Fil-Am community leader featured in Harris for President campaign ad

For over 50 years, Filipino American leader Rozita Lee has been a steadfast advocate for AAPI issues. CONTRIBUTED

NEW YORK CITY — This month, the Harris for President campaign headquarters released a series of ads aimed at mobilizing the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. One of the ads features Rozita Villanueva Lee, a longtime Filipino American community leader based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Kamala Harris is for all people,” Rozita told Inquirer.net USA. “Her experiences in the various roles she has held have prepared her to lead our country. She is tough and ready. She will protect health care and ensure access to the ballot box for free and fair elections. Kamala is intelligent, nurturing, and strong—someone we can trust. She has the best interests of the people and the country and will lead accordingly.”

According to a press release provided to Inquirer.net USA, the Harris-Walz ads aim to mobilize AAPI voters in key battleground states. In the first ad, titled “Reduced,” Manang Rozita expresses her concerns about Trump’s threats to terminate essential health care protections for AAPI communities.

In the second ad, “The Seal,” it underscores Vice President Harris’s dedication to combating hate and advocating for AAPI rights—messages that deeply resonate with Manang Rozita and the Fil-Am community.

As we celebrate Manang Rozita this October, we honor her as a cornerstone of the Filipino American community on the occasion of her 90th birthday.

For over 50 years, Manang Rozita has been a steadfast advocate for AAPI issues. Her journey began in Lahaina, Hawaii, before she moved to Las Vegas in 1979 after marrying the late Dr. Clifford Lee.

Her contributions to public service are remarkable. She was one of the first Filipinos to serve as a White House Commissioner on AAPI issues and the first Filipino in the Nevada Governor’s office.

Appointed by President Barack Obama, she served on his Advisory Commission for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Rozita Lee served on President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. CONTRIBUTED

In recognition of her dedication, Rozita will receive a Life Achievement Award at the 14th Annual TOFA on Oct. 27 at Blue Note Hawaii in Honolulu. This honor reflects her tireless commitment to the community.

Meanwhile, the Harris-Walz campaign released a third ad on September 18 titled, “My Mother,” which highlights Vice President Harris’s lifelong commitment to advocating for the American people.

This ad shares her personal story and the values instilled in her by her mother, resonating strongly with Asian American voters. By sharing her journey and dedication to justice, the ad reinforces the campaign’s message of progress and unity. Rozita told Inquirer.net USA that the new ad aligns perfectly with her mission of community support and empowerment.

“Vice President Harris has never forgotten the values she learned from her mother, which have shaped her lifelong commitment to stand up for people—a story that millions in our communities can relate to,” said Andrew Peng in a press statement provided to this reporter.

Peng is the AAPI spokesperson for the Harris-Walz campaign. “While Donald Trump looks to take us backward, Vice President Harris will chart a new way forward to advance opportunity, dignity and safety for the American people.”

Beyond her professional achievements, Rozita serves as a guiding force for many, sharing her wisdom as a grandmother and great-grandmother.

She advocates for love and kindness, often quoting the Royal Law from James 2:8-9, which emphasizes loving God, oneself and others through acts of civility and respect.