Voice of Fil-America

Political empowerment is still a treasure that eludes us as a community here in America. While we are the second largest Asian American community in the United States, we have yet to harvest the power that comes from our numbers. The Voice of FilAmerica features elected and appointed officials – regardless of political affiliation – in the different US states who are of Filipino ancestry. As your Filipino American community newspaper, the Asian Journal recognizes the fact that we all have a responsibility towards bringing political empowerment to fruition, especially for our future generations. It is our hope to have our voices heard all over America.

David Pendleton: Former State Representative of Hawaii, Board Member, Hawaii Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board

Tuesday, 01 September 2009 22:02 AJPress

(1 vote, average: 5.00 out of 5)

David Pendleton: Former State Representative of Hawaii, Board Member, Hawaii Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board

FILIPINO-American David Pendleton, 42, was born in Glendale, Calif., and moved to Hawaii when he was in preschool. He went to Windward Adventist School and then Hawaii Mission Academy. In high school, he already had an interest in government and politics, and was elected class and student council president.

For a short time at La Sierra Campus, he was a pre-med student. But Pendleton soon switched to a history and political science double major with a theology minor. He went on to receive a master’s in religion from Loma Linda and became a minister. At the time, he was debating whether the best way to serve in his career was as a minister or in public service. Pendleton decided to get a law degree from the University of Southern California and is admitted to practice law in Hawai`i and California.

Dominic Yagong - Hawaii County councilman

Tuesday, 25 August 2009 23:56 Joseph Pimentel / AJPress Los Angeles

FIL-AM Dominic Yagong was among the several Filipino American elected officials recognized by the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) at an appreciation and fundraising dinner last year.

Yagong (D-HI) serves on the big island of Hawaii County Council. He served in that capacity from 1996 to 2002 before vacating the seat to focus more on his career. He is the District Manager for Food Pantry Ltd. He oversees 12 business operations across the Big Island of Hawaii - Oceanview, Pahoa, Waikoloa, South Kohala, and North and South Kona. He is also a high school football broadcaster. He is known as the "Voice of the Honoka’a Dragons."

First Fil-Am elected in the US Mainland: Larry Asera

Wednesday, 19 August 2009 00:23 AJPress

(2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)

First Fil-Am elected in the US Mainland: Larry Asera

LARRY L. ASERA, dubbed as the energy czar of Vallejo, California, has accomplished many "firsts" for a Filipino in America in the fields of politics and business.

Asera was the very first Filipino American to be elected in the US mainland. At age 24, Mr. Asera was elected the youngest person elected to the Vallejo City Council in 1973. At 27, he became a member of the Solano Board of Supervisors and eventually the board chairman at age 29, the youngest county Board member and chairman in the history of Solano County.

In 1981, he was appointed by Governor Brown as Deputy Secretary of State and chairman of the State Building Standards Commission, making him the first Filipino American to serve in a state cabinet-level post in California and the US. He also became the first Filipino American to be engaged as legislative consultant to both the State Senate and the State Assembly. Asera’s pioneering feats have inspired other Filipino American politicians to seek elective and appointive positions especially in the Bay area and nearby cities.

Danny Mateo

Wednesday, 12 August 2009 10:26 Joseph Pimentel / AJPress Los Angeles

FIL-AM Danny Mateo credits his father’s hard work for all the success he’s achieved in life.

Mateo is a member of the Maui County Council. He represents Molokai. He was appointed to by the Maui County Council to fill the vacant council seat of the late Maui County Council Chair, Patrick S. Kawano of Molokai in 2002. The community then elected him to the seat a few years later.

Father’s Hard Work

Like many second or third generation Filipinos in Hawaii, Mateo is the son of a sakada, a Filipino migrant who worked in Hawaii’s pineapple and sugarcane plantations.

Mateo’s father left Laoag City, Philippines in the mid-1920’s to work on a sugarcane plantation. He was being paid only $20 a month and raised nine children, with Danny as the eighth in the family.

Joseph ‘Joe’ Pontanilla

Wednesday, 05 August 2009 00:52 AJPress

FILAM Joseph "Joe" Pontanilla, a councilmember on the Maui County Council, tackles issues from the declining state and nation’s economy to land use and zoning rights.

Pontanilla, a Democrat, represents the Kahului residency area. He is the Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee. As Chairman, he is responsible for reviewing and considering financial and performance audits; budget, capital program, bond authorizations, and intergovernmental loans; and taxes, rates, fees, and assessments for inclusion in the budget, among other duties.

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Page 3 of 18

Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

David Pendleton: Former State Representative of Hawaii, Board Member, Hawaii Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board

Dominic Yagong - Hawaii County councilman

First Fil-Am elected in the US Mainland: Larry Asera

Danny Mateo

Joseph ‘Joe’ Pontanilla

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