Hawaii Filipino Chronicle - February 8, 2025

FEBRUARY 8, 2025

CANDID PERSPECTIVES

Trump Can’t Do That, Can He? Not If We Tell Him No

AS I SEE IT

Filam Assemblymember Joins Bipartisan Support for $2.5 B Emergency Aid

HAWAII WORKERS CORNER

Supporting Workers is More Needed in These Times, Part 1

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

Fighting for Forever

2 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  FEBRUARY 8, 2025

EDITORIAL

Biden’s Legacy Is a Mixed Bag, He Was Great to Lead the Nation Out of the COVID-19 Pandemic, But Didn’t Do Enough on the Economy

T

he historical legacy of presidents most often changes from the time of leaving office and how they’re perceived 30-40-50 years and later. Historians will write about and debate the details of a president’s legacy, usually based off their policies. But those still alive to remember a president many decades earlier will most likely characterize that presidency with a broad stroke, recalling only one to three memorable moments.

So why then is looking back at a president’s legacy important and so soon, in this case, that of former President Joe Biden? It could be a roadmap going forward starting right now and into the midterm and next presidential election, of what Democrats can do to continue, abandon or enhance what Biden did. Politics is never just punctuated by a period, but commas, transitions.

One obvious legacy is that Biden will be known among the few in the modern era to be a one-term president. Biden labeled himself when he first ran for the presidency, “a transitional president,” which foreshadowing proved to be politically prophetic.

Most one-term presidents like George Bush Sr. and Jimmy Carter left office with comparatively low approval ratings. Biden is no different. But history will be both kinder and critical of Biden than either Bush Sr. and Carter because of the historically monumental events that occurred during Biden’s administration, which are the COVID-19 pandemic and the two global military conflicts which shifted in a dramatic way global geopolitics.

Biden’s best and worse legacy moments All the silly headline grabbers of Biden as being feeble minded will go away. Historians will remember Biden in a positive light in his role of leading capably the nation out of the deepest recession and public health scare of the last century in the COVID-19 pandemic. And Biden will deserve these praises for his exceptional leadership during this time.

The scathing criticism on Biden will come in his foreign policy, specifically what former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, a major insider and consultant to Democratic and Republican presidents for decades warned of, which is to not push Russia into a friendly and ironclad alliance with China. And Biden did exactly that by prolonging the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

That conflict could have been settled in the first months of Russia’s invasion. Instead, what transpired is a new world order with two superpowers in Russia and China and their BRICS-nations allies now united and collectively became a legitimate power counter to the West.

Russia has been diplomatic with the West and East for decades. But Biden’s escalation in the Donbas wars in Ukraine, NATO’s moving eastward at Putin’s warning led to Putin’s invasion into Ukraine. While Biden solidified NATO after Trump’s first term, Biden’s push of Russia into the arms of China helped to expedite NATO’s future counter bloc in BRICS which will only get bigger and stronger and is perhaps one reason why Trump is hot over

FROM THE PUBLISHER

F

ormer President Joe Biden’s 50-some years in Washington recently concluded. He’s been one of the most influential figures in modern U.S. politics. In his four years at the helm of the Executive Office, he’s steered the nation through arguably the most tumultuous and dire times during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. A mostly popular president with of course detractors in the mix among our Filipino community, we wanted to do a cover story assessing Biden’s legacy. For our cover story, associate editor Edwin Quinabo highlights his most pivotal moments, policy successes and shortcomings. How will the one-term president be remembered? A few members in our community give thoughtful answers on what his legacy could be, as well as share insights on areas in policy where they believe the Democratic Party should pick up after Biden and do more of.

Complementing our cover story, HFC contributor Sheryll Bonilla, Esq contributes “National Energy Security and Climate Change – Joe Biden is a Legend.” She writes, “Biden’s success in climate change and national energy security is pure legend and a masterpiece of policy and legislation for which he simply has not gotten the credit he so well deserves.”

Keeping with politics, all the buzz in communities across the country is on the newly installed President Donald Trump. Everyone was expecting fast moving action on the policies Trump campaigned on; and in just a few weeks, he is stirring up controversy. No surprise that our community and our columnists have a lot to say about what’s been transpiring from Trump’s executive orders, his deportations and other matters. In this issue there are several articles for you on Trump’s first days in office.

The California wildfires are still burning and not fully contained. We have part two of our HFC columnist Bermie Dizon’s personal experiences of the fire in Altadena, CA in his article “The Reality of Survivor’s Guilt.” He writes, “Yes, our houses almost burned but somehow were spared, but we feel the weight of sorrow for others.”

On the same subject, HFC columnist Elpidio Estioko submits an article on the newly elected Filipino American Assemblymember Jessica Caloza’s role in passing a $2.5 billion Emergency Aid to provide relief to individuals, families, small businesses, and nonprofits so they can rebuild and recover from LA County’s devastating wildfires.

On to Filipino culture, HFC columnist Rose Cruz Churma does a Book Review on “PANANAMIT - An Illustrated Guide to Philippine Indigenous Attire.” HFC columnist Dr. Arcelita Imasa contributes “Supporting Workers is More Needed in These Times, Part 1,” addressing the plight of low-income workers living in Hawaii. HFC columnist Seneca Moraleda gives us an interesting article “Fighting for Forever,” offering tips to having a successful marriage.

Lastly, we want to wish everyone Happy Valentine’s Day. Share love with all. Visit thefilipinochronicle.com to get your free e-copy of each issue. Thank you for your support. For your advertising needs, contact us at: filipinochronicle@gmail.com. Until the next issue, Aloha and Mabuhay!

Publisher & Executive Editor Charlie Y. Sonido, M.D.

Publisher & Managing Editor

Chona A. Montesines-Sonido

Associate Editors

Edwin QuinaboDennis Galolo

Contributing Editor

Belinda Aquino, Ph.D.

Design

Junggoi Peralta

Photography Tim Llena

Administrative Assistant Lilia Capalad

Editorial & Production Assistant Jim Bea Sampaga

Columnists

Carlota Hufana Ader Rose Cruz Churma Elpidio R. Estioko Willie Espero Emil Guillermo Gary Hooser Arcelita Imasa, M.D. Seneca Moraleda-Puguan J.P. Orias Charlie Sonido, M.D. Emmanuel S. Tipon, Esq.

Contributing Writers

Clement Bautista Edna Bautista, Ed.D. Teresita Bernales, Ed.D. Sheryll Bonilla, Esq. Dr. Dylan Bothamley Serafin Colmenares Jr., Ph.D. Linda Dela Cruz Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand Amelia Jacang, M.D. Caroline Julian Max Levin Raymond Ll. Liongson, Ph.D. Federico Magdalena, Ph.D. Matthew Mettias Maita Millalos Paul Melvin Palalay, M.D. Renelaine Bontol-Pfister Seneca Moraleda-Puguan Jay Valdez, Psy.D. Amado Yoro

Philippine Correspondent: Greg Garcia

Neighbor Island Correspondents: Big Island (Hilo and Kona) Grace LarsonDitas Udani Kauai Millicent Wellington Maui Christine Sabado Big Island Distributors Grace LarsonDitas Udani Kauai Distributors Amylou Aguinaldo Nestor Aguinaldo Maui Distributors

Cecille PirosRey Piros

Molokai Distributor Maria Watanabe Oahu Distributors Yoshimasa Kaneko Shalimar / Jonathan Pagulayan

Advertising / Marketing Director Chona A. Montesines-Sonido

Account Executives Carlota Hufana Ader JP Orias

incorporating (a pipe dream) Canada into the U.S. as a means to sustain U.S. global dominance.

People who know geopolitics well understand the timeline when BRICS became a counter to Western powers and will trace that back to Biden, whose foreign policy has been outdated to the 1990s when the U.S. was the only and supreme global superpower.

Politically, the Democratic Party is also in trouble (continue on page 3)

FEBRUARY 8, 2025  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  3

EDITORIAL

We Need to Debate the Limits We Want For AI; It’s Here to Stay, But Can the Threats It Poses Be Controlled? obvious that there needs to

T

he mostly American led AI industry shook to the core when the Chinese open-source AI model DeepSeek entered the market to compete with the best AI models from U.S. companies, causing the AI chipmaking giant Nvidia’s stock to lose close to $600 billion in market cap, the biggest drop for any company on a single day in U.S. history.

Nvidia’s stock nosedived 17% to close at $119.58.

But since that disastrous day, Nvidia’s stock made a strong rebound, rising 8% higher to close at $128.86 a share as of press time.

It was bound to happen that the Chinese enter and will eventually compete with the Americans in AI. DeepSeek created an AI model that is purportedly significantly cheaper and can deliver similar results as the more expensive super processing chips used

Increased debates on AI are needed Now what appears to be no turning back from this tech reality of the future, there must be even more rigorous debates on how to mitigate the risks of AI so that positive outcomes can be maximized while the obvious dangers AI poses are minimized.

And these debates safeguarding society from

the potential dangers of AI must not just come from the tech giants creating AI, but every sector of society that AI will penetrate. Politicians, labor leaders, middle and small business owners, academics, workers of all types from professionals to blue-collar, religious leaders – everyone should be debating AI because AI will impact everyone.

Pope Francis recently released a document advocating for human responsibility to grow in proportion to technology, and that the impact of AI’s uses in various sectors “may not always be predictable from their inception.” Additionally, “AI should be used only as a tool to complement human intelligence, rather than replace its richness,” the document said in its conclusion.

