The Enormous Power of the Untapped AAPI Independent Vote
By SUniTA SOhRABji/EMS
The percentage of Asian Americans who identify as Independents has grown to 31%, according to AAPIData.
SACRAMENTO, CA -- The large, largely untapped bloc of Asian American Independent voters could deliver the win to Democratic Presidential candidate Kamala Harris or her opponent, Republican Donald Trump in an extremely tight race.
The New York Times/Siena College poll, released one day ahead of the much-anticipated Sept. 10 debate, showed Trump leading Harris by 1 point, with a margin of error at +/- 2.8 points. The two are in a tie in the critical swing states of Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Arizona. Harris edges out Trump by the slimmest of margins in Wisconsin, Michigan, and North Carolina, while Trump prevails by 1 point in Georgia.
The critical swing states are home to about 1.75 million Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders who are eligible to vote. They may represent just 3 or 4% of the voting population in their states, but that small percentage could deliver the margin of victory.
Independents Are Up for Grabs
At a Sept. 6 Ethnic Media Services news briefing, Republican strategist Rina Shah said the huge bloc of AANHPI Independents is up for grabs by any party who actively engages with the community. The 2024 Asian American Voter Survey revealed that less than 42% of AANHPI voters had been contacted by either party. Immigration reform, education, educational equity, and economic opportunity are key issues that register with AANHPI voters of either party, said Shah. Both parties need to engage more directly with the AANHPI community through not only targeted
outreach, but also by addressing specific local concerns, she said, adding such outreach could include hosting community events, working with local leaders, and creating policies that address the unique needs of the community.
“To court the growing independent AANHPI vote, it’s going to take a mix of relevant policy focus as well as genuine engagement,” said Shah.
Many Republicans are dissatisfied with Trump at the top of the ticket, said Shah, who in 2016 headed up Republican presidential candidate Evan McMullin’s bid for the White House. She noted that they may vote for Harris at the top of the ticket, but continue to vote Republican in downballot races.
1st Time Voters
Fifteen million AANHPIs are
eligible to vote, noted APIAVote
President Christine Chen. In 2020, about 65% came out to vote. In critical battleground states, roughly one out of four AANHPIs were voting for the 1st time.
In 2020, President Joe Biden won Georgia by less than 12,000 votes. The number of AAPIs who voted in 2020 in Georgia was over 142,000, and 26% were first-time voters, said Chen.
“If you do the math, that’s about 39,000 voters, three times the margin of victory. So these are concrete ways and numbers that we’re seeing where we actually are making a difference,” she said.
Bread and butter issues, along with immigration, and crime are among the most important issues for AANHPI voters, but Chen said that a significant number of voters see little difference in which party can successfully tackle those issues.
‘The Reason for Victory’
“The AANHPI vote is very significant,” said Shekar Narasimhan, chairman and founder of the AAPI Victory Fund. “I prefer actually, instead of saying that we are the margin of victory, to saying now that we are the reason for victory,” he said, speaking from the battleground state of Michigan, where he had organized a massive Get Out the Vote effort.
Narasimhan agreed that AANHPI voters of any persuasion need to be more effectively courted. Asian Americans are among the most active on social media, but in 2020, the first truly virtual year for campaigning,
SAN DIEGO, CA -- Ang
Tagapagrehistro ng mga Botante ay naghahanap ng mga karagdagang manggagawa sa botohan para sa Presidensyal na Pangkalahatang Eleksyon sa Nobyembre. Ang mga manggagawa sa botohan ay may mahalagang katungkulan sa mga eleksyon at maaaring maglingkod sa kanilang komunidad habang kumikita ng pasweldo. Mayroong partikular na pangangailangan para sa mga manggagawa sa botohan na bilingguwal sa English at Chinese, Vietnamese, o Filipino na makapagtrabaho sa mga vote center na matatagpuan sa buong county. Dagdag pa rito, ang opisina ng Tagapagrehistro ay nangangailangan ng mga manggagawa sa botohan sa mga piling vote center sa rehiyon na bilingguwal sa English at Laotian. Inire-require ng batas pederal ang opisina ng Tagapagrehistro na magkaloob ng mga bilingguwal na tagapagsalita at materyales sa botohan para sa mga botanteng nagsasalita ng Chinese, Filipino, Spanish at Vietnamese. Ang mga inire-require ng Estado at County ay nangangahulugan na may pangangailangan para sa tagapagsalita sa Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Somali at Persian (Farsi at Dari) sa piling mga vote center sa buong county. Sa pag-iisip ng mga inirerequire na iyon, ang opisina ng Tagapagrehistro ay nagre-recruit din ng mga manggagawa sa botohan na bilingguwal sa English at kahit isa sa mga wikang ito. Sa ilalim ng Voter’s Choice Act, pinapalitan ng mga vote center ang mga tradisyonal na lugar ngbotohan.
Ang mga vote center ay bukas para sa isang pinahabang panahon bago ang Araw ng Eleksyon. Sa halip na isang araw na serbisyo, ang mga manggagawa sa botohan ay kailangan na ngayon upang tauhan ang mga vote center hanggang 11 araw sa loob ng dalawang linggo bago ang Araw ng Eleksyon.
Ang mga manggagawa sa botohan na magtatrabaho sa vote center sa pagitan ng Ika-26 ng Oktubre at Ika4 ng Nobyembre ay makakatanggap ng pasweldo na $145 kada araw ng serbisyo. Sa Araw ng Eleksyon, Ika-5 ng Nobyembre, ang mga manggagawa sa botohan ay makakatanggap ng pasweldo na $240 sa dahilan na mas pinahabang oras. Para doon sa mga nakatalaga bilang bilingguwal na manggagawa sa botohan, sila ay
makakatanggap ng karagdagang $5 kada araw ng serbisyo sa vote center at may pagtaas ng $10 sa Araw ng Eleksyon.
