HISTORIC FILIPINOTOWN LEADERS ENDORSE JOSE SIGALA FOR CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 13

(Historic Filipinotown – LA) As the City of Los Angeles celebrates Filipino American History Month in October, the Sigala for Council 2013 campaign is proud to announce that Jose Sigala, Candidate for the LA City Council’s 13^th District and former President of the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council (GEPENC) has earned the support of more than 25 prominent Historic Filipinotown (HiFi) Community Leaders.

Sigala has served as a member of the Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown, the Echo Park Library Friends Group, the committee to create a Gateway in Historic Filipinotown, the Coronado Street Neighborhood Watch and the LAPD Rampart Police Activities League. 

"Jose Sigala is a strong advocate and friend of HiFi who has been with us for many years.  From day-one, he will be ready to keep moving our community forward, create new jobs, support small business owners and help the local neighborhood thrive by bringing a new fresh food market to HiFi families," stated Jorge Prado, President of the Historic Filipinotown Chamber of Commerce.

Historic Filipinotown Community Leaders Supporting Sigala for City Council include:

 Ben Aranda, Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown*

Redy Bebasa, Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown*

Romy Borje, Past President, Fil-Am Press Club*

Mark Caratao, Board Member, Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council*

Rosalie Caratao, Historic Filipinotown Community Leader

Vic Ching, Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown*

Phyllis Daugherty, Board Member, Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council*

Goram Espiloy, Board Member, Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council*

Arturo Garcia, National Coordinator, Justice for Filipino-American Veterans*

Joselyn Geaga-Rosenthal, Chair, Filipino American Caucus, California Democratic Party*

Jose Gonzalez, Owner, Hollyway Cleaners

Digna Guzman, Owner, Hollyway Cleaners

Johnny Itliong, Larry Itliong Foundation*

Dr. Ben Marte, Co-Chair, Pilipino American Network and Advocacy (PANA)*

Cora Marte, Historic Filipinotown Community Leader

John Mina, Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown*

Benito Miranda, Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown*

Jeffrey Kontorvsky, Board Member, Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council*

Leo Pandac, Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown*

Cirilo Pinlac, Board Member, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA)*

Jorge Prado, President, Historic Filipinotown Chamber of Commerce*

Elizabeth Prado, Resident, Historic Filipinotown

Nolasco Reyes, President Historic Filipinotown Tennis Association*

Perla Reyes, Board Member, Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council*

Crispin Rodriguez, Board Member, Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council*

Lily Tabafunda, Board Member, Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council*

"Today Jose is continuing the Legacy of two strong communities, Filipino and Latino Americans, working together just like my father, Larry Itliong and Cesar Chavez did when they worked side by side to start the United Farm Workers. I am honored to join with many leaders of Historic Filipinotown in endorsing Jose Sigala for the Los Angeles City Council". Johnny Itliong, son of legendary Filipino-American labor leader and Executive Director of the Larry Itliong Foundation on Education (L.I.F.E.).

Sigala has worked closely with community leaders to:

Restore $ 7 million dollars in funding for after school programs like those at Rosemont Elementary to keep our children safe and off the streets,

Assure the passage of Measure L to provide vital funding for the Echo Park Library,

Organize neighborhood clean ups to keep our streets free of trash, bulky items & graffiti,

Dedicate the intersection of Temple and Alvarado Streets in honor of Remedios “Remy” Geaga,

Advocate for the creation of a new neighborhood council in the City of Los Angeles to represent a unified Historic Filipinotown,

Rename Rockwood Park to Mabuhay Park to curtail gang violence and honor the Filipino-American community,

Declare Delano Manongs Day in the City of Los Angeles to honor the Filipino Farm Workers who helped launch the United Farm Workers Movement, and

Protect our families by working closely with local neighborhood watch leaders to address crime.

“I am very humbled and honored to have the support and trust of so many community leaders in Historic Filipinotown. I am proud and blessed to work side by side with my friends to make Historic Filipinotown Safer, Cleaner, Healthier and a better place to live”, concluded Sigala.

Sigala is a 15 year homeowner who lives in Echo Park with his wife and twin daughters. Sigala served as Immediate Past President of the Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council from 2006 – 2012.

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