Hawaii Filipino Chronicle - March 14, 2026

OPINION ICe IS about voter IntImIdatIon not ImmIgratIon

When the World ShakeS… OPEN FORUM hoW State laWmakerS Could PreServe InCome tax CutS BOOK REVIEW CabInet of CurIoSItIeS hIStory from PhIlIPPIne artIfaCtS

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

The War on Iran is One of Choice -- Not Imminent --

and Unconstitutional

Iran is no friend to the United States – largely because of historical reasons and current sanctions against them – but U.S. intelligence (President Donald Trump’s own) as confirmed by US congressional members briefed in closed door meetings (reported by Reuters) showed two things: 1) there was no imminent threat that Iran was planning to attack US forces and that this preemptive strike on Iran 2) was a war of choice.

In addition, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has said there is no evidence that Iran is currently building a nuclear bomb, while warning that unresolved issues surrounding Tehran’s nuclear program remain a serious concern, of which Tehran was in the midst of negotiation twice before being preemptively attacked by US forces.

Should we take the word of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has been saying now for decades that Iran is within days or weeks of having nuclear bombs? Of course not.

As for the disingenuous weak justification for war that the US should be helping the Iranians achieve democracy in their own country. That’s odd when the US has multiple allies in the Gulf states that are monarchical, anti-democratic and have shady records of human rights violations.

The bottom line is that the US wants regime change to catapult a leadership in Iran that’s friendly toward the US and West, and one that will help to enrich US oil companies with better access and deal-making to benefit the US. As for Netanyahu, his goals differ from the US’, one perhaps more aligned to making Iran feeble, chaotic and similar to the aftermath of postwar Syria.

Beyond these goals the US also seeks to: 1) maintain global Empire supremacy over the competing superpowers of China and Russia (allies of Iran). China receives major quantities of oil from Iran. Russia gets massive amounts of cheap but highly effective drones to bolster its campaign against Ukraine. 2) render Iran into a weak shell which would hurt China, Russia, and other BRICS members that collectively poses a legitimate challenge to US-West hegemony.

Americans might find this to be a valid justification, that US interests should be above other competing powers, but the stark, very stark reality, and geopolitical analysts already have been pointing this out: it is too late. There are two large centers of global powers: 1) the US and West, and 2) China and central (Russia) Asia/parts of Southeast and South Asia. It could be likened to a Cold War 2.0 but with new key chess pieces, namely China on top on the other side.

And in this new global geopolitical paradigm neither can defeat the other even with the use of nuclear weapons as the ultimate last resort.

Back to Iran, as mentioned above. It is the fourth (behind India), perhaps third major piece in the BRICS alliance, and it’s highly doubtful that it will succumb to the West as the West would want. The US could succeed in putting back Iran militarily. But whatever

(continue on page 3)

MPublisher & Executive Editor

odern society is interconnected that what happens in one part of the world has a reverberation felt globally. This is especially true when it comes to war in a region like the energy rich Middle East. Not only could lives be lost and we as Americans have our financial livelihoods worsen should the US-Israel and Iran war be prolonged, but our Filipino community is also concerned about the violence unfolding there as many of our family and friends live and work across the Middle East where our population exceeds 2.5 million. For our cover story this issue, associate editor Edwin Quinabo reports on the cost, casualties, response by politicians from both parties as well as what some Hawaii Filipinos think about the war.

Relatedly, our international HFC columnist Seneca Moraleda writes about the power of prayer during this time of war and suffering. She mentions that Feb 24 marks the fourth year since Russia invaded Ukraine and still that conflict is wreaking havoc and destruction. “Grant wisdom to leaders, that they may choose peace over revenge and reconciliation over retaliation. Prince of Peace, reign over the nations. Let peace prevail where chaos threatens to reign,” Moraleda writes.

Also on the same topic, former Hawaii State Senator-Majority Leader Gary Hooser contributes “The Killing and The Madness Must End” in our Commentary section. He writes, “The toll in human lives lost, and severe environmental damage around the globe, will grow exponentially in months ahead. Of that, there is no doubt.”

On to local matters, Joe Kent, the executive vice president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, submits an Open Forum piece “How State Lawmakers Could Preserve Income Tax Cuts.” He writes, “In the upcoming budget year, the state expects to have more than $5 billion sitting in all its special, revolving and trust funds. No doubt, lawmakers could find a couple of hundred million dollars among them to use for other purposes.”

In another opinion piece, Martina Agonoy submits “ICE Is About Voter Intimidation Not Immigration,” in which she makes an evocative claim that “ICE Missions are Trump’s Ego Taking Revenge on Places that Voted for Kamala,” she asserts. Agonoy questions why Florida and Texas – both Republican-majority states with large immigrant populations -- is not being targeted by ICE as other Democrat-majority states. Look at the data she provides.

We all heard about the Epstein files which is the topic of our second editorial. But have you heard about the Cabral Files. Associate Specialist of the Center for Philippine Studies, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Dr. Federico Magdalena writes that the Cabral Files is named after the former DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral who plunged to her death in a Benguet ravine on December 18, 2025. After her death, the state took custody of her computers and personal records—now collectively referred to as the Cabral Files, which some believe could reveal corruption -- currently an explosive topic in the Philippines.

We hope you enjoy these articles as well as our other columns and news. Thank you for supporting the HFC. Visit our website thefilipinochronicle.com to get your free e-copy of each issue. For your advertising needs, email us at filipinochronicle@gmail.com. Until the next issue, Aloha and Mabuhay!

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

Both Sides of the Political Spectrum Should Continue to Push for the Complete and Unredacted Epstein Files

Largely spurred by social media, there’s been a growing shift in polarity in American politics from one that’s traditionally between the political left (Democrats) versus political right (Republicans) to one which political tension is more implanted in economic class between the ultra-rich and powerful versus everyday Americans (populism).

Originally under Democrat-led administrations, the political left was lukewarm to focusing on the release of the Epstein files wherein many liberals saw it as a distraction from kitchen table issues that matter economically like inflation, Medicare-for-All, Medicaid, a national minimum wage increase, and so on.

Credit to populists on both sides of the political spectrum that it’s becoming more apparent the Epstein files is not a distraction. In fact, there’s nothing more that epitomizes the political economic class divide than the Epstein sexual abusers (mostly super powerful and wealthy) being protected in their gross criminality against mostly poor women who come from single-parent households.

The push to release the Epstein files serves as a unifier among the political left and right populists. Both sides are largely, even passionately, for the release of the files completely and unredacted. There

(The War ....from page 2) loses could be rebuilt with assistance from China and other allies just as whatever loses are inflicted upon Israel will be rebuilt by Western money streams.

Trump has no legal authority under the US Constitution

Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution is clear. Congress is vested with the power to raise and support armies, maintain a navy and, most importantly, “to declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water.”

Trump violated the US Constitution and did not seek approval from the US Congress which makes this war an illegal war from the perspective of US law, independent from international laws which buttress this

is no argument to be made that it’s justifiable for a network of child molesters be protected no matter whose names are on that list and how it could hurt national security or corporate heads at the highest levels. It’s not justifiable.

Remember it was the Epstein Files Transparency Act which was a bipartisan bill spearheaded by Democrat Ro Khanna and Republican Thomas Massie that made the first phase of the Epstein files open for public consumption (albeit, ridiculously redacted). And without the help from Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Green, Nancy Mace and Lauren Boebert voting with the Democrats, none of the Epstein files would have been made available for viewing.

Complete unredacted version must be released

Why must the files be unredacted? Because just having someone mentioned on the list does not incriminate that individual but unredacted files will show criminality as well as absolve others who haven’t broken any laws. An unredacted version of the Epstein files could reveal context from which prosecution could be sought where necessary.

It’s no secret that President Donald Trump has been behind releasing the complete unredacted version for whatever reason

idea of illegality.

Israel’s influence on US foreign policy

It must also be addressed Israel’s influence on the US. From the words of Secretary of State Marco Rubio himself, it’s clear that the US in part was driven into this latest conflict because of Israel. Rubio said Israel was going to attack Iran and the US knew that meant Iran would counter strike American military bases. So, the US made a calculated decision to join Israel in their preemptive attack on Iran and to weaken Iran’s ability to launch counter strikes.

Given the overwhelming opposition to an attack on Iran by a majority of Americans, poll after poll confirms this, it’s undemocratic that Israel or any fo-

– it could be for protecting himself or others close to him or big donors. Who knows. What we do know is that Trump’s flippancy and dismissive attitude toward the Epstein files is a political miscalculation.

Greene said publicly on many occasions that Trump “yelled” at her about the matter. “He called me a traitor because I wouldn’t take my name off the discharge petition,” which eventually forced a vote to release the files.

“I don’t support the coverup of all of this stuff, whatever it may be. The president told me his friends would get hurt. We’re seeing a continued slow walk and cover up of a lot of this information, and I know that is why,” Greene added.

It’s not just the above-mentioned Republicans who have sought the release of the Epstein files. Rather it’s been talked about among several politically rightwing podcasters and media personalities demanding it.

