MOBILIZING the Filipino Vote: Filipino American Candidates Amplifying the Filipino Voice this November 2016 U.S. Election Cycle

Here are FIVE things you can do to AMPLIFY the Filipino American voice now until election day November 8:

1. REGISTER to vote now (if you haven't yet). California deadline: October 24. Go to apiavote.org/states to check your state's deadline. VOTE now at your local City Hall. VOTE on election day - November 8
2. Wear your "I Voted" sticker when you vote especially on election day - November 8
3. Call, IM, FB, Tweet or Text at least 5 friends to remind them to vote now or on election day (Nov 8) before you leave the precinct or parking lot
4. Forward or share this blog post on your favorite social media platform
5. Be aware of Filipino American candidates - forward this post to your e-lists

Here are the Filipino American Candidates and FWN Members in this election cycle who are amplifying our FilAm voice in our communities! If we missed a FilAm candidate in your area, please alert us so we can add to the list.

Rob Bonta, California State Assembly, AD18 (re-election)
The 18th Assembly District includes the communities of Oakland, Alameda and San Leandro

Mae Torlakson, U.S. FWN100™ '11; Candidate for California State Assembly, AD14
The 14th Assembly District represents portions of Contra Costa County and Southern Solano County. It includes the cities of Benicia, Clayton, Concord, Crockett, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Rodeo, Martinez, Walnut Creek, and Vallejo

Magdelena De Guzman, Candidate for San Francisco Supervisor, District 11. 

Mike Guingona, Candidate for San Mateo County District 5 Supervisor
California's San Mateo County District 5 is comprised of Daly City, Colma, Brisbane, unincorporated Broadmoor, and a portion of South San Francisco

Marjan Philhour, U.S. FWN100™ '11; Candidate for San Francisco Supervisor, District 1

Jason Paguio, Candidate Chula Vista City Council, District 3

Jim Navarro, Candidate for Mayor of Union City, California

Bob Sampayan, Candidate for Mayor of Vallejo, California

Jonathan Wong, Mahwah New Jersey Councilman, Candidate for Mayor of Mahwah, New, Jersey

Juslyn Manalo, Global FWN100™ '15; Candidate for City Council, Daly City, California

Glenn Sylvester, Candidate for City Council Daly City, California

Rozanna Verder Aliga, U.S. FWN100™ '09; Candidate for City Council Vallejo, California

Salvador "Buddy" Deauna, Candidate for Bergenfield New Jersey City Council

Evelyn Centeno, U.S. FWN100™ '11; Candidate, Martinez Unified School District, California

Oct. 26: Making Our Voices Count: Panel Discussion with Lillian Galedo (U.S. FWN100™ '07) and April Veneracion Ang (Global FWN100™ '15)

As Filipinos in the United States, we are at a crossroads. The San Francisco Bay Area is home to nearly a quarter of the entire population of Filipino Americans in the United States. Unfortunately, according to FAJ's recent Filipino Electorate Project, it seems that only about 50% of the eligible voting population in the Bay Area's counties are registered to vote. What is interesting, however, is the high percentage of those registered to vote are naturalized citizens. If you have yet to see FAJ's Fiipino Electorate Project report, please click HERE.

Let's propel the Filipino vote this election season.

INVITATION: March 31 in San Francisco Take Action on Women's History Month FWN100™ Panel on Women in Public Service & Government

Filipina Women’s Network Members: Join us in celebration of Women's History Month on Thursday, March 31st in San Francisco. We will honor this year's theme Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government with a dynamic FWN100™ speaker panel moderated by Denise Miles, U.S. FWN100™ '09, Senior VP/Manager, Strategic Partnerships Government and Community Relations, Wells Fargo: 

Denise Miles, U.S. FWN100™ '09, Senior VP/Manager, Strategic Partnerships Government and Community Relations, Wells Fargo
 

NEW SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED! Invited FWN100 awardee speakers include:  

Myrna Lardizabal de Vera, U.S. FWN100™ ‘09
Mayor of the City of Hercules, California

Tiffany Bohee, Global FWN100™ '15
Executive Director, Commission on Community Investment & Infrastructure, City of San Francisco

