Neighborhood Board 23 Ewa Beach—Why I ran

AS the Nomination officially closed February 20, 2015, I am one of the 516 candidates; I am one of few Filipinos that ran for the Neighborhood Board 2015 of 36 districts for Oahu.

Simple reason that I filed my nomination—because I believe I can make a difference. I believe that I can provide a small contribution to my own community and my own neighborhood. It is simply another venture and additional direction to do for the community. Nothing is late in terms of community service. I am involved with the Filipino community and other civic organizations since my arrival from the Philippines in 1971 as an ordinary immigrant; a son of a watercress worker with a $1.50 per hour rate; a grandson of a 1926 sakada, a field utility worker in a sugar plantation with a $1.00 a day rate. And I myself worked as a utility field worker, warehouse clerk and delivery boy, and strive in a hard work and with high hope to find a better position as a team member in management capacity.

Much to say that I contributed much to it, hence, I found myself as one of the candidates for the Neighborhood Board in my Ewa Beach district. 

“Serving on your Neighborhood Board presents the opportunity to create real change in your community, build a legacy, and network with other leaders,” said Mayor Kirk Caldwell. “No one knows a neighborhood better than the people who live in it. I was honored to serve on both the Manoa and Kaimuki Neighborhood Boards.”

Candidacy is open to O‘ahu residents who will be at least 18 years of age by February 20, 2015.  Voting will be between April 24, 2015 and May 15, 2015.

My Personal and civic and community profile for Neighborhood Board #23 will justify what experience I have and my background relating to community service and volunteerism.

I am a Hawaii resident immigrant since 1971 from Aiea to Waipahu and Ewa resident for 34 years since 1980. A US citizen by naturalization. A community organizer and volunteer. Officer, director, member in various community-civic groups:  Co-organizer and former president, Honolulu Fil-Am Lions Club, member, Leeward Lions Club, former Board of Governor, United Filipino Council of Hawaii, former president, Oahu Filipino Community Council, Vice Chairman, OFCC Council of past presidents. Former member of the Friends of Ewa, the Ewa Villages Coordinating Committee. Chancellor and Pursuant, Order of the Knights of Rizal-Hawaii Chapter.

Former Commissioner of the Filipino Centennial Celebration Commission [Act 159] 2002-2006 in the planning and implementation of all programs for the celebration of the One Hundred Years Anniversary of the Arrival of the First 15 Filipinos on December 20, 1906 via SS Doric, and finally assigned to the Ola’a sugar plantation in the Big Island.

Former Member of the Hawaii State Board of Registration [Oahu] 1982-1986 working under the office of the Lt. Governor with the City Clerk office relating to State Elections.

Certified Voters Registration by City & County of Honolulu, 2002-2008

Former employee of Oahu Sugar [AMFAC] as utility field worker, to warehouse stock clerk to laboratory timekeeper clerk, to personnel clerk to Housing and Safety Coordinator include house repair and maintenance, relocation and CPR and First Aid program, a former Employment Specialist Consultant the Workforce Development and the Hawaii State Department of Labor & Industrial Relations, administered and conducted apprentice examination and for training purposes. Regular participant of the Adopt a Hwy Project, Weed & Seed, Graffiti Buster Clean Up Project with the HPD Narcotic Division, Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Program [MOTTEP].

Organizer and Coordinator of the Mission Day Service and the Feed the Homeless as adopted resolution 2010-001 United Filipino Council of Hawaii Annual Convention in Lahaina, Maui in partnership with OFCC, Ilocos Surian, Annak ti Sinait and other partner organizations with the Institute for Human Services. Hawaii Food Bank, and other worthy community projects and fundraisings for the general community and for the Philippines especially for the students’ scholarship, literary development, the victims of typhoon and victims of other disasters and natural calamities.

Member, Commission on Stewardship, Episcopal Hawaii Diocese ; Member, Commission on Episcopal Relief Development Fund, Hawaii Diocese; Former Chairman, Board of Advisors, St. Paul’s Church, Honolulu; Former Bishop’s Warden 1991-2007, St. Paul’s Church, Honolulu.

