ALLICE marks many prevention event firsts

COLMA, Calif.—A new generation of outreach workers has joined ALLICE, Alliance for Community Empowerment, in calling for action against domestic and dating violence.

Students from Daly City’s Jefferson High School were among 150 people who attended “Free from Violence,” a domestic violence prevention outreach and resource fair staged by ALLICE in collaboration with Seton Medical Center and Thomasians USA Oct. 28 at the Colma Community Center. Led by 2010 student body president Bea Delacruz, the “Jeff” students flexed muscle throughout the entire event, setting up the site, staffing registration and refreshment tables, ushering guests, and listening intently to speakers San Mateo County Supervisor Adrienne Tissier, ALLICE member, event chair and Colma Mayor Joanne del Rosario, and domestic violence advocate Clara Tempongko.

In a completely spontaneous move, a dozen male and female teens in unison verbally pledged to model healthy behaviors, when asked after the program to voice their reason for volunteering at the event.

“It’s important to learn what’s going on in our community so we know how to help others,” said Delacruz, a senior and consistent recipient of awards for academic and extra-curricular achievements.

Del Rosario had invited the outstanding student, who has also been recognized by the town of Colma, to participate in the event. In her typical response, Delacruz said she could do better: She offered to invite equally interested and involved peers.

“Isn’t it admirable to see in the young people embracing their community,” Del Rosario exclaimed as Dela Cruz and her sister Shannon, Oscar Dela Cruz, Ashley Ejanda, Justin Chavez, Justin De Guzman, Airica Bustos, Marc Yap, Van Ralf Aguas, Dean Galamay, Rusty Cosino, and Deandre Brown fanned out and made a difference.

In a first for the volunteer educators formerly known as the Kumares & Kumpares, the event gave youth representation in the campaign to prevent and end domestic violence with the attendance of the Jeff students, the siblings and the children of Claire Joyce Tempongko.

Tempongko was 28 when her ex-boyfriend stalked and repeatedly stabbed her in front of her son and daughter on Oct. 22, 2000 in San Francisco. He fled the country but was arrested in and extradited from Mexico in 2007. Last year he was sentenced in San Francisco to 16 years to life imprisonment.

Claire Joyce’s mother Clara Tempongko thanked the community on behalf of her family who attended the event for the first time in nine years.

ALLICE is an all-volunteer organization staging free events in collaboration with community partners to raise awareness of issues facing immigrants.

The team lauded 2009 top partners Daly City Libraries Director Carol Simmons, former St. Matthew Catholic Church Associate Pastor Rev. Mark Reburiano, and Philippine News Publisher Francis Espiritu and Marketing Director Margarita Argente.

ALLICE members are Alice Bulos, Bettina Santos Yap, Cherie Querol Moreno, Edna Murray, Erlinda Galeon, Jei Africa, Jennifer Jimenez Wong, Joanne del Rosario Lina Susbilla, Lorraine Canaya, Malou Aclan, Randy Caturay, Robert Uy, Susan Roxas and Yumi Querubin.

Their allies are the Jefferson High School Student Association, Georgette Sarles of the Daly City-Colma Chamber of Commerce, Daisy Li of Moonstar Restaurant, Lucky Chances, Voltaire V. Yap Photography, Renee Salud, Starbucks Coffee Company, Philippine Association of University Women, Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center, San Mateo Mental Health and Behavioral Services, Philippine News, Philippines Today and Asian Journal.

For more information about ALLICE, call (650) 878-4739 or (650) 872-2301.

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