And let us remember what the late physicist and futurist Stephen Hawking

to accomplish a few populist measures like giving power to the government to negotiate drug prices and strengthening the Affordable Care Act. Biden’s heart seems to be aligned with what the Democratic Party used to stand for, as the tribune of the populace. But too many Americans are struggling to put food on the table and to pay rent or even qualify to buy a home.

It’s not just Biden’s fault that the American dream is slipping away that even college is unaffordable. Biden has tried to forgive college debt, for example.

It’s just that Biden like it would have been for Kamala Harris and now Trump or any other Republican president – the monied power class controlling Washington has gotten too powerful to make the necessary changes that average Americans are needing.

Biden himself identified this problem in his

farewell address to the nation. “Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.”

The old political divide between Republican and Democrat is also becoming an outdated model as both parties are increasingly subservient to as Biden described above, the “oligarchy.” Biden’s truth telling and honesty to identify this stark problem in his farewell address speaks to what he has been encountering in his 50 years in Washington. Did Biden do enough to challenge the oligarchy? Yes, if incremental change is the criterion. He certainly had successes.

But the answer is also no, if too few, and not the vast majority of Americans are prospering, which clearly is the case.

by American AI models.

Why is this news important besides tech giants market warfare? The takeaway is that it signals AI is here to stay and the AI industry – that has expanded globally with multiple big players which have made AI cheaper – will not go away despite massive ethical and employment replacement concerns. When tech goes cheap, it matures for long-staying power and mass consumption.

(Biden’s Legacy ....from page 2)

and that turn for the worse happened under Biden’s watch as well, but not necessarily because of what Biden did, but rather, what he and previous Democratic party presidents (and Republican presidents) didn’t do. The Democratic party likes to think of itself as the tribune of the working class. But because of Biden’s and his predecessor’s nonresistance of big corporations having their way, the disparity among Americans’ wealth have worsened and despite economic indicators that show a strong economy, that strength is only reflective of a smaller portion of Americans. Non-college Americans of all races left the Democratic party because of inflation and the Party’s establishment is perceived as elitist than what they used to be thought of, as being for the average American.

In fairness to Biden, he has tried and succeeded

said, “The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race. It would take off on its own and redesign itself at an ever-increasing rate. Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn’t compete, and would be superseded.”

Having a conversation with Gen Z young adults, one of their top concerns is picking a major that they will not regret having their career replaced by AI in 20-30 years. Healthcare is always the safe bet, that’s been the conventional thinking the last 30 years in colleges across the U.S. But will it really be with AI enhanced medical care such as diagnosing illnesses and AI MRI readings to start? In every industry, AI is emerging.

How to mitigate risks of AI First and foremost, it’s

be government regulation in AI guiding and managing the potential dangers.

Like with other massive networks that impact every person in society like our monetary system, regulatory bodies must set appropriate legal parameters for AI. Second, just as computer and digital literacy became institutionalized in education, so too must be made available comprehensive AI education.

AI education will not only help us be better equipped to survive and thrive in the AI world but keep us safer from the pitfalls of AI from deep fakes, misinformation, identification thefts, ad infintum.

Risks of AI Massive job replacement. Tech giants financially invested and pushing the boundaries of AI praise the opportunities ahead for AI. (continue on page 8)

Korean Horror Film ‘Dark Nuns’ to Premiere in Hawaii On February 7, the South Korean horror film Dark Nuns will premiere in select theatres in Hawaii. Actress Song Hye Kyo (The Glory) stars in the film that follows two nuns taking on a dangerous forbidden exorcism ritual that will put their lives in grave danger. The cast also includes Jeon Yeo Been (Vincenzo), Lee Jin Uk (Squid Game), and Moon Woo Jin (It’s Okay Not To Be Okay).

Watch the film at Consolidated Theatres in Kapolei and Ward branches.

4 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  FEBRUARY 8, 2025

COVER STORY

Filipinos Explore Biden’s Legacy and Where They Want the Democratic Party to Move Forward

By Edwin Quinabo

J

oe Biden concluded his four years in the White House in his farewell address to warn about the path he sees the nation is following – one that erodes the institution he’s helped to build and shape during his 50 years in Washington as a senator, vice president and president.

Biden’s farewell address appealed to populism and diversity

Instead of branding his legacy and offering a laundry list of accomplishments, Biden used his final address to the nation to promote a populist message: “I want to warn the country of some things that give me great concern. And this is a dangerous concern.

And that’s the dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a very few ultra-wealthy people,” Biden said. He warned of a burgeoning oligarchy in America and stressed the importance of holding the ultra-wealthy to the same expectations as the working- and middle-class citizens.

He added, “Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.”

Democratic allies see this populist message as classic Democratic Party pro working- and middle-class messaging. But Biden’s critics could claim that his opponent Donald Trump, the genius marketer he is, sold that populist messaging better than Biden to the American people in the last election.

Where Trump never bothered to feign support for was one of Biden’s other main areas of his farewell address: Biden welcoming immigrants and diversity. Biden opened his address by saying he has been thinking a lot about who the American people are, as he referenced the symbol of the Statue of Liberty.

Biden went on to describe the building of the Statue of Liberty in New York, a gift from France, saying that “like the very idea of America, it was built not by

one person, but by many people, from every background and from around the world.”

He elaborates, “like America, the Statue of Liberty is not standing still.

Her foot literally steps forward atop a broken chain of human bondage. She’s on the march, and she literally moves.

She was built to sway back and forth, to withstand the fury of stormy weather, to stand the test of time. Because storms are always coming. She sways a few inches, but she never falls into the current below. An engineering marvel.”

Promoting America’s diversity as an American value is also classic Democratic Party messaging. But unlike economic populism, diversity was outright rejected by a large American sector or at least was overshadowed in the last election as anti-DEI, anti-wokeism ran deep throughout Trump’s cultural war campaign that swayed some at the margins.

History will reveal what Biden’s legacy is

An unpopular president leaving office with a high 57% public disapproval rating, Biden understood that his record of accomplishments will be assessed over time and that history could view him differently than the abysmal polls he is leaving the White House with.

“It will take time to feel the full impact of what we’ve done together. But the seeds are planted, and they’ll grow, and they’ll bloom for decades to come,” he said during his farewell address.

At this moment Americans’ shortterm memory is that Biden was forced out of a second term run because of declining mental acuity. Some Democrats blame him for losing the last presidential election because he did not withdraw from the race sooner. Republicans have harsher assessments that Biden was terrible even before he started losing his train of thought more frequently.

But historians now and in the future will reevaluate Biden’s legacy years to come, placing his achievements and failures in a broader context. He secured

major legislative accomplishments with a razor thin congressional majority in his first two years of the presidency – his supporters could point to. Some within his own party – not the politicians but grassroots Dems -- could say it wasn’t sufficient especially when it came to clamping down inflation. Some will go as far as blaming Biden for breaking up the Democratic Party coalition because of his foreign wars interventions and his corporate coddling.

His Republican antagonists could minimize Biden’s legacy as the minor-league president sandwiched between their revered Trump. Then there are the mainline, mainstream majority Democrats who see Biden as one of the best Democrat presidents in the modern era, in a similar way they cast Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

Biden’s policies that stand out

Beyond the headlines of this time, historians will likely assess Biden’s legislative record: his leading the nation in recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (heavy investments in rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure), the CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS) (re-industrializing the nation in semiconductor, manufacturing, research and development, and workforce), protecting Medicare and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and giving government negotiating power to lower drug prices (a major legislative win that his Democratic predecessors failed to do or were too politically timid to attempt).

On the foreign policy end, histori(continue on page 5)

FEBRUARY 8, 2025  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  5

COVER STORY (Runaway ....from page 4)

ans will measure Biden’s role in his support for Ukraine in the proxy war against Russia, his support for Israel against Hamas that some call a genocide, his restoration of Biden, the president who led the nation out of the COVID-19 pandemic

Dr. Teresita Bernales, retired, U.S. Department of State, Kailua, said history may view Biden as a leader who stabilized the nation in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic, but one whose efforts were complicated by the unpredictability of the crisis and the deepening political divides in the country.

Bernales who says she has no political affiliation said, “Biden focused on accelerating the distribution of vaccines, passing economic relief packages, and managing the response to public health needs. Most notable were: vaccine distribution whereby the Spring of 2021, millions of vaccine doses were administered. The $1.9 trillion American Rescue plan signed into law addressed direct stimulus payments to Americans, extended unemployment benefits and granted funding to state and local governments. It also included provisions for schools and businesses to reopen safely.

His administration pushed for mask mandates and federal guidance on public health measures as well as providing support to state and local governments to help curb the spread of the virus. On economic recovery, the Biden administration focused on fiscal support and efforts to help businesses and workers who had been hit hardest by the pandemic.”

Jerry Cadiz, hotel worker, Aiea, a political independent, said he is thankful for Biden during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Many hotel workers including myself was out of work during the height of the pandemic. Waikiki was a ghost town, and the hotels temporarily laid off employees. We were able to get unemployment benefits largely because of support from the federal government.

I will also remember the much-needed assistance of the stimulus checks,” he said.

NATO unity and his billions of American tax dollars sent overseas to buttress all those policies mentioned to safeguard American interests abroad.

