PAGE 2 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 3
Bennette Espineli Misalucha
serving The community since 1987
THE ART OF MAKING CHOICES
Publisher Mary Llanos Cordero Managing Editor Bennette Espineli Misalucha Director of Design Armand Busmente Production Manager Alice Llanos Busmente Assistant Editors Radiant Cordero Copy Editor Danielle Evangelista Photographers/Graphics Brandon dela Cruz Noah Felipe Gabe de Liso Jeff Orig James Ramos COLUMNISTS Edna Alikpala Rhoda Yabez Alvarez, Esq. Jesse Bacon II Nancy Bernal Cesar Bonilla Alice Llanos Busmente Anabel Gasmen Cabebe Dr. Rickie Camara Dr. Patricia Halagao ZenyMuyot Angie Santiago Perfecto Yasay Jr. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Conrad Abuel Ric Agnes Paul Alimbuyao Ria Baldevia Eriza Bareng Marnelli Joy Basilio Bernie Caalim Randy Cortez Radiant Cordero Mary Cruzada Jaime de Jesus Brandon dela Cruz Christian Evangelista Imelda Gasmen Veronika Geronimo Leo Gozar Ben Gutierrez Carmela Minaya Gladys Quinto Marrone Gladys Menor John Pagaragan Paola Rodelas Judy Relosimon Sandra Sagisi Nicole Velasco Jason Ubay MichiVillaruz Neighbor Island Bureau Maui Kit Zulueta Jeremy Zane Big Island Mil Asuncion Jane Clement Dr. Margarita Hopkins Kauai Virgie Cruzada Liza Trinidad Marynell Valenzuela ADVERTISING SALES MarivicAldaya Mary Cordero Annabel Cabebe Florence Tan McCollom Lydia Kamiya Joni Redick-Yundt Rudy Bautista Marynel Valenzuela CIRCULATION Florence Tan (Oahu) Ron Oshiro(Leeward Oahu) David Cordero (Maui) Marynel Valenzuela (Kauai) Milli Asuncion (Big Island) Legal Counsel Alfredo Evangelista, Esq THE FIL-AM COURIER is published twice a month by OAHU RELOCATION SERVICES located at 2221 Liliha St. Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Opinions expressed by the columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Fil-Am Courier. Publisher reserves the right to edit letters to the editor and other material submitted. Reproduction of material and ads appearing in the Fil-Am courier is forbidden without written permission. All photos submitted become the property of the Fil-Am Courier.
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When confused with many available options, what do you do? Do we simply toss a coin and allow the vicissitudes of fate to make that choice for us? Or do we choose NOT to make a choice and simply allow the events to unfold, thereby saving us from any accountability of the consequences. Of course, it is easier to make a choice when the stakes are low: what to eat for dinner, what clothes to wear in the morning or what movie to watch, are those that come to mind. But what if the decision has more long-term implications? Like, getting married, or what city to live in, or what college to go to. In truth, there are many strategies that can help us in making choices. Most of us usually rely on analyzing the pros and cons of each choice. We all know the drill: make two columns, listing the advantages on one side and the disadvantages on the other. But what if the items listed do not seem to reflect the importance? That is when we can start assigning values. For those with an analytical mind, you can even create spreadsheets. I remember I used this method to convince my children where to go on our next vacation. Then, there are those who simply rely on their instinct. Armed with prior research, they use their intuitive abilities to guide them in making the choice. Some leave it to chance. You ever played eeneymeeney-miney-moe? The founder of Toyota, Sakichi Toyoda developed
Hannemmann
Aiona
Ige
a method called Five Why’s which involved asking five questions one after another, in an effort to get to the core of that choice.
he was elected as the State’s Lt. Governor under the administration of Governor Linda Lingle. He served for two terms, ran for Governor in 2010 and continues to attract support from the conservative segments of our population, who are drawn to Aiona’s religious and moral convictions. Independent Party hopeful, Mufi Hannemmann was the mayor of the city and county of Honolulu and was on his second term when he ran for Governor in 2010. He touts his actual executive experience and his dogged determination as his strong suits; he has been widely credited for bringing the rail project to reality. What method will you use to choose your candidate? No matter who you choose, the important thing is to make a choice! Do vote. Leaving it to chance is just not acceptable. In this issue, the Fil-Am Courier features personal
interviews with all three candidates, written by our very own writers. Hopefully these original profile pieces provide insights which you may not have known before, and which could aid you in your choices. We also made a special effort to photograph the candidates as they donned their favorite barong, or traditional Filipino attire. Our special mahalo to our free-lance photographer James Ramos who had to navigate the candidates’ busy schedules for a quick photo shoot. These pictures capture the essence of the candidates quite well, don’t you think? Do not forget to vote. Let the games begin.
So how do we apply the art of making choices into a politics? This year, the race for Governor is a bit crowded with three candidates who are determined to convince voters that they are the best choice for the highest seat in state government. Democrat David Ige has been involved in the political arena for 29 years, starting as a member of the state house of Representatives, and ending up as a State Senator where he chaired many high profile committees. His last post was as Chair of the Senate Ways and Means committee, certainly a role that provided lessons in setting priorities and in bringing people to accept compromises. Republican James “Duke” Aiona came from a strong judicial background before
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Independent Party Candidate For Governor By Kathleen Lee
MUFI HANNEMANN
Our cover....
HIS REAL EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR HAWAII
The candidates were photographed in their best barong, by noted photographer James Ramos. James can be reached at james@jamesramos photography.com EXCLUSIVE TO THE FIL-AM COURIER
Cover Concept by Noah Felipe of OrigMedia. Mahalo to Jeff Orig of OrigMedia. www.Origmedia.com
When I was assigned to interview former Honolulu Mayor Muliufi Francis “Mufi” Hannemann, I was expecting an entourage of campaign staffers to accompany him. This vision was formed by glancing at his official campaign bio: he is a Harvard-educated leader (he was the freshman class President) and former star athlete (he played varsity basketball). He served in the administrations of four U.S. Presidents - Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and W. Bush. Hannemann held posts as director of Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development &
Tourism (DBEDT), chief of the state’s Office of International Relations, and chairman of the Honolulu City Council. His political career started in the 1970’s as a special assistant to Hawaii Governor George Ariyoshi, and continues today as an Independent Party candidate in the state of Hawaii’s gubernatorial race. Instead, I met with a man who arrived by himself at the Ala Moana Hotel lobby for our meeting. He apologized with sincerity for running late. As our interview progressed that morning,
Lester Chang and Mufi Hannemmann flanked by their wives, Gail Mukaihata Hannemmann, and Sharon Chang.
