As
members of countless Filipino organizations, Roger and Nolette Serra lend their
time and support to their fellow Filipinos. Their involvement in the community
plays an integral part of their lives and extends beyond the boundaries of the
Filipino Community of Seattle. They are members and hold leadership positions in
organizations such as the Filipino American Educators of Washington, Bataan
Corrigidor Survivors Association, Filipino Advisory Committee for the Seattle
Police Department, Kiwanis/Rotary, National Federal Federation of Filipino
Americans Association, Washington State and International Associations of Campus
Law Enforcement Administration. Between Roger and Nolette, the list is full and
would overwhelm anyone’s daily life. However, the fulfillment and sense of
purpose that they receive as a result of their involvement is invaluable. They
are Roger and Nolette Serra, this year’s Hermano and Hermana Mayor.Roger is a retired law enforcement officer and Army reservist who currently works as the Director for Snohomish County’s Department of Emergency Management. Roger came to this country with his parents, Marcelino and Teofila Serra, when he was seven years old.
As the son of a military man, Roger moved around quite a bit and received and international education. Roger settled back in Seattle in 1963 to attend the University of Washington. Having studied sociology, Roger intended to be a social worker, however, that career path took a detour after graduation when he joined the UW Police Department in 1969. That detour lasted 30 years until he retired in 1999 as Police Chief.
Roger found that he was drawn to law enforcement. He felt a strong desire to be involved in the community and contribute to making a change. He chose the UW and stayed for so long because he saw it as an opportunity to perhaps guide and nurture young students–especially young Filipinos.
Across the campus students fondly called him Uncle Chief. I was able to offer my assistance to younger Filipinos, said Roger. And hopefully I made a difference. It was a rewarding career.
Nolette came to the Seattle area with her family in 1959 and graduated from Rainier Beach High School. The daughter of educators, Nolette followed the footsteps of your parents, Marcelo and Purificacion Manangan, and went on to study education at the University of Washington. With a master in education, Nolette has taught in the Seattle School District for 23 years. She is currently a teacher at Ingraham High School in north Seattle.
As an educator, I have the opportunity to showcase to students the importance of learning, says Nolette. Education is just one of the many Filipino values, and it really is the great equalizer to being successful.
Nolette and Roger both came from very civic minded families–families who shared their love and appreciation for the Filipino Community with their children. Taking their parents lead, Roger and Nolette have come to embrace the value of community involvement. “My parents and Nolette’s parents were all very active in the community,” says Rogers. “It was their involvement that exposed us to the great Filipino Community.
“When my family first arrived here in Seattle, we were embraced by the community,” added Nolette. “They helped us settle in Seattle and took us in so that we did not feel alone. We remember those things and want to do the same for the community today.”
Within the last 10 years, Roger and Nolette have become more involved in the Filipino Community, including fundraising for a new community center. “Our involvement has become more a part of our lifestyle. It has become like the passing of the baton,” says Roger. “We saw how important the community was to our parents and now it is our time. We see the Filipino Community here in Seattle as the center of our culture and we don’t want to loose that.”
“It is very important to us that the cultural values of our heritage are passed on to the younger generation so that they do not loose sight of who they are and where they came from,” added Nolette.
“When I was a student at the UW, the Filipino Student Association really helped to culturalize me,” said Roger. “I participated in the traditional cultural dances, my culture truly became central in my life, as did the desire to contribute to the community. That was actually how I met Nolette.”
“We as Filipinos, as leaders in the community need to send a positive message to younger Filipinos, because they are the leaders of the future,” says Roger and Nolette. “They can be leaders, they can be achievers, they can do the job.”
As they look toward the 11th Annual Pista sa Nayon, Roger and Nolette look forward to joining the community for a grand celebration. “Pista is a very unique event that is reminiscent of all things Filipino,” said Roger. “We are both so very honored to have been chosen as the Hermano and Hermana Mayor. We hope that everyone enjoys the fiesta.”
Married for 29 years, Roger and Nolette reside in Seattle and have two children. Nicole is a 4th year dental student at the University of Washington. Marc is a recent graduate of Santa Clara University with a degree in Theatre.
Roger and Nolette are the Hermano and Hermana Mayor for Pista sa Nayon 2000. Pista sa Nayon thanks Roger and Nolette for their support and commitment to help make the annual festival a success. Their continued devotion and leadership to the greater Filipino community is greatly appreciated.