Fil-Am officials in San Mateo County set aside enmity to achieve ‘empowerment’

DALY CITY, California - Mike Guingona broke a racial barrier by becoming the first Filipino-American to be elected to the city council of Daly City in 1993.

The 52-year-old criminal lawyer has raised the stakes in his quest to make history anew by seeking higher office never occupied by a  Fil-Am.

"I will succeed Adrienne Tissier," this town's senior-most council member told this author recently after a meeting with political supporters.

He was referring to the San Mateo County supervisor whose term is ending next year.

A former council member of Daly City, Tissier represents District 5, lorded by Daly City, the largest and the northernmost town in the county.

Guingona's candor contrasted with the caution he displayed before his re-election in November, when he deflected Philippine News questions about his political career plans.

As the longest serving council member in Daly City, Guingona leads the pack aspiring to take over the county post.  His contemporaries in neighboring towns of Colma, Pacifica and South San Francisco have made little or no overtures for the seat.  

With 20 months to that election, Guingona is busy making friends. He has appointed Ray Satorre as planning commissioner.  Up until recently, the two rarely saw eye to eye.

Even on their choice of Super Bowl protagonists, the two differed:  Guingona rooted for the Seahawks and Satorre cheered the Patriots.

But they've united for more serious matters.

"It's good to have Ray back serving Daly City as a planning commissioner," Guingona said. "His experience is invaluable. His tireless community activism will serve him well in this position. I look forward to working with him to make Daly City a better place to live, work and play."

Until June this year, Satorre sits on the Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists, a state post to which he was appointed by state Sen. Leland Yee.

A business owner known to bankroll Filipino-American causes, Satorre's name is forever affixed to the next and succeeding supervisorial elections. Literally: He and former Daly City Council hopeful Mario Panoringan were among plaintiffs in  the lawsuit challenging and ultimately ending countywide elections for supervisor.

Satorre is unshy about his motives.

"I fought for the implementation of election of board of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors by district so as FilAms will have a chance to win (political races)," Satorre told this author, with a call that has echoed for decades.

"We can only attain empowerment if FilAms will be united and harmoniously reconciled," Satorre said. "The political landscape in Daly City is fragmented, as far as FilAms are concerned. There is a challenge that awaits us and that is to reconcile our political differences.  It's now or never. We cannot  wait for another time."

The only sitting Filipino-American official elected to a county seat is San Mateo County Harbor Commissioner Robert Bernardo, re-elected in a cliffhanger last fall.

Before him San Mateo Board of Education Trustee Andrew Estigoy held the distinction. The first known Fil-Am elected to a county position was County Controller Gerry Trias.

Last year current, Daly City Mayor Ray Buenaventura lost his campaign for Superior Court judge but topped the city council race in his re-election bid.   

Satorre believes his new buddy Guingona will be the one to beat for the chambers in Redwood City.

“Guingona is the presumptive and FilAm candidate for that position representing the 5th district in next year's election," he said, explaining his choice. “He has matured politically and I call upon FiAms to take this opportunity for which we have been fighting for a long long time.”
 
Satorre attributed his decision to new allies.

“I've learned from the wisdom of (Filipino American Chamber of Commerce - San Mateo County officers) Guy Guerrero and Francis Espiritu who convinced me to support a Filipino candidate whether Democrat or Republican," he said.  "Other people will always divide and rule Filipinos (for their own benefit). Do we want to progress politically or do we want to be puppets?” —Philippine News