During Trump’s first presidency, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, in March 2020, most single adults received $1,200 in a stimulus check, $500 per child, and again during Trump’s term via the Consolidated Appropriations Act in December 2020, a $600 stimulus check, $600 per child. Under Biden through the American Rescue Plan Act, single adults received $1,400 in a stimulus check, $1,400 per child.

Martina Agunoy, Kalihi, Democrat, said “Remember Biden had to lead the country out of the pandemic, restoring both the literal health of citizens and the pandemic’s economic impact.”

Government empowered to negotiate drug prices

Agunoy also mentions Biden’s historic victory along with Democrats in Congress to give the government the power to negotiate and lower drug prices, a feature long advocated by seniors’ groups like AARP. “Prescription drug prices affect most Americans. Former Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana long ago advocated using bargaining power to negotiate lower prices to make medicine affordable. Biden carried this through, and his $35 insulin cap and $35 inhaler cap helps about 1 in 10 Americans who have diabetes or asthma,” she said.

While Biden did use political muscle to strengthen Medicare and the ACA, he did not go as far as pushing for Medicare for All as some of his political opponents did in 2020. Agunoy said, “The U.S. is still the only developed country without universal healthcare, while our peer countries view this as a basic aspect of life. We don’t have free medical care like European countries and Canada do.

Preserving affordable health insurance is important to maintain the economic and physical well-being of its citizens.”

Bernales said, “Biden pushed for the enhancements to Medicare, especially on prescription drug prices, something that had long been a point of contention. While Congress has yet to pass major drug pricing reforms, Biden’s position helped highlight the issue, and it was a focus of his broader healthcare agenda. One of his first actions in his presidency was to reverse the efforts of the Trump administration to dismantle ACA which included expanding subsidies for people buying insurance through the ACA marketplace, making health care more affordable for millions of Americans. Biden’s efforts to protect and expand Medicare and the ACA were fundamental in improving healthcare access and affordability during a time of crisis.”

Biden’s proxy wars and billions in costs – points of strong contention

Peace movements have long been supported by liberal elements within the Democratic Party, college students and the Libertarian Party. Add to these traditional groups, populist Trumpers in this last election specifically opposed Ukraine support against Russia. Beyond the political peace ideology, mainstream Americans hurled harsh criticism against Biden’s proxy wars because of both the billions in foreign aid and the overwhelming response by Israel in Gaza. At the same time, both establishment Democrats and Republicans have always held the position of war as an inevitable feature in safeguarding American interests abroad.

Among historians who will debate Biden’s legacy on this will also be mixed.

Mainline historians of the West typically are ideological hawks who view wars that uphold western economic hegemony or democracy in sympathetic and heroic lenses. In this light, Biden will be praised by them. While some

“I want to warn the country of some things that give me great concern. And this is a dangerous concern. And that’s the dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a very few ultra-wealthy people. Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.”

– Former President Joe Biden historians in the West and a majority of historians particularly in the global South will cast Biden’s proxy wars as western empire exerting its dominance as they’ve been doing for hundreds of years since European colonization of the global South.

Megan Villaflor, formerly of Pearl City, Oahu now living in New York City as a marketing specialist is a self-described progressive millennial Democrat. She said, “Biden will be remembered for hypocrisy. He defended Ukraine against Russia’s invasion but supported Israel’s occupation of Palestine. You cannot get more hypocritical than that.

These proxy wars that the U.S. funded and provided military arms lifted the veil of U.S. empire and those willing to support it without moral consistency. Biden’s support of what essentially amounts to a genocide in Gaza will be a stain on his legacy much in the way that Bush W. killed a million Iraqis under false pretenses.

“Also, Biden put the world in unnecessary nuclear risk in the proxy war against a nuclear power in Russia.

There was a peace deal on the table early on, but Biden and the neocons put it aside. Putin has consistently said he has no intention of expansion or to incorporate the former Soviet republics under Russia, but that Russia was drawing a red line against NATO encroachment into Russia’s borders. I understand well the geopolitics of western hegemony vs the rising powers of BRICS and the global South. I’m not naive. The older generations support dominance via wars as a necessary evil to promote a better, easier life in the West.

But the younger generation want a new paradigm – one of cooperation, peace and shared prosperity. In this new age of new tech warfare, we have achieved a military stalemate among rival superpowers wherein the only alternative to exert dominance is by nuclear force. And that’s a dangerous gamble which puts all of humanity at risk.”

Agunoy has supported Biden’s foreign policy. “If Ukraine falls, Russia would be motivated to regain the countries that were previously part of the Soviet Union, moving war further west, to Poland, the Baltic nations (Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia), Georgia (the country), and others. It is in the interest of the U.S. to help Europe preserve its safe borders from Russian invasion,” she said. “Biden strengthened the U.S. in the global sphere.

In the Pacific Rim, Biden’s diplomacy forged an agreement between South Korea and Japan, two countries that have historical animosity, to jointly protect against China.

In the Atlantic region, Biden solidified our alliances with NATO countries.”

On the need to spend billions in foreign aid, Bernales said, “The U.S. has long been committed to protecting its allies through defense spending, most notably through NATO. As the largest contributor to NATO’s defense budget, the U.S. spends billions on maintaining the security of Europe and other partner countries. This includes both direct military spending and investments in the defense of mutual interests, such as preventing Russian expansion in Europe or addressing region(continue on page 14)

6 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  FEBRUARY 8, 2025

LEGAL NOTES

National Energy Security and Climate Change – Joe Biden is a Legend

By Sheryll Bonilla, Esq.

T

wo facts accurately characterize the Biden Administration: Joe Biden did more than any modern president to bring America away from fossil fuels to green alternatives, and he led the U.S. to be the largest producer of crude oil in the world.

America Leads the World in Oil Production Thanks to Biden In 2023, the U.S. pumped out more oil than any other country in history, almost 1/5 of the world’s total oil production -- producing millions more barrels than Russia or Saudi Arabia ever have.

In the Biden administration, each day U.S. oil wells pump out almost 13 million barrels on average, an alltime record.

America, under Biden’s presidency, produces more oil than Russia, Saudi Arabia, and other OPEC countries in crude oil production.

In fact, Biden beat OPEC at the beg-for-mercy game of high gas prices that they’ve been playing with the world for decades.

After Russia spiked pric-

es during its war on Ukraine, the Biden administration used every tool it had to bring gas prices under control.

The U.S. released 180 million barrels from our national strategic petroleum reserve and pressured domestic companies to boost production. If private producers lowered their prices below a certain level, the administration promised to buy their oil.

Biden approved more permits for oil and gas drilling on public lands than Donald Trump. Drilling advancements improved efficiency in crude oil production, fostering its record numbers. Biden expedited the construction of a West Virginia oil pipeline and approved Alaska’s Willow oil project.

The U.S.’s increased oil production under Biden kept gas prices low, helping consumers all around the country meet their living expenses.

That’s just part of the genius of Biden’s energy and climate change policy.

His administration kept energy prices stable until renewable energy became cheaper and more attractive to consumers so they made the switch on their own.

America Is Leading the World in the Fight Against Climate Change

Nearly 300 clean energy projects across the U.S. are in place or set to go thanks to Biden. These factories and other public works created hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs.

Billions of dollars in investment in renewable energy manufacturing projects came from two of his key accomplishments. Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (2022) is the largest climate legislation in American history.

This law builds on Biden’s 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which created a comprehensive set of clean energy incentives.

Besides job creation in the renewable energy industry, consumers also get tax credits for efficient appliances, clean energy technology, and electric vehicles. Electric vehicle sales hit a new record.

All 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico are or will build facilities for building a national electric vehicle charging network.

These charging stations

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

Hawaii Receives High Marks for “For many key indiPublic Health cators of public health,

A

ccording to America’s Health Ranking 2024 Annual Report, Hawaii ranked eighth among the best states in key health measures. The latest ranking is a drop from Hawaii’s sixth place in 2023.

The Aloha state ranked first for health outcomes, led by the lowest rates in the nation for both reported frequent mental distress and racial disparities in premature death; second-lowest rate of adult obesity; and

third-lowest rate of adults with multiple chronic conditions.

However, Hawaii still needs more medical professionals as it ranks 28th in the number of medical health providers and 34th for primary care providers.

the data show that Hawaiʻi performs exceptionally well,” said Dr. Kenneth Fink, director of the Hawaiʻi Department of Health. “However, in certain areas – primarily economic factors and certain personal behaviors – there are opportunities for improvement.”

America’s Health Rankings analyzes more than 280 unique measures from more than 80 publicly available databases to provide a state-by-state assessment of the nation’s health and well-being.

are being installed across the U.S. to make it more attractive to own these energy-saving cars. One of the final segments in the legislation is clean hydrogen production to decarbonize and transition to clean energy.

All 50 states have seen the benefits of both laws, in terms of economic prosperity, progress toward renewables, cleaner air, and lower gas prices.

The Inflation Reduction Act invested $118 billion in factories to build solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, advanced batteries, and more. By making renewable energy cheaper, people will switch over to it voluntarily.

Solar power is in many places the cheapest energy source, while wind and solar are projected to provide 1/3 of the world’s power. Electric vehicles are on track to cost less than gas-powered cars by 2026 and are expected to make up 2/3 of car sales worldwide.

