I voted for change and to assure a better future for my 5yo granddaughter #princess2015la. I am a 68 yo Filipina American immigrant, a grandmother now, who was naturalized as an American citizen 42 years ago. I have voted in every election since, and voted for Pres. Jimmy Carter, President Bill Clinton, and President Barack Obama.
It was the 44th US President who helped actualize my love for America in my heart such that daily, since he announced his campaign to run for President in 2007, after a stint in the Oprah Winfrey show, I have been posting in social media. I daily posted what I was doing to organize for his campaign, and contributed few more than hundreds of dollars, which I have done only for Jackie Goldberg’s campaign. I did not believe in funding my chosen candidate, until Obama changed that for me. His messages resonated with me and converged with my aspirations and longings for a progressive soulful America in my heart.
I used my own funds to travel including door knocking in Vegas while the candidate Obama paid for three tour buses filled with volunteers from LA to go to Las Vegas, that was turning blue.
I used my funds to attend two inauguration events of Obama, covered Pope Francis’s visit to the White House garden (now the site of superspreading Coronavirus event announcing Trump’s appointee to succeed Associate Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg), and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Today, I am at a high risk group for Coronavirus, just as other asthmatics are. I will not travel. But, the first thing I did today was research, fill up my ballot, but only after attending mass at Holy Family in Artesia via Facebook live, and deposited my completed ballot 29 days early. I was excited to complete my ballot.
Imagine this 68 year old grandmother excited to exercise her voting rights, an immigrant who came to this country, born in the Philippines where guns, goons, and gold and tampered machines were used to alter the election results by the nefarious elites.
I was at a gym in West Hollywood in 2007 when I was reading from Obama’s Audacity of Hope book. A white woman in her 40’s asked me why I was reading his book. I proudly said that he was my candidate and informed her that the last time America had 75% of its registered votes came to the polls, it was Kennedy’s time. When the majority votes, it reflects the true will of the people.
I told her that in my country, elections are a reflection of minority choices and blood of folks are spilled. She revealed that she has not voted, not even once, since she became eligible to vote. She was so ashamed as she was born in America. The following week, she informed me that she has registered and will vote for the candidate I passionately shared with her.
My 2020 vote, 29 days early, is for a hefty progressive vision of reversing climate change and reversing global warming; affirming competent Black women as leaders, more school funds investments but with more oversight and audits; protecting uber and lyft drivers.
I did not vote for self-interested candidates for State Assembly whose bio profile talked more about the two films he has produced. He is in the wrong ballot.
I voted for a non-incumbent candidate for the Board of Supervisors as she took the time to discuss her vision about foster children, gave concrete examples of neglected ones and she has a more forward vision.
I did not vote to encumber businesses as they need to recover from Coronavirus and when we don’t take that into account that they are small to medium businesses, we are the losers as they cannot provide decent wages to their employees. We need viable small to medium businesses to grow the economy, but not greedy huge corporations.
And last but not least, I voted for #TitoJoeBiden2020 as I want truth, honesty, genuine public service, decency and respect for WHO, NATO, and United Nations, while I also want to see less funding for the sheriffs, police, military and towards more civic projects.
Lastly, I want President-to-be Joe Biden address the #CoronaVirus pandemic with science-driven facts, common sense, and provide reasonable oversight for the swift distribution of the vaccines, preferably beyond the established HMOs and supporting clinics too with competent nurses and health professionals.
It is our future, America and we need to chart a new course of inclusion, including black and folks of color females in our national, state and local leadership and recapture the kind, compassionate, fair Soul of America. #lavotenetAsian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote)Joe Biden 2020Joe Biden