Pinay elected as Daly City Mayor

The Filipino hub of Daly City elected a Filipina-American as its new mayor on Monday.

Mayor Juslyn Manalo previously held the position of vice mayor to Daly City, which has the highest concentration of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans of any mid-sized city in North America.

Manalo’s track record includes service to Filipino World War II veterans and housing programs for lower income families.

Joining Manalo in serving Daly City is another Filipino, Ray Buenaventura. Buenaventura will serve as the city’s new vice mayor.


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2 Pinays win prestigious Daly City awards

DALY CITY, California – For the first time in Daly City’s history, two Filipinos were bestowed the city’s highest yearly honor for its residents.

Outgoing Daly City Mayor and Filipino American Ray Buenaventura named Dorie Paniza as Citizen of the Year. The Youth of the Year award was given to Jasmine Cruz.

Serving as Daly City’s Culture and Arts Commissioner and as the President of the Filipino American Democratic Club of San Mateo County, Paniza said she has dedicated her life to bringing more awareness to the Filipino American community.

"I still feel overwhelmed and also happy and grateful for being awarded Citizen of the Year for Daly City. I also feel satisfied now and proud for my mom that I’m her daughter," Paniza said.

Since she was 3, Jasmine Cruz trained in a variety of dance styles including jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, and classical ballet.

Now 13 years old, Cruz has won numerous awards and was given the opportunity to train and perform around the world, including the Homecoming Gala of Ballet Philippines 45th Anniversary in Manila.

"I’m really honored and excited. It’s just a general adrenaline rush really because this is a really big thing for me," Cruz said.

Paniza and Cruz are both humbled by the recognition and hope it can inspire Filipinos in communities everywhere.

"I’m again, really honored because the fact that I have the opportunity to show that we can do this and we have the talent and the drive to do it is really amazing,” said Cruz.

“Daly City is well-known as a Filipino community,” said Paniza. “Now is the time that all the Filipinos should unite and work together to be proud that we are Filipino not just here in Daly City but all over the world.”

As the first dual Pinays to receive the honor, Paniza and Cruz say they hope it won’t be the last.

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2 Fil-Ams retain seats in Daly City council

DALY CITY - Friends, family, and supporters gathered in Daly City to support Filipino-American candidates Ray Buenaventura and Mike Guingona.

After waiting almost all night both were relieved to find out that they will be re-elected to the City Council of Daly City.

"It looks like I'll be in there for another term. So I'm exhausted because of all the campaigning but I'm just really happy to see the numbers and so far it turned out great," said Buenaventura.

"I'm energized. I'm happy and I look forward to another four years of serving my people in Daly City," said Guingona.

Buenaventura and Guingoa said they are thankful for the support from the Filipino community.

"I hope that the trend continues that Filipino-Americans will continue to vote and be involved in the process. Again, we're 1.5 million strong so let's keep that momentum and let's get all the people to participate in the process," Buenaventura said.

"I think if the Filipino community comes together and actually realizes that they have a lot of power, if they exercise their vote correctly, that we could really make a difference," said Guingona.

Unfortunately, not every Fil-Am candidate won the election. Robert Bernado came close to winning his re-election bid for San Mateo County Harbor District.

"I think we ran a really good race, a very aggressive race and we feel really good with what we did," said Bernardo.

Even though he did not win, he supports Buenaventura and Guingona and future Filipino candidates.

Other notable Filipino-Americans who won in the bay area include Assembly member Rob Bonta and Milpitas Mayor Joe Esteves. Partial and unofficial results also show Hydra Mendoza holding on to the third and final seat for San Francisco School Board.

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Bay Area voters to decide fate of Fil-Am candidates

REDWOOD CITY, California – Former Daly City mayors and current council members, Ray Buenaventura and Mike Guingona are running against two other candidates for the three available seats.

Both candidates are supportive of each other despite running separate campaigns.

"While I see there are some similarities between myself and Ray Buenaventura I just think this is a sign that our community is moving forward," said Guingona.

"I think even though we are running separate campaigns because we have to, I think the Filipino vote is there and will be united in the end," said Buenaventura.

Guingona and Buenaventura are confident in their campaign but hopes that all registered Filipinos will be at the polls.

"If Filipinos don’t exercise their right to vote then we won’t be able to make the strides that we’ve made over the years in raising our bench and being able to raise our profile in the community," said Guingona.

"The only way you’ll be able to do that is to come out and vote and get involved in the process, speak to your legislatures, maybe even run for office yourself," said Buenaventura.

Meanwhile, in Milpitas, where Filipinos make up about 14 percent of the population, two Filipino-Americans are at odds in a new measure for the city.

Measure E, if approved, will allow Bay 101 Casino to relocate from San Jose to Milpitas pending state legislation.

Former Mayor Henry Manayan is for the measure because he says it will create jobs and provide over $8 million in revenue for the city.

"This is going to offer more jobs, up to 900 new jobs, that’s going to not only be able for working for the card club but also in construction and landscaping and other types of jobs," said Manayan.

Current Mayor Joe Esteves originally supported the measure but recently changed his mind and found that it would not benefit the city.

"It will destroy the great character of Milpitas as a family oriented city," said Esteves. "Plus, it will be accompanied with a lot of potential crimes and people from all areas coming into the city."

Manayan said that Esteves changed his stance on the measure due to a political strategy to help Esteves win his re-election as mayor.

"His opponent is anti-gambling so he thinks this is going to dampen his chances at being re-elected," said Manayan.

"For my position I am protecting my kababayan because I love them and they are like my family," said Esteves. "I am doing it without any payment. This is from my own heart. "

Over 400,000 Filipinos are registered to vote in California making 2% of the state electorate. Since November 2010, Filipino voter registration increased by 80,000 or 24%.

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California mayor visits Iloilo

ILOILO – The mayor of Daly City, California, Ray Buenaventura, is in Iloilo City for the Dinagyang Festival.

Buenaventura, who will be witnessing the festival for the first time, arrived in Iloilo on Tuesday.

Buenaventura was overwhelmed by the warm welcome of the Ilonggos during his visit to the city mayor's office.

In 2011, a Cooperative Proclamation was signed by both mayors of the two cities.

Aside from Buenaventura, other dignitaries are also expected to watch the world class performances of participating tribes in the Ati Tribe Competition to be held on Sunday.

source: abs-cbnnews.com