Filipino. Millennial. Cancer Survivor. Queer.

Beginnings and Family

In 1984, I was born in Santa Clara, CA. After high school, I studied massage therapy and worked as a licensed massage therapist. After three years of working at a spa in southern California, I moved back to the Bay Area to be closer to my family and take care of my younger cousins. I took classes to transition into a career in Physical Therapy and I married my wife Sheila.

Through my wife’s job, I was able to get health insurance for the first time in many years. In 2011, after going in for a routine physical, I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, a lifetime version of Leukemia which was treated through oral chemotherapy. It had many side effects which caused me to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance. After getting denied twice, I decided to get a disability lawyer to fight for my case. I eventually won after three years and many government doctor visits.

After a year of chemotherapy, my wife and I decided to try for a child. In August we bought a foreclosed house in San Leandro where we moved in with my in-laws. Shortly after we moved in, my wife gave birth to our first child, Dante. A few years later, my wife and I tried for a second child and we welcomed Nina to the world. I was a stay-at-home father juggling two children and disability.

I began classes in January of 2020 to earn my Computer Information Science degree. However, shortly after I started, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Because I was immunocompromised due to Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and many years of chemotherapy, I decided to focus on my children instead of taking online classes. I felt that if I did contract the virus and died, I would like to have spent my last few months creating memories with my kids.

Community Activism

In 2015, I began canvassing and volunteering for the Bernie Sanders campaign. I liked him for his social justice and equity standpoints. I was on the streets when I had the energy, and when I wasn’t out in the streets I was an admin and moderator for the Bay Area For Bernie Facebook group and built connections with many local activists.

In 2020, I did canvassing for Bryan Azevedo, learned about the history of San Leandro, marched with Black Lives Matter, and studied local politicians. I found that many of them contradicted themselves, dodged simple questions, or lied to appeal to the progressive and liberal crowds.

In 2022, I became the PTO President at Garfield Elementary. With little experience and guidance, I was able to assemble a small team of parents to provide the students with movie nights, fundraisers, holiday events, a spring carnival, and more. During distance learning, many children at the school did not have proper seating, and I was also able to provide approximately 100 office chairs to families in our community.

I also helped Bryan Azevedo in his campaign for the mayoral seat. Seeing how corrupt and hypocritical the good ol’ boys’ club was lit a fire in me. I participate in the community through activism, events, and attending City Council meetings. My children take martial arts at Pallen’s. I am a member of the Executive Board at Generation Music & Arts Academy, a non-profit organization where my children study piano. I am in a leadership program with Urban Habitat for their Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute, learning to navigate housing inequities in communities of color.