Steven Raga: Pushing for Filipino and Asian visibility in the Big Apple
By Marivir Montebon
New York – At the reelection fundraiser of Assembly member Steven Raga on Saturday April 13, 2024, Raga thanked the Filipinos for their usual support and mentioned his achievements on his first term of office.
Raga reported to his Filipino supporters that he had pushed for the budget of a Filipino Community Center in Queens, and legislating housing measures, health care, and elderly welfare. He also legislated for the recognition of the state-wide Filipino History Month in October, Jose Rizal as Philippine national hero, and Philippine Independence Day celebration in June.
Steven Raga with Loida Lewis (center) and Filipino supporters (l-r) Dr. Emilio Quines, Dr. Angie Cruz, Dr. Nanette and Benny Jongco, Ave Pimo, and Marilyn Abalos (rightmost) at the Manhattan fundraiser.
Raga is the first Filipino American to be elected to a government post in New York, representing Woodside, Maspeth, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Middle Village, and Astoria in Queens at the NY State Assembly.
On his first term, Raga said that he not only represented the interests of Filipinos but of other underrepresented minorities as well such as the Bangladeshi, Vietnamese, and Thai communities in Queens.
Raga: Cautiously optimistic for a reelection in November.
For the upcoming elections, Raga said he is "cautiously optimistic" for a fresh mandate. He promised that in his second term, he will push for additional funding for projects and legislation to further boost the welfare and rights of immigrant communities in his district.
Queens is the largest borough in NYC, the world's most diverse (specifically Elmhurst), and is home to the majority of Filipinos in the Big Apple.
The fundraiser was held at the Paul Rudolph Institute of Modern Architecture in Manhattan, organized by Tess Abutanmo Dela Cruz, Edwin Josue, Prime Delacruz, Romulo Jr Aromin, Dr. Angie Cruz, Dr. Emil Quines, and philanthropist Loida Nicolas Lewis.
In introducing Raga to guests, some 50 of them from various walks of life, Lewis cited the long list of educational qualification of Raga and his being an organizer of the Filipino community at a young age.
Raga has an MBA from Cornell University's S.C. Johnson Graduate School of Management, an MS in Healthcare Leadership from Weill Cornell Medicine, an MPA from CUNY Baruch, a Graduate Diploma in International Human Rights Law from the American University in Cairo, and an MPP and BA in Political Science from SUNY Stony Brook. He also holds a Professional Certificate in Global Affairs from the NYU Institute for Global Affairs, a Certificate in Philippines Studies from the University of the Philippines and graduated from the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government’s Senior Executives in State & Local Government program.
He was actively part of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) and Pilipino American Unity for Progress (UniPro) which he founded in Woodside.
“Steve has dedicated life for this. That’s why he hasn’t been married yet. Let’s give it up to him,” Lewis said in jest, and the good crowd laughed, and the afternoon ensued in vibrant conversation. #
