Francisco Vega: Peruvian American Leader

Francisco Vega, vice president of the Peruvian American Chamber of Commerce, working out of his home office.



Born in Lima, Peru, Francisco Vega came to the United States 40 years ago. He was 14 years old, and spoke minimal English.
“Imagine yourself sitting in a classroom and everyone is speaking Chinese, and you don’t,” he said, explaining what it was like for him at Washington Lee High School in Arlington. Luckily, he sat next to his bilingual cousin, who translated for him during classes.
Vega worked hard to learn English. “I used to walk around with my dictionary everywhere. I wanted to learn so bad,” he said. He said the library was his hang-out.
Now a youthful and fit 54, Vega is the vice president of the Peruvian American Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. He said the group had been largely inactive until recently, when the president, Ricardo Villanueva, took over and brought Vega on board to energize the group.
The chamber is particularly excited about the new Peru Free Trade Agreement signed last year by President Bush and is holding a series of talks about implementation of the agreement at the Peruvian Embassy. “We’re going places,” Vega said.
Vega created the Washington, D.C. version of the Hispanic Yellow Pages in 1985 and plans to start a web site devoted to informing local Hispanics what is going on in town on the weekends.
He estimates that there are now over 700,000 Hispanics in the metro area, and over 100,000 Peruvians.
Working out of his sprawling new home in Vienna, Vega comes from entrepreneurial stock. His mother, Graciela Vega, founded the Yellow Pages with him and his brother, Juan Vega. Graciela Vega, 75, still works full time with the Yellow Pages.
Juan Vega publishes a monthly business magazine, and his sister is starting her own cleaning company. Francisco Vega’s son, David, just started a car detailing business with Antonio Marquez, David’s cousin. This is a family with business in the blood.
Life was not always so easy for the Vega family. Vega’s father died in 1971, leaving Graciela Vega to provide for her three children in a new country.
She made sure her children had a chance at a college education. However, Vega had different plans. “I chose music over education,” he said, describing how he dropped out of college to play in a band.
Still, Vega appreciates the sacrifices Graciela Vega made to support her children. “Thanks to her, we have everything,” he said. “She is a fountain of inspiration for me.”
A man of varied interests, Vega plays bass guitar and sings back-up vocals in a band that plays Afro-Peruvian music. The band is playing a tribute this summer to Chabuca Granda, a legendary Peruvian singer who died 25 years ago. Vega also has an extensive art collection, featuring original works from various international artists.



When it comes to the issue of illegal immigration, Vega is torn. While he knows first hand that the United States has opportunities unheard of in some Central and South American countries, he still believes immigrants should try to enter the country legally. “I’m not in favor of saving or helping people who break the law,” he said.
Vega still goes back to Peru regularly to visit. He said when he goes back he enjoys eating at the local restaurants. “That’s all I do,” he said. “The food is just tremendous.”