Hawaii Filipino Chronicle - March 9, 2013

March 9, 2013  hawaii FiLipino chronicLe  1

2011 ♦ FEBRUARY 2013 ♦ MARCH 9,19, ♦ ♦

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HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

LEGAL NOTES

The FuTure oF TransporTaTion in hawaii

Menor-McnaMara To succeed reTiring hawaii chaMber oF coMMerce presidenT

iMMigranT Visa issued despiTe drug use

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2  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  MARCH 9, 2013

FROM THE PUBLISHER

EDITORIALS

Philippine Economy Reaches New Heights

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nce labeled as the “Sick Man of Asia” due to decades of corruption and political upheaval, the Philippine economy has emerged vibrant and resilient even in the face of global market shocks. The Philippine economy expanded by 6.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012 and finished the year at 6.6 percent growth, surpassing predictions of 5-6 percent growth. Fueling the Philippines’ economic gains are higher levels of private consumption, government spending, foreign investment and overseas remittances which totaled $24 billion in 2012.

Just how robust is its economy? The Philippine government has pledged $1 billion to the International Monetary Fund to help ailing economies in Europe, thanks to some $76 billion in gross international reserves it held in mid-2012. For a reflection of the Philippines’ renewed economic vigor, one should look at the global stock market. In particular, stock prices of iShares MSCI Philippines ETF (EPHE) was up 48 percent in 2012 and is up 13 percent so far this year. Rating agencies like Moody’s Investors Service remain bullish for the Philippines and expected to give an investment-grade credit rating sometime later this year.

President Benigno Aquino is to be applauded for his “good governance” policy to crack down on graft and corruption (Walang Corrupt, Walang Mahirap—no poverty when there is no corruption). The president has also cut tax breaks to reduce the budget deficit, taken steps to lure foreign investors, aimed to create more domestic jobs and is brokering a peace deal for the country’s troubled southern region. Since he took office three years ago, there is a renewed commitment to restoring integrity and honesty in government and business. And the rest of the world has taken notice.

Going forward, it will be crucial for the Philippine government to continue sustained and inclusive economic growth, and to translate these gains into better incomes for Filipinos. The government must still deal with the burgeoning population, poverty, adequate infrastructure expansion, resolving red tape in mining and other prospective growth sectors, perennial natural disasters and other problems. Yet now more than any time before in the history of the Philippines is the collective dream of a better-off and progressive homeland within reach for many Filipinos. At long last, the former “Sick Man of Asia” is no longer a basketcase but healthier than ever. We pray for President Aquino and hope that the ball will keep rolling forward for the new look Philippines— the “New Tiger” for the Southeast Asia region.

KNDI Sale Ensures Ethnic Programming to Continue

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he sale of radio station KNDI to a new owner went largely unnoticed by most local mainstream media outlets but those in the know are well aware of the station’s impact and reach. An ethnic radio station like KNDI is downright essential in a multi-cultural state like Hawaii where up to 20 percent of its population is not fluent in English. While KNDI has long specialized in Filipino programming, it also offers the very best in religious and ethnic programs from around the world. From the Marshall Islands to Hong Kong, from Laos to Manila, KNDI brings programming from a host of ethnicities worldwide. Samoan, Tongan, and even Spanish cultures are all included at KNDI. The station’s new owner is Geronimo Broadcasting LLC which was formed by longtime listeners Geronimo and Nellie Malabed. As part of the sale agreement, the Malabeds have agreed to continue the station’s multi-ethnic programming. With the station’s future in good hands, former owner Leona Jona, who herself is an

equestration. It’s a word that was largely unknown until only recently. It refers to the mandatory, across-the-board cuts totaling $85 million imposed by the federal government. Unfortunately, there’s no indication that the sequester will be lifted any time soon. In response, Gov. Neil Abercrombie has announced plans to establish a “Sequestration Impact Response Team” that will work to mitigate the impacts throughout Hawaii. The team will include representatives from government, nonprofits, the military and business leaders who are ready to identify how we can help Hawaii’s citizens and segments of the community who will be most affected.

While the sequester is expected to affect a languishing U.S. economy, the picture is much rosier for the Philippines’ economy which has shown surprisingly robust growth. Much of the credit goes to President Benigno Aquino III and his administration for mandating a “good governance” policy. Granted, there are still problems to overcome but since Aquino assumed the presidency in 2010, the country has taken a turn for the better. Please read more about the rebirth of the Philippines’s economy in our cover story on page 4 entitled “The Birth of an Asian Economic Tiger” by contributing writer Gregory Garcia.

This issue also marks the beginning of a new column called “City Highlights” by Honolulu Councilmember Ron Menor. He will update readers on the latest goings-on at Honolulu Hale. For this issue, he focuses on “Potholes and Bus Routes”—two very important quality of life issues for Oahu residents (see page 3).

Welcome aboard, Councilmember Menor!

Last but not least, I’d like to send our congratulations to Sherry Menor-McNamara, who has been named as the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce’s new president and chief executive officer. She holds the distinction as the first female as well as the youngest president ever in the Chamber’s 162-year history. The Chamber is THE voice for businesses in Hawaii with over 1,000 member companies representing over 200,000 employees. For more on Ms. Menor-McNamara, please turn to page 9.

In closing, there are other useful and informative articles in this issue that I hope you will enjoy reading. As always, if you would like to share a story idea, suggestion or concern, please send it to our staff at: filipinochronicle@gmail.com. Until next time… aloha and mabuhay!

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Publisher & Executive Editor Charlie Y. Sonido, M.D. Publisher & Managing Editor Chona A. Montesines-Sonido Associate Editors Dennis Galolo Edwin Quinabo Creative Designer Junggoi Peralta Design Consultant Randall Shiroma Photography Tim Llena Administrative Assistant Shalimar Pagulayan Columnists Carlota Ader Sen. Will Espero Grace F. Fong, Ed.D Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Ph.D. Ron Menor J.P. Orias Pacita Saludes Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq. Charlie Sonido, M.D. Emmanuel S. Tipon, Esq. Felino S. Tubera Sylvia Yuen, Ph.D. Contributing Writers Belinda Aquino, Ph.D. Clement Bautista Teresita Bernales, Ed.D Serafin Colmenares, Jr., Ph.D. Linda Dela Cruz Fiedes Doctor Danny De Gracia, II, MA Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand Amelia Jacang, M.D. Caroline Julian Maita Milallos Paul Melvin Palalay, M.D. Glenn Wakai Amado Yoro Philippine Correspondent Greg Garcia Big Island Distributor Grace Larson Ditas Udani Maui Distributor Cecile Piros

immigrant from Hungary, can now enjoy a well-earned retirement after being at the helm for well over 30 years.