Kasama sa mga responsibilidad ang:
• Pagbibigay ng mahusay na serbisyo sa customer
• Pagtulong sa iba’t-ibang klase ng populasyon ng mga botante
• Pagdalo sa dalawang-araw, bayad na pagsasanay ng manggagawa sa botohan ($95 araw-araw na pasweldo)
• Pagbubukas/pagsasara ng vote center
• Pananatiling walang kinikilingan sa pulitika sa lahat ng oras
• Pagsasagot sa mga katanungan ng botante
By y UGEL LOSORATASAN DIEGO, CA -- Philippine culture was highlighted during the San Diego STARS Lions Club's 4th Annual Installation of Officers and Induction of New Members held at the Marriott Hotel Mission Valley last August 17. The new slate of officers for the San Diego Lions Club are as follows: Felma Vargas, president, Bella Carreon, 1st vice president, Minda Marshall, 2nd vice president, Elsa Siverts, Club Administrator/Lion Tamer, Lilibeth Agues, secretary, Evelyn Nguyen, assistant secretary, Rhiza Trinidad, treasurer, Pamela Jimenez, assistant treasurer, Jacki Dayoha, membership chair/tail twister,Fina Surdilla, LCIF coordinator,Dr.Mariflor Duhay, service chair, Sal Belisario, marketing chair, Carnie Banares, Henry Brown, Gemma Hollmann, Stephan Hollman, Yoland Morales 2nd board of directors; Mags Evangelista, Mina Greenman, Amy Macaoay, Marge San Diego and Grace Trevilla, 1st year board of
directors.
The night's theme was illuminated through the outfits of the attendees and warm messages of those who shared their wisdom on what became a memorable night of fun and Filipino pride for the Lions Club's District 4-L6. Traditions of Santacruzan and Sagala were depicted through specially staged parades, as well as some performances of the Sinkil dance.
Past council chair Derek Ledda delivered an empowering speech as the night's guest of honor, as he emphasized the importance of the aha moment, which by definition is that sudden insight or discovery that happens to a certain individual in a good way. In his well-received talk, he linked the power of such a moment to what is being experienced by members of the San Diego STARS Lions Club.
"When you have determined that aha moment, then you have experienced what it truly means to be a Lion. You are able to make a
more than half the community was not reached.
“Candidates don’t know how to talk to us, which language to reach, which communities to talk to, the WhatsApp channels that we frequent, or the television. And therefore, there is an absence of information,” said Narasimhan, who noted that a huge percentage of AANHPIs are low-information voters. “We tell every candidate to show up in our communities, talk to our voters about the issues that matter to this community,” he said, noting critical issues include immigration, and access to capital for small businesses. Vietnamese American Shift Left? Dr. Tung Nguyen, founder and president of The Progressive Vietnamese American Organization — PIVOT — said that Vietnamese American voters, among the most conservative AANHPIs who traditionally vote Republican, are slowly shifting left. “There is a toss-up between Republicans and Democrats, with a significant portion of around 25% who are Independent and can still be persuaded,” said Nguyen.
“There is rampant misinformation and disinformation in our communities, both in English, but especially in Vietnamese, with much of that bad content coming out on YouTube, he said. PIVOT has created VietFact Check. Nguyen described the resource as a “nonpartisan information service that has really served as a model for
difference through something you're passionate about," Ledda said. Ledda made mention of the recent actions done by the Club that mirrors its ever-ongoing work in serving communities. He singled out the serving of the homeless which is among the most important initiatives carried on by the group. Over 50,000 people - men, women, and children - have so far benefited from this gallant effort to lend a hand to the underprivileged.
Shelters have also been provided to victims of assault, in addition to medical missions to the Philippines.
“Don’t settle for one aha moment. Together we can do so much. Let’s be mindful, bold, creative, and make a difference,” Ledda added.
Ledda’s view on the aha moment reflected the vision of the group’s founder Melvin Jones who from the beginning wanted a movement “to improve both the local communities and the lives of vulnerable people
The Pampered Pinay Lifestyle: Francine Maigue Day
By Francine Maigue
Wow – what a night! Never did
I imagine that I’d be given such a beautiful blessing as to have a day proclaimed in my name. To have “Francine Maigue Day” proclaimed in the Cities of Chula Vista and National City on September 18th is a gift I’ll always treasure. In many ways it feels as if I earned a second birthday. I share the day with my parents, Ate and all those who have invested in me throughout the years. I worked very hard, but I know my success is a product of opportunity and love poured into me by so many, including and especially YOU, my dear community & friends!
I’ve started to view life as a trilogy. If mine was a series of movies or books, I look at this time as my second installation of three. I aim to make the sequel even better than the original. The Francine Maigue Day event held on September 18th, produced by Philippine Business Improvement and Development (PhilAmBID) and hosted at the New Americans Museum, gave way to a healthy dose of reminiscing –a celebration of where I’ve been, what I’ve accomplished, how I’ve grown, learned and served…so far. It reminded me of the joy of going after dreams – for myself, for my family, for our community – full force. I’m so grateful for the blessings along my journey. I refuse to let my recent cancer diagnosis impact my freedom to continue to dream big. On the contrary, it’s inspired me to pursue lifelong goals with unparalleled vigor. There’s still
– September 18th
so much that I plan to accomplish. There are still so many people I hope to help. I’ve still got a lot of work to do, plenty of passion in me, and, God willing, I will continue to pay every blessing I’ve been given forward. Serving and representing our community has been the honor of my life, and I’m going to continue to fight hard every day, so I have the chance to continue to help empower and inspire more people, especially our youth, my fellow Filipino Americans, and families impacted by lung cancer. Maraming, maraming salamat po, Edna Consing Concepcion, Fresas Flores Balistreri, Rosanna Guevarra Salcedo and the Board of PhilAmBID for producing the event and for the honor of the 2019 The Outstanding Professional and High Achieving Team (TOP HAT) Leadership & Service Award. Thank you to the entire team of the New Americans Museum, where I serve as Poet-in-Residence, for hosting the event – Linda Caballero-Sotelo, Celia Solis, and, of course, Martin, Tim and Poppy! Thank you to the one-and-only Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez and my work family, Evan, Diamond, Lucero, Lucas, Aida, Dale and Cary for the beautiful resolution and helping make the event a success. Thank you, Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas and Councilman Steve Padilla, for the “Francine Maigue Day” proclamation in my beloved hometown. Thank you, National City Mayor Alejandra Sotelo-Solis and Councilwoman Mona Rios, for the “Francine Maigue Day” proclamation and special presentation that will take place at City Hall on October 15th. Thank you to the always inspiring Pastor Russ Cox, who led us all in a moving invocation. I’m so grateful and was brought to tears by incredible performances made possible by my Associate Choreographer, Thalia Rose Maigue-Bendorf, members of my talented cast and crew of
Moana – Melanie Jimenez, Josette Candelaria, Trinity MaigueBendorf, Jewel Maigue-Bendorf, Koa Griffin, Zara Butcher and Lina Butcher – and their ever-supportive parents. #ittakesavillage Thank you, Jackie Maraya Griffin, Melanie and Koa for the thoughtful and touching serenade. I’m so grateful for the heartfelt toasts and surprise presentations delivered by my dear friends, including Siavash Jabbari, Mandy Muenzer, Julia “Jhigs” Legaspi and Stella Rosa 2.0, Susan De los Santos and my Filipino Press family, Noli Zosa, Debbie Espe, the Cavite Association of Southern California and others, as well as the generous sponsorships of many more, like Edward Pamintuan and Shirley Horton. I was so blessed to be joined on stage that night by the beautiful and brilliant, Thalia Rose Maigue-Bendorf and Katherine May Sahagun, with whom I debuted a new poem, “Someday is Today.” I’m grateful for Tita Merly Mugol and Tita Connie Mata for their support the entire day of the event.