I discovered the reason for the tardiness: he and his running mate Les Chang had just visited someone he described as a dear friend who had been at Castle Memorial Hospital for the last eight weeks. “You just have to make sure that life is not just about what you need to do for yourself. And that’s my mantra: help others,” Hannemann stated. Beyond his listed political and professional accomplishments and views that a lot of people may already be familiar with (such as support for rail and an inter-island ferry, and his decision to break away from the Democratic party), the interview became a varied conversation touching upon his advocacy for change and collaboration, life lessons learned from winning and losing campaigns, his affinity for Disney, and his ties to the Filipino community. Here is Mufi in Mufi’s own words. On dedicating his life to public service: “A Greek philosopher once said, ‘the penalty a wise man pays for the lack of
participation in government is the rule of an unwise man… When you are in the service of your fellow men, you are of service to God. To whom much is given, much is required. I’ve been blessed with wonderful parents (he was raised in Kalihi by his German-English-Samoan father, Gustav Arthur Tafu Tupulo Hannemann, III, and Samoan mother, Faiaso Soli’ai), a good family (Hannemann is married to Gail Mukaihata-Hannemann, former CEO of the Girl Scouts of Hawaii), opportunities, a good education and good mentors.” Mufi attended Fern, Puuhale and Kalihi Kai Elementary Schools up to the sixth grade before being accepted to Iolani School), “[All these elements] fueled my desire and motivation. I always knew I was going to do this, and I didn’t want to do it straight from college, I knew I needed outside experience to round myself out.” His official campaign bio lists a handful of these experiences. He was as an
executive with C. Brewer & Co., Ltd., an agri-business firm; Director of Government Affairs, president and general Manager of Sea Mountain Resort, Punalu’u Sweetbread Bakeshop and Visitors Center and C. Brewer Hawaiian Juices; and past president and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association (HLTA). He is the founder and principal of MFH Enterprises, a consulting firm with clients in Hawaii, the mainland, and Asia-Pacific. He is also the founder and chair of the Pacific Century Fellows, a leadership development program for aspiring leaders. Hannemann writes a weekly column for Midweek, hosts a weekly radio show on 107.9 Hawaii’s KOOL Gold, and is active with sports and scholarship programs. “All these experiences inspired me to be a good leader. That’s why I continue to be in public service.” On winning and losing races, and why he’s running for Governor on the Independent Party ticket: “ C a m p a i g n s c a n b e
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humbling experiences. There are always lessons to be learned in terms of how you can do things better the next time around. I’ve never regretted running for a particular office. As much as I’ve wanted to win, I’ve recognized that whatever the factors are which contribute to defeat, you can always learn from them.” When asked why he is running for governor: “it’s crystal clear in my mind that we need real executive experience for this job.” Hannemann expounded his statement. “An executive is one who manages a lot of people, and is in charge of a lot of resources. He has to be able to see the big picture, engage the private and public sectors, be able to go to Washington, D.C. and lobby for federal grants. He also has to go out to the Asia Pacific region and promote Hawaii. All these skill sets I’ve had to use because of the job assignments I’ve done. I’ve always operated on the mantra that, ‘you leave that place better than how you found it.’ In every place I’ve gone, I’ve made a difference and things have been better after I left, including the City and County of Honolulu.” “This philosophy I have of ‘people before parties’ has been ingrained in me even when I was a Democrat. I just felt that the Democratic Party, especially during the last four years, has shifted away from what attracted me to the party from the beginning, which was for working class people, and championing the little guy. My parents raised us in Kalihi – no better example of a working class neighborhood. It’s not about wealth; it’s about family, and love for each other. It’s about all the things we need to do to
Mufi with some of his Filipino supporters.
strengthen the family unit.” “I believe people are getting frustrated with issues and challenges that just keep getting worse. Highest cost of living, housing, electricity prices… Issues like the state hospital system, which is a critical component of a compassionate government. We continue to avoid decisions that we need to make to put [things] in a better place.” On being happy, and ‘The Happiest Place on Earth’: “There’s a little boy in me that’s never gone away. I’ve gone to every Disneyland in the world. I like to go there, ride the rides, eat, and walk down Main Street. I enjoy the parades, and I like the exhibits and tours. One of my giddy moments was helping to convince Disney to build Aulani. I was mayor at the time. The local partner told me about it. I jumped on a plane, went to Anaheim, talked to the head person who was in charge of the project, and had several meetings with [the developers]. I told them that we recognize that Disney is a great brand name and with the brand name of Hawaii, there’s
The Hannemmann/Chang ticket was endorsed by Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa
great synergism there. It’s magical. [Aulani] is going to be a great provider, especially for those that reside in the West side. I told them plans that I had about limiting the amount of trash that goes in the landfill, which was why we built the third boiler. There’s now more opala going there than the landfill. [With the upcoming Rail], people can come from the airport straight to the west side. I kept Pro Bowl here on numerous occasions as well, because people love sports. I’m all about people and making sure everyone’s in a a happy place where people are gainfully employed, the economy is good, we’re funding our education system right, and we have enough cultural entertainment and activities.” On his ties with the Filipino community: “There’s no better friend of the Filipino community t h a n y o u r s t r u l y ,” Hannemann confidently declared. “I’ve always had a close bond with Filipinos.” He mentioned the Filipino families who “adopted” him in his youth, both in Kalihi (the Resurreccion family), and in Ka’u on the Big Island (a man named Emilio Diego), where he lived for three years. Hannemann shared his familiarity with pancit, adobo, lumpia, and even hummed the tune famously played during Tinikling dances. “I noticed there was a great synergism between how Filipino families raise their kids and how a Samoan family raises their kids. We believe in church, God, prayer, we’re close to our families, and we never
forget our heritage and where we came from.” “I’ve had many wonderful Filipinos who’ve served with me in my cabinet and provided outstanding leadership. I’ve appointed many of them to boards and commissions, and backed almost every single Filipino project imaginable: FilCom, and funding Filipino Chamber of Commerce delegations to Philippines, many of them that I led.” “ I n t h e w e l c o m i n g ceremony for the new Consul General [Gina A. Jamoralin], Joe Lazo put together a reception. He told me, ‘I don’t want you to just give a speech, I want you to sing to her.” To d e m o n s t r a t e , Hannemann started singing the beginning lyrics to Johnny Mathis’ Gina during our conversation. “None of my opponents have gone
to the Philippines. They’ve said that in the international forum. I’ve been on several trade missions, been ‘adopted’ by several towns and provinces, and helped write a tourism plan for Cebu, which I shared with them when I was director of DBEDT. People remember me too being on (the variety show) ‘Wowowee.’ They called me up, and I actually danced.” “ W h e n p e o p l e s a y , ‘there are no more Filipinos running,’ I tell them, “no, there is – me. I am the tallest Pilipino in the world”, (Hannemann is 6’7” in height.) “That’s what they refer to me. Because I’m very much Filipino.”
Kathleen Lee spent the 80’s in the Philippines - born in Batangas on an Air Force base, and raised in Baguio (PMA, Fort Del Pilar) and Manila (Quezon City), respectively. She and her family moved to San Jose, California in the early 90’s, where she ended up at San Jose State University to study Political Science. In 2009, Kathleen moved to Hawaii, and learned more about the community working for the Hawaii State Legislature and YMCA of Honolulu. She currently works as a professional in the Tourism and Hospitality industry.
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By Radiant Cordero
Conflicting polling data, influential endorsements, and a slew of candidate forums and debates all f e a t u r i n g t h i s ye a r ’s important gubernatorial race have clouded not only the radio and television waves, but the billions of data packets surging through to millions of Hawai‘i residences’ Internet. All this information being made readily available for the people of Hawai‘i to decide and vote for who will be Hawai‘i’s eighth governor. One candidate running for the position of chief executive of Hawai‘i is James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr., who is known mostly for his role as a former Lieutenant Governor for the State of Hawai‘i in which he served two terms from 2002 to 2010. He ran for the highest executive seat in Hawai‘i in 2010, where he conceded to Governor Neil Abercrombie in which he was behind just 17 percentage points. Fast forward to four years after, Aiona is back with the power of resilience, and an agenda for change that the voters made clear in the Primary Election this past August by electing Senator David Ige, instead of the incumbent, as the Democratic nominee for the Hawai‘i’s gubernatorial race. Born in Pearl City on the island of Oahu, Duke attended Saint Louis School where he excelled in athletics. He took his academic and athletic ability to the University of the Pacific in Stockton California, where he graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Using the skills learned from obtaining his undergraduate degree for the service of his home, Duke returned to Hawai‘i and graduated from the W i l l i a m S. R i c h a r d s o n School of Law at the
University of Hawai‘i at Manoa in 1981. Upon graduating from law school, life led him to a humble beginning for the service of the people of Hawai‘i paved his careerpath. As an attorney, Aiona served in various positions in the City and County of Honolulu. He was a deputy prosecuting attorney for the state of Hawai‘i under Charles Marsland. In 1990, Aiona was appointed by Governor John D. Waihee III to the Hawai‘i State Judiciary. He became a judge in the Hawai‘i State Family Courts and had exclusive jurisdiction over cases regarding legal minors i n v o l v i n g d e l i n q u e n c y, status offences, abuse and neglect, termination of parental rights, adoption, guardianships, and detention, among others. Aiona also oversaw cases of domestic relations involving divorce, child support, and custody matters. Three years later in 1993, Duke Aiona was then appointed to the First Circuit Court in Honolulu. The Hawai‘i State Circuit Courts are the primary civil and criminal courts in Hawai‘i. There, Aiona became famous for his tough
rulings for drug offenses. In 1998, he retired his position to practice his law in the private sector. More than a Motto Hawai‘i is one of our c o u n t r y ’s m o s t s o l i d l y Democratic states. For years, the politics of this onetime nation were governed by a series of Democratic political machines. But, as we have seen through Hawai‘i electing the twoterm service of Republican Governor Linda Lingle, and most recently, foregoing into the General without the re-election of incumbent Governor Neil Abercrombie, a wave of change appears to washing up on the shores of the islands. Duke Aiona and his running mate, Elwin Ahu, know well of the distrust and need for reform of the direction that Hawai‘i is going in at present, so their basis of which they are running their campaign on is through three simple, but significant, words: Trust. Respect. Balance. “Trust. Respect. Balance is not a mere slogan. We know that is the essence of government right now: No trust, lack of respect, and no balance, just because of the majority rule we have in
government right now. We want to balance that. We want to take us in a new direction,” said Aiona. Along with his straightforward approach, Duke Aiona already has put forward his policy and program solutions that are conveniently accessible on his website and encourages all to check it out, stating, “Elwin and I are about the people first. Yes, we are running as Republicans, but it’s about the people first, and the party second. So, with us, that has been our commitment, what we have been saying since day one. So please look into our substance, go to our website, www.DukeAiona .com, we have our full platform up right now and all the other specifics that you need.”
