MAGAZINEWednesday, Apri l 28, 2010 MAGAZINE

The AsiAn JournAl

The Los Angeles Filipino Association

of City Employees (LAFACE)

Empowering Pinoys Through A Sense of

Community

Cora Aragon Soriano, Community Leader and President of LAFACE p.2

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The Los Angeles Filipino Association of City Employees (LAFACE) em-bodies the Pinoy’s inherent quality to face challenges head on. Taunted to establish an association to represent the sizable Filipino city employees, the organization has since flourished and is now under the benevolent leadership of Cora Aragon Soriano, who has dedicated most of her life for her kababayans through various involvements in the community. The Asian Journal MDWK Magazine brings you a tale of courage and unity in this week’s cover story to inspire our kababayans to do the same. AJ

TeamworkPublisher’s Note

The Los Angeles Filipino Association of City Employees (LAFACE) em

The Asian Journal MDWK MAGAZINE - Apri l 28, 2010

Los AngeLes FiLipino AssociAtion oF city empLoyees (LAFAce)

Larry Rivera was then a member of the City Advisory Affirmative Action Commit-tee, of which Cres Abad was chairperson. In one of the committee’s meetings, Larry broached to Cres the idea of organizing the Filipino Association. It turned out that Cres had been mulling over the same idea. So Cres and Larry agreed to spear-head the organization of the Filipino association.

Though there had been previous proposals and at-tempts to organize a Filipino association of employees of the City of Los Angeles, it was not until March 1982 through the efforts of Cres Abad and Larry Rivera that the dream became a reality. The first organizational meet-ing was held at the Council Committee Chambers on Thursday, March 25, 1982. A total of 84 Filipino employ-ees of the City attended, which was a rather impressive number for an initial organi-zational meeting. “This is the biggest turnout yet of the six ethnic and affirmative action organizational meetings I have ever attended,” said Sam Sperling, then head of the Affirmative Action and Training Division, Bureau of Management/ Employee Ser-vices, Department of Public Works, who was a special guest.

Larry and Cres explained the need for and advantages of organizing an association of Filipino employees of the City of Los Angeles.

The assembly unanimous-ly approved the organization of LAFACE (the name was proposed by Eve Buranday), which was registered with the City Clerk to invest the association with authority to represent its members in administrative cases and in the City Advisory Affirmative Action Committee. They later drafted the Constitution and By-Laws of the organization.

The first LAFACE election was held on July 21, 1982. Elected were: President Cres Abad, First Vice President Ev-elyn Buranday, Second Vice President Anita Domingo, Third Vice President Rudi Bernabe, Treasurer Virginia Barrientos, Assistant Treasur-

er Grace Aquino, Recording Secretary Lina Partosa, Cor-responding Secretary Marie Rafael, Auditor Ed Trillo, Au-ditor Public Relations Officer Larry Rivera. Soon after their election, the newly elected LAFACE officers called on

then Mayor Tom Bradley and expressed to him the pledge of LAFACE to contribute to the advancement of service in the City government.

The objectives of LAFACE are: to assist Filipinos in seek-

The Face of Pinoys in LA City Government

ThE only organization of Filipino-Americans working for the City of Los Angeles was born out of a challenge. Twenty-eight years ago, in 1982, Pinoy Larry Rivera, then

grants management specialist of the Community Development Department, was chided and challenged by his officemate of Mexican descent, the late Dorothy Orozco Tyndall. Dorothy was then executive vice-president of the Los Angeles City Employees Chicano Association (LACECA). “What’s the matter with you Filipinos?” Tyndall asked Rivera. “You’re so many in the City and you don’t have your own association? Look at us Chicanos and what our association is doing for us.” She showed him LACECA’s newsletter, constitution and by-laws, programs and invitations of their annual banquets and other activities as she persuaded him to organize a Filipino group.

Cover group photo: LAFACE Board Members (L-R):June Lagmay, City Clerk, Installing Officer; Cora Aragon Soriano; Eduardo Angeles; Linda Granados; Amelia Marucut; Fred Rivera;Harriet Voloso; Mildred Jacla;Susie Feliciano;Yolanda Huang;Nell Dizon; Susana Reyes and Alex Banares. (Not in photo: Jose de Jesus, Webmaster)

In 2009, Cora Aragon Soriano was elected President of the Los Angeles Filipino Association of City Employees (LAFACE),

to serve from July 1, 2009 thru June 30, 2011. Cora is currently working as a Management Analyst II in the City of Los Angeles.