Really, all Americans must not allow this issue to silently go away and if the Trump administration refuses to direct his DOJ to seek prosecution of these ultra wealthy and powerful child molesters, the next administration whether it’s another Republican or Democratic one, it must follow through. Americans should never tire of seeking justice on this issue for its magnitude of

reign nation has more of a say in US foreign policy than US citizens themselves.

House Speaker Mike Johnson confirms this preemptive attack calculus involving Israel. “Because Israel was determined to act with or without the US, our commander in chief and the administration and the officials [in the Cabinet] had a very difficult decision to make. They had to evaluate the threats to the US, to our troops, to our installations, to our assets in the region and beyond,” said Johnson.

This is not how an ally, Israel, should behave especially if the US will be making huge sacrifices in lives and cost in dollars for a war. Furthermore, the U.S. shouldn’t bypass its own constitutional system of government because Israel wanted to go to war with Iran.

abuse as well as who these possible perpetrators are, again, ultra powerful and rich men who think they’re untouchable and above the law.So far, the Justice Department has released 3 million Epstein-related documents, mostly all redacted. It’s believed there are millions of other documents pending that critics say are being delayed for further scrutiny and scrubbing via redaction.

Partisan meltdown

It’s encouraging that increasingly large sectors of both the political right and left are coming together not only on this issue but also on inflation and foreign wars. It’s the hardliners on both sides who mostly source their news from the largest biased corporate media on both sides that continue to be indoctrinated into extremist partisan politics. Americans must come together if we are to solve the nation’s deepest challenges. It’s unrealistic for such a deeply entrenched divide to go away overnight. But we are seeing progress. Issue by issue, like here with the release of the Epstein files where there is strong bipartisan support, is where bridges can be built and Americans discover that we have more in common than what the giant corporate media elites are telling us and indoctrinating us to believe.

Cost factor amid a country (US) in need

The last and arguably the most important point why this war – whether it’s ongoing or has ended by the time this editorial is printed – should not be fought is the obscenely and detrimentally (to the US) massive cost. The US does not have billions upon billions to spare for war. Just think about the cost of interception defense missiles costing millions each to shoot down Iranian drones that are far cheaper (just a few hundreds of thousands each to build) that Iranians can keep manufacturing by the tens of thousands. Do the math! This war is unsustainable, even immoral when millions of Americans are losing their health insurance and food security in order to trim the US federal budget.

Violence, Global Energy Crisis and Economic Turmoil From the US-Israel-Iran War Have Hawaii Residents Alarmed

By Edwin Quinabo

Towering infernos blaze across the Middle East with dark black clouds and choking smoke spread as deadly signatures from bombs launched in the ongoing war between the US-Israel and Iran. In Iran, residents are cautioned to stay indoors or leave city centers. In Israel, residents seek safety at the nearest bomb shelter.

Fuel storage facilities, energy infrastructure, military bases, even water treatment plants have all been targeted across the region. The skies are ominous, razed buildings apocalyptic; and there’s no telling how long this war will last.

Financial cost of war to the US Pentagon officials briefed Congress stating that in the first week of the US military campaign against Iran, it has cost the US about $6 billion, with about $4 billion spent on munitions and advanced interceptors alone. Interceptors are used to shoot down Iranian missiles headed toward Israel and military bases in Gulf states. Other estimates have the cost of war to the US between $1-$2 billion a day.

Hawaii and national politicians, Trump and Secretary of State on the war

“The war is costing a billion dollars a day,” Sen Brian Schatz (HI) said. “In one month, we will spend more over there than we needed to save healthcare for more than 2 million Americans. They literally are taking away your food and your healthcare for this regime change war of choice,” Schatz added.

During President Donald Trump’s campaign, he decried America’s costly “forever wars” and said the trillions in taxpayer dollars should be spent on US infrastructure. Trump ran on ending forever wars and his critics say this latest military campaign against Iran goes contrary to what he promised.

Speaking after a closed-door session, Schatz said there are moments when members walk out with a clearer sense of “the gravity of the situation and the rationale behind the military action,” adding bluntly, “this is not one of those times.” He criticized what he described as “three or four or five justifications”

offered in recent days, saying nothing presented behind closed doors resolved the growing confusion surrounding the act of war.

Sen Maize Hirono (HI) wrote on her X account “The Pentagon confirmed there was NO sign that Iran was going to attack the U.S. No imminent threat. No authorization from Congress. No reason our service members should be dead. And no exit plan or strategy. This war on Iran is a reckless and deadly mistake by this regime.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio gave one explanation for the preemptive strike on Iran. He said the US Department of Defense assessed that “if we waited for them [Iran] to hit us first after they were attacked... by someone else—Israel attacked them, they hit us first, and we waited for them to hit us—we would suffer more casualties and more deaths. We went proactively, in a defensive way, to prevent them from inflicting higher damage. Had we not done so, there would’ve been hearings on Capitol Hill about how we knew that this was gonna happen, and we didn’t act preemptively to prevent more casualties and more loss of life.”

President Trump announced at the beginning of strikes that Iran’s network of proxy groups that fight across the region must be stopped. He also said, “The regime [Iran] already had missiles

COVER STORY

capable of hitting Europe and our bases, both local and overseas, and would soon have had missiles capable of reaching our beautiful America.”

Independent weapons experts say that Iran does not have weapons capable of reaching the U.S.

Sen Andy Kim (NJ) questions the validity of Iran posing an imminent threat. “Whatever imminent threat they’re [Iran] posing was likely in reaction to our unprecedented miliary buildup in the region. This [latest attack on Iran] is an example of the president deciding what he wanted to do, and then making his administration go and find whatever argument they could make to justify it.”

The US has some 19 permanent bases in the Middle East. Iran had previously warned that if it were attacked, it would respond by targeting US military facilities across the region.

Casualties count

As of March 5, the death toll of this war: 1,230 Iran, 77 Lebanon, 11 Israel, 6 US military (who died in an Iranian strike in Kuwait), 4 Kuwait, 3 UAE, 2 Iraq, 1 Bahrain and 1 Oman. Strikes have been reported in more than a dozen countries across the region according to the Institute for the Study of War with AEI’s Critical Threats Project.

President Trump said more US casualties are “expected” in the conflict that he estimates could take four to five weeks, adding he has “no time limits on anything.” Trump also said he isn’t ruling out US ground forces to enter Iran.

What Americans and local Filipinos think of the war

A majority of Americans expressed opposition to the strikes on Iran and Trump’s handling of the war. An NPR/PBS News/ Marist poll found 56% of Americans oppose the U.S. operation in Iran and 44% favor it. Additionally, 36% of Americans polled say they approve of the president’s handling of Iran. Among respondents, 55% think Iran represents a minor threat or no threat to the United States. The joint poll released on March 6 surveyed 1,591

Americans.

A CNN poll conducted by SSRS found that 56% of Americans think this will be a prolonged war, and 6 in 10 do not believe Trump has a clear plan for handling the situation in Iran.

Serafin “Jun” Colmenares, a Hawaii Filipino community leader, said “I oppose the war on Iran for several reasons. First, it is an illegal war - it was contrary to rules of international law. It was not sanctioned by the United Nations and was in violation of the US constitution which requires congres-

“The Pentagon confirmed there was NO sign that Iran was going to attack the U.S. No imminent threat. No authorization from Congress. No reason our service members should be dead. And no exit plan or strategy. This war on Iran is a reckless and deadly mistake by this regime.”

–

Mazie Hirono US Senator, Hawaii

Expanding scope of war bringing in superpowers outside of the Middle East

Besides countries in the Middle East, European nations are being drawn into the conflict, sending military support to the US and Israel. To counter, China and Russia are believed to be helping Iran with military logistics and satellite tracking. Others have speculated that Russia is also providing military hardware. Both Chinese and Russian leaders have condemned the US-Israel preemptive strikes but haven’t announced publicly support for Iran militarily. Economist and public policy scholar Jeffrey Sachs warned the potential escalation of the Iran war could lead to a global catastrophe. He said the conflict with Iran would not be isolated and that it could increase the likelihood of nuclear war. Sachs told CNN-News18 that the solution was clear and straightforward, “The United States and Israel should go back to their own homes and stop bothering other people, and the war would end. Iran would stop fighting and the war would end. That’s how it should end.” Sachs and other critics of the war say this conflict could lead to World War 3.

sional approval to enter a war. Second, there was no imminent threat to the US, and the US should have given talks and diplomacy a chance to resolve the issue. Third, it will be a costly war; given the lack of a coherent plan, chances are it will be a long war, and the US will be once more caught in a quagmire like Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, resulting to unimaginable losses in life and property.”

Analysts point out this is the second time that the US attacked Iran recently while in the process of negotiating with Iran. The

first attack was on June 21-22 last year – aimed at destroying Iran’s nuclear capabilities. This latest US attack occurred on Feb 28, 2026.

Marilou Munoz, Ewa, said “Most Americans are tired of these forever wars. It’s not just Democrats but many MAGA Republicans are also against this latest war with Iran. Republican politicians in Congress are mostly on board to support the President, but populist Republicans voted for Trump because he vowed not to enter new wars.”

