Hawaii Filipino Chronicle - April 2, 2022

APRIL 2, 2022  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  1

APRIL 2, 2022

NEWS FEATURE

The Philippines’ Pink Phenomenon—The Leni Robredo Story

CANDID PERSPECTIVES

Hirono’s Aloha Gives Boost to Supreme Court Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson

MAINLAND NEWS

U.S. Filipinos: We Demand Clean and Honest Philippine Election

BOOK REVIEW

Filipino

Housewives Speak

2 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  APRIL 2, 2022

EDITORIAL

The Philippines Presidential Election and Women, Millennials, Social Media, Political Maturity, Economic and Socioeconomic Growth

F

rom the perspective of the international community, this year’s Philippines presidential elections will crystalize two aspects of interest that countries around the world are also contending with: 1) the role of women in politics at the highest level; and 2) the influence that the huge millennial generation and the internet are having on national races.

Women in Philippines politics With the Philippines already having had two female presidents in the past (Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo), the conventional wisdom and likely assumption is that women in politics in that country is faring far better than other parts of the world. In Asia, Japan has never had a female prime minister. Even as the very popular Shinzo Abe retired from his post last year and endorsed Sanae Takaichi, who would have been the first woman prime minister of Japan, the country apparently wasn’t ready for such a change as Takaichi finished third, even though she represented the ruling party.

China has only had one woman honorary head of state, appointed and served for only 12 days in Soong Ching-ling in 1981.

Other parts of Asia have had one true head of state: South Korea, the former Hong Kong as independent from China, Thailand, Taiwan. In South Asia, based on the number of heads of state in India and Bangladesh at two like in the Philippines, the assumption is these three countries are Asia’s leading progressives in electing women.

This year, the Philippines could outshine Asia and the entire world as the only country to have elected three women heads of state in history should leading opposition presidential candidate Leni Robredo (only woman candidate in 2022) win.

What’s unique about Robredo compared to Aquino and Macapagal-Arroyo is that she is not from a powerful family political dynasty in the Philippines; and that she rose to the highest level of government based on sheer merit, determination and character.

Aquino’s presidency was largely due to the assassination of her husband Benigno Aquino, Jr. and the subsequent EDSA Revolution. Macapagal-Arroyo’s presidency came about in the impeachment and resignation of former President Joseph Estrada (another circumstance of national crisis known as EDSA II); then her first real election victory came against another actor (Estrada was an actor) in Fernando Poe that worked against him in timing with Estrada just having been embroiled in charges of corruption.

So besides not being a heir of dynastic privilege, a Lobredo win in a non-crisis (assassination or impeachment) situation would be truly special. And Lobredo is more than qualified for the presidency, independent of her sex.

Rise of Millennials and social media With the aging of the Baby Boomer and Baby Boomer II generations, we now see Generation X taking over in world leadership.

Currently the heads of state in England, Japan, France, Australia, Canada, New Zealand are Generation X leaders (ages 42-57).

But the rising generational bloc showing massive influence worldwide is the emergence of millennials (19-41) and their mass media technology influencing elections both nationally and locally.

According to political analysts, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Mar-

E

FROM THE PUBLISHER

ven though the Philippines presidential election is on May 9, 2022, the election season is about to enter the last and crucial phase starting April. The international community have their eyes focused on this election with the Philippines being one of Asia’s oldest democracies. From the viewpoint of international business, this race is also drawing high interest because it could determine degrees of market confidence and investment. The Philippines has been a center of attention for proponents of ethical governance, human rights and freedom of the press for the past six years, and they anxiously await a favorable outcome.

For our cover story this issue, associate editor Edwin Quinabo reports on the latest trend unfolding in the race to elect the next Philippines president. According to a Pulse Asia survey (accepted by most as very reliable and scientific) taken on Feb 18-23, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. has a commanding lead (by 45%) over the leading opposition candidate vice president Leni Robredo. Traditionally, such a wide margin is statistically improbable to overcome. But as some Philippine political experts believe -- as two renowned Philippines academics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Belinda A. Aquino, Ph.D. and Patricio Abinales, Ph.D. -- there is a chance for Robredo to mount an 11 o’clock comeback should the opposition candidates unite, one of whom many of you already know very well, former boxing champion Senator Manny Pacquiao. Our comprehensive story also explores two scenarios: what the leadership of a Marcos, Jr.-led and Robredo-led administration would look like for the country. Chiming in on who their preferred candidate is, are Filipino registered voters who live in the Philippines and a dual U.S.-Philippines citizen residing in Maui. The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu is encouraging eligible Filipino voters living in Hawaii to vote. Ballots are scheduled to be sent out by mail starting on April 8 and must be received by the Consulate before 1:00 a.m. on May 9.

Continuing our Philippines election coverage, HFC’s Rose Cruz Churma contributes The Philippines’ Pink Phenomenon— the Leni Robredo Story. It features the presidential aspirant Robredo on the campaign trail, her childhood, her early life as First Lady in Naga, up to her work as vice president of the Philippines.

Also in this issue, we have a feature on Lourdes Quisumbing, a renowned educator and administrator, the first female Secretary of Education of the Philippines, and an ambassador to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization. The article was contributed by Cora Quisumbing-King, Ph.D., co-chair of the Asian American Pacific Island Caucus and New Hampshire Democratic Party.

As the tragic war in Ukraine rages on, two HFC columnists Perry Diaz and Elpidio Estioko contribute articles on the subject. Diaz’s article is entitled “How Long Can Putin Stay In Power?” and Estioko’s “Ukraine-Russia War Illegal, Are There Options To End It?” In another kind of war, one of truth and disinformation, HFC columnist Seneca Moraleda-Puguan writes about propaganda on social media in the Philippines and in Russia’s state-controlled media. Be sure to read our other interesting columns and informative news.

Thank you for supporting HFC. Our online presence is growing. Please inform your family and friends that HFC is available without a paywall on our website. We encourage advertisers to take advantage of this added exposure by advertising your company in HFC, Hawaii’s most read and most respected Filipino newspaper. Until next issue, warmest Aloha and Mabuhay!

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

Publisher & Managing Editor

Chona A. Montesines-Sonido

Associate Editors

Edwin QuinaboDennis Galolo

Contributing Editor

Belinda Aquino, Ph.D.

Design

Junggoi Peralta

Photography Tim Llena

Administrative Assistant Lilia Capalad Shalimar Pagulayan

Editorial Assistant Jim Bea Sampaga

Columnists

Carlota Hufana Ader Elpidio R. Estioko Perry Diaz Emil Guillermo Melissa Martin, Ph.D. Seneca Moraleda-Puguan J.P. Orias Pacita Saludes Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq. Charlie Sonido, M.D. Emmanuel S. Tipon, Esq.

Contributing Writers

Clement Bautista Edna Bautista, Ed.D. Teresita Bernales, Ed.D. Sheryll Bonilla, Esq. Rose Churma Serafin Colmenares Jr., Ph.D. Linda Dela Cruz Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand Amelia Jacang, M.D. Caroline Julian Raymond Ll. Liongson, Ph.D. Federico Magdalena, Ph.D. Matthew Mettias Maita Milallos Paul Melvin Palalay, M.D. Renelaine Bontol-Pfister Seneca Moraleda-Puguan Mark Lester Ranchez Jay Valdez, Psy.D. Glenn Wakai 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 Jonathan Pagulayan

Advertising / Marketing Director Chona A. Montesines-Sonido

Account Executives Carlota Hufana Ader JP Orias

cos, Jr.’s early lead in the presidential election is largely due to his army of social media (where most millennials get their news and information) spinning facts and reality.

Robredo is said to be late on the social media information wars of which her campaign and supporters are only now catching up and strategizing.

Whether Robredo will have had enough time to get her mes-

(continue on page 3)

APRIL 2, 2022  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  3

EDITORIAL

Biden’s Inaction on Dampening Record-High Gas Prices Will Be a Disaster for Democrats in the Midterm

P

resident Joe Biden’s approval rating has sunk to his lowest ever during his presidency to 40% and Democrats as a party could pay the price during this year’s midterm. Republicans also enjoyed a 2-point lead in answering which party should control Congress ahead of November’s midterm elections.

What are Americans upset about? A NBC News poll shows two areas of major concern: low levels of confidence in President Biden’s ability to deal with the Russian invasion in Ukraine and his handling of the economy with regard to the current inflation, which has spiked to historic highs not seen in 40 years.

“What this poll says is that President Biden and Democrats are headed for a catastrophic election,” Republican pollster Bill McInturff of Public Opinions Strategy, who conducted this survey with Democratic pollster Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates, told NBC News.

McInturff could be right if Biden does not turn things around quickly.

Before the outbreak of the war, Americans were more forgiving of the rising inflation.

Right-wing media had Biden as target and responsible for the increasing cost of living.

However, most Americans back then saw inflation as a post-pandemic process and that issue was largely looked upon as a bipartisan failing with both Republicans and Democrats having had control of the presidency during the pandemic.

But what turned against Biden is his sanction on Russian oil, which really was symbolic unless other United

Nation’s allies joined. With gasoline prices already soaring, Biden asking for Americans to make a sacrifice by supporting his sanction (while European leaders decided not to take on the Russian oil sanction) made him look out-oftouch with the average American, made him appear elitist.

And as gas prices soared even higher, and soon to increase prices on other basic goods from groceries to utilities, Americans just got their fall guy, a scapegoat, someone to blame in Biden. And all the politically motivated vitriol on right-wing media that connected Biden to rising inflation – suddenly is showing to have caught on to the masses as well that include independents and some Democrats, according to this latest bi-partisan polling by a mainstream media outlet, NBC.

Americans are right, Biden must act, starting with getting gasoline prices under control While market forces are largely responsible for inflation and Biden is really the scapegoat here, his inaction to respond that is garnering criticism is in fact warranted.