Cora began her community involvement in 2002 when she joined a Toastmasters Club. After five months, she was appointed as an Area Governor, overseeing four clubs in Downtown Los Angeles.

In 2003, she was elected as Division Governor, overseeing four areas in downtown LA. In 2006, she was elected as Lt. Governor of Education and Training of District 52. In 2007, she was elected as the 2007-2008 District 52 District Governor, overseeing the district from Downtown LA, Burbank, Glendale, San Fernando Valley, Woodland hills, & Malibu communities.

While busy in Toastmasters, Cora became the President of St. Paul’s Alumnae Association in 2005; lector at Our Lady of Angels Cathedral and Sacred heart Parish in Covina, Servant Leader of the Filipino Ministry, chair/assist different fund-rais-ing projects and events for numerous community organiza-tions, and emcee conferences/events/town fiestas.

Cora has received many awards including:*Philippine Expo Outstanding Community Leader*Reflections Outstanding Community Leader*Distinguished District 52 Governor, Toastmasters Interna-

tional*Excellence in Education & Training*Distinguished Division D, District 52 Toastmasters *Outstanding Division Governor

of the Year *President Distinguished Area *Outstanding Area Governor

of the Year*Grand Slam Award, District

52 Toastmasters*Distinguished Toastmaster

(DTM) in 14 monthsBeing involved in Toastmas-

ters International educational and leadership programs have been so rewarding for Cora. however, being of service to a Filipino organization like LAFACE is more meaningful and hum-bling experience. She hopes that through her leader-ship, she will make even a small difference to LAFACE members and the Filipino community. her favorite slogan is: “Shine! Make a Difference!” n

in FocUs

Cora Aragon Soriano, Community Leader

and President of LAFACE

*Outstanding Division Governor

*President Distinguished Area *Outstanding Area Governor

-ters International educational and leadership programs have been so

Cora Aragon Soriano

Continued on Page 3

LAFACE’s awarding ceremonies during their 2009 Christmas party. Photos courtesy of Cora Aragon Soriano

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3The Asian Journal MDWK MAGAZINE - April 28, 2010

entertainment

ing employment and promotion in City service; to enhance the general advancement of Fili-pinos in City service; to serve as advocate of Filipinos who may become victims of discrimina-tion in City service; to cooperate with other minority groups in promoting equal employment opportunities in the City; to assist Filipino businesspersons and community organizations in acquiring contracts, funding, grants and other benefits from the City, except when a conflict of interest arises; to disseminate to members and other interested parties news and information that are of interest and benefit to them; and to promote the economic, educational, social, and cultural advance of Filipinos in the Community

After Cres Abad’s term ended (1982 – 1983), the following people followed him as presi-dent of LAFACE: Larry Rivera (1983 –1984), Eve Buranday (1984 – 1985), Ludi Cruz-Herrera (1985 – 1986), Fred Bertulfo (1986 – 1987), Johnny Blanco (1987 – 1988), Domingo P. Miranda (1988 – 1990), Caroline Lorenzo (1990 – 1992), Eleonor Esguerra (1992 – 1994), Domingo P. Miranda (1994 – 1996), Lina Senatin-Partosa (1996 – 1998), Domingo P. Miranda (1998 – 2000), Ma. Elena “Yey” Coronel (2000 – 2002), Adelaida Villanueva (2002 – 2003), Edna Brown (2003 – 2004), Caroline Lorenzo (2004 – 2006), and Ruby Devera (2007 – 2009).

Over the years, LAFACE has had different challenges but with persistence, awareness and determination, it finds ways to facilitate increasing the number of Filipinos moving up the ranks in the management and leadership positions. Although it is starting to see a few movements, currently, its biggest challenge is the City budget. One of the approaches that is productive is LAFACE’s involvement and meeting with the Affirmative Action Group once a month to come up with different innovative ways to see more improvement on advancement of Filipinos and other minority groups in City service.

The current set of officers of LAFACE who are serving their terms from July 1, 2009 thru June 30, 2011 are Cora Aragon Soriano- President; 1st Vice President – Linda Granados; 2nd Vice-President – Amelia Marucut; 3rd Vice-President– Fred Rivera; Recording Secretary –Nell Dizon; Corresponding Secretary – Harriet Veloso; Treasurer– Mildred Jacla; Asst. Treasurer – Susie Feliciano; Auditor – Yolanda Huang; Asst. Auditor – Noemi Cuevas; PRO – Alex Banares; Webmaster – Jose de Jesus; Affirmative Action Liason – Susana Reyes; Eduardo Angeles, Legal & Legislative Affairs; Advisers- Caroline Lorenzo, Dely Villanueva, and Edna Brown.

