The
Filipino American Government Employee Association (PAGEA) of Jersey City toasted
Double entry Celebration, as two of their own became full Cabinet-level heads
of separate Jersey City departments. Serafina was recently appointed as the Finance Director of Jersey City,
the second largest city in New Jersey.
Eduardo Tolozo also received unanimous confirmation by the City Council
(9-0) as the Tax Assessor. Jersey City
is at the crossroad of becoming a great city again partly because of the
Filipino-American contribution.
Serafina (Pining) is responsible for the city financial statement
considered as the most political report by most analysts and what defines a
local government. Current mayor, Glen
Cunningham has realized the city needs Serarfina’s fiscal background and the solution to its ongoing fiscal
woes. She is well known for her tough
managerial skills but her uncompromising financial approach with objectivity is
the excellent prescription for the struggling crisis that the city now faces. I
had the opportunity of working for her for several years and I might be bias but
she is highly intelligent individual.
She graduated from the famous Accounting school, the University of the
East. She moved to the United States
after working for banking institution
in Manila. She joined Jersey City
government starting as an Auditor where she was immediately promoted to the
City Controller position in the early 80s.
She successfully converted the antiquated manual and cumbersome
procedure into the computerized accounting system. The integration by computer
and linking the various divisions from tax to payroll would soon be her
permanent signature. She left briefly
for a short stint with the Internal Revenue Service. She returned as the Chief Auditor just in time to evaluate the
controversial Bulk lien sale that temporarily gave relief to city fiscal
crisis. The funding innovation was so
new that Wall Street and local government were caught off guard. Jersey city therefore pioneered the
accounting procedure in the nation. She
was appointed as the Chief Financial Officer in the late 1990s. It is her ability to teach accounting
principles to all level of employees that left enduring respect among the
subordinates. Her eternal vigilance in
safeguarding various funds has at times exposed old bad accounting process that
some city employees refuse to give up.
She is relentless and sure minded that she never succumbs to political
pressure in her performance.
Ed Toloza started as principal
clerk in the City tax division and lately as the Assistant Assessor. During his employment the city complied with
the State of New Jersey’s mandated property revaluation. The city wide of property revaluation done
by private company in the 1980 has cost the city in tax collection. The court required tax refund to lawsuit
court decisions due to disparity of the assessed value. Operating deficit continued as the various
administrations try to balance tax abatement and secure funding for the faulty
revaluation. It is against this back
draft that the current mayor recognizes Ed’s experience as assessor that his
peers in the county already knew.
Confident that Ed will be able
to manage a paramount distribution of tax based on an assessment that is as
fair as his appointment.
PAGEA Dinner Party was held in
NHA TRANG PLACE AT 249 NEWARK AVENUE (the former Miss Saigon Restaurant yesterday, July 16.
The big gala Fiesta celebration will be held Tuesday, July 22, 2003 at the Jersey City Hall. More than four hundred people are expected and eight (8) roasted lechon pigs are going to be served.
Everyone is
invited to the swearing ceremony inside the City Council Chamber of Jersey City
Hall.
Events are
scheduled to start 5 PM complete with entertainment that would rival the
Filipino-American yearly festival.
We need recognition without reorganization.
The tide will rise.
Congratulation to the dynamic duo!