To my family, especially my dearest Mama, who poured her heart into producing an event that captured so much emotion and united so many people from different facets of my life…words cannot express my immense gratitude. Please know how inspired and strengthened I am by each of you, Mama Oly Maigue, Daddy Butch Maigue, Ate Theresa Maigue-Bendorf, Kuya Jason Bendorf, Thalia, Trinity, Jewel and Jordan…I dedicate all of my life’s work and success to you. And, of course, to the hundreds of attendees who made for a full house at the New Americans Museum, from my medical team to my besties to femtees & mentees and allllll my loves in between, many of whom traveled far (some even across the country) to be there that night…I hold you all so dear to me. My heart overflows with gratitude for each of you. Maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat. “Francine Maigue Day” is OUR day.
Late Francine Maigue (third from l-r) with community friends Susan, Edna and Celia during her Francine Day recognition.
Rotary Club of Sweetwater San Diego
SAN DIEGO, CA -- “The Rotary Club of Sweetwater San Diego proudly announces and anticipates the forthcoming visit of San Diego Rotary District 5340 Governor Dianne Crawford on September 17, 2024 at the club’s meeting at the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) starting at 6:30 PM. Dinner will be served and guests are welcome. Please RSVP to Romeo at 619-846-1398 or to Marissa at 619-726-1962. Please leave your name and call back number. The club will be presenting its various ongoing and future projects. Donations of a folding wheelchair and a bariatric folding walker with seat for patients in Africa will also take place during the event.”
bilingual anti-disinformation work in Asian American communities.”
PIVOT has also created a bilingual Get Out the Vote ad campaign, which the organization is disseminating through many platforms, including conservative, Trump-supporting groups. Additionally, the organization plans to distribute 100,000 handwritten postcards before Election Day Nov. 5. Asian American Conservatism
“Older Vietnamese American voters who use to support Trump are either less vocal about him or less enthusiastic about him or have been turned off by him, mostly not around policy issues, but around character issues. And this seems to have started with the insurrection in January 2021,” said Nguyen. The Biden Administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war has turned off some younger Vietnamese Americans, who are not yet backing Harris, he said.
University of San Francisco Professor Dr. James Zarsadiaz discussed the history of Asian American conservatism. Until the 1990s, Asian Americans traditionally voted Republican, believing that the party was aligned with their values of traditional families and supporting economic growth. George HW Bush
successfully courted AAPI voters in 1992, and Bob Dole followed in 1996, though there was also considerable enthusiasm for Democratic candidate Bill Clinton.
The year 2000 saw a dramatic shift, as AAPIs voted for Democratic Presidential candidate Al Gore, who won the popular vote, but lost the electoral college. A wave of antiAsianism, along with the new “hard right policies” of House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s Congress made many AAPIs question their loyalty to the Republican Party, said Zarsadiaz, who is working on a book: “The Asian American Conservative.”
Democrats ‘Soft on Crime’
But the shift left may be turning again. “There are a lot of registered Asian American Democrats who are starting to move more right, voting for maybe central left or more moderate Democrats, as opposed to backing folks who are more liberal or more progressive,” said Zarsadiaz.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought with it a wave of antiAsian hate crimes, Zarsadiaz said many AANHPIs felt unsupported by the Democratic party, which has been characterized as “soft on crime.”
Pennsylvania: the Ultimate Battleground Mohan Seshadri, executive director of the Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance, spoke to reporters from the
battleground state of Pennsylvania, which several pundits believe will determine the outcome of the 2024 Presidential election.
“Pennsylvania is the battleground of battlegrounds. It’s where everything’s going down. And that means that for our community, when we’re the margin of victory, there’s an intense opportunity to build local grassroots political power,” he said, noting that organizations need to be long-term resourced, so that they’re doing day-today outreach in the community, outside of election cycles.
“When we launched in 2020, we doubled the Asian-American vote in Pennsylvania, and that doubling provided fully half of President Biden’s margin of victory in the state,” said Seshadri, adding that his organization was also successful in flipping downballot races.
“We’re going to knock on 500,000 doors in 22 languages; make 5 million phone calls in 22 languages. We’re going to send a million pieces of mail in the languages our communities speak with representation from our community leaders on it in order to meet every single member of our community where they are, and make sure they know not just how to vote in this critical election, but also which candidates up and down the ballot are actually going to listen to and fight for our communities,” he said.
