Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

IT is just a few days before the elections, and we have been overfed by too many political ads by now. Inundated as we are, we cannot overlook the fact that there is one Filipino-American whose name is on the ballot.

Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who hails from a family of Filipino farm workers, was appointed by the governor to become the next Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court.

Her appointment is historical. If approved by the voters on November 2nd, she will be the youngest and first person of color to assume the highest judicial office in California. Having someone from our community be selected for this position is an honor not only for her, but for all Filipino-Americans.

Justice Cantil-Sakauye undoubtedly has the qualifications and experience in public service to head the high court. Starting as a prosecutor, she became a judge of the Municipal Court at the young age of 30. She was then appointed as a judge of the Superior Court, until she was elevated to her current position as a justice of the Court of Appeal.

Following her appointment to the highest court, she was unanimously confirmed by the Commission on Judicial Appointments headed by the current Chief Justice, Ronald George. The State Bar gave her its top rating, concluding that she has a brilliant mind and the ideal temperament for the job. A fellow justice from the Court of Appeal has praised her style, as it was "anchored in common sense for how the world works and how people operate."

It is remarkable how proud Justice Cantil-Sakauye is of her Filipino ancestry. Upon confirmation by the George Commission, she remarked that: "It brings a tear to my eye when people mention my grandparents or mention the history of Filipinos in California." Meeting her personally at the Pilipino Heritage event at CSU Dominguez Hills last weekend was a timely occasion. Tracing her roots as a girl who grew up in the agricultural California delta, she fondly spoke of the Filipino virtues she learned from her family. Love, respect, humility, kindness and willingness to do hard work. She proudly recounted how her Filipino upbringing gave her immeasurable strength.

I saw a role model in her. Though humble, she can be sharp. She is firm and strong. But make no mistake about it, she can be disarmingly charming.

The journey of how this Filipina reached these heights is a beautiful American story. Her parents are industrious Filipinos who valued higher education and dreamt of something better for their children. When she was a teenager, her mother brought her to hear a speech of a community leader and FiIipina lawyer, Gloria Ochoa. Inspired by who Gloria was and what she did, this young Filipina then knew what she could become.