Fil-Ams top Daly City Mayor’s awardees for outstanding service

DALY CITY, Calif. – Daly City Mayor Juslyn Manalo last week stepped down as city leader, counting not only her accomplishments but also those of individuals and entities that helped her bring her goals to fruition.

Before banging the gavel for the final time in her third term as city leader at Dec. 16 Reorganization Ceremonies, where the City Council voted for its next members to take the two top seats, Manalo shared the stage with a diverse assembly of achievers.

From longtime grassroots activists to preservers of specific cultural traditions, from political and civil servants to family caregivers, from representatives of generations born in the previous and current centuries, each awardee boosted fulfillment of the 2024 city leadership’s agenda.

Hence their distinction as the “Mayor’s Awardees.”

“The Mayor’s Awards has always been around but over the years new categories were created.  I felt it was imperative to honor People and organizations in our community,” Manalo pointed to the 18 plaques she presented, deferentially capitalizing “People.”

Majority of the awardees identify as Filipino American, their involvement signaling positive response to Manalo’s example of visibility and accessibility.

“Our Filipino American community is one of real resilience, we want to give back. In every election when people tell me they voted for the first time, that is a sign of empowerment. They will vote again and this shows our community taking action,” she said.

She explained her choice of laureates to Inquirer.net USA:  “I didn’t choose the awardees that were of Filipino descent because they were Filipino, I chose them for merit and valuable contributions.  They are well qualified and deserving of the categories chosen. They happen to be Pinoy. There were also Italian-Mexican, Latina and Chinese youth and organizations reflecting the diversity of Daly City.”

The mayor introduced the recipients with remarks on their exemplary endeavors:

Artist of the Year: Jonathan Cruz, internationally renowned as DJ Shortkut, a beloved turntablist-producer who “brought Daly City home wherever” he performed.

Artist of the Year DJ Shortkut (right) ramps up the volume at Daly City fairs Commissioner of the Year Ray Satorre (center) and Woman of the Year Perla Ibarrientos (left) help organize. Photos by Cherie M. Querol Moreno

Small Business of the Year: Tselogs, a Filipino restaurant specializing in “the best silogs and hospitality,” according to Manalo.

Medium Business of the Year: Ling Nam Restaurant, which Manalo praised as “legendary” for its 30 years of serving classic Filipino-Chinese cuisine.

Large Business of the Year: Serramonte Center, where Filipinos congregate, shop, dine, work and/or lead, like its marketing director Marie Villarosa.  The center truly is a “one-stop shop and one of our special partners,” says Manalo.

Citizen of the Year: San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa, “the one who always gives back to Daly City, and through his Supervisor role has invested $60 million, which is incredible,” Manalo hailed the former City Council of Daly City member.

For accessing $60-million County funding to support life-saving programs, San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa receives Citizen of the Year mayoral accolade. Photo by Cherie M. Querol Moreno

Commissioner of the Year: Ray Satorre, a pillar of the community and a planning commissioner, who is “always looking for ways to enhance the quality of life of our residents,” says Manalo, expressing gratitude for the entrepreneur’s  “insightful nature.”

Organization of the Year: Daly City History Guild, “for preserving our history, which is so important, and for keeping the stories alive.”

Philanthropic Organization of the Year: Operation Santa Claus, for 75 years of “giving toys to those most in need, to spread joy during the holiday season.”

Veteran of the Year: Pedro “Pete” Pineda, a Bataan Death March survivor who is “over 100 years of age” and still participates in community events to “represent one of the greatest generations.”

Volunteer of the Year: Nancy G. Rodriguez, for being instrumental in staging the inaugural Dia de Los Muertos in Daly City, which Manalo emphasizes she “fully supported.”

Volunteer of The Year: Cheryll Catuar, described by  Manalo as a “stellar volunteer always willing to give her time, talent and stems from her acts of service.”

