Grooming 3 for CA assembly

SAN FRANCISCO—The problem is not that Filipino-Americans have no voice. But in the words of author Harlan Ellison, slightly paraphrased, they have no mouths and they must scream.

In a word: empowerment.

This was the theme of the recent joint National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) Region 8 and Friends of the Filipino American Community – Political Action Committee (FFAC-APAC) summit at Pier 39’s fast-rising Hana Zen Restaurant.

Aid to Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, Genevieve Jopanda revealed the problem, gleaning from 2010 U.S. Census data.

“Filipinos rank second in total population in Northern California, right behind the Chinese and before the Asian Indians,” she said. “In order to represent Asian Pacific islanders (API), including Filipinos, we  would need 10 members in the Assembly with three of them Filipinos, five members in the Senate with one or two Filipinos, seven members in Congress with two of them Filipinos. And right now we have zero Filipinos in the Assembly, the Senate and Congress in California. The issue that we have is how to fill this void.”

NaFFAA and FFAC-APAC gathered the three qualified candidates of Filipino ancestry to be elected to the California State Assembly for the empowerment event:  Alameda Vice Mayor Rob Bonta, Lathrop Vice Mayor Chris Mateo and Alameda County Status of Women Commissioner Dr. Jennifer Ong.

Mateo said, “Empowerment only translates to one word and for me it means to vote.” Mateo, Bonta and Ong expressed excitement at the prospect of being within striking distance of the State Assembly.

But for many of the assembled community leaders, lobbyists, activists and media members that night, the frustration of losing those seats to non-Filipino candidates because of voter apathy was palpable.

The tale of numerous successful Fil-Am mayors and city council who stepped up to the plate, only to lose by a few hundred votes is familiar.

But the numbers say Filipino-Americans can win.

New America Media’s Chief of Staff and Executive Producer Odette Keeley pointed out how ethnic votes can be the game changer. “In the last 12 years, California’s registered voters have increased by over 1.3 million. All of it coming from the state’s ethnic voters. So, there’s a lot to mobilize there.”

Citing non-partisan sources from New America Media, Keeley pointed out overwhelming numbers in California voter’s preferences in this year’s presidential election.

For example, in polling preferences between Obama (D) and Romney (R), White non-Hispanic voters for Obama were up to 48 per cent versus 43 per cent for Romney.  Latinos were 68 per cent for Obama versus 21 per cent for Romney. African-Americans were 80 per cent for Obama versus 13 per cent for Romney. Asian Americans were 65 per cent for Obama versus 21 per cent for Romney.

In Democratic Party versus Republican Party, White non-Hispanic voters who preferred Democrats were only 38 per cent versus 42 per cent who preferred Republicans. But Latinos who preferred Democrats were 63 per cent versus 22 per cent who preferred Republicans. African-Americans who preferred Democrats numbered 65 per cent versus 13 per cent who preferred Republicans. And Asian-Americans who were pro-Democrats numbered 51 per cent versus 25 per cent who were pro-Republicans.

Keeley said, “The bottom line for us at New America Media is that ethnic votes, including Filipinos, are the make or break votes this election year.”

With so much at stake, the call for community awareness, campaigning and contributions were echoed by master of ceremonies and NaFFAA Region 8 Monterey Bay chairman Ben Menor, NaFFAA Region 8 chair emeritus Jose Pecho, API’s American Public Affairs Association (APAA) president Joel Ong, FFAC—PAC president Henry Manayan and media maven Lorna Dietz.

NaFFAA’s National Legal Counsel and columnist Rodel Rodis chaired the election for the new NaFFAA officers. Winners were: Lorna Dietz, Regional chair; Clarence Madrilejos, Regional Youth chair; Genevieve Jopanda, Regional vice-chair; Jinni Mabalot Bartolome, Regional treasurer; Tim Novero, Regional secretary; Jose Pecho, Regional chair emeritus; Rudy Asercion, San Francisco chair; Jinni Bartolome, San Mateo chair; Charito Benipayo, Alameda chair; and Ben Menor, Monterey Bay chair.

Also in attendance were Hana Zen owner and San Francisco Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce President Angie Louie. Slated first speaker and educator Alice Bulos did not make it due to illness and bad weather.