A few of the solutions slated by the AionaAhu campaign touches on affordable housing, education, and homelessness – all that are meticulously laid out on Aiona’s campaign website: • A f f o r d a b l e H o u s i n g : Aiona plans to create, introduce, and support legislation and policies that will reduce the cost of living and hold the line on taxes and fees with a few goals: increase affordable rental housing, implement the H.O.P.E. housing purchase program, close tax loopholes, reduce taxes on food and medicine, reduce tax burdens on lowincome and middle class residents, and
Duke Aiona addressing attendees to the Filipino Friends for Duke and Elwin at the FilCom Center in Waipahu.
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reduce electricity costs. The Home Ownership, Personal Equity ( H . O . P. E . ) H o u s i n g Purchase Program will enable individuals and families to save money for a down payment on their own home, simply by paying rent. Over time, families will actually earn equity on their rent, providing for a down payment on a home anywhere they choose to live. • Education: Aiona plans to prepare students for an innovation- and knowledge- based economy by implementing an independent audit of the Department of Education, enabling school empowerment, early college – a unique opportunity for underserved high school students to graduate with a high school diploma and a no-cost Associates of Arts degree; in addition to the degrees, students receive valuable mentoring and realworld work experience and Aiona plans to fund this through community foundations and businesses rather than tax dollars, and investing in Hawai‘i’s human capital through innovative programs statewide. • Homelessness: Duke Aiona wants to restore d i g n i t y t o H a w a i ‘ i ’s homeless. Since leaving office as Lt. Governor, homeless increased 30% and understand the complexity of the issues, such as high cost of living, mental illness, addiction, and
With another chance of becoming governor, Duke Aiona believes he has a wellplanned solution and direction for the state. Duke Aiona is adamant that he ready to serve – has experience in the state’s executive working alongside Governor Lingle as her Lt. Governor – and has the values of the ‘aina and its people. For more information about Duke Aiona and his plans for Hawai‘i if given the chance to serve Hawai‘i as its governor, visit www. DukeAiona.com.
Duke and his wife Vivian have four children: Makana, Ka‘imilani, Kuli‘a, Ohulani, also pictured with her husband Tommy Battisto and their daughter Rylee.
judicial process, and related social and personal issues. He knows the answer is to not criminalize them, but rather – as a former Judge and Drug Court pioneer – to address the core causes of homelessness. Aiona plans to implement Homeless Court, an optin program with a mobile court unit for homeless to petition the court in a fair and representative judicial process –without having to appear in traditional courtrooms. Then they will enter treatment programs to assist them off the streets. When they complete the series of job training and mental health and/or addiction programs, they will have their bench warrants and minor offenses r e m ove d f r o m t h e i r record granting them a renewed path towards self-sufficiency. Implementing this will be in
Gubernatorial candidate Duke Aiona and the writer.
tandem with shelters, it will offer those who have been arrested or have outstanding charges a new beginning and a gateway to services. He also would like to implement a peer-topeer National Guard Ve t e r a n s O u t r e a c h program.
“We got solutions and we are excited about it. Elwin and I want to take you there. In addition to that, we want to bring you a bright, fresh, and new leadership to the state of Hawai‘i,” said gubernatorial-hopeful Aiona addressing attendees to the Filipino Friends for Duke and Elwin at the FilCom Center in Waipahu.
Radiant Cordero is an Assistant Editor at the Fil-Am Courier. She is a devoted public servant, serving the City and County of Honolulu as a Senior Advisor in the Honolulu City Council. She was awarded by the United Filipino Council of Hawaii as an “Outstanding Youth” and by the JCI Filipino Junior Chamber as a “Top Outstanding Young Filipino.” She graduated with honors from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa with a B.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in American Studies in May 2012. She is now a graduate student at UH Manoa. Cordero is an avid volunteer and serves her community through many aspects from the keiki, leadership skills for the youth, to voter registration and overall political awareness, and is a major advocate for civic engagement.
PAGE 8 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014
By Bennette Misalucha Fil-Am Courier Managing Editor
“It was an accident.” This is how David Ige characterized his entry into politics. “I was 29 years old, living a normal quiet life. I woke up that Friday after Thanksgiving and by the end of that day, I was a politician representing Pearl City,” he elaborates. The year was 1985 and there was a vacancy in the State House of Representatives which then Governor George Ariyoshi had to fill. Ige recalls that a high school classmate called him at 7:30 am on that day to ask his permission to put Ige’s name as a possible appointee. Although Ige had been active in student government while in school, he had never once entertained a career in politics. He was not even a Democrat. But he agreed, because he thought it may be good for his career. Ige was then an engineer at GTE Hawaiian Tel and was on a fast track to climb that corporate career ladder. At 10 am, the Chair of the Democratic Party said Ige was on the short list. “I had to call my wife to make sure she would be okay,” Ige laughs. He later received a phone call asking him to meet with the Governor at 4 pm. Even then, he had no expectations because he thought he had a slim chance. After small talk with the Governor for twenty minutes, Ige recalled
that the Governor stood up and then told him he would be appointed to the seat. “I was in total shock. I went back to my office and told my bosses about it, and of course they said no. So I had to call the Chair of the Party again to turn the offer down. A short time later, my phone rings, and it was Charlie Crane, the President of the phone company. He said the Governor called and the company would support me. And that is how I
entered politics.” That incredible story seems to point to the notion that Destiny did have a hand in Ige’s political path. T h i s ye a r ’s p r i m a r y election seems to follow the same Cinderella story line. To say he was buckling the odds was an understatement. During the last primary, he ran against a well-financed incumbent Governor, who definitely was such a sharp contrast to Ige’s quiet demeanor.
But apparently, the humble low key approach worked, and Ige won the primary by a large margin. As the general election approaches, most polls reflect him taking home the coveted prize. WHY HE CHOSE TO RUN It has been 29 years since that first appointment in 1985 and Ige says his love for Hawaii simply fuels his desire to do more. “As every election cycle comes to an end, my wife and I talk about whether we want to continue. I always want to make sure that I still have something to contribute.” This year, he said their conversation turned into one where they both agreed it was time for David to seek higher office. “I have seen the lack of leadership that had divided the community. I see many issues –the rail, GMO, etc— and I think that people are tired of the fractures in our community. We need to go back to instilling a sense of community. I remember while growing up, that it is really all about people. Inherently, we need
the community coming together. We live on an island and everyone is our neighbor.” PEARL CITY BOY AT HEART David Ige was born in Pearl City which was then a small community of “maybe 150 families.” His father, Tokio or “Bobby” was a construction worker while his mother Tsurue or “Edna” was a nurse who later became a dental hygienist. His dad passed a few years ago while his mom is still strong at 93. He has four brothers and their home was a constant whirlwind of activity; often the boys could be found fishing, crabbing or clamming in Kaneohe Bay. Ige recalls that the family led a simple life. “We were responsible for ourselves since our parents were busy making a living.” Ige said he learned valuable lessons from his childhood, “particularly how to get along with people. When you are living in a house three-to-a-room, you learn to adjust and be flexible.” “We did not have a lot
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 9
materially but I did not feel deprived. Our vacation was going to Kahe Beach and Ewa Beach and my father would teach us how to fish.” Ige was a freshman when Pearl City High School opened and he was part of the class of 1975. “Our class became very close; we stayed in touch over the years.” In fact, many of Ige’s classmates are the ones who are now volunteering and running his campaign. Good in math, Ige gravitated towards engineering at the University of Hawaii. His parents also inculcated old fashioned values. “My father was strict. He believed in quiet leadership; by leading by example. My mom, on the other hand, always told me it was important to do well in school. “ Ige says his role model is Governor Ariyoshi in the way the former Governor served. “Governor Ariyoshi was always looking long term. Looking to the future, that’s what he was all about.” “He was very democratic. Even though he appointed me, Governor Ariyoshi never pressured me into making a decision on an issue. Very ethical, “ Ige adds. SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION Ige explains that his leadership style is based on three key concepts. “The first one is open and trans-
meet so many hard working Filipinos, whether they be in the health care industry, tourism or running their own small business. I certainly have such an appreciation for their contributions to our community.”
