Three Filipinas Start a Movement
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Rocio Nuyda (Source: Twitter)
The question was, “what do you think of gathering 1 million Filipino Americans to vote for Biden as President?” Knowing the grit, will power, and determination of Loida, Rocio knew where the conversation was leading to. The practical response was, “1 million is a bit ambitious. I do not wish you to fall flat on your face, but if you are determined, let us do it,” Rocio retorted. Loida’s response was “As a poet says, a man’s reach must exceed his grasp, or what is a heaven for? And no, I will not fall flat on my face.” Rocio heard that familiar, determined tone many times over, so she then said, “Let us form a core group and invite Gloria Caoile to join us”.
Loida Nicolas Lewis
So, the Filipino Americans 4 Biden movement was born on June 8, 2020. An interactive website www.filams4biden.com, that encourages membership and inspires recruitment was put together. At the end of July, 2,000 Filipino Americans had signed up for membership including several elected Fil-Am leaders all over the country. What began as a startling question had hatched into an compelling idea and soon a fierce force of Filipino Americans jumped on the bandwagon to campaign for and elect Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States. In August when he picked Kamala Harris for his running mate, the energy of determined support gained increased momentum.
Unassumingly, and with little fanfare, the three women set out to feverishly work in their respective communities with the goal in mind of increasing membership. Zoom meetings and virtual town halls with powerhouse guest speakers were organized to press Filipino Americans across the country to register and vote for the Biden/Harris tandem. A Young Filipino Americans for Biden/Harris was also formed.
Gloria T. Caoile (Source: FWN)
Loida Nicolas Lewis’ reputation precedes her. She by herself is a crowd drawer. Her politics is to endorse candidates with sterling track records and whose policies are aimed for the greater good. Through her leadership, the movement has impressively secured a guest speaking appearance of Dr. Jill Biden, slated for October 2, 2020 in a zoom meeting that they are organizing to commemorate October’s Filipino American History Month.
The Democratic Party credentials of this core group of 3 women are impeccable. Lewis and Nuyda have had private, by invitation interactions with both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, when face-to-face they listened to them speak of their platforms and their commitment to BUILD BACK BETTER and restore the dignity of America. Caoile, like Lewis and Nuyda is a veteran of previous Democratic presidential campaigns for Bill Clinton, Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
According to a 2018 census, the Filipino American vote is a force to reckon with, with 4.1 million counted but unofficial estimates peg the number closer to 6 million. Moreover, the Filipino Americans are the fastest growing population under the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) umbrella. Lewis is fond to say that “this number will deliver a margin of victory for Biden and Harris”. Hence, it is wise and prudent for any candidate to give this segment of voting power their avid attention.
Lewis, Nuyda and Caoile believe that concerns that are near and dear to the hearts of Filipino Americans should be heard and addressed in Washington. Furthermore, more FilAms should be encouraged to run for an elective office, and appointed to agencies and commissions that set policy.
When asked why they support Biden and Harris, Lewis thinks it is “high time to restore a sense of ‘delicadeza’ in the White House and make America, America again.” Our country has become intolerant particularly of the minorities which is contrary to this nation’s centuries-old tradition of welcoming immigrants”.
Nuyda decries the divisive rhetoric and sowing of hate, fear, anger and unrest by the current president. She laments that Americans are being pitted against each other. Civility and dignity must be restored in order to heal and unite, and only a leader with empathy can repair the present state of chaos in the country. “Let us face it. I have never seen America so divided, so hateful, so angry as it is today. Biden’s main message says it best, this is a battle for the soul of America,” Nuyda observes.
Caoile thinks that the global leadership of America has been tarnished and needs to be re-established before it is irretrievably lost. “Instead of respect, countries are laughing at us,” Caoile says rolling her eyes.
All three women agree that the handling of the COVID 19 by this administration lacked the foresight and immediate attention that it deserved. The president described it to be a hoax, and in his typical cavalier manner pronounced that it would go away like a miracle. To date, the president in a recorded interview with the celebrated author, journalist Bob Woodward, admitted that he downplayed the virus to avoid panic, spook the economy and jeopardize his re-election. Despite being informed by the scientific experts that the virus is highly contagious and deadly, he deliberately played it down as a hoax that would go away in the summer. Consequently, a substantial number of 200,000 lives have since been lost (and still growing). Lives that unfortunately could have been saved. Imagine America, the world’s superpower with only 4% population of the entire world, but with 25% of total cases, and with the highest number of deaths? That amounts to gross negligence and possibly criminal dereliction of duty. “Lock him up,” all three women exclaimed.
This election is the most critical in our lifetime. The current occupant of the White House poses an existential danger and threat to the country’s democratic institutions, the three chorused. Filipino Americans need to discern the big picture and not focus on one issue alone. They need to safeguard the future of young Filipino American children and grandchildren. November 3, 2020 will go down in history as the day of reckoning for America. Let our generation play a responsible part of that history. Resoundingly, let us vote for Biden and Harris.