She also cites the US’ financial priorities against

the war. “We always have unlimited financial resources for military conflicts in the billions, but lawmakers ignore or reject urgent needs that would benefit everyday Americans, saying ‘how will we pay for it?’ It’s time we reprioritize our needs and stop spending trillions in taxpayers’ money for wars and preparation for wars.” Both the Republican-majority US Senate and House declined to limit President Trump from taking further military action against Iran without congressional support.

OPINION

ICE Is About Voter Intimidation Not Immigration

By Martina Agonoy

ICE isn’t in Florida or Texas.

In both those states, about 1 in 5 persons is foreign born. That should make it a target rich area to find immigrants – if immigration was the real reason ICE is being sent to the cities.

Data from the American Immigration Council makes it curious why ICE is NOT being sent to states where it should be easy to find immigrants.

Florida

% of residents who are foreign born - 22%

# of foreign-born residents

- 2,163,500

% workforce who are foreign-born - 27.4%

Texas

% of residents who are foreign born - 17.8%

# of foreign-born residents

- 1,897,100

% workforce who are foreign-born - 22.2%

Minnesota

% of residents who are foreign born - 8.4%

# of foreign-born residents

- 500,000

% workforce who are foreign-born - 10.8%

Renée Good had just dropped off her 6-year-old son at school when she was shot to death by ICE. Alex Pretti was rescuing a woman thrown to the ground by

ICE when ICE agents shot him execution style. These murder victims were white. The news didn’t much cover the death of Keith Porter, a black 43-year-old father of two who was shot by ICE on New Year’s Eve outside his apartment complex in Los Angeles.

The excuse that troops were sent in to control crime is a lie.

Birmingham, Alabama is the violent crime capital of the US, but it voted for Trump in 2024, so voters there don’t have to be punished for voting for Kamala in 2024 or intimidated against voting for a Democrat in the future.

2025 was ICE’s deadliest year since 2004, reports British newspaper The Guardian. It compiled a list of the injuries and deaths outside and inside detention facilities.

Since July 2025, eight persons have died in public areas, at the hands of ICE, Customs & Border Protection, or the Dept. of Homeland Security, by shootings, being hit by a vehicle, or in the first case, falling off a roof.

Nine other shootings injured but did not kill the victim. Thirty-five deaths occurred in ICE custody –from lack of medical treatment, asphyxiation, and other unrevealed causes.

(COVER STORY: Violence ....from page 5)

Votes in both chambers were largely partisan with Republicans voting down limiting Trump’s military action while Democrats largely voted to limit Trump without congressional support.

Congress forced a vote amid concerns that the U.S. could be engaged in another lengthy war in the Middle East, and as polls reveal the American public largely rejects the Iran strikes.

Congress is also considering an additional multi-billion package to support the ongoing war.

The Bible says many times, “Do not oppress the alien, for you yourselves were once aliens in this land.”

ICE Missions are Trump’s Ego Taking Revenge on Places that Voted for Kamala

Trump hasn’t sent ICE to Florida and Texas, where it would be easy to round up immigrants since 1 in 5 residents is foreign born.

The absence of ICE in these heavy immigrant states along with the fact that Florida and Texas voted for Trump shows immigration is not the real reason for sending ICE missions.

ICE missions are in counties that voted for Kamala Harris, all counties with far more immigrants than Florida or Texas. Capital B News’ article “A City-by-City Breakdown of Trump’s Immigration Raids and Troop Deployments” shows the cities where Trump sent ICE missions.

All these cities went for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election and most are Democratic led at the mayor or governor’s level.

• Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota

• Chicago , Illinois

• New Orleans, Louisiana

(note: New Orleans and Baton Rouge are more than 50% black)

• Baton Rouge, Louisiana

• Portland. Oregon

Munoz said, “As a devout Catholic Christian, I am against wars that are not imminent and not for purely defensive reasons. Our new Pope Leo has been calling for peace and dialogue. I agree with our Catholic leader.”

Cicero A (Bernie) Bernales, Kailua, supports the US strikes on Iran. “How can the US not get involved when every time the terrorist regime of Iran speaks, they say ‘death to America, death to Israel, and death to all infidels or non-Muslims.’ When these murderous terrorist

• Charlotte, North Carolina

• Raleigh, North Carolina

• Durham, North Carolina

• Chapel Hill, North Carolina

• Memphis, Tennessee

(note: blacks make up the majority and the city has its lowest homicide rates lowest in 6 years)

• Los Angeles, California

• Washington, DC

Trump can count on red states to vote for him so he doesn’t mind their high numbers of immigrants that keep workforce strong, so he has not sent ICE there.

The masked, badgeless officers who carry weapons of war, drive unmarked cars, and throw tear gas at protestors are being sent to cities that voted for Democrats.

ICE tactics terrorize ordinary people going about their daily lives – taking children to school, going to the jobs, waiting at bus stops, shopping, etc.

Pam Bondi’s Department of Justice sued 24 states for refusing to provide its voter data, which would give Trump the information to target voters.

All these states voted for Harris: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia,

enemies swear by those slogans, it would be wise to believe them,” he said.

Bernales adds, “Iran might have had already made nuclear bombs out of the enriched uranium they have secretly stockpiled to make at least 11 nuclear bombs. If that was allowed to happen, then it would have been Armageddon because Israel will not wait for anyone, not even the US, to wipe out all of Iran from the face of this planet. The terrorist Iranian regime, not the Iranian people, chose terror and death, not peace, and

and Washington. These states were toss-ups: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin. (Source: The Brennan Center, “Tracker of Justice Department Requests for Voter Information”.)

No Dept. of Justice has ever asked for this private voter information before in the history of the United States.

USA Today reports that throughout President Obama’s eight years in office, more than 3.1 million immigrants were deported. During Trump’s first term, fewer than 932,000 were deported. Obama accomplished these record removals without terrorizing communities or unwarranted violence.

ICE missions are not about immigration.

It’s Trump taking revenge for voting for Kamala. It’s about a show of power. Does it make sense that ICE has not been sent to carry out missions in Trump-voting states like Florida and Texas, where it would be easy to arrest immigrants since 1 in 5 persons are foreigners?

Does it make sense that all the ICE missions are in cities that voted Democratic in 2024 and not to any Republican areas even though the Republican areas have higher crime rates and numbers of immigrants?

this has gone on too long for 47 years since 1979. America has given the terrorist Iranian regime all the chances for diplomacy or peaceful settlement.”

On Trump, Bernales said, “Trump has been the president who doesn’t just go in, strike a target, and walk away. He finishes the job. He isn’t playing political games; he is focused on protecting America, the American people, and its allies.”

Jay Flores, Waipahu, believes Iran is a military threat and supports the war on Iran. “Iran’s po-

tential for having nuclear weapons must be stopped - Israel and the US have verified that Iran is developing nuclear weapons and because the current political leadership of that country is opposed to the existence of Israel and has had animosity towards the US since the 70s, they cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.”

Flores said he supports regime change and democracy in Iran. “The US should assist the Iranians seeking new leadershipthe regime has sought to

(continue on page 14)

By Atty. Emmanuel S.

Sarah Duterte Carpio has already announced that she is running for President of the Philippines. She also declared that she has decided on who will be her running mate. The speculation is that it will be Senator Imee Marcos Manotoc. Imee appears to be at odds with her brother, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. Their latest public squabble was when Imee declared that her brother is taking prohibited drugs, implying that it has affected his decision-making process.

President Marcos wants to determine who his successor will be. There are those who believe that it should be a member of the Marcos family. Congressman Sandro Marcos of the First District of Ilocos Norte and Majority Leader is under age for a president. He was born on March 7, 1994. He will be 34 on the next presidential election scheduled for May 8, 2028. One must be 40 years old on the day of the election to qualify. Art. VII, Sec. 4. Philippine Constitution 1987. It is too late to have a constitutional convention and ratification in a plebiscite to change the minimum age for a president. Then there is no guarantee that the people will vote to ratify such an amendment that is clearly designed to fit a particular person.

How about President Marcos wife Louise (Liza) Araneta Marcos? She is attractive. She is a lawyer. She has been a professor of law. When she applied to teach at the College of Law of the Northwestern

WHAT’S UP, ATTORNEY?

Who Will Likely Be the Next President of the Philippines?

University in Laoag City where I was the Dean, while her husband, BBM (Bong Bong Marcos) was Governor of Ilocos Norte, I asked her why not just relax and enjoy life. She said that she wanted to do something to help the young people. She was the most effective teacher at the school. She had a lesson plan for the entire course. She is very articulate.

There is also BBM’s younger sister Irene Romualdez Marcos Araneta. Irene studied in England like her siblings. She was born on September 16, 1960. She participated during the campaign rallies of BBM. She has not held elective office but that is not a pre-qualification for the presidency. Look at Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino who served as president from February 25, 1986-June 30, 1992 and her son Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino, III (PNoy) who served as President from 2010-2016. The Marcos name, financial resources, political power, and clean record can carry her to victory.

