Cris Villanueva: Aspiring to become first Pinoy mayor of Vallejo

Cris Villanueva may share the name with a popular 80s matinee idol in the Philippines, but in Vallejo City, California, this Filipino certified public accountant is a respected politician who may soon be catapulted to the mayor’s office. Cris is already busy preparing for the upcoming US elections on the first week of November and has so far edged out his other rivals in the race by raising nearly $113,000 in campaign funds, according to the Times-Herald . Early on in the campaign, Cris won the admiration not only of many businessmen and politicians in California, but also the support of the Filipino community in Vallejo which represents close to a fifth of the city’s profile, making them a growing force even in the voting ballots. For this true-blue Pinoy statesman in California, his cultural heritage helped him in the upcoming elections. His victory is said to ensure better representation of the Filipino population in the county. “The Filipino Bayanihan spirit, I think, is my edge in the Vallejo City mayoral race," he confessed to GMANews.TV. "We have a huge involvement of many people from all races in my campaign committee. I see this as a very positive advantage." “I will be bringing more of the Filipino values such as respect for our elders and our authority, and caring for our youth. In short, I would be bringing a more responsibility-conscious city staff to serve the citizens of Vallejo," Cris promised. Discrimination Cris spent most of his life in the quiet town of Dolores in Quezon. Before moving to the United States in the tumultuous mid-70s, Cris used to be an accounting professor at the Lyceum of the Philippines. He also taught at the Centro Escolar University and the Philippine College of Commerce. He also served as the vice president for finance for Delgado Brothers Inc. Leaving his career in the Philippines to reunite with the rest of his family in the US, Cris pulled himself up his bootstraps and earned his California Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in 1983. Despite his CPA license, Cris admitted to have experienced some racial discrimination when he settled in the United States. In one of his first jobs, he recalled doing much of the dirty work in the office but was not duly recognized for his efforts “When I was still an employee, I used to do the pencil pushing or the dirty job," Cris said, “But when the final report was submitted, the other employee, in most cases, an Anglo-American claimed the credit." However, instead of getting back at his ‘racist’ environment, Cris was driven to serve the people of Vallejo and perhaps improve how fellow Filipinos are treated there. “My desire to serve the people of Vallejo inspired me to seek an elected position. I believe that it is in serving that I become relevant to the city of my choice," he said. In 1987, he ran for Councilman of Vallejo but lost. Two years later, he tried again and this time, his determination was justly rewarded. The people of Vallejo believed in his leadership that they elected him again in 1993 before being appointed by the City Council to fill in the vice mayor’s office from 1994 to 1995. Helping back Even if Cris wins the elections in November, his eyes are still fixed on helping his country, to whom he owes much of his success abroad. “As soon as I win the mayoralty, I will set up a trade mission to the Philippines and other Asian countries," he said. During his term as vice mayor, Cris established Baguio as a sister-city of Vallejo City. “This time I would like to expand [the] trade relationship with Baguio and the Philippines at large. I will welcome business proposals such as establishing an American school of Medicine and/or nursing in Baguio," he said. But in order to extend his help back home, this father of four believes that his own children should first appreciate his birthplace. Cris’s eldest is now a captain in the US Air Force (Reserve) while his two younger daughters are registered nurses in the local community while the youngest girl is a sophomore in high school. While not a few Filipino immigrants tend to forget about their heritage once they've acclimatized in America, Cris is taking a hands-on approach on immersing his children to his culture. “I impart on them strong family ties and values and the importance of education," he proudly said. For now, Cris misses the simple things in life back in the Philippines and perhaps after serving his fellow Vallejo citizens, he would return home. "I miss the rural life in the Philippines like picking up duhat, santol, mango, and guavas, and climbing the coconut trees," Cris reminisced," I also miss swimming in the rivers and hiking on Mount Banahaw." - Mark J. Ubalde, GMANews.TV