April Veneracion Ang, Global FWN100™ '15
Legislative Aide to San Francisco District 6 Supervisor Jane Kim

Genevieve Jopanda, U.S. FWN100™ ’07 and Global FWN100™ ’13
Chief of Staff, Office of Fiona Ma, CPA, Chairwoman, California State Board of Equalization

Dori Caminong
Manager, Special Events, Civic and Social Innovation, GLIDE and Commissioner, San Francisco Entertainment Commission

Public Service:

Trina Villanueva, Global FWN100™ ‘15
Board Member, Filipino Advocates for Justice

Cecile Gregorio Ascalon, Global FWN100™ ‘15
Executive Director, Pilipino Senior Resource Center

Vivian Zalvidea Araullo, U.S. FWN100™ ‘12
Executive Director, West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service Center

RSVP Required. No registrations at-the-door.
Limited Seating Available. RSVP NOW!

This is a FWN Members Only event. 
This event is FREE for FWN Members.

Join FWN and attend the event for free!

Velma Veloria (U.S. FWN100™ '07) to speak at Washington Supreme Court Gender and Justice Commission

Former Rep. Velma Veloria (U.S. FWN100™ '07) will be one of the speakers at the national Women’s History Month event hosted by the Washington Supreme Court Gender and Justice Commission on March 4. The theme this year is: “Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government.”

Velma was the first Filipino American as well as the first Asian American woman to be elected to the Washington State Legislature serving 1992-2004.

The Gender and Justice Commission is chaired by Chief Justice Barbara Madsen. Its mission is to promote gender equality in the system of law and justice through:

• Sharing collective implementation about gender equity issues with all levels of state court, the legal profession, law enforcement, the educational community, and the public at large.

• Offering educational programs and examining court practices to ensure that gender bias plays no part in the treatment of parties attorneys and court employees, and that gender bias plays no part in the judicial decision making process.

• Serving as liaison between the courts and other organizations which share the Commission’s commitment to gender equality in the courts in order to identify gender equality issues and to deal with them effectively.

• Cooperating and coordinating with national and regional gender and justice programs, networks, committees, task forces, and commissions for purposes of developing and offering effective judicial education programs, and developing research projects and sharing ideas.

• Communicating the mission, goals, and developing project of the Commission and the courts to the legal and judicial community and to the public at large.

Veloria was chosen because of her commitment to public service in government, and as the first Filipina American elected in WA and with a strong legislative advocacy and track record on housing, labor issues, racial justice, and the pioneering human trafficking legislation and trade oversight matters.

Title II's Negative Effects on Minority Populations and Small Businesses

Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais). Image credit: Forbes.com

Earlier this year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted along party lines to reclassify Internet Service Providers (ISPs) as public utilities and to regulate the Internet under outdated Title II regulations. The negative effects of these burdensome regulations are quickly materializing. There are now clear indications that Title II harms broadband investment and innovation, which in turn harms many diverse communities and small businesses across the country. 

Typically, these companies spend billions every year to expand and enhance network infrastructure, in order to meet consumer demand, deliver new innovations, and remain competitive. Those billions constitute economic growth, and they create jobs and bring important benefits to consumers and businesses. This decline means that both those who depend on the Internet the most and those who struggle to get access will be negatively affected as broadband providers and tech companies continue to react to heavy regulation.

Recent Pew research shows that Asian Americans are enthusiastic users of the Internet and rely on broadband more so than other groups. When it comes to broadband adoption, 97 percent of English-speaking Asian Americans use the Internet compared to 78 percent of blacks, 81 percent of Hispanics, and 85 percent of Whites. Embracing policies like Title II will only lead to the deterioration of a resource that has become indispensable to so many people.

The Internet is an essential tool especially for those who live in remote areas where educational and professional opportunities may not be as widely available as in other parts of the country. Broadband is an important resource for people in rural areas to excel through online education and career development programs. When overbearing regulations threaten access to Internet innovations, those who rely on that access the most also stand to lose the most.

Read more here.
News story from The Asian Journal.