National Federation of Filipino American Associations

Benedicto G. Menor may have passed away early this week yet his legacy lives on. He was the oldest NaFFAA member (in absentia) in the Northern California region. Although the last NaFFAA R8 Summit he attended was in 2003 at the Northside Community Center in San Jose, CA, he stayed in touch with our members. Some of us were there during his 100th Birthday Celebration in 2007, travelling from all over the US — and beyond. We also have our own stories about Benedicto G. Menor’s acts of kindness and generosity. We will miss him!

The Memorial and Funeral Services schedule is at the bottom of this entry.

Joanie Cordova said: “Benedicto Menor Sr voted for Barack Obama … before he died 28 October 2008. His life inspires many of us.”

Thank you to Emil Siapno for putting this video on Vimeo.com.

TFI’s Balitang America reporter, Henni Espinosa, wrote this video story about Benedicto G. Menor.

Oldest Obama Voter from Emil Siapno on Vimeo.

BENEDICTO GALINDO MENOR
March 15, 1907 – October 28, 2008
  
Benedicto Galindo Menor was born on March 15, 1907 in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, He was one of the 100,000 sakadas and manongs (early 1906-1933 overseas Filipino workers) who arrived in the United States to work in the fields of Hawaii and California, armed with an optimistic mindset in fulfilling his American Dream.
 
During World War II, Benedicto proudly served as a member of the Leyte Landing’s Filipino First and Second Regiments of the US Army that arrived with General Douglas MacArthur. During the “mop-up operation,” Benedicto was introduced to his future wife in Villaba, Leyte, a strikingly beautiful Visayan named Espectacion Menor (no relation), who was 20 years his junior.
 
After Benedicto became a citizen of the United States in 1946, he went back to the Philippines and brought his family to Santa Clara Valley in California. The three oldest children who had been born in the Philippines were Rose Mary, Betty, and Benny Benedicto (a.k.a. Ben Menor). Benedicto and Espec were blessed with six children: five girls and one boy. Like most fathers, he wanted another boy after Ben was born. The couple tried three more times — and three more daughters arrived: Rita (deceased), Anna, and Darlene. He was 52 years old when Darlene was born.
 
A family friend recently wrote, “Mr. Benedicto Menor was an exemplary centenarian who left a rich legacy for his family.”
 
Rose Mary Miguel, the oldest sibling, acknowledged that their father had indeed raised his family to honor inclusivity in their social, political, cultural, and spiritual values and principles.

(more…)

This list is by no means complete. We are featuring three NaFFAA members from Region 8 who are running for political office. Since NaFFAA, as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, cannot endorse any political candidate, this entry is considered informational We support the political empowerment activities of our members, affiliates, and supporters. We hope that more and more Filipino Americans will step up to the plate and volunteer for public service and community service, thus going step by step in their learning curve toward political empowerment. The earlier we start, the earlier we get to be on that table!

Rock the vote! Get out and vote!!!

Rodel Rodis, in his re-election bid for Board of Trustees of City College of San Francisco, is largely instrumental in proving that Filipino Americans have made a mark in the development and expansion of one of the top 10 educational institutions in the US. There’s an interesting column that he wrote here: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/mindfeeds/mindfeeds/view/20081022-167811/Boss-Dalys-revenge (check out his blog at http://Rodel50.Blogspot.com).

Myrna Lim is running for Board of Supervisors, District 11, in San Francisco (see http://myrnalim.com/).

Hermy B. Almonte, who is currently serving as Consumer Affairs Commissioner at Alameda County, CA, is running for a San Leandro School Board position. (see http://www.almonteforschoolboard.com/).

Charito Benipayo, David Rodriguez, and Marily Mondejar responded to the e-mail about Efren Iglesia’s appointment from the San Francisco Bay Area-based Philippine American Press Club, USA yahoo group. They reminded us about the Filipina women judges in the United States.

Please click on the COMMENTS section of this posting if you want to add to this list that we are collecting in the Filipino American community: Filipino and Filipina “electeds and appointeds.”

The Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) tracks the Filipina American women who are trailblazing their way to the top of their professions. We are enclosing an e-mail from Marily Mondejar, the president of this organization, about FWN’s listing of Filipina American judges.

From: Marily Mondejar <marilym@ffwn.org>
Date: Aug 28, 2007 10:40 AM
Subject: Re: [PAPC-SF] Small correction for: MEDIA ADVISORY: Fil-Am Efren N. Iglesia to be sworn in as Judge in Monterey County Superior Court, California
To: PAPC-SF@yahoogroups.com

There are several women judges who are “firsts” in their own counties. Many of them are attending the Filipina Summit in Washington DC (Oct 25-27).

(1) Judge Cheryl Moss - Family Court, Nevada;   (2) Judge Pat Medina Talbert - Superior Court, New Jersey;   (3) Judge Nina F. Elgo - Superior Court, Connecticut; (4) Judge Lillian Lim - Superior Court, San Diego;   (5) Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye - Madam Justice, California 3rd District Court of Appeal (first woman of Asian descent in the Federal Court of Appeals; I understand she is the highest ranking Filipino in the justice system);  (6) Judge Eleanor Nisperos - Administrative Law Judge (workers comp). She is now retired. First Filipina admitted to the California Bar (1971). First Filipina Deputy Attorney General in California.

 We have a new judge!

Enclosed are a couple of newspaper articles for you to check out. Let’s congratulate soon-to-be Judge Efren on his new appointment!

According to Mr. Iglesia, his informal swearing-in will take place on August 29 while the formal investiture will be held on September 21. He’ll be sending us more information later, including photos. We found a recent photo in our NaFFAA Region 8 files.

FYI: We also have the Honorable Ronald “Ron” Evans Quidachay of the San Francisco Superior Court, State of California who was appointed to the bench in California in 1983. Fondly nicknamed “Judge Q,” Judge Quidachay is the first judge of Filipino descent in Northern California and the second in California. The Honorable Mel Recana of the Los Angeles Superior Court was and remains the first judge of Filipino descent in California.

FROM THE SALINAS CALIFORNIAN: SELECTED QUOTES

Governor Appoints 2 Judges
Both appointees have 24 years in local courtrooms
By VICTOR CALDERON
The Salinas Californian

As first reported Monday morning on TheCalifornian.com, the office of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that Robert Burlison and Efren Iglesia will serve as the county’s newest judges.

They each have 24 years experience in Monterey County courtrooms.

Burlison, 51, of Salinas, fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Michael Fields in March. Iglesia, 57, of Salinas, fills a new position created by Senate Bill 56, which added 50 new superior court judgeships statewide last year.

Both men will begin their appointments in criminal court, where the county has the greatest need for more judges, said Adrienne Grover, the superior court’s assistant presiding judge.

Iglesia has worked for the Monterey County Counsel’s Office since 1983 and is now senior deputy county counsel.

“It’s a great honor and a privilege to serve this county,” said Iglesia, who emigrated from his native Philippines in 1971. “This is my way to give back to my adopted country.”

Continue reading the complete news story at The Californian.

FROM THE HERALD SALINAS BUREAU: SELECTED QUOTES

Burlison, Iglesia Named Judges
Monterey County: Governor appoints prosecutor, deputy county counsel
By VIRGINIA HENNESSEY
Herald Salinas Bureau
Article Last Updated: 08/21/2007 01:29:37 AM PDT

Iglesia, 57, was a college student in his native Philippines in 1971 when “people in the know” advised him that the political situation was deteriorating and he should leave, he said.

With the help of an exchange student he’d met from San Joaquin County, he immigrated to the United States and finished his schooling, earning his law degree from the San Joaquin College of Law. Martial law was declared in the Philippines the year after he left.

“When I came to this country, I never dreamed I would be a judge,” he said Monday. “I feel very honored and privileged to be a member of the bench here.”

Iglesia lives in Salinas. He and his wife have three children.

Continue reading the complete news story at the Monterey County Herald.