My goal is to work closely with the community to help and provide assistance and to continue my service to the community as part of the solution of the community’s concerns, the homeless, the environment, the traffic, safety, health and citizens’ wellbeing, etc.

I always love writing as my first love. I writing fiction, non-fiction. I belong to writers group: Gumil, the Tri-Media Council, Hawaii Filipino Media Ass’n, others. I have a combination of three worlds: church, community and writings.

My goal is to continue to help provide assistance to the community in the spirit of volunteerism and the 3 T’s and part of a solution and deliver positive result.

Oahu's Neighborhood Board System: Your are the difference

The theme, "The Responsible City", was chosen by the City Charter Commission when it presented the revised City Charter to the voters in 1972. A major component of this concept is full citizen participation in government so that the powers of the City shall properly serve and advance the aspirations of its citizens.

However, the initiative for action must come from the people themselves. While neighborhoods and neighborhood boards were established under the Charter as a means to increase and assure effective citizens participation, their creation and implementation are optional. 

The Neighborhood Plan, which designates boundaries and provides for neighborhood formation, leaves many decisions open to the community so that an individually designed approach, suited to each neighborhood can be implemented.

In 1984, Oahu's voters approved a City Charter a City Charter amendment expanding the role of the neighborhood boards to include all levels of government. Every resident has the opportunity to participate in government decision making which affects his or her community. You can play a significant part in making government more responsive to community needs. The decision is up to you. 

What is the neighborhood board system? Oahu's Neighborhood Board System was created to assure and increase community participation in the decision-making process of government. The system applies the concept of participatory democracy, involving communities in the decisions affecting them. It establishes an island wide network of elected neighborhood boards as communication channels, expanding and facilitating opportunities for community and government interaction.

How was the system created? The process for development of the Neighborhood Board System began when the Revised City Charter of Honolulu (1973) called for the establishment of a nine-member Neighborhood Commission. The Commission was responsible for developing a Neighborhood Plan outlining a uniform system of neighborhood boards on Oahu. Neighborhood boards were then formed in accordance with the Plan.

What are the major points of the neighborhood plan? The Neighborhood Plan designates neighborhood boundaries throughout Oahu and provides procedures for forming neighborhood areas and neighborhood boards. Some of the Plan's major points are: 36 neighborhood areas (boundaries); Initiative petition of 100 registered voters or five percent of voters within the area (whichever is less) for the formation of a neighborhood; Election of board members by residents 18 years and older; Two-year terms for board members; Advisory role for all neighborhood boards.

What are the functions of the neighborhood board? Neighborhood boards may serve as a key mechanism through which each neighborhood may communicate its needs and desires, both in the delivery of basic government services and in economic development and land use questions. While the Neighborhood Plan emphasizes the advisory nature of the boards, suggested activities include study and review of capital improvement projects and zoning concerns. In addition, boards may conduct informational forums on governmental decision-making process and may establish community goals, objectives, and priorities. Neighborhood boards are required to hold monthly meetings.

Who can serve on a neighborhood board? All residents of Oahu, including military personnel and legal resident aliens, who reside in the neighborhood area and subdistrict and who are at least eighteen (18) years of age are eligible to serve on the neighborhood board. Neighborhood board elections are conducted biennially through a mail ballot system. A candidacy declaration form must be filed but no filing fees or nominating papers are required.

How can a citizen participate in the system? Community participation is encouraged and welcomed by the boards. There are many ways in which the community can participate, some of which are: Voicing your concerns to your board representatives through personal contact or letters; Attending the regular monthly meetings, public forums and other community events sponsored by your board; Volunteering to participate on a board committee. You can help resolve community problems or work on a community project; Responding to surveys conducted by the board; Be a candidate and/or vote in your board's election.

What is the neighborhood commission? The Neighborhood Commission consists of nine members. Four are appointed by the Mayor, four by the City Council, and the ninth member is appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. A total of five members must have had one full term of prior board service. Each member serves a five- year term. The Commission is responsible for the periodic review and evaluation of the Plan and neighborhood boards, and assists in the formation of neighborhood boards upon request.

Administrative services and technical staff to support the mandated functions of the Neighborhood Commission and the neighborhood boards are provided through the Neighborhood Commission Office.