Pinoys see opportunities under Obama

WASHINGTON – Filipino-American political and community leaders from across the United States are taking advantage of their visit to Washington for the historic inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama to discuss new opportunities for political and civic engagement under his new administration.

Filipinos are pulling together a slate of events for their friends and kababayan in conjunction with the activities of the Asian Americans Pacific Islanders to celebrate the inauguration on Jan. 20 of the first black man as the 44th US president.

Bill Hanbury, head of Destination DC, which is responsible for promoting the capital region as a premier tourism and convention destination, estimates about two million people will attend the inauguration provided the weather doesn’t deteriorate. 

Clear weather is forecast in the Washington DC area on inauguration day with temperatures likely to hover between 30F (-1C) and 24F (-4.4C). Light snow flurries are expected before the noon swearing-in.

“Last year in Phoenix when they did the Super Bowl, they estimated that the Super Bowl was worth about $300 million to the city. Well, this is, you know, 10 to 20 Super Bowls wrapped up into one,” Hanbury told reporters when asked how much money business establishments in Washington could expect from the inauguration.

“There’s no estimate on what the final economic impact will be… but it’s deep into the hundreds of millions of dollars. There’s just no question about it. I know,” he added.

In the US alone, tens of millions of viewers are expected to watch the event. The potential audience worldwide is mind-boggling.

The Filipino American National Historical Society was scheduled to host a “rare gathering of Filipino American intelligencia” yesterday for lively discussions on the American dream for Pinoys, organizers said.

On the same day the Asia Society is holding an inaugural reception expected to be attended by Steven Chu, Obama’s energy secretary, and Maya Soetoro-Ng, Obama’s half-sister. 

There will be a Filipino-American caucus meeting today and a reception the following day at the Philippine Embassy hosted by Ambassador Willy Gaa.

On inauguration day itself among the throng at Capitol Hill will be about six representatives of Filipino veterans of World War II.

The veterans themselves are too old to brave the cold and the crowd but their sons and daughters will be there “to show the flag,” to remind Americans of the need to correct the injustice of denying these old soldiers their war pensions, said Eric Lachica, head of the American Coalition for Filipino Veterans.