Angelica Varona Camara, a financial specialist for the city of Milwaukee housing authority, also owns her own business preparing and selling Filipino food as part of creating awareness and education of Filipino food and culture.

Camara has been a liaison/co-liaison for the Filipino Catholic Ministry and will help represent the community at the Jan. 14 installation of the Most Rev. Jeffrey S. Grob as the 12th Archbishop of Milwaukee.

She lives in Brown Deer and says her parish depends where she is at the moment — supporting the churches the Filipino Catholic Ministry engages in.

Camara has two daughters, one son and two granddaughters.

What is something that inspires you?

Creative people who love what they do and make a difference in art, social justice, being kind and building ways to help sustain someone, groups or wildlife and nature.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

My Filipino fusion food establishment that I started in the late 1990s. I took a break to raise my kids and have continued it again since 2017. Whether it is a passion or a hobby that is hard work, just to see people enjoy what I make, get suggestions to improve it and keep going, and meeting many interesting people is rewarding.

Why are you so active with the Filipino Catholic Ministry?

Serving as liaison/co-liaison for the Filipino Catholic Ministry gave me opportunities for evangelizing, creating cultural awareness of our Filipino Community, and our similar yet differences of our Catholic faith. I’ve helped teams of people come together for special traditional rituals such as the Simbang Gabi, San Pedro Calungson Feast Day, San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila Feast Day, Santacruzan, Flores De Mayo and the Simulog (11 a.m. Jan. 19 at Divine Mercy, South Milwaukee). The Filipino Catholic Ministry also partners with San Camillus, Schoenstatt, the School Sisters of St. Francis, The Carmelites, St. Lawrence Seminary in Fond du Lac and organizations and families who would like to have a Mass at their events or homes, respectively.

Where would you like to travel?

The Philippines one day since I have never gone back since the day I came to the U.S at age 8. It’s a luxury and leisure to travel. If I can afford it, I will do it. There are many places yet to be discovered around me even in the U.S.

What do you want to get better at?

Getting some time for myself. I like to give of myself, and sometimes, I forget that I need some time for myself. I am from a lineage of people who set others first before themselves, and I can understand why they love to give. It is faith based, for God. My grandmother on my father’s side would spread a table of food outside her house at times for anyone from the street to eat. That was one of her birthday gifts of gratitude. When I was a young kid in the Philippines, my father and mother treated patients in exchange for what they could give, so we had 22 dogs, lots of chickens, pigs, fish, vegetables and fruits and monkeys. It was like a Dr. Dolittle’s place. My mother sponsored kids to go to school.

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

That I can cook Filipino food because I grew up in the U.S. A global citizen can learn to cook anything they set their mind to cooking.

What art have you been enjoying lately?

The last Netflix movie I watched was “The Star,” an animated movie of animals who talked about their version of the Nativity. My cat even watched it with me as she sat on the floor. I have been reading children’s books with my grandkids. I listen more to homilies by Fr. Jerry Orbos on YouTube, and when driving, listen to music. Positive and encouraging listening. My favorite movie is “Monty Python’s Life of Brian.”

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Compete with yourself and not with anyone else, and without integrity, nothing works.

What is the best advice you generally give?

Integrity is important; it is to keep your word unless there is a reason you cannot and understand the consequences of any action.

What is your biggest regret?

Not seeing my father during his last months alive when he asked me to see him. Life is short, and as elders, the joy of family or a companion is something to look forward to. My father never told us he was dying. I saw him at his work as it was his passion to care for people. After my work, I would help him with his medical practice. I did not want to upset my stepmother’s time with him, so I was mindful of when it was best to see him. In the end, a continuum of my regret was not to continue his office practice, perhaps with another doctor. I helped start my mother’s medical office practice in the 1990s, when it was her wish to have her own practice as well. She passed away shortly after opening it, but at least, she was given that opportunity to say, “I had my own business.”