Members of the Rotary Club of Sweetwater San Diego led by President Marissa de Luna (4th from left) anticipates the forthcoming visit of San Diego Rotary District 5340 Governor Diane Crawford on Sept. 17. (courtesy photo)
SAN DIEGO, CA -- If any of you
– my dear folks are not aware of it yet - Makati is a city in the Philippines’ Metro Manila region and is the country’s financial hub. It’s known for the skyscrapers and shopping malls of Makati Central Business District and for Ayala Triangle Garden, an area dotted with trees and sculptures. Ayala Museum alone houses the Filipino Heritage Library and craft collections documenting our old homeland’s history.
“Sinigang Valley” is a community of startups, investors, and other industries in Makati’s Poblacion that aims to be a cornerstone of the Philippines’ startup ecosystem. This non-profit organization is the unified voice of startups in our beloved old homeland located in the vibrant tech hub of Poblacion, Makati City.
I am ecstatic, too that a lot of our “kababayans” are now part of this pioneering community of startups, investors, accelerators, incubators and service providers. The project actually begun when the founder of “Kumu,” a startup company were looking for a location to have employees and investors in Poblacion.
Some might find the name funny, but the collective behind Sinigang Valley is dead serious about what they want it to be: like I’ve stated earlier above - a community of startups, investors, academia, and related industries that will become the “cornerstone” of the startup ecosystem in the old homeland of ours – the Philippines. That it’s located in Poblacion in Makati (adjacent to my beloved old hometown of Sta. Ana in Manila), one of the city’s hippest hangouts and night life ground zero is no accident.
It all started with a conversation among the founders of startup superstar, “Kumu,” who took daily walks along Palma Street in Poblacion as they scouted for a location to house some of their employees and live streamers. Through Foxmont Capital Partners, a local venture capital fund focused on Filipino-founded startups, the Kumu guys were connected to Alternative Housing Group (AHG), a tech startup and property tech incubator. Turns out AHG was developing properties around Poblacion, and so Kumu was able to recover a unique co-working space and dormitory equipped with a gym, rooftop, game room, and other out of the ordinary amenities for its team.
“We made the introduction, and the idea of creating a collaborative community grew from these,” Franco Varona, managing partner of Foxmont Capital Partners told the magazine Esquire Philippines.
“The name especially came from Rexy Dorado, co-founder of Kumu. And the ethos of collaboration and
inviting other startups to join the community came from Roland Ros, the other co-founder of Kumu.”
“What if we call it Sinigang Valley?” Dorado said out loud one day when the group got together to brainstorm and share their visions about the future of office spaces.
It was, of course, a pun on Silicon Valley, that area in San Francisco that has become known the world over as the breeding ground of successful tech companies. The name clicked instantly; it was catchy, culturally meaningful, and referenced a beloved and very Filipino dish. According to the group, Sinigang Valley also captures the vision of something that is able to take in a diverse mix of influences while remaining uncompromisingly Filipino.
Plus, it’s driven by culture including but not limited to food as much as technology!
“Once (Kumu) committed to their first building, Foxmont followed, along with other venture capital funds,” Varona explained.
“Today, new startups continue to look closely at the spaces to house their offices. It isn’t patterned after any specific location, but does try to foster that ethos of collaboration between startups, investors and even academia that is seen in places like Silicon Valley in California and Block 71 in Singapore.”
It certainly helped that Poblacion itself has seen its share of gentrification over the years. Having transformed into a favorite nightlife spot even before the onset of COVID-19, the next chapter for this section of the metropolis seemed to be, as the brains behind at Sinigang Valley puts it, “as a beautiful, humble area for companies that are looking to create visionary ideas and bring it to life.”
“Entrepreneurship can be a lonely and sometimes desolate journey,” they say. “What better way to support the next wave of entrepreneurs by giving them an environment to feel supported and inspired.”
Amen to that!
And in case you were curious exactly where Sinigang Valley is, the group says it occupies the area right smack dab in the middle of Poblacion, between Makati Avenue, P. Burgos Street, J.P. Rizal Avenue (a good, old hunting ground for my high school buddy’s way back in the 60s…Wink! Ha-ha-ha-ha!) and Palma Street.
Just over a year since prep work for the sizzling concoction began, Sinigang Valley has already attracted quite a few big names with the small but thriving local startups’ scene.
In addition to pioneering members Kumu, AHG and Foxmont Capital Partners, other collaborators included Draper Start-Up House and Zalora.ph; investment companies
In Part 2, I laid out that it was quite possible that the two African papabile is out of the running for the papacy. Does that increase the probability that Cardinal-bishop Tagle could be the Asian man who could wear the red shoes? From what has taken place in Tagle’s life, his meteoric promotions, and Pope Francis’ fondness of him, it is quite possible that Tagle’s fortunes might just align. The biggest question to overcome is, will the red shoes fit his billing? The quickest answer is maybe to no, unless Tagle does something outside the box. There are currently 21 Asian cardinals who can sit in the conclave. Three of these cardinals could be in the running: William Goh from Singapore, Charles Maung Bo (Myanmar), and You Heung-Sik, the new prefect for the dicastery for the clergy from South Korea. William Go and Charles Maung are critics of the pope’s China deal. That to me, automatically takes them out of the running because China is the motherlode, prize catch, if you will, if Catholicism can make a significant breakthrough
like Gobi-Core Philippines Fund and GenTree, which has committed its take office spaces there for the investor side; hospitality groups like Square One Hospitality Concepts and Araw Hospitality Group, public relations agencies such as Evident PR; and even Endeavor Philippines, the local outfit of the global network of high-impact entrepreneurs.
Besides Varona and Ros, the initial network of Sinigang Valley collaborators included My Town Co-Living CEO Mark Kooijman, Square One Hospitality CEO Jenny Yrasuegui, Qwikwire CEO Edison Ray Refundo and Endeavor Philippines co-founder and managing partner Manny Ayala.
Since word started going around about the group, Sinigang Valley’s pioneering set of officers say they
have received multiple inquiries from creative agencies, startups, wellness brands, and other VC’s (VC stands for venture capital, a type of financing were investors purchase ownership stakes in high-risk, highreward companies) looking to move into the neighborhood. The group says they welcome virtually anyone who wants to move to their area.
