Daly City mayor names Fil-Ams citizen and youth of the year

DALY CITY, Calif. — Every December, many City Councils in the 50 states vote for one of their members as Mayor to preside at their meetings and represent them in community events the following year.

Last week, Daly City welcomed back Sal Torres, the lone Latino on the council, as Mayor, and David Canepa, the lone Caucasian on board, as Vice Mayor.

For the Filipino-American community, the big event of the night was the commendation for two of their own by the outgoing mayor, who is also one of their brightest political stars.

Before stepping down from his second go-around in four years, Mayor Ray Buenaventura conferred his top awards to Dorie Cachuela Paniza and Jasmine Cruz, as well as to Moon and Yoon Choi – residents who have contributed to the civic and economic well-being of the city with the highest concentration of Filipinos in the continental United States.

“I am thrilled to award these distinguished ladies for their accomplishments,” Buenaventura told author.  “They both are equally deserving based the contributions they've made in our community: Mrs. Paniza for her outstanding community service and Ms. Cruz for her impact in the arts and culture.”

Paniza received the Citizen of the Year award. 

The Iloilo native who, with her husband Lambert Paniza, owns and manages care homes in San Francisco, South San Francisco and San Bruno and extended staff care in Millbrae but equally devotes her time and energy to activities in San Mateo’s biggest town.

Paniza first made her mark on Daly City when she ran for the City Council, perhaps the first Filipino-American woman confident to concretize her aspiration to join Buenaventura and before him Mike Guingona as elected members.

Though unsuccessful in that race, Paniza built on her newfound network and raised her visibility in the city.  Guingona took notice of her bravura and appointed her to the Library Commission.

Paniza currently sits on the town’s newest panel, the Daly City Arts and Culture Commission.  She is also vice president of the Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center and the Daly City Host Lion Club.  But her presence is now felt beyond North County.
 

She is the current president of the Filipino American Democratic Club of San Mateo County and vice president of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce- San Mateo County.

She is equally involved in community organizations as adviser to many local senior associations.

This season saw the Panizas – including sons Gilvin and Reigil - in the thick of donating, collecting and distributing toys in the Dec. 20 joint drive between PBRC and the Filipino American Law Enforcement Officers. 

For herself and the family, Paniza said she wishes “peace and prosperity” for the holidays.

This latest laurel doused any doubt that she belongs to her home city.

Confronted by a fellow appointed official why she deserved the mayoral commendation, Paniza had no second thoughts:  “For community service,” which she said she vows to continue in 2016.

“She always helps,” said PBRC president Erlinda Galeon.

“You can count on Dorie to be supportive,” said Perla Ibarrientos, PBRC board chair and, with Galeon, previous recipients of the mayoral award.   

San Francisco native Jasmine Cruz, whose parents hail from Leyte and Bataan, displays her commitment in a different milieu.

The 2015 Youth of the Year was not quite 4 years old when she began displaying a talent for dance.  Her parents supported her passion for the art form and encouraged her pursuit of jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary and classical ballet.

The ballerina  has been winning dance competitions throughout the United States and received intensive scholarships from Gelsey Kirkland Ballet Academy, Boston Ballet, Next Generation Ballet and American Ballet Theater.

Last year she represented the Westlake School of the Performing Arts in the homecoming gala of Ballet Philippines’ 45th Anniversary in Manila.

Now a teacher’s aide at the famous Daly City performing arts school owned by a Filipino American, she is performing the role of Sugar Plum Fairy, Ballerina Doll and Reed Flute in theschool’s full-length production of the holiday classic The Nutcracker.

Café owners Moon and Yoon Choi have much in common with their fellow-laureates.

The immigrated from South Korea in the early 1970s.

Coming to this country suspended their military and teaching careers but opened new opportunities for the couple.

They first opened a cozy nook in the Fillmore District of San Francisco then explanded to a full-service restaurant on Polk Street.  They headed south to Daly City, and called their They then bought Westlake Coffee Shop which has been a part of Daly City history for over 60 years.

Moon and Yoon Choi have owned and run Westlake Coffee Shop for over 30 years, serving regular loyal customers and senior customers in the community. That shop was forced to close, but relocated the business with the help of The City Council.

Goodwill and service, the Chois, Cruz and Paniza know, are more than a holiday tradition. —Philippine News