After they were forced to leave the Philippines in 1986, Irene and her husband Greggy Araneta sojourned in California. I used to visit them. When Cory Aquino came to San Francisco, I suggested that we greet her with a ban-

The fourth complaint alleged that Sara had amassed wealth beyond her earnings and failed to disclose all assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

many of the senator judges will be looking at their reelection bid in 2028. “If the vice president is not convicted by the Senate, she will get stronger,” added Erice. 

ner with the words “Cory Communist Coddler” to be pulled by a low flying airplane at noon. However, the airplane was pulling a sign saying “Cory Communist Cuddler”. I called up their home and Irene answered. I told her about the mix up in the signs. “That’s even better,” she responded.

If it is Liza or Irene for President, who would be the running mate? That can be decided later. But definitely nobody who would be tempted to assassinate her.

CAN SARA SURVIVE THE IMPEACHMENT?

There are at least two remaining impeachment complaints against Sara. The first one was thrown out for having been filed too early. The second complaint was withdrawn.

The third complaint has six grounds for impeachment – misused 500 million pesos in confidential funds, of the Office of the Vice President, 112.5 million pesos of the Department of Education when she was its head. She is also alleged to have “bribed” department officials. She is alleged to have hired an assassin to kill the President, the First Lady, and former House Speaker Romualdez if she should be killed. She is also alleged to have committed sedition by trying to destabilize the President.

The third and fourth impeachment complaints against her were declared “sufficient in substance” by the justice committee of the House of Representatives with one dissent. They required Sara to formally respond.

After Sara responds, the House of Representatives will hold hearings to hear the evidence and the witnesses.

“This is not a cakewalk. This is not easy,” said opposition Liberal Party Rep. Edgar Erice.

Rep. Joel Chua said that Sara’s remarks about hiring an assassin did not contain “the essential elements of an indictable offense”. There is “no identification of an assassin… no overt acts towards execution, defined consideration, and no operational step taken beyond speech.”

With respect to Sara’s SALN violations and ill-gotten wealth, Congressman Rufus Rodriguez said that the complainants did not submit any of Sara’s bank records.

Erice said that it would be difficult for the endorsers of the two complaints to produce, without a court order, more evidence, such as bank records, to trace the origin of Sara’s wealth.

However, it is anticipated by Erice that there will be more than 1/3 votes of the House to impeach Sara and send the case to the Senate for trial.

Erice reportedly warned that if the evidence against Sara is weak, the Senate would have “no incentive” to convict Sara during the trial, since

ATTY. EM

MANUEL

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.

Tipon

VP Sara Z. Duterte FL LIza Araneta-Marcos

How State Lawmakers Could Preserve Income Tax Cuts

By Joe Kent

Gov. Josh Green has proposed balancing the state budget by pausing the historic income tax cuts he signed into law in 2024.

But rather than call on residents to open their wallets, lawmakers should look for spare change in the state budget itself. Doing so is sure to turn up enough funds to cover state expenses.

For starters, the state has many special, revolving and trust funds that support various departments and agencies. Some of these funds serve legitimate purposes — such as holding gas tax revenues to be used for road and bridge repairs — but others do not.

The state Office of the

Auditor has actually identified many funds that aren’t being used properly, and returning that money to the general fund should be a top priority for lawmakers.

Many special funds also hold millions of dollars that go unused year after year, collecting dust while taxpayers try to defend their hard-earned cash from tax hikes.

In the upcoming budget year, the state expects to have more than $5 billion sitting in all of its special, revolving and trust funds. No doubt, lawmakers could find a couple hundred million dollars among them to use for other purposes.

The Legislature could also redirect an additional few hundred million dollars by axing chronically unfilled state jobs. Currently, roughly $350

million in general funds is earmarked for more than 4,600 vacant positions. Abolishing only half of those would save millions of dollars without having to let go of any active state employees.

The Legislature should also scrutinize departments and agencies that have seen their budgets jump dramatically in recent years. It is not uncommon for legislators to automatically increase budget line items from year to year without first considering whether past increases should have been a one-time expense.

For instance, the Public Works Division in the state Department of Accounting and General Services operated with 16 employees between 2016 and 2018, but in 2019 the number of employees jumped to 91 with $10 million in additional annual expenses — without any explanation given in then-Gov. David Ige’s budget request. The division’s staff and payroll has only gone up since.

Another example is the State Foundation for Culture and the Arts, which operated on about $1 million in general funds from 2016 to 2023. In 2024, however, its budget surged to almost $10 million and has not gone back down.

Last but not least, Hawaii lawmakers should consider repealing programs that could be more efficiently run by the pri-

vate sector.

A good place to start would be abolishing the Hawaii Tourism Authority, which the governor’s office has proposed funding with $66 million in the fiscal year 2027 budget.

Hawaii’s hotels, resorts, airlines and tour companies are more than capable of paying for their own marketing campaigns, so abolishing the HTA would be a win for Hawaii taxpayers in general and residents who complain that the state puts too much focus on the visitor industry.

It’s clear that going through the budget with a fine-toothed comb is long overdue, and it would likely net more than enough savings to preserve our tax cuts.

JOE KENT is the executive vice president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii

FEATURE

The Cabral Files: Corruption Behind the Philippines’ Flood Control Program

By Federico V. Magdalena, Ph.D.

Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral plunged to her death in a Benguet ravine on December 18, 2025, right as the explosive flood control corruption scandal hit its peak.

It triggered a wave of speculation about the secrets she may have died protecting.

After her death, the state took custody of her computers and personal records—now collectively referred to as the Cabral Files.

The documents span nearly a decade of records compiled during her tenure at the DPWH. She resigned as Undersecretary on September 16, 2025, shortly after she was implicated in the flood control mess.

The files are now scrutinized by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

They suspect that corruption originates from budget insertions by lawmakers who allegedly receive kickbacks through favored contractors, complicit DPWH officials, and wayward brokers in the flood-control projects from 2023 to 2025.

The latter period is sarcastically described by Senator Panfilo Lacson, chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, as the government’s “most corrupt budget,” which critics question before the Supreme Court.

In his privilege speech, Senator Lacson argues that corruption consumes a substantial portion of the allocated funds, leaving only about 40 percent for actual project implementation.

He also shows a flood control expenditure graph indicating a surge in the budget between 2023 and

2025, when corruption increased due to misuse amid weak oversight.

The Cabral Files first drew public attention after successive typhoons caused rivers to overflow, exposing the failure of flood-control structures and leaving a trail of devastation and deaths in Cebu and Negros Occidental.

Public outrage quickly escalated into mass protests, including the Trillion Peso March, the two-day Iglesia ni Cristo rally in Manila, and other demonstrations nationwide. They demanded accountability and a full investigation into what was widely viewed as systemic corruption.

The flood control controversy intensified after President Marcos Jr. publicly acknowledged it in his July 2025 State of the Nation Address. He reprimanded those involved in Filipino:“mahiya naman kayo” (“you should be ashamed”).

These files have become popular when Batangas Congressman Leandro Leviste publicly disclosed a set of documents on December 21, 2025, shortly after the death of DPWH Usec Cabral.

He reposted on social media and in interviews that Cabral had provided him with the files on September 4, 2025, following an instruction from DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon to turn over the records in the interest of transparency.

Dizon, however, said he could not authenticate the said files as he had not read them.

Malacanang Spokesperson Claire Castro quickly called the Cabral files “hearsay” and argued that they have no “probative value.”

Senator Lacson countered, saying that “to prematurely dismiss the probable involvement of some

members of the Cabinet as ‘hearsay’ may be interpreted as a euphemism for cover-up” (philstar.com, December 26, 2025).

Bilyonaryo News Channel and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) have featured stories of alleged corruption in flood control.

They say that “allocables” (another term for the outlawed pork barrel) and “insertions” are the sources of brazen corruption in recent years.

Allocables are budgets allocated to lawmakers by DPWH according to a formula developed by Usec Cabral, while insertions are amendments or modifications to the budget during the Congressional bicameral meeting.

A deeper examination of the Cabral Files shows an intricate network of lawmakers, favored contractors, and departmental brokers who benefited from anomalous budget allocations and insertions.

Leviste underscored the central importance of these documents, unraveling the controversies that might link legislators, senior government officials, and other personalities in the scandal.

He has since publicly named several individuals for possible investigation, including CWS Party-List Congressman Edwin Gardiola, who also allegedly acted as a contractor in billions of pesos worth of questionable projects.

Widespread and sys-

has recommended charges against 87 officials for investigation by the ICI, including resigned House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez and several lawmakers.

What have we learned from the Cabral Files?

temic corruption has been reported in many sectors, not just by government investigators, but also admitted after an internal audit by the DPWH.

Secretary Dizon even pointed out “421 ghost projects,” flood control infrastructures that were fully paid for, certified completed, but never implemented. Hundreds more were considered sub-standard. So far, warrants of arrest have been issued for Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co and 17 others, mostly DPWH officials linked to irregular projects in Oriental Mindoro, and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya and several DPWH officials involved in the “ghost” flood controls in Davao Occidental. Co has eluded arrest by hiding abroad, and whose passport has been canceled.