“We encourage a spirit of entrepreneurship and a passion for Philippine culture,” they affirmed.
“For the Sinigang Valley Association group, we are still building our membership packages that will range for college students to emerging entrepreneurs.”
“Anybody interested in being a part of a vibrant collaborative neighborhood is welcome to move in and join the association!” Varona
Jesse T. Reyes Filipino Potpourri
added up.
Of course, the question then was what Sinigang Valley would look like with the pandemic pretty much ruining the recipe of what was supposed to be a great tasting dish.
But Varona was unperturbed. After all, the ideas for the collective were born in the midst of the pandemic, not before, so you can tell that the group was firmly focused on a future where in-person collaborative exchanges will once again become the norm.
“Communities are built on interactions,” he then concluded.
“Currently, we interact vis-à-vis our phones and laptops, but we do see a future where a collaborative community is built on face-to-face interaction again. We are optimistic about the post-pandemic reality in Sinigang Valley.”
“We just want to create a neighborhood of positive and uplifting energy in our city, where all creative ideas are properly supported,” the Sinigang Valley “chefs” declared then. “We want to help entrepreneurs feel empowered to win.”
There is no doubt to date that Sinigang Valley is the Philippines’ answer to Silicon Valley in San Francisco, USA – a rapidlygrowing hub for innovation and entrepreneurship - united by the goal of becoming the cornerstone of the old homeland’s startup ecosystem.
As evidence - Mosaic Solutions is one of the first tech companies to take up permanent residence there last year illustrating its potential for innovation and growth.
Mosaic Solutions, the “all-in-one” restaurant management software provider has also announced major expansions for 2023 including new projects, an expanded team and enhanced offerings.
This rapid growth stems from having closed $5 million USD Series A funds led by Kickstart Venture and GenTree Fund amongst them. Aside from doubling its team up to 100+ employees over the past several months, the Manila-based company has just opened an office in Sinigang Valley, too with the intention to recruit more talents over the next year or so.
Indeed, they were proven right as the Sinigang Valley Association
continues to prosper on its journey at this very point in time. In fact, the community of high-profile startups, investors, and accelerators has elected a five-person board for the first time since it was founded in 2021.
The election helps pave the way for a more streamlined and professionally run organization seen to benefit the nascent startup industry in the Philippines.
Elected as board members were Paulo Campos of Kaya Founders, Rene Cuartero of AHG Lab, Jojo Malolos of Paymongo, Roland Ros of Kumu and Franco Varona of Foxmont Capital.
According to insiders, the election happened last Thursday, August 15 and involved 28 of the 29 members of the Sinigang Valley Association. Incidentally, all of the newlyelected board members have strong backgrounds in the local startup industry. Way to go, “Kababayans”! And so, I say that if you’re back in the old homeland for good (or perhaps, planning to visit soon, for whatever reason and for that matter, too) – and especially if you’re a part of the startup ecosystem – go for it and seize the moment – to join Sinigang Valley and connect with the most innovative minds in the Philippines!
If you’re just curious about becoming a member or are simply interested in the startups’ spaces, stay tuned. I am quite sure more exciting developments and opportunities for engagement will follow. Do stay connected for updates and be part of this exciting journey with the Sinigang Valley Association. Together, our “kababayans” back in the old homeland are driving the future of the startup ecosystem to new heights. I don’t know about you, folks but Sinigang Valley sounds way-y-y-y better than Silicon Valley! What say you?
Myself, I won’t be surprised at all if we will be talking more on the startup’s community in the Philippines and its relevance to Filipino-Americans going back to their home country for whatever reasons there is.
Mabuhay!
Press on!!
The Man who could be Pope, Part 3
with its billion population. South Korea’s Cardinal You has a great story to tell about his and his family’s conversion, but he’s too junior and still wet behind the ears. And so are Cardinal Sebastian Francis of Penang, Malaysia, and Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-Yan SJ of Hong Kong getting their red hats last year.
According to Vatican estimates, there are more than 100 million Christians who worship underground. Many of these forbidden churches trace their roots from early Jesuit conversion efforts, thus, they recognize the Catholic Pope. China has a repressive rule when it comes to worship. China’s constitution recognizes “freedom of religious beliefs” but under very strict terms. As a matter of fact, only five religious faith groups are sanctioned by Communist China. One of them, the Catholic Patriotic Association (CPA) as the Vatican’s legitimate partner per se, but their followers do not recognize the pope’s authority.
China is an unfinished business for the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits, who first attempted to reach
China in the 16th century during the Ming Dynasty – three centuries after Marco Polo. Their missionary efforts and work that century and the century following, enriched both cultures – China and the West – and allowed the transmission of knowledge, science, and cultures to flourish. They saw China as equally sophisticated as Europe and saw the value of collaboration both in theory and practice.
The early Jesuits, however, viewed Buddhism and Taoism as simply “corrupted ideals of Christianity” proliferated by false priests (Buddhist monks). This is rich given that Taoism was a much-established religion long before the coming of Jesus Christ, and Buddhism (from India) was centuries older than Christianity. These perceptions are probably influenced by Marco Polo’s observations and beliefs during his travel along the Silk Road.
How the Jesuits successfully penetrated Chinese society is a great story in itself, but that is not the point. The point is that Jesuits view of Chinese religion has evolved from accommodation (that Chinese public rites and ancestor worship were civil and not religious in nature) to their current missionary thrust of resistance. China is trying to avert Vatican influence over Chinese Catholics by state decrees and eradicate the underground Catholic churches.
The Holy Father is well aware of
the Jesuits’ history of conversion in China and their success stories. He is trying to pick up from where the Jesuit prelates left off when they were kicked out from China in the 18th century a year after the Jesuits order was dissolved in Europe courtesy of a conservative Pope Clement XI.
Pope Clement did not like the Jesuits’ collaboration with the Chinese because he viewed the Chinese honoring their ancestors as heresy and idolatrous. The pope sent Franciscan and Dominican missionaries to China to do his bidding and without fail, they snitched to the pope that the Jesuits were involved in superstitious indulgences (adopting Chinese words that referred to a higher existence and participating in their rituals) in what would become the Chinese Rites Controversy.
