00:27.9
This is an honest question.
00:29.4
And I really want to, I'll probably peel the onion on this one.
00:34.3
Because I really need you to go there and actually fight for that.
00:40.0
But why are we underfunded?
00:42.6
Welcome to the Paco's Place Podcast.
00:46.7
Visit abateservices.com for fast medical transcription service.
00:51.6
This podcast episode is brought to you by AB Music Creative.
00:54.9
And the podcast will begin in 5, 4, 3...
01:02.1
Ladies and gentlemen, finally, live at Paco's Place, Miss Jessica Caloza.
01:10.5
Why are you running?
01:12.1
Right off the bat, why are you running?
01:14.1
I'm running because of family.
01:16.6
I'm running because my parents did the hard part.
01:20.8
And they emigrated here from the Philippines.
01:24.6
We came here when I was really young, when I was just 4.
01:27.7
I'm the youngest of 6.
01:29.4
I have 2 brothers, 3 sisters.
01:34.0
And my family waited a really long time for our papers.
01:38.9
They waited here?
01:40.7
No, they waited in the Philippines.
01:42.1
In the Philippines, wow.
01:43.4
Yeah, and so, you know, still a common story to this day,
01:48.0
not just for immigrants from the Philippines,
01:50.5
but from all countries just really wanting to seek a better life in the U.S. for their family.
01:57.6
Your eldest was probably...
01:59.4
10 or a teenager?
02:02.1
They were in teens, yes.
02:03.8
So that was a different kind of trauma for them
02:06.5
because they probably had their friends and everybody else, right?
02:09.8
They were transitioning when they were adults.
02:12.8
And so, it was much tougher.
02:15.0
They had to go straight into transitioning to finding jobs.
02:19.6
To providing for our family.
02:23.3
And for me, because I transitioned when I was really young,
02:27.1
I had really an opportunity.
02:29.4
I had the opportunity to start school here from scratch.
02:31.8
It was easy to assimilate.
02:33.2
I don't know if it was easy as if...
02:35.5
But I was younger, so it was easier.
02:38.1
But I came here not knowing a word of English.
02:41.9
My sister, Christine, my eldest sister,
02:44.7
she bought me a used hooked-on phonics set on the penny saver.
02:50.6
And my siblings all worked.
02:54.1
And so, they didn't have time to teach me how to speak English.
02:58.2
match the cassette.
02:59.4
Match the cassette tape color with a coloring book.
03:02.1
And you figure it out.
03:04.6
And so, that's how I learned English.
03:06.5
It was really through teaching myself.
03:08.9
Of course, when my siblings and my parents would have time.
03:12.2
But that is, for so many people, the immigrant experience.
03:15.8
Okay, four years old, you had enough time to go to school.
03:19.2
Your siblings were transitioning from Philippine life probably with...
03:23.8
Did you guys have house helps in the Philippines?
03:26.6
Yes, we had a house help.
03:28.2
We lived with a lot of people.
03:29.3
So, house help, to know house help.
03:31.3
Now, they had to find jobs.
03:32.5
Civic service, when did that come to you?
03:37.0
Why not modeling?
03:40.5
I mean, for me, government is what changed my family's life using a lot of government programs growing up.
03:50.9
That's why I'm in this position.
03:53.5
We've got to benefit from that.
03:55.3
You were exposed to it.
03:57.5
You know, we use so many programs, whether it's food assistance or housing assistance or, you know, getting help to pay for college.
04:09.0
These are all the programs that really are the safety net for immigrant families, low-income families.
04:15.9
And so, I wanted to go into government to make it better.
04:19.3
But when did it come to you?
04:20.6
It was when I was in college.
04:22.5
I ended up having a life or death experience.
04:27.5
Working too many jobs.
04:29.0
I was a senior at UC San Diego.
04:31.7
I was the first in my family to actually graduate from college.
04:36.2
I double majored in political science and ethnic studies.
04:40.4
And I was just so burnt out that I ended up in the hospital.
04:45.3
So, I'm only here because of two reasons.
04:48.0
One, because my mom, Gigi, found me.
04:51.4
She found me as I was.
04:53.7
And she found me and she took me to the emergency room.
04:57.5
And two, because of the Affordable Care Act.