In the big picture, KNDI is among several local ethnic print, radio and television media outlets that collectively provide a veritable treasure trove of information, viewpoints and opportunities to gauge the pulse of any ethnic group. Not surprisingly, many local, national and even international businesses have used KNDI’s unique mix of cultural voices to get out their messages in both emergency and non-emergency situations.

Just how important are ethnic media? A recent study by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund shows that 48 percent of Asian-Americans considered ethnic media to be their prime news source during the last presidential election. In Hawaii, ethnic media outlets like KNDI and the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle, provide communities with information that assists in the assimilation and acculturation process and fills in gaps that traditional English-language news organizations leave out. The result is that the lives of their readers and listeners are improved because they have information available and accessible in their own language. KNDI is perfectly positioned to continue doing just that. We wish the station many more decades of success and thank its new owners for remaining committed to meeting the needs of Hawaii’s multi-ethnic community.

Molokai Distributor Maria Watanabe Advertising/Marketing Director Chona A. Montesines-Sonido Account Executives Carlota Ader J.P. Orias The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle is published weekly by The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc. It is mailed directly to subscribers and distributed at various outlets around Oahu and the neighbor islands. Editorial and advertising deadlines are three weeks prior to publication date. Subscriptions are available at $75 per year for Oahu and the neighbor islands, continental U.S. $80, foreign country $90. Copyright 2006-2012. The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc. is located at 94-356 Waipahu Depot, Waipahu, HI 96797. Telephone (808) 678-8930 Facsimile (808) 6781829. E-mail filipinochronicle@gmail.com.

Website: www.thefilipinochronicle.com.

Opinions expressed by the columnists and contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle management. Reproduction of the contents in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission from the management. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. www.thefilipinochronicle.com www.efilipinochronicle.com

MeMber, Society of ProfeSSional JournaliStS

March 9, 2013  hawaii FiLipino chronicLe  3

CITY HIGHLIGHTS

Potholes and Bus Routes

By Councilmember Ron Menor he end of February marked my first 60 days at Honolulu Hale. During this time, I’ve worked hard to get up to speed on the many issues facing the City. I’ve continually reached out to constituents in Council District 9 (Mililani, Waikele, Waipahu, Village Park, Royal Kunia, Ewa and Ewa Beach) and to address the many concerns that are brought to my attention quickly and effectively. I currently serve as chair of the Executive Matters & Legal Affairs Committee, vice chair of the Parks Committee, and a member of the Zoning & Planning and Transportation committees. I am also chair of the Kapiolani Park Trust Committee.

The Council has been deal-

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ing with many important issues affecting our community. One issue that is a big concern for many constituents are potholes and the conditions of our roads and highways. Rest assured that this is also high on my list of priorities. I’ve personally gone out into the community to inspect roads that are in need of repair and met with key City officials on the administration’s efforts to patch potholes.

You can report potholes by calling the City’s Pothole Phone Line at 768-7777. Or if you have internet access, log on to www.honolulu.gov and click on “pothole report.” Simply fill in the requested information and click “submit” at the bottom of the form to send it to the City’s Division of Road Maintenance. If the pothole is on a State road or highway, please call the State Pothole Report Phone Line at 536-7852.

A new way to report potholes is via “Honolulu 311,” which was launched by the City in 2012. Honolulu 311 allows

the public to use personal smart phones to report potholes, abandoned vehicles, illegal dumping and other issues. Thanks to Honolulu 311, the public can take photographs of potholes and send it to the City using their smartphone. The app can be downloaded from the app marketplace on a particular smart phone by typing in “Honolulu 311.” The app is available on iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, and Blackberry.

Another concern that has been brought to my attention is restoring the cuts in bus service that were made last year and have frustrated many bus riders. I’ve discussed the matter with Michael Formby, director of the Department of Transportation Services (DTS). Just recently, the mayor announced his plans to restore bus service, which will be done in three phases, the first of which will begin on March 23rd. Restoring the routes will cost the City $600,000 for the rest of the 2013 fiscal year ending June 30, 2013 and another $3.5 mil-

lion for the upcoming 20132014 fiscal year. This is good news for those who depend on the bus for their transportation needs. DTS will evaluate the need to restore additional bus routes in the future.

Lastly, the Council’s

Budget Committee will begin departmental briefings on Monday, March 11, 2013. The deadline for budget amendments is Friday, March 22 at 4:30 pm. If you have any Capitol Improvement Projects (CIP) or operating budget amendments, please contact your respective councilmember.

4  hawaii FiLipino chronicLe  March 9, 2013

COVER STORY

The Birth of an Asian Economic Tiger

By Gregory Garcia

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he Philippines is predicted to enjoy another year of robust growth as the country’s economy is propelled by stronger government finances, increasing overseas remittances, booming consumer spending, and the expansion of its construction and services sectors.

President Benigno Aquino III’s socio-economic planning team officially announced last January 31st that the economy expanded by 6.6 percent in 2012, shoring up the country’s status as one of the fastest growing economies in Asia.

The figure was better than the government’s target of 5 to 6 percent growth and a big improvement from 2011’s lackl u s t e r 3 . 9 p e r c e n t . T h e government now targets between 6 and 7 percent growth for 2013 and between 6.5 and 7.5 percent growth for 2014.

The Aquino administration attributes the country’s strong economic performance to its daang matuwid (straight path) philosophy, which aims to tackle pervasive graft and corruption, considered by the president as the root cause of poverty in the country.

“This is a clear manifestation that good governance is good economics. Good governance generates confidence that translates to more economic activity,” Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima told the AFP news agency in January.

Asia’s New Economic Tiger Indeed, things have never looked rosier for the Philippines, which for years has been known as the “Sick Man of Asia.” Last year, credit rating agencies Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investor Service raised the country’s credit outlook from “stable” to “positive,” just a notch below investment grade—a status which the government hopes to achieve for the country soon.

These upgrades greatly improved the country’s economic prospects and are expected to

encourage more investments.

The Philippine Stock Exchange also expanded 38.9 percent in market capitalization in 2012, making it one of the world’s best performing stock markets.

The peso, too, is getting stronger against the U.S. dollar, touching on 40.63 per dollar at the end of February 2013 and strengthening 5.4 percent against the American currency in the past 12 months, making it the best-performing currency in Asia.

Exports also expanded to $3.97 billion in 2012, up 16.5 percent from 2011’s $3.41 billion. Although this figure fell short of the government’s fullyear growth goal, it was still higher than the growth rates of the Philippines’ export-oriented neighbors like China (14.1 percent), Vietnam (14.1 percent), Thailand (13.5 percent) and Taiwan (9.0 percent). Exports also grew despite a weak demand for electronics—the country’s primary export products —suggesting some success with the government’s plan at diversification.

To top it all off, the Philippines, backed by a glowing $76 billion in gross international re-

serves in mid-2012, even pledged $1 billion to the International Monetary Fund to help the ailing economies of Europe.