Single mother and Volunteer of the Year Cheryll Catuar (left) found volunteerism to be the “heart of Daly City community” while helping city leaders during the pandemic. Awardees Youth Poet Laureate Maxwell Espinola (center) and Bataan Death March survivor Pete Pineda (right) prove community service knows no age barriers. Photos by Cherie M. Querol Moreno

Woman of the Year: Perla Ibarrientos, two months before her 90th birthday, “has never stopped giving to the community,” Manalo reiterated what is common knowledge in Daly City.

Youth of the Year: Maxwell Espinola, 2024 Youth Poet Laureate, “has graced us with his poems and leadership,” an impressive combination for one of his generation.

Youth of the Year: Daly City Chinese Youth Committee, whose members organize “many amazing opportunities to learn about the Chinese culture.”

Employees of the Year:

City Manager Tom Piccollotti, as an executive of Daly City “has been instrumental in understanding my vision and goals for the betterment of Daly City,” affirmed Manalo and Assistant to the City Manager Leilani Ramos, who worked “diligently with rigor” during the eventful year.

Parents of the Year: Josie and Carlito Manalo, without whom their mayor daughter said she “would not be here and with their unwavering support, they all help me raise my children,” thus allowing her to serve.

Father of the Year: Eluid Palamo, the 2024 First Gentleman.  “My husband is my partner who understands my work in the community and keeps the balance in our home and children,” Manalo reflected on the importance of a healthy intimate partnership that is supportive and encouraging.

Manalo takes pride in having “led the creation of multiple inaugural events for the first time” in her city to acknowledge its diversity.  She counts the Lunar New Year Celebration at City Hall, Samoan/American Samoan Flag Raising, Italian Flag Raising, Dia de Los Muertos, sister-city signing with Izumizano Japan and the Top of the Hill Festival among her accomplishments to “bringing all of Daly City together.”

Her definition of diversity transcends race and age.

When Manalo first became mayor in 2018, she started referring to the “People’s City Hall” in hosting the inaugural “Love not Hate” event to “highlight our cultural diversity.”  She reminded of having raised the LGTBQ+ PRIDE flag signaling “our support for all People.”

Her most recent move goes further to the beginnings of this country.

“This year I also initiated a Land Acknowledgment to honor the indigenous Ramaytush Ohlone Native American community before our Council Meeting,” recognizing the original residents of Daly City.

On the frontline

The first Fil-Am woman elected to govern the city with the highest concentration of Filipinos on the US mainland enjoys unprecedented popularity for an elected Fil-Am in the area.

In the last November 5 election, Manalo placed first for the second time.  She took 23,477 or 51 percent of total votes in her second reelection bid for the City Council – a landmark win.

Like her mentor and former colleague Ray Buenaventura, now Lake County public defender, Manalo has actively searched and developed Filipino Americans to join her in community service.

“I’m proud and grateful to be the first Pinay elected to the City Council of Daly City, and I won’t be the last,” she often says.

Mayor’s Awardee Catuar names her among “inspiring leaders” who stirred her toward volunteerism in the unprecedented worst of times.

“It was during the pandemic that through my work in healthcare I was able to further express and put my volunteer work on the frontline here in the heart of Daly City,” Catuar told Inquirer.net USA how she realized that “volunteerism is the heartbeat of community.”

The US Army veteran noted how “selfless acts of kindness weave connections and inspire change, reminding us that together, we can make a difference.”

The experience drove her to deepen service through elected office, she added.

Buenaventura gave her a head start with an appointment to the Recreation Commission.  Manalo later tapped her for the Planning Commission, where she is current chair.

In 2022 the single mother of three joined the race for the City Council “after a lot of prayers and consultations.”  She lost, but redoubled her community involvement.

This year she sought a seat on the Jefferson Elementary School District board, gaining the endorsement of the San Mateo County Democratic Party.  She took over 10,000 votes, placing third in a three-way contest for two open seats.

Undeterred, Catuar remains active in community work, treading “my mother Celia’s example taught me that giving back is not just an act, but a way of life.”

A similar trajectory as that of her mentor, the mayor, whose mother Josie Manalo had directed Fil-Am Training Center, where newly arrived Filipinos learned how to enter and navigate the US workplace.  There the child Juslyn observed her mother in action, internalizing community service as a gift that does keep on giving as it grows and regenerates.