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NEW YORK --- After Mariano Vega, Jr. was elected by his peers as president of the City Council, I met with two Filipino American community leaders at a newly-opened bistro across the City Hall. It was a chance meeting and as such, we were merely shooting the breeze, so to speak.
But after imbibing cappuccino and sharing a few laughs, we dropped our guard and began exchanging opinions on a broad range of topics about our community, particularly Jersey City.
And if it’s Jersey City, it’s either about the Philippine Friendship Committee (PAFCOM) or local politics. And being right in the center where politics takes place, Greg Racelis’ losing bid for a council seat came up.
We exchanged views about Racelis’ politics and although we differed in some respects, we agreed that if only he played his cards well in advance, he could have easily clinched a council seat. He could have achieved that even without handing over a $10,000 community fund to the Glenn Cunningham Foundation.
The $10,000 fund, which was solicited from the community, was earmarked for the late mayor’s planned visit to the Philippines. However, the mayor’s trip was postponed and with his untimely death, Racelis was left with the money.
Perhaps pressed to give up the money, Racelis called on some members of PAFCOM for a photo-op. This also included the late mayor’s wife, Sandra, and himself together with his wife. The effort, however, failed to get what could have been a key endorsement for his candidacy.
“What good then did that $10,000 do to his candidacy?” asked the guy seated at my left side. “If that was instead donated to the leading mayoral candidate that would have earned extra mileage for all of us,” he added.
That could be true. But Racelis may be banking on a future bid, which by then, Sandra Cunningham would be open to endorse anyone’s candidacy – Racelis or any other Filipino candidate. Or perhaps by that time, Mrs. Cunningham could be a candidate herself and remember the $10,000 donation.
More important was our discussion about instilling unity in our hearts and minds, especially in politics. As is often said, there is strength in unity. Sadly, however, “crab-talk” and “crab-action” have prevailed in our ranks for more than a decade and continue to pull us down.
This tops our list why we’ve failed time and again in our quest for a council seat in Jersey City.
“How do we remedy this?” asked the other guy in front of me.
“Through orientation and education,” responded the other one. “In due time, through a series of small group and other town hall-type meetings, we will overcome that,” he continued.
Which is true: If we are serious in achieving our political aspirations, we have to be united and know the process of getting there. Many times, it is our lack of understanding of our strength that wears us down and leads to our division.
And so we thought that after we had gone home, we all should start planning our tasks in building our political future.
While some may consider this effort too early, but as we’ve learned many times: “an early bird catches the worm.”
The famous football coach Vince Lombardi once said: “Winning is not everything. It’s the only thing.” That seems to be what’s in store for the Filipino in Jersey City.
And for my friends who joined me in shooting the breeze, let our discussions bear fruit. After all, as respected community leaders, we look upon you to keep the flame alive in our quest for political empowerment.
Send comments to rickyxpres@aol.com or visit Website at PinoyOnBoard.com.
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