This stellar economic performance, coupled with the country’s continuous display of resilience against global headwinds, has triggered a flurry of commendations from many international analysts and media organizations. The New York Times hailed the Philippines as “Asia’s bright spot,” citing the country’s young population as a primary driver of economic growth; a World Bank official said that macroeconomic stability is now the “new normal” for the Philippines; and financial news website MarketWatch has named the Philippines and its neighbor Indonesia, as the “new tigers” of Southeast Asia, saying that the countries have finally “come of age” and are now “poised to drive future growth and grab more economic power.” An analyst from the London-based HSBC even projected that if current trends continue, the Philippines, currently the world’s 44th biggest economy, could become the 16th biggest by 2050.

But can Asia’s new poster boy meet the expectations and ensure that this economic growth will be inclusive and sustainable for the long term?

Shedding the “Sick Man” Mantle For decades, the Philippines had been considered a laggard among its peers in Far East Asia, weighed down by years of economic mismanagement, deep-rooted corruption and a tumultuous democratic history.

Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore—the first of the Asian economic tigers— surged ahead of the Philippines, powered by the influx of foreign direct investments, the expansion of their manufacturing sectors and the creation of export-driven economic policies. Other economies like Malaysia and Thailand also overtook the Philippines, whose economy collapsed during the twilight years of the Marcos regime. Real GDP declined by more than 7 percent in 1984 and 1985, and external debt ballooned to $28.3 billion in 1986 from just $355 million in 1962. (continued on page 5)

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COVER STORY (from page 4, THE BIRTH...)

The term of President Fidel Ramos from 1992 to 1998 saw a new period of political stability and economic liberalization.

Important industries were deregulated and de-monopolized, and many public businesses were privatized.

Economic zones and free ports were also set up in order to draw in foreign investors.

It was during the Ramos era that the Philippines was first touted to become the next Asian economic tiger. But while his policies brought about significant positive developments in the country as evidenced by strong economic growth from 1994 to 1997, by the time the president stepped down from office in 1998, the Asian economic crisis was already in full swing, and the Philippines experienced debilitating property busts and a negative growth rate.

The corruption-prone administrations that followed, those of Presidents Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, perpetuated many of the country’s long-term structural problems that hinder sustainable economic development, effectively undermining whatever economic gains had been achieved for the country.

Now, it looks like the tide is finally turning in favor of the Philippines. Having experienced a steady flow of encouraging economic news recently, confidence both from within the country and from outside appears to be growing.

The last time there was this level of confidence in the country’s economic future was, as mentioned, during the time of President Ramos. But as economist Cielito Habito pointed out in his column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, there is one important difference between the confidence in the 1990s and what the Philippines is experiencing now.

During the Ramos years, the world economy was on a general upturn, and the Philippines simply took advantage of this positive economic tide to promote competition and competitiveness and to attract foreign investor attention. This

The Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry in the Philippines

time around, the world economy is in a gloomy state, with some of the world’s fastest growing economies of recent years slowly losing steam and most of the Western world still reeling from the 2008-2009 global financial crisis. Despite all these, the Philippines seems to be coming to life.

“Through it all, the Philippine economy is defying regional trends and exhibiting a remarkable energy of its own,” Habito wrote.

What is fuelling the country’s growth, it appears, is strong internal demand. Private consumption in the Philippines, in particular, is booming, rising to 6.9 percent in the last quarter of 2012 and accounting for about 70 percent of the GDP. The country is one of the most consumption-driven economies in Asia. While export-dependent Asian economies like Singapore and South Korea slowed down in 2012 as overseas demand on exports lessened, the boom in consumer consumption has made the Philippine economy more resilient to global shocks.

“What was once regarded as a weakness of our economy—our weaker linkages to the global economy via exports and foreign direct investments—serves us well now that the world economy has become an unreliable source of demand growth,” Habito noted.

Strong private consumption, in turn, is being propelled by several factors, most notably by growing remittances from the 9.45 million overseas Filipinos, who sent home about $24 billion in 2012, up from $7.5 billion in 2003. The

phenomenal growth of remittances continued despite fears that figures will shrink following the 2008-2009 global financial crisis.

The thriving business process outsourcing (BPO) industry is also driving private consumption, especially in the cities. In 2011, some 700,000 Filipinos were employed by an industry that generated $11 billion in revenue. Services being offered by the country’s BPO industry is no longer limited to voice-based outsourcing services like customer service call centers, they now also offer support services for industries like information technology, finance, logistics, accounting,

software development and animation. The government hopes to transform it into a $25 billion industry by 2016.

Along with private consumption, government consumption and investment are also helping to boost economic growth. Emboldened by the newfound stability of the country’s fiscal situation and confidence that it has plugged gaping holes causing leakages in public investments, the government is now spending more. By the end of November 2012, total expenditures climbed to P1.535 trillion ($37.71 billion), up 14.1 percent from the same period in 2011.

Furthermore, investors who are eager for higher returns are increasingly looking eastward and homing in on the surging economies of Southeast Asia. And this time around, they have the Philippines in mind. Once afflicted by corruption and inefficient government policies, the country was largely overlooked by investors in the past.

But as international analysts now give their votes of confidence and commend the country for the reforms it has implemented, it has now be-

come an attractive option for investors seeking the strongest and safest places for funds in the world.

All these positive factors considered, perhaps it is safe to say that once again, the Philippines has become a veritable breakout nation that is ready for takeoff.

Facing Up to the Challenges The MarketWatch financial website, a member of the Dow Jones’ Consumer Media Group, christened the Philippines and Indonesia last year as Southeast Asia’s “new tigers,” citing several shared characteristics that give them the “potential to leave a bigger imprint on global growth for years to come.” These include large, young and dynamic populations; relatively low levels of national debt; expanding middle classes; diversifying economies; top-performing stock markets; and stable elected governments with policies that inspire investor confidence.

Nevertheless many, challenges remain for the Philipp i n e s . F i r s t , t h e commencement of large infrastructure projects have been de(continued on page 6)

6  hawaii FiLipino chronicLe  March 9, 2013

OPEN FORUM

The Future of Transportation in Hawaii

By Panos D. Prevedouros, Ph.D.

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onolulu has among the nat i o n ’s w o r s t roads and traffic congestion particularly among peer cities. To solve our highway related problems, Honolulu ordered a $5 billion train.

These problems will worsen by the time the train is installed. By then, Honolulu will be short on transportation funds. With less funding, there is no doubt that congestion, maintenance and safety problems will get even worse.

Hawaii is probably the most oil dependent place on earth. We have 1.5 million people in the middle of the Pacific and we are about 80 percent dependent on oil and its volatile pricing. Instead of in-

vesting in solid alternatives like coal, natural gas, trash and geothermal, we are now approaching the waste of a half billion dollars on flaky wind and solar.

