Dolores Sibonga

WHEREAS, On August 12, 1931, Dolores Dasalla Estigoy was born on 1
Vashon Island to Maria Dasalla and Victoriano Estigoy, but was raised 2
among the manongs in the Chinatown International District of Seattle 3
where the family owned and operated the Estigoy Café; and4
WHEREAS, Dolores fondly credits the community of Filipino 5
immigrant laborers who frequented the Café, as well as the hotels, 6
barbershops, and gambling halls of Chinatown, for providing her with 7
a sense of belonging and identity, and for teaching her to embrace 8
hope, determination, and respect for all in her endeavors; and9
WHEREAS, Torn between desire and destiny, young Dolores abandoned 10
her dreams of becoming a violin teacher, instead pursuing a career in 11
journalism with the encouragement of her mother who deeply admired 12
Victor Velasco, the editor and publisher of the Filipino Forum , a 13
valued community-based newspaper which Dolores and her husband Martin 14
Sibonga later purchased; and 15
WHEREAS, In 1952, Dolores graduated from the University of 16
Washington with a degree in journalism, one of the first Filipinos to 17
earn this distinction, thus beginning a lifetime of "firsts" for her 18
and the communities and causes with which she identified, including 19
being the first Filipina admitted to the Washington State Bar 20
Association and serving as the first woman of color to serve on the 21
Seattle City Council; and 22
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2025-4660, by Representatives Santos and Obras
p. 1 HR 4660
WHEREAS, Throughout her exemplary career, Dolores demonstrated 1
how to lead with conviction, compassion, and courage, once being 2
arrested with her son after joining a protest at SeaTac airport while 3
covering the story for the Filipino Forum; and 4
WHEREAS, Dolores' public service career spans, not only three 5
terms as an elected member of the Seattle City Council, but also 6
service as a public defender, a legislative analyst for the King 7
County Council, the operations manager in the Office for Civil 8
Rights, Commissioner of the Washington State Human Rights Commission, 9
Commissioner of the state Horse Racing Commission, and – currently, 10
as a nonagenarian – a hearing examiner for the King County Board of 11
Appeals and Equalization, leaving an unparalleled legacy of 12
accomplishments and achievements; and 13
WHEREAS, Known for her generous and gracious mentorship of young 14
leaders and of community organizations, Dolores has bequeathed values 15
of hope, humility, and home to the next generation of civic stewards, 16
thereby honoring the treasured teachings of her beloved manongs;17
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House 18
of Representatives recognize and commend Dolores Sibonga for her 19
extraordinary lifetime of public service, political activism, and 20
community leadership in pursuit of justice and equality for all 21
Washingtonians. 22
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p. 2 HR 4660