It’s not enough to say that oil prices are determined in the world market based off overall supply and demand of which the U.S. is only a part of and do not control.

Frankly, American voters do not care for details and only want to see results when it comes to pocketbook matters.

This is political reality.

Gas prices are up about 24% over the past month alone. In the past year, prices at the pump have gone up 53%. A new survey found that more than half of Americans

surveyed said they will adjust how much they drive now that gas is over $4 per gallon.

On the table to alleviate gas prices White House officials have said they are looking at several options. Currently on the table as possible steps to take include: a gasoline tax holiday or gas cards that would provide rebates to consumers; possible relaxation of the Jones Act, a law requiring domestic cargo to be carried on American-made tankers using union labor; and lifting of sanctions on oil-producing nations.

Lifting even temporarily parts of the Jones Act will not be something unions (a Democrat-base faction) would accept.

Lifting of sanctions on oil-producing nations -- some of them that produce enough oil to make an impact like Iran, Venezuela – would send mixed political messages to countries that the US currently do not have approved diplomatic relations with.

Pumping more gas also goes against decarbonization efforts, climate change, and undermines green energy.

Again, this would not sit well with major sectors of the Democratic party. But this is still an option worth pursuing.

A Federal government gasoline tax holiday or gasoline excise tax holiday is a great idea but getting it to pass through Congress could be problematic with the two Democrat Senate moderates Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. The United States federal excise tax on gasoline is currently 18.4 cents per gallon and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel fuel. But this suggestion still might be worth trying.

Gas cards to provide rebate

(The Philippines....from page 2)

sage across and undo much of the campaigning and misinformation her opponent Bongbong has advanced – that has yet to be determined in the final outcome. But going forward, candidates can no longer ignore or underestimate the new election strategy of social media campaigning to reach

the massive millennial generation in order to win a national election.

Political maturity Should Bongbong eventually win the presidency, it’s encouraging that economists and political analysts have confidence that the Philip-

pines economic and political infrastructure are sound enough and strong enough to withstand less than exceptional leadership that Bongbong most likely would offer (based on his average political career spanning four decades).

There is confidence that (continue on page 15)

on consumers – this also sounds like a great idea but like the gasoline tax holiday, it could be a hurdle in Congress. But such a proposal would be extremely popular and if Republicans do not throw their support behind it, then suddenly the gas price blame game becomes not just all on Biden as it currently stands. Democrats can point back a finger to Republicans if such a proposal was introduced and rejected by the GOP.

Not mentioned by WH, but could make an impact Lessening demand. Consumers can work to close the supply-to-demand gap by reducing gasoline usage. Carpooling and driving less overall, if enough Americans make changes to their daily driving habits, this could have some impact in reducing gasoline prices.

Long term solution. Finally economic substitutes to oil-gasoline, in other words expanding alternative energy sources, must be pursued with vigor. The technology is already here, for example, electric cars. This will not have the immediate impact consumers as Americans are calling for during this inflationary crisis but consumers must set a new standard, new market demand and the industry will support

consumer trends. Buying electric cars should be encouraged.

Lastly, but perhaps one of the best immediate actions Biden could take and something that would not take Congressional approval is using the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to his advantage.

Biden already has tapped the SPR (holds about 714 million barrels of oil) to release and this has had a temporary effect in reducing the cost of oil.

What he can do to leverage the SPR for a more durable price reduction, is to not only liquidate the reserves (714 million barrels of oil), but also pledge to fill it at a future date at the current fracking price of $60 a barrel. This would encourage frackers (concerned about price volatility and thus are holding onto their reserves) to ramp up production of oil because their oil would be guaranteed by pledge at a fair price by the federal government.

The federal government is powerful and has many tools to use at its disposal including subsidies and guarantees.

There is no excuse for Biden to drag his feet on any one or a mix of all those viable options listed above.

Biden must act now or Democrats will pay the price of his inaction at the midterm and his own presidential reelection bid will be in jeopardy as well.

4 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  APRIL 2, 2022

COVER STORY

Philippines Presidential Election is Not Over, Marcos Leads, Robredo Camp Believes a Comeback is Possible

by Edwin Quinabo

T

he international press has always been captivated by the Philippines Presidential elections. Democratic. Extremely high voter turnout above 80%. And in an election like anywhere else in the world, it’s an opportunity for a political reset for a country. In the Philippines case – a country high in potential and on the cusp of achieving “arrived” status as an Asian powerhouse -- it means getting the right leadership to finally get to where Filipinos want to be.

Then there is another side of the Philippines election that sours this hope. The side of intrigue, patronage, and low-bar politicking. When candidates will bruise each other in rough, hardball campaigning. When candidates will resort to entertainment over discussing issues that matter.

Or handing out soft bribes in freebies while touring cross-country.

This 2022 presidential election season is garnering extraordinary attention as the final act of President Rodrigo Duterte comes to an end. He’s been a magnet rod political figure, admired, feared, infamous from the start. As late as winter 2021 Filipinos were still speculating Duterte’s next move. Will he run as vice president? Will he even abide by the one six-year presidential term limit as codified in the Philippine Constitution?

On Monday, May 9, 2022, some 67.5 million registered voters are expected to cast their vote to determine the Philippines next leaders, including electing a president and vice president.

Filipinos overseas – including those eligible living in Hawaii – make up close to 3% of the entire electorate.

Ten candidates for president and nine for vice president have been cleared by the Commission on Elections to appear

In Philippine politics, often there isn’t a clean closure. In fact continuity is stark in the country’s unique pseudo monarchical democracy that has political family dynasties dominating politics. Out goes an elected official; in comes his son or daughter or grandchild. This continuity has been a legacy for the Philippines’ oligarchical class.

It’s been generational, cultural. Classic pinoy power politics.

This phenomenon couldn’t be more prominent -- some say even an effrontery to a truly fair democratic process -- than in the nation’s presidency. Historians must go back 70 years to when Carlos P. Garcia (1957-1961) was the last president who wasn’t a part of a political family dynasty.

And this year’s presidential election showcases the crown jewel of all political family dynasties in presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. (the son and namesake of the late Philippine dictator) and vice presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte (daughter of outgoing President Duterte) running as a tandem.

The opposition is led by frontrunner vice president Leni Robredo who must make the race a referendum on Duterte (the elder) and arouse critical scrutiny that links a Marcos-Duterte tandem as a vote for the same leadership.

This election 2022 has an added el-

on the official ballot.

The 10 presidential candidates include: (in alphabetical order): former presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella, labor leader Leody de Guzman, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, former defense chief Norberto Gonzales, senator Ping Lacson, Faisal Mangondato, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, Jose Montemayor Jr, senator Manny Pacquiao, vice president Leni Robredo.

The nine vice presidential candidates include: Buhay Representative Lito Atienza, former congressman Walden Bello, Rizalito David, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, Manny Lopez, physician Willie Ong, senator Francis Pangilinan, Carlos Serapio, and Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Poll shows Marcos with commanding lead Marcos Jr. has maintained

ement of interest -- of a long-forgotten history (to millennials) being respirated back to life as a Marcos heir associated with crony capitalism (at least to his critics) takes on an opposition championing good governance. The contrast is archetypical.

On the campaign trail, both Marcos and Robredo have been saying that they are the candidate to unite the country. Bongbong has been sidestepping snares that aim to color his campaign to his family’s shadowy past.

Meanwhile, Robredo is resurrecting People Power yellow, but substituting it for pink. The subliminal message is too easy to ignore.

Will the opposition turn Malacañang Palace pink and break a streak of 70 years of political family dynasty? Or will election 2020 result in yet another heir of privilege, heir of the ruling class seizing control of the highest political office of the land, again?

a strong lead in the Philippines’ presidential election race according to a survey conducted on Feb 18-23 by independent pollster Pulse Asia. Marcos garnered 60% of support from 2,400 respondents, unchanged from January, with vice president Leni Robredo sliding from 16% to 15%.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno came in third with 10%, followed by boxing legend Sen. Manny Pacquiao at 8%, and Sen. Panfilo Lacson at 2%.

Vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte, Marcos’ running mate (vice president is elected separately) led the Pulse Asia poll with 53%, an increase from 50% in January. Senate President Tito Sotto came in second with 24%, trailed by Sen. Francis Pangilinan at 11%, and Dr. Willie Ong at 6%. The survey has a 2% margin of error at 95% confidence level. (continue on page 5)

APRIL 2, 2022  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  5

COVER STORY (Philippines Presidential Election....from page 4)

Robredo still could launch a comeback and win While two months away from the date of the poll, Philippine political experts believe there could still be enough time for Robredo to close the huge gap and still win under certain conditions.

“This hope is not unrealistic and Bongbong’s early lead can be wiped out by a concerted effort on the part of his major opponents - Leni Robredo, Manny Pacquiao, Isko Moreno and Panfilo Lacson - by getting together and developing a realistic strategy to overcome Bongbong’s early lead. By ‘realistic,’ I mean some of these opponents will have to withdraw, swallow their pride, and agree to a grand strategy of unity with the other major candidates stopping Bongbong from further moving forward,” Dr. Belinda A. Aquino, Professor Emeritus at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, professor of Political Science and Asian Studies, and founding director of the Center for Philippine Studies at the University, told the Filipino Chronicle.

Aquino brings up the point what critics have long been saying about political family dynasties and how their immense wealth influences political races.

“They [the opposition] should remember that Bongbong still has a lot of money and other resources to even steal the election with dirty tricks and other tactics that he and Sara will be employing to win with their combined dynastic resources of the Marcos and Duterte tandem.

“A unified and determined opposition to the obvious advantages of the Bongbong-Duterte camps may be a hard struggle, but it can be won with a more vigorous and unified campaign of the opposition.”

Aquino mentions the last election race between Robredo and Marcos for vice president six years ago in which Robredo, outspent and outmatched in resources, still defeated Marcos in a close contest. Aquino said doing more sustained repetition of what proved to be successful can once again render a repeat win.

