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01/01/2023

Sunday

Duyan ka ng magiting, sa manlulupig di ka pasisiil

PINOY LIFESTYLE

Pinoy Power

By Marivir Montebon

New York - Filipino American Maria Torres Springer is rolling her sleeves and getting prepared for the much bigger tasks as New York City's 1st deputy mayor since October 8, 2024.
"I'm working harder with the bigger tasks at hand but taking one day at a time. It’s important to act on issues facing Filipinos in New York City," she said calmly in an interview.
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Torres-Springer was the special guest of a community forum organized by the 104-year-old Philippine American Chamber of Commerce – New York (PACC-NY) on October 25, at the Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) in mid-Manhattan to commemorate the Filipino American History Month of October. The forum was hosted by PACC-NY partner Genevieve Gilbert and PACC-NY.

Torres-Springer was appointed by Mayor Eric Adams into the highest administrative post following the resignation of 1st Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright.Hard work, humility, and optimism During the forum, Torres-Springer said that the values of humility, hard work, and optimism which she attributes from her Filipino upbringing, have been in guiding principles in public service. She has served under three city mayors in NYC.
Before a select group of Filipino business leaders, nonprofit executives, and professionals, Torres-Springer shared her story honoring her Filipino heritage for her work ethic and leadership.

Born in Los Angeles and orphaned of her mother Elsa at a young age, Torres-Springer told her audience that her father Manuel Torres brought her and her siblings back to the Philippines.

“I lived in the Philippines from ages 9 to 14. My mom has just passed, and my dad took us back to Pampanga. I had the fortune of growing up with literally hundreds of cousins. But my time in Pampanga was valuable because it allowed me to understand where I came from and allowed me to connect not just to my family but also to the rich and deep history of Filipinos” she said.

Torres-Springer said that she instilled in her two teenage daughters, aged 10 and 15, the struggles that her family went through from her mother’s passing and when they were back in the US.

“It was very difficult for my father. He worked multiple jobs. We struggled to make ends meet. We relied on food stamps, on Section 8. I know firsthand what it means because we experienced it when government works. When it feels like it is trying to help you. And we also experienced what it was like when the government didn’t work. From those experiences, I try not to forget what it’s like to be a struggling family in the roles that I have in public service which has really been my life’s work.”

Hard work has been Torres-Springer’s first work ethic. “Being Filipino, for me, has been a real foundation for the type of public service I have. It’s one based on hard work. Most people around me in city hall are smarter than I am. But no one works harder than I do. No one works harder than a Filipino.”

In jest, she said, she also imbibed the Filipino humility, except for the stereotypical Kapampangan trait of yabang (boastfulness).

“The second thing that I’ve learned, and I’ve carried with me, except for the Kapampangan’s being known as mayabang, is our humility. I didn’t get here all by myself. I stand on my generations of ancestors who are Filipinos, believers, doers, strivers. I will never forget that because of my responsibility to open doors for others who are struggling.”

Finally, optimism energizes her. “It’s a complicated time, nationally. We lived through many years with COVID, and we are in deep social fragmentation. It is easy to be skeptical. We drown in cynicism. But Filipinos are endlessly optimistic. And I keep that too, because I believe that’s what New Yorkers deserve. These are the three unique attributes that I carry everyday in the work that I do.”
An illustrious public service record

Torres-Springer has earned a bachelor’s degree in Ethics, Politics, and Economic from Yale University. She has a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

PACC-NY executive director Ledy Almadin said she trusts the capabilities of Torres-Springer. “I think she’s smart, well-educated, and with her experience in public service and her understanding of the different levels of New York society, she’s well-equipped to fulfill her duties as 1st deputy mayor.”

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Philippine Consul General in New York Senen Mangalile congratulated Torres-Springer on her appointment. “This is a remarkable milestone not only for her but also for the entire Filipino community. Her leadership in economic development, housing, and equity has already shaped the lives of many New Yorkers. Her new role marks a new chapter in her career of public service. We are proud to see a fellow Filipino in such a prominent leadership role. And we are excited to see what comes out of it.”

President and CEO Kathryn Wylde of the Partnership for NYC expressed confidence in Torres-Springer. “The mayor has made a wise choice in appointing a seasoned professional and skilled manager as first deputy mayor. We have worked closely with Maria during three mayoral administrations and know she has the capabilities and character required to lead during a time of crisis.”

As 1st deputy mayor, Torres-Springer will provide “strategic direction and operational and budgetary oversight for New York City and will continue to manage her housing and economic development portfolio,” a City Hall press release said.

Prior to her elevation as 1st deputy mayor, Torres-Springer oversaw the city’s Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce, a top priority of the beleaguered Eric Adams administration. She had been credited for leading “ambitious and record-breaking efforts to accelerate the city’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and make strides against the housing and affordability crisis.”

In her watch, NYC embarked on the program called “Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City Economic Recovery” which outlined the city’s jobs recovery program, efforts to support small businesses, expanding access to art and culture, and a housing program for 500,000 new homes by 2032.

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