Will more Filipinos run for elective positions?

A dozen or so Filipino candidates who ran in previous local government and Federal elections, with some who even tried three times were feted and recognised by the Western Sydney based organisation Filipino Australian Movement for Empowerment or FAME during a program called “Munting Parangal” held at the Blacktown Arts Centre last Friday 12 July 2014.

FAME had been in the forefront of enhancing the entry by Filipino Australians in Australian elections.

The program was emceed by current FAME President Mr Rod Dingle.

Those honoured were headlined by current Blacktown City Councillor Jess Diaz (Liberal) ward topnotcher in recent city council elections in Blacktown and previous councillor of Temora , NSW Mrs Irene Ward (Independent).

Philippine Consul General Anne Jalando-on Louis and Blacktown City Councillor Jacqui Donaldson (Liberal), representing Blacktown City Mayor Ln Robinson were guests of honour.

Those who were honoured included candidates recognised in local government elections, NSW state elections and Federal elections. Absent during the much talked about twice candidate for the Federal seat of Greenway Mr Jaymes Diaz, and a number of Labor Party candidates in local government elections.

A press release from FAME said the first Filipino candidates to political office were Blacktown accountant Mr Remigio Biala and the late newspaperman Mr Oscar Landicho. Elected in 2004 as councillor in Temora Shire near Wagga Wagga, Mrs Irene Broad was the first Filipino to assume a political seat. In 2008, Mr Jess Diaz was elected to Blacktown City Council, and won again in 2014.

Those who received certificates of citations from FAME were:

Blacktown City Councillor Jess Diaz, former Temora , NSW Councillor Irene Broad, consecutive candidate for Federal seat of Chifley Venus Priest (Liberal), one time candidate for Federal seat of Greenway Michael Santos (Independent), one time candidate for Federal seat of Greenway and NSW candidate for MLC Ronaldo Villaver (Australian Democrat) , three-time candidate for councillor in Campbelltown Rose Lay, one time candidate for Burwood City Council Malyn Chun, one-time candidate for Blacktown City Council Neria Soliman and one-time candidate for Gosfors City Council Emily Rudd.

It was not revealed whether any of them will be running as candidate in the next local or NSW state elections.

Christian Barla says:

July 16, 2016 at 4:18 pm

In a bid to prevent party switching and to “level the playing field” among political parties, s politician need to sponsor a bill seeking to strengthen the political party system and penalise political turncoats.

The bill should be aimed at promoting “party loyalty, discipline and adherence to ideological principles, platforms and programs.

Passing this bill will institutionalise and strengthen political parties as pillars of the country’s democratic system. It is imperative that the country’s political party system should be strengthened in order to achieve genuine political development.

Most political aspirants change or resign from political parties for convenience, rather than because of conviction. This only shows the lack of ideological commitment of the members of party because they choose parties based on the rise and fall of the tide of opportunity.

The bill will primarily penalize political turncoats by barring them to run under any party or switch to independent for any elective position in the succeeding election after changing or resigning party affiliations.

Turncoats should be also obliged to refund all amounts they received from their political party including a 25 percent surcharge.

Political parties are normally used as political vehicles to win an election. Political party system is centered on personalities rather than ideology and political platform. Political turncoatism should never be encouraged nor tolerated.