04:60.0
One of the things that then President Obama fought for was the ability for people to stay insured on their parents' plan
05:07.2
until after they graduated from college.
05:10.1
And I ended up, unfortunately, in the hospital on my birthday.
05:14.3
And so, it was this freak accident.
05:16.2
I ended up having walking pneumonia for a few weeks.
05:20.5
I just stopped waking up.
05:22.4
And I ended up having...
05:25.9
Freaking out my mom.
05:27.5
She was trying to greet me happy birthday and I didn't pick up.
05:30.8
So, she drove to San Diego and found me.
05:34.2
And so, that's why I feel like I'm living my second life.
05:37.8
But that's why public policy is important.
05:42.5
Government is important.
05:43.6
Because if it were not for the Affordable Care Act,
05:47.0
I would be in hundreds of thousands of dollars of medical debt.
05:51.2
And this is a story that's true for a lot of people.
05:55.0
Millions of Americans.
05:56.6
Millions of Americans.
05:56.8
Millions of Americans.
05:56.8
Millions of Americans.
05:56.8
Millions of Americans.
05:57.0
Millions of Americans.
05:57.0
Millions of Americans.
05:57.5
They're now insured because of Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act.
06:02.5
And that's what government needs.
06:04.4
It means sometimes you get sick.
06:06.4
It means sometimes you get laid off.
06:08.9
It means sometimes something bad happens to you and who is there to catch you.
06:14.1
That's why this is important.
06:16.0
You know, I've had an incredible opportunity to work for our first black president,
06:20.2
our first Jewish mayor of LA,
06:22.6
and our first Filipino attorney general.
06:24.9
And now, I'm setting out to become our first Filipino attorney general.
06:27.0
And now, I'm setting out to become our first Filipino attorney general.
06:27.5
And now, I'm setting out to become our first Filipino attorney general.
06:27.9
I'm the first Filipino woman ever elected to the California State Legislature.
06:30.9
And so for me, I've been given a lot of opportunity from my parents and my siblings,
06:36.3
and they've sacrificed so that I can do more.
06:39.6
And that's what this is.
06:40.7
It's being able to do more with experiences and the opportunities that I've been given,
06:45.7
and be able to open more doors for people like myself.
06:49.2
You know, and that's why I'm running.
06:50.8
Ano kasama sa platform? What are you running on?
06:53.1
I mean, one of the things that I'm very passionate about is
06:57.0
public school education.
07:00.4
our school system
07:03.6
here in California.
07:05.3
in the bottom 10.
07:11.1
We are of underfunded
07:12.2
public school education
07:14.3
So, in the richest state,
07:16.3
in the richest nation,
07:17.7
we are in the bottom 10.
07:18.8
But why are we underfunded?
07:21.4
This is an honest question.
07:23.2
And I really want to,
07:27.9
Because I really need you
07:31.6
and actually fight for that.
07:33.5
But why are we underfunded?
07:35.1
I mean, one of the ways
07:36.1
that we're underfunded
07:37.4
is how we fund schools.
07:39.1
You know, we fund schools
07:40.7
based off of attendance
07:42.4
instead of based off of enrollment.
07:45.2
So, you can imagine
07:47.2
how tumultuous that is
07:49.4
to be able to fund schools
07:51.0
based off of attendance.
07:52.8
If you have a child
07:55.8
and they get COVID,
07:56.8
or their parents get COVID
07:58.4
and they have to stay at home
08:00.5
that is two weeks worth of money
08:02.4
that that school doesn't get
08:04.4
because your child
08:05.1
didn't go to school.
08:06.9
Versus an enrollment-based model
08:09.0
where if you're enrolled
08:10.2
in a school system,
08:11.5
you should get funding
08:12.3
for that full year.
08:14.5
But there's so many ways
08:16.2
in which, you know,
08:21.8
and be successful.
08:23.1
I talk to teachers,
08:24.8
to classified staff,
08:26.8
who can't even vote
08:27.8
and they're having to fundraise
08:30.4
for basic school supplies.
08:33.3
are trying to fundraise
08:34.9
to buy $100 worth of art supplies.
08:39.2
And that's where we're at.
08:41.3
We don't have the supports in place
08:44.4
for people to actually be successful.