Another key component of climate strategy is tackling the super pollutants that cause warming, such as methane and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

Under those two laws, the Biden administration set out the Methane Action Plan, methane emissions fees, and strong standards to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas industry.

Globally, Biden was among the leaders who launched the Global Methane Pledge at the 2021 UN climate summit. More than 155 countries have signed onto the pledge and committed to cut their total methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030.

In 2021, Biden set a goal for 50% of new passenger vehicles to have 0 emissions by 2030.

The Environmental Protection Agency issued rules and standards during the Biden administration to cut in half climate pollution from new cars and light trucks by model year 2032, compared to 2026-year vehicles.

Greenhouse gas emissions are projected to lessen

by 43% to 48% by 2035 from 2005 levels. Trump withdrew from the 2015 Paris climate agreement, reversing President Obama’s actions.

President Biden rejoined the Paris Accord on his first day in office, January 20, 2021.

Pull All the Levers Fans of “The West Wing” may remember the episode where fictional President Bartlett’s economic advisors sit around the conference table, arguing about what is the most effective way to stimulate the economy.

An economist himself, Bartlett strolls in during the debate and tells them the way to accomplish this is – all of the above, you press all the levers.

There are so many facets and variables involved that to bring about success, you need to push all the buttons.

To get to energy independence for national security, we need to lessen our dependence on foreign oil.

That means making the transition to renewable energy and moving away from fossil fuels.

It also means – as another facet of the issue – that we produce enough of our oil and gas while we are manufacturing and setting in place our clean energy production.

Hydrogen and liquid natural gas in place of petroleum for vehicles – wind and solar and water and anaerobic digesters for electricity generation.

Biden’s success in climate change and national energy security is pure legend and a masterpiece of policy and legislation for which he simply has not gotten the credit he so well deserves.

Media attention on his age unfairly detracted from the credit he so rightly deserved. The attention should have been on what a true leader he is.

National energy security, energy independence, and true environmental progress on climate change will be among his crowning achievements in the history records of the Biden administration.

FEBRUARY 8, 2025  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  7

WHAT’S UP, ATTORNEY?

Trump Executive Orders on Immigration

By Atty. Emmanuel S. Tipon

M

ake America Great Again.

America First.

Promises made, promises fulfilled.

This is the context in which President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Orders on immigration should be read. Trump is not anti-alien. He married an alien. His wife, Melania, is from Novo Mesto, Slovenia. She is a naturalized citizen. Trump is for aliens – the good kind.

Or the good looking kind.

The following are President Trump’s Executive Orders related to immigration which he signed on his first day in office – January 20, 2025: 1. Protecting the American People Against Invasion.

2. Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship.

3. Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program.

4. Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.

5. Securing Our Borders 6. Clarifying the Military’s Role in Protecting the Territorial Integrity of the United States.

7. Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.

8. America First Policy Directive to the Secretary of State.

9. Designating Cartels and Other Organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

We shall discuss these Executive Orders in this article and in subsequent articles.

WHAT IS AN ILLEGAL ALIEN? For purposes of this article and subsequent articles, the term “illegal alien” refers to a foreign born person who • entered the U.S. without inspection, • entered the U.S. with a temporary visa but stayed longer than their temporary visa permitted or violated the conditions of their visa, or • does not have some form of temporary protected status.

President Trump’s Executive Orders use the term “illegal alien”.

The Immigration and Nationality Act does not use the term “undocumented alien”.

The Biden administration reportedly ordered U.S. Immigration authorities to stop using the term “illegal alien” and use the term “undocumented noncitizen”. If so, he was simply catering to the socalled “politically correct” but legally wrong.

Let us call a spade a spade (“tell it like it is” or call something by its proper name without sugarcoating it, even if it might seem unpleasant).

ILLEGAL ENTRY IS A CRIME Illegal entry is a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the facts.

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides in § 275 [8 USC § 1325]. (a) Improper time or place; avoidance of examination or in-

spection; misrepresentation and concealment of facts. Any alien who (1) enters or attempts to enter the United States any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers, or (2) eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers, or (3) attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact, shall, for the first commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, and, for a subsequent commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18, or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both. (b) Improper time or place; civil penalties.

Any alien who is apprehended while entering (or attempting to enter) the United States at a time or place other than as designated by immigration officers shall be subject to a civil penalty of— (1) at least $50 and not more than $250 for each such entry (or attempted entry); or (2) twice the amount

specified in paragraph (1) in the case of an alien who has been previously subject to a civil penalty under this subsection.

Civil penalties under this subsection are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any criminal or other civil penalties that may be imposed.” (c) Marriage fraud. Any individual who knowingly enters into a marriage for the purpose of evading any provision of the immigration laws shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or fined not more than $250,000, or both.

In the succeeding articles we shall discuss the various Trump Executive Orders on Immigration starting with Protecting the American People Against Invasion. AT T Y. E M M A N U E L SAMONTE TIPON was a Fulbright and Smith-Mundt scholar to Yale Law School where he obtained a Master

of Laws degree specializing in Constitutional Law. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines. He placed third in the 1955 bar examinations. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, New York, and the Philippines. He practices federal law, with emphasis on immigration law and appellate federal criminal defense. He was the Dean and a Professor of Law of the College of Law, Northwestern University, Philippines. He has written law books and legal articles for the world’s most prestigious legal publisher and writes columns for newspapers. He wrote the annotations and case notes to the Immigration and Nationality Act published by The Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Co. and Bancroft Whitney Co. He wrote the best-seller “Winning by Knowing Your Election Laws.” Listen to The Tipon Report which he co-hosts with his son Attorney Emmanuel “Noel” Tipon. They talk about immigration law, criminal law, court-martial defense, politics, and current events. It is considered the most witty, interesting, and useful radio show in Hawaii. KNDI 1270 AM band every Thursday at 8:00 a.m.

Atty. Tipon was born in Laoag City, Philippines. Cell Phone (808) 225-2645. E-Mail: filamlaw@yahoo.com. Website: https://www.tiponimmigrationguide.com.

The information provided in this article is for general information only. It is not legal advice. Publication of this information is not intended to be created, and receipt by you or reading by you does not establish or constitute an attorney-client relationship.

8 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  FEBRUARY 8, 2025

LINGERING THOUGHTS

A Busy 30 Days in DC

By Will Espero

P

resident Donald Trump has begun his second term, and the first 30 days have produced many executive orders and actions by the president.

He has taken action where he said he would during the presidential campaign so residents and citizens are not too surprised.

His actions against immigrants have started, and many undocumented residents are now living in fear.

I saw a figure stating that 300,000 Filipinos are illegally in the United States, and I believe there are thousands of undocumented workers in Hawaii.

A significant drop in Hawaii residents would contribute to the labor shortage we have in our state.

The Trump administration has started rounding up undocumented residents with an emphasis on those who are criminals or committed crimes.

On the face of it, this seems like a good idea to go after criminals. However, with no or limited due process, many families may be unfairly broken up or separated as spouses or children are allowed to live here.

Some business owners are also concerned about their minimum wage workforce, and others are concerned about laborers who work for cash such as in the agricultural industry.

If an aggressive effort in the farmlands to find undocumented workers is conducted, our vegetable and fruit prices might increase. The impact would negatively affect everyone.

The president has also fired inspector generals in the federal government who acted as watchdogs over government agencies, and this controversial move has many lawmakers on both sides of the fence concerned.

The purging of these inspector generals is unprecedented, and legal challenges are expected over the president’s actions.

Senator Adam Schiff, D-Calif., stated the president was breaking the law.

The law is clear that the president must give Congress a 30-day notice and provide sound reasoning for the terminations, and this was not done.

The inspector generals play an important role in the checks and balances of our government, and their survival and independence from a presidential administration are now at risk.

The pardoning of the January 6th protestors who overran the United States Capitol and fought with the Capitol police was also one of Trump’s early controversial actions.

Many people, regardless of political affiliation, don’t support the idea of releasing violent criminals who injured many police officers and illegally entered the Capitol on the 6th.

Law enforcement organizations were very critical of President Trump for siding with the protestors and disregarding the seriousness of the crimes and felonies. Despite the criticism, Trump is trying to rewrite history, and redirect the storyline of January 6th.

It is true that President Biden pardoned his family members and others he felt the current administration might target with retribution and revenge.

In my opinion, the pardoning of violent criminals should never be considered until at least a majority of their sentence has been served. Those who physically injured or hurt others should not have been pardoned at this time.

President Trump said he would help end the war between Ukraine and Russia, but that hasn’t happened yet.

Trump was unusually

critical of his friend, Vladmir Putin, for prolonging the war, and their relationship will be one that is closely watched in the next four years.

If Trump cannot convince Putin to end the war, Trump will be seen as the weaker leader. If Trump can convince Russia to stop its aggression, it would be a victory for the president as long as Ukraine is still strong, independent, and free.

The president does want a more efficient government, but his actions created much confusion and concern.

Trump’s desire to own or control Greenland due to its strategic location and importance is interesting.

Denmark has no intention of giving or selling Greenland to the United States, but this has not stopped Trump’s tone or rhetoric.

It reminds me of the way Americans looked at and coveted the Kingdom of Hawaii in the 1800s.

Businessmen, missionaries, and government officials wanted the islands, and sadly, the Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown.

I don’t expect an invasion or coup to secure Greenland, but Trump’s continuous statements about Greenland make me wonder how far he will go to get his wish.