Secretary Dizon said he

Preliminary findings expose systemic looting of public funds through a tightly knit network of contractors colluding with DPWH officials. This scheme is rooted in congressional budget insertions and allocables. Based on testimonies, investigators have confirmed cases pointing to institutional collaboration rather than isolated incidents of fraud.

Cabral’s death has raised profound and unresolved questions, exposing not an end to corruption but its brazenness. Whether the full contents of the Cabral Files will ultimately be disclosed remains uncertain.

Privately, however, both citizens and government officials acknowledge that the flood control scandal is unprecedented in scale, reaching a level never before seen in the history of Philippine infrastructure.

DR. FEDERICO MAGDALENA iis an Associate Specialist of the Center for Philippine Studies, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and a Contributing Writer to Hawaiʻi Filipino Chronicle.

The late DPWH Usec Cathy Cabral during a Senate inquiry.

By Elpidio R. Estioko

With American football overwhelmingly considered as the favorite sport in the United States, the ripple effect of the just concluded Super Bowl LX, which was held in the Mainland on February 1, 2026, spread all over the different islands of Hawaii.

With roughly 36% to 53% of adults identifying it as their top choice, football has held this dominant position for decades, far outpacing basketball (17%) and baseball (9–10%) in popularity.

American football is without a doubt the most popular sport in the USA. The NFL also has the highest average attendance (67,591) of any sports league in the world!

The league consists of 32 teams, which are divided between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC).

The 17-week regular season starts in September and ends in December, with every team playing 16 games. Then it only gets bigger, as the best teams

Super Bowl LX’s Ripple Effect Reaches Hawaii

advance to the play-offs culminating in the Super Bowl, which in itself is the biggest annual sporting event in the country!

Yes, the ripple effect of the Super Bowl LX was unmistakably felt in Hawaii, characterized by energized celebrations, viewing parties, and a strong, surprising turnout of fans, according to my friends and relatives in Oahu and its neighboring island of Maui and as far as the Big Island.

Recent reports mentioned that the impact was felt in Hawaii with enthusiastic fan celebrations. Seahawks fans in Hawaii refer to the champion Seahawks as the “12s”. The team’s Super Bowl LX victory against the New England Patriots was celebrated with massive gatherings at venues like Agave and Vine at Ala Moana Center.

Despite windy and wet weather, there were surprising turnouts in Hawaii celebrations throughout the night, with the crowd spilling into the Lanai food court seating at Ala Moana.

In the Mainland, the celebration was centered at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara but the ripple effect spreads in all adjoining cities of San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Jose, Milpitas,

and Fremont affecting all aspects of society including businesses, families, events, private gatherings, appointments, socials, and local governments.

The local governments and establishments were busy from hotels, restaurants, the San Jose Convention Center, parking spaces, parks, the SF Golden Gate, and even residential houses hosting relatives attending the Super Bowl.

Initial reports showed that Super Bowl LX has generated an estimated $370 million to $630 million economic impact across the Bay Area caused by packed hotels, increased tourism, and high-spending visitors. The event boosted local businesses, particularly in the South Bay, while serving as a global showcase for San Francisco’s economic resurgence, Santa Clara and even San Jose.

Festivities and visitors were spreading economic activity throughout the region. Due to the oversized number of visitors coming from various cities other than Seattle’s Seahawks and New England’s the Patriots, accommodations and hospitality gestures overflowed to adjoining Bay Area cities.

Those attending the event in person coming from other cities either drove from their nearby hotels to Levi’s Stadium, took the rail transit or walked a mile or two. Traffic was jampacked and people scrambled for time, space and mileage.

Activities were not only focused on those attending the event. For those who opted to stay home, they converted their garages into tail gate-like gatherings watching the event on TV with friends and relatives.

Homeowners open their doors hosting super bowls by turning their garages into personal super bowl-watch parties avoiding traffic, the crowd, expensive tickets, long waits, driving, and personal hassles. They turn their garage to barbecue parties watching the Super Bowl on TV at the comfort of their homes.

Besides, they enjoyed bonding with their friends and relatives during Super bowl season right at the comfort of their homes, not outside among the madding and volatile crowd.

Also, prior to the Super Bowl, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan likewise held his State of the City Address in the first week of February to let his constituents know of his accomplishments for the past three years which jumpstarted his decision to run for governor of California. He mentioned that what he did for San Jose will be spread to the whole state of California and will be replicated and improved as a statewide project.

In his early 2026 State of the City address, Mayor Matt Mahan highlighted the city’s role as a leader in California, focusing on accountability for better results.

Key themes included strengthening public safety through community partnerships, addressing homelessness by expanding emergency housing, and capitalizing on the city’s economic, cultural, and sports opportunities.

Mayor Mahan said the city is undergoing a transformation period, describing it as a transformative era for the South Bay, highlighting the city’s growth,, including

hosting major international events like the 2026 World Cup, focusing on delivering tangible accountable results for residents.

He thanked the residents for showing up, showing out, and showing us what it means to hold the government accountable for better results. “It’s because of all of you that San José is leading the way for the state of California,” Mahan concluded.

With his state of the city address as a prelude to the Super Bowl, he included a Super Bowl ad of what he did for San Jose as he committed to continue to do more for California!

Backers of Matt Mahan spent $1.4 million in Super Bowl ad campaign funded by Silicon Valley tech executives to boost his gubernatorial bid. The 30-second ad depicts Mahan, a moderate Democrat, as a “fixer of problems” in a big city “just miles from the big game” and touts his record reducing homelessness, building housing and reducing crime.

The ad was produced by a committee run independently of Mahan’s campaign and funded mostly by Silicon Valley executives, including $1 million from Michael Seibel of Y Combinator and $500,000 each from Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill and his wife, Ashley. Committee spokesman Matt Rodriguez said: “This Super Bowl ad kicks off our support for Matt Mahan’s run for governor. His unmatched record on tackling crime, homelessness and housing in San José while focusing on the basics that Californians care about is very different than the old playbook of toxic politics.”

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

By Emil Guillermo

t the Winter Olympics, especially after that Men’s Hockey final, all Americans figuratively draped themselves with the flag, heads weighed down by Olympic gold. (Not the most in all the world, but enough to bow in gratitude).

Is it enough to make us act like one country again? Let’s hope so. That’s the enduring takeaway of the Olympics. We are all on the same team.

You win and celebrate with joy. You lose to another country and you still celebrate as an Olympian lucky enough to compete.

You don’t throw a tantrum at the world or say the contest was rigged. Are you listening Mr. President?

The relevant lesson for him is, you can’t use tariffs as a weapon to beat countries into submission. And you listen to the rule of law. You don’t call the Supreme Court justices-who voted that your tariffs were illegal—“embarrassments to their families.”

You also don’t start a war with Iran. Not without making the case to the public. Certainly not without Congressional approval.

If as the NBC promo insists, “for two weeks, we are on the same team,” I hope the idea sticks and we can move toward closing the divisions that threaten this country.

You know the president was watching. I hope he learned something. Somehow, I doubt it.

Final Day Thoughts —From Hockey To Gu

On the last day of the Olympics, I was up early watching the U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team.

There were no Filipinos or Asian Americans. But so what? This was America’s team. We are Americans. And that’s the point of the games. They were representing us. All of us. That was my team. It didn’t exactly look like us, but the team was built by the cabal that is U.S. hockey. They know hockey, I don’t.

But the team could have included Filipino Asian American Jason Robertson, a stalwart with the Dallas Stars, and one of the leading scorers in the NHL.

Merit didn’t get him picked. Where was affirmative action when we really needed it? Merit meant nothing? It boils down to who

Olympic Lessons On The Final Day— Of Hockey, Obligation, And Eileen Gu

defines “merit”? Coaches will say they picked players for certain roles, styles of play, team chemistry. But there was legacy too. Brothers from a family of Olympic coaches. Olympic blood lines. Diversity meant nothing. Good players were left out.

Somewhat different on the women’s team where diversity had a historic and incidental role. Laila Edwards was the first Black woman to represent the U.S. in Olympic women’s hockey history. But there was no shortage on merit. Edwards’ inspiring play resulted in two goals and six assists in 7 games, including an assist on the goal that sent their gold medal game into overtime.

So just as I rooted for the women, I rooted for the men. It didn’t help that my current favorite hockey player, the San Jose Sharks’ star Macklin Celebrini was now the villain skating for Team Canada, hammering away at the U.S. in the final minutes of regular time.

But this is the Olympics. May the best team win. After three periods of hockey, the U.S. men looked gassed. But in the overtime, we didn’t have to wait long.

With the puck to the left of the Canadian goal, the USA’s Jack Hughes came down the right side uncovered. Hughes took the pass from teammate Zach Werenski to shoot the game winner through the five hole. (I visited Canada for six weeks last summer. I know the five hole).

The U.S. won. All of us. Pass out the medals and the stuffed animals. Play the anthem. That’s our song.

The Gu-lympic Question

After the hockey, NBC broadcast the delayed women’s free-ski halfpipe, a must see in every Tiger Mom’s weekend schedule. It featured two American-born Stanford students--not competing for the U.S.

Zoe Atkin, born in the U.S. to a British father and a Malaysian mom, was skiing for the Brits.

