Daly City leader hailed for raising Fil-Am pride, visibility

Ray Buenaventura (seated center) celebrates what would be his last Thanksgiving get-together with allies and commissioners last year in his fourth term as Daly City mayor. CONTRIBUTED

DALY CITY, Calif. – Daly City Council member Ray Buenaventura is leaving the City Council, abruptly ending a 13-year service highlighted by four terms as mayor, the one best known for empowering Filipino Americans.

Ray Buenaventura concludes a remarkable 13-year service, including four terms as mayor of Daly City. FILE PHOTO

The lone Philippine-born among the four of five sitting Council members has not officially announced his decision at press time, but to confidantes and colleagues, he confirmed what had been the subject of speculation since September, when the Lake County Board of Supervisors appointed him Chief Public Defender.

“I enjoyed every minute of my service on the Council but always understood that my term was not indefinite. That time has now come,” he told Inquirer.net USA about his impending exit to focus on a new mandate.

“I will be creating a new Office of the Public Defender and am excited to build an office from the ground up. It is a challenge I am eager to meet.”

He aims to “establish a premier indigent defense,” he had written in a post-installation letter published October on the Lake County website, where he invited “anyone and everyone willing to meet” with him to bring forth a “community-focused holistic public defense.”

‘In good hands’

The county seat of Lakeport is over a hundred miles or three hours away from his home in the Westlake District of Daly City, a logistical hurdle if he were to hold both appointed and elected offices. But something else swayed his decision.

“I believe I am leaving the office in a better position than when I first arrived in 2011. I gave the city all that I have to give, and I have no regrets,” he pointed to the scenario that had brought him to the City Council in the first place.

“As I told some of my mentees, ‘I have nothing more to teach you. You have grown into becoming a great leader in your own right,” he named Mayor Juslyn Manalo and Vice Mayor Rod Daus Magbual whose political careers he helped nurture.

Mayor Juslyn Manalo recognizes departing predecessor as her mentor. Photo from Cherie Querol Moreno

“I’m leaving knowing the city will be in good hands under your leadership. I wouldn’t leave otherwise.”

He dismissed the notion that the City Council was a mere stepping stone to a career in higher office, an early critique of Buenaventura in 2014 when he ran and lost a campaign for San Mateo County Superior Court.

For some, maybe, but not for him, he demurred. He considers himself an “accidental” politician, having been appointed to fill the seat vacated by a Council member later convicted of insurance fraud.

Buenaventura retained the seat the following election, joining now San Mateo County Community College Board Trustee Mike Guingona, the first Fil-Am elected in Daly City, in 1993.

He raised the visibility of the area’s largest population of color by initiating successful efforts to identify and guide prospective residents to follow in his political footsteps.  Reflecting political savvy, he collaborated with state and private entities to gain approval to raise funds to name part of a state highway after the beloved late leader Alice Pena Bulos, a first in the nation.

Vice Mayor Rod Daus Magbual says he owes his mentor a debt of gratitude. CONTRIBUTED

He also led the renaming of a Daly City park after the late Erlinda Tiongco Galeon, among earliest Daly City residents and a dedicated volunteer until her passing in 2016.

His decision to retire from the City Council came midway into the second year of his fourth term, prompting colleagues and allies to ponder his legacy with Inquirer.net USA.

True mentor

“I’m sad that he is departing, but I understand that when opportunities open up, you take it,” said Dr. Rod Daus Magbual, vice mayor of Daly City and Skyline College Ethnic Studies professor. “His impact on our City Council is his mentorship.”

“My relationship with Ray is a true mentor-mentee relationship,” admitted Daus Magbual, like his wife Dr. Arlene Daus Magbual dedicated to cultivating a community of critical educators and curriculum through their nonprofit Pin@y Educational Partnerships.

They are among the Fil-Ams Buenaventura first appointed to serve on commissions, volunteer advisory bodies to the City Council that are a gateway to elected office.