Worse yet, we are extremely fuel dependent for land, air and sea transportation. Smart government should have found means to develop gobbles of cheap electricity so that we can extract fuels from algae and biomass to fuel vehicles, boats and airplanes.

But our government is concerned with plastic bags and shortcuts to development, like the Public Land Development Corporation (PLDC).

And we are losing the Tesoro refinery. The Tesoro plant used to make asphalt, but county and state government

wouldn’t commit to a schedule of road repairs. About 10 years ago, Tesoro stopped making cheap asphalt, so now we need to bring it in and store it.

State government promotes electric vehicles (EVs) by making expensive, antibusiness mandatory parking and charging regulations. At the same time, Hawaii offers EV buyers the highest electricity rates in the nation.

The cost of power in Hawaii is three times the U.S. average. So the 90 MPGe Nissan Leaf is 30 MPGe in Hawaii. Do you know how many conventional cars you

COVER STORY

can buy that deliver 30 mpg or more, have a much lower price and require no subsidy like the $5,000 we dole out for each EV? And answer me this—why are we even promoting EVs when 90 percent of our electricity comes from oil and coal? Each EV that clocks about 50 miles per day consumes as much electricity as a household of four. Isn’t this a fake and indeed disastrous oil independence policy?

Thanks to our renewable mandates, KWh rates will only go up, so we will get less power, less reliability and

higher rates.

What’s the future of transportation in Hawaii you ask?

In the past quarter century, transportation (except for TheBus), public education and energy performance in Hawaii have ranked in the bottom half in the U.S. or very near the bottom. I expect this level of performance to worsen.

Although there are alternatives, Hawaii is actively burying its potential for a bright future. Cost-effective decision making, long term sustainability planning and accountability with stiff penalties are all absent. And so is our chance for improvement.

(from page 5, THE BIRTH...)

layed as the government took extra measures to ensure transparent and fair bidding. But MarketWatch noted that the Philippines should now improve its infrastructure to remove a longstanding roadblock that hinders the growth of tourism and other industries.

“A bigger tourism sector would help absorb labor in its swelling population, as it nears 100 million. Rapid population growth has not been matched by infrastructure expansion.

Aging roads and inadequate airports have frustrated economic development and made getting around difficult for visitors,” MarketWatch said.

Second, MarketWatch also noted that a higher cost base for manufacturing makes the Philippines less attractive for investors. While the country has been relatively successful at developing its BPO industry, there is still a “crying need to diversify,” said the

Aerial shot of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX)

news site, pointing out that manufacturing remains an important employment-generating sector.

Furthermore, MarketWatch highlighted the need to solve red tape in prospective growth sectors like mining— a potential $840 billion industry according to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

“Beyond tourism, mining is another potential growth driver for the Philippines. The country is rich in minerals including copper, gold and nickel, but development of the mining industry has been stalled by political resistance and layers of red tape. Those obstacles are likely to push the meaningful development of the country’s mining sector out by at least 5 to 10 years,” it said.

Now, add the perennial natural disasters and the continuing deep poverty of a fifth of all Filipinos to this equation and what you get is a stark reminder that indeed, there is yet much to be done. Neverthe-

less, the country now has the necessary tools to be a standout economy. The challenge is for the Philippine government and its citizens to use them wisely so that the country can reach its full potential.

In a speech at the National E c o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t Agency, President Aquino acknowledged the need to ensure that economic growth is sustainable and broad-based so that the country can sooner achieve its goal of inclusive growth.

“This is why we are continuing our efforts to level the playing field, weed out corruption and step up our competitiveness in the global market. This is why we continue to invest in our human capital through education, health and social services.

This is why we have identified key sectors for growth, including the three already mentioned, and have put in place initiatives that will facilitate their growth,” he said.

March 9, 2013  hawaii FiLipino chronicLe  7

IMMIGRATION GUIDE

8  hawaii FiLipino chronicLe  March 9, 2013

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

Filipino Veterans Ask Hirono to Support Companion Equity Bill

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n light of U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier’s (D-California) imminent re-introduction of a bill in the house similar to the HR 210, “The Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2011,” Filipino World War II veterans, widows and advocates promised to continue lobbying Congress for support.

“Our fight did not end with the approval of a lump sum benefit in 2009,” says Francisco Obina, head of the group that supports local Filipino veterans and families. “We will visit the office of Senator (Mazie Hirono) and seek her support.”

A delegation visited Hirono’s office in Hawaii while another delegation from New Jersey visited Hirono’s office in Washington, D.C. to hand in formal petitions signed by Hawaii residents.

HR 210 was introduced by Rep. Speier to provide equal US military

benefits including monthly pensions to Filipino WWII veterans and their families like any other American veterans.

“While some legislators have the best intentions, none will satisfy me more than a complete recognition of my U.S. military service coupled with complete compensation equal to all other American veterans,” says 94-year-old veteran Felino Punsalan, who was denied of the lump sum benefit in 2009.

HR 210 gathered 96 co-sponsors in 2012 but never got a hearing by the Veterans Committee Affairs headed by U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Florida).

Union Announces College Scholarships

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aborers Union school in Hawaii or the mainLocal 368 is offerland may also apply. ing five scholarScholarships will be based ships worth $2,000 to on financial need, academics, children of union memcommunity involvement, spebers. Winning recipients cial awards and other accomwill be announced in June plishments. Judging the 2013. scholarship applications will Peter Ganaban “These scholarships be John Roxburgh, Jr., a memwill help give our members’ children a ber of Central Pacific Bank’s Trust Dihead start in handling the expenses of vision; Dr. Bill Puette, director of the attending college or technical school,” Hawaii Center For Labor Education and says Peter Ganaban, Local 368 business Research; and Joan Husted, former manager/ secretary-treasurer. “As par- president of the Hawaii State Teachers ents, we want to encourage our sons and Association. daughters to get the best possible eduThe scholarships are being offered cation to help them secure a great fu- through the union’s charitable branch, ture.” the Laborers’ Education and Events Applicants must have a parent or Fund. Funds for the scholarships came guardian who is in good standing with via a golf tournament held in August the union and must be graduating or 2012. have graduated from a Hawaii public or Applications may be picked up at private high school. Applicants may Local 368 offices on Oahu, Maui and also be undergraduates attending an ac- the Big Island. Applications are also credited college or technical school in available online at: www.local368.org.

Hawaii or on the U.S. mainland. Union For more information, please contact members in good standing who are en- Richard Nishie via email at: rolled in or who have been accepted to rnishie@local368.org or call (808) 841an accredited college or technical 5877 ext. 245.