David Ige with his family: wife Dawn and their three children, Lauren, Amy and Matthew.
parent communication; the second one is being respectful of other’s view points, listening to all sides and finding value in learning about a particular issue; and the third is doing the right thing at the right time. And of course, this means, no short cuts.” Ige defines himself as a collaborator. “I truly believe in getting all sides, I believe that we have more common ground.” He cites an example: “The first time I chaired an Education Council in 1993, we espoused school reform and we wanted to empower the schools. Some saw it as akin to privatization. A lot of stakeholders were against it. We held hundreds of hearings, and in the end, we wrote the first comprehensive overhaul of the school system; we wrote the amendment that allowed
Ige with his running mate, Shan Tsutsui and US Senator Mazie Hirono.
the establishment of charter schools.” Another example, according to Ige was the time he chaired the Consumer Protection Committee in 1998. “The legislature was in grid lock for the past two years and we could not pass auto insurance reform. That year, we were successful in creating a bill which reduced premium by 40%. Even
after 15 years, that bill has maintained its relevance. Insurance costs are down, lawsuits have dropped. ON FILIPINO COMMUNITY Ige said the Filipino Community has been such an important constituency, “they have been integrated into the fabric of Hawaii. They are part of what makes Hawaii special. I
Bennette Misalucha is the Managing Editor of the Fil-Am Courier. She has been involved in the media industry for more than 30 years, starting as a TV reporter/producer/news anchor in the Philippines and as a reporter/producer at KHON Channel 2 news. She owns her own consulting business and has been affiliated with the FilAm Courier for about 24 years.
PAGE 10 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014
By Daniel B. Eisen, Ph.D.
Many Filipino-Americans have been asked, “Do you speak Tagalog?” or some variation of this question, which requires the confirmation of one’s ability to speak a Filipino language. The belief that English proficiency can improve one’s social status has deterred many parents from teaching their child a Filipino language. Therefore, many individuals must admit their ignorance of a Filipino language when asked this question, which conjures a head shake of disappointment. This brief interaction creates social boundaries that potentially divide a community. Recently, Anna Rastas, a professor of social
“DO YOU SPEAK TAGALOG?” “As the world becomes increasingly multicultural, it is important to recognize that being Filipino can be a multiplicity of things and is not defined by one’s ability to speak a Filipino language.”
anthropology at the University of Tampere in Finland, argued that although racism and other forms of exclusion shape one’s perception of group belonging, one’s “feelings” toward and imaginary bonds with other people… people who… might welcome me if I ever meet them” can also influence these things. Here, Rastas suggests that one’s perceived connections with a group, which may be influenced by one’s direct contact with a few group members, can have profound effects on one’s
identity and sense of belonging. My recent interviews with Filipino-Americans in Hawaii suggest that they often do not feel strong bonds with the Filipino community, which they view as a network of first generation Filipinos. This stems from a weak sense of belonging, not active forms of exclusion, as they believe the first generation “would welcome my participation” in community activities. While many factors contribute to one’s weak sense of belonging, many
refer to the disappointment they encounter after revealing that they do not speak a Filipino language as a contributing factor. Ultimately, many do not feel like full members of the community because they feel judged for not speaking a Filipino language. Even if the disappointed headshake is not directed at the individual and is expressing disappointment that language is not being transmitted through the generations, an uncomfortable situation is still created. If the disappointment is not directed at the individual, one assumes it is directed at his or her parents for failing to teach him or her a Filipino language. Since many individuals identify strong familial ties and support as a benefit of being Filipino, these interactions become problematic because individuals much choose to: (a) acknowledge that they are a disappointment, (b) agree that their parents failed in the cultural transmission of language, or (c) distance themselves from these interactions to protect their sense of self and familiar pride. All of these options limit one’s ability to imagine a bond with first generation Filipi-
nos and foster hesitance in becoming full community participants. As the world becomes increasingly multicultural, it is important to recognize that being Filipino can be a multiplicity of things and is not defined by one’s ability to speak a Filipino language. Thus, it is important to work against processes that use language proficiency to create divisions in the community; just as a lack of English proficiency should not justify one’s marginalization, a lack of Filipino language proficiency should not discourage individuals from becoming full community participants.
Dr. Daniel Eisen grew up in Ewa Beach and graduated from Campbell High School before attending Pacific University, Oregon to earn his BA in Sociology. After living in Oregon for four years, he returned to Hawaii to earn his PhD in Sociology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where his doctoral work examined young adults’ development of a Filipino ethnic identity in Hawaii. Daniel Eisen is currently an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Assistant Dean of Strategic Initiatives at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon.
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 11
Hulali Mai Kalan iAsuncion Brown
By Erika Ordonez
“Good looks can only get you so far in life. What motivated me to join the pageant was the scholarship award—I believe an educated woman can be a leader at work and at home,” says our newly crowned Miss Hawaii Filipina 2014 Hulali Mai Kalani Asuncion Brown. Brown is proof that one is capable of possessing depth, maturity and understanding despite the young age. Born and raised in Wailuku, Maui, “Lali,” as she is affectionately nicknamed by her family and friends, is no stranger to achievement. Her accolades started early; she won Miss Hula O Na Keiki 2007, a solo hula competition comparable to the Merrie Monarch solely for the island of Maui. She was only 12 years old with only 6 years of hula and Tahitian dancing experience at the time. The competition included an interview. Today she admits that although she didn’t realize it then, those experiences prepared her for future pageants. In 2012, Browncontinued on to win Miss Hawaii’s Outstanding Teen, the “teen” counterpart of the Miss Hawaii pageant, and represented our state on the national stage. A recent graduate of Kamehameha Schools’ Maui Campus, Brown is respected and admired by her peers, who elected her as Class
Miss Hawaii Filipina 2014
President. She currently attends the University of Hawaii Maui Campus majoring in Tourism and Hospitality, with ambitions to follow in the footsteps of her greatest inspiration: Jaylyn, her best friend, who also so happens to be her Mom. When asked why Jaylyn is her role model, she responds with pride: “She was a teen Mom and a single mother. She could have buckled underneath all the pressure. The odds were against her. However, she graduated high school with honors, went to school full-time, and still managed to be there for me and my two siblings. I admire her strength, persistence and capacity to love.” During her reign as
Miss Hawaii Filipina this year, Brownhopes to inspire others to embrace diversity, saying that the greatest ideas come to fruition through the synergy of people from all sorts and backgrounds. She advises young women aspiring to run for the Miss Hawaii Filipina title in the future to “stay true to yourself, and to always take pride in your Filipina heritage, regardless of whether or not you ‘look’ Filipino or speak the language.” Standing tall, graceful, beautiful, poised, and unequivocally proud to represent her Filipino culture, Brown exudes the fire that sets our Filipina heritage apart from other cultures, proving that the true essence of beauty does not lie in looks, but rather, in one’s character. If you or someone you know is interested in running for the 2015 Miss Hawaii Filipina scholarship pageant title, please visit www. misshawaiifilipina.org or e-mail misshawaiifilipina @gmail.com.
Erika Joy Ordonez was Miss Hawaii Filipina 2013 and now serves as the Miss Hawaii Filipina 2015 pageant director/chairperson. A graduate of Punahou Schools, she attended the University of Southern California and now works as a mortgage broker for VIP Mortgage Inc.
