“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in
the service of others.” Mahatma Gandhi
By Alex P. Vidal
SINCE I am now in the Philippines and wasn’t able to
campaign door-to-door and reach out to the members of the Filipino community in
the City of Surrey in British Columbia, Canada, I would like to make an appeal
to all Filipino-Canadians through this article to please unite and vote for our
friend, Narima Dela Cruz, who is running for city councilor under the One
Surrey Team with Barinder Rasode as standard bearer for city mayor.
Rasode, Dela Cruz, et al want to “build a safe and
prosperous city together.”
Dela Cruz is aiming to be the first Filipino-Canadian to
sit in the legislative branch of Surrey, known as the city of parks, in the
November 15 elections.
Advance voting began on November 1, 4, 5, 6 and 8.
I am rooting for Narima Dela Cruz both as a Filipino and
as a personal friend.
We need her in the Surrey Council to represent the voice
of the thousands of Filipino-Canadians.
No Filipino-Canadian has made it to the Surrey Council
in history.
If the Filipino community, Surrey’s second largest
community next to the Indian community, will unite for Dela Cruz, we will have
our first Filipino-Canadian representative in the city legislature on Nov. 15.
PRESIDENT
Dela Cruz, who is the president and founding director of
the non-profit Surrey Philippine Independence Day Society (SPIDS), is a
true-blue community leader and public servant.
Based on my personal experience with Dela Cruz, I can
declare with absolute certainty that she is a genuine, competent and sincere
public servant.
She helps her kababayans using her own talent and
resources and does not brag about her accomplishments.
She can do more wonders not only for the Pinoy
community, but also for other multi-racial communities in Surrey and its
environs.
An accomplished realtor and a consistent event organizer
in British Columbia, Dela Cruz was born a leader.
Even when she was still in the Philippines, she has
already mastered the art of public service.
She is the type of leader who brings her heart to her
advocacy.
Dela Cruz is also a silent worker who places God and
family at the center of her life.
When we visited in the Vancouver hospital a
newly-arrived Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who collapsed in the airport in
2012, Dela Cruz painstakingly spent her time to contact the patient’s relatives
in the Philippines even if nobody noticed her efforts; even if nobody paid
attention to her.
Dela Cruz’s top priorities are safer streets, better
transit, and healthy city.
MEDIA
When the New Canadian Media asked her “Why should voters
vote for you over any of the other choices available on the ballot this year?”
on November 29, 2014, Dela Cruz answered:
“I have been a leader within the Filipino community for
years, and have been a passionate volunteer since arriving in Surrey.
“I have also been a successful entrepreneur and am a
licensed Realtor.
“I believe that Surrey residents are looking for
individuals who have experience building community, and who have become engaged
volunteer community leaders simply because they want to improve this great
city.
“I am a Founding Director of the Surrey Philippine
Independence Day Society (SPIDS), which is a duly registered and incorporated
organization of Filipino-Canadians in Surrey. SPIDS has been the head organizer
of the annual Surrey Philippine Independence Day Celebrations, a large-scale
event now on its 7th year.
“I have also served with organizations such as
S.U.C.C.E.S.S., and Options Community Service Society.
“I am actively involved in the school system as Vice
Chair of the Johnston Heights Secondary School Parent Advisory Council.
“I was also the Scholarship Committee Coordinator for
the Johnston Heights PAC from 2008-2014.
“I have received numerous awards for community work,
including being named one of the RBC Top 25 Immigrants in Canada.
“I have also been honored with the REALTORS CARE Award,
an award given by the memberships of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver
to a member who exemplifies excellent community volunteerism.”
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