08:47.3
And for students,
08:50.7
don't have the support
08:52.6
to even explore other careers.
08:54.8
You're not right.
08:56.8
Because of lack of funding,
09:00.2
are pushed into college,
09:03.4
Some students should go to college,
09:05.2
but some students
09:06.3
may not want to go to college.
09:09.0
I think we need to offer
09:09.9
all the pathways.
09:13.0
should be exposed
09:14.6
to go to a pre-apprenticeship
09:16.2
or apprenticeship program
09:17.4
like a trade school
09:18.6
where you learn on the job
09:19.8
and you get paid.
09:21.9
Or a vocational school.
09:28.6
There's so many different ways.
09:31.2
And then in addition to that,
09:32.5
if you're a parent,
09:34.0
how difficult it is
09:35.6
to actually support
09:36.9
a student in school
09:40.8
high-quality child care,
09:42.9
we know is a major problem.
09:47.2
a financial calculation now
09:49.2
whether or not to have a kid.
09:51.2
And that's very different
09:52.4
than when you're in the Philippines.
09:54.9
It's not a financial calculation.
09:56.8
But here in the United States,
10:00.4
It's a financial calculation.
10:02.2
You know, for me,
10:04.8
child care growing up
10:07.2
either my siblings
10:09.4
I went to the library,
10:10.9
I went to a neighbor's house.
10:13.4
a very different situation
10:15.0
than most people are at now.
10:18.8
and an 8-year-old.
10:34.6
he gets booted out of the
10:36.7
after-school program.
10:48.4
I'm already at home.
10:49.8
I have to wait till 5.30
10:52.9
And I asked the moderator,
10:55.2
why is it like this?
10:59.3
Because we don't have
11:02.5
all the students.
11:05.2
So the criteria now is,
11:07.2
if your child doesn't need it,
11:09.2
we'll kick him out.
11:14.4
so is that part of the whole thing
11:15.7
that you guys are gonna
11:16.5
take a look into also
11:20.4
programs and activities?
11:22.4
And I haven't heard that one yet,
11:24.2
but that's definitely
11:24.7
something I'll look into.
11:25.6
But that's all part of it.
11:26.8
I think our entire
11:27.6
education system needs,
11:32.4
needs to be reformed.
11:34.4
And one of the biggest things
11:36.0
that we need to do
11:44.9
the broader community
11:46.1
because we're all impacted
11:53.0
you are the apartment
11:55.0
that's living in and around
11:56.8
you're going to be impacted
11:58.5
by drop-off pickup.
12:01.5
That's the hard part there.
12:03.1
Or you're going to be impacted
12:07.1
you're a small business
12:08.0
that's in the surrounding community
12:09.5
that relies on foot traffic
12:12.9
But it's an entire ecosystem
12:14.5
that we really need to look at.
12:16.3
But public school education
12:18.0
is one of my top priorities.
12:20.7
What's another priority
12:23.0
One of the priorities
12:24.2
that I have as well
12:25.3
is making sure that,
12:29.8
underrepresented communities
12:31.3
appointed to boards
12:34.6
that was my pathway
12:36.3
I had an incredible opportunity
12:39.3
as the first Filipina American
12:41.0
on the Board of Public Works.
12:43.5
the Board of Public Works
12:44.4
is unique in that
12:45.2
it's the only full-time
12:47.6
in the city of LA.
12:51.1
for providing services
12:52.6
for 4 million residents.
12:58.3
a multi-billion dollar budget.
13:01.6
the infrastructure portfolio
13:03.0
and the public procurement portfolio.
13:07.2
a huge part of my pathway
13:08.7
to running for office.
13:09.8
And I want to make sure
13:11.7
more people get to serve,
13:13.6
especially in state boards
13:16.0
And there are openings,
13:18.9
And I want to be aggressive
13:19.9
in getting people
13:20.7
from the district,
13:24.0
And so the district includes,
13:26.8
portion of Glendale.
13:28.1
So everything south
13:38.3
I'm just explaining
13:38.8
the neighborhoods
13:39.2
in Assembly District 52
13:40.5
where I'm running.
13:41.2
But when you were
13:42.7
what were you handling?
13:45.4
has 4 million residents.
13:47.1
What was your responsibility?