PAGE 12 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014
A TRIBUTE TO MY BELOVED CATHERINE
By josephine alonzo
Listening to the falling rain on this melancholy Sunday afternoon brings me back to a time when my siblings and I were young and innocent; growing up in a world where free spirits ruled and sorrow did not exist. Although that time has since passed, I still reminisce about those youthful days and the way we once were. And every day for the last seven months, I tenderly reflected onmy beautiful younger sister who is no longer here physically, but continues to be with me, spiritually. Catherine... I must have whispered her name a thousand times since she drew her last breath of life and returned home to Heaven that fateful day on
(In remembrance of All Soul’s Day) March 27, 2014. And I must have cried a sea of tears since her doctor delivered the most devastating news t o my f a m i l y t h a t o n e dreadful day in November 2013; news that pierced our hearts, crushed our souls and shattered our spirits. It was from that darkest moment, that our faith would be tested and our l i ve s f o r e ve r c h a n g e d . Up until that day, living life without my sister was unimaginable, and now it is my painful reality every single day. I find myself with unanswered questions in my mind. Losing a younger sibling is unnatural in the order of life and so unfair. To k n o w m y s i s t e r Catherine was to love her. She was a kind-hearted, adventurous, and brilliant
The author with her younger sister, Catherine Agbayani, who passed this year.
soul. Her laugh was so unique that one could recognize it in a large, dark, and crowd-filled theatre. She had an unwavering passion for life and took advantage of all that it had to offer. I lived vicariously through her as she traveled fearlessly across the globe; Africa was her favorite. I have always been proud of her and loved boasting about her numerous accomplishments: high school student body president and salutatorian; Ivy League graduate; compassionate nurse; animal advocate; real estate investor; business owner; a 1st Lt in the U.S. Army Reserve. My sister was my first best friend and confidante. Today, not a day goes by that I don’t yearn to hear her voice or feel her warm presence again. I look for her face in crowds, name every rainbow I see after her, cast my wishes to her in Heaven, and write poems in her honor. And when I think about the future we will no longer e x p e r i e n c e t o g e t h e r, a future that was denied to us —celebrating birthdays, laughing at each other, dancing at concerts, Friday night dinners, travelling to other cities, sharing our hopes and fears, watching sunsets, and growing old together— my heart rends into two. Ye t , s o m e h o w m y unwavering faith in God remains strong. I pray every night for the Lord’s divine love to comfort us as we navigate through this journey of grief. And whenever I feel the strength dissipating, I am compelled to remember my sister’s profound courage during her last days. Even with all her adversities, she still faced the world with optimism and unparalleled hope. She remains my hero and my inspiration. It is my hope that one day I too will live a life she would be proud of.
A Sister’s Love By Josephine A. Alonso
Beautiful, strong and eternal Is a sister’s love Whether it exists on earth Or in the Heaven above Limits and boundaries A sister’s love knows none Even when Her physical presence is gone Neither sickness nor death Will tear a sister’s love apart For it remains pure And ever growing in the heart Loved ones A sister’s love surely surrounds Etched in one’s soul A sister’s love forever abounds
Josephine Alonso is a Business Banking Officer with Central Pacific Bank. She resides in Honolulu with husband Harry, daughter Jia and loveable dog Peanut. She enjoys writing poetry, dancing, playing sports, and spending time with family and friends.
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 13
PAGE 14 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014
By Nancy Bernal
Maureen McCormick
Darlene and Jay Pahed Owners of Cup of Tea in Kailua
Rex Navarrete
Jordan Segundo with The Mongolian Angels (Trapeze Artists)
Best Buddies Hawaii presents The Third Annual “Friendship Jam” on November 15 from 5-8:45 p.m. at Jimmy Buffett’s Restaurant and Bar located on the lobby level of The Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Resort. This Annual Fundraiser’s main purpose is to raise funds for Best Buddies in the State of Hawaii. The “Friendship Jam” 2014 will feature some of Hawaii’s finest entertainers including Al Waterson, Lehua Kalima and Shawn Pimental, Jordan Segundo, Ginai, Aidan James, Kailua Bay Buddies and Andy Bumatai. The Moscow International Circus Cast
The Magic of Polynesia starring John Hirokawa will be the featured show for this evening in the showroom immediately following the entertainment line-up. The event is honored to have Celebrity Hostess - Maureen McCormick (“Marcia Brady” from The Brady Bunch) present at this fundraiser to meet everyone and support Best Buddies Hawaii. Tickets can be purchased at www. bestbuddieshawaii.org ••••• Congratulations to Tuffy Nicholas (Owner/Producer) of The Moscow International Circus for presenting eight
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 15
fabulous shows at The Blaisdell Arena in October. One of the highlights of the circus was Jordan Segundo’s performance of “You Raise Me Up” with six incredible aerialists performing on the silks. You can check out the video of this artistic number on Jordan Segundo’s facebook page. Acts from various countries came to Honolulu for this special engagement. ••••• Premier Filipino American Comedian Rex Navarrete is coming back to Honolulu on November 15 at 7:30 p.m. for a show at The Republik located at 1349 Kapiolani Blvd. “Punny Pilipinos” is the name of the event and it will also feature Comedian David Lee. Tickets are available at Jointherepublik.com For more information, call 4796004. ••••• The holidays will be here shortly and if you love Christmas Decorations, check out The Cup of Tea
in Kailua located at 407 Uluniu - a Victorian Tea Room. Owners - Darlene and Jay Pahed decorate their establishment creating a beautiful winter wonderland that will truly make you feel the Christmas spirit. In addition, their food is delicious. Call 230-8832 for more information. ••••• The Pet Corner at Ward Warehouse will hold their holiday celebration on November 29 from 1-3 p.m. and there will be pet photos with “Santa Paws”. Bring your pet for free treat samples and there will be lots of entertainment! For more information, call 5911990. For now, That’s Entertainment! (If you would like to submit entertainment information, please contact Nancy Bernal at 947-5736 or e-mail her at NancyBernal @aol.com)
PAGE 16 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 17
By Angie DYTIOCO Santiago Rep. John Mizuno, Rep. Henry Aquino, Rep. Ty Cullen, Event Chairperson Rose Mendoza, Former Governor Ben Cayetano, Justice Simeon Acoba, Jr., FilCom Center Board Chair Edmund Aczon, Rep. Romy Cachola, Rep. Della Au Bellati, Sen. Michelle Kidani, and FilCom Center Executive Director Donnie Juan.
The Filipino Community Center (FilCom Center) held its 12th Annual Bayanihan Gala on October 25 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. Nearly 450 persons attended this memorable dinner event which paid tribute to three Filipino-Americans for their lifetime achievements and their contributions to the community. Community advocate and retired State Supreme Court Justice Mario R. Ramilwas introduced by former Hawaii Governor John Waihee; Philanthropist and
FilCom Center Holds its 12th Annual Bayanihan Gala Ramil, Etrata and Acoba Honored
Community Servant Maria A.F. Etrata was introduced by Mayor Kirk Caldwell; and retired Supreme Court Justice and Educator Simeon R. Acoba, Jr., was introduced by former Hawaii Governor Ben Cayetano. Ku m u Ka l e o Tr i n i d a d opened the evening with
The three distinguished honorees: Simeon Acoba, Jr., Maria Etrata, and Mario Ramil.
a Hawaiian Oli (Blessing), and Julian Maeva performed the Fireknife Dance.Sonia Lugmao Aranza served as the Mistress of Ceremonies. Event Chairperson Rosemarie Mendoza, FilCom Board Chairperson Edmund Aczon, and Board member and event Co-chair Avelino
Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Simeon Acoba, Jr., Maria Etrata, U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono, and Mario Ramil.
J. Halagao gave the opening remarks. Entertainment was provided by NolyPaa, Evelyn Cabradilla, Troy Mendoza, AureannaTseu, Kristian Lei, Charles Degala, Banda Kawayan, Tekniqlingz Crew, Coro Filipino “Harana”, Marie Jocelyn Marfil, and Fred
Arceli Rebollido, Zhoydell Magaoay, Dr. Patricia Halagao, Agnes Malate, Helena Manzano, and Blandina Mamaclay.
Abejon. The gala also included a silent auction chaired by Agnes Reyeswith over 80 items and services including a Manila Travel Package.
Dr. Renato Etrata, Jr., Renato and Maria Etrata, Joo Yiun Kim, Vanessa Tan, and Dr. Jayna Etrata.
