Philippine Embassy in Washington DC Hails Politically Active Fil-Am Community on Eve of Inauguration Day

20 January 2013 – On Sunday, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. and Mrs. Maria Victoria Cuisia hosted a reception in honor of Filipino-Americans who actively participated in the US elections last year. Many came from different parts of the US to witness the inauguration of US President Barack Obama and join in inaugural festivities in the nation’s capital.
“Since I assumed the office of the Philippine Ambassador, it has been my personal advocacy to get more Filipino Americans to be politically active,” Ambassador Cuisia said.
He cited the election of twenty-five (25) Filipino-Americans last November and congratulated them and their supporters. He also praised the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations (NaFFAA) for their hard work in educating, persuading and pushing their fellow Filipino-Americans to register and vote. He also commended the Filipino American Vote Coalition of Hampton Roads (FAVCHOR) and the KAYA-Filipino Americans for Progress in California for their efforts.

”In the coming years, we look forward to seeing more local initiatives that empower the Filipino American community and demonstrate their strength to policy makers,” he added.
In attendance were Commission on Filipinos Overseas Chairperson Secretary Imelda M. Nicolas, Deputy Assistant Secretary Francey Youngberg of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Rob Bonta of the California Assembly, Delegate Kris Valderrama of the Maryland House of Delegates, Commissioner Hector Vargas, Jr. of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, DC Superior Court Associate Justice Maribeth Raffinan, Former Delegate David Valderrama, and Henry Howard of the US Education Finance Group. Also at the event were four students from the Philippines who were invited to witness the President’s inauguration on Monday, 21 January 2013– Ms. Leslie Ching, Ms. Trina Samson, Mr. Anton Reloj, and Ms. Salve Anne Marie Villarosa.
Filipino-Americans representing various political and cause-oriented organizations from New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las Vegas among others also attended the event.
Ambassador Cuisia, at the same time, thanked and congratulated election volunteers from the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations (NaFFAA) who were instrumental in ensuring a larger turnout from the Filipino-American electorate.
Twenty-five Filipino Americans elected last November included Democrat Rep. Robert Scott who made a successful bid for an 11th term as representative of the Third District of Virginia. He is the first American of Filipino descent to become a voting member of the US House of Representatives. Also elected in Virginia was Leonard Tengco to the Virginia Beach School Board.
In California, Vice Mayor Rob Bonta of Alameda became the first Filipino-American to be elected to the State Assembly (18th District). Other successful Filipino-American candidates were reelectionist Mayor of Milpitas Jose Esteves, Alameda City Council Member Tony Daysog, Union City Council Member Jim Navarro, Evergreen School District Trustee Vince Songcayawon, San Jose Evergreen Community College Area 1 Trustee Rudy Nasol, and San Jose Evergreen Community College Area 5 Trustee Wendy Ho.
Elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives were: Gilbert S. Keith-Agaran (9th District); Della Au Belatti (24th District); Romy Cachola (30th District); Henry Aquino (38th District); Ty Cullen (39th District) and Rida Cabanilla-Arakawa (41st District).
Elected to the Hawaii State Senate were: Brickwood M. Galuteria (12th District), Donna Mercado Kim (14th District); Will Espero (19th District); and Donovan Dela Cruz (22nd District). Also elected were Kymberly Marcos Pine, Joey Manahan and Ron Menor as members of the Honolulu City Council; Greggor Ilagan as member of the Hawaii County Council; and Don Guzman as member of the Maui County Council.
Also elected last November 2012 was Dennis G. Rodriguez Jr. to the 32nd Legislature of Guam, unincorporated territory of the US.