The same goes for Trump’s comments about the Panama Canal. Trump mentioned he wouldn’t mind if the USA took the canal back due to corrup-

to technological advances by 2030.

It’s not just job replacement that poses a threat. Remember the 1983 movie, the techno-thriller WarGames in which a computer was poised via simulation to initiate a nuclear war. Right now, there is an AI-led weapons system called Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) that operates independently of human control and human

judgement. LAWS are not nuclear for now, but the technology of using computer algorithms to independently identify a target and employ an onboard weapon system to engage and destroy a target without manual human control of the system is already in place. Autonomous weapons can respond quickly to threats, which might trigger a chain reaction of escalating conflict that we do not want.

POTUS Donald Trump

tion and the high cost of using the Panama Canal.

This is not sitting well with Panama, and I suspect the rhetoric between our two countries will continue for some time.

Trump did rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and Mexico is not recognizing Trump’s proclamation. This idea is just nonsense and foolish, and the president needs to spend time on issues such as gun control, affordable housing, alternative energy, crime, and world peace.

Much has happened in the Trump administration in the first 30 days, and there is more to come. The president has become a disruptor, and his actions are keeping everyone on their toes. I wish the president well as he serves our nation and determines the priorities for our country.

Low inflation, jobs, safe communities, global peace, social injustice, and homelessness are a few issues I wish he would seriously consider in the next four years.

His time in office will go by fast, and if the first 30 days are any indication, President Trump’s actions will certainly be monitored closely and filled with controversy and opposition by many here and abroad. WILL ESPERO retired from the Hawaii legislature after serving 19 years in the state House of Representatives and State Senate. He is currently a novelist, poet, and supporter of the arts. Lingering Thoughts provides a glimpse of his perspective on current events and issues

(EDITORIAL: We Need to Debate ....from page 3)

But there are some in the industry who also warn of AI’s sweeping influence.

Mustafa Suleyman, a key figure in AI who cofounded DeepMind and now heads Microsoft AI, said in his book the Coming Wave: Technology, Power and the Twenty-first Century’s Greatest Dilemma, the idea that AI will only “assist” workers for the long haul is a myth. Sure, it might make people more efficient initially, but AI

is ultimately designed to replace labor. Jobs in administration, customer service and even creative fields like content creation are already seeing this shift. He makes it clear that these aren’t hypothetical changes – they’re happening now.

He cites a 2023 McKinsey report that estimates about 50% of all work activities could be automated by 2030. Up to 400 million workers may lose jobs due

There are AI issues with social surveillance, cyber theft, social fracturing through social media algorithms, and on and on, which begs the question, “has a pandora’s box been opened?” Only time will tell. To be on the safe side, it’s prudent that we now begin serious debates on what we want and don’t want for our future in AI and not have the tech profiteers dictate a destiny for us.

FEBRUARY 8, 2025  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  9

CANDID PERSPECTIVES

Trump Can’t Do That, Can He? Not If We Tell Him No

By Emil Guillermo

B

reaking News: Donald Trump is not a liar.

Not when it comes to immigrants. He said he would do what he was doing.

But that doesn’t mean he has to do it with an iron fist. Or without an allegiance to the Constitution and all the people.

Especially those who didn’t vote for him.

When Trump authorized ICE to arrest 1,000 immigrants recently in Chicago, were all of them undocumented? All criminals? Hardly.

With quotas installed, mistakes will be made.

Innocent immigrants here legally will be arrested.

He said he would do it, and won the election.

Now, there’s a real fear present in all immigrant communities. Not just Latino ones. Filipino.

Spanish surname. Visa overstay?

Confirmation today from the new press secretary Karoline Leavitt: You are a criminal and be subject to deportation.

But I don’t deal drugs or am a gang member, pare. I’m not that kind of criminal you say.

Immigration law is now seen as criminal law in this new administration.

The eyes of scowling Donald Trump are upon us.

He is not just the new president, he’s the new face of the Statue of Liberty. Doesn’t make it right.

By executive order, he’s authorized DEA and other federal agents to be judge and jury during raids. He’s allowed them to go into churches, places of worship, and even schools.

That wasn’t done before. And he has a quota.

Quotas are a bad word, for example, when it comes to affirmative action.

But quotas in a “negative action” like a mass deportation? The better for Trump to run up the numbers.

And for countries that don’t want to get along, like for a brief second Colombia, here comes the threat of Trump’s big stick—tariffs.

And it’s only the beginning, for all of us.

The way to fight back Here’s the one reprieve so far. When Trump sent out the order to halt the flow of all federal grants and loans to government entities and organizations, it was an illegal usurping of power. The Congress appropriates and now Trump wants in to negate it?

That’s unconstitutional.

He did it anyway, but the one day of calls about chaos and confusion, and the shutting down of the Medicaid website was too much for Trump.

He was hurting all of America, even his supporters.

So Trump governed like he plays golf. He called for a mulligan, a do-over.

His office rescinded the executive order in a simple one-page memo, essentially saying, “Never mind.”

That’s like hearing a doctor in the operating room saying, “Oops.”

Trump is not infallible. He is OFTEN wrong.

But he’s given us the way to fight him. Push back hard and he’ll call for a mulligan.

Maybe that’s the answer when people fight the things they hate the most—anything in the culture wars that has to

do with diversity, equity, and inclusion, or climate programs, or generally programs good for us all.

That raises Trump’s ire. Especially, DEI. But Trump’s killing DEI means reversing all the laws and programs that gave Filipino Americans, Asian Americans, and all people of color equal footing in society.

Undoing America As an American who grew up in the “Civil Rights” era of the ‘60s, I could not conceive or dream of an “Un-Civil Rights” era.

But here we are, nostalgic for an America where the prevailing belief in fairness was on our side. The peoples’ side.

Still, even with all we had to support us in the past, it wasn’t easy.

Someone asked me the other day why I looked so young. An old guy like me? It was flattering. But how I look isn’t just due to the increased melanin in my skin or my ethnic Filipino Asian-ness.

Part of it too was I have been underutilized—all throughout my life in my various careers.

The door opened occasionally for me but mostly remained shut.

When it did open, I had my chance to prove myself, and I was always proud of what I could show. I worked hard for the little work they allowed me to do and I’m grateful for that.

But there never were enough spaces. I was often the only Filipino or person of color in the room. And too many times one of us was deemed enough.

Hard to imagine now in a diverse America. But I’m talking 50 years ago.

Now my heartaches, when I see the federal government is not only keeping the door shut, it’s eviscerating the office and its founding philosophy intended to help minorities and people of color get a fair shake.

Donald Trump’s executive order on affirmative action aims his wrecking ball at the order issued by President Lyndon Johnson in the ‘60s.

Johnson’s vision led to more than six decades of trying to erase the white bias in government jobs and contracts.

It served as a model to both the public and private sectors. It created the crack in the door where I got my shot.

Johnson’s order also served as a model for higher ed. Those efforts were essentially killed when the Supreme Court ruled against affirmative action in the Harvard case in 2023.

We all knew with that ruling the next step would be public employment and contracts in some fashion. Some states had already banned what was rebranded as DEI. But since the Trump election, it was clear the feds would follow suit. The private sector was already ahead of the pack.

McDonald’s, Walmart, and Meta, have all ended or changed their diversity programs.

Trump at his inaugural speech, didn’t dare mention the Jan. 6 pardons to come, saving that for his COB surprise. He didn’t even mention the unconstitutional act of dismantling birth-right

citizenship from the 14th Amendment.

But his official inaugural address was clear when he said he’d get “race and gender out of public life, including the standard policy of America is color-blind and merit-based.”

Colorblind just means you’re blindfolded. Unless you pledge allegiance to Trump.

DEI is dead, strange coming from the president who said he was saved by God to make America great again.

Does he even know DEI is God in Latin?

But we’re no longer in Johnson’s “Great Society,” we’re in 47’s diminished “Trumpville.”

Welcome to Trumpville It’s where the remedies of discrimination are seen as the sources of discrimination. It’s an America in reverse in a speedy cybertruck, heading back to our racist past. And masking it all as a color-blind meritocracy.

That’s why Trump’s leading by example, nominating some of the most unqualified people to his cabinet. Pete Hegseth now the head of the Department of Defense as an example of meritocracy?

Or White affirmative action.

And what are other nominees like RFK Jr? Or Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbert? They are as unqualified as a nomination hearing is long.

When I started writing primarily for the ethnic media it was because we anticipated a New America, where minorities would grow in number, we had a real voice in society.

Trumpville is not the New America I imagined.

EMIL GUILLERMO is a journalist and commentator.

His talk show is on www.amok. com.

10 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 8, 2025

AS I SEE IT

By Elpidio R. Estioko

A

ssemblymember Jessica Caloza introduced critical legislation to provide relief to individuals, families, small businesses, and nonprofits so they can rebuild and recover from LA County’s devastating wildfires.

“The loss, damage, and devastation caused by the wildfires is staggering and what we need now is action. Together, we must begin the long process of rebuilding,” Caloza mentioned on her website.

She joined other California legislators in securing bipartisan support for $2.5 billion in emergency aid for communities impacted by the California wildfires.