March 9, 2013  hawaii FiLipino chronicLe  9

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

Menor-McNamara to Succeed Retiring Chamber of Commerce President

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chief operating ofhe Chamber ficer in addition to of Comh e r a d v o c a c y merce of w o r k , h a n d l i n g Hawaii, the state’s day-to-day operalargest business ortions of the Chamganization, has anber and overseeing nounced that membership servpresident and chief ices, marketing executive officer and the events deJim Tollefson will partment. retire effective Au“She is the pergust 31, 2013. fect person to take His successor is over leadership of Sherry Menor-Mcthe Chamber,” says Namara, the ChamD r . V i r g i n i a b e r ’ s c h i e f Pressler, former operating officer Sherry Menor-McNamara Chamber chair and and senior vice president of government affairs. She executive vice president and chief will become the first female president strategic officer of Hawaii Pacific and CEO in the Chamber’s 162-year Health. “She is well-respected by government leaders and the business comhistory, as well as its youngest.

Tollefson served nearly 12 years as munity and knows the business of the president and leaves a legacy of ex- Chamber exceptionally well. She is panding the Chamber’s visibility and tireless, dedicated and very bright. I strengthening its reputation and influ- have the utmost confidence that she ence as a voice for Hawaii’s business will lead us well.”

Prior to joining the Chamber, community.

“Jim has been an outstanding Menor-McNamara was the events leader who has brought invaluable in- manager for ESPN Sports’ Sheraton sight, expertise and perspective, and Hawaii Bowl. She has worked for Sony made significant contributions to our Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainstate and the community,” says Barry ment, as well as for the Hawaii State Taniguchi, chair of the Chamber board Legislature, U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka and of directors and president of KTA the Executive Office of the U.S. president.

Super Stores.

In 2011, she was appointed by Gov. Tollefson previously served as executive vice president at Bank of Neil Abercrombie to serve on the Hawaii, where he held various execu- Hawaii Health Connector Interim tive and senior management positions. Board, which is tasked with creating the Tollefson also served on several non- Health Insurance Exchange mandated profit boards such as the 2011 APEC by the Affordable Care Act. She is also Hawaii Host Committee, Hawaii P-20 currently on the executive committee of Council, the YMCA of Honolulu and as the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl and the chair of the Hawaiian Humane Society. board of the East-West Center FoundaHe will continue to be involved with the tion. In 2012, she was recognized as one Chamber as a president emeritus and of the “Top 20 People to Watch” by nationally, will serve as a board mem- Hawaii Business magazine and listed in ber and treasurer of the American Hawaii Business magazine’s 2013 Black Book.

Chamber of Commerce Executives.

Established in 1850, The Chamber Menor-McNamara, 41, joined the Chamber as the director of business ad- of Commerce of Hawaii is the leading vocacy in 2006 and was promoted to organization for business with over vice president of business advocacy 1,000 member companies representing and government affairs in 2007. Dur- more than 200,000 employees. The ing her seven years with the Chamber, Chamber is the largest organization that she has become an effective voice and serves as “The Voice of Business” on a leading authority on business issues behalf of the entire business community at the state Legislature and at the in Hawaii to improve the state’s ecocounty and federal levels. In 2012, nomic climate and to help businesses Menor-McNamara took on the role of thrive.

10  hawaii FiLipino chronicLe  March 9, 2013

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

State Launches Obesity Awareness Promo for Teens

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ov. Neil Abercrombie and State Department of Health (DOH) officials launched a new multimedia campaign to combat teen obesity. The campaign is part of a comprehensive set of interventions implemented by the DOH to address obesity prevention.

The campaign, which includes TV, radio, print and movie theatres ads, runs from mid-February through May 2013 and targets youth ages 1218. The campaign also utilizes social media outlets to reach the target audience.

The campaign’s ads were produced with the help of middle and high school students.

Ten graders from Island Pacific Academy served as youth advisers for the campaign, advising DOH staff on the look and feel of the logos and print ads.

In addition, the movie theater ads were entirely student-produced videos submitted by Aikahi Elementary, Aliamanu Middle and Waianae High Schools.

“It’s essential that these messages resonate, starting with Hawaii’s teens, so we enlisted their help in creatively developing how they will be presented,” says Gov. Abercrombie. “This campaign represents an ideal nexus of government working with local students to ensure that public information messages intended for teens are effective and impactful.”

DOH director Loretta Fuddy says that the campaign counters the attractive promotion of unhealthy foods and drinks that are popular with teens.

“Our goal is to begin the conversation with our youth on how marketing influences their over-consumption,” she says.

“We have found that Hawaii teenagers have a great deal of purchasing power, so it’s important that they are made aware of how their decisions are swayed.”

While 27 percent of high school students are currently overweight and obese, the fig-

ure is much higher among adults at 57 percent—more than one of every two adults.

“With overweight and obesity rates more than double between high school and adulthood, it is important to ad-

dress the issue with teens while they’re young and before they grow into adults,” Fuddy says.

Marketing messages around healthy eating and active living is a nationally-recognized strategy to address

obesity and a fundamental part of the Hawaii State Physical Activity and Nutrition Plan.

The theater, television, radio and print ads are funded with tobacco settlement funds.

City Installs Webcams at DMV Locations

I

n an effort to address complaints of long lines while renewing driver’s licenses and state ID cards, City officials have installed live webcams at all five of the City’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) locations. The webcams allow the public to “tune in” and view live shots at any time of the day.

“The cameras will allow you to see how long the lines are before you leave your home or office and give you the option of going to the location with the shortest line, waiting for a better time, or rushing over there now if you see the line is short,” says Mayor Kirk Caldwell.

Caldwell made the announcement at a recent press conference at the Dillingham driver’s licensing location and demonstrated how the public can access the webcams by logging into the City’s website. The cameras may be viewed by going to www.honolulu.gov and

clicking “DMV/State ID service line cameras,” or by going directly to http://www3.honolulu.gov/csddlline/ The lines are usually the longest on Fridays and Mondays or after a holiday and at lunchtime.

When the city took over the application process for state identification cards in January, some of the lines at the City’s DMV locations nearly tripled, making it challenging for customers wishing to complete other transactions. Additionally, new federal guidelines for obtaining State ID cards mandate documentation providing proof of legal name, date of birth, legal presence, social security number and primary residence.

The City has also hired additional staff to operate the counters and set up a “triage” desk to assist State ID applicants in checking their documents before advancing to the window.

According to DMV officials, these measures have significantly impacted customer service.

March 9, 2013  hawaii FiLipino chronicLe  11

IMMIGRATION GUIDE

Supreme Court Rules Padilla Decision on Ineffective Counsel Not Retroactive

By Atty. Emmanuel Samonte Tipon

T

he majority of the United States Supreme Court is not going to get an Oscar for its 72 decision on February 20, 2012 in Chaidez v. U.S. On the other hand, Chaidez could be nominated for inclusion in my book “Supreme Court decisions – Good or Bad?” In Chaidez, the Supreme Court ruled as not retroactive its decision on March 31, 2010 in Padilla v.

Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356 (2010) that criminal defense attorneys must inform noncitizen clients of the risks of deportation arising from guilty pleas, and failing to do so constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel warranting the setting aside of the conviction.

Immigrants cheered when the Supreme Court decided Padilla as breathing the breath of life into the Sixth Amendment right to effective assistance of counsel. Many immigrants who had pleaded guilty to deportable criminal offenses without being properly advised by their criminal defense attorney of the immigration consequences of their guilty plea sought the setting aside of their convictions alleging ineffective assistance of counsel. The various courts were split on whether Padilla was prospective or retroactive in operation, that is, whether immigrants whose convictions had become final before Padilla was decided could invoke the Padilla decision and have their convictions set aside. The Supreme Court could have avoided this controversy if it had stated in Padilla whether the decision was prospective or retroactive.

Chaidez, a lawful permanent resident from Mexico, was convicted of mail fraud in 2004 and sentenced to four years of probation. Under the

immigration law, the offenses to which she pleaded guilty are “aggravated felonies,” subjecting her to mandatory removal. Chaidez claimed her attorney never advised her of that fact. In 2009, she was placed in removal proceedings. To avoid removal, Chaidez initiated a petition for a writ of coram nobis to set aside her conviction.

Padilla Announced A “New Rule” Hence Not Retroactive While her petition was pending, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Padilla. That ruling vindicated Chaidez’s view that under the Sixth Amendment criminal defense attorneys must inform noncitizen clients of the risks of deportation arising from guilty pleas. But the government argued that Chaidez could not benefit from Padilla because it announced a “new rule” and under the decision of Teague v. Lane, 489 U.S. 288, such rule does not apply in collateral challenges to already-final convictions. The District Court held that Padilla did not announce a “new rule” and therefore should apply to Chaidez. The District Court then found that Chaidez’s counsel had performed deficiently and she had suffered prejudice, and vacated her conviction. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reversed, holding that Padilla declared a “new rule” and should not apply in a challenge to a final c o n v i c t i o n . T h e U . S .

Supreme Court affirmed, holding that Padilla does not apply retroactively because it announced a “new rule” and defendants whose convictions became final prior to Padilla cannot benefit from its holding.

Sotomayor and Ginsburg Dissent Justices Sotomayor and Ginsburg dissented. They pointed out that Padilla did not announce a “new rule,” but did nothing more than

apply an existing rule in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984) in a new setting, the same way the court had done repeatedly in the past: by surveying the relevant professional norms and concluding that they unequivocally required attorneys to provide advice about the immigration consequences of a guilty plea. In Strickland, the court held that the “[p]roper measure of attorney performance remains simply reasonableness under prevailing professional norms.” They said that despite the many different settings in which it has been applied, the Supreme Court has never found that an application of Strickland resulted in a new rule. In short, where the court merely applies Strickland in a way that corresponds to an evolution in professional norms, the court makes no new law. The diss e n t e r s lamented the majority decision as dep r i v i n g defendants of t h e f u n d a mental prot e c t i o n o f Strickland w h i c h r e quires that lawyers comply with professional norms with respect to advice that they provide others. c o M MenT: We have a pending case in the Court of Appeals 9th Circuit involving a Filipino imm i g r a n t charged with drug distribution whose court-appointed counsel’s advise that he "may"

be deported if he pleaded guilty, which defendant understood to mean that his deportation was not sure and that he could fight his deportation in i m m i g r a t i o n c o u r t , w a s grossly erroneous, since conviction of an aggravated felony means "virtually automatic, unavoidable deportation," and thus his former counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel warranting the setting aside of the immigrant’s conviction. That conviction antedated the Padilla decision. Nevertheless, Chaidez does not apply to the Filipino’s case because even before Padilla, the 9th Circuit already held in United States v.

Kwan, 407 F. 3d 1005, 1015– 1017 (9th Cir. 2005) that: "If counsel did not have the requisite competence, he should not have advised Kwan regarding the immigration consequences of his plea without referring

Kwan to an immigration lawyer or consulting himself with an immigration lawyer in the first place. . . . Counsel's performance breached not only standards particular to criminal defense attorneys but also basic standards for competence that are general to the profession.

We therefore hold that counsel's performance was objectively unreasonable and meets the first prong of the Strickland test." (aTTy. Tipon has a Master of Laws degree from Yale Law School and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines. Office: 800 Bethel St., Suite 402, Honolulu, HI 96813. Tel. (808) 225-2645. E-Mail: filaml a w @ y a h o o . c o m . We b s i t e s : www.MilitaryandCriminalLaw.co m, and www.ImmigrationServicesUSA.com. Listen to the most witty, interesting, and informative radio program in Hawaii on KNDI at 1270, AM dial every Thursday at 7:30 a.m., rebroadcast at www.iluko.com.

12  hawaii FiLipino chronicLe  March 9, 2013

PHILIPPINE NEWS

‘Sabah Uprising’ Sultan’s Followers Kill, Capture Malaysian Cops

by Roel Pareño Mondayday, March 4, 2013 ANILA, Philippines - Filipinos enraged by a Malaysian raid on a religious leader’s house in Sabah retaliated Saturday night, attacking an army convoy and overrunning a district police headquarters, the sultanate of Sulu announced yesterday.

Five Malaysian security officers were killed and four ranking Sabah officials were held captive by the Filipinos in Semporna, where the violence has spread from the coastal town of Lahad Datu, according to the Sulu sultanate. Kuala Lumpur confirmed only two police deaths.

Sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani described the escalation of violence as an “unorganized, spontaneous uprising” by Filipinos residing in Sabah.

Idjirani said that as of noon yesterday, armed followers of the sultanate were in control of Semporna.

The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) said reinforcements from Mindanao also breached the Malaysian security cordon in Sandakan, another part of Sabah, and ambushed two truckloads of men belonging to the Malaysian Territorial Army Regiment.

“The reinforcements were able to wipe them out,” said Habib Mujahab Hashim, chairman of the MNLF’S Islamic Command Council.

Hashim, who said he was authorized by the Sulu sultanate to speak on the situation in Sabah, said the reinforcements used improvised dynamite or timbak isda for the ambush. The dynamite is normally used for blast fishing.

Both the MNLF and the Sulu sultanate said tension was building up even in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah’s capital.

Idjirani said the “uprising” was triggered by the raid at 7:30 p.m. Saturday by Malaysian paramilitary forces on the home of Imam Maas, who was suspected to be harboring Alepiuya Kiram, a brother of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III. When the militia, belonging to the Malaysian Police General Operations Force, failed to find Alepiuya, they allegedly fired on the house, killing the imam and his four sons and wounding another village elder called Imam Jul in another house.

