Captain Al Ambito of San Diego Police Department:
Born and bred in the Philippines
By Yugel Losorata
In the context of Pinoy pride attached to individuals of Filipino descent doing excellent work outside of the motherland, it’s extra special when someone is actually born, raised and educated in the Philippines. Small wonder there is much weight in labeling Captain Al Ambito as the highest-ranking official in the San Diego Police Department who can speak fluent Filipino, or Tagalog, for that matter.
The six-foot-three gentleman with a beaming grin recently received the 2024 Public Service and Legacy Award at the second anniversary and Cultural Night of the United Pilipino International (UPI). He takes pride in the recognition given that it is from the Filipino community, as acknowledged by the US House of Representatives and residents of California’s 52nd Congressional District.
“I’ve always been involved in the Filipino community, and in the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) here in San Diego,” said Captain Ambito. “You may get an award from the department because you’re doing your job, but something coming from the community is a lot more significant for me. It means you’re doing something right.”
The man who grew up in the city of Olongapo and whose father retired as a Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy has carved an illustrious career in the police force after himself serving the US Navy for eight years. He is a law enforcer who does his job accordingly and goes beyond that by leading various organizations built to bring men in uniform and civilians closer to each other and more empowered as a community.
Captain Ambito is the president of the San Diego Police Pan Pacific Law Enforcement Association (PANPAC) which urges the hiring of people like Filipinos so as to - in his words - “mirror what we do in the police.” The group with him at the helm specializes in mentoring, like how the interested can be a detective or a supervisor, or how to take the oral interview for promotion.
He is likewise a founder and director for the San Diego Chapter of the Filipino American Law Enforcement Officers Association (FALEO) – one that actively engages in community events and provides assistance to Fil-Am families, including scholarships to Fil-Am students seeking higher education.
Sounding casual and conversational, the decorated authority from America’s Finest City mused, “We want to expose ourselves out to the community so they can get used to seeing us in relaxed moments. Often people think that we only get to appear when called because something bad happens. We want to change that by interacting more with the people and educating them about service stuff like public safety and traffic.”
The family man and father of two who studied Engineering at the University of Santo Tomas before flying to America and staying for good had risen through the ranks and was promoted to Captain last August. He warmly embraces it as a position of influence benefiting his brand of leadership, giving him the privilege to build from the ground up the newly established Community and Youth Services Division.
A San Diegan cop for close to 23 years and counting, Captain Ambito wanted to pursue something not anybody can do, and he always valued the idea of making his family proud. Thus, he chose the road less traveled on, wearing the police badge after leaving the military. He knew that not everybody is a fan of the police. But he also realized it’s a rewarding job that pays well and he didn’t want to leave San Diego after meeting his would-be wife Arlene, a registered nurse who spent years in Cavite and who later gave him two beautiful daughters - Alyzen and Arynn.
Captain Ambito shared, “I’ve been doing this for so long my family has gotten used to my hectic schedule. As much as possible I would involve them and bring them with me in community events. I want them to see the impact of what we do out there that makes a difference. That’s why I display the awards that I get from the community because they add validity to what I do.”
Knowledge of life and language in the Philippines has given the firmly built policeman valuable advantage in further understanding the needs and wants of the Filipino community, and even the multitude of other races residing in the seat of San Diego. While most Fil-Ams would vocalize they’re Pinoy at heart, not too many can say they were born and raised Filipino and experienced what it is to be Pinoy. He went through being an officer, a detective, a sergeant lieutenant, and now a captain armed with the Filipino resiliency and work ethic that made him durable and efficient.
He shared, “Work harder than everybody else. That has always been my philosophy. Be consistent regardless what your rank is. You gotta keep moving and show you care about the community.”
He added, “I don’t want them to say I got promoted because I’m a Filipino or Asian. No excuses; I know 100% that I got it because of the hard work that i put in.”
As for the daily police grind, Captain Ambito believes that a law enforcer should treat everybody fairly, and not judge a person who made a mistake. Still, the law has to be enforced and they have to make a report.
“I tell this to anyone: You need to treat somebody the way you want your family to be treated,” he noted.
With a bright childhood back in the Philippines, good role models, and his relentless efforts, the Captain has given his profession a good name. He’s the policeman who trains others to get better, visits seniors to cheer them up, uplifts the community around him while in uniform, and makes sure to fulfill the first rule of law enforcement according to Sean Connery’s character in the classic “Untouchables” - when shift is done he comes home to his family to spend the best part of the day.
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Six Tips to Preserve and Protect the Outdoors This Summer
Summer is here, and many Californians are headed out to enjoy the warmer weather and wonders of the outdoors with friends and family. Before recreating outside, be sure to think about your impact and do your part to keep public lands clean to protect the natural ecosystems.