For the program’s finale, CORO Harana along with members of the Event Committee serenaded guests Seated: Elsa Talavera, Charmen Valdez, Rose Ulep Silva, and Angie Santiago. Stand- with the song,“Dahilsaiyo” (Because of You).Pictured: Imelda Gasmen, Davelyn Quijano, Angie Saning: Imelda Gasmen, Dr. Cecil Sebastian, Vanessa Tan, Dr. Lindy Aquino, Marivic Dar, tiago, EspieBadua, ArceliRebollido, Rose Ulep Silva, Lani Wong, Rose Mendoza, Charles Degala, Sonia Nancy Walch, Vicky and Ben Cayetano, Davelyn Quijano, and Michael Magaoay. Lugmao Aranza, Amelia Casamina Cabatu, Zhoydell Magaoay, Pike Velasco, and Ramon Sumibcay.
Justice Mario Ramil expressed special thanks for his Lifetime Achievement Award.
Seated: Perie Danao, Tina and Ron Salvador, and Violet Sadural. Standing: James Danao, Medy De Lara, Bart and Liza Cabaccang, and June Sadural
Russell and Constance Lau.
Seated: Manuel Reyes, Albert Roque, and Juanita Tan. Standing: Davelyn Quijano, Clem Bautista, Dennis Bunda, Manny Lanuevo, and Hernando Tan.
Angie Dytioco Santiago, our Gathering Place columnist, is a U.H. Manoa graduate. She is currently a Governor of the United Filipino Council of Hawaii (UFCH), a Public Relations Officer for the Bulacan Circle & Associates of Hawaii (BCAH) and a member of the Philippine Celebrations Coordinating Committee of Hawaii (PCCCH). She served as 1st Vice President of the Oahu Filipino Community Council (OFCC) from 2013 to 2014 and as the BCAH President from 2010 to 2012. She is the daughter of Angel &Rubing Dytioco and is married with two sons. She enjoys photography and participating in cultural and social activities and events.
PAGE 18 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014
Fi lm
by David C. Farmer
The Hawaii International Film Festival presents this November the U.S. premiere of a compelling, funny and moving film from the Philippines. “Where I Am King” was shown at the Toronto International Film Fe s t i va l l a s t S e p t e m b e r and won Balanghai trophies for Special Jury Prize, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress honors at the 2014 Cinemalaya X, the biggest Independent Film Festival in the Philippines. When wealthy man R i c a r d o V i l l e n a ( Ro b e r t Arevalo) is informed that he’s close to bankruptcy, he decides to go back to his roots and take his runaway bride granddaughter Anna (Cris Villonco) and college dropout grandson Ricky (Rafa Siguion-Reyna) to the slums of Manila’s Tondo area to learn about real life, even if it’s against their wishes. Despite its notorious and now-closed landfill called Smokey Mountain, notable personalities, celebrities, and politicians born and raised in Tondo include Revolutionary leader Andrés Bonifacio, action star Fernando Poe Jr, former President and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, TV host/comedienne Vice Ganda, and popular actress Judy Ann Santos. Director Carlos SiguionRe y n a ’s c o m e b a c k s e r i o
re vi e w :
“Where I Am King (Hari ng Tondo)”
comedy after a 14-year break from feature-length filmmaking is a departure from the dramas he was associated in the late 90s. It is his first film in the digital format, but more importantly, as he says, “the film has simply been an intense professional, creative and personal journey for me, born in Tondo, Manila, more than five decades ago.” He received his M.F.A. in film from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts (NYC)
and has had a distinguished career with twelve feature films, various short films and documentaries, television and stage productions. He joined the faculty of Tisch School of the Arts Asia’s M.F.A. program in film in 2008, where he has since taught film directing, screenwriting, team collaboration in filmmaking, and music video. The film is a family affair, working with his wife Bibeth Orteza, the film’s producer and screen writer, and his son, newcomer supporting actor Rafa Siguion-Reyna. Ms. Orteza even appears in an amusing cameo turn as a disgruntled fishmonger. The ensemble is excellent, guided by an inspired script and Carlos Siguion-Reyna’s skillful direction. Cinemalaya Best Actor Robert Arevalo and Best Supporting Actress Cris Villonco give and a truthful and deeply felt performances, while Rafa SiguionReyna’s solid performance cements the authenticity of the unbreakable family relationships. Orteza’s often hilarious dialogue speaks eloquently of her characters’ humanity and skillfully expresses the humor of sadness. Indeed, the humor illuminates the
sadness; and, as in Samuel Beckett’s best work, laughter relieves the underlying misery while etching the harsh reality of the Tondo slums. This is a film that will appeal to both serious critics and fun-loving movie goers. It is an enjoyable comedy that manages to pack a serious punch to the heart. HIFF Screenings: Saturday, November 8 at 5:00 p.m., Dole Cannery E Sunday; November 9 at 11:30 a.m., Dole Cannery E. Cast & Crew: Director, Carlos SiguionReyna; Producer, Bibeth Orteza. Cast: Robert Arevalo, Rez Cortez, Liza Lorena, Aiza Seguerra, Cris Villonco, Ciara Sotto, and Rafa SiguionReyna. Cinematographer: Jay Abello. Writer: Bibeth Orteza. See more athttp:// program. hiff.org/films/detail/ where_i_am_king 2014# sthash. 69m9cZmQ. dpuf. Interview Actor-writer Bibeth Orteza (Elizabeth O. SiguionReyna) enjoyed success as a comedienne on film and television, hosted her own variety shows and several morning shows, and wrote top-rated and
Bibeth Orteza
award-winning television comedy shows. She is currently writer-director of “Vampire ang Daddy Ko (Daddy is a Vampire)” on GMA Network, starring Vic Sotto. She last played the lead role of Perla, in John Paul Su’s “Pagpag (The Refuse)” (2012), for which she was recognized as Best Actress in NYU Tisch Asia First Run Film Festival 2013 Craft Awards. She will appear here in person at the HIFF screenings. DCF: Is this film based on true events or on your personal experiences?
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 19
Hawaii Screenings
when she was 5 years old, in a popular TV sitcom,”OK Ka, Fairy Ko” that ran for 10 years. Ciara Sotto, Gian Magdangal, Carlos Canlas and Mark Tayag were with Rafa in “Grease” last November in Manila. Lorenz Martinez and Raul Montesa are my “bad vampires” in “Vampire ang Daddy Ko/My Dad’s a Vampire,” a TV sitcom I write and direct.
Saturday Nov. 8, 5 pm Dole Cannery Sunday Nov. 9 11:30 am Dole Cannery Friday Nov. 14, 7 pm Waimea Theater Kauai BO: There’s a line in in the film that I actually filched from the late Filipino Comedy King Dolphy, in “Hindi Ko Ito Narating Mag-isa/I Didn’t Get Here on My Own” (his bio, as told to me), for Robert Arevalo’s character, Ricardo Villena. Dolphy’s original lines: “Pirmero, umuupa lang kami, sa may kanto ng Moriones, kung saan kami inabot ng malaking sunog. Lumipat kami. Nangupahan, hanggang nakabili ang Papang ng bahay at lupa sa kuwan, sa Concha St. Maliit ang bahay na iyon—may bakod, mataas na ceiling, tatlong kuwarto, may maliit na silong. Gawa sa kahoy, yero ang bubong; ang bakod naman, e, kahoy din. Simple. Very simple house. Parang katulad halos ng sa John En Marsha.” Ricardo Villena, to his grandchildren, whom he had brought to Tondo, for the first time: “I was born here, in a house my father rented, on Concha Street. Small place. Made of wood. High ceiling. Three rooms. A small silong. It was so small your Lola was shocked the first time I brought her over, but she never judged the place, never looked down on it. She was proud of Tondo, maybe because it produced somebody like me….” Why did I use Dolphy’s words? First, Dolphy spoke so highly of Tondo in his bio. Second, because Dolphy and Robert Arevalo are related to each other — a fact Robert also only found out through Dolphy — through Dolphy’s paternal grandmother, an Ilagan also from Bulacan, where the Ilagan clan hailed from. Carlitos made the film also in memory of his father. In his director’s notes he writes: “His circumstances, choices and history do not reflect those of Ricardo Villena, but like the protagonist, Leonardo Siguion-Reyna was a selfmade man who lived his life with a silent strength and confidence. He was also a great grandfather.”