Daus Magbual learned the inner workings of local government, politics and life itself, he said.

“I never thought I would be in the position I am in today,” said the former mayor and now two-time vice mayor. “He served as an example to honor Filipino American leadership of the past and the importance to take on the baton.”

Outspoken Ray Satorre keeps tab of Buenaventura’s achievements. CONTRIBUTED

While conceding his mentor’s departure as “a big blow,” he sees it as an opportunity “for new leadership and for me and my colleagues to step up my game to serve and guide our community into the future.”

Mayor Juslyn Manalo reiterated what is common knowledge: “He is my mentor and I respect him.”

Outspoken community advocate for Filipino American empowerment particularly in his home city, Ray Satorre credits Buenaventura for palpable Fil-Am presence in leadership roles.

He counted the “reunification of Fil-Ams in Daly City, appointments of Fil-Ams to the boards and commissions, reactivation of Daly City sisterhood with Quezon City” thereby resuming City educational and exchange programs, and staging of the Kasayahan Festival to commemorate October Filipino History month among “highlights” of his confidante’s service.

The entrepreneur praised Buenaventura for “delineation of budgetary allocation for the social needs of youth and older adults” and the redevelopment of Serramonte and Westlake Centers, two of the city’s landmarks.

“I call Ray Buenaventura the Honorable Mayor and Debonair Wingman of Daly City,” said Satorre, who is known to have his friend’s ear.

Longtime Daly City resident Perla Ibarrientos felt like she was losing a son given her closeness to Buenaventura.

“I hate to see him leave,” said one of the first outside Buenaventura’s family to hear of his departure. “He personifies the ‘public servant’ because he always listens, finds solutions to problems, particularly vital services and safety issues. He stands for his beliefs even if he gets kind of criticized for it, maybe that’s why some think he has changed. He’s just doing his job based on experience and expertise.”

Pioneer Daly City resident Perla Ibarrientos was among the first to hear of her confidant’s plans. CONTRIBUTED

Some do see Buenaventura in a less than heroic lens but declined to be quoted or identified.

Impactful

On the contrary Mark Nagales, who with fellow Fil-Am Flor Nicolas broke the racial barrier to become the first Fil-Ams elected in 2018 to the South San Francisco City Council, said he has “nothing but respect and admiration” for Buenaventura.

“When I first started in politics, he was one of the first people to show me the ropes,” the former congressional aide expressed gratitude. “He really wanted to help Filipinos become involved in politics, help them become leaders in our community. His impact will be felt for generations to come.”

Community advocate and former student activist Charles Ramilo called Buenaventura “inspiring,” having had the opportunity to closely observe the former Los Angeles deputy public defender at meetings in the South San Francisco home of Alice Bulos, Ramilo’s grandmother, and at events to where Buenaventura drove and escorted the “godmother of Filipino American empowerment.”

“I know Mommy Alice was glad to see some of Ray’s contributions in the legal field, being involved in city council, and (as) a loving family member,” said Ramilo, a constant participant at community events in San Mateo and San Francisco.

“It is also great to see that the younger generations have been inspired by his success and how he has mentored Fil-Ams to join him in public service, dedicating their time in

helping address the needs and advance ideas from the community.”

Buenaventura’s professional and political star rose rapidly upon his residence in Daly City, drawing the attention of community organizers throughout the Bay Area.

Across the Bay, Alameda County-based progressive leader Cynthia Bonta, board member of the Central Valley Center for Empowerment whose work goes back to the campaign for unionization of farm workers, said Buenaventura’s “presence of wisdom and stability in the Daly City Council will be missed, but his absence will only create space for someone else to take up that role.”

“His practice has been clear and strong enough to show the way for others to step into that role,” she bared optimism in urging political aspirants to build on Buenaventura’s success and carry on.  “The community should be more so engaged to actively support their voice in deliberations and the city council members who represent their views and situation.”