On Global Filipinos: Support Gina Ortiz Jones of Texas

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For FREE immigration consultation, CLICK HERE. Use Code: THE FILAM

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Guests offer a prayer for the candidate, with Dr. Angie Cruz of the host committee (to Gina’s left) opening with an invocation.  The FilAm Photo

Guests offer a prayer for the candidate, with Dr. Angie Cruz of the host committee (to Gina’s left) opening with an invocation. The FilAm Photo

By Loida Nicolas Lewis

Last September 20th, around 50 mostly FilAms gathered together in a Manhattan co-op overlooking Central Part to listen to the Democratic candidate in Texas’ Congressional District 23, Gina Ortiz Jones.

She won the Primary over four other Democratic candidates and, once elected, is poised to become the first Filipino American congresswoman come January 2019.

“My mother came to the United States 40 years ago because of her belief in the unique promise of America,” said Gina before guests who came to meet her. “As a single-mother, she worked two jobs at times to ensure that my sister and I could achieve the opportunities that only this country could provide. I grew up knowing hard work, that circumstances to which we were born, should not determine our trajectory.”

The Democratic Party has identified her district as one of 23 congressional districts targeted to flip from being a Red Republican District to a Blue Democratic District, and transfer majority control of the U.S. Congress to the Democratic Party.

As representative, Gina said she will focus on the following issues: “Creating good well-paying jobs, while strengthening our middle class, and providing quality healthcare to all, while still ensuring we lead the industrialized world in medical breakthroughs.”

“I believe,” she continued, “that we can be a country whose actions match our highest ideals…a country that embraces our immigrant history and our collective responsibility to ensure that the American Dream remains a possibility for all that dare to achieve it.”

In the 2016 election, the 23rd District voted for Hillary Clinton as president 3 percent more than the votes for Donald Trump. Gina Ortiz Jones is endorsed by the DNC’s Red to Blue districts, Emily’s List, Move On, and other progressive groups, including the Àsian American Action Fund.

After a musical piano interlude by Karen Beloso, this writer introduced the host committee members responsible for the fundraiser: Gail Alvarez, Angie Cruz (who gave a powerful prayer of thanksgiving and petition), Greg Urra representing her sister Angelica Berri, Geraldine Acuña Sunshine (who gave a generous donation but could not attend), Philip McCarthy (whose mother is also Filipina) and yours truly.

Before I introduced Gina Ortiz Jones, I pointed out that in Washington D.C., the Asian American Political Caucus consists of Americans of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese ancestry. Incumbent Congressman Bobby Scott’s maternal grandfather is Filipino. If elected, Gina Ortiz Jones would be the first Filipino American congresswoman on Capitol Hill. Her mother is from Pangasinan.

She is up against Republican incumbent Congressman Will Hurd who is a Tea Party supporter of The Donald, and supported by the NRA.

“Our state and our country are worth fighting for,” declared Gina. “It’s why I joined the military, it’s why I served in Iraq, it’s why I’ve dedicated my life to public service, and it’s why I’m running to serve Texas’ 23rd Congressional District. I look forward to fighting alongside you.”

All the readers of this column interested to help her campaign, please donate to –

Gina Ortiz Jones for Congress
PO Box 769186
San Antonio TX 78244

Or volunteer to do phone bank from home. Visit info@ginaortizjones.com



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