Pope Clement XI issued an edict prohibiting Chinese converts from keeping ancestral shrines or observing Confusion holidays. The tit for tat began. The Chinese Emperor who was sympathetic to the Jesuits changed his tune and labeled the European missionaries as troublemakers. The next emperor went further and started prosecuting the Franciscan and Dominican proselytizers including the Jesuits.
Pope Benedict XIV declared the controversy over and practically shut down any further efforts to debate the matter and signaled drawdown of Catholic missions in
China. Pope-emeritus Benedict XI in his capacity as Prefect (head) of the Dicastery of Faith, Cardinal Ratzinger issued the “Declaration Dominus Iesus, On the Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church” practically reinforcing the notion of the religious supremacy of Catholicism. In Dominus Iesus (The Lord Jesus), Ratzinger prefaced the Declaration as a necessity “to correct the problems it believes from relativism that regards all religious positions as equally valuable and legitimate.” In truth, Dominus Iesus was issued as a dogmatic approach aimed at Asian bishops who were struggling with issues of pluralism and fidelity in largely non-Christian contexts –like what the Jesuits faced many centuries before them. Ratzinger’s declaration was triumphalist while denigrating other religions. Cardinal Ratzinger’s work practically ushered Pope Benedict XVI’s conservatism and a kick in the face to Vatican II’s trust of interreligious dialogue, that Pope Francis now pursues through Synodality. Without interreligious dialogue, there is no basis for theological discourse. Religious diversity is a fact of life and to label it as “relativism” misses an opportunity to bring people together in a universal Church. When Jesus told His disciples to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,” he didn’t just mean Catholics.
Except for the Philippines and East Timor, Christianity is a minority religion in Asia. Many of the Asian countries are products of turmoil, dynasties, wars and famine that helped shape their cultures. It is truly a big challenge for missionaries to capture such diversity in traditions and cultures while trying to export a European idea of religion. The threedimensional theme of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality that Pope Francis convened are communion, participation, and mission. When one looks at religious history of China, the Jesuits understood it fully well that the Western concept of a Higher Being as a Christian requires nuance. When the Communist Party took over China in the aftermath of Mao’s Cultural Revolution, Chinese Catholics have become the canary in the coal mine of how well their Catholic faith has rooted. Especially under Xi Jinping’s cruel persecution of Christians in the country, one cannot underestimate the value of Pope Francis’ entente and entreaties with the Chinese authoritarian.
The historic agreement signed between the Chinese government and the Holy in 2018 concerning the appointment of bishops where China appoints, and the Vatican approves. This agreement was not welcomed by Chinese prelates as “selling out” to the Communist Party. (To be continued)
The members of the Sinigang Valley Association (SVA)
For the first time since it was founded in 2021, the Sinigang Valley Association elected a five-person board of trustees.
Help Wanted / For Rent / For Sale
Spiritual Life
Love your enemies
When I was younger, I used to say that the most difficult religion to embrace is Christianity. The requirements of being a Christian is onerous. Take for instance, Jesus said, “Love your enemies. Do good to them that hate you or persecute you.” Could we really do this act of loving those who say so many things against you or just hate you for being a friend of those they have a quarrel with?.
There is a woman, a graduate of an exclusive Catholic school for girls in Manila, who claims to be a community leader and who has made it here in San Diego. She was invited to co-host a fund raising party and her comment was “I’ll join you as long as Mrs. Cudal is not in the line-up”. I felt sad when people relay this kind of response to me. But what can I do? I just shrug my shoulders and move on. Life is so beautiful to be marred by the attitude of people who happen not to like you. Deep in my heart I hold no grudges against anyone. Life is too short. Do whatever you can to help others and to make life worth living. I have lots of friends, good and kind friends who treat me with love, kindness and respect. I feel so blessed when I am with them.
I purposely avoid situations where I’ll meet people who can’t stand my presence. I don’t want to generate in their hearts ill-feelings which would be harmful to their
And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.
(Titus 3:14)
January is a time for new beginnings, a time of creating new resolutions for the betterment of yourself. I make yearly resolutions, and normally they're things to keep me from being idle, but not necessarily spiritually focused. So this year, I created a certain goal that was Biblically-oriented: volunteer.
Aurora S. Cudal-Rivera
My Personal Testimony
health and well-being. It has been proven by science that physical ill-health often springs from negative attitudes and feelings. I pity those who hate me, who are envious of what I do, or who are jealous of the company I keep. They are sick and they need to be healed by the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The fruits of the spirit are love, forgiveness, compassion, kindness, generosity and contentment. And I pray that the Holy Spirit will remain in my heart so I can love my enemies and do good to those who hate me. I feel that the reason for my good state of health is due to my state of being. I live a very simple life. I have friends who truly care for me. I have no enemies. I don’t worry. I am content with what I have. I spend my time in positive ways – reading and listening to music or writing this column. I love my children and grandchildren but I don’t interfere with their lives. I do
good whenever I can and wherever I am.
Everyday is a beautiful day. And when I wake up in the morning, my heart starts singing. “All the shadows of the night have passed away. It is morning in my heart. I’ll be living in the sunlight of the day. It is morning in my heart. It is morning; it is morning in my heart. All the shadows of the night have now departed. For since Jesus is my King, songs of gladness now I sing. It is morning, it is morning in my heart.” This has been a lifelong practice which keeps me going throughout the day.
“The unfailing love of the Lord never ends. By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness. His mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him.”
Lamentations 3:22-24, (The Holy Bible, New Living Translation)
All Blessings Flow Volunteer for God
Danny Hernaez From Whom
You see, God commands us to serve others. It's not an option. I had been neglecting that commandment, putting it off and saying, "I'll do it later." Many of us forget that not only do we owe God our money, but we also owe Him our time. Volunteering is just one of the ways we can serve God, and it's one of the many neglected service opportunities.
