Jemuel Apelar

Jemuel (Jim) Palomar Apelar (born November 27, 1957) is a Filipino-American entrepreneur, leader, consultant, athlete, and philanthropist. Apelar is President and CEO of Excelsis Consortium, Inc., President of Philippine Ski Federation, one of the founders of Troy Philippines at the University of Southern California, & the Director of Recruitment for FAI (Filipino Athletes International) and its program POODC (Philippine Overseas Olympic Development Committee). He is also a recipient of the SIPA Award (Search to Involve Pilipino Americans), one of the highest recognitions for service to the Filipino-American community.

Background

Jim was born in Romblon, Romblon, Philippines to father Rev. Angelino Apelar and mother, Purita Palomar Apelar, a pioneering missionary Christian pastor/couple in the Philippines and in the United States. His parents planted an additional six churches (it has grown to 30+ churches now) before they moved to Manila.

In 1972, the family migrated to Los Angeles, California. Jim attended and graduated from Belmont High School along with his only sister, Faith. He went on in college in 1975 and was accepted to University of Southern California, majoring in Business Entrepreneurship. He spent his freshman year at USC but switched to Cal State University, Los Angeles to run track and field. Cal State LA originally recruited him to be a sprinter/long jumper. He went back to USC in his junior and senior years after fracturing his ankle long jumping for Cal State LA and retired from running and jumping.

Throughout his life he has been continually placed in leadership positions: always in the top 3 scholastic honors each grade during grade school, co-captain of the high school varsity basketball (’74-’75) and track and field teams ('73 to '75), President of the church youth organization in the various churches his father has established (a total of 7 here in the Los Angeles area). He is one of the founders of Troy Philippines, one of the most active clubs at USC and a recipient of SIPA Award (Search to Involve Pilipino Americans). [ [http://www.abs-cbnglobal.com/ItoangPinoy/Entertainment/ShowbizNews/tabid/136/ArticleID/1563/TargetModuleID/511/Default.aspx ] ] He also has been very active in church leadership and is currently the Financial Secretary and church board member of the Alliance Bible Church of Downey.

In high school, he was one of the top long jumpers(24 ft 2 in) in California. His sprints 100 yard dash – 10.0 and 440 yard dash split of 48.2 seconds enabled his relay team to reach the state finals. This Belmont High School record still holds until today. Only a career ending injury prevented him from reaching his goal. He excelled and holds many championship and MVP trophies in basketball playing in leagues since 1973 playing under the team named Goldilocks Bake Shop and Wah Sang Lung in Chinatown.

Involvement

In 1997, he established The Athletic Alliance, a basketball league made up of various Filipino churches under different denominations such as Christian and Missionary Alliance, Southern Baptist, Methodists, Presbyterians, Word for the World and other church groups.

He runs a business and is currently the President and CEO of Excelsis Consortium, Inc., a marketing company selling various financial, real estate and insurance services.

He is also the President of Philippine Ski Federation, a national federation with FIS (International Ski Federation, governing body of snow skiing and snowboarding) since 1999. [ [http://www.philippineski.org/ ] ]

He is the Director of Recruitment for FAI (Filipino Athletes International) & its program POODC (Philippine Overseas Olympic Development Committee). He was invited by Dick Padron, together with Mercy Jalandoni, Benito Miranda, Doug Bautista, Cirilo Pinlac, Winston Emano and Ban Montoya to create a program for our Fil-Am youth of reaching this lofty goal. Scouring through the web pages, attending meets and partnering with the Philippine Consulates and Philippine Olympic Committee, here are some of the results from their recruitment program of various Fil-Am individuals who have had an impact in the whole Filipino American community in sports the last two years:

Daniel Coakley, Hawaii – Swimmer, Freestyle– qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Diane Pascua, Solana Beach, CA and Heidi Ilustre, Carson, CA –Beach Volleyball-currently #32 in the world trying to make the top 24 for the Beijing Olympics. They are currently in the American AVP and World FIVB Circuit. [ [http://www.cebusmile.com/2008/04/01/volley-of-talent/ ] ]

Chad Mowrey - Manhattan Beach, CA and Kimo Tuyay - San Diego, CA– Beach Volleyball – World FIVB Circuit.

Mary Grace Baldo - Ice skating – World Junior Skating Championships 2008

Melissa Glans – Fort Collins, CO – Skiing – World Junior Skiing Championships 2006

Eden Serina – Palos Verdes, CA – Snowboarding- World Snowboarding Championships 2007

Charlie Walker - Peterborough, England, U.K - Philippine & British Swimmer [ [http://www.pinoyswimming.com/News/2008/03.22.08.htm ] ]

Jim’s dream of reaching the highest level of competition has been fulfilled by these athletes whom most he personally recruited for the Philippine team. He said, “In the end, Olympism is not about the country you represent but is about the individual achieving his/her dream through sports competition”. It is through the POODC program that these goals were realized.

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He is married to Gladys Antonio Apelar. They have 5 children. Jezreel Gaius, 19, a sophomore at USC (USC Fencing Team); Krizia Leah, 18 (Senior-Long Beach Poly High) is a standout in sprints and a member of the National Youth Philippine Track Team [ [http://blogs.inquirer.net/sportsaficionado/2007/09/14/fil-canadian-sprinter-sparkles/comment-page-4/ ] ] ; Jeriel David, 16 (Junior, Lakewood High)– Volleyball, U.S.A.Jr. Select National Volleyball Team; Jezekiel Mark, 10; and Jeiel Elijah, 8 years old. [ [http://www.newsflash.org/2003/05/sp/sp002970.htm Sporting Chance: Readers Take Over ] ] [ [http://www.klingenthal.de/vsc/Partner/Verbaende_ohne.htm Ski - Links - Verbände ] ] Jim is also the first-cousin of Jared Palomar, the bassist for the band Augustana.

References