DCF: What are your most proud of with this film? Left to right, Rafa Siguion-Reyna (Ricky), Robert Arevalo (Ricardo Villena) and Cris Villonco (Anna) in a scene from “Where I Am King (Hari ng Tondo).”
BO: That people are laughing and crying when they see it.
CS-R: Unlike a lot of films that have been made about Tondo, the tenement dwellers in this film are not portrayed, nor do they look at themselves, as victims. Yes, they’ll take oppor-tunities when they see them or when they’re offered. But short of these, they don’t go around pitying them-selves or blaming other people for their condition… except for one major character who feels justified with an axe to grind against Ricardo Villena. I’m pleased with and proud of this characterization of the tenement dwellers, as it sharpens a message that is not verbalized but is clear to the once-rich Ricardo Villena: if you are in a position to help your community, you better do so when you can and before it’s too late, because if you don’t, people move on anyway and there won’t be a trace of you remaining in their lives.
DCF: Anything you’d like to add?
DCF: Why do you think this movie would appeal to a foreign as well as a Filipino audience? BO: The film is essentially about a family being drawn into a community that evolves into an extended family of sorts for the protagonists, a situation we either all go through, or at the very least, have heard happening to people we know. In Toronto, our screenings did well with the foreign audience. Robert Arevalo recalls walking down the streets and congratu-lated by Canadians who liked the film. Cris Villonco and Rafa Siguion-Reyna had similar felicitations from non-Filipinos who had seen the movie. DCF : Do you have a message in this film to convey to the Filipino community in Hawaii?
BO : T h e r e ’ s a F i l i p i n o saying that goes, “Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makakarating sa paroroonan,” a reminder for all of us to look back in order to get where we’re going. So, there. Where “I am King/Hari ng Tondo” is about being Filipino, and not forgetting where we come from. DCF: How was it to work with your family members in this film? BO: It was great. We weren’t working with strangers, so
outside of Rafa and Cris, everyone was like, well, family. We’d worked with Robert Arevalo in “Harvest Home/ Inagaw Mo ang Lahat sa Akin” (1994), “Aawitan Kita/I Will Sing for You” on Philippine TV, produced by Armida SiguionReyna, Carlitos’s mother, and directed by Carlitos, among others. Robert and Cris also just did a play staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, earlier this year. Rez Cortez is a friend from way back; he was in Carlitos’s first film, “Misis Mo, MisisKo/ Your Wife, My Wife.” I had first worked with Aiza Seguerra
BO: See you at the movies! DCF: Maraming, maraming salamat!
David C. Farmer is a freelance writer and critic working in Honolulu since the 1970s. He is also president of the local Hawaii branch of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).
PAGE 20 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014
By liza cabal trinidad
Kina’ole means “doing the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, in the right place, to the right person, for the right reason, with the right feeling…the first time.” T h i s H a wa i i a n w o r d appropriately describes the “Books 4 Kids” Project. The project, initiated by Jim Handsel, the club services committee chairman for the Rotary Club of Kapolei Sunset (RCKS), intends to ship books to the Philippines. “I just happened to be in the right place, at the righttime,” Jim says about his visit to the Philippines in 2012. During that visit he had a chance meeting with Sol Matugas, Governor of Surigao del Norte, and a former educator. She told Jim that her deepest desire was to help underprivileged kids in the outlying provinces escape the endemic poverty. That’s when Jim asked the question: “Helping underprivileged kids is the mission of my Rotary club,is
Volunteers at work.
A LABOR OF LOVE:
BOOKS FOR THE KIDS PROJECT “Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” Mattie Stepanek there anything we can do to help you?” The Governor responded: “If you could get us books that would be great.” On his return, Jim
presented to RCKS with the idea of helping Governor Matugas by providing books. The members whole-heartedly supported
the initiative and voted unanimously to proceed with the project. He then began doing due diligence and research on how to ensure that this project comes to its fruition. Through hard work, and perhaps some destiny, Jim discovered that there was a significant supply of books available in the local schools. Over a period of time, many good quality usable books had been displaced as Hawaii public schools transitioned to new standards.
Because most of these books would have ended up at the landfill, the schools were very reluctant to discard them and had just stored them. Again, he found himself “In the right place at the right time” and that started the ball rolling. P i c k i n g u p, s o r t i n g , storing, packing and shipping were issues facing this project. Through the kindness and generosity of various companies namely Hawaii Self Storage, Matson, DHX, LBC and I&L Rentals as
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 21
The RCKS is a part of Rotary Internationals’ global network of more than 33,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.
Their clubs are
comprised of business and professional leaders who provide community service through different projects on a local and global level of participation.
All smiles at the end of a successful volunteering event.
well as the manpower by members of several Rotary Clubs, these issues were resolved. The first shipment occurred in September 2013 and totaled about 800 books. The second shipment took place in January 2014 and had nearly 7,000 books. In between the first and second shipments, typhoon H a i ya n r i p p e d t h r o u g h the central Philippines, destroying more than 4,500 classrooms and all the books they contained. This time it was the RCKS that found them “in the right place at the right time.” They had an enormous supply of books, they had the know-how and help to process them,
and there was an equally enormous new need for those books. Recognizing that opportunity, the club embraced the challenge of connecting the supply with the need. Last month, despite the blistering heat, volunteers from the RCKS headed by President Rich Griffin, Rotary Interact Club Chaired by Malia Bush, Congress of Visayan Organization (COVO) headed by President Hernando Tan and the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii (FCCH) sorted labeled, packed and stored books. Those books will finish filling an entire forty-foot shipping container holding
thirty pallets. This third shipment, a total of 45,000 pounds of books, will go to the area devastated by typhoon Haiyan. Just picture the smiling and happy faces of the children in the Philippines who will be receiving these books - PRICELESS
Currently a Vice President and Manager at First Hawaiian Bank Wealth Management Service Center, Paul Alimbuyao manages the Trade & Asset Processing Department. Paul is active in the community and currently serves as the President of the Filipino Community Center. Born and raised in Baguio City, he lives on Oahu with his wife Mary Ann and they are blessed with two boys.
PAGE 22 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014
By perfecto r. yasay, jr.
The internet as a quick source of vital facts on any topic from A to Z has become an essential tool for learning. It may not be adequate to make a person an expert on a subject, but the knowledge gained enables one to be aware and conversant or at least develop a keen interest to pursue formal studies on some personal points of interests. It is a gateway to empowering information that can assist in arriving at important day to day decisions. Recently, while spending minutes researching sources for an article, I chanced upon reading and being entertained by quotations about people’s failures and inability to deal with situations or problems in connection with their duties. The common thread running through these precious words of wisdom is that blaming the past in dealing with the present is not a mark of good leadership. To illustrate, here are just a few. “A man can fail many times, but he isn’t a failure until he begins to blame someone else”, by John Burroughs. He was an American scientific naturalist, who wrote essays on nature. He walked with
THE TENDENCY TO BLAME OTHERS famous men that included Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Ford and Thomas Edison. Another is attributed to J. Michael Straczynski, a playwright known for his work on the science movie fiction, World War Z, and Thor and the television series Babylon 5. He said, “People spend too much time finding other people to blame, too much energy in finding excuses for not being what they are capable of being and not enough energy putting themselves on the line growing out of the past and getting on with their lives.” Fo u r - t i m e A c a d e m y Awards winner for Best Actress and the greatest female star in Hollywood history, Katharine Hepburn, observes that we have always been taught never to blame ourselves and that it is never our fault. She concludes that, “But it is always your fault because if you wanted [to] change, you’re the one who has got to change.” There were many more that I enjoyed glossing over but my favorite is the one by U.S. President John F. Kennedy who said in addressing America’s challenges during his time, “Let us not seek the
“Matuwid na daan” is not merely a catchy slogan to win the people’s support in the fight against corruption in the Philippines. It is in fact the compelling justification for the arbitrary actions taken against errant government officials summarily blamed for enduring urgent national problems. Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame on the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.” Do not these sayings strike a familiar chord? But why is it so important not to blame others for the problems that we have to deal with? This question prompted me to further probe the internet for other relevant materials in the hope of understanding the psychological basis for such a mindset. While I do not profess to have immediately become an authority on the subject, let me share the new things I have learned. There are two elemental reasons that attracted me the most. The first I deduced from a brief article entitled “Blaming Others to Hide Bad Behavior” that is not
attributed to any particular author. The other is “Why People Blame Others”, by M. Farouk Radwan. The first article explains that blaming others justifies our own bad behavior. Like anger, attributing failures or mistakes to others dulls one’s sense of empathy. Without empathy a person is likely to act in a hurtful way towards another human being. However, it isn’t the act that causes the injury. But blaming others clears the road for it. As I read more, I started to understand that “Matuwid na daan” is not merely a catchy slogan to win the people’s support in the fight against corruption in the Philippines. It is in fact the compelling justification for the arbitrary actions taken against errant government officials summarily blamed for enduring urgent national problems. The article asserts that blame erodes or outright removes the inhibitions that one might have that serves as a buffer against what he knows is bad behavior. From here on reading became unstoppable because of the point close to home that it hammered. It reminded me to regularly engage in self assessment and to be open to even my harshest critics in the hope of continual improvement and making change a liberating reality. Blame develops a thought process that allows the person to override his self control and an often
selfish end, including sustaining dysfunctional patterns. I interpreted this to also mean that blaming others conceals our own incompetence. It enables us to expediently project a deceptive image of selfconfidence. People blaming others tend to over-emphasize themselves and what they do as cover-up for hidden character flaws in order to downplay the negative effects of their actions. The other article by Radwan asserts that one motivation why people blame others is because they panic when they sense losing control of the situation. They try to restore that feeling of being in control by blaming others. These people can’t admit failures and mistakes, so they blame others to escape responsibility. OMG, is this the reason why many of our politicians refuse to accept failures in the fight against dishonesty in public service or in addressing poverty and social unrest? Is this why they have put the blame on their predecessors, Mother Nature, and even Anderson Cooper of CNN in being unable to prepare for the worst calamities and in dealing with its devastating aftermath?
