Voice of Fil-America
One of the more seasoned Filipino American politicians in Northern California is six-term Union City councilmember Manuel Castillo Fernandez, who won his seat in his first try in 1987.
That 1987 victory, where he garnered the most votes out of 11 candidates to the City Council, earned Fernandez a place in history by becoming the first Fil-Am elected to political office in the County of Alameda.
After World War II, there was a large influx of Filipino workers who migrated to Guam. Consequently, Filipino-Americans make up nearly 25 percent of the voting population of the state. Yet, if you study the composure of the Guam Legislature, a Filipino has rarely been elected. One rare Fil-Am who has stood out because of his excellent service and outstanding qualities served as a Republican Senator for seven terms—Senator Ernesto Mercader Espaldon, M.D.
Known as "the doctor with a heart of gold", Senator Espaldon was born on November 11, 1926, to Cipriano Acuna Espaldon and Claudia Cadag Mercader in Simunul, Sulu Province, Philippines. Even as a young man, Ernesto Espaldon displayed exceptional qualities that made him stand head and shoulders above his fellowmen.
With a BS Architecture degree from the University of the Philippines, Diliman in 1982, and having worked in the architectural and civil engineering industry for ten years, Myrna de Vera believed that she could contribute to the planning of the City of Hercules when she applied for the position.
The Hercules City Council appointed Myrna de Vera as a planning commissioner on April 2005, and reappointed her on April 2007. She was voted by her fellow commissioners as Vice-Chairperson on April 2006, moved up to the position of Chairperson the year after, and is currently serving her second term as the Chairperson.
FILAM Rosby Teopaco believes in the power of one.
"One person can make a difference," he told the Asian Journal. "It doesn’t have to take a corporation to get things done."
Teopaco is hoping that he can make a difference in his new elected position.
Most recently, the City of Carson appointed Teopaco to serve as a member of the Mobilehome Park Rental Review Board commission last December.
BEING the first Filipino-American Commissioner in Daly City and the first Fil-Am to chair the 19th Assembly District Committee, Perla G. Ibarrientos still remains true to her vision – that is, to serve the community, especially the youth.
Ms. Ibarrientos’ civic engagement began in 1973 as a teacher’s aide in the classroom of her children and her involvement in education continued as she served on the PTA Board and was a member of the Parents Advisory Board at Westmoor High. Later on, she became one of the key figures in bringing qualified Filipino teachers into the local school district.
