LOS ANGELES – On Thursday, May 22, six individuals from the City of Los Angeles will be honored by community group Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) for their work in uplifting and empowering the Filipino-American community in LA.
They will be honored at SIPA’s 42nd Anniversary Awards and Benefit Dinner, which will be held at the Sheraton Universal Hotel.
Each of the honorees will be given an award that captures the essence of the work they’ve done to help SIPA and its beneficiary communities.
Public service
LA Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell will be given the Lingkod Bayan / Political Leadership award. O’Farrell represents Council District 13, the area in LA where Historic Filipinotown and SIPA are located.
SIPA Executive Director Joel Jacinto described O’Farrell as “a great local leader” for CD13 who continues the community-building efforts of former CD13 councilmember and now LA City Mayor, Eric Garcetti.
Jacinto said that O’Farrell’s previous work as a field staffer during Garcetti’s term as councilman gives him the experience he needs to effectively represent the community of CD13.
In an email interview with Asian Journal, O’Farrell said that he is “humbled” to be receiving this honor from “a great organization” that he holds “in very high regard.”
“SIPA has been a steadfast community servant in Historic Filipinotown since its establishment, and receiving high praise from them is truly special,” O’Farrell said.
O’Farrell also added that although he has only been in office for nearly one year, the award is an indication of the hardwork that he and his team of staff members have been putting since day one.
O’Farrell said that partnership between local government and community-oriented non-profits, like SIPA, are crucial in improving our neighborhoods in LA.
“From developing affordable housing, to providing services to our constituents, to hosting community meetings, our non-profits help our City thrive,” the councilman said.
Aside from O’Farrell, Mark Pulido, the first Fil-Am city mayor of the City of Cerritos, will also be given the Lingkod Bayan / Political Leadership award.
Pulido was elected as Cerritos City councilmember in 2011, and in 2013-2014, he served as Mayor Pro Tem. In March 2014, he was appointed to be the next mayor for the City of Cerritos.
Jacinto said that Pulido is so important because he represents Filipino-American empowerment.
Jacinto praised Pulido for being someone who was “born and raised in America, a second-generation Filipino [who is] honoring his ancestors, honoring his mom and dad” in his public service work.
Jacinto also said that he considers Pulido as a “dear colleague and friend,” whom he has known from his collegiate days at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
“Mark was the first USAC (Undergraduate Students Association Council) president of Filipino descent. He’s a ceiling-breaker, he’s an envelope-breaker [sic]. Mark is a visionary leader. Mark is an all-star. We’re so proud to honor him,” Jacinto added.
Pulido, a former SIPA volunteer in the late 80s, said that he is “honored and humbled” to receive the recognition. He said that being part of SIPA as a college student helped him develop his leadership skills and strengthened his commitment to building the community.
“These are skills and a lasting commitment that I carry to this day, as Mayor of Cerritos. I will never forget what I learned from SIPA and will always share its vision of helping to serve and empower our youth, families, and community,” Pulido said.
Business achievement
Asian Journal Publications, Inc. (AJPI) President Cora Oriel will receive the Kalampusan / Business Achievement Award. It is an award given to Filipino entrepreneurs that have made a conscious effort to uplift SIPA and the Filipino community in their business.
“Being around for a generation now, I have seen publications come and go. But the sustained performance, and credibility, and integrity that Cora, and Roger (Oriel), and Asian Journal have displayed is unparalleled. So they’re great partners in our empowerment as a community,” Jacinto said.
Jacinto said that Oriel had previously served on the SIPA Board of Directors. While she is no longer part of the board, Oriel continues to “uphold the Filipino bayanihan spirit by supporting SIPA wherever she can through networking, through introductions, through support [in] allowing SIPA to publish our stories in the publication,” Jacinto added.
Jacinto described Oriel as a “true Filipina” with “sensibility and strength.”
Community-building
Cecile Ramos will be given the Bayanihan / Community Service award for her work with the Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Council. Jacinto praised her for her work with VGR and Associates in developing affordable family housing in Historic Filipinotown, and for founding Burlington School.
Jacinto also called Ramos a “local stakeholder” who has “dedicated her whole life” to Historic Filipinotown for over a generation.
In a statement sent to Asian Journal, Ramos said that the award signifies the growing awareness surrounding Historic Filipinotown.
“This is manifested by the growing support for our events, not only from the Filipino-American community, but also from city and state officials and agencies, local businesses and organizations, and the diverse groups comprising Historic Filipinotown,” Ramos said.
She also said that the Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Council looks forward to their “continued collaboration” with SIPA, to achieve their mission of making Historic Filipinotown a safe haven for businesses, tourists, and most importantly, residents and stakeholders.
Youth Service
Ban Montoya, president o f the Video Voice Data Communications, will be receiving the Tularan Kabataan / Youth Service award for his work in youth sports.
According to Jacinto, Montoya has a unique history, being one of the youth organizers back when Filipino students were just starting to organize themselves in the early 70s.
“We give all respects to Bam in helping and investing in Filipino-American sports throughout the years,” Jacinto added.
Pioneer Spirit
The Filipino Disciples Christian Church or Filipino Christian Church (FCC), based in LA, will be getting the Apo / Pioneer Spirit award. Jacinto called the church as the “only historical monument or building in LA that’s associated with the Filipino community.”
He revealed that FCC’s members helped found SIPA in 1972. He also lauded the group for helping give birth to many other local community-building organizations and efforts.
“The original incorporators that signed the articles of incorporation for SIPA back in ‘72 were from the FCC,” Jacinto said.
The FCC was also a home for SIPA, he added. During the early years of the organization, the church housed SIPA and its activities.
“Thank you, Filipino Disciples Christian Church for what you did. All these things are selfless acts and it really speaks to the Filipino cultural values that are SIPA’s individual core values kawanggawa, damayan, and pagtutulungan,” Jacinto said.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek May 21-23, 2014 Sec A pg.1)