13:48.6
I was the commissioner
13:50.7
the Board of Public Works.
13:55.6
that was my project.
13:56.8
How did that come about?
13:59.6
I'm gonna go there
14:03.0
historic Filipino town,
14:04.4
you'll see that big,
14:06.0
what do you call it?
14:06.8
That welcome sign?
14:09.2
If you see the gateway,
14:10.9
you spearheaded that.
14:12.4
How did that come about?
14:14.5
so it's a project
14:15.3
that the community
14:16.3
has been advocating for
14:17.9
for almost 20 years.
14:20.7
And so when I was appointed
14:23.4
the community came to me
14:25.3
we've been trying
14:27.5
funded and approved
14:28.5
for a really long time.
14:32.2
I will do everything
14:35.7
the community leaders
14:39.8
the mayor's office,
14:41.6
and we all rallied together
14:44.7
to get it approved
14:46.2
and to get it built.
14:47.6
What was your conversation?
14:49.5
the non-political way
14:54.9
let's say I'm a community leader
14:56.2
and I come to you
14:58.4
for the past 20 years,
15:01.9
my historic Filipino town
15:03.2
doesn't even look close
15:04.2
or represent historic
15:08.9
And 20 years ago,
15:09.8
you were not even
15:12.0
or maybe in school
15:13.4
and now here you are,
15:14.4
I'm burdening you
15:15.0
with this problem.
15:18.4
how do you represent
15:19.6
the 20-year-old problem?
15:21.4
How did you get it done?
15:24.6
don't give me the,
15:26.2
the obvious answer.
15:27.2
this is what I did.
15:31.4
and really studied
15:32.8
what the community
15:39.6
they didn't hand me nothing.
15:46.1
done a beautification plan
15:48.9
Mayor Eric Garcetti,
15:51.5
then Council Member Garcetti.
15:54.0
actually is the one
15:56.5
Historic Filipino Towns.
16:01.2
everybody who was involved
16:02.8
to learn and understand
16:04.9
and what the roadblocks were.
16:08.0
I'm in a unique position.
16:12.0
I was a commissioner.
16:13.0
I was one of five people.
16:18.3
to be on the Board
16:24.3
be an important part
16:25.4
of the community.
16:25.6
to be an ambassador
16:26.3
for the community
16:29.9
met with the council,
16:31.0
met with the mayor's office
16:35.0
to find the funding
16:39.1
to get this built.
16:46.5
if I take a project,
16:47.8
I'm going to run with it,
16:48.5
I'm going to do it.
16:49.8
And I will find a way
16:52.6
even in the middle
16:56.1
because I oversaw
16:57.4
the Bureau of Engineering,
17:01.3
spearheaded this project.
17:04.2
worked really closely
17:06.8
and our general managers
17:07.9
to really take the plans,
17:10.4
work with our consultants
17:11.8
and actually get something built.
17:14.0
Worked with an incredible artist,
17:17.0
Eliseo Art Silva,
17:18.9
who's based in the Philippines,
17:20.7
who also helped design
17:29.4
in historic Filipino town.
17:34.2
we just got it done.
17:35.7
we really worked hard
17:40.1
I took it up in 2019
17:50.0
it took three years.
17:51.3
Put the mic close.
17:53.7
It took three years.
17:56.2
it took a lot of determination,
17:58.1
a lot of persistence
17:58.8
and a lot of project management
18:01.0
and not taking no for an answer.
18:04.0
not taking no for an answer
18:05.3
because rejection happens.
18:07.2
Any facet of life,
18:08.6
rejection happens.
18:10.1
You're in a dog-eat-dog environment.
18:13.2
How do you get to a yes?
18:14.9
How do you prepare your mind
18:17.3
for the no that will come your way?
18:20.3
And the reason why I want
18:21.3
to ask you this question is because
18:23.1
new immigrants coming to the States,
18:24.8
you know how Filipino,
18:25.6
those are timid, right?
18:27.2
Especially if you're a new immigrant.
18:30.0
You think you just have to
18:30.9
go with the flow.
18:35.3
And here you are.
18:36.0
You just mentioned something
18:37.0
that I was about to ask you.
18:38.3
You don't take no for an answer
18:39.8
but it starts with your mindset.