Some political observers point out in a contest between Robredo and Marcos this time, there is a x-factor, a Duterte factor that favors Marcos heavily. While Rodrigo is barred from running again, his daughter is perceived to be an extension of himself (even though political insiders say she is a different kind of leader). It’s a family political dynasty effect in action once again. How this could potentially play out?

One example, businesses with existing government contracts will support automatically (and do not have to be told) Sara and her running mate to secure their business interests with the government. And that amounts to a lot of financial support, and backing from these businesses’ employees, associates, contacts and their family members going Marcos’ way.

Echoing a scenario that would require a unified opposition to turn the tide for Lobredo, Patricio N. Abinales, professor at the School for Pacific and Asian Studies, the University of Hawaii-Manoa, where he teaches Philippine political history, told the Filipino Chronicle “If the present trends continue, then Bongbong Marcos will be the next president. Leni Robredo and her team are fighting tooth-and-nail to reduce Bongbong’s lead but she could only narrow it down if the other presidential candidates withdraw and then support her.”

Abinales said, “An interesting trend to watch however is the move by certain politicians led by Congressman Joey Salceda of Albay’s 2nd District and Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco to convince voters to vote Robredo for president and Sara Duterte for vice president. I am not sure if this Leni-Sara tandem will appeal to voters, but if Salceda et. al., can push this successfully, especially in social media, then realistically speaking, it could be enough to defeat Bongbong.”

Robredo’s campaign team said the February poll does not yet capture the “game-changing developments” of recent weeks.

“With this clear momentum from the people’s campaign -- reflected both in the

massive rallies as well as in online metrics -- we are confident that the next 56 days will culminate in an election day victory for Leni Robredo,” spokesperson Barry Gutierrez said in a statement.

Cautious to open up any doors for a Robredo comeback, Bongbong has been declining to participate in multiple debates and forums, including a debate sponsored

by CNN Philippines.

Both Marcos Jr and Duterte saw huge jumps in Metro Manila (from Jan. to Feb.), the country’s capital and most voterich region, in the same Pulse Asia survey. They also dominated in all subnational divisions – NCR, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. They were also the top choice across all socio-economic classes.

Pulse Asia said that Marcos’ ratings could be attributed to his social media presence.

Prof. Dindo Manhit, founder and managing director of Stratbase ADR Institute, an independent international research organization, remarked, “Surveys simply tell us what people think at that moment.

But the most important decision happens on election day.

This is where seasoned politicians may have an advantage.”

Niche polling, Robredo leads among investors and Catholics In a survey among investors and business analysts printed in Bloomberg, respondents gave Robredo the highest score of 106. Senator Panfilo Lacson came in second with a score of 91, followed

by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno with 81. Marcos and Senator Manny Pacquiao were at the bottom with a score of 46 and 44, respectively.

A January 24-February 4 survey organized by the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, which polled 3,089 respondents, including students, school heads and administrators, non-teaching personnel, alumni, and other staff, showed Robredo commanding the support of 52.57 percent of respondents, followed by Marcos with 25.54 percent.

Bongbong Marcos

“If the present trends continue, then Bongbong Marcos will be the next president. Leni Robredo and her team are fighting tooth-and-nail to reduce Bongbong’s lead but she could only narrow it down if the other presidential candidates withdraw and then support her. An interesting trend to watch is the move by certain politicians led by Congressman Joey Salceda of Albay’s 2nd District and Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco to convince voters to vote Robredo for president and Sara Duterte for vice president. I am not sure if this Leni-Sara tandem will appeal to voters, but if Salceda et. al., can push this successfully, especially in social media, then realistically speaking, it could be enough to defeat Bongbong.”

— Patricio N. Abinales, Professor at the School for Pacific and Asian Studies, the University of Hawaii-Manoa At the age of 23, Bongbong left the Ivy League’s Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania without completing his master’s degree to become vice governor of Ilocos Norte. His father was president of the Philippines at the time.

At 26, Bongbong already a governor of Ilocos Norte then, was appointed by his father to the chair of the Board of Philippine Communications Satellite Corp (Philcomsat), a position he’s held but according to an article by United Press International, had rarely visited the company’s office [well before the advent of the Internet] and had no duties.

Bongbong would later represent Ilocos Norte in Congress and eventually reach the Senate. His comeback to politics and climb to the nation’s highest legislative chamber began after his exile in Hawaii.

Politicos find the Marcoses political comeback after the exile as strategic, but it also is a testament to the stock Filipinos place in name recognition and family political dynasty.

Despite 42 years in politics, critics say he’s had a

deeply mediocre career that is far from inspirational.

His campaign for the presidency is said to be Rodrigo Duterte-modeled, driven by an army of social media allies obscuring his family’s misdeeds and posting a constant barrage of positive information. This strategy, along with Sara as his running mate, is said to be behind his early lead.

Social media is where most millennials get their news and this generation is now at the age of being a major voting bloc. The history of the Marcoses cronyism is foreign to Filipino millennials. And if Marcos can get millennials’ support through misrepresentation on social media, this is having a major effect on his viability and lead, political observers say.

Abinales says the Marcoses were the first political family to recognize the significance of social media and had used it to revise the history of Marcos dictatorship.

What a Marcos presidency would look like “If [Marcos] is elected, it

(continue on page 6)

6 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  APRIL 2, 2022

COVER STORY (Philippines Presidential Election....from page 5)

would only reinforce our view that the economy will continue to underperform over the coming years,” said Alex Holmes, Asia economist at Capital Economics Ltd. Economic experts say Marcos as president would most likely seek to expand the nation’s fiscal policy as started by his two predecessors Noynoy Aquino and Duterte, set by a professionally run central bank.

Prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, the Philippines’ economic growth was the highest in Asia, and some believe, is a testament to the economic policies of the Duterte administration. But that economic growth has not trickled down to the low income and very poor Filipinos.

Abinales identified areas that Marcos would not change.

“He [Marcos] cannot change the legacy of supporting a social welfare program that has had the largest allocation ever in the last 30 years (since 1986). This includes the free education in state universities and schools, the institutionalization of the conditional cash transfer program that began with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and continued by Aquino III.” He said Bongbong would not touch the Department of Finance and the Philippine Overseas Employment Commission because these are the two offices that relate to the international financial world, and which take care of the overseas Filipino workers, the country’s main source of revenues.

“You do not want to anger a global business community which is already suspicious of you as a Marcos (a family of looters), and neither will you draw the ire of OFWs and their families back home. These offices will, most likely, be corruption free – meaning the Marcoses will not dip their fingers into these cookie jars for their greed,” Abinales said.

Where Marcos would make changes, according to Abinales, Marcos would defang the Presidential Commission for Good Government and effectively stop it from pursuing the billons his family stole; and pack the Supreme Court

with his cronies and thus neutralize any judicial challenge against his administration.

“Marcos would keep Congressional allies happy by not cutting or reducing pork barrel and pack the Department of Justice with allies who will – like Duterte – not only defend him but also continuously harass critics; and retain control of the police, Abinales said.

Aquino said a Leni presidency and Bongbong presidency would be like night and day. “Compared to Leni who is the most able and experienced, Bongbong is a pale shadow of his dictator-tyrant father. What has Bongbong done that can be seen as decent, distinguished, and capable of running a nation that has had a lasting experience with democratic ways before the Marcoses came unto the political scene.”

will likely be regarded as less market-friendly than Robredo, particularly when it comes to experience at the national level and in articulating a strategy for the country to recover from the pandemic,” Nomura Holdings Inc. Contrary to Marcos, Abinales sees Robredo as president, using the Departments of Justice and Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the PCGG to pursue the recovery of the Marcos hidden wealth and weed out corruption in government.

But like “BongBong, for Robredo to succeed she will have to make compromises with the political dynasties ruling the towns, cities, and provinces outside Manila by not touching their share of the countryside development funds [pork barrel] and not supporting an anti-dynasty bill,” he said.

Leni Robredo The vice president for the last six years, Robredo has had an adversarial relationship with Duterte from the very beginning when she served as a cabinet member then quit after being excluded in meetings. A former human rights lawyer, Robredo had also been a vocal critic of Duterte’s war on drugs that she called “senseless killings.” Her attacks on Duterte would continue into the COVID-19 pandemic that she says the administration had no adequate response or plans to recover from.

As VP, she has been lauded for her work in disaster relief and poverty alleviation work.

Her presidential campaign pales to Marcos in financial support, but is kept alive by many volunteers who see her candidacy as a social movement, political observers say.

As president, she would push for more public sector transparency and bolster the nation’s healthcare system.

Manny Pacquiao The famed boxing world champion, Pacquiao is a senator and served as a two terms congressman. He has been a staunch supporter of Duterte, including his war on drugs. He supported efforts to restore the death penalty. Recently Pacquaio has criticized Duterte’s relationship with China and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

His notable accomplishment is a campaign to provide free housing to 1.9 million poor families. If elected president, Duterte vows to jail corrupt public officials.

What a Robredo presidency would look like Economists believe managing the pandemic and cooling inflation are the biggest priorities for the next administration.

“Marcos, in our view,

Top issues of concern to Filipinos The PAHAYAG: National Election Tracker Survey conducted between Feb. 11-16 showed the top issues of concern for Filipino voters were the economy, jobs, poverty,

Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso Like Pacquiao, Domagoso came from a very poor family then found success in entertainment, not in sports but as an actor. He was elected Mayor of Manila in 2019. His previous political offices held were at the City Council and as a three-term vice-mayor of Manila.

and corruption. “Economic and livelihood issues appear to be at the forefront of voters’ minds going into the May 2022 election. The data suggest that voters are interested in learning more about the economic platforms of candidates vying for national positions,” Aureli Sinsuat, executive director of PUBLiCUS Asia Inc., said.

The independent survey polled 1,500 registered voters-respondents.