The bill was signed

by California Governor Gavin Newsom saying: “The funding will immediately help bolster ongoing emergency response efforts as well as jumpstart recovery efforts. The special ses-

Filam Assemblymember Joins Bipartisan Support for $2.5 B Emergency Aid sion legislation … provides funding to expedite firestorm response and recovery efforts, streamline rebuilding efforts, and help rebuild fire-damaged school facilities.”

Assemblymember Caloza conducted a community forum that coincided with her community swearing-in officiated by Speaker Robert Rivas with a resource fair which was held on January 26, 2025, at the Los Angeles River and Garden Center.

The event offered an opportunity for community members to hear about the emergency aid for Californians and her vision for the district and her legislative priorities for the year. The resource fair showcased state agencies, city and county departments, and local nonprofit organizations that provide vital services.

The event was free and open to the public.

Jessica Caloza

Residents of the 52nd District and their guests attended the community swearing-in and the resource fair.

Assemblymember Caloza said: “I am honored to represent the incredible communities of Northeast Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, and South Glendale. This event is a celebration of our shared history and the strength of our community. It is an opportunity to bring people together, highlight the incredible resources available to our residents, and reaffirm my commitment to elevating all voices in the 52nd District.”

As a neophyte legislator, she already introduced 11 legislative bills in pursuit of her commitment to her constituents to represent them in the Assembly.

Foremost of her bills include AB 265 (Small Business Recovery Fund ACT), an act to add and replace Article B (commencing with Section 12100 80) of Chapter 1.6 of Part 2 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to economic recovery and making an appropriation therefor.

Other bills include AB262, California Indi-

vidual Assistance Act; AB239, State- Led County of Los Angeles Disaster Housing Task Force; AB238, Mortgage Forbearance State of Emergency Wildfire; AR8, Relative to the Lunar New Year; ACR14, Positive Parenting Awareness Month; ACR12, Fernando Valenzuela Day; ACR11, Anesthesiologists Week; ACR18, Maternal Health Awareness Day; and ACR9, National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

Caloza won in the November 5 General Election, the first Filipino to win a seat in California’s State Assembly (52nd district, a big district), defeating her fellow Democrat Franky Carrillo, after running a well-oiled campaign which catapulted her to winning the Assembly seat.

She now represents a district that encompasses East L.A. and parts of Glendale, as well as several Los Angeles neighborhoods, including El Sereno, Lincoln Heights, Highland Park, Eagle Rock, and Echo Park.

The district, previously represented by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo who didn’t run for re-election, has a population of more than half a million people, 57% Latino, according to 2020 Census data.

Caloza is a proud Fil-Am immigrant and a daughter of working-class Filipino parents.

In an interview, she said: “I was born in Quezon City, Philippines, and I am a proud Filipina-American. I’m the youngest of six and my parents, Gigi and Jesse, moved our family to Ea-

gle Rock when I was a young girl. My mom is from Quezon City and my dad is from Pangasinan, he is Ilocano.”

As a duly elected CA representative, she said that her priorities revolve around public service.

She shared: “I’ve dedicated my entire life to public service because I believe in the power of government and how it can transform lives when it works. As an Assemblymember, my priority will be enacting policies that lower the cost of living and improve the quality of life for all of our working families, including building more affordable housing, creating good-paying jobs, supporting small businesses, taking bold action on the climate, and ensuring healthcare for all.”

During the exchange of emails, she said: “I’m deeply honored and grateful for the outpouring of support— thank you to the voters of Assembly District 52 for placing their trust in me to serve in Sacramento.

From East L.A. to Northeast L.A. to Glendale, I am committed to serving the needs of all of our diverse communities and more importantly, I am committed to delivering solutions to our most important issues—tackling the cost of living, building more affordable housing, creating good-paying jobs, protecting our environment, expanding healthcare for all, and investing in our public schools.” ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO was a veteran journalist in the Philippines and a multi-awarded journalist here in the US. For feedbacks, comments… please email the author at estiokoelpidio@gmail.com

FEBRUARY 8, 2025  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  11

OPINION

Trump’s Witch Hunts and His Attack on U.S. Democracy

By Sarah Bonilla

T

rump ran on “making the country safer” then in his first week, he released 1500 insurrectionists from prison.

More than 150 police officers were viciously attacked for several hours while defending the Capitol, resulting in deaths and serious harm to those dedicated law enforcement personnel.

Trump recklessly and callously pardoned them and took public information about these 1500 criminals off the government website.

These felons deliberately attacked democracy itself.

Videos showed the rioters stating their intent to kill members of Congress and Vice President Mike Pence.

The goal of the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 was to keep Trump in power after he lost the election. He rewarded these felons who attacked democracy with pardons.

The lawlessness and celebration of violence is pure Trump. Remember him calling Nazis “good people”?

The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) supported Trump in 2016, 2020 and 2024, and criticized Trump, because violent rioters who attacked police officers were released from prison.

FOP and the International Association of Police Chiefs issued a joint statement: “Crimes against law enforcement are not just attacks on individuals or public safety. They are attacks on society and undermine the rule of law. When perpetrators of crimes, especially serious crimes, are not held fully accountable, it sends a dangerous message that the consequences for attacking law enforcement are not severe, potentially emboldening others to commit similar acts of violence.”

One week after taking office, Donald Trump’s acting attorney general James McHenry fired the prosecutors who worked on the January 6, 2021 insurrection case and the classified documents prosecutions against Trump.

During the pendency of the cases, legal experts across the country viewed the cases against Trump as “slam dunks” because the evidence was so strong.

Both Trump’s last-minute appointee Judge Aileen Cannon of Florida and the Supreme Court of the United States delayed the prosecutions until Trump was elected, so the prosecutions never got their day in court.

A Colorado jury in 2024 found that Trump was liable for his role in the January 6 insurrection and disqualified him under the 14th Amendment from being placed on the ballot.

The jury’s verdict was upheld by the Colorado Supreme Court but the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) overturned the Colorado Supreme Court and ordered Colorado to put Trump on the ballot.

Other states were still in progress on that issue and their cases were halted by the SCOTUS ruling.

Trump promised revenge if he was elected and his firing of these prosecutors is the start of his revenge.

A president can’t fire career federal prosecutors for doing their job. The evidence strongly showed that crimes had been committed. Independent grand juries in multiple locations listened and viewed the evidence.

Grand juries decided to indict Trump on 91 charges (3 were dismissed) in four different federal cases spread out across the eastern U.S. That’s not counting his status as an unindicted co-conspirator in state cases around the country.

Prosecutors can be fired based on their conduct or performance if they are given notice, an opportunity to improve, and sufficient time to do so.

Trump firing the prosecutors is a warning shot to all federal employees – be loyal to him or lose your job.

Trump’s interim U.S. Attorney is retaliating against prosecutors who followed the evidence and did their jobs.

The U.S. attorneys did nothing wrong in bringing obstruction cases; these were good-faith prosecutions supported by the evidence. The indictments against Trump were decisions of the grand juries who viewed the evidence.

Regarding the insurrectionists, the January 6 convicts pleaded guilty in open

court or the juries convicted the defendants. Some of those convictions brought up on appeal, were affirmed by the appellate courts.

Political appointees in a new presidential administration don’t have the authority to fire prosecutors just because they were assigned to work on cases the new president doesn’t like.

Trump is once again – as he did in his first term – violating the law to see how far he can go before there is opposition. Trump’s lawlessness and disregard for democracy are happening again.

What can you do?

Don’t be quiet. Talk with others about why it is wrong for a president to

routinely break the laws.

A democracy cannot have a lawless man in charge of the country. That leads to tyranny.

It’s time for Americans, even the ones who supported Trump, to raise their voices and say they didn’t vote for this. We can write to our elected officials and let them know we are watching.

Trump kept promising he wanted to be a dictator if elected. In his first term , he and his family profited from his position of power.

Remember Jared Kushner’s $2 billion from the Saudis and Trump’s $10 million from the Egyptians?

On January 27, Trump posted a video saying that he wants to run for a third term.

If we want to continue the democracy we enjoy and live under, we need to push back on Trump and reign him in.

If we don’t and we continue to let Trump violate the laws, where does it all end?

At the end of the United States as we know it.

If you love our nation and our democratic way of life, push back when he violates the law.

Make it clear to Trump that we expect laws to be followed and we love our democracy and want it preserved.

12 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 8, 2025

BOOK REVIEW

PANANAMIT - An Illustrated Guide to Philippine Indigenous Attire

By Rose Cruz Churma

A

poster created by artist/illustrator Jme Foronda in 2015 depicting the attires of indigenous groups of the Philippines went viral on social media in 2020.

Inappropriate words and cultural inaccuracies depicted in that poster caused criticism online.

Instead of being disheartened by the negative reaction to her work, she vowed to do more research to ensure the authenticity of her creations.

The results of this year-long research of reading books, countless hours spent online viewing visuals, and watching interviews of members of the indigenous communities she wanted to depict, is this reference tool titled PANANAMIT for those committed to preserving Filipino culture.

The illustrations in this book were all done in digital form. As noted in the foreword:

“It was conceptualized and worked on through the eyes of and artistic style of a millennial who is not only a researcher, illustrator, and documenter but more importantly, a preserver of the very culture of the Philippines’ indigenous people as mirrored in her art.”

The tribal attires depicted in this book were selected based on the availability of information and the accessibility of the culture-bearers via online messaging platforms.

In fact, she added a note in her preface urging other tribal communities to contact her via her website. As a young mother of two boys and residing somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, Jme Foronda was able to create this visual smorgasbord by maximizing the use of technology.