But all eyes were on Eileen Gu, the defending Olympic champion in the event, famously born in San Francisco to a Chinese mom and an American father. And competing for China.

There wouldn’t be an issue about representing your family’s ancestral lands since most of the time we aren’t talking about the “best of the best” athletes.

These are athletes who just want to breathe Olympic air.

That makes it the Olympic version of “affirmative action.”

This year there was Tallulah Prou-

lx, 17, a Filipino American from Park City, Utah who was the first female athlete to represent the Philippines.

In the ‘80s I knew the first Filipino American man, Ray Ocampo, who did the luge for his family’s country. The Oracle star attorney lost for once in his life. But he won too. From then on, he could be rightfully called an Olympian.

This year, Proulx finished 50th in the slalom and 52nd in the giant slalom.

That’s the way it’s supposed to work when you compete for your mom and dad’s country.

It’s OK because you didn’t win, sure. But it also allows small countries like the Philippines that don’t have the resources to get representation at the games.

No one expects a longshot like Proulx to win a medal, let alone win gold. But Gu is different. She is a legitimate world-class champion. Gu who defended her free-style event title Sunday and became the most decorated Olympic freestyle skier ever. In two Olympics, Gu has six medals in all, three gold and three silvers.

That’s six medals that went to Gu-China not Gu-America.

Made me think it’s too bad Jason Robertson, the Filipino American hockey player, couldn’t be part of the Philippines National Men’s Hockey Team.

If one only existed.

Gu’s Entitlement

I don’t begrudge Gu her medals. Really. I do admit to being a bit hard on Gu during the Beijing Games in 2022, mostly because of the overall protest against China and its treatment of the Uyghurs, who still face repression in China.

This time in Italy, it all seems normalized. I admit to being a little nostalgic when the Olympics were all about “amateurism.” These days money has spoiled everything in sports at every level. No one blinks an eye when it’s reported that the Chinese pay millions to Gu to represent China rather than the U.S.

And even though China does not offer dual citizenship, Gu has carved out a unique sense of entitlement. She’s seen as a “global citizen” who does what she wants, where she wants, when she wants, and for the highest bidder.

Of course, as an American, she is still afforded certain inalienable rights here that aren’t given to those in China. And if you’ve seen her in-

terviewed, Gu practices those rights frequently. But as SF State Asian American Studies professor Daniel Phil Gonzales said to me this weekend, that all comes with a sense of “obligation” to one’s country.

“Obligation” can be seen as a sense of loyalty, or patriotism. And Gu chose China for the podium.

Frankly, I like Gu, a fellow San Franciscan. She’s smart and thoughtful. But she’s not draped in our flag.

After her victory, when she spoke to the media, the focus reportedly was on how she just learned about her grandmother’s death.

My sincere sympathies to her and her family. But it doesn’t change how I feel about her competing for China. And I don’t think I’m alone in my discomfort over Gu. And it has nothing to do with the millions she gets from China to be the face of winter sports there.

More important is how people post-Olympics, post-Gu will look at another Asian American face. Will they question our loyalties when gold isn’t on the line?

In the hostile environment of the U.S. where a dark face is seen as un-American, Eileen Gu becomes the 21st Century Olympic Model Minority.

Some wags even make the argument that Gu being opportunistic is really just the American way. Really? Like Donald Trump and his crypto-corruption?

By dwelling on Gu, I don’t mean to give short shrift to the other winning individual Asian American athletes. I cheered for Chloe Kim and Madison Chock, who skated with her husband, Evan Bates. And Oakland’s Alyssa Liu’s comeback Gold medal made me cry.

But that was a few weeks ago. As I write on the final day of the Olympics, it was all hockey and Gu. And I’m just not all goo-goo over Gu.

Yes, she’s the beautiful American-born, Louis Vuitton model, Stanford student, Olympic champion, millionairess. Every Tiger Mom and Dad’s dream, right?

But you can’t stop there. She’s an American bought and paid for who represents China.

And no matter what she says, something about that still doesn’t feel right.

EMIL GUILLERMO is a journalist and commentator. His talk show is on www.amok.com.

Cabinet of Curiosities—History from Philippine Artifacts

By Rose Cruz Churma

abinet of Curiosities–History from Philippine Artifacts” is the latest book from noted historian, Ambeth Ocampo. He is also an independent curator whose predominant research covers the late nineteenth century Philippines, and covers its arts, culture and its heroes and ordinary folks who influenced the birth of the new nation.

Ambeth Ocampo has 35 books to his name, and growing, with some articles culled from his column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer or from his social media presence on Instagram and Facebook.

In 1999, he took on the challenge to do a 100day front page series called “Millennium Countdown” to bid goodbye to the 20th century and welcome the new one. This was similar to the “Centennial Countdown” that he undertook as the Philippines anticipated its centennial leading up to June 12, 1998.

Unlike the “Centennial Countdown” publication (its second printing was rebranded as 101 Stories of the Philippine Revolution), the “Millennium Countdown” series took 23 years to get published as Cabinet of Curiosities which is focused on 100 objects.

The author notes in the preface that his “ primary criterion for selection was that all the artifacts must be relevant to the Philippines…everything had to be manmade.” He included works of art by Filipino artists, folk expressions of Philippine culture like the banig, baskets and brooms, including the bulul.

As a 100-day page series, he was faced with a strict deadline—and he admits that his choices were uneven “in terms of time pe-

riod and geographic origin.”

In any event, the book is still an enjoyable read for those constantly curious about Philippine culture and history. It’s like going through a box of assorted goodies one normally gets as pasalubong—some are worth reading. You just roll your eyes for the others.

The objects under scrutiny are grouped into three: Pre-historic Period, Spanish Period and the Contemporary Era. Each object is listed alphabetically—from the Angono Petroglyphs to the Tinguian Cloth under the Pre-Historic Period, with items like Banig, Boxer Codex and Bulul in between.

Various scholars have different interpretations on what the Baybayin carved on its rim is saying. Some scholars even question its authenticity. Perhaps this is what makes this palayok fascinating: it gives these socalled scholars relevance.

It’s like getting small doses of history: you can pick up the book and read one or a few of the articles about a certain object. It need not be read in a strict chronology.

For example, Anting Anting falls under the Spanish Period; this object probably had its roots in Pre-Historic Philippines but evolved during the Spanish Period and is still treasured during the Contemporary Era. It can be grouped anywhere—one of the timeless Filipino icons.

Another object that is familiar to those who frequent Filipino restaurants is the palayok—the earthenware used to serve karekare or sinigang and other soupy dishes. What is included in this book is the Calatagan pot which was discovered in Calatagan, Batangas in 1961.

For over sixty years now, this palayok has been a source of scholarly debate. Baybayin, the ancient script attributed to pre-hispanic Filipinos, is incised on the shoulder of the pot.

It is clear evidence that writing was being done in pre-colonial Philippines.

Rizal with his skull! Apparently she kept her son’s remains in an ornate wood urn in her home in Binondo. Eventually Jose Rizal’s remains were interred under the Rizal Monument in Luneta or Rizal Park in 1913. But prior to that, Teodora posed with her son’s skull as souvenir photos, a prime example of a “Recuerdos de Patay.”

Art work were also included—facsimile of paintings of Fernando Amorsolo, BenCab’s works from his “Flag Paintings” or sketches of Juan Luna for Rizal’s novel Noli Me Tangere, including Leandro Locsin’s Philippine Cultural Center.

The banig is another item listed under the Pre-Hispanic period. Originally used for sleeping, one rolls it on the floor or a raised platform called papag and is the equivalent of the fitted sheet in today’s homes. When I was growing up, the banig was a standard personal issue— and is usually paired with the kumot or blanket.

The banig was usually woven in the Visayas (such as Samar or Leyte) or the southern islands near Sulu, while the kumot was usually abel cloth from the Ilocos.

The banig article featured in this book included a photo of a banig gifted to the US Governor-General of the Philippines Frank Murphy. Made from Basey, Samar it had the portrait of Frank Murphy emblazoned at its center. I doubt if he used it for sleeping when he returned to Michigan which accounts for its pristine state.

Photographs were also included such as the “Wacky Photos” and the “Recuerdos de Patay” or souvenirs of the dead. What was intriguing but ghoulish was a souvenir “selfie” of Teodora Alonso, the mother of national hero Jose

Strangely, this was one of my favorites. Villa also had a poem called “The Emperor’s New Sonnet” which was just a blank page, or the poem called “Parenthetical Sonnet” which consists of a parenthesis that opens at the top left and closes at the bottom right. He was also one of the earliest Filipino poets (writing in English) about sensual love.

Nick Joaquin’s play, Portrait of the Artist as a Filipino was included in the mix. Considered the most important Filipino play in English, it was translated into Filipino twice, by Alfred Yuson in 1969 and by Bienvenido Lumbera in 1992.

The play was translated into film and was featured at the Filipino Film Festival at the Honolulu Museum of Art a few years ago. Considered a classic, I found the English dialogue of folks dressed in Filipiniana and living in a bahay na bato uncomfortably stilted. Someday, I may be lucky enough to watch the play in the Filipino language.