I have observed the issue of neglecting service first-hand. The majority of people who send in volunteer applications are people who say they have "too much time" on their hands, normally middle-aged women and retirees who are bored.
Unfortunately, those aren't good reasons to volunteer. We shouldn't be volunteering just because we're bored, rather because God calls us to it. God wants all of us to serve in some capacity, no matter how busy we are, whether we work fulltime, or whether or not we are moms with little children. We all owe it to Him, whether we volunteer with an organization or give of our time outside of an organization. We all should be serving in some capacity.
Maybe you're like me, and have put it off too many times. Or maybe you think you don't have time. But remember, Christ saved you from your sins, gave His life up for you, and in doing so, chose to serve others and not Himself. You owe it to Him.
Lord Jesus Christ, how we
thank you for your willingness to give up so much to become human. Thank you for your choice to become poor so that we might be rich in you. You know, Lord, how easy it is for me to receive your blessings, but then hold onto them. Help me to be a person who imitates your act of generous giving. As I have received financial blessings from you, may I share them freely with others. As I have been gifted by your Spirit, may I serve people in your church and in the world. As I have received the outpouring of your love, may I love others in my life: at work, at home, at church, and wherever I might be. Help me this very day, Lord, to be rich in you by giving away your blessings to others. Amen.
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Greetings in the Lord!
Today is the twenty fourth Sunday in ordinary time. The gospel reading speaks about several important matters that we should always consider. The first one is the need to know Jesus, his true identity and his mission for humanity. The answer of Peter, who represented the disciples to whom he addressed the question “who am I” was an answer that did not come only from his experience with Jesus nor personal knowledge of Him whom he personally witnessed to have performed miracles and proclaimed mysteries in parables, but especially and encounter with Jesus with an openness of mind and heart to the grace that came from God Him who inspired him to proclaim the reality of the identity of Jesus. Knowledge of the identity of Jesus and the purpose of his mission may come from study the life of Jesus, but it cannot be a complete understanding of the totality of Jesus. The need to be open to grace that would inspire and enlighten a person who seeks to know Jesus is always very necessary. For this reasons theology, catechesis and science would not suffice in coming to know who Jesus truly is. A phenomenon known as mysticism would bring about a more complete understanding of the reality of Jesus and mystics have contributed a lot in giving us, simple believers, a
more comprehensive picture of Jesus and his mission.
The second very important message of the gospel this Sunday is the revelation of Jesus that his suffering, passion and death on the cross are integral in fulfilling his mission on earth. This is an important fundamental element in his saving mission that is very difficult to accept although easy to understand. Peter himself could not accept that the Master whom he witnessed to be so powerful in many ways, even the wind and the sea would obey him, the sick would be restored to health, the blind could see, the deaf could hear, the mute could speak and thousands could be fed with one several loaves of bread and some fish, should undergo misunderstanding, suffering, and death. Many of us, in the same manner, would accept the reality of Jesus as our savior
but cannot accept that suffering and death should be a part of his saving mystery. More so how difficult it is to undergo such suffering, dying to self and carrying crosses, like he did, so that we too may be saved. Like Peter we would complain and many times we do complain about so many things, especially when they affect us personally. Like Peter we would rebuke Jesus, but like Peter Jesus would rebuke us “Get behind me, Satan, You are thinking not as God does, but as hut as human being do.” Many times we would like to do things the way we want things to be done. Among them is to make Jesus appear and be according to our own desires and likes. However, Jesus has his ways and following Jesus demands that we accept Him as he reveals himself to us. This entails doing what He wants us when He mentioned that “whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take us his cross and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.” Let us pray that we would be able to know Jesus more deeply so that we can follow Him more closely and do His will more lovingly. Let us once more seek the intercession of Mary, Our Mother and Patroness so that we would be able to become truly his disciples.
America, natatanging bansa na naiiba Bansang sagana at pinagpala Ginagalang, hinahangaan at tinitingala Buhay sa piling mo’y nagdudulot ng aliw at ginhawa.
America, isa kang sagradong ideya Ang mga mamamayan mo ay buklod-buklod at nagkakaisa Sa paniwalang lahat ay pantay pantay Lahat ay anak ng Diyos, pinagkalooban ng mga Karapatan Hindi maaring pakialaman ninoman.
America, iyong mga tauhan ay galing sa ibat-ibang bansa Magkakaiba ang linguahe, ugali at kultura Ngunit maayos at masayang namang nagsasama Pagsasamang buklod ng respeto sa isat-isa.
America, ikaw ay dakila hindi sapagkat ika’y mayaman Dakila ka sapagkat ginagamit mo ang iyong kayamanan
MANGGAGAWA
Continued from page 1
Ang mga aplikante ay dapat hindi bababa sa 18 taong gulang, isang U.S. citizen at nakarehistroupang makaboto sa California, o legal na karapat-dapat na permanenteng residente ng United States. Ang mga
upang tumulong sa iba Ikaw ay dakila hindi sapagkat ikaw ay may malakas na sandata Dakila ka sapagkat mayroon kang mga anak na handang ipagtanggol ang demokrasya.
America,isang bansang nagbibigay ng pagkakataon sa lahat Anak ng isang hamak na magsasaka Manalig at magsikap, matamo ang pangarap Maaari pang maging pangulo ng bansa.
America, hindi ka perpekto at mayroon kang pagkukulang Subalit ang mga ito ay iyong hinaharap at gumagawa ng paraan Kapag nagkamali, nadapa ay babangon muli Mabuhay ng lalong matibay sa paniwalang ang pagkakamali ay mapapabuti.
America, katulad mo ay isang lungsod sa itaas ng burol Nagniningning tulad ng isang bituin Isang tanglaw na nagbibigay
Liwanag sa lahat ng nakatingin Para sa karamihan, isang lugar na nais marating.