Caltrans, Clean California, and California State Parks recommend a few simple tips to help keep public spaces and communities safe and free from litter and debris:
- Pack it in, pack it out. Leave no trace by bringing a trash bag, especially if visiting a remote area. Put food waste, napkins, single-use food wrappers, and other waste in the bags until it can be properly disposed of. For human waste, the use of waste alleviation gel (WAG) bags or other portable toilet options is recommended. WAG bags can be safely disposed of in regular trash receptacles.
- Choose reusable over single-use items. Reusable containers keep harmful toxins out of our water and community recreation areas and are more cost-efficient in the long run. If you do use cans or plastic bottles, be sure to properly recycle them to help mitigate their impact. Pick up small, littered items to make a big impact. Keep an eye out for bottle caps, food wrappers, cigarette butts, and other small items and be sure to properly dispose of them.
- Properly dispose of large items, such as pop-up canopies, beach chairs, and coolers. Leaving these items on the beach or in a park or near a trash receptacle may be considered illegal dumping. Please haul back broken items and dispose of them properly at a local garbage site.
- Secure your load. Whether you live nearby or are traveling to reach your destination, be sure to properly tarp and tie down items in truck beds, trailers, and boats to ensure items make it to your destination and do not fly out during the trip.
- Prevent wildfires and toxic pollution. The hotter and drier climate in the summer makes for optimal conditions for wildfires. Litter adds to this problem, especially cigarette butts, as they can start and fuel the spread of wildfire. Litter, when burned, can also release toxins into the environment, harming wildlife and nearby communities. Do your part to properly dispose of all items.
More tips are available online at CleanCA.com. Before heading outside, do a little research on your destination to scope out trails, reserve picnic areas and campsites, and pack belongings accordingly. To find a state park close to you, visit Parks.ca.gov.
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My Long and Winding Road to Here
Contributed by Marissa Bañez
SAN DIEGO,CA - How did I get here?
From an early childhood in the 1960s spent in a small house literally built by my grandfather in Baguio City, to the immigrant neighborhoods of downtown Los Angeles, to the idyllic rarefied setting of Princeton University, to the highly-charged environment of a large international law firm as a litigator, and, finally, to being an award-winning children’s author currently developing a children’s musical based on my book in my “golden years”. . . as I reach my 65th year, I laugh, shake my head, give thanks, and repeatedly ask myself, “how did I get here?”
Luck? Divine intervention? Coincidences?
Absolutely.
One example: After taking five years off from work until my daughter started kindergarten, someone suggested I first try working with a placement office to ease my way back into legal practice. The day after I emailed my resume, I was told that a well-regarded firm was looking for an attorney with my exact qualifications. I later learned that while I was typing my resume, the firm’s hiring partner was about to hire someone who didn’t meet all the criteria. Then, for some reason, he felt compelled to make one last effort to get the right person. On the same day that I submitted my resume, he sent in his request to the placement office. The universe did its thing and eighteen years later, I’m still at the firm.
Hard work? Of course.
I took three separate bar exams (California, New Jersey, and New York) and passed each one the first time around.
As a litigator, working until 3 or 4 a.m. and being ready only 4 or 5 hours later to start the next day is not unusual, especially when there is a trial.
As a mom of a little girl, I wrote original stories and created puppet shows for my daughter and her friends. Now, I write my stories, work closely with my illustrator, do a lot of book promotional work, and create dialogue and lyrics for the musical. This labor of love often takes me into the wee hours too.
Connections? Definitely.
A former colleague, fellow author, and friend introduced me to our mutual publisher.
My childhood friend’s talented musician husband wrote a beautiful song about my book.
A colleague who also happens to own a stage theater production company spoke about my book to actors and other associates, all of whom are excited about a children’s musical.
Support from family and friends? Unquestionably.
Without going into details that would fill volumes, I can categorically say that I am blessed with the best and most supportive family and friends, without whom I couldn’t have accomplished half as much and certainly not with as much fun.
My book, Hope and Fortune, tells of a little girl who has lost her way and encounters 12 multicultural, multiracial, and multigenerational fairies of different shapes and sizes who give her life advice to get her back on her path. Each fairy represents a principle or ideal. The first is the Fortune Fairy of Hope, drawn to look like my late Filipina mother and, by her dress, represents the Filipino culture. Her advice: “Give yourself permission to cry. Just know that things will get better as time goes by.” The guidance given by all the fairies constitutes a distillation of principles I have lived by or aspire to live by. I HOPE the book inspires young children and leads them to a path in life filled with good FORTUNE. After all, they are principles that have gotten me here.
Marissa Bañez is Angelica’s mom, a litigator with a large international firm, an award-winning children’s author and, hopefully, a soon-to-be playwright. Her second book, Hues And Harmony (How the Rainbow Butterfly Got Her Colors), which deals with multiraciality, belonging, and, ultimately, love, will be published by Black Rose Writing on July 20, 2023. Visit www.marissabanez.com to learn more.