LAFACE offers workshops and seminars on affirmative action, civil service examinations, employment and promotion opportunities for its members and other subjects. They are also active in social and fund raising activities. The news about the organization have been pub-lished in their newsletter, Tambuli, which is their current website, http://www.tambuli.org.

One of the basic objectives of LAFACE is to empower and foster the advance of Filipinos in City service, which is one of the largest racial group of employees in the City of Los Ange-les. Today, there are over 3,000 Filipino employees in the City of Los Angeles service. Yearly, LAFACE recognizes Filipinos in upper management and gives special outstanding awards to its members. In addition, scholarships are awarded to deserving LAFACE members’ High School children whose applications are selected for their outstanding academic achievements and community.

Since Cora Aragon Soriano’s term began, the LAFACE membership has increased by over 200%. They were also able to raise almost $5,000 at the Sept. 11, 2009 Induction Ball Fund Raising Event to benefit its Scholarship and Outreach Programs. Another $3,500 was raised for the Typhoon Ondoy victims. They have awarded five scholarships to deserving Filipino students; honored Top Management Achievement Awards to deserving 10 Filipinos in high management positions from different LA City departments; and cited Outstanding LAFACE Members awards. LAFACE has likewise spearheaded the development of the letter to the Mayor/City Council on creative ways to avoid layoffs and provided training on layoffs and Bumping Rights.

Upcoming events are the Semi Annual LAFACE Membership Meeting - Annual Picnic on May 22, 2010 and the 112th Philippine Independence Day Celebration on June 11, 2010.

Cora is inviting all Filipinos in LA to join them. “We are doing this to foster awareness of Filipino culture. So, everyone is invited to celebrate LAFACE’s celebration of the 112th Philippines Independence Day. At 10am, LA City Council Resolution will be presented to all Filipinos at the City Council Chamber, to be led by our Consul General, Mary Jo Bernardo Aragon. Immediately following the Council Proclamation, at approximately 11:30 am, there will be a reception at the City Hall Rotunda. Vendors of Filipino food, Philippine crafts and merchandise will also be available at the Rotunda. Sponsorships are welcome. I’m encourag-ing our kababayans -City employees or not- to show unity and support by being there with the Consul General, and at the reception. Let us all unite and show support by wearing Filipiniana attire and be present at the City Council Chamber at 10:00 am. For info, please call me at 213.999.1993 or email at coraaragon@aol.com,” said LAFACE’s president.

“Membership with LAFACE is truly a fulfilling and satisfying experience. Continued participation in this organization is crucial to attain its goals and objectives. To all LAFACE members, congratulations! You are part of a genuinely great organization. Let us be proud to be LAFACE members and continue to Shine and thus Make a Difference. To our support-ers, thank you very much,” added Cora.

More information about LAFACE can be found on LAFACE website at http://www.tam-buli.org. n

From Page 2

The Face of Pinoys

by Dymphna CaliCa-la puttAJPress

Capturing the Fil-Am audience’s heart & soul

THEY could not agree on who should be Heart

and who should be Soul.

But the hundreds of

Filipino-Americans and their friends who saw the duo’s per-formance at Le Theatre De Arts last Saturday will all agree that their “hearts and souls” were captured by the moving perfor-mance of the talented pair.

Tony-award winning

performer Lea Salonga and Grammy winner Patti Austin staged Heart and Soul to a sold-ovvut sentimental crowd at the Paris Las Vegas theater last April 17.

Lea’s moving performances

Fil-Am Broadway superstar Lea Solanga with legendary singer Patti Austin. AJPress photo by Robert Macabagdal

Continued on Page 5

“One of the basic objectives of LAFACE is to empower and foster the advance of Filipinos in City service, which is one of the largest racial group of employees in the City of Los Angeles.

Today, there are over 3,000 Filipino employees in the City of Los Angeles service. Yearly, LAFACE recognizes Filipinos in upper management and gives special outstanding awards to its members. In addition, scholarships are awarded to de-serving LAFACE members’ High School children whose appli-cations are selected for their outstanding academic achieve-ments and community.”

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