What Filipino registered voters think about the election Hawaii Filipino Chronicle editorial assistant and Philippines correspondent Jim Bea interviewed registered voters for the upcoming election. The four respondents in this section agreed to comment using an alias due to the sensitivity of Philippines elections.

Rain, Pasig, Philippines, law student, 24, said Leni is her choice for president. “On credentials, she [Leni] is an economist, a lawyer, and a public servant. She has a passion for the marginalized. She brings not only people together but also services. Under our system of government the office of the vice president is merely a spare wheel, and yet she provided transportation for the frontliners when public transportation was put to a halt.”

Rain said the country needs a leader who is wellversed in the field of economics, someone who could reverse the trend since 2016 of a falling economy where the poor has been hurt most.

“Also, the country needs a leader who will focus on agricultural development, and uplift the plight of our farmers.”

Besides economic growth, Rain said she wants a leader who will keep the rule of law and human rights intact.

Dela Cruz, Pateros, Philippines, external auditor, 22, said she will vote for Leni because she is the most qualified to lead and to unite Filipinos.

Dela Cruz is impressed with Leni’s work as vice president.

“As a community that supports transparency and integrity, Leni is the one to support,” Dela Cruz said. She believes

the country needs a leader who can best execute plans to recover from the pandemic.

Homer, Cainta, Rizal, Philippines, Research Analyst, 23, a Leni supporter, says Leni was involved in nation-building as an attorney before entering public office. “Leni and Jesse Robredo have transformed Naga, similar to what the Dutertes did to Davao, without a stain of blood nor any compromise to human rights. That is as much a statement of what kind of a leader Leni Robredo is.”

Homer says the Philippines needs a leader who can make a system change.

Economic growth must also include socio-economic development, Homer said. In his view, the ideal leader is “a leader who has worked with the poor and the marginalized and will address the country’s growing inequalities in terms of income, gender, and ethnicity. My vote for Leni is not only for myself, nor my inner circles, but it is also for those who are victims of misinformation and are constantly spat on as Leni. A vote for Leni is a vote for them.”

Mary, Pasig Philippines, housewife, 48, didn’t disclose who she will be voting for but said, “All candidates have their own agendas but it will be the same, top sponsors of the winning candidate will be there for their own agenda. So if the winning president will be true to his or her words and promises will be kept, that will be a great achievement for the country.”

Voting from Hawaii Consul Andrea Christina Caymo of the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu said registered Filipino voters can participate in the upcoming Philippine election.

They will receive their ballot through mail starting on April 8. They need to make sure that their properly-filled ballot is received by the Consulate before 1:00 a.m. on May 9.

Kit Zulueta Furukawa, Wailuku Maui, businesswoman, 36 is a dual U.S. and Philippines citizen and registered to vote. She said the person (continue on page 7)

APRIL 2, 2022  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  7

NEWS FEATURE

The Philippines’ Pink Phenomenon —the Leni Robredo Story

By Rose Churma

L

ast month, I stayed up late glued to my iPad mesmerized by the images I was seeing: a long river of pink on Emerald Avenue in the heart of Pasig City’s financial district.

The crowd was so thick, all dressed in various shades of pink such that, from shots taken by a drone above, it looked like a riverbed of locally grown rose-tipped onions. But they were people of all ages, the crowd was estimated to be around 137,000 to 180,000.

Even American pop star Ariana Grande couldn’t help commenting on Instagram when the behemoth crowd sang one of her hits. “I could not believe this was real,” she wrote over the video showing a stream of people wearing pink and singing their hearts out.

The Pasig City event was considered the biggest so far, outperforming in size the ones in other cities. But in all of them the energy and “good vibes” of the “Kakampinks” – the label used by the pink-clad voters to call themselves – was palpable in all the rallies.

As one Kakampink confessed on Tiktok, “It is hard to be a Kakampink: there are implied high standards set to be called one, embodied in the phrase “mas radical ang magmahal.”

A sense of sharing and “looking out for the other” permeates the rallies. Food items, campaign merchandise, and various small acts of kindness are shared by all in these rallies

– the standard rather than the exception.

In a typical political rally, it is usually the candidate’s campaign machinery who organizes these sorties, distributes the campaign materials, and generally funds the expenses related to putting an event together.

Not so for the Kakampink rallies: local volunteers organize themselves and pool their funds and resources to stage these gatherings. One can see the decentralization of the campaign in the various shades of pink used in the campaign materials, different designs and ditties for each area, and the friendly competition among the “people’s campaign” groups to draw the biggest and most energized crowd for their jurisdictions. And in all the rallies, one can hear the chant “hindi kami bayad, hindi kami bayad!”

One of the surprising pink gatherings was held in Isabela on March 12. Even the candidate herself expressed trepidation in coming to Cagayan Valley (she lost big time here in 2016), part of the legendary Solid North.

But like in the other Kakampink rallies, the crowd was large and full of positive energy, chanting “No Solid North, No Solid North!” with signs that said “Liquid North.”

These last few days, the pink rallies are now held in Mindanao, attracting the same large crowds and enthusiasm, generating endorsements from politicians from that area. The mayor of Davao banned political rallies in that city, but it didn’t prevent the Kakampinks to stage one in a neighboring city of Digos

VP Leni Robredo

shouts and screams, all surged to see her wave, shake her hand, or shove a gift of flowers in her hands. Some cried, some danced or jumped or tried to do selfies with the moving vehicle.

This scenario is multiplied in all the venues where she appears, and the same enthusiasm is generated in the crowds attending her rallies when she is introduced: she is greeted like a rock star!

which also drew the usual large crowds holding signs that said, “No Solid South.”

At the CNN-sponsored presidential debate held at the UST campus last March, a photo of the pink-clad Leni Robredo is shown walking to the venue, flanked by her three outstanding daughters.

In another photo that same night after the debates, she is shown holding her shoes and standing in her bare feet as she fields “ambush” interviews from the crowd of reporters.

Any woman who saw that photo can relate. After endless hours on your feet fielding questions from the pandemic to the West Philippines Sea (she did very well in the debates, by the way), it must have been a relief to step out of those shoes.

Much later on, as her vehicle exited the UST grounds a condo dweller from one of the buildings flanking the street took videos of her vehicle as it left the campus grounds and posted it on social media.

A group of young supporters waited patiently at the gates for her to appear, and when she did, the evening exploded in

Who is Leni Robredo?

fight for government decency.”

Kit wants good governance. “This means bringing trust back in leadership. We need a president that will get the job done without killing 12,000 from a drug war or 58,000 from inaction during the pandemic.

We need honest leadership who sets records straight, not someone who benefits from an army of fake news trolls. We need someone who can be accountable and responsible enough to care and lead by example.

During natural disasters, in times of adversity, and even in organized debates, we need someone who will show up.”

She said when credibility is back in our government, that is when progress will come.

“This is in the form of investors, jobs, and support for our workforce, healthcare, security, and quality education.”

Kit encourages Filipinos who are desperate for good governance to support Robredo. “She can bring credibility

How did this typical “everywoman” end up aspiring to be the next president of the Philippines? She grew up in Naga City in the Bicol region.

In an interview with her mom who is a professor at the local university, her mother described her as a quiet young girl who can be depended on to look after her younger siblings.

She avoided the limelight, preferring to be in the background.

She was an introvert who loved to read, and she excelled in school.

Her best friend in high school called her “crush ng bayan” with her good looks, sweet demeanor, and unassuming ways, which is easy to imagine.

After high school, she was accepted at the University of the Philippines–Diliman where she took up economics courses and boarded at the campus dorm.

She would relate how she and her dorm-mates would sneak out to watch Sharon Cuneta movies, whenever a new movie is released. Little did she know back then that her running mate would be Kiko Pangilinan, Sharon’s husband.

By her own account, her

world consisted of school, family, and friends. She was apolitical and happy in her small world.

Then the unthinkable happened. Ninoy Aquino was assassinated in August 1984. Like countless young people of those times, she was one of the thousands who paid respect as his body lay in state at the Santo Domingo Church.

By the time she graduated in 1986 her political activism intensified. She decided to postpone the trajectory planned for her which is to enroll in law school soon after receiving her bachelor’s degree. Her father was a regional trial judge in Naga, and the family plan was for her to follow in his footsteps.

Instead, she opted to work for the non-profit Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP), an agency tasked to undertake integrated area development planning in the three provinces of the Bicol region.

The head of the agency was a young man named Jesse Robredo. They would be married within the year.

During those early years of their marriage, Leni Robredo took on the various roles of wife, mother, the first lady of Naga (Jesse would be elected as mayor in 1988), law student and professor (she taught economics at the local university) and juggled all those roles competently and cheerfully.

As her oldest daughter recalls, Leni was a “tiger mom” who woke up at 4 a.m. to drive her daughters to swim practice every day, helped them with their homework and expected them to excel – not only in academics but in whatever they choose to pursue. And she set the same (continue on page 14)

(COVER STORY: Philippines Presidential Election....from page 6)

with the cleanest track record, credibility and competence to be president of the Philippines is Leni Robredo.

“With meager funds and no support from the administration, Robredo’s flagship anti-poverty program Angat Buhay under the Office of the Vice President helped more than 600K from the marginalized community. And again with zero funds, her programs supporting the frontliners during these past two critical

years of the pandemic served as a beacon of hope to address the administration’s inaction.

“Having another Marcos in Malacañan is like pissing in the faces of the families of the 70,000 Filipinos incarcerated during Martial Law.” Kit said she doesn’t look at Marcos loyalists as enemies or kalaban. “In fact, they are the ones we are fighting for.

The sooner they realize this, the closer they are to our open doors to welcome them in the

back to the government,” Kit said.

The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu encourages all eligible voters to participate in the 2022 election.

