DATE: Thursday, July 3, 1997                TAG: 9707030900

SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS         PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: CLOSE-UP 

SOURCE: Kathryn Darling 

                                            LENGTH:   72 lines

FELIPE CABACOY CHAIRS FILIPINO COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP

Felipe Cabacoy is putting his political science degree to work - and he's not a lawyer, a politician or a journalist.

Cabocoy, 39, works at educating the Filipino community in Hampton Roads about the American political system and encouraging them to vote in every election.

A Norfolk deputy sheriff, Cabacoy volunteers his time as chairman of the Filipino American Community Action Group and as director of The Coalition of Filipino American Voters of Norfolk.

Politics in the United States is quite different from that in the Philippines, he said. There, people don't donate money to political candidates, and they are quite cautious about the American system of supporting their candidate with financial contributions.

Cabacoy and the organizations he's involved in would like to help educate people and stir up interest in their new country's politics, he said.

``The goal is to motivate everybody in the Filipino community to take an active role in the political process.''

Everybody could give a couple hours to stuff envelopes or man a poll for their candidate, said Cabacoy.

Name: Felipe Q. Cabacoy.

Nickname: Pepe.

What brought you to Norfolk? My father moved here from the Philippines after he retired from the U.S. government. I followed in 1981.

Birthplace: San Marciso, Zambales, Philippines.

Birthdate: Aug. 26, 1957.

Occupation: Sergeant in Norfolk Sheriff's office.

Marital status: Married to Anne since 1988.

Children: Stephanie, 6, and Kathrine, 2.

Last book read: I'm currently reading ``The Art of War,'' by Sun Tzu.

Favorite movie: ``Bambi.''

Favorite magazine: Newsweek.

If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? The Pope. It would be great to have a Filipino pope, even if just for one day.

Biggest accomplishment: Marrying the most beautiful woman.

Most embarrassing moment: I was to crown the winner of a pageant in Washington, and just before I went down to the ceremony, I realized I had left my black pants at home. The pants went with the Barong, the traditional Filipino dress for men. They delayed the pageant, announcing the reason why, while I went into Georgetown and bought a pair of black pants at the only store open at 10:30 at night. They were $400 and I even had to have them fitted by the tailor. When I returned to the pageant, the crowd clapped and cheered at my finally getting dressed.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I'm too straight-forward - too direct.

Perfect way to spend the day: Home with my wife and kids watching a movie or playing outside.

Favorite vacation spot: Our cabin on Lake Anna near Fredricksburg.

Pet peeve: When I'm talking to people and they give asinine answers instead of yes or no.

First job: Delivering bread from my grandmother's sister's bakery on a route, just like a newspaper route. I had to get up at 3:30 or 4 a.m.

Worst job: Corralling the animals on my grandfather's farm. Only we did it without horses.

Hobbies: Playing with the kids, playing with radio controlled watercraft at Mount Trashmore, reading books and cooking. I love exploring gourmet cooking.

Favorite restaurant: The Great Wall in Virginia Beach. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL

Felipe and Anne Cabacoy with their children Kathrine, 2, and

Stephanie 6.

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