| E. V. Vic Bacho Seattle, Washington A Tireless Leader With an Impossible Dream Comes True |
Sixty five years ago, E.V. Vic Bacho came to the United States as
a young man who had just finished high school from the
Philippine Academy in Pasay City. He was very aggressive. Very
determined to succeed in America - - a Filipino youth who was
influenced by the book "Think and Grow Rich" - a bestseller
authored by Napoleon Hill which was a required reading then for
Philippine high school students
"Set a goal. Then pursue it. There is nothing impossible," the book
preaches. And this, indeed, has been Vic's beacon in life.
"I came in 1925 to continue my education and planned to go
back to Talisay. I never thought I would stay this long - - more than
65 years!" exclaimed Vic whose real name is Eutiquio V. Bacho,
born and grew up in Talisay, Cebu.
"My aim from the first day I arrived was to promote positive image
for our people because Filipinos were rampantly discriminated
and inhumanly treated then" narrated Vic. "My personal
experiences due to the color of my skin were not pleasant.
Thus, I wanted to do something to create a good image for our
people."
a young man who had just finished high school from the
Philippine Academy in Pasay City. He was very aggressive. Very
determined to succeed in America - - a Filipino youth who was
influenced by the book "Think and Grow Rich" - a bestseller
authored by Napoleon Hill which was a required reading then for
Philippine high school students
"Set a goal. Then pursue it. There is nothing impossible," the book
preaches. And this, indeed, has been Vic's beacon in life.
"I came in 1925 to continue my education and planned to go
back to Talisay. I never thought I would stay this long - - more than
65 years!" exclaimed Vic whose real name is Eutiquio V. Bacho,
born and grew up in Talisay, Cebu.
"My aim from the first day I arrived was to promote positive image
for our people because Filipinos were rampantly discriminated
and inhumanly treated then" narrated Vic. "My personal
experiences due to the color of my skin were not pleasant.
Thus, I wanted to do something to create a good image for our
people."
Vic's effort was rewarded when he was in California . Serving as the third elected president of the Filipino
Community of Sacramento which was organized in 1929, he was "instructed" by the Sacrameto-Golden
Empire Centennial to sponsor a "'Philippine Island Day". Vic successfully turned the opportunity into a
positive showcase and for several months, the citizens of Sacramento admired and treated the Filipinos
kindly."
In 1960, Vic accomplished his primary goal in acquiring higher education 35 years later, he graduated
from the University of Washington in Seattle with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with
International Relations as a major at the age of 57.
During the Second World War, Vic served as a sergeant with the U. S. Army Air Corps in the European Theatre
and after he completed his military obligations, Vic settled in the Pacific Northwest area where he became
active as a community leader obsessed in promoting positive image and good will for his compatriots.
While other Filipino human-right activists retired, he instead was more vigorous and enthusiastic in
participating in several organizations either as an officer or an active follower - all gratis. All thankless.
He is a member of the Order of the Knights of Rizal, past president of the Filipino American Political Action
Group Inc. of Washington, past president of the University of Washington Alumni Association, past president
of the Visayan Circle, member of VFW, Seattle Post No. 6599; and, member of Post No. 42, American Legion
Rizal.
As chairman of the Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge and Park Preservation Society since 1973, Vic spearheaded a
crusade of propagating the teachings of the foremost Philippine patriot. First it was an idea. Then a plan. A
desire. And then it was a burning obsession to build a park named after the Great Malayan, author of Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo. A park in an important city like Seattle. Here in the United States. And like so
many seemingly impossible projects, the Dr. Jose Rizal Park stands as the prime of those wishful and
wasteful endeavors. The logistics were too much. The obstacles countless.
Vic Bacho willingly took the helm of leadership of the group -the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Bridge & Park Preservation
Society- as president and chairman. With able assistance from the reservoir of Filipino Community's
tireless and dedicated fighters like himself- such as Trinidad Rojo et al- the "Park" project started shaping up.
