| Judge David M. Valderrama Fort Washington, Maryland A Role Model and A Coalition Builder |
The Honorable David M. Valderrama, a naturalized American, is
the first and only probate judge in the United States of Filipino
ancestry, and a well-known civil-human activist. He holds a
Bachelor of Laws degree from Far Eastern University, Manila,
Philippines, and a Master of Comparative Law degree (American
Practice) from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
A former Philippine lawyer and anti-Marcos activist, he emigrated
to America in November 1961, and worked for many years as a
senior legal specialist of the U. S. Library of Congress. Judge
Valderrama was first elected to public office in 1982, when he won
a seat on the State Democratic Central Committee, where he
served as a vice-chair for Prince George’s County until his
appointment by Governor Harry Hughes to fill an unexpected
vacancy on the bench in November 1985. In 1986, as his term
was running out, he stood for election in his own right. He ran in
the September primary and won overwhelmingly in an unusually
crowded field of 11 candidates, which victory he duplicated in the
November election of the same year.
Following his election, Judge Valderrama became the Maryland
State Representative to the National College of Probate Judges
the first and only probate judge in the United States of Filipino
ancestry, and a well-known civil-human activist. He holds a
Bachelor of Laws degree from Far Eastern University, Manila,
Philippines, and a Master of Comparative Law degree (American
Practice) from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
A former Philippine lawyer and anti-Marcos activist, he emigrated
to America in November 1961, and worked for many years as a
senior legal specialist of the U. S. Library of Congress. Judge
Valderrama was first elected to public office in 1982, when he won
a seat on the State Democratic Central Committee, where he
served as a vice-chair for Prince George’s County until his
appointment by Governor Harry Hughes to fill an unexpected
vacancy on the bench in November 1985. In 1986, as his term
was running out, he stood for election in his own right. He ran in
the September primary and won overwhelmingly in an unusually
crowded field of 11 candidates, which victory he duplicated in the
November election of the same year.
Following his election, Judge Valderrama became the Maryland
State Representative to the National College of Probate Judges
and the Orphans’ Court Liaison Judge from Prince George’s County to the Maryland General Assembly.
At various stages in his life, Judge Valderrama has been a band-leader, sales executive, bank executive,
television correspondent, author, small businessman, publisher, and editor.
Currently, he chairs the Southeast Asian Refuge Task Force. In addition, he sits on a number of boards which
include the Minority Advisory Board of Port America, the Board of Directors of the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference (Prince George’s Chapter), and the Greater Southwest Community Hospital of
Washington, D.C.
The popular magazine, Regardie, recently wrote an impressive writeup about Dave Valderrama wherein he
extolled Dave, as he wants his friends to call him, as a person most likely to succeed in the new equation of
Prince George’s politics. “No wonder they call him the E.F. Hutton of Prince George’s County. When he talks,
everybody listens,” wrote Rick Greenberg, author of the article.
“The county’s politicians certainly seem to be lending an ear- although for their purposes, the Philippine-born
Valderrama may have more to offer than inspiration. If their hunches are correct, he can also deliver votes,
money, and campaign workers. As Prince George’s politics have become more balkanized, Valderrama has
emerged as a singular figure - the standard- bearer of a new voting block. Following the example of ethnic
whites, blacks, and most recently Hispanics, the area’s Asian Americans are starting to make noise. And
Valderrama, 53, has been cast as their chief mouthpiece,” continued Greenberg.
“The core of his constituency is Prince George’s surprisingly large and fast-growing Filipino community. Until
Valderrama ran for office in 1982, it was politically quiescent enclave that nobody paid much attention to- “a
sleeping giant,” in the words of one pol. Today the county’s prosperous and well-educated Filipinos are a
politically energized group that, as the Washington Post has noted, “politicians love to court.” Numbering
perhaps 10,000 people, the group endows the county with the largest concentration of Filipinos in the
Washington area. Although they’re dwarfed by other demographic groups (Prince George’s estimated
300,000 blacks, for example), the county’s Filipino voters are numerous and energetic enough to affect the
outcome of a General Assembly or congressional race or even a tight countywide contest contest; there’s is
some evidence that this has already happened,” additionally wrote Greenberg.
As the area’s ranking Asian-American (around 250,000) elected official, his influence extends the Filipino
community. He is regarded as a role model and a coalition builder.
Judge Valderrama is active with the Filipino communities in the United States. He is considered as one of the
most promising politician among the Filipino-Americans in the Continental United States. He was a former
president of the Philippine Lawyers Association of Washington, D.C. Judge Valderrama whose province is
Laguna is married to Nellie, with whom he has two daughters, Kriselda, 17, and Vida, 15. He is the recipient
of numerous awards, including the “Honored American Award.”
At various stages in his life, Judge Valderrama has been a band-leader, sales executive, bank executive,
television correspondent, author, small businessman, publisher, and editor.
Currently, he chairs the Southeast Asian Refuge Task Force. In addition, he sits on a number of boards which
include the Minority Advisory Board of Port America, the Board of Directors of the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference (Prince George’s Chapter), and the Greater Southwest Community Hospital of
Washington, D.C.
The popular magazine, Regardie, recently wrote an impressive writeup about Dave Valderrama wherein he
extolled Dave, as he wants his friends to call him, as a person most likely to succeed in the new equation of
Prince George’s politics. “No wonder they call him the E.F. Hutton of Prince George’s County. When he talks,
everybody listens,” wrote Rick Greenberg, author of the article.
“The county’s politicians certainly seem to be lending an ear- although for their purposes, the Philippine-born
Valderrama may have more to offer than inspiration. If their hunches are correct, he can also deliver votes,
money, and campaign workers. As Prince George’s politics have become more balkanized, Valderrama has
emerged as a singular figure - the standard- bearer of a new voting block. Following the example of ethnic
whites, blacks, and most recently Hispanics, the area’s Asian Americans are starting to make noise. And
Valderrama, 53, has been cast as their chief mouthpiece,” continued Greenberg.
“The core of his constituency is Prince George’s surprisingly large and fast-growing Filipino community. Until
Valderrama ran for office in 1982, it was politically quiescent enclave that nobody paid much attention to- “a
sleeping giant,” in the words of one pol. Today the county’s prosperous and well-educated Filipinos are a
politically energized group that, as the Washington Post has noted, “politicians love to court.” Numbering
perhaps 10,000 people, the group endows the county with the largest concentration of Filipinos in the
Washington area. Although they’re dwarfed by other demographic groups (Prince George’s estimated
300,000 blacks, for example), the county’s Filipino voters are numerous and energetic enough to affect the
outcome of a General Assembly or congressional race or even a tight countywide contest contest; there’s is
some evidence that this has already happened,” additionally wrote Greenberg.
As the area’s ranking Asian-American (around 250,000) elected official, his influence extends the Filipino
community. He is regarded as a role model and a coalition builder.
Judge Valderrama is active with the Filipino communities in the United States. He is considered as one of the
most promising politician among the Filipino-Americans in the Continental United States. He was a former
president of the Philippine Lawyers Association of Washington, D.C. Judge Valderrama whose province is
Laguna is married to Nellie, with whom he has two daughters, Kriselda, 17, and Vida, 15. He is the recipient
of numerous awards, including the “Honored American Award.”
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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