The most surprising item for me was the inclusion of Jose Garcia Villa’s poetry. An anthology of his poems titled Poems 55: The Best Poems of Jose Garcia Villa as Chosen by Himself is one I still have on my bookshelf. I first read the book in high school and it inspired me to dabble in poetry for a bit.

One section titled “Caprices” are what Ocampo notes as defying description. Poem 37, “The Bashful One” has nothing on the page but a lone comma at the bottom of an empty page.

Jose Garcia Villa was declared the National Artist for Literature in 1973 and part of his award’s citation notes: “To the art of poetry, Villa introduced the reversed consonance rhyme scheme for greater subtlety and discipline, and the “comma poems” which glorify the punctuation mark by a strangely innovative functional and poetic use.”

I always looked at the comma differently since. History should never be confined to the written word, whether in print or online. As noted in the back cover: “…artifacts are mute. Yet, they too have stories to tell, many stories that contribute to a sense of what it means to be Filipino.”

The author, Ambeth Ocampo, is currently the Horacio de la Costa Professor in History and the Humanities and former chairman of the Department of History at the Ateneo de Manila University. He previously served as President of the Philippine Historical Association (PHA); Chairman of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP); and Chairman of the National Commission of Culture and the Arts (NCCA): among others.

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.

WHEN THE WORLD SHAKES…

By Seneca Moraleda-Puguan

The news of Ukraine’s invasion by Russia on February 24 four years ago remains one of the most heartbreaking events I have ever witnessed.

It came at a time when the world was still struggling to recover from a global pandemic that had wreaked havoc and claimed millions of lives. It was a dark chapter in our history. The suffering has not ended. Lives are still being lost.

And now, here we are again, watching another war unfold in the Middle East.

From the Philippines, we see it through screens and headlines, yet we know its impact will ripple far beyond the region. No nation stands untouched when conflict erupts. In today’s interconnected world, every war becomes everyone’s concern.

When news broke of Iran being attacked by Is-

rael and the United States, followed by Iran’s retaliation against key locations in neighboring countries, fear gripped my heart.

My thoughts immediately turned to friends and family in Dubai and across the United Arab Emirates.

While I experience peace and freedom in my own country, my heart aches for those living closer to the tension, especially the people of Iran who find themselves caught in the middle of political and military turmoil.

Though my loved ones are currently safe, they have shared their anxiety about the uncertainty surrounding them. Flights from Europe and other parts of the world have been canceled.

I worry about my friends traveling from Switzerland to the Philippines for our church conference this March, as their route includes Qatar Airways. Travel plans now

feel fragile, again.

How uncertain the world feels. How quickly peace can give way to chaos. In a world where evil exists, wars seem inevitable.

Yet this I know: these moments, as devastating as they are, are temporary.

Though discouraged by the news, I find hope in the good news I hold onto. In my quiet moments of devotion, I am reminded that while there is an enemy whose mission is to steal, kill, and destroy, divide and dismantle.

There is also a God

whose mission is to revive, redeem, and restore. Scripture assures us that He binds up the brokenhearted, restores what is shattered, and makes all things new.

Evil may wreak havoc across the globe–from pandemics to wars–but God is bigger. God is stronger. God is greater. He is sovereign. He is good. He is in control. These are truths I will declare again and again.

It may seem that we are merely spectators to the terror unfolding before us, powerless to change it. But we are not without a role. We can intercede. Prayer is not passive; it is powerful. And this is the prayer that burns in my heart: Lord, we lift up the people of Iran, Israel, and the entire Middle East.

Bring comfort to those who mourn and protection to those in danger. Let evil be overcome by good. Let love triumph over hatred.

Grant wisdom to leaders, that they may choose

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

peace over revenge and reconciliation over retaliation. Prince of Peace, reign over the nations. Let peace prevail where chaos threatens to reign.

May this be a time when we unite in prayer for the nations. Though we may be divided by language, race, culture, religion, or color, we share one humanity.

When one part suffers, we all feel the ache. Let us remember our brothers and sisters in the Middle East, not only in words, but in prayer and compassion.

The brokenness we see can feel overwhelming. But may we never forget: God is sovereign, and He is working even when we cannot see it.

While we may not be able to stop every act of injustice or erase every pain, we can choose kindness. We can stand in the gap. We can pray.

When the world shakes, we pray. I believe that prayer is where peace begins.

Public Backlash Puts ‘Pause’ of Tax Cuts in Doubt

Two bills that would “pause” Hawaii’s historic 2024 income tax cuts over a five-year period have run into trouble with Hawaii residents who have been counting on keeping more of their own money in the coming years, estimated to total more than $7 billion over the life of the phased-in cuts.

The bills together generated more than 300 testimonies from both individuals and organizations opposing the bills, which if enacted would put an end to the remainder of the cuts that went into effect in 2024 and are scheduled to wrap up in 2031.

The House Committee on Finance held

The governor and other proponents of the bill allege that the cuts are needed to cover unexpected expenses caused partly by a loss in some federal funding.

Despite the public backlash to the bills, both emerged from the hearings with different amendments.

On the House side, House Finance Committee Chair Rep. Chris Todd added amendments that would increase the tax rates on each of the top three tax brackets by 1 percentage point while keeping the planned

changes to the standard deduction for everyone else in place.

For Hawaii taxpayers in those top three brackets, Todd’s amendments would be a tax increase.

Meanwhile, Senate Ways and Means Committee Chair Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz amended that bill to keep the planned tax reductions in place for joint filers making less than $350,000 and single filers making less than $175,000 but repeal it for all others.

Dela Cruz also amended the bill to abolish business certain tax credits.

Both pieces of legislation also propose extending certain tax credits for low- and middle- ina hearing on HB2306 on March 3. The Senate Committee on Ways and Means considered SB3125 on March 5.

come families and making changes to the dependent-care tax credit.

Looking ahead, the next steps are for the Senate to consider the House version and for the House

to consider the Senate version.

If the bills survive those hearings, legislators will likely convene a conference committee to try to come to an agreement. 

COMMENTARY

The Killing And The Madness Must End

By Gary Hooser

Those girls attending Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school didn’t deserve to die.

It was just a regular school day. They were in their classrooms, doing what schoolgirls do, when their world exploded and their lives ended.

It happened on February 28, 2026.

In the blink of an eye, 167 innocent people, most of them children, blown to smithereens.

undermine American interests in the Middle East and needs to be replaced with a pro-American government that protects its people. I support Donald Trump and trust in his judgement. The US should install an Iranian administration friendly to the US so we can control their oil. If the government of Iran is friendly with the US, America and the rest of the world will benefit from lower oil prices,” he said.

Dennis Galolo also supports this war. “It would be obviously foolish for the U.S. to engage in every conflict but in situations where diplomacy fails and military action is needed; we must first count the cost and ask, ‘Is this a hill truly worth dying on?’” He adds, “Not only did the Iranian regime eliminate 30,000 protestors in recent weeks, but they have also indiscriminately fired missiles at its Muslim neighbors. If they are willing to do that, make no mistake, they will use nuclear weapons on the U.S. and its allies, should they ever develop the capability to do so. As for regime change. I trust the Trump administration to act in the best interest of the Iranian people--similar to the rebuilding and

There hasn’t been a single statement of regret from the President of the United States, nor from the Prime Minister of Israel.

Whether this murder of schoolchildren was intentional and premeditated, or whether it was an “accident” or collateral damage -- these children would be alive today if not for the decisions made and actions taken by Trump and Netanyahu.

If there is, in fact, a hell, you may be certain both men will one day burn there.

The incomprehensible damage to people and the

reshaping in Venezuela. So, is this a hill worth dying on? The answer is yes. Diplomacy failed and deadlines to comply were dismissed, so the U.S. acted decisively in order to deter future action by a tyrannical regime.”

Sheryll Bonilla, Honolulu, views this war as a distraction. “How evil are the sex crimes Trump committed against young girls that he needed to start a war to distract attention away from the Epstein files? In January this year, when Trump was getting heat for being a month late turning over the files, he threatened to send our military to take over Greenland. Now that the Dept. of Justice was found hiding files containing accusations against Trump, the US attacked Iran without being attacked first. The most obvious reason $1 billion a day is being spent on a war with Iran is to take attention away from files that were due to be turned over on December 19, 2025, and still are being hidden by the Dept. of Justice.”

Bonilla raises the potential added economic hardship this war will have. “My second thought is -- this Iran war is another way that our prices will go up besides tariffs.

planet brought about by the actions of President Donald J. Trump and his enablers will take generations to quantify and understand, much less to heal.

The toll in human lives lost, and severe environmental damage around the globe, will grow exponentially in months ahead. Of that, there is no doubt.

Thousands are being radicalized. Inflamed by the slaughter of friends and family, their rage will soon focus on global terrorism, sabotage, and violent protest.

