Online Kapihan to host SF Bay Area Fil-Ams running for public office

An online meet-and-greet session will present 14 Filipino Americans running for political office in the San Francisco Bay Area Oct. 15, 2020 at 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., the Philippine American Press Club—USA announced. CONTRIBUTED

SAN FRANCISCO – An online meet-and-greet session will present 14 Filipino Americans running for political office in the San Francisco Bay Area Oct. 15, 2020 at 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., the Philippine American Press Club—USA announced.

The organization is hosting the last of its 2020 Kapihan/Forum Series with guest speaker Assemblyman Rob Bonta (CA). Co-hosts are Myrna Lardizabal De Vera, former Mayor of Hercules, California and Cristina Osmeña, columnist with Philippine News Today and vice president of PAPC-USA. Zoom Webinar link at bit.ly/papc-kapihan

Assemblyman Rob Bonta, elected to the California Assembly in 2012, is the first Filipino American state legislator in California’s 170-year history. He serves in the 18^th District of the California State Assembly representing Alameda, Oakland and San Leandro. He is in the ballot in the general election uncontested.

The Bay Area candidates are Marjan Philhour for Supervisor, San Francisco District 1; Voltaire Montemayor for Mayor, Milpitas; Carly-Ann Manalo for City Clerk, Daly City; Estela dePaz for School Board Contra Costa District 1.

The following are candidates for City Council Member: Alex Griffin, Hercules; Celsa Taraya, Hercules; Chris Lozano, Hayward; Errol Zshornack, Millbrae; Evelyn Chua, Milpitas; Julian Hilario Jr., Milpitas; Glenn Sylvester, Daly City; Juslyn Manalo, Daly City; Malia Vella, Alameda; and Rozzana Verder-Aliga, Vallejo District 1.

According to the 2017 American Community Survey of the Census Bureau, there are an estimated 500,000 Filipinos in the Bay, which represents 12% of the 4 million Filipinos in the United States and 30% of the Filipino residents in the State of California. Filipino Americans compose the largest Asian American sub-group in California. However, Filipinos in the past have been described as “invisible residents.” Hopefully, this year, that will be a thing of the past. The community needs to be more visible not only in California but nationwide.

Deadline for registration is October 9, 2020. Register to vote or check your status at https://covr.sos.ca.gov/

This PAPC-USA “Meet and Greet” Kapihan is co-sponsored by Global Filipino Network, headed by its founder, Arnold Pedrigal. Co-Chairs are Rudy Asercion and Esther Misa Chavez.  Visit www.papcusa.org