18:42.1
How did you switch that?
18:45.0
I was a commissioner.
18:47.8
it was a bit different.
18:49.1
If you're working on this project
18:52.9
you have different level of authority.
18:55.7
more approvals to get through.
18:57.6
But being a commissioner,
18:59.9
the Board of Public Works
19:00.8
is the only full-time
19:01.9
paid commission in the city.
19:03.5
You really have a lot of,
19:07.2
influence to actually get work done
19:09.7
if you choose to.
19:11.8
And I always choose to.
19:16.0
not to do anything.
19:17.4
And it wasn't just the big things
19:19.0
that I focused on
19:20.1
because this is one of the big things.
19:21.8
But I also focused
19:25.6
The day-to-day services.
19:26.8
Simultaneous with the big things, right?
19:29.4
People would call me about
19:36.0
for trash and recycling.
19:37.4
All of it mattered to me
19:38.7
because all of this,
19:40.2
these are quality of life issues.
19:43.1
And that's the experience
19:44.6
that I'm going to take with me
19:45.7
when I go to the state legislature
19:47.8
is all of this very rich,
19:51.4
to know what it's like
19:52.6
to walk somebody through
19:54.3
and to know what it's like
19:54.7
to walk somebody through
19:54.8
and to know what it's like
19:55.6
getting their trash picked up.
19:57.8
what that feels like
19:58.9
and how to actually get it done
20:00.7
because if you can't
20:03.9
you're going to get a gateway built.
20:07.3
all of that matters.
20:10.4
and one of the biggest things
20:11.8
that matters to me
20:14.5
my family's experiences
20:16.1
of dealing with government
20:17.2
is to really make sure that
20:21.5
everybody who interacts
20:23.1
a good experience
20:26.6
that you can solve
20:29.1
And that's really important
20:30.3
because most people
20:34.4
reach out to government
20:36.4
or they don't know how
20:37.5
and then the first time they do
20:38.7
they get put on hold
20:39.7
or they get referred
20:43.8
and then you get disillusioned
20:45.4
and then you're less likely
20:49.7
whether it's on the
20:50.4
Board of Public Works
20:52.1
in the role that I'm seeking now,
20:55.3
I don't think there should be
20:59.8
for another level
21:02.6
to explain that to you
21:10.7
That's what we're there for.
21:14.4
every election cycle
21:15.6
and this is how I hope
21:20.0
people are interviewing
21:23.6
That's what an election is.
21:25.3
People are interviewing
21:35.4
because that's the job
21:37.0
is to work for people,
21:38.6
to work for constituents,
21:40.1
to work for voters
21:41.2
and to provide resources
21:43.1
at the government level
21:44.2
and bring them back
21:45.5
to your neighborhood.
21:56.2
work, work, work, work, work.
21:58.5
that you brought that
21:59.2
all the way up to here
22:01.0
just based on the conversation
22:02.2
that we're having.
22:05.3
platforms already
22:06.6
that you've mentioned.
22:07.7
Is there a third?
22:08.5
Is there a fourth?
22:10.4
there's so many of them.
22:12.6
making sure that we
22:14.2
focus on the environment
22:17.2
That's really important.
22:21.0
didn't talk to me
22:22.6
about the environment
22:23.5
but they would talk to me
22:25.3
about the impacts
22:26.1
of the environment
22:27.1
not really knowing
22:28.0
that that's what it was, right?
22:29.7
Like in the Philippines,
22:30.8
people will say that,
22:32.9
mahirap po minga.
22:34.4
Like it's really hard to breathe
22:35.6
because of the pollution outside.
22:38.6
the climate crisis, right?
22:41.9
ah, madumi yung tubig
22:42.9
or hindi malinish yung tubig, right?
22:45.5
the climate crisis.
22:47.9
for some of my nieces
22:50.4
my family never talked to me
22:51.7
about the climate
22:52.9
oh, my nieces and nephews
22:59.6
very sensitive skin
23:01.0
and that's very much
23:02.6
tied to the environment
23:03.8
and what's in our water
23:06.0
So you can kind of see
23:07.1
the ways in which
23:07.7
we don't have the language
23:09.3
to talk about how
23:10.7
the climate impacts us
23:13.0
and our quality of life
23:15.3
and we just don't have
23:18.1
in our everyday lives.