Should Iran continue

The Wall Street Journal reports the impact that the Iran war has on agriculture around the world. The Middle East produces a significant portion of the fertilizer used by farmers in many countries. This is planting season. Attacks in this region prevent or reduce the production of fertilizer. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz prevents the export of fertilizer. The shortage of fertilizer raises the costs farmers face and makes them change the crops they can plant. Those increased costs are passed on to those of us eating the food grown. Our food supply is affected by this war, in addition to the increase in our fuel prices,” she said.

Bonilla commented on this administration’s priorities. “$1 billion a day on war, but no money to create a universal healthcare system for our citizens the way all other prosperous democracies have for their citizens. No money to pay for childcare so more women can enter the workforce and bring down the cost of living for families? No money for soft power through USAID to prevent global health epidemics and reduce mortality and keep goodwill for the US? Isn’t investing in people and making life more affordable a better

to refuse an “unconditional surrender,” tactical nuclear weapons designed for battlefield use (rather than city-level destruction) may be utilized and rationalized by those in power.

That line will then have been crossed, and the nuclear door opened to Iran or others who may then respond with whatever nuclear devices they possess - or can purchase from others.

The authoritarian regime now in control of the U.S. will then declare martial law, elections will be suspended, and democracy

use of $1 billion a day of our tax dollars?”

Trump has ordered bombings in several countries in his first 14 months of his second term: Somalia - Yemen - Iraq - Iran (June 2025) - the Caribbean - Nigeria - Syria - Venezuela.

Price of oil and gas rising fast

For the first time since 2022, global oil prices surged past $100 a barrel due to disruptions and speculation triggered by the Iran war. Since the outbreak of the war the average price of gasoline jumped by 17% at $3.48 in the US.

The strait of Hormuz – one of the world’s most important trade arteries, through which about a fifth of global oil pass –has been closed since the US-Israel strike on Iran.

Experts say high oil and gas prices rise depends on whether the Iran war disrupts supplies for a prolonged period.

The extraordinary spike in oil prices is “a very small price to pay” for the US “and World, Safety and Peace,” Trump said on his social media account and described this rise as “short term” and insists they “will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat

and life as we’ve known it for the past 250 years will end.

Those of us who believe we are all in this together, and that we can and must build and support a better world for ALL people, must unite in opposition, and we must take action NOW.

We must wear our opposition to Trump and everything he stands for on our sleeves, on signs in front of our homes, on bumper stickers, EVERYWHERE.

We must make those calls, send those emails, and show up at community (continue on page 15)

is over.”

Until then, gas prices soared across the US in the first week of the war, rising as high as 30 to 60-cent-per-gallon. Prolonged higher oil and gas prices will stoke inflation and force Americans to not only pay higher prices at the pump but also for utilities and groceries, economists say. It also comes at a time of already high inflation due to Trump’s tariffs and high unemployment.

Filipinos in the Middle East

Amid growing concern for Filipinos in the Middle East, more than 200 Filipino migrant worker advocates held a protest in New York City while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived for engagements at the United Nations. The protestors were led by Migrante USA, Tanggol Migrante Queens and Gabriela New York.

There are between 2.1 to 3 million Filipinos living and working in the Middle East with over 1 million in the UAE and 700,000-900,000 in Saudi Arabia.

On March 1, 2026, a 32-year old Filipina caregiver, Mary Ann de Vera, was killed by shrapnel during an Iranian missile strike in Tel Aviv, Israel.

BE SMARTER AND SAFER ONLINE SERIES | AARP Hawaii | Online seminar | April 7 and April 28, 2026 at 10 am | In this two-part series, you'll build confidence navigating the online world as you explore how to manage your privacy and learn tools for evaluating online information. Register here: https://events.aarp.org/event/tech4-26/ summary.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

FLORES DE MAYO & FILIPINO FIESTA | FilCom Center, Filipino Jaycees of Honolulu | The Filipino Community Center, 94-428 Mokuola Street, Waipahu | May 6, 2026 | The FilCom Center and Filipino Jaycees of Honolulu are teaming up to celebrate this year’s Flores de Mayo and Filipino Fiesta. The event is open for sponsorships. Vendors are encouraged to apply early to secure their spot. Head to filcom.org/filipino-fiesta for more information.

BIBLE REFLECTIONS

39TH ANNUAL MEMORIAL WEEKEND CME CONFERENCE | Philippine Medical Association of Hawaii | Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko’Olina, 92-1001 Olani St, Kapolei | May 23-24, 2026 | Join the conference at the majestic Four Seasons Resort and learn about the recent updates in patient care from the Philippine Medical Association of Hawaii. Tickets available at pmah-hawaii.org/memorialday2026.

When A Chapter Closes Suddenly

By Bermie Dizon

Just a week ago, we were laughing around a table, eating lunch in a Chinese restaurant in Pampanga, Philippines.

We were reminiscing about our youth, telling stories we had told before, smiling at how time had shaped us.

She was tired but hopeful. She was looking forward to having a vacation with friends in the paradise island of Boracay. She was also planning her return to the United States.

After years of caring for her elderly mother, who died a few months ago, she was finally thinking about herself–going back home to the USA.

Then came the fever. Asthma tightened her breathing. And before we could process it, Irma was gone.

When something like this happens, we say what we always say: “Her life was cut short.”

But if life is cut short, does that mean God himself was surprised?

For the first few nights, I couldn’t sleep. I have been praying about that phrase. In fact, I have heard it so many times when a loved one dies.

From our perspective, it feels cut short. There were unfinished plans. A vacation not taken. A chapter not written. It feels like a book that stopped mid-sentence.

But from God’s perspective, is there such a thing as a life cut short?

God is never surprised. He does not gasp in shock the way we do. He does not discover news. He knows the beginning and the end. Scripture tells us that all our days were written in His book before one of them came to be.

“Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning,from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’” Isaiah 46:9–10 (NIV)

That means what feels sudden to me was not sudden to Him.

(COMMENTARY: The Killing ....from page 14)

meetings and public hearings, united in our message: NO to any further expansion of the military industrial complex.

When the crunch comes, we must be willing to confront the Devil himself, and peacefully and lawfully take to the streets, exercise our freedom of speech, and risk arrest for civil disobedience if necessary.

We must exercise our power in ways big and small.

We must boycott businesses that support Trump and his madness.

There’s almost no question that the mid-term elections will be sabotaged, canceled, or stolen. We must prepare for that as well.

A massive voter turnout is what will be required to counter the inevitable claims of “voter fraud,” so get ready.

And we must help our friends and allies serving in Congress.

While there are no shortage of needs and wants in my household, and lots of other things I could spend the money on - today I’m contributing $100 to the

Here is what humbles me. We assume the “next chapter” must be here on earth. But what if, from God’s view, eternity was always the next chapter?

My cousin sacrificed years caring for her mother. She postponed her own dreams. She poured out her time, energy, and strength. From our human timeline, it feels unfair that she did not get to enjoy the reward of her sacrifice.

But Jesus’ earthly life was only thirty-three years. By human standards, that sounds short. Yet who would dare say His life was incomplete?

Length is not the same as fullness.

election campaign of U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda (Hawaii CD2) whom I know personally and trust.

I’m also going to push just a little bit harder and contribute $25 each to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Congressional candidates Analilia Mejia NJ-11 (she has a special general election on April 16th), Daniel Biss IL-09, Bob Brooks PA-07, Nate Blouin UT-01, and John Cavanaugh NE-02

Please join me today in sending out a campaign contribution of ANY amount to these individuals

Perhaps in God’s wisdom, a life is not measured by how long it lasts, but by how fully it fulfills its purpose.

I still grieve. I still ask why. I still wish we had more lunches, more conversations, more laughter.

But I also know this: the One who holds our days is the same One who entered death Himself.

Jesus did not remain distant from our sorrow. He walked into it. He breathed our air. He felt suffocation on the cross. He faced the darkness and broke it from the inside.

Because of Him, death is not a sentence cut short. It is a doorway into a chapter we cannot yet see.

I do not understand God’s timing. But I trust His heart. And even when the chapter closes suddenly, I trust the Author.

From our side of time, some lives feel cut short. From God’s eternal perspective, every life is fully known, fully held, and fully completed in His wisdom. What feels unfinished to us may already be whole in Christ.

and to ANY candidate you believe shares our values and will stand in opposition to the fascists now in control of the United States.

And SHOW UP at the “No Dictators - No Kings” rally on Saturday, March 28th! Google for time and locations.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I do not understand Your timing. I do not understand why some chapters close so quickly. My heart aches for what could have been, for the plans that will never unfold. But You are the Author of every life. You are never surprised. You are never late. You entered death so that it would never have the final word. Help me trust You when I cannot feel Your hand. Teach me to see that no life in You is ever wasted or cut short. Hold my grief. Hold my questions. Hold my heart. I place my sorrow into Your eternal hands. Amen.

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 the author of the book “God In Every Step” and has now published his second book, “God In Every Heartbeat” which contains 52 heartfelt devotionals drawn from personal stories, Scripture, and the lives of others. You will be reminded that God is with you in every breath, every joy, and every struggle. The book is now available at Amazon.

Without exaggeration, everything is on the line. We, the people, can –no, we MUST -- do this. Our democracy is counting on us.

GARY HOOSER is a former Hawaiʻi State Senator and Majority Leader.