The certified list of overseas voters from Hawaii and American Samoa for the 2022 National Elections can be viewed on this link: https://comelec. gov.ph/phptpls-attachments/ OverseasVoting/2022NLE/ CLOV/AMERICAS/HONOLULU.pdf 

8 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  APRIL 2, 2022

CANDID PERSPECTIVES

Hirono’s Aloha Gives Boost to Supreme Court Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson

By Emil Guillermo

W

hen the debate got tense and heated at the hearings for Ketanji Brown Jackson last month, leave it to Sen. Mazie Hirono to calm things down. Even though Sen. Ted Cruz tried to shout her down, Hirono had the floor, so she proceeded.

“Aloha, Judge Jackson,” Hirono said.

And the judge knew exactly what to say back. “Aloha.”

And Mahalo for that.

Republicans had hijacked the hearings with angry attacks on Jackson on any number or irrelevancies, all of which was just noise. The GOP is mostly frustrated because they don’t

know how to accept that such a well-qualified African American woman has come before him.

But here’s the upshot after more than 20 hours of direct questioning in the four days of hearing: Ketanji Brown Jackson should be the next Supreme Court Justice of the United States.

Just start calling her KBJ now.

She’s been called, by virtue of her legal experience, the most qualified nominee for the Supreme Court in history.

But, of course, she would have to be. People of color always must be twice as good to overcome the racism we face.

Jackson is maybe five to ten times good. She’s that special.

No one on the current court has her depth and range, from public school to Harvard, to Harvard Law, SCOTUS clerk, public defender, Sentencing Commission, District Court judge to Court of Appeals judge. That’s a heck of a resume for anyone.

Initially, I admit, I was wrong about Jackson.

When President Biden announced her as his nominee, I didn’t know much about her and wondered why an Asian American wasn’t picked for the slot.

African Americans have Clarence Thomas. There’s never been an Asian American Supreme Court justice ever.

But after what Jackson

Ketanji Brown Jackson

went through at the hands of Republicans during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings this week, the woman is a saint.

The court needs one of those.

Jackson survived and stood up to questioning that was both intellectually dishonest, as well as flat-out “vicious.”

That was the word used by committee chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to describe last Wednesday’s bruising, relentless questioning by Republican members.

It was a mugging.

But that’s because the Republicans were mugging too, for the cameras. Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, and Tom Cotton all want to be the next Donald Trump.

So, they auditioned at the public’s and Jackson’s expense.

Cordial and congratulatory on introduction, but then the long knives came out for a full-frontal attack over an issue that was shocking, emotional, and understandable for voters.

The claim?

That Jackson was soft on crime because of sentences in a small subset of the hundreds of cases she’s handled. In fewer than 20 cases involving child pornography, her sentences were less than the national guidelines.

But more than 70 percent of judges

nationwide have complained the sentencing minimums are too high.

Jackson said as a mother, she was troubled by such heinous cases. But using what she called her “methodology” of being neutral, considering the facts, and writing opinions that were transparent, she handed out fair and just sentences. In every case brought up by Cruz and company, there was jail time. Soft on crime? The National Fraternal Order of Police supports Jackson. So do the police chiefs. The American Bar Association calls her “well qualified.”

But the Republicans, unable to deal with such a super qualified BIPOC candidate, have decided this is the issue they will use to break Jackson. Child porn is political dynamite; It’s the evil twin of abortion – so emotional, it can divide an electorate.

Either that’s the game, or Republicans just like talking about child porn. This is their QAnon hill to die on.

As Cruz or Hawley badgered, Jackson firmly said she had answered the question and stood by her answer. With respect.

Cruz and Hawley were like a WWF tag team. After Hawley ended his hounding of Jackson on the third day, (Jackson’s blue blazer day), that’s when Hirono was recognized by the chair. But then Cruz made a scene insisting on entering a document that Chairman Durbin indicated could have been entered without such fanfare.

That’s when the “Aloha” exchange took place.

“I’m going to try to spread some Aloha into this room,” Hirono said to the relief of all those tired of the GOP’s antics.

Hirono did bring some calm. But Jackson always stayed cool under pressure and didn’t crack.

Only Sen. Cory Booker made her cry, but for the right reasons.

Amid the thunder of demagoguery, Booker must have

looked like a New Jersey rest stop. He allowed Jackson to just be human.

Booker talked about her mother and father who were sitting in the room. Jackson had mentioned how they lived through legal segregation in Florida. Booker talked about her brother the cop, who also served in the military. He talked about Brown’s civil rights hero, Judge Constance Baker Motley.

But then Booker said he saw Jackson and saw his own mom. And his cousins. And all the ancestors standing with her.

And you know? I saw myself too.

Connecting with KBJ Coincidentally, I share a few things with Jackson. I debated in high school. Did OO (Original Oratory) in the NFL. Football? National Forensics League. We both went to Harvard too, though I was there 15 years before.

On the first day of the hearings, I was struck by the introduction given by one of her college roommates, Lisa Fairfax, now a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Fairfax talked about meeting Jackson in her freshman year.

“Those first moments when you wonder if you belong,” Fairfax said. “She’s the friend that made sure we all did.”

Fairfax went on: “She was the role model who makes you believe in what she said, ‘You can do it and here’s how.’

And she showed us how, by the power of her example of hard work, preparation and excellence that transforms the seemingly impossible into the achievable.”

I wish I had that kind of college friend in my time in Cambridge 15 years earlier.

Jackson called herself, “a black woman [and] lucky inheritor of the civil rights dream.”

With humility, she sounded like she understood the (continue on page 12)

APRIL 2, 2022  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  9

FEATURE

A Woman for the Ages

By Cora Quisumbing-King

W

hen I think of Intern ational Wo m e n ’ s Day, my t houghts easily make their way back home to land of my birth and my youth where I knew a woman for many, many years, Lourdes Quisumbing.

Born in a very small town in my home province of Cebu in the Philippines, she grew up under the tutelage of her mother whom she lost at the age of 13. Her guardian was her granduncle, a well-respected parish priest who must have anguished at how best to care for her.

He sent her to a boarding school run by nuns away from the city but in the same province so she could easily visit the parish. What was life for her then without her

mother and away from her father and granduncle?

She rose to the occasion, excelled in high school, and moved to the big city of Manila where the same congregation of nuns doted on her and kept many suitors at bay – except for a gentleman who became her husband.

The story of their courtship, their marriage and family life is a long one and perhaps I will share it with you one day. I will say that she could not have become an international woman had she not had a husband who helped her grow with confidence and strength.

The “wind beneath our wings” was what she called him in her autobiography.

A mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, she was a renowned educator and administrator, first in

her home province and later in the national arena.

She reaped many local and national awards even before she became the first female Secretary of Education of the Philippines. She was an advocate in her own right.

I was told that she matter-of-factly informed the President she would march with the teachers if their salaries were not raised. Her post as an ambassador to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization gave her the opportunity to become a member of its executive board.

She was the founding president of an organization in my home county focusing on the integration of values education in the curriculum.

The international awards she received in the field of education can fill anyone who knew her with pride.

Filipina educator Lourdes Quisumbing

Many of the details of her career escape me (unless I check her curriculum vitae) since I was not a witness to her life once I made my own home in this country. I do know the influence she has had on others remains even to this day.

While we are each admirable in our own way, I must admit she was “something else.” As my memory fades further still, I will always remember her.

Her light shines forever.

Afterall, she was my mother. CORA QUISUMBING-KING, PH.D. is co-chair of the Asian American Pacific Island Caucus and New Hampshire Democratic Party. She graduated from Ateneo de Manila University and received her Ph.D. in Social and Organizational Psychology from the University of Chicago under a Fulbright Hays grant. Her mother, Dr. Lourdes R. Quisumbing, passed away in 2017 at the age of 96.

10 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE APRIL 2, 2022

AS I SEE IT

Ukraine-Russia War Illegal, Are There Options to End it?

By Elpidio R. Estioko

R

ussia’s war against Ukraine is illegal, according to International Law and the United Nations (U.N.) Charter. But is there an international body to enforce the law that will end the war?

If none, what are our options?

In late February, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on Russia to stop its fast-moving ground invasion of Ukraine.

He told reporters during a press conference in the U.N.’s New York headquarters: “The use of force by one country against another is the repudiation of the principles that every country committed to uphold. This applies to the present military offensive. It is wrong. It is against the [United

Nations] Charter. It is unacceptable. But it is not irreversible.

“Stop the military operation. Bring the troops back to Russia. We know the toll of war.”

The United Nations Charter is an agreement that guides the work of the U.N. and its 193-member states. But, As I See It, Guterres’ call to stop the war fall on deaf ears and there’s no consequence for doing that!

Russia president Vladimir Putin perhaps didn’t hear it and there is no indication that he will abide by the pronouncement. In fact, Putin continues to dismantle Ukraine, deliberately targeting civilians, as it nears its fifth week of invasion.

In a theconversation.com article by international law expert and professor Hurst Hannum, he wrote that “Enforcing [international] law is challenging, as armed conflicts around

the world demonstrate all too clearly.”

There is no standing international police force to enforce it with sanctions, so compliance is primarily in the hands of countries themselves and Putin is not following it.

While the International Court of Justice, created by the U.N. and located in the Netherlands, decides disputes between countries, including alleged violations of the U.N. Charter, only 73 countries out 195 have accepted the court’s jurisdiction and in no way enforceable.

We are seeing non-compliance with the law, but no sanctions are being imposed! So, what are our options?

The first option is dip l o m a c y, talking points and negotiations! While staging fierce resistance of Russian troops during the invasion, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is now ready to talk and negotiate and is willing to abide by Putin’s demand for Ukraine not to pursue its membership with NATO, among others.

Zelen-

skyy thinks that to end the war, both leaders must agree on things beneficial to both countries and that’s the only way to avoid further damage to lives and properties. While we haven’t heard from Putin yet, this is a good sign because he will now have a chance to impose things that may be agreeable to Zelenskyy.

Meanwhile, Zelensky needs to continue and be persistent in pursuing his plea to talk and negotiate with Putin.