Idjirani said enraged residents then took to the streets, attacking the police

M

Sultan Jamalul Kiram III

and military headquarters in Semporna.

The villagers captured a ranking police official, two military commanders and a civilian official of Sabah, Idjirani told a press conference at the sultan’s home in Taguig City yesterday.

Kiram reportedly told his brother, who is leading the uprising in Sabah, to “take care of the captives,” who will be presented before an international body “to answer for the killing of innocent people.”

Up to 12 followers of the sultanate who holed up in Lahad Datu were killed by Malaysian security forces last week. The sultan’s army also killed two Malaysian policemen.

During yesterday’s press conference, the sultanate showed photos of the Malaysian officers slain in Semporna.

The sultanate said more reinforcements from Tawi-Tawi, Basilan and Sulu were arriving in Semporna, a district near Lahad Datu where from 100 to 300 followers of Kiram arrived on Feb. 9 to reiterate the sultanate’s claim over Sabah.

On Saturday, Malaysian forces started rounding up Filipinos in Sabah, heightening the tension. Authorities reportedly shut down the cell sites in Lahad Datu, cutting off the sultanate’s contact with Kiram’s brother Agbimuddin, described as the crown prince or raja muda.

“The fighting for now, I will consider it an uprising,” Hashim said, attributing it to the “harsh treatment” of Filipinos by Malaysian authorities.

An estimated 800,000 Filipinos live in Sabah, which the sultanate of Brunei gave as a gift to the Sulu sultanate in the 17th century. In the 19th century, the Sulu sultan leased the land to the British North Borneo Company, although the British said the land was ceded.

Malaysia continues to pay the Sulu sultanate 5,300 ringgits – about P70,000 – annually in what Kuala Lumpur describes as “cession fee” but is considered rental by the sultanate.

MNLF members are with the sultan’s group in Lahad Datu, but Hashim said his group was not participating in the attacks. (www.philstar.com)

March 9, 2013  hawaii FiLipino chronicLe  13

LEGAL NOTES

Immigrant Visa Issued Despite Drug Use

By Reuben S. Seguritan

O

ne of the grounds for denying an immigrant visa applicant relates to past drug use.

Under the law, a person is not admissible if he admits having committed acts which constitute the elements of a violation of drug laws in the U.S or in any other country.

It appears, however, that consular officials have become more lenient with visa applicants who have admitted past drug use.

Previously, consular officials not only denied the visa application but they also advised the applicant who had admitted the drug use that he was barred from the United States permanently and that at times no waiver was available.

This was the situation that one of our recent clients found himself in. He was the derivative beneficiary of his wife’s employment-based petition. In 2005, he applied for an immigrant visa at the visa unit of the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines but he was refused the visa because of his admission of past drug use. At the time, he and his wife were not represented by counsel.

He made the “admission” of drug use at the medical examination in St. Luke’s in Manila. The panel physician asked him if he had used drugs. Perhaps thinking that it happened so long ago and only once, he responded that he used marijuana and shabu, which is a form of methamphetamine, way back in college or over ten years prior. It should also be noted that he had no criminal record whatsoever.

At the visa interview, the

consular officer dropped a bomb on him and said that he was banned and blacklisted from entering the United States, alluding to his past drug use which he admitted at his medical examination.

Thus began his sevenyear separation from his wife who went on to reside and work in the U.S. But she was not discouraged. As a green card holder, she filed an immigrant visa petition for him and their children who were also left behind. She remained hopeful that she would someday be reunited with him in the U.S. After her I-130 petitions were approved last year, the wife asked us to represent her husband, given his previous visa denial due to his admission of drug use. In our letter to the U.S. Embassy in Manila, we explained why the applicant was not ineligible for a visa.

When the drug use is only a mere experimentation, it is

PHILIPPINE NEWS

35% of Workers Suffering from Mental Disturbance – DOH

by Charlie Lagasca Mondayday, March 4, 2013

B

AY O M B O N G , Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – At least 35 percent of the country’s workforce both in the government and private sector are suffering from mental disturbance, the Department of Health (DOH) has said.

To curb this trend, the DOH-Center for Health Development (CHD) in the region is advising heads of agencies to let their employees undergo regular medical examinations to ensure mental fitness.

Citing a study, DOHCHD regional director Rio Magpantay said most rankand file employees suffer from mental disturbance. He said if not prevented, this could lead to health risks and complications, and “may re-

sult in low productivity and service delivery inefficiency.”

Magpantay said employees, especially those in the government, are entitled to regular medical checkup and must also be given time to do physical exercises in the office to avoid stress.

“Health of employees should also be given consideration to attain productivity in an office. The healthier the employees are, the more chances of achieving the productivity targets,” he said.

The health official also called on private agencies with no medical personnel to tap the services of government health centers and hospitals for regular medical

examination of their workers. (www.philstar.com)

not drug abuse as would make the person inadmissible. A single use of drugs constitutes experimentation.

In this case, the applicant engaged in a one-time use of drugs which occurred many years ago.

Neither did he develop substance dependence. He was not a drug addict. His one-time use could not and in fact did not result in a compulsive long-term use or any physical, behavioral or psychological problems.

Even though he did admit his drug use to the panel physician, his admission was not of the kind that should bar him from entering the U.S. Applying a test used by the Board of Immigration Appeals, we argued that the applicant’s admission was not valid for purposes of making

him inadmissible because he was not given an adequate definition of any crime or drug offense, including all essential elements thereof, at his medical examination.

The applicant had no arrest, criminal charge or conviction in connection with any crime involving drugs. In addition, the applicable drug law in the Philippines imposed only rehabilitation for a first offense of drug use.

The applicant was able to overcome the earlier finding of inadmissibility. He recently received his immigrant visa and will be reunited with his wife very soon. reuben s. seguriTan has been practicing law for over 30 years. For further information, you may call him at (212) 695 5281 or log on to his website at www.seguritan.com

14  hawaii FiLipino chronicLe  March 9, 2013

MAINLAND NEWS

Filipino Workers Hold Freedom Ride Against Grand Isle Shipyard

A

s the final act of their solidarity and factfinding mission, the Justice for Filipino Grand Isle Shipyard Workers campaign organized a “freedom ride” through New Orleans to Lafitte—one of several locations in the South for Grand Isle Shipyard (GIS), an oilfield contracting firm that has employed hundreds of Filipino migrant workers in recent years.

Many of these workers have complained of slave-like conditions, saying they sometimes worked 400 hours a

month for measly pay. The workers said they were threatened with deportation if they complained. Some 40 Filipino laborers are currently part of a civil lawsuit against Grand Isle and several recruitment and subcontracting firms linked to Grand Isle.

The freedom ride comprised of 21 cars that bore placards demanding justice for Filipino GIS workers, an end to the slavery and trafficking of migrant workers and guest workers, an end to forced migration from the Philippines, and calls for Jose Cuisia,

Philippine Ambassador to the U.S., to resign.

