Rest in Power, Larry Alcantara.

FAPAGOW honors the memory of our Advisor and former Vice President Larry Alcantara (November 10, 1947-January 29, 2023). In remembrance of his service to our country, military honors service was held at Tahoma National Cemetery on Tuesday February 21, 2023.

Larry Alcantara was born in Silverton, Oregon, on November 10, 1947 to Mr. Juan Alcantara and Mrs. Ann Marie (Carey) Alcantara. He was raised in Rainier Valley, Seattle, Washington, attending Columbia Grade School, Sharples Junior High, and Franklin High School. He volunteered for the US Marines at 17 years old and served as Military Police (Shore Patrol). At 19 years old, he served in-country at Danang, Vietnam from November 1967 to September 1968.

Larry began his public service career as an Employment Interviewer/Veterans Counselor, Washington State Employment Security from 1972 to 1973. He worked as Employment/Recruiting Manager and Executive Search Manager for the City of Seattle Personnel Department from 1973 to 1997 when he was appointed by King County Executive Ron Sims to King County Elections Manager (13th largest county in the US). He retired from his public service career as the Affordable Housing Liaison, Office of Policy and Planning in June 2002.

Larry Alcantara was a lifelong servant leader, serving during the 1970’s as an adult youth coach in football, baseball and basketball. During his public service career, he served on volunteer boards for community-based organizations for cultural heritage, performing arts, human services, and political action. Post retirement, Larry chose to volunteer in veteran’s affairs serving with the Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee, the Governors Council – Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, and the Outreach Committee for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. He was Past Commandant of the Puget Sound Marine Corps League and Commander, Leatherneck Honor Guard.

Among volunteer positions he held were President, Filipino American City Employees of Seattle, (FACES); President, Filipino Youth Activities (FYA); Vice President, Filipino American Political Action Group of Washington (FAPAGOW); Chair, Organizing Committee, Pista Sa Nayon; Chair, Pagdiriwang, Filipino Cultural Heritage Society of Washington (FCHSW) and Board Member, Northwest Asian American Theater.

Larry Alcantara was a co-project leader of the Filipino American Vietnam War Veterans Oral History Project by the Filipino National Historical Society – Greater Seattle Chapter (FANHS) and was producing, PINOY, a collection of stories about Seattle’s Filipino American Softball Team (1970-1990).

Larry lived in Des Moines WA with his beloved Carine (Laigo) Martenson. He had two grown children, three grandchildren and one great granddaughter. Larry enjoyed long distance
motorcycle riding, oral history, and daily walks with his German Shepherd – Diego.

Voter Registration at the Consular Outreach Mission at City of Mill Creek

Filipino American Political Action Group of Washington (FAPAGOW) is doing Voter Registration at the Consular Outreach Mission at City of Mill Creek today October 9, 2022, in partnership with NAFFAA (National Federation of Filipino American Associations). Thank you to Ellen Abellera and Mariela Fletcher for organizing.

Online registration is also available anytime at https://votewa.gov/ . Register now for the November 8, 2022 General Election! (More info at https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/voters/)

Message to Young Voters

Dolores Sibonga, FAPAGOW Board Advisor
First Filipino American Seattle City Council member

You’d think that at my age – 89 – I wouldn’t be concerned about youth. And yet I worry that young people will sit out the November election, and we will lose whatever vestiges of democracy remain today.

So I ask you, young voters, to believe that you can set the direction for change that will give us Universal Health Care, the Green New Deal and Economic Justice.

We Filipino-Americans are 178,300 strong in the State of Washington. And we have a history of activism, from the unionism of the 20’s and 30’s to Civil Rights in the 60’s and 70’s to standing today with Black Lives Matter and putting an end to police brutality against Black men and women.

And just to show you how much your one vote can count: For about the last 100 years, one of every 100,000 votes in U.S. elections and one of every 15,000 votes in state elections “mattered.” They were cast for a candidate that led or won by one vote.

FAPAGOW can be our progressive voice for truth, equality and responsibility.