Lawmaker introduces resolution to honor late community leader Alice Bulos

RAY BUENAVENTURA

Daly City councilmember Ray Buenaventura gives his respect to the late Alice Bulos with a 'mano po.'

One of the most respected leaders of the Filipino American community in Northern California might get a highway named in her honor.
California's Assembly Transportation Committee Tuesday approved ACR 165, a resolution by Assemblymember Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, that designates the Daly City portion of State Route 35 as the Alice Peña Bulos Memorial Highway.

Bulos spent most of her life as a San Mateo resident and a leader who was able to unite the different factions of the community, before she died of heart failure on Oct. 21, 2016 at the age of 86.

“Every May, we celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month to commemorate the important contributions Asian and Pacific Islander Americans have provided our country,” said Ting. “With this in mind, it is my honor to recognize Alice Peña Bulos, who is considered the Godmother of Filipino American politics and empowerment. Her career in community organizing epitomizes leadership not just in the Filipino community, but also throughout the state of California. I am proud to represent the district where Bulos’ activism was rooted and her legacy lives on.”

Bulos was born on March 31, 1930 in the Philippines. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degree in social and behavioral science at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila where she later served as professor and chair of the Department of Sociology. In 1972, she and her family moved to San Francisco and later to Sacramento. 

Over the span of four decades, Bulos dedicated herself to empowering generations of Filipino Americans to amplify their voices through civic participation. Her influence includes serving on the Filipino American Caucus for the California Democratic Party, the National Filipino Women’s Network, and the National Asian Pacific Democratic Council.

In 2006, Bulos was honored as the Woman of the Year for the 19th Assembly District. Her leadership has guided recently-immigrated residents towards building a better life in America. She has worked to address issues ranging from domestic violence, health care, and the US residency application process.

She has been honored as Women Warrior of the Year by the Pacific Asian American Women Bay area Coalition and has been inducted into the San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame.

In 1993, Bulos became the first Filipino American appointed by a sitting US president to a federal council when then-President Bill Clinton picked her to be part of the National Council on Aging in 1993. Two years later, Clinton called upon Bulos to serve as a delegate for the White House Conference on Aging.

“Throughout her life, ‘Tita Alice’ was committed to opening doors for young Fil-Ams who wanted to enter public service and politics but did not see themselves represented in those places of power. While she is no longer with us, her memory lives on in her family and the numerous friends, supporters, and pupils she inspired over her decades of service,” said the Filipino American Democratic Club of San Mateo County, whose members include Daly City and South San Francisco Council members, as well as other prominent San Mateo County Filipino American leaders.

ACR 165 has a few more stops in the legislative process. If it’s signed into law, supporters may raise money for the cost of signage. Non-state funds are required for the creation of all memorial highway signs.