23:21.3
the district is so diverse.
23:24.0
immigrant community
23:27.5
middle-income families
23:30.1
one of the biggest
23:31.4
sources of pollution
23:33.1
is from our vehicles.
23:41.0
to public transportation,
23:43.1
safe public transportation,
23:45.7
so that people can actually
23:49.3
or an electric vehicle,
23:51.7
Because right now,
23:55.0
it's out of reach
23:55.3
because it's too expensive,
23:57.7
It is very expensive
24:01.8
how do we as a state
24:03.0
and if you're a legislator,
24:04.9
how do we make sure
24:09.7
for all families?
24:16.0
Why are our taxes
24:23.9
does it have to be
24:28.3
I don't know the answer
24:29.0
to your question.
24:31.0
But don't you see it
24:34.0
Being from California,
24:37.0
Everything is so expensive
24:39.8
And I tell my friends,
24:40.9
if you leave California,
24:42.1
you're not going to be able
24:44.8
Is it necessarily
24:46.0
supposed to be high?
24:47.8
these are a lot of the things
24:49.1
that we as voters approve,
24:53.9
I've seen the ballot.
24:55.6
You see how small that is?
24:57.1
when I'm reading the ballot,
24:59.9
do I need to read this?
25:02.5
that's a big part of,
25:04.4
my job as a candidate
25:06.3
civic engagement,
25:11.2
we have a lot of issues
25:13.3
we wish were better
25:15.4
A lot of things that we know
25:16.1
we want to complain about.
25:18.9
sometimes you realize
25:20.2
you may have voted
25:21.0
for that yourself.
25:23.9
can we put something
25:24.4
instead of in the fine print?
25:29.1
like a color code
25:30.8
if the tax will go high?
25:32.2
Because I said yes to this.
25:34.3
There's a color that,
25:39.4
That could be a good idea.
25:44.2
voter guides right now,
25:45.8
whether it's from media
25:47.7
or different democratic clubs
25:50.9
that were putting it out.
25:56.8
to educate ourselves
25:58.7
that impact our life
25:59.9
and what we're voting on.
26:03.1
And it's on the ballot,
26:05.8
every single election year.
26:08.0
There's lots of things
26:12.7
for this next cycle,
26:14.4
there's going to be
26:15.2
a presidential election.
26:17.2
There's going to be
26:18.3
races at the state level,
26:20.7
at the county level,
26:21.7
at the local level,
26:22.9
at the school board level,
26:23.5
at the school board level,
26:23.5
at the school board level,
26:25.6
It's a big election year pala, no?
26:27.4
It's a very big election year.
26:30.4
that's why it's important
26:31.6
to engage Filipinos.
26:33.3
in this district,
26:40.3
a very large margin.
26:45.9
potentially the margin
26:47.7
for me to make it
26:51.1
But that's really
26:51.8
what we're up against
26:53.5
I'm running for a seat
26:56.9
And there's about
26:58.0
six or seven other people
27:00.1
For the same seat.
27:00.8
For the same seat.
27:01.9
I'm the only Asian American
27:03.6
the only Filipina.
27:05.5
that's why it's important
27:06.3
to get the vote out
27:08.2
to make sure you all vote.
27:10.5
You get your ballot
27:13.6
we'll see less of you
27:16.0
if it's less of me.
27:17.1
Will you be in Sacramento?
27:19.1
I will worry about
27:22.8
we can't invite you
27:25.4
Or maybe I'll invite you
27:31.8
parang it's exciting
27:34.6
But do you even rest?
27:37.6
You never learned
27:38.8
college girl days?
27:42.2
my parents did the hard work.
27:44.6
every single day,
27:46.2
every single year,
27:47.8
immigrants who come
27:50.1
to find a better life
27:55.4
when I go back home
27:56.4
to the Philippines,
27:57.1
I also see the life
27:58.0
that I could've had.
27:59.9
and I feel very fortunate
28:01.3
because there's so much
28:02.5
I still wanna do.
28:03.9
And we're just talking about
28:05.1
domestic politics.
28:06.7
But there's so much
28:08.6
to help my family
28:10.1
in the Philippines.