As a parallel approach to the Zelenskyy-Putin talk, the other leaders who are advocating for world peace can continue diplomatic meetings to support the two leaders to finally agree on terms and end the war.

The second option is for China and other big nations to stay neutral and show Putin the negative outcomes in escalating the war globally as it affects all nations economically, politically and socially.

This may convince Putin to be able to realize the consequences and agree to end the war. They should not be sending military troops or any assistance of the same nature to be able to show their intentions not to intervene directly in the already worsening war. Staying neutral will not aggravate the war but will give time for both parties to realize the consequences of an extended war.

The third option is for NATO and the United States to look for ways to end the war without resorting to World War III. The humanitarian aspect may play a major role here and let Putin realize that the escalation of the war will eventually displace not only Ukrainians but may likewise affect Rus-

sians, locally and internationally.

According to Janez Lenarcic, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management: “We are witnessing what could become the largest humanitarian crisis on our European continent in many, many years. The needs are growing as we speak.”

Reactions to the growing humanitarian situation inside and outside of Ukraine have been encouraging.

The US government has announced nearly $54 million in humanitarian assistance for the country. The European Union is coordinating emergency assistance and has stepped up its humanitarian aid. The European Commission announced an additional $100 million for emergency aid programs to help civilians affected by the conflict.

This week, the U.N. launched the coordinated emergency appeals for a combined $1.7 billion for the next three months to urgently deliver humanitarian support to people in Ukraine and refugees in neighboring countries.

U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Osnat Lubrani, also expressed the Organization’s solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

“As we try to understand the evolving situation in different parts of the country, we are here to support the people exhausted by years of conflict and we are prepared to respond in case of any increase in humanitarian needs,” she said in a statement.

As I See It, the three options are possible!

It’s just a matter of time giving parties to realize the beauty of peace and reconciliation. Let’s pray for the parties to end the war without resorting to World War III. Let’s give them a chance to be sober and decide what’s best for world peace.

ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO was a veteran journalist in the Philippines and an award-winning journalist in the US. For feedbacks, comments… please email the author @ estiokoelpidio@gmail.com.

APRIL 2, 2022  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  11

PERRYSCOPE

How Long Can Putin Stay in Power?

By Perry Diaz

T

he Russian Invasion of Ukraine is now on its second stage: the bombardment of Ukraine.

Without a no-fly zone over the Ukrainian sky, the Russian Air Force is now poised to launch all-out air strikes against Ukraine.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin warned any attempt by NATO allies to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine would be viewed as “participation in the armed conflict.”

In a bitter speech, he renewed his call, telling NATO that “all the people who die from this day forward will also die because of you.”

He also criticized Biden for not imposing severe sanctions against Russia and for not stopping buying Russian oil, which makes one wonder: Why? Why? Why? While Russian President Vladimir Putin has gone allout on his barbaric and illegal assault on the brave Ukrainian people, Biden seemed to have cocooned himself in Washington DC issuing warnings to Putin that he’ll fight for every inch of NATO territory.

How about a NATO partner’s territory, Mr. President?

Aren’t you going to help a reliable and valuable ally from being slaughtered by Putin?

Don’t you believe in the saying, “A friend in need is a friend indeed”? Or do you consider Ukraine a “fair weather friend” who is now fighting for her dear life?

Do you treat Ukraine as a second-class ally to be used at your convenience but wouldn’t lift a finger to save her from annihilation?

ter all, he vowed never to go to war against Russia over Ukraine – is having the best time of his life.

He issued two ultimatums to Biden and NATO: (1) Sanctions against Russia will be considered a “declaration of war,” and (2) Sending weapons to Ukraine will be an “act of war.”

Is Biden going to withdraw from Europe and surrender Ukraine to Putin? That’s what Putin’s ultimatums come down to. Is Biden going the easy way out by following Putin’s dictate?

While withdrawing from Afghanistan had caused a geopolitical ripple, withdrawing from Ukraine would be tantamount to a “geopolitical catastrophe” far worse than what Putin said in 2005 when he lamented, “The demise of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.”

It would be the end of Pax Americana and the beginning of Pax Russica It would seem then that Putin is playing his end game with ultimatums. But Biden’s retinue of retired generals and admirals would probably advise him not to heed Putin’s threats to withdraw or else suffer the consequences of a nuclear war.

Nuclear war A nuclear war? Heck, the specter of a nuclear war scares the hell out of Biden. Putin is very much aware of MAD; that is, Mutually Assured Destruction.

But the question is: Does Putin have the courage to end his own life by pressing the Doomsday Button that would fire Russia’s arsenal of nuclear weapons, enough to blow planet Earth to billions of radioactive meteorites?

Let’s analyze this very carefully. Putin may be crazy but he’s not stupid.

He is a narcissistic megalomaniac whose self-love strips him of any compassion Putin smells blood for people. Like Hitler, he deBut Putin, who must have lights in the suffering of peosensed Biden’s rigid stand ple. against helping Ukraine – afBut make no mistake; he

Men between 18 and 60 years old were not allowed to leave and were encouraged to stay to fight for their freedom.

Vladimir Putin

loves his money. Actually, he’s rumored to have stashed $200 billion someplace.

Anybody who has accumulated that kind of moolah wouldn’t want to leave it on Earth. But knowing that he is just a mortal being who lives on borrowed time, it must have stricken him to the core.

So, he’s got one option left; that is, to immortalize his legacy. But he has a problem; he won’t be in the company of the world’s great men and women.

He’d be in the company of the world’s villains. He’ll be next to Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini in the Rogues’ Gallery. But that’s his choice.

He did it on his own volition.

Path to greatness He could have taken a path used by such great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Peter the Great.

Some were men of peace and some were men of war.

But none of them had been branded as war criminals.

But Putin has been branded as a war criminal for the illegal invasion of Ukraine, which unfortunately killed innocent civilians.

It has also displaced more than 1.5 million Ukrainians in the first ten days of the Russian invasion, dispersing them in the neighboring countries of Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia, and other European countries.

It is expected that the number would increase to four to five million refugees, mostly women, children, and the elderly.

Call to volunteers Volunteers have also started coming to Ukraine to join the International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine.

It is a volunteer foreign legion military unit created by the Government of Ukraine on the request of President Zelenskyy to fight in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

To date, more than 16,000 volunteers have arrived in Ukraine from Finland, Poland, Belarus, Lithuania, and other countries from all over the world as far away as Japan. Incidentally, as Ukrainians are returning to their country to fight, the Russians are leaving theirs so they won’t have to.

Somehow in those dark days we see who is David and who is Goliath.

On the battlefield, the Ukrainian freedom fighters have been successful in downing Russian jets and helicopters. So far, they have downed 44 Russian planes and 44 helicopters in 10 days of all-out war.

On March 5 alone, the Ukrainian Armed Forces Air Command shot down five

aircraft and four helicopters including one Su-25 fighter jet, two Su-34 fighter-bombers, and two Su-30 SM plane.

As the war progresses into the coming days, the heroism of the Ukrainian freedom fighters is beyond my wildest dream. Armed with Stinger surface-to-air rockets and Javelin anti-tank guided missiles, which lock on the target before launch, thereby ensuring accuracy.

Between the Stingers and the Javelins, the Ukrainian freedom fighters are having a field day downing airplanes and knocking out Russian tanks.

This has caused demoralization among the Russian soldiers who are short on fuel and food, the two most important items in a ground war.

Putin’s ultimatums Meanwhile, Biden is faced with ultimatums that could determine the outcome of the Ukraine War. I hope that he would reject the ultimatums and continue sending weapons to the Ukrainian freedom fighters and impose severe sanctions including banning oil import from Russia.

The reason Putin issued (continue on page 14)

12 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE APRIL 2, 2022

BOOK REVIEW

Filipino Housewives Speak

By Rose Cruz Churma

I

n commemoration of Women’s History Month last month, we feature another book on women, written and edited by women.

This was published more than 30 years ago but content and intent are just as valid in today’s context. The book examines through the prism of women’s eyes the power structure within families as revealed in the way home life is organized.

As the author writes in the foreword: “ I wanted to hear women tell me about the sexual division of labor…how they thought and felt about their roles as women, about equality, their relationships with their husbands and children, and how they viewed themselves in the context of the larger society…and capture as much of the varied textures of their lived experiences…”

The interviews with ten women were done in the summer of 1984 when the Philippines was experiencing an “electric political atmosphere” where an ongoing revolutionary struggle

prevailed in the country.

(The assassination of Ninoy Aquino occurred in August 1984 and triggered political tensions that eventually led to a mass upheaval in 1986).

The author chose ten women that represented the cross-section of Metro Manila’s population and consisted of a factory worker; a housewife whose husband was a migrant worker in Saudi Arabia; an upper-middle-class housewife; a middle-class secretary; a poor office worker; a struggling widow; an affluent interior designer; a housewife of independent means; a slum dweller; and squatter.

All were living with a partner, except for the widow and ranged in age from 25 to 45 and each caring for at least one child at home.

With the exception of the factory worker (interviewed at the union meeting house), the rest were interviewed at their homes.

The author notes the “acute jolts I received in traversing back and forth the short but impossible distance between the slums and the shielded, ornate villages of the wealth…” – an experience difficult to forget, to see the wide disparity of wealth and privilege.

All the oral interviews are transcribed in English. It is not noted in what languages she conducted the interviews, but the transcriptions are all in English. In each interview, the author provides context – describes the surrounding area where the interview took place, how she was able to contact the interviewee and added observations that may be of interest to the reader (i.e. if there were others in the room or a brief background on the subject).

The testimonies presented by the ten women were all engaging and captures ones’

attention and interest. The transcriptions were easy to read – flow smoothly and distill the lives of each woman well.