She goes a step further by including a chapter—a tutorial creating lineless illustrations using the following tools—an iPad Pro 12.9”, Apple pencil, the app ProCreat,e and ProCreate Gouache brush set.

Also included are illustrations on how to wear a barangal (a cloth headpiece of the Northern Philippines’ Ga’dang tribe) or the bakwat (a women’s belt) from the same tribe.

Based on the loin cloth used in the Cordillera region is a step-by-step guide on how to wear this men’s attire (called ba-ag

in Kalinga).

Some years back, a loin-wearing contest was held on a US college campus—a relay contest of sorts where male participants are required to tie the loin cloth —and the group who can accomplish this the fastest wins.

Was this really appropriate, some asked.

Cultural appreciation versus cultural appropriation always comes into play when indigenous attires are discussed. A page was devoted to this, with consultants specializing in this field quoted on their take on this issue.

The five ways of ensuring that one is appreciating culture rather than appropriating should include the following, according to the consultants.

First and foremost is using the correct term when referring to the indigenous clothing. This book is an ideal acquisition to implement this advice since each piece of Indigenous attire and its accessories are described and illustrated in detail with its correct terms.

Another is that proper contextual usage should be considered. For example, the Kalinga community is against using their ba-ag (loincloth) as table runners or as shawls. The T’boli weavers are of-

fended when their tinalak textile is used in footwear since they consider the tinalak sacred.

It is also important that the indigenous weavers and artists are given fair compensation for their craftsmanship. After all, weaving is their livelihood. It is also strongly advised that if one is dealing directly with the weaver, refrain from haggling to get a lower price.

Another piece of advice worth considering is to practice ethical and mindful consumerism by asking about the origins of the textile or item one is buying.

The final advice is to secure the consent of the indigenous people before using their textiles in everyday fashion, or when converting these into another use different from what was originally intended.

Although the rationale behind these recommendations is sound, its implementation will be difficult if there are middlemen involved, or if one buys these from mass consumer outlets where sales clerks are aggressively determined to sell.

Bottom line: patronize designers and retailers that care about ethically sourced materials, sustainability, fair compensation, and proper recognition for the artists.

The Indigenous communities covered are grouped according to geographical location.

Northern Philippines is represented by the Ibaloi, Ifugao, Isnag, Kalinga and Ga’dang tribes.

Central Philippines or the Visayas are represented by five ethnolinguistic groups—Batak, Alangan, Hanunuo, Panay-Bukid-

non, and Ati. The Bagobo-Tagabawa, Mandaya, T’boli, Taosu,g and Yakan comprise the Southern Philippines group.

The final product is a book that celebrates the diversity and artistry of the clothing of indigenous communities of the Philippines as represented by the 15 groups chosen for this publication.

This is a wonderful learning material for educators, parents, and culture bearers in the Filipino Diaspora to use in encouraging young people to rediscover their heritage.

In utilizing artwork that was created using digital tools of the 21st century, young learners may have a better affinity and connection to it.

The book is better appreciated if one can view the illustrations that were meticulously created at the artist’s website at www.jmepaints.com/post/ project-pananamit.

Jme Foronda was born and raised in Manila but now lives with her husband and two kids in the Pacific Northwest--but sometimes visits relatives in Waipahu, Hawai’i.

She credits her mother, a lawyer whose hobby was in fashion, for inspiring her initial interest in design, art, and attire.

She also draws inspiration from her collection of children’s literature, art books, graphic novels, and assorted Filipiniana. ROSE CRUZ CHURMA established Kalamansi Books & Things three decades ago. It has evolved from a mail-order bookstore into an online advocacy with the intent of helping global Pinoys discover their heritage by promoting books of value from the Philippines and those written by Filipinos in the Diaspora. We can be reached at kalamansibooks@gmail.com.

FEBRUARY 8, 2025  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  13

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

Fighting For Forever

By Seneca Moraleda-Puguan

“S

o it’s not gonna be easy. It’s gonna be really hard. We’re gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day.”

These were the famous words Noah spoke to Allie in one of my favorite books, The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks.

Back then, those lines made my heartthrob with “kilig.” But now, as someone who has been married for eleven years this February, they have taken on a deeper, more profound meaning.

Marriage is not easy.

Just as Noah said, it’s something a husband and wife must work at every single day.

In a world where relationships often seem disposable and divorce rate

Too often, I read or hear heartbreaking stories of marriages crumbling, leaving behind broken homes and children growing up without one or both parents.

After more than a decade of marriage, I know that I still have much to learn.

My husband, John, and I continue to discover new things about ourselves and each other. But through all the joys and challenges, there are a few invaluable lessons that have shaped our marriage and strengthened our love.

Communication: The Bridge to Understanding We believe that communication is the foundation of a healthy relationship. Without it, even the strongest marriage can falter.

Men and women are wired differently, and the way we communicate often

dialogue instead of silent assumptions.

contrasts sharply. I remember struggling in our early years—expecting John to just know what I was feeling, only to end up frustrated when he didn’t.

It took time, patience, and reminders from him that I needed to express my thoughts and emotions clearly.

I have since learned to be bold in communicating, and in turn, our relationship has deepened.

Misunderstandings still happen, but now, we approach them with open

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

Attorneys General: State and Local Law Enforcement Cannot Be Commandeered for Federal Law Enforcement

A

ttorneys general from 11 states issued a joint statement recently addressing a memorandum from a Trump political appointee at the U.S. Department of Justice addressing state and local involvement in federal immigration enforcement.

“It is well-established—through longstanding Supreme Court precedent—that the U.S. Constitution prevents the federal government from commandeering states to enforce federal laws,” the statement read.

“While the federal government may use its own resources for federal immigration enforcement, the court ruled in Printz v. United States that the federal government cannot ‘impress into its service—and at no cost to itself—the police officers of the 50 States.’ This balance of power between the federal government and state governments is a touchstone of our American system of federalism.”

Hawaii’s Attorney General Anne

Lopez will fight to uphold the rule of law, said Special Assistant to the Attorney General Dave DAy and Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes.

“The Department of the Attorney General will proudly stand up for the right of Hawaiʻi to assert itself within our federal structure of government,” they said.

Along with Hawaii, attorneys general of California, New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Vermont reiterated their responsibility to enforce state laws.

“As state attorneys general, we have a responsibility to enforce state laws—and we will continue to investigate and prosecute crimes, regardless of immigration status.

We will not be distracted by the President’s mass deportation agenda,” the attorney generals noted in the statement.

Intimacy: More Than Just Time Together With the busyness of life, careers, and parenting, it’s easy for couples to drift apart. That’s why we make it a point to nurture intimacy—not just physical, but emotional and spiritual as well.

After our children go to bed, we carve out time just for us. Sometimes it’s as simple as watching a Korean drama together, sharing about our day, or simply enjoying each other’s presence in comfortable silence.

We are each other’s best friend and confidante.

Prioritizing our time together, no matter how small the moment may seem, strengthens the bond we share and reminds us why we chose each other in the first place.

Humility: Choosing “Us” Over “Me” If there’s one thing that’s truly difficult in marriage, it’s this—laying oneself down for another.

Being humble, apologizing first, and prioritizing your spouse over yourself are easy to say but hard to practice.

As human beings, we are naturally selfish. We want to be right. We want to be understood before we try to understand. Yet, true love in marriage requires humility.

It means recognizing when pride is getting in the way, choosing grace over ego, and valuing peace over winning an argument.

Growth happens when both partners are willing to admit faults, extend forgiveness, and choose love—even when it’s difficult.

Keeping God at the Center Even before we got married, we made a decision: God would always be our first priority. (continue on page 15)

14 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 8, 2025

HAWAII WORKERS CORNER

Supporting Workers is More Needed in These Times, Part 1

By Dr. Arcelita Imasa

T

hese times can be empowering for many of us, but for others, they can be anxiety-inducing—particularly for immigrants and those facing challenges with their residency status.

Regardless of these circumstances, low-income workers in Hawaii continue to face immense difficulty due to the state’s high cost of living. While we have seen an increase in the minimum wage since last year, many workers still fall through the cracks and fail to receive fair pay.

But first, who are the low-income workers in Hawaii?

They are individuals employed in jobs that often pay wages insufficient to meet the state’s exceptionally high cost of living.

Many work in tour-

ism and hospitality—as housekeepers, hotel staff, waiters, bartenders, and tour guides—often earning minimum wage or relying heavily on tips.

Others are retail workers, such as cashiers, sales associates, and customer service staff in stores or malls.

Additionally, food service workers—including fast food employees, cooks, dishwashers, and servers—make up a large portion of low-income workers. So do health care and caregiving workers, such as home health aides, caregivers, and nursing assistants, who often work long hours for inadequate pay.

Lastly, janitorial and maintenance staff, like custodians, cleaners, and general maintenance workers, are also part of this group, enduring long, physically demanding hours for low wages.

Hawaii has one of the highest costs of living in the United States, driven

by expensive housing, utilities, and food. This makes low-income work particularly challenging.

Compounding the problem, many tourism-related jobs are seasonal, offer limited benefits, and are highly susceptible to economic fluctuations. The state’s heavy reliance on the service and tourism industries limits opportunities for workers to find jobs in higher-paying fields.

