Fil-Am newest member of women's commission in California

Filipino-American Kaeesa Ocampo was sworn in as a member of the commission that addresses issues on women and girls across San Mateo County in the San Francisco Bay Area, according to a report on news site AsianWeek. The report said Ocampo joins Christine Padilla, legislative aide of California’s 14th district Rep. Anna Eshoo, as Fil-Ams on the board of the Commission on the Status of Women of San Mateo County. Created in 1982, the commission is a non-partisan body that provides leadership in developing policies, programs, and legislation to address the needs of women and girls. The report said the “organizing skills, broad network, and philanthropic work" of Ocampo — a San Mateo City resident — have benefited the larger San Francisco Bay Area community and countries across the globe. “Sometimes, I look back at the many experiences my life has afforded me and challenged me with… It is a great honor to be able to serve my own neighborhood and community," said Ocampo. Ocampo comes from a long line of public servants, according to the report. Her great grandfather, Pablo de Leon Ocampo, was elected as resident commissioner to the United States government in 1907. He later went to Washington where he served in Congress until 1909. Ocampo’s family has also served in the Philippine Congress in 1960s. AsianWeek reported that Ocampo’s involvement in the community and philanthropy is rooted in the Asian-American community, where she began as a stakeholder in organizations like:

• National Association for Asian-American Professionals,
• Asian Heritage Month Committee for the City of San Francisco,
• Asian Pacific Fund, and
• San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee.

Her wide span of networks and persistent work to build bridges resulted in co-founding the progressive organization Citizen Hope, formed with a commitment to engage in community and civic service projects, the report said. It also said that in 2009, fundraising for disaster relief in the Philippines, Samoa, and Haiti — efforts that were recognized for vast coverage, speed, and success — prompted her to establish Bay Area Benefit, the champion of “guerilla philanthropy." Since then, she has led the formation of the API Circle, an alliance of San Francisco Bay Area Asian and Pacific Islander American leaders, and organizations with the mission to create meaningful relationships and collaborative efforts that are cross-generational, ideologically neutral, and diversely representative, the report added. “I recognize the important role that so many strong men and women have played in my life. I was taught hard work, humility, simplicity, faith and integrity — the same guiding principles I go by, daily," Ocampo said. “As long as there is more work to be done, more communities that need basic services and protection, and underrepresented women and girls who hope for a future where they can enjoy life, liberty and a pursuit of happiness, my commitment will remain steadfast," she added. — JE, GMA News