For the foreword and afterword, where the author explains the rationale for this research project, she says: “My position as an investigator was originally non-neutral. Posing problems derived from theoretical knowledge and catalyzed by the stress of my own personal concerns, I was striving for “intersubjectivity”, a dialectical relationship between research subject and research object from which socio-historical truths can begin to emerge in the process of integration.”

What is she really trying to say? The use of simple language and words would very much advance the appreciation for this research.

Clearly the intent of this publication is to speak to her fellow academicians, especially with the use of phrases like “presupposition of dichotomous socio-eco-

nomic spheres” or “absence of a libidinal investment in the style and physical appearance of one’s home” dominates the writing style.

Which is a pity.

Lay people who have no pretensions of being highly educated but are simply curious about the lives of other women will find this book fascinating – just ignore the foreword and afterword and focus on the interviews: it contains a wealth of information on fellow Filipinas.

This publication also contains endnotes that list the author’s sources, a bibliography, and a glossary of Filipino terms. The book is a good reference for those contemplating the oral interview as a tool for research or resource for historical narratives. ROSE CRUZ CHURMA established a career in architecture 40 years ago, specializing in judicial facilities planning. As a retired architect, she now has the time to do the things she always wanted to do: read books and write about them, as well as encourage others to write.

(CANDID PERSPECTIVES: Hirono’s Aloha....from page 8)

journey all people of color are on.

“I do consider myself having been born in 1970 to be the first generation to benefit from the civil rights movement,” Jackson said. “From the legacy of all of the work of so many people that went into changing the laws of this country so that people like me could have an opportunity to be sitting here before you today,” That was said before more of the onslaught from Graham, Cruz, and Hawley.

And if you watched it all like I did, you felt the impact of each attack.

When Booker took his turn, he provided reassuring comfort.

“You have earned this spot,” he said, to ward off any self-doubt or a sense of “imposter syndrome” thoughts that may be lurking. “You are worthy. You are a great American.”

Booker was just warming up. As one of the last five senators to question Jackson, he was bringing it home. And it worked. Because I found I could relate to Jackson.

If you have experienced even the most minor transgression because of race, you could see yourself as she sat in the committee chamber.

“There is a love in this country that is extraordinary,” Booker said to Jackson. Booker then referenced the racial segregation laws affecting Jackson’s family, as well as the laws that would have prevented her own intermarriage. The same anti-miscegenation laws kept Asians like my Filipino father from marrying whites.

“But [people] didn’t stop loving this country, even though this country didn’t love them back.”

It’s the reason Jackson was before the committee, Booker said. It was about all the peo-

ple who came here and said “I’m going to show this country that I can be free here, that I can make this country love me as much as I love it.”

And then he mentioned Asian Americans, specifically.

“Chinese Americans first forced into near slave labor building our railroads connecting our country saw the ugliest of America, but they were going to build their home here [and say] ‘America, you may not love me yet, but I’m going to make this nation live up to its promise and hope.’”

A shout out to our broad group. You can see it on C-SPAN. It infused a much-needed sense of diversity, inclusion and love in a room that had been stripped off of it by the preening Republicans.

“And so you faced insults here that were shocking to me,” Booker said to Jackson. (continue on page 13)

APRIL 2, 2022  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  13

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

The Propaganda War

By Seneca Moraleda-Puguan

A

ccording to Merriam Webster, propaganda is “the spreading of ideas, information or rumor for purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause or a person.”

Many tragedies around the world, from ancient times until now, have been triggered by propaganda. Wars have been won and lost with the help of propaganda.

Currently, the world is not just witnessing a war of bombs and weapons between and among nations, but a battle of narratives and propaganda.

We see this very clearly with the way Russian President Vladimir Putin justifies his ‘military operation’ in Ukraine. By controlling the stories, news and information

received by his people through the state media, he gets to dictate what is ‘truth’ even if it’s a lie.

This is also happening in the Philippines where the election for the 17th President of the nation is just around the corner. The choices for this season’s elections are dividing the nation’s different sectors, causing rifts among friendships and relationships.

Social media has become very noisy with different propaganda from all camps, especially from the two leading candidates. Who will win the propaganda war? Who will succeed in pushing his or her agenda? It’s crazy but exciting at the same time to see what will unfold a few months from now.

Every day, we are bom-

barded with all kinds of information – some are true, many are not. Fake news abounds.

Wrong propaganda flourishes.

This is my prayer, that we will have the discernment to accept only that which is correct and true. But this is easier said than done. We all have our own biases. We only listen to what our ears want to listen to, and we only accept what our deceitful hearts want to receive. It takes a lot of literal ‘brainwashing’ for someone to

let go of his or her beliefs and be replaced with new ones.

My husband and I will not be able to vote in the upcoming election. We missed the registration period, and we are really heartbroken about this. Our votes would have mattered. But we are not sitting idly by.

We are actively and intensely praying for wisdom upon the electorate to make the right decision in choosing the next leaders of our beloved nation. We are aggressively educating ourselves on the different candidates by watching the debates and campaigns and researching their accomplishments.

We are on our knees for the Philippines because it deserves better leaders, but it won’t be possible if the people will always choose wrongly.

According to an American Historical Association article, propaganda can be used to maintain unity or break down enemy nations.

“A primary objective of propaganda aimed at enemy nations is to break down their will to fight. It is a part of a nation’s strategic plan to intimidate enemy leaders, to separate them from their people, and to break down resistance. Propaganda, too, is an instrument for maintaining unity and goodwill among allies banded together in a common effort,” the article stated.

May we learn to sift and distinguish the good and the bad, the right and the wrong, the destructive and the beneficial.

Whether in the war between Ukraine and Russia, or the battle between and among the Philippine Presidentiables, let us all hope that everything will end well. May only one propaganda prevail – the truth that sets us all free.

MAINLAND NEWS

US Filipinos: “We Demand Clean and Honest PH Election!”

O

n March 27, over ten organizations and an estimated 700 people joined a “Walk for Democracy” event to march from Midtown Manhattan to the Philippine Consulate General in New York.

The participants are mostly supporters of Leni Robredo and Kiko Pangilinan who are running for president and vice president

of the Philippines.

Organizers said the event was a way to “show our resolute unity to send a strong message that we demand a clean and honest election in the Philippines this coming May 2022.”

The Leni-Kiko tandem’s respective daughters who are studying in New York are also present at the event.

Jillian Robredo, the pres-

idential candidate’s youngest daughter, addressed the crowd in a speech. “I know it’s hard to be far from the Philippines when so much is happening there,” she said in Tagalog.

“But I believe in you all who are here today standing up for democracy even if we are far away. Even though we are 8,000 miles away from the Philippines, we still care

(CANDID PERSPECTIVES: Hirono’s Aloha....from page 12)

“But you are here because of that kind of love. And nobody’s taking this away from me.”

It was the joy that Booker felt, that other people of color shared with him, from the random person on the street to his own relatives. We all see ourselves in Jackson with pride and joy.

Booker closed reminding Jackson that she will face more of what she experienced when the vote comes before the full Senate: “Don’t worry. God has got you. And how do I know that? Because you’re here and I know what it’s taken for you to sit in that seat.”

Yes. People of color know the struggle. She’s in that seat for us.

As Booker talked, Jackson wiped her eyes.

And that’s all we really need to know about the judge.

Sure, we want judges to go after the “bad guys.” And it’s good to know their judicial philosophy or “methodology.”

But we want to know they are human too. That they have a heart. And that given individual circumstances, they can break the cookie-cutter and responsibly balance punishment with a sense of public forgiveness, a constructive empathy.

There was a lot more of that at the hearing than you think. And that’s what the hearings should be about.

It was to get to know Ketanji. Not “Gotcha” Ketanji.

She showed her legal chops. Her tenacity under fire.

And she showed her humanity.

If I had a vote, I would cast it in a second for Ketanji Brown Jackson. A vote for history. EMIL​ GUILLERMO​ is a veteran journalist and commentator. He was a member of the Honolulu Advertiser editorial board. Listen to him on Apple Podcasts. Twitter @ emilamok.

about what’s happening back home, in our nation.”

Frankie Pangilinan, the vice-presidential candidate’s daughter, also addressed the event and its participants.

“We are all here because we would like to better the

social, economic and political conditions back in our homeland, the Philippines,” she said. “We would like to call on the Commission on Elections of the Philippines to have an honest, clean, orderly, peaceful, and credible elections that (continue on page 15)

14 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE APRIL 2, 2022

PHILIPPINE LANGUAGE

COVID-19: Isunan Pumanawka Mapankan

ILOKO By Amado I. Yoro

Isunan. Pumanawkan

Saanka a taga ditoy; Isunan Inkan, wen, inkan Pumanawkan iti awanan Naganna nga ipapanaw.

Adun ti pinabutngam Alarma dita, ditoy, sadiay Iti saan nga agpabatubat Nga arikusa ken kuratsa Kurenreng ken kuarantinas Dagiti saan a makompasan a sala…

Inyegmo ti kintayeg ti lubong No asinoka iti rabaw ti angin dayyeg ti makasabidong a korona, sugat ken sabrak: damsak ken kuspag sika aplat sika a milat

sika a kabusor ti salun-at sika awanan asi kinibormo, wen, kinibormo tinukodmo kaunggan a konsensia da presidente, da gobernador.

