04/19/2012
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FILIPINO-AMERICAN MOVEMENT FOR EMPOWERMENT ( F A M E )
Many Filipino-Americans, especially the younger generation, may have forgotten and perhaps, no longer appreciate as much, the enormous sacrifice of the late Senator Benigno Aquino whose untimely death on Aug. 21, 1983 was undoubtedly, the much-needed catalyst instrumental in toppling the then well-entrenched Marcos dictatorship. Indeed, despite the credible threats to his life and against the advice of his immediate family and closest friends, the late Sen. Aquino, a Filipino-American in the literal sense of the word, nonetheless, chose to go home to the Philippines at that time to face even the possibility of certain death. He undoubtedly proved with his own life that…”The Filipino is worth dying for.”
In the interest of keeping alive the above legacy of love of country and of our countrymen as exemplified by the late Sen. Ninoy Aquino, Atty. Ramoncito Poblete Ocampo, a former Director of the defunct Ninoy Aquino Movement (NAM) USA, was inspired to establish the F ILI PINO-AMERICAN MOVE MENT FOR EMPOWERMENT ( FAME )…an advocacy dedicated to the active involvement of Filipino-Americans in US and Philippine political affairs. He is keenly aware of the odds against getting the job done due to the general sense of apathy and indifference of Filipino-Americans with regards to US and Philippine political affairs. But Atty. Ocampo contends that …”Just because it did not work before does not mean that we can simply throw in the towel. Let us not grow weary of doing what is right. In due time, I really believe that we will reap a harvest of blessings/success and finally, establish a credible clout for the Filipino-American community in US and Philippine political affairs if we don't get discouraged and give up.”
He truly laments the fact that despite the fact that there are reportedly 4 Million Filipino-Americans in the USA with supposedly at least 2 Million in California, it has not achieved any considerable political clout worthy of any merit, whether in the USA and more so, in the Philippines. Most, if not all, of our Fil-Am political luminaries are local (city council) public officials. It is very seldom and quite extraordinary to find a Fil-Am in any national or even a state-wide political position such as State Assemblymen/Senators, US Congressmen/Senators. And yet, other ethnic communities with a far lesser number than Fil-Ams, have already produced several state assemblymen, state senators, US congressmen and indeed, 1-2 US Senators. Indeed, Filipino-Americans are, for one reason or another, politically indifferent and not actively involved in the political processes at all, whether in the US or in the Philippines. Atty. Ocampo notes that, most, if not all, Fil-Am organizations are either social, academic, business, sports, humanitarian or religious organizations mainly involved in activities such as dinner-dances/beauty contests, etc. While Atty. Ocampo lauds these social activities as important to promote our country's culture, foster camaraderie and instill a sense of belonging for most Fil-Ams, etc. he nonetheless, noticed that it is very seldom that you find a Fil-Am organization which has made political involvement/empowerment as its main objective and purpose for existence. That is until FAME came along.
FAME intends to embark on aggressive voter-registration drives/dual citizenship campaigns designed to get out the vote from the Fil-Am communities all over the USA . It also intends to invite/organize and envisions a board of advocates composed of the heads/leaders of the different Fil-Am organizations/churches nationwide, exhorting them to encourage their respective members to be actively involved in the US and Philippine political processes by voting or even consider running for public offices subject to a mutually agreed screening process. It also intends to invite/involve and/or encourage Fil-Am owned and operated corporations as well Fil-Am businessmen/professionals to join as FAME ’s sponsors/patrons if only to raise much-needed funds not only to subsidize the different projects/programs of the organization but more importantly, to contribute to the campaign coffers of political candidates which FAME intends to support in any and all prospective elections, whether in the USA or the Philippines.
For more details about FAME, please call Atty. Ramoncito P. Ocampo, its Founder/Chairman at (213) 388-9925 or e-mail him at [email protected].