After successfully practicing law in the Philippines and the United States, “Jun” served as Chairman of the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission under President Fidel V. Ramos. He is currently Chairman of the Board of the Philippine Christian University in Manila, and a member of the Board of Governors of the Filipino Community Center. Yasay, along with his wife Cecile and daughter Stephanie, is a resident of Honolulu.
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 23
PAGE 24 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014
Zeny Muyot is currently the secretary to the Executive Director of Office of Community Services, State of Hawaii, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. She’s been married to Nestor Muyot for 41 years and have one son and four adorable grandchildren ages 8 to 19.
Melendrez “Mel” Esporas had a wonderful retirement party at the Coral Creek Golf Course in Ewa Beach on July 31, 2014. He served in the U.S. Navy with pride and honor with 24 years in service – Chief Gas Turbine Mechanical (Surface Warfare). Shown here is his wife, Nora with two children, Mathew and Marielle. Happy Retirement, Mel, and may the new chapter in your life bring you many years of adventures filled with God’s grace and goodness.
Makeila Rothess Campano celebrated her first birthday on July 13, 2014 at Mililani Rec Center 3. The room was beautifully decorated and filled with family and friends who enjoyed an evening of fun, good food, and great entertainment from Magician Alan Arita. From left: Marites, Makeila, Rafael, Raffy Briant and Raffy Marc Wayne. Happy Birthday, Makeila!
Newlyweds, Robert and Jasmine Wong, had the most wonderful time celebrating their commitment and deep love for one another on July 26, 2014 at the Luau Garden, Halekoa Hotel. Live band provided great dining and dancing music, food was onolicious, entertainment was highlighted with the dance of the groom and his mother, Marcie Wong. Thanks to family and friends who witnessed the beautiful beginning of Jasmine and Robert as husband and wife. Congratulations! Fay Arigo was given a surprise 80th birthday by her husband, Tom Arigo and children on August 9, 2014 at the Captain’s Table, Hawaii Prince Hotel. Shown above are Tom and Fay Arigo with their children and grandchildren. Happy Birthday, Fay and many, many more!
Baby Baylon and Rose Sherry spent an afternoon of fun and fellowship before Baby traveled back to the Philippines on September 26, 2014. Have a safe and blessed trip!
Primy Carballo from South Dakota, Lita Gavino from Camiling, Tarlac, Anita Narag from Honolulu and Lily Claude from Washington, D.C. enjoyed Filipino food for dinner. Primy and Lita are first time Hawaii visitors and they brought with them back home many happy memories of Hawaii’s aloha spirit. Hope to see you again!
Pastor Chito and Tess Cordero of Word International Ministries in Los Angeles at their recent visit to WIN Hawaii. From left: Ferdie Santos, Tess and Pastor Chito Cordero, Marlene Onaand Arlene Mercado. Looking forward to your next visit. Aloha!
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 25
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PAGE 26 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014
By Dr. Jonas Vibell
Shortly after I got back from the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii’s trade mission to Manila and Illocos in 2013, I read about a project from the Pasig River in Manila. I was immediately touched and inspired. Pasig River in Manila used to be synonymous with pollution. The only color in the gray, sometimes almost black, water was the trash choking it. A stench that would make passersby cover their noses rose from some areas. It was difficult to imagine that this was once a clean and living river, and a major transport route of Manila. These days it’s hard to believe the before-and-after pictures. In the after photos, instead of trash there were trees, shrubs and flowers. Homes were painted bright, in contrast to a year earlier when they looked like they
“Hearing the story about the Pasig River Warriors made me realize that situations don’t change unless people get together and actually change them.” The Pasig River
were about to fall apart. This is thanks to the River Warriors, locals living along the river and working hard to clean it up. A survey among 7,000 households along the river showed an improved quality of life since the rehabilitation: 100% are getting more exercise, 89% feel less sick, 89% feel safer in their community and 97% have a greater sense of community. Hearing the story about the Pasig River Warriors made me realize that situations
don’t change unless people get together and actually change them. We can complain for years, but if no one listens, nothing will change. However, as a community we can change problems that have persisted for decades. This made me evaluate some of the problems that we have had for a long time in our community in Honolulu and look at solutions that would be effective if we come together as a group. Homelessness has been
troubling Hawaii for decades. Rents are high, salaries are low, the climate is welcoming and social systems are lacking. All these factors contribute to Hawaii having the highest percentage of homeless people of any U.S. state. In fact the number have been rising by 30% since 2009, despite numerous attempts to deal with the issue. I looked at approaches in other cities and other countries and found that homelessness needs to be tackled using many parallel approaches to be successful. There are as many reasons for being homeless as there are homeless people. Some good steps are being taken in Honolulu such as Housing First that centers on providing people experiencing homelessness with housing as quickly as possible – and then providing services as needed. However, I did discover one approach that is lacking in Honolulu and that has been successful in other communities. Street papers have existed since at least 40 years in some communities. The largest street paper in the world is the Big Issue, which prints 120,000 copies a week. A successful street paper in Nashville, The Contributor, is providing 400 vendor jobs to homeless individuals. With Hawaii topping homelessness lists in the U.S. and having five million tourists flushing through Waikiki every year, we should be an ideal community for a street paper. Word on the Street Honolulu is launching its first issue in early 2015. We are a team of eight volunteers producing a high quality magazine that will be sold by homeless vendors. The beautiful part of this model is that the vendors get to keep all the profit, helping them to get back on their feet. This model teaches job skills, discipline, rigor, dis-
tracts from drinking and drugs and most importantly gives hope. This magazine project is a community effort and we would like to invite you to get involved. If we work together, we can tackle a problem as seemingly insurmountable as Honolulu Homelessness and hopefully be as successful as the Warriors of Pasig River.
Dr. Jonas Vibell is a neuroscientist turned volunteer for Honolulu’s homeless. He has been an enthusiastic member of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. In his spare time he enjoys Hawaii’s nature by surfing and hiking.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: Word on the Street is a volunteer effort by a group of Honolulu residents dedicated to improve the situation for Hawaii’s homeless. The nonprofit organization is based in Kaka’ako and produces Word on the Street on a volunteer basis. The volunteers are experienced in the fields of publishing, social work, psychology, photography, but we are always looking for new talent and support. - To learn more please check out https://www. facebook.com/wordonthe streethonolulu or email drjonasvibell@gmail.com
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 27