Daly City names Citizen, Youth, Business of the Year awardees
Citizen of the Year winner Dorie Paniza with former Daly City Mayor Ray Buenaventura, Youth of the Year winner Jasmine Cruz and Mayor’s Business Award of the Year winner Westlake Coffee Shop, owned and operated by Joon and Moon Choi. FILAMSTAR PHOTO
DALY CITY, California – The Daly City Council’s annual custom of recognizing outstanding performance and service in the community coincided with its reorganization meeting last December 14, and the recognition ceremony proved to be the one bright spot in an otherwise politically charged meeting that has characterized many of the council’s meetings.
Certificates were given to Citizen of the Year awardee Dorie Paniza, Youth of the Year Jasmine Cruz and Mayor’s Business Award of the Year winner, Westlake Coffee Shop, owned and operated by Korean Americans Joon and Moon Choi.
Mayor Raymond Buenaventura apologized for the lateness of the meeting because the council had to be in a closed session on the second floor. In the time it took the council to gather, protesters distributed fliers and waved placards against the proposed nine percent salary raise for some of the city’s top managers.
Community leader
Buenaventura said the he knew Paniza and her work personally. The one-time Commissioner of Arts and Culture and Library Board of Trustees member is the current NorCal President of 6Beds. Buenaventura read an exhaustive list of Paniza’s involvement in various community and Filipino groups.
He said, “It’s too many to list them all. But when she does a project, she brings the entire community along. It’s her way of getting others to do the job.”
When it was her turn to speak, Paniza admitted, “I’m shaking.” But the indomitable community leader went on to thank just as many mentors and supporters as her involvements, including her 97-year-old mom in the Philippines. She said, without all these people, she would not be present to receive the award. She also said, “I do my best to serve not only the Filipino community but the community at large.”
Said the representative for Congressman Jackie Speier, “If I see (a project) in Facebook, it’s Dorie behind it.”
Young achiever
Buenaventura next presented the Youth of the Year Award to 13-year-old Jasmine Cruz. He said that he was impressed by her performance in “The Nutcracker” and chose her among the many candidates for the award.
Cruz started dancing at 3 ½ years old, learning jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary and classical ballet. At nine, she got the Hope Award at the Youth America Grand Prix. She bagged the gold at the World Ballet Competition’s introductory category in 2012. Then in 2013, the New York City Dance Alliance voted Cruz as National Outstanding Dancer.
Last year, Cruz was featured in Dance Spirit magazine. She won scholarships from Gelsey Kirkland, Boston Ballet and American Ballet Theater, to name a few. Cruz also performed at Pistahan and nursing homes. She has been a teacher’s aide at the Westlake School of Performing Arts.
Cruz, poised for one so young, thanked her family and said, “I dedicate it all to the youth with big dreams. You can achieve your dreams if you work hard.”
Iconic coffee shop
Buenaventura said Business of the Year awardee Westlake Coffee Shop is “iconic, represents home for a lot of Daly City seniors and the hub for many people to get a good cup of coffee.”
He also said the Coffee shop lost its lease at the shopping center two years ago. Several council meetings were held for a petition, even “labeling it as a historic” site, all to save it. Buenaventura said, “It was that much of an institution.” The Coffee shop survived and it is now near the theaters.
Moon and Joon Choi survived, too. He was career military in South Korea before he immigrated to the U.S. and got a teaching credential. They also built their own American Dream. A son-in-law is now at their second location.
End of term
Buenaventura then officially ended his term as mayor saying, “It was an honor and a privilege. I enjoyed every single minute of it and I will hold the experience dear to my heart.”
The council then went on to nominate the new Mayor and Vice-Mayor of Daly City.
Buenaventura nominated Vice-Mayor Sal Torres for Mayor. Councilmember Mike Guingona nominated Councilmember Judith Christensen for Mayor. With no objection and no other nominee, Sal Torres became Mayor.
Christensen thanked Guingona “for thinking of me.” Guingona requested to be heard and said, “People expect (that a councilmember) can become mayor after five years of service, but in 2010 that changed because there is no rule in doing that.”
Nevertheless, Councilmember David Canepa was made Vice-Mayor after Christensen nominated Guingona and Torres nominated Canepa.
Christiansen protested, “It’s not fair. It’s not honorable. It’s politics. I’m concerned because there’s no equal opportunity in the City Council. For five years, Ray (Buenaventura) and Sal (Torres) have just been trading seats. Each of us must have the same opportunity.”
Canepa said, “It’s an honor to serve you. We have differences of opinions but we can come to an agreement. We’re facing a complex issue. But this is a democracy and we can work out the differences.”
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