Ama namin sa kalangitan, ang bansang America ay iyo pong patnubayan Patuloy mo pong gamitin siya bilang kasangkapan ng iyong kabutihan Pakinggan ang kanyang daing, at hilumin siya sa kanyang pagkukulang Pagkalooban siya ng Kapayapaan, ngayon at magpakailanman.
aplikante ay dapat ding may sariling transportasyon papunta sa kanilang nakatalagang vote center. Ang Tagapagrehistro ay naghahanap ng mga tao na team player, nagpapakita ng malakas na pamumuno at mga kasanayan sa serbisyo sa customer, at nagpapakita ng pleksibilidad, pasensiya at ang pinakamataas na lebel ng integridad sa lahat ng oras. Dapat irepresenta ng mga manggagawa sa botohan ang Tagapagrehistro ng mga Botante sa isang propesyonal, at walang partidong pamamaraan. Ang mga aplikasyon ay available sa sdvote.com. Para sa higit pang impormasyon, tumawag sa (858) 565-5800 o mag-email sa pollworker@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic
AMERICA
Ni Salvador S. Idos
Salvador S. Idos
Don’t trash your cash!
SD County Unclaimed Refunds total $867,171!
Deadline to file claim is September 22, 2024
SAN DIEGO, CA -- San Diego
County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan
McAllister is reminding people that the County has $867,171 in unclaimed funds he is trying to return to its owners by September 22, 2024 – before it is rolled into the General Fund.
“There are only ten days left to file a claim. If you’ve done business with the County in the last three years, including paying property taxes, you could be on the Unclaimed Monies list,” said Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister.
Each year, the Treasurer-Tax Collector and other County departments have thousands of dollars that are owed to taxpayers. This usually results from warrants/checks that are undeliverable by the postal service. Refunds-owed could be a result of overpaid taxes or instances in which individuals and organizations are doing business with or receiving County services.
Go online now to find out if you are owed part of $867,171 in San Diego County Unclaimed Monies before it is rolled into the General Fund. The smallest refund available is $15.00 and the largest is $25,118.40.
After several years of no claim being received the funds are escheated. While the County works to return these monies to the rightful owner, some refunds remain unclaimed.
“Some possible returns are quite large – in the thousands, with the highest over $25,000! I’m sure people could use this money, so my staff and I are working hard to return it to its rightful owners,” said McAllister.
To view a list of the unclaimed refunds, go to Treasurer-Tax Collector’s website.
Hard copies of the list are available at any one of the following TreasurerTax Collector locations:
· CHULA VISTA BRANCH
OFFICE: 590 Third Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91910
· EAST COUNTY BRANCH
OFFICE (NEW): 10144 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, CA 92071
· SAN MARCOS BRANCH
OFFICE: 141 East Carmel Street, San Marcos, CA 92078
If you are owed money, follow the instructions on the unclaimed money page of the website to file a refund claim by September 22, 2024, before the money is rolled into the county’s general fund.
You can email your claim to refunds@sdcounty.ca.gov or call 1-877-829-4732 for more information.
Anyone can sign up to receive emails when new unclaimed money lists are posted. “We want all of this money returned to San Diegans, so please tell your friends and family to go to sdttc.
com to check the unclaimed money list,” said McAllister.
Every year, the Treasurer-Tax Collector makes a strong effort to reunite San Diegans with money they have overpaid on taxes or fees. Current state law says countywide money that is unclaimed for three years and property tax refunds that are unclaimed for four years must be turned over to the County’s general fund.
Important: To file a claim, follow the instructions and ensure all information is accurate and complete. Incomplete or inaccurate information may result in a delayed or denied claim.
Pacific Arts Movement Celebrates 25 Years with a New Logo Launch and Kicks Off Ticket Sales for the 11th Annual Chew The Scene
Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) is excited to announce the 11th Annual Chew the Scene, the highly anticipated culinary event that kicks off the 25th San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF). This celebration of food, culture, and community will take place on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at UC San Diego’s Park and Market in Downtown San Diego.
Marking SDAFF’s
Pacific Arts Movement Celebrates 25 Years with a New Logo Launch and
Kicks Off Ticket Sales for the 11th Annual Chew The Scene
SAN DIEGO, CA -- Pacific Arts
Movement (Pac Arts) is excited to announce the 11th Annual Chew the Scene, the highly anticipated culinary event that kicks off the 25th San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF).
This celebration of food, culture, and community will take place on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at UC San Diego’s Park and Market in Downtown San Diego.
Location: UC San Diego Park and Market, Downtown San Diego, 1100 Market St, San Diego, CA 92101
Marking SDAFF’s 25th anniversary, Pac Arts is embracing a new chapter with a dynamic rebrand featuring a refreshed logo and redesigned website. This bold redesign marks a significant milestone as Pac Arts honors its past while looking forward to an exciting future.
“For the past 25 years, Pacific Arts Movement and the San Diego Asian Film Festival have played a pivotal role in shaping and elevating Asian and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander stories and storytellers locally, nationally, and globally,” said Pacific Arts Movement Executive Director Alex Villafuerte. “With our new logo and website redesign, we’re ushering in a new era for Pac Arts — a playful yet powerful symbol that challenges conventional designs and invites exploration of the deeper narratives within our community.”
Chew the Scene has grown beyond just a food event—it’s a platform for storytelling through the lens of culinary excellence. This year, attendees will enjoy tastings from over a dozen of San Diego’s top Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) chefs, restaurants, and vendors, each presenting their unique interpretations of Asian American cuisine.
Each dish served at Chew the Scene is a story in itself, a reflection of the chefs’ heritage, creativity, and dedication to their craft. From innovative fusion creations to beloved traditional recipes, attendees will embark on a culinary journey that showcases the diversity and depth of Asian American cuisine. The event offers a unique opportunity to
of
/
and
Lia’s Lumpia / Milagros Filipino
Polvoron
Sovereign Modern Thai
In addition to the culinary experience, guests will get an exclusive first look at the 2024 SDAFF lineup, which runs from November 7-16, 2024. This includes the chance to be among the first to purchase tickets for film premieres, special events, and more. Join us in celebrating the flavors, stories, and creative spirit of the AAPI community at the 10th Annual Chew the Scene. Tickets are available now, and we invite everyone to be part of this unforgettable evening.
Ticket Information: General Admission: $60
Pac Arts Members: $50
Tickets:https://givebutter.com/ cts2024
