Esteves, a native of Lasip-Grande, Dagupan City, migrated to Milpitas where he succeeded in his entrepreneurial venture and later earned the respect and admiration of residents, capped by his landslide election as city mayor in November 2002.
Milpitas, a one-and-a-half hour drive from San Francisco, is known for Silicon Valley, the so-called information technology capital of the world.
In his first 12 months in office, Esteves, a Republican mayor allied with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, has made Milpitas one of the top performing cities with a "double A" rating in the State of California.
He will be conferred the Jose Rizal Leadership Award, the highest award under the Pawil program, on Dec. 30. More than 500 overseas Dagupeños living and working in various major cities in the United States are participating in Dagupan’s festivities this year.
Before proceeding to Dagupan, Esteves is hopeful he could pay a courtesy call on President Arroyo in Malacañang upon his arrival.
However, the Palace has not yet confirmed the President’s availability despite an earlier letter of Esteves dated Nov. 15 extolling President Arroyo for her "efficient and successful stewardship of the Philippine economy and steadfast support (for) the global anti-terrorism campaign led by US President George W. Bush."