By Melissa Singh
SAN FRANCISCO — “Ituloy ang Laban!” (Continue the struggle) is now reverberating throughout the United States as Filipinos in America who are supporting the presidential tandem of Senators Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Manuel “Mar” Roxas II have formed a national organization called US Pinoys for Noynoy-Mar (USP4NM) to boost the Liberal Party bets’ candidacies in the May 2010 Philippine elections.
The US Pinoys for Noynoy-Mar was founded in San Francisco in September 2009 and now has chapters in key cities all over the US, such as Los Angeles, New York, Houston and Las Vegas. More chapters are being organized in other US cities.
Its goals, as announced in its website Noymar2010.com, are to campaign among the registered Filipino voters in the US to vote for the Noynoy-Mar tandem and to rally US Pinoys, whether registered voters or not, to contact their relatives, friends, and acquaintances all over the Philippines to vote for Noynoy-Mar. The group has also pledged to raise $2 million for the Noynoy-Mar campaign by getting at least 100,000 US Pinoys to contribute $25 each.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
In San Francisco, members of the Northern California chapter of the USP4NM met on December 30, 2009 at the home of chapter chair Rodel Rodis to map out plans for the 2010 campaign. Membership committee chair Emmie de La Cruz reported that the chapter now has 148 registered members. Among the 40 members at the meeting were Filipinas Magazine publisher Greg Macabenta, past Philippine Medical Society President Dr. Carmelo Roco and Integrated Bar of the Philippines California chapter president Rene Pascual.
The NorCal chapter discussed plans for a continuation of the series of Town Hall Meetings for Noynoy-Mar which have already been held in four counties: San Mateo, San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa. Under the committee chaired by Mike Macapagal, the group scheduled town hall meetings in the next two months in the following cities: San Jose, Alameda, Vallejo, Sacramento, and San Ramon.
The group also agreed to hold a memorial mass for Cory Aquino on her birth anniversary on January 25 at St. Patrick’s Church in San Francisco. A fund-raiser for the Noynoy-Mar campaign is scheduled at the Edna’s Ichiban restaurant in South San Francisco on January 31. Chairing the fundraising committee is Charito Benipay, assisted by Emmie De La Cruz and Erlinda Galeon.
Plans were also presented to hold a People Power for Noynoy-Mar rally at San Francisco’s Union Square on February 25 to celebrate the 24th anniversary of People Power. The event will simultaneously be celebrated throughout the United States and throughout the Philippines.
At the December 30 meeting, chapter chair Rodis also provided the members with an update on the move to get the Philippine Supreme Court to order the Comelec to extend the voter registration deadline for overseas Filipinos. Members Ted Laguatan and Fluellen Ortigas reported on their recent trip to the Philippines and on their meeting with Sen. Noynoy Aquino to update him on the activities of the group.
Rodeo, California
NEW YORK
The New York chapter of USP4NM was formed on December 12, 2009 when community icon Loida Nicolas-Lewis and her sister, Imelda Nicolas, hosted a town hall meeting attended by 75 members of the Filipino community. At the meeting, Ms. Lewis announced the launching of the group’s website, NoyMar2010.com, which will be used to inform the community about the activities of the group and on the reasons for supporting the Noynoy-Mar ticket.
New York
The website has also been connected to Paypal to allow Philippine citizens, including dual citizens, the opportunity to financially contribute to the Noynoy-Mar campaign. “Our goal is to get 100,000 Filipinos in the United States to donate $25 each to the Noynoy-Mar campaign,” Ms. Lewis announced.
After forming the New York chapter, Ms. Lewis also set up Noynoy-Mar chapters in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Connecticut. Filipinos in other east coast cities have contacted her about organizing chapters in their localities. Ms. Lewis also plans to visit Michigan and Texas to help set up chapter Noynoy-Mar chapters in those states.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Filipinos in Los Angeles met on December 13 at the residence of Rocio Nuyda in Reseda to form the Southern California chapter of US Pinoys for Noynoy-Mar. Among the principal organizers and convenors of the group are Wally Reyes, Josie Castro, Rocio Nuyda and Prosy de la Cruz. At their initial meeting, chapter fundraising chair Leo Maranan announced that the group had raised $1,533 to contribute to the Noynoy-Mar campaign. The group laid out plans to host a series of “Salo Salo for Noynoy-Mar” events in cities throughout Southern California.
Among those who attended the rally were members of the USA Pinoy Pinay, the US La Salle Alumni Association, and private individuals.
Also introduced during the affair were the various committee heads of the southern California chapter, as follows: Secretariat and overall coordination — Wally and Maryrose Reyes and Herbert Wenceslao; Fund Raising Chairperson — Leo Maranan; Publicity — Val Abelgas; Finance — Jerry Hermogino; Legal Affairs — Chito Barredo; Logistics — Rocio Nuyda; Special Events — Grace Walker; Associations Coordination — Josie Castro.
Copies of the candidates’ platform, entitled “A Social Contract with the Filipino People” which speaks of the national leadership in need of transformational change and about a people crying out for change, were distributed to the attendees so that they could explain the platform of Aquino and Roxas to Filipinos in Southern California.
Also during the afternoon event, video clips showcasing the candidates’ speeches were played. To start off the fund-raising, official yellow campaign shirst of the Noynoy-Mar team and other campaign items were offered to those who attended the event.
Los Angeles
LAS VEGAS
A Las Vegas chapter of US Pinoys for Noynoy-Mar was also organized over the Christmas weekend by Wally Reyes at the home of Nanette Alcaro. Heading the Vegas chapter is Dr. Philip Chua with Ms. Alcaro, Louie Macapinlac, Noly Malig and Jen Salgado assisting in the chapter formation. The group discussed plans to celebrate Cory Aquino’s birth anniversary at a memorial mass on Sunday, January 24, since it will be January 25 in the Philippines when it is held.
Aside from also laying out plans for a February 25 People Power for Noynoy-Mar rally in Las Vegas, the group also discussed hosting a fundraiser on March 13 either just before or after the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fight in Las Vegas, if it is not postponed.
Angie Cruz, Loida Nicolas-Lewis and Imelda Nicolas
CHICAGO
Filipinos in Chicago also announced that they will hold their Noynoy-Mar rally on Saturday, January 23, from 1 to 5 PM at the Westin Hotel- Chicago North Shore in Wheeling, Illinois. The Chicago chapter is being organized by Marlon Pecson, Bart and Yoly Tubalinal, and Jerry Clarito.
Filipinos throughout the US who are interested in joining the US Pinoys for Noynoy-Mar are encouraged to log on to the group’s website, NoyMar2010.com, to find out the contact information of the convenors in their areas. If there are no chapters in their cities, they are encouraged to form one by contacting Rodel Rodis at Rodel50@aol.com.