The organization was officially launched in 1973 and eleven years later, in December 7, 1984, the Honorable
Charles Royer bestowed and declaredVic Bacho "for now and for all time to come, a first citizen of Seattle and
as such, is due honor and respect from all citizens of this, The Emerald City of the Northwest." For it was
practically solo-flight on Vic's effort alone that Seattle was able to acquire and added another park to its
beautiful city. In his letter to Vic, Mayor Royer stated: " As a leader in the Filipino Community, he was very
instrumental in the procurement of funds for the development of what I understand to be the only Rizal Park in
the United States.
"We, in Seattle, regard Rizal Park as a beautiful addition to the park systems of our city. With Rizal Bridge
adjoining it, the two have become tourist attractions."
In September 16, 1989, at the age of 86 and after sixteen years of dedicated effort, the Dr. Jose Rizal Park at
Beacon Hill in Seattle, Washington was officially unveiled and dedicated with federal, state, county and city
officials in attendance with of course, Vic Bacho leading the Filipinos in the Pacific Northwest area beaming
with the biggest smile in the entire United States.
Community of Sacramento which was organized in 1929, he was "instructed" by the Sacrameto-Golden
Empire Centennial to sponsor a "'Philippine Island Day". Vic successfully turned the opportunity into a
positive showcase and for several months, the citizens of Sacramento admired and treated the Filipinos
kindly."
In 1960, Vic accomplished his primary goal in acquiring higher education 35 years later, he graduated
from the University of Washington in Seattle with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with
International Relations as a major at the age of 57.
During the Second World War, Vic served as a sergeant with the U. S. Army Air Corps in the European Theatre
and after he completed his military obligations, Vic settled in the Pacific Northwest area where he became
active as a community leader obsessed in promoting positive image and good will for his compatriots.
While other Filipino human-right activists retired, he instead was more vigorous and enthusiastic in
participating in several organizations either as an officer or an active follower - all gratis. All thankless.
He is a member of the Order of the Knights of Rizal, past president of the Filipino American Political Action
Group Inc. of Washington, past president of the University of Washington Alumni Association, past president
of the Visayan Circle, member of VFW, Seattle Post No. 6599; and, member of Post No. 42, American Legion
Rizal.
As chairman of the Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge and Park Preservation Society since 1973, Vic spearheaded a
crusade of propagating the teachings of the foremost Philippine patriot. First it was an idea. Then a plan. A
desire. And then it was a burning obsession to build a park named after the Great Malayan, author of Noli Me
Tangere and El Filibusterismo. A park in an important city like Seattle. Here in the United States. And like so
many seemingly impossible projects, the Dr. Jose Rizal Park stands as the prime of those wishful and
wasteful endeavors. The logistics were too much. The obstacles countless.
Vic Bacho willingly took the helm of leadership of the group -the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Bridge & Park Preservation
Society- as president and chairman. With able assistance from the reservoir of Filipino Community's
tireless and dedicated fighters like himself- such as Trinidad Rojo et al- the "Park" project started shaping up.
The organization was officially launched in 1973 and eleven years later, in December 7, 1984, the Honorable
Charles Royer bestowed and declaredVic Bacho "for now and for all time to come, a first citizen of Seattle and
as such, is due honor and respect from all citizens of this, The Emerald City of the Northwest." For it was
practically solo-flight on Vic's effort alone that Seattle was able to acquire and added another park to its
beautiful city. In his letter to Vic, Mayor Royer stated: " As a leader in the Filipino Community, he was very
instrumental in the procurement of funds for the development of what I understand to be the only Rizal Park in
the United States.
"We, in Seattle, regard Rizal Park as a beautiful addition to the park systems of our city. With Rizal Bridge
adjoining it, the two have become tourist attractions."
In September 16, 1989, at the age of 86 and after sixteen years of dedicated effort, the Dr. Jose Rizal Park at
Beacon Hill in Seattle, Washington was officially unveiled and dedicated with federal, state, county and city
officials in attendance with of course, Vic Bacho leading the Filipinos in the Pacific Northwest area beaming
with the biggest smile in the entire United States.
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
| Copyright© 2006 Filipino Image. All rights Reserved. Advertise | Contract | Subscribe | Publisher | Contact Us |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |