Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

NORWALK – ABC Unified School District Board Member Mark Pulido on Saturday asked members of Pangasinan Brotherhood USA – one of the largest umbrella organizations of Filipino hometown associations in America – to lead the movement for Filipino American political empowerment in America during its 32nd Anniversary Gala and Induction held at the Marriott Hotel on Saturday, July 24.

"My simple challenge to the Pangasinan Brotherhood is to help lead the way for our community. To be the vanguard of the movement for political empowerment here in America," Pulido, a twice-elected ABC USD board member, told members of the organization.

Pulido, together with Artesia Mayor Protem Victor Manalo, Carson Mayor Pro Tem Elito Santarina, Duarte Mayor Pro Tem Tzeitel Paras-Caracci, Walnut Mayor Pro Tem Tony Cartagena, Claremont Councilman Corey Calaycay, Vernon Councilman Bill Davis, and ABC Unified School Board Member and US Army Major Armin Reyes, are the 8 Filipino American elected officials currently serving in Los Angeles County.

"I am proud to be a part of this movement for political empowerment in America," Pulido said. "I am even more pleased that our Filipino-American community is becoming more and more involved in the mainstream decision-making process of our schools and communities by voting at the ballot booth, getting involved, running for office and serving with integrity and dedication." Pulido, who was born in Bellflower to Filipino parents, now lives in Cerritos with his wife Gloria (nee Perlas), 8-year-old daughter Malia and 1-year-old son Mark Jr.

Pulido, who is serving his third 4-year term at ABC USD and also served as President of the Board in 2007 to 2008, said that Filipino Americans could do more. He said that he was hopeful that soon the Filipino American community would elect highly qualified Fil-Am candidates where there are large concentrations of Filipinos but have no representation – cities like Glendale, West Covina, Long Beach and Los Angeles. Pulido added that he was hopeful the community would soon witness that historic day when "we finally elect a Filipino American to the California Assembly, the California Senate and even in the United States Congress."

"There is tremendous promise in the air. I know this, because two rising stars of our community made history recently," said Pulido, who studied at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and at University of Chicago, where he earned his Masters degree in Public Policy. Pulido was excited about the appointment of Mona Pasquil early this year as Acting Lieutenant Governor and the nomination by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of Appellate Justice Tani Gorre Cantil Sakauye to be the next Chief Justice of California. "Both of these young Filipina Americans are daughters of Filipino farm workers who came to this country to work the fields of California and plantations of Hawaii."