the Board of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, passing on the success he built for himself. “I’m really encouraged that Vermont is bucking the trend from other parts of the country where we are welcoming people of color and diversity here,” said Docto.
May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The number of Asian Americans in Vermont has grown by almost 55% over the last 10 years. That’s according to the nonprofit Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote.
Still, Asian Americans only make up about 2% of Vermont’s population.
The Filipino community in the Green Mountain State has been more visible in recent years, with more Filipino entrepreneurs opening businesses.
JR Perez opened Nagueňos Filipino American Diner in Essex Junction last year with business partners. A year later, he and his wife, Emma, run the business while raising their two kids. Perez says his love for cooking started in his hometown, Naga City, Philippines, where his mom would make home-cooked meals for him and his six siblings.
“Life is tough but then mom is making sure that every day we have fresh and delicious food,” said Perez.
Perez immigrated to the U.S. in 2018 after working as a chef on a cargo ship. Determined to build a life for himself from scratch, he worked in the kitchen at the Hilton Hotel in Burlington before finally deciding to open his restaurant.
Perez had to learn every aspect of the business, from ordering ingredients to navigating customer service.
Through his hard work, Perez is using the success of his restaurant to help his family in the Philippines.
“I just finished paying my brother’s college tuition fee. He graduates in June,” said Perez.
The spirit of giving and lending a helping hand is strong in Filipino culture.
“My husband and I decided to host a potluck for Filipino chefs last year. We did it again this year,” said Willie Docto, the co-owner of Moose Meadow Lodge in Waterbury and a Filipino American himself.
Docto brought together the handful of Filipino American entrepreneurs, including Perez, living and working in the Green Mountain State — bonding over the culture that plays a part in each of their businesses.
“When we welcome guests here we don’t ask them if they’d like a drink when they first arrive, we hand them a drink,” said Docto.
Docto and his husband, Greg, opened the Moose Meadow Lodge in 1998. At that point, they had only lived in Vermont for two years.
“When I moved to Vermont, I was prepared that I would be a little bit different from most people who already lived here,” said Docto.
He immigrated to America from Manila, Philippines with his mom, dad, grandmother and two sisters in 1969 with just $100 to their name. Fifty-five years later, he’s living the “American dream” his parents had hoped for him and his siblings.
When he’s not running his business or playing the violin with the Montpelier Orchestra and Vermont Philharmonic, he’s serving on the Vermont Travel and Recreation Council and the Board of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce, passing on the success he built for himself.
“I’m really encouraged that Vermont is bucking the trend from other parts of the country where we are welcoming people of color and diversity here,” said Docto.