28:12.3
akala ko domestic politics
28:24.7
You can't, right?
28:26.0
Because you were born,
28:27.1
I was born in Quezon City.
28:29.4
di ka qualified to run for,
28:31.3
pero governor pwede.
28:35.2
my first seat first.
28:36.4
Can't we think ahead?
28:43.5
this major goal first.
28:47.2
that's what I'm focused on.
28:49.9
Will it ever stop?
28:54.8
make the most of it
28:57.5
what is our impact.
28:59.5
what is our impact?
29:06.1
state legislature.
29:07.9
I can think of all the things
29:13.2
incredible opportunity,
29:15.0
touching education,
29:16.8
building a pipeline
29:18.8
for underrepresented
29:22.9
fighting for more
29:23.7
programs and resources
29:26.0
There are a lot of
29:26.9
incredible opportunities
29:28.1
at the state level.
29:29.6
ang dahi mo makikita
29:30.3
ang email from me
29:32.0
can you please do this?
29:33.4
Can you help us with this?
29:36.0
I'm really excited
29:40.3
specifically women,
29:42.1
is there a specific
29:42.8
program in your mind
29:44.5
or down the line?
29:48.2
my family didn't have
29:49.2
any political connections.
29:53.6
got my foot in the door
29:56.1
by just telling my story.
30:01.1
in the Obama administration
30:03.5
what happened to me
30:08.5
And our experiences
30:12.0
And our experience
30:15.9
just telling my story
30:17.0
allowed me to get
30:17.7
my foot in the door
30:21.0
college students,
30:22.3
from fancy schools
30:23.8
that I did not go to.
30:29.9
it kind of happened
30:31.7
But after I got my foot
30:33.3
then I came across
30:34.5
a lot of great programs.
30:40.2
the Filipino Women's Network.
30:42.3
So that's a network
30:43.3
of Filipino women
30:46.3
from all industries,
30:47.7
public and private,
31:05.4
That's for women.
31:14.3
and Pacific Islander,
31:18.5
American Leadership
31:23.2
who want to become
31:24.3
potential candidates.
31:26.9
programs that I was
31:38.3
for your listeners
31:39.3
about some of the
31:40.9
things that I was
31:41.7
able to go through
31:42.6
and really benefit
31:47.1
I think consistently
31:48.0
what I've learned
31:51.5
we don't have to go through
31:53.2
We haven't quite yet
31:54.3
built the infrastructure
31:59.5
Asian American women,
32:05.3
running for office.
32:09.2
in this experience
32:14.3
for the next person
32:17.8
And that's the point,
32:20.1
break a glass ceiling
32:21.9
to leave the door open
32:23.3
so that more people
32:26.7
what we have to do
32:27.6
with these opportunities.
32:30.8
and our Vice President
32:33.3
we can be the first
32:34.4
but we won't be the last.
32:42.0
I'm very excited.
32:44.9
over three months ago.
32:47.9
has been very supportive.
32:49.8
has been supportive.
32:52.2
tremendous support
33:03.7
coalescing around
33:08.6
because even though
33:12.0
everybody is running
33:16.5
are putting their
33:17.2
neck out on the line
33:18.3
because they know
33:20.8
is something bigger.
33:23.0
to make government
33:26.5
to have our communities
33:33.1
our quality of life.
33:36.4
every election cycle
33:37.5
is really important
33:38.5
but this election cycle
33:42.3
because currently
33:46.1
at the state level.
33:48.6
the second largest
33:51.5
in the entire state.
33:54.8
And we don't have
33:55.9
a single Filipino
34:00.4
There's only ever
34:01.3
been two Filipinos
34:03.5
That is Rob Banta
34:05.3
our Attorney General
34:12.8
Both have endorsed
34:14.4
and are helping me
34:19.6
that's what's at stake
34:25.2
have one right now.
34:26.9
I have a question.
34:37.6
Would you want to be?
34:44.0
Ladies and gentlemen,
34:54.1
We'll post everything
34:55.2
in the description.
34:58.2
let's make it happen.
35:00.3
who to run behind.
35:02.4
Not just because Pinoy.
35:05.9
Do your research.
35:07.6
And I'm telling you
35:09.2
I've done my research.
35:11.0
You should do yours too.
