Noted Fil-Am community leader Alice Bulos passes away

Noted Filipino-American community leader Alice Bulos passed away last week at the age of 86.
Before her death on October 21, Bulos served the Filipino-American community for nearly half a century and was known as the "Grand Dame of Filipino American Politics," according to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee.
"With the passing of Alice Bulos, the Filipino community has lost a great advocate and leader," Lee said in a statement, as reported on Patch.com.
For her part, Filipina Women's Network CEO Marily Mondejar said Bulos "almost single-handedly" amplified the Filipino-American voice in politics, "encouraging more FilAms to run for elected office and hounding elected officials to appoint more FilAms to powerful boards and commissions."
"She had a clear vision for our community's future, always persuading rather than demanding, that we set aside our personal differences for the common good. Alice's legacy summed up: Beacon of Filipino American politics," Mondejar said in a separate statement.
Bulos, a tenured University of Santo Tomas professor, left the Philippines to join her late husband Dony Bulos in the United States during the 70's.
An article on East Bay Times in 2006—the year Bulos was named the 2006 Woman of the Year for the 19th Assembly District—said Bulos served as a mentor and teacher for her community after her arrival in the US.
Bulos served as a Clinton Presidential Appointee to the Federal Council on Aging, a member of advisory boards to former California attorneys general and state superintendents, and represented California at the Democratic National Convention five times.
She was also the inspiration of organizations and Fil-Am leaders such as ALLICE or Alliance for Community Empowerment, and Erlinda Tiongco-Galeon, another Filipino-American community leader who passed away this year. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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