A crowd of about 100 was greeted at Lafitte’s town hall by supporters like Dr. Carmelo Astilla who created the inscription commemorating one of the first settlements in the U.S. of Filipinos who escaped

forced labor aboard Spanish galleon ships.

“Today in 2013 we are still escaping slavery,” says Terry Valen, president of the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns. “We are still brave and proud Filipinos. It is through our organizing, unity and power across all communities that will stop this from happening again.”

The freedom ride concluded with the release of 100 white balloons representing the more than 100 Filipino workers believed to still be working for GIS under oppressive conditions. The event strengthened participants’ re-

solve to build the campaign for Filipino workers.

“Unlike the Philippine government which has not done enough to address this issue, today is a sign of our commitment. We will not stop until justice is served for Filipino workers and other exploited migrant workers around the world,“ says Julia Camagong of the International Migrants Alliance-USA. Organizers will next head to Washington, D.C. for public forums scheduled for March 17, 2103 and a demonstration in front of the Philippine Embassy to demand Ambassador Cuisia’s resignation.

President Obama Honors Filipina Nurse

I

Menchu Sanchez

n his State-of-the-Union address to the American people on February 12, 2013, a grateful President Barack Obama mentioned a Filipino nurse for her heroism at the height of Hurricane Sandy which hit the U.S. last year.

Menchu Sanchez, a registered nurse at New York University’s Langone Medical Center, engineered the transfer

of 20 at-risk infants to other intensive care units when the power went out during the hurricane.

“We should follow the example of a New York City nurse named Menchu Sanchez. When Hurricane Sandy plunged her hospital into darkness, she wasn't thinking about how her own home was faring,” Obama said in his annual address to

Congress.

Sanchez traveled back and forth four times to the hospital to move babies on the night power was shut down as a result of Hurricane Sandy. She traversed eight flights of stairs carrying the infants with only the light of mobile phones to use in guiding their way.

Sanchez was born and raised in the Philippines and immigrated to the U.S. in the 1980s. She has worked as a nurse in New York for more than 25 years and was among the honored guests invited to sit with First Lady Michelle Obama during the president’s

speech.

Philippine Senator Chiz Escudero has filed a resolution in the Philippine Senate to commend Sanchez for her heroism. Escudero says Sanchez deserves national recognition for exemplifying the best qualities of Filipinos and their commitment to hard work and compassion.

“All Filipinos should take pride in Sanchez who did not think twice in risking her life for the safety of infants under her care,” he says. “Her dedication serves as an example and inspiration to all Filipinos, whether here in the country or abroad.”

March 9, 2013  hawaii FiLipino chronicLe  15

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GLOBAL NEWS

Journalism Group Offers $5,000 Scholarships for Religion Courses

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ournalists will receive scholarships for up to $5,000 each to study religion at any accredited college, university or seminary.

Scholarships cover expenses including tuition, registration fees and books.

The scholarships are funded by a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. to the Religion Newswriters Foundation, RNA’s charitable arm. Scholarships are available to full-time journalists in

the U.S. and Canada.

“The courses led to dozens of story ideas and new resources. I came out a sharper researcher and writer, two benefits I was not expecting going in,” says Eric Marrapodi of CNN who took four Lilly scholarship courses at Georgetown University. The scholarships can be used at accredited colleges, universities, seminaries or similar institutions. Journalists can choose any religion, spirituality or ethics

course.

All full-time journalists working in the general circulation news media—including reporters, editors, designers, copy editors, editorial writers, news directors, researchers and producers—are eligible.

The deadline application is April 1, 2013. More information about the Lilly Scholarships in Religion program is available online at: http://bit.ly/j8MOOg.

Hackers Employ New Malware Attacking Gov't Entities Also, a research institute, two think tanks, and healthcare provider ANILA, Philippines -- A in the United States were also comnew highly customized promised, the same with a prominent malicious program has research foundation in Hungary. been used specifically for spying on Eugene Kaspersky, founder and multiple government entities and in- CEO of Kaspersky Lab, described stitutions across the world. the action as a very unusual cyberatIT security solutions firm tack. "I remember this style of maliKaspersky Lab tagged the malicious cious programming from the end of program as the "MiniDuke" which the 1990s and the beginning of the combines sophisticated "old school" 2000s. I wonder if these types of malware writing skills with newly malware writers, who have been in advanced exploits in Adobe Reader hibernation for more than a decade, to collect geopolitical intelligence have suddenly awoken and joined from high profile targets. the sophisticated group of threat acExperts from Kaspersky Lab ear- tors active in the cyberworld," lier published a new research report Kaspersky said. that analyzed a series of security inT h e e x e c u t i v e a d d e d cidents involving the use of the re- MiniDuke’s highly customized backcently discovered PDF exploit in door was written in Assembler and is Adobe Reader (CVE-2013-6040) very small in size, being only 20kb. and the MiniDuke Kaspersky Lab’s primary reThe MiniDuke backdoor was search findings shwowed the used to attack multiple government MiniDuke attackers are still active at entities and institutions worldwide this time and have created malware during the past week. as recently as February 20, 2013.

Kaspersky Lab’s experts, in partTo compromise victims, the atnership with CrySys Lab, analyzed tackers used extremely effective sothe attacks in detail and published cial engineering techniques, which their findings. According to Kasper- involved sending malicious PDF sky Lab’s analysis, a number of high documents to their targets. profile targets have already been comThe PDFs were highly relevant promised by the MiniDuke attacks, with well-crafted content that fabriincluding government entities in cated human rights seminar informaUkraine, Belgium, Portugal, Roma- tion (ASEM) and Ukraine’s foreign nia, the Czech Republic and Ireland. policy and NATO membership plans.

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CLASSIFIED ADS

These malicious PDF files were rigged with exploits attacking Adobe Reader versions 9, 10, and 11, bypassing its sandbox. A toolkit was used to create these exploits and it appears to be the same toolkit that was used in the recent attack reported by FireEye. However, the exploits used in the MiniDuke attacks were for different purposes and had their own customized malware.

Once the system is exploited, a very small downloader is dropped onto the victim’s disc that’s only 20kb in size. This downloader is unique per system and contains a customized backdoor written in Assembler.

When loaded at system boot, the downloader uses a set of mathematical calculations to determine the computer’s unique fingerprint, and in turn uses this data to uniquely encrypt its communications later.

It is also programmed to avoid analysis by a hardcoded set of tools in certain environments like VMware. If it finds any of these indicators it will run idle in the environment instead of moving to another stage and exposing more of its functionality by decrypting itself further; this indicates the malware writers know exactly what antivirus and IT security professionals are doing in order to analyze and identify malware. (www.philstar.com)

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

MARCH 9, 2013