As a result, many low-income workers take on multiple jobs just to make ends meet. However, this often creates a new set of problems, as juggling multiple jobs can still fail to provide

sufficient income or benefits.

As a doctor, I find it particularly difficult to convince my patients who are low-income workers to limit themselves to one job so they can prioritize their health.

Unfortunately, many only come to the clinic when they are already seriously ill. This troubling pattern should concern us all. High blood pressure, for example, is a very common medical condition that can lead to an enlarged heart if untreated.

While a “large heart” symbolizes kindness and generosity in metaphorical terms, in medical terms, it is far from desirable. Conditions such as heart disease or heart attacks are silent killers, as are other chronic conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, and kidney failure.

Treating these longterm medical conditions requires consistent fol-

low-up care, regular maintenance medications, and proper time management—none of which are easy to achieve when working 16-hour days across multiple jobs.

Many patients forego treatment entirely because their demanding schedules make it impossible to prioritize their health.

One source of hope for low-income workers, however, is the growing solidarity shown by others.

Solidarity in this context means understanding the struggles of low-income workers, advocating for their rights, and actively working toward improving their living and working conditions.

More on this in my next column.

What Democrats should pursue in line with Biden’s legacy

munity and by having their parents and children take care of, so they go to work.

Villaflor said the Democratic Party must go back to being the party for working Americans. “Trump fooled Americans and many working Democrats with fake populism. Democrats cannot talk up being the party against big corporations and for working people, but in policy align themselves with corporate America. Young Democrats see this doubletalk and are disillusioned that we don’t have representation in the political arena. Simply put, we do not have opportunities like Gen X or certainly not those of Baby Boomers.

If the Democrats want to win again, they need to stop looking like Republicans in disguise. It’s like we have one political party, the probig corporation party.”

Dr. ARCELITA IMASA is a practicing family physician and the secretary of the Hawaii Workers Center’s Executive Committee of the Board. She grew up in the Philippines before migrating to Hawaii with her family more than a decade ago.

(COVER STORY: Filipinos Explore ....from page 5)

al conflicts that could destabilize alliances. U.S. foreign policy often justifies military expenditures in areas like the Middle East, East Asia, and Eastern Europe, where instability could have global implications. For example, the U.S. maintains military presence and influence in the Pacific to counter China’s growing power, as well as in the Middle East to secure oil supplies and counterbalance Iranian influence. U.S. military expenditures in foreign conflicts are sometimes justified by the desire to promote democracy, human rights, and the protection of vulnerable populations.”

Another mixbag, Biden’s legacy on immigration

Bernales said, “Biden’s handling of the immigration issue, particularly the failure to create a pathway to citi-

zenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, is likely to be a negative mark on his legacy. Despite the moral and policy arguments for providing legal status and a path to citizenship, political realities in Washington, D.C. -- including deep partisan divides and a complex, polarized immigration debate -prevented him from making the substantial progress he promised.”

Agunoy blames Trump for the failure of comprehensive immigration reform.

“Trump killed Biden’s comprehensive immigration reform. There were enough votes to pass the bill until Trump did not want Biden to get credit for it. Biden introduced the strictest immigration reforms in decades. But Trump wanted to run on creating fear about immigrants to get re-elected. So, Trump

ordered Republicans in Congress to block the bill.”

Villaflor agrees that Trump acted as a spoiler for political expediency on the bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill. But she said the bill still did not have enough substance on legal immigration. “Most of the debates surrounding immigration reform is on stopping illegal immigration. I’d like to see more features that expedite the processing of legal immigration. Biden did a last-minute effort to pass immigration reform when it got close to the election, but he could have used executive orders like what Trump is doing now or attempt to pass immigration reform in his first two years when Democrats had a majority in Congress. At the same time, I realize back then that the pandemic superseded all urgencies.”

Bernales said what she wants of Biden’s legacy to continue are his economic initiatives - job creation, infrastructure package and inflation reduction, as well as climate change policies that align with global environmental priorities and the party’s platform. What she wants to see more of is healthcare accessibility and voting rights protections.

Agunoy said she wants “securing the Social Security system and health insurance (Medicare for All is best), lowering the cost of prescription medications; options for caregiver/childcare; and strengthening workers’ wages and benefits. A healthy economy depends on people having a disposable income to circulate through the com-

FEBRUARY 8, 2025  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  15

COMMUNITY CALENDAR SPRING 2025 CULTURAL PROGRAM | Filipino Community Center | Various schedule until April 30, 2025 | FilCom Center, Consuelo Courtyard, 94-428 Mokuola Street, Waipahu | Join this comprehensive program this spring for an enriching journey through Filipino culture. The program fee is $25. To register, visit https:// filcom.org/communityprograms.

HAWAII TRIENNIAL 2025 | ALOHA NO | Hawaii Contemporary | February 15 to May 4, 2025 | Various locations across the state | Hawaii Triennial 2025 is the state’s largest, thematic exhibition of contemporary art from Hawaii, the Pacific, and beyond. For over 78 days, HT25 features 49 artists and art collectives with site exhibitions on Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii Island. For more information, visit hawaiicontemporary.org.

TULUNGAN SA KOLEHIYO” COLLEGE OUTREACH EVENT | Hawaii Community College, GEAR UP Hawaii, Harold K.L. Castle Foundation | Hawaii Contemporary | February 15 from 10am to 1pm | Manono Campus Cafeteria, Hawaii Community College, Hilo | This outreach event is designed to support Filipino students in their journey for higher education. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP at https://go.hawaii.edu/bho.

BIBLE REFLECTIONS

The Reality of Survivor’s Guilt

By Bermie Dizon

M

y wife and I truly thought our house would be burned.

As we evacuated, the question kept ringing in my mind: What if it gets burned? What will I do?

It’s a question many evacuees have asked themselves. And honestly, I didn’t have a ready answer when someone asked me. I just stared, unsure of what to say.

In those uncertain moments, we were overwhelmed by the love and encouragement of hundreds of people who prayed for us. For those prayers, we are deeply grateful.

But even with our gratitude, my heart aches for the thousands of families who lost everything.

It’s hard to process the pain of those who’ve seen decades of investment, memories, and community reduced to ashes.

I know friends who’ve lost their homes. They may say they’re “okay,” but behind those words is a deep struggle—anguish, depression, and even PTSD. And then there’s “survivors’ guilt.” My son,

David, and I talked about this.

His wife’s parents also live in Altadena. So they were worried for both houses. Yes, our houses almost burned but somehow were spared, but we feel the weight of sorrow for others.

Why us? Why were we spared when so many were not? These questions can be paralyzing.

I don’t presume to know the answers. All that I can do is look into His Word and see what God says about it. As I reflect, I am reminded of the cross of Christ.

Jesus bore our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4).

He took the weight of guilt—ours and the world’s—and nailed it to the cross. The Word of God says that we don’t have to carry this burden because Jesus carried it for us.

In Him, we find true healing, purpose, and hope.

Survivors’ guilt is real. It is documented in the stories of survivors during the 911 Twin Tower collapse. It is documented after so many ca-

Author’s wife serving breakfast and coffee and their son serving in the community.

lamities.

Survivors’ guilt can lead us to a place of bitterness, despair, or worse.

But there is hope.

Through Christ, it can also lead us to compassion and action. Let our grief draw us closer to God. Let the Holy Spirit move us to prayers, extend tangible support to those rebuilding, and shine His light in the darkest times.

Not to boast, far from it. But I admire my wife who in the early morning, though cold, prepared breakfasts, coffee, and sandwiches for the police and National Guardsmen who watch over our block

to prevent looters.

We also opened our house daily, 24 hours, for them to use as their restroom. I think that greatly helped us minimize our survivors’ guilt.

As Paul reminds us, “Mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).

For those who are experiencing what we are experiencing, let us point others to the One who brings true peace, comfort, and restoration.

Jesus doesn’t just rebuild homes; He rebuilds hearts and lives.

To those hurting, I want you to know that God sees your pain. He

ness look like.

We hope to set an example of a love that endures, so they, too, will build flourishing marriages of their own one day. More than anything, we pray that our marriage brings honor and glory to God. That in a world filled with brokenness, we can be a testament to the truth that marriage, when built on the

right foundation, can last.

knows your loss, and He is with you in your sorrow.

And for those of us who have been spared, let’s be His hands and feet, offering prayers, encouragement, and help to those in need.

Together, let’s find hope in Christ and work toward healing as a community. BERMIE DIZON is a retired pastor of Grace Communion International (GCI), Glendora, CA and a former writer for USA Tribune for nine years.

He is also the author of the book “God, In Every Step” which is now available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other outlets.

(PERSONAL REFLECTIONS: Fighting ....from page 13)

Without Him, not only would marriage be difficult—it wouldn’t last. We cannot give what we do not have.

The love we extend to each other is only an overflow of the love we receive from Love Himself.

Emotions fade, seasons change, and trials come, but our faith keeps our bond unbreakable. He is

our third strand, the foundation that keeps us strong when life gets overwhelming.

A Marriage That Reflects God’s Love Our prayer is that as we continue to nurture our marriage, our children will learn from us—seeing firsthand what commitment, respect, and faithful-

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.

For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a

man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

– Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 May love reign in our marriages and our lives.

Because in the end, despite the challenges and the work it takes – love and our fight for forever – is always worth it.

16 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  FEBRUARY 8, 2025