I was a state secondary school English teacher for thirteen years, and a media arts university tutor and carer for my father during the completion of my Ph.

Full statement

D. Currently, I am a caseworker for a local Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisation.

Born to a Filipina and a Briton, I moved from Manila to Morden in 1977 and, after some time away, returned in 2013. Determined to fight cuts to essential local services, particularly in Adult Social Care and at St Helier Hospital, I threw myself into campaigning. Two years later, my neighbours and I found ourselves having to fight our housing association, Clarion, to lower a bill for major works. The ward Councillors proved ineffective. Thus, we took matters into their own hands and managed to negotiate about 60% off the original figure.

I have been involved in a number of local campaigns, from helping to protect Morden Park from being used for events which disturb the wildlife and surrounding neighbourhoods, to protesting the felling of mature trees. In 2019, I led a successful petition to the Council to declare a climate emergency and review its current carbon reduction plans for the borough to help to limit global warming to 1.5°C, going on to work with the Council, as part of a Climate Emergency Working Group, to create a Climate Strategy and Action Plan, whose implementation is beginning to take shape.

In 2019, I was the Green Party parliamentary candidate for Mitcham and Morden, and last year, I was the Green Party London Assembly candidate for Merton and Wandsworth.

I believe that Labour see their seats as safe, despite doing little for our neighbourhood, which is tired and unclean in many parts. Problems could be solved with common sense and determination. I am committed to representing St Helier ward’s best interests.

If you would like to read Merton Green Party's manifesto, please visit https://merton.greenparty.org.uk/manifesto-2022.html