Echo Park Community Coalition

Dec. 1, 2008

Contact Person; Arturo P. Garcia

(213)241-0906

Newly Elected FACLA Board Sets Elections of Executive Officers, Dec.7

Los Angeles- The Coalition for A Better Community (CBC) 15-person slate led by former FACLA vice-president Rizalino Manuel that swept the Nov 16-18, 2008 Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA) board of directors elections for the year 2009-2001 will meet on December 7th to elects its executive officers.

Smooth transition

FACLA has been under the leadership of its President Dr. Jose Baldonado for the last six years since 2001. Under his leadership FACLA has shaped up and have improved a lot the infrastructure and the involvement of FACLA in the community.

FACLA is the oldest non-profit community organization in Los Angeles. Formed in 1945, it constructed its building in 1965. Under the Baldonado’s leadership, the smooth transition into thre new board of director is assured. FACLA has been mired into legal cases and intrigues since 1997 under a formal elections was held in 2001.

The next job of the newly elected board of directors is to elect their officers next year 2009 as they assume the mantle of leadership for the next three years.

Rizal Monument Unveiled

FACLA has just unveiled the monument of the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal last Nov. 22, 2008. An event largely ignored by the media but was well attended by Filipinos all over Los Angeles county.

The guest for the unveiling of the Rizal monument were Los Angeles Consul General Mary Jo. Aragon and ABC Board member, Jay Valencia of UHW-West Cecy Groom.

Also present during the unveiling were the Knights of Rizal led by Sir Knights Tony Berango, Chito Mandap,Fender Santos and many others. Gloria Resureccion of LACPAS acted as emcee during the program.

Results of the Elections

The elections was held and the counting of votes was conducted by a private elections agency hired by FACLA. The counting of vote and the formal declaration of the outcome of the elections was held in FACLA on Nov 16 and 18, 2008. The CBC made a clean sweep of the elections like what they did in 2001 and 2004 under the leadership of Dr. Jose Baldonado.

Proclaimed winners with the number of votes gathered were: Letty Reyes- 641 votes; Gloria Resurreccion- 602 votes; Rizalino Manuel- 583; Alice Parino-559; Luz Garcia-554;Romy Jaravata-549;Terry Herrera-543; Cris Florendo-542; Arturo Garcia-531; Senen Dela Torre- 528; Adolfino Aguayon-525; Teresita Eligino- 515; Perfecto Tobias-508; and Ricky Songalia-477.

The Candidates of the Ideal Party also got their votes but failed to get a single berth.

According to the data furnished by FACLA, there were 1846 voters who registered but only 1004 voters voted during the FACLA elections or 54. 3% of the registered voters.