Da senador;

da mayor, aglalo da kapitan Kinibormo ti talna Inyegmo ti kebba, ti dandanag iti danapeg ti daga Pigerger, tigerger, lammin Iti awan asim; ni awanan gaway a Biniktimam da kabsat, wen, kineltaymo biag Ni kabsat, ni gayyem, ni pagayam

da kabagian, da gayyem uray Ni senador, anian a panangikulbo Inkan, pumanawkan Ruk-atam ti biktimam

Nga agnguynguy-a-ag-

ngangabit iti ICU Ti baludmo a kuarintinas, lockdown Iti pannakabalud, adda panagbisin Pannakawaw, pannakaapura Rinakrakmo ti talinaay Da doktor, da nars, Dagiti insubom iti bunganga Ti ngarab iti derraas awanan naganna a tanem Riniwriw a frontliners Adda met latta dagiti agdidin-

naer-sirib Ti laing, iti pinnabasol ken Pinnabanto ti tayok ti isbo…

Inkan idiay kaikariam Isunan Mapankan

Dagiti tumanawtaw dita ken Saankan nga agsubli Tangken ulo sadiay Dagiti maulaw ken matalimudaw Ne dayta, addaan alta presion-hayblad Pinnabasol, parabuya wenno paradillaw dimtengka iti katalnaan ti panawen

Adun ti indagelmo

Ta damsakmo Ta kinagubsang Kinaranggas, inkan Saanka a taga lubong

Inkan iti kaikariam Saanka a taga ditoy Adda nakaikariam Saanka a taga ditoy Ket maikuyogka a matay Iti pannakalaylay, pannakatay dagiti Bulbulong iti kuaresma dagiti maruros A sabong iti semana santa kalpasan Iti Domingo Sabet Iti Domingo Alleluiha Inkan, saankan nga agsubli.

(NEWS FEATURE: The Philippines’ Pink....from page 7)

standards for herself, and more.

Jesse Robredo, among other countless awards he would receive in his lifetime, also received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for government service in 2000 for his advocacies in transformative governance which he practiced, transforming Naga into the “most improved” in Asia during the 19 years he served as mayor.

In an interview after receiving the award, Jesse explains: “If I could go through it again, I would have married my wife much earlier. She was my conscience. I led a clean political life because of my wife. She insisted I walk the high and difficult path, almost all the time.”

In the note accompanying this video that Leni sent to her supporters, she wrote: “my most important endorsement.”

During the Noynoy Aquino presidency, Jesse Robredo was appointed to head the department of local government. In 2012, on a plane trip back home to Naga to attend his daughter’s swim meet, his plane crashed, leaving behind a widow and three daughters, the youngest still in high school.

As she recalls those days, Leni says she thought of applying for a government position – now that she was the sole breadwinner – she still had three daughters to send to school.

As fate intervened, Jesse’s supporters convinced her to run for Congress. Despite her lack

of political machinery and limited funds to mount a campaign against an entrenched political rival, she prevailed and won by a huge majority.

Early on in their marriage she and Jesse chose to live a simple life. She would say that it is best not to get used to the perks of power and privilege – or you get used to it and want to maintain that lifestyle. She walks the talk.

In an iconic photo taken when she served as Camarines Sur’s 3rd district representative in Congress, she can be seen waiting at the curb for her public transport. Yes, for years she and her daughters took the bus trip to Naga from Manila when she went back home to meet her constituents during the weekends.

In the 2016 presidential elections, she was Mar Roxas’ second choice as running mate.

By her own account, she started at the bottom of a six-person race at a 1% approval rating but eventually won the vice presidency – “through hard work and perseverance” and to her obvious intelligence and character.

One of her daughters observed that Leni tends to be underestimated. In a country whose majority still consider a bully as a sign of strength, her womanhood was considered a disadvantage to being “strong.”

In the six years she served as Vice President of the Philippines, she proved her detractors wrong. In those years, she was the beacon of hope for Filipinos

who dreamt of good honest governance, civility in public discourse, and basic competence.

Despite a minuscule budget (the smallest among all national agencies), she was able to serve her constituents in all parts of the country. With no part to play by law (except to be on stand-by in case the president is incapacitated), she created her own roles.

Her Office of the Vice President (OVP) won the highest Commission on Audit (COA) ratings for good governance for several years. It also received the ISO ratings indicating that her office was run under the highest standards.

Because of this trust in her capability and moral integrity, the private sector helped fund her projects. As she recounts in a TV interview, the OPV matches the donors with the local government units that need assistance.

There is ample evidence that indicates the successes of her various initiatives—from the Angat Buhay program, her response to COVID-19 such as the iConsulta (an online medical consultation program), or all the relief efforts her office conducted due to the natural calamities.

It wasn’t an easy six years as VP for Leni Robredo. The incumbent president dismissed her as irrelevant and his descriptions of her in his public addresses can be both vulgar and demeaning.

The social media trolls of her political rivals for years have been posting fake news to create

disinformation. I’ve seen some of these posts and the vitriol of their accusations is not for the faint of heart (hundreds of these trolls has since been taken down

by Facebook).

It was understandable why she was hesitant to run again.

But in October of last year, close to the deadline for the filing of candidacies, she announced her intention to run.

“Ang nagmamahal ay ipaglalaban ang minamahal,” she explains but adds that to fight for a Philippines of our dreams, we can’t be merely observers but need to fight for what we believe in. “Tumindig kayo at mayroon din titindig sa katabi ninyo” she admonishes.

This pink phenomenon has had an impact worldwide affecting Filipinos in the Diaspora. On

any given day, there are social media posts from Kakampinks from different countries – from Saudi Arabia to Spain; from the US East Coast to the US West Coast, and in-between.

And of course, Hawai’i: established late last year, the Hawaii Kakampinks meet regularly to get the word out to dual citizens who are registered to vote in the May 2022 elections.

It has also established a social media presence that seems to be attracting participants from all over the state.

Pink is the color of hope. It is perhaps why that color was chosen by Leni Robredo’s supporters to represent her candidacy. She has brought hope and allowed the Filipino people to dream again for a better Philippines.

(PERRYSCOPE: How Long....from page 11)

the ultimatums is because weapons provided by the US and her NATO allies are defeating the Russian troops.

The Russian oligarchs are hurting, losing 30% of their billions’ worth. And with the ruble now valued a penny to the US dollar, it’s on the brink of collapsing, which would make the ruble worthless.

And with the sanctions imposed on the Russian banks, Russia’s central bank would be forced to dig into its hard currency reserves in order to bail out the banks

and keep them afloat. It would cripple the Russian economy so it can no longer be able to fund her war machine.

And if Putin doesn’t withdraw his forces from Ukraine, the Russian generals might be tempted to remove him from power, which makes one wonder: How long can Putin stay in power? PERRY DIAZ is a writer, columnist and journalist who has been published in more than a dozen Filipino newspapers in five countries.

APRIL 2, 2022  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  15

COMMUNITY CALENDAR HAWAII TRIENNIAL 2022 | Hawaii Contemporary | Open until May 8, 2022.

Hours vary per venue | Bishop Museum, Foster Botanical Garden, Hawaii Theatre Center, Hawaii State Art Museum, Iolani Palace, Honolulu Museum of Art and Royal Hawaiian Center | HT22 celebrates the unique cultures in Hawaii through contemporary art.

Visit multiple art galleries and installations from 43 artists and collectives from Asia Pacific, Hawaii and beyond, including Filipino artist Leeroy

New’s Taklobo art installation at Foster Botanical Garden.

streamed via Zoom and facebook.com/AARPHawaii.

To register, visit aarpcvent.com/HIcooking.

FAST, HEALTHY & ONO MEDITERRANEAN DIET DISHES | AARP Hawai`i | April 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2022 at 5pm HST | This virtual cooking series features Windward Community College Chef Dan Swift cooking healthy Mediterranean recipes. The recipes are given ahead of time so participants can cook along with the chef. The cooking webinars will be

PREPARING FOR THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE | AARP Hawaii | April 5 at 10am HST | This free webinar shares tips on how caregivers can prepare for the death of a loved one. Hosted by family caregiver and registered nurse Annette Kam, the webinar covers the basics of preparation from her book “WAIT – Don’t Die Yet!” To register, visit aarp.org/HI.

(EDITORIAL: Philippines....from page 3)

Bongbong most likely could not possibly, even if he tried, to get away with crony capitalism that critics fear, and certainly not to the level that his father has done. It’s a different time and the Philippines political system is far more matured with multiple checks and balances in place. Former President Joseph Estrada back in the late 1990s couldn’t even get away with his alleged corruption and bribery.

But this is the hope, assumption and positive outlook some have. We see, as what

occurred in the U.S. under President Donald Trump, all systems of democracy are fragile. What’s encouraging is the Philippines has survived the strongman governing of President Rodrigo Duterte and during the worse phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. With Bongbong certainly not the pillar of strength as neither a Trump or Duterte, the Philippines should be fine. Marcos, Jr. is more like the privileged heir who had everything handed to him, but is not really tak-

en seriously as what his tenure in the Senate has shown.

It’s likely as some political analysts have said, Bongbong would not be too disruptive in changing much. If elected, he will pursue what Nonoy Aquino III and Duterte have started with regard to expanding economic growth in the country.

Economic growth and Socio-economic growth But the Philippines deserves better than just a non-disruptive, mediocre president.

And we know that economic growth on its own in terms of GDP (what Duterte had accomplished before the pandemic) is not telling of true prosperity that trickles down to the middle class and poor. A nation could have phenomenal growth like China and have mass poverty. In comparison, a country can have modest growth, but less poverty and a solid middle class like in Japan. Which is preferred? Certainly for a majority of citizens to benefit like in Japan.

A president who can accom-

(MAINLAND NEWS: U.S. Filipinos....from page 13)

we as a people can trust.”

During the event in front of the Philippine Consulate, various organizations expressed the importance of campaigning for progressive partylists and candidates over the last month of the campaign period.

Speakers urged participants to contact their family members

plish both economic growth and socio-economic expansion is clearly the ideal candidate. In other words, investment in people (like education, affordable healthcare, their environment, etc) should also be given attention just as much as attracting investment that register as economic growth.

We encourage all Filipinos eligible to vote to go to the polls this May 9, 2022. Peace and prosperity to our Motherland and Filipino brothers and sisters in the Philippines.

(Sagot sa Krosword Blg. 18 | March 19, 2022)

in the US and the Philippines who are eligible voters to cast their votes in the upcoming May 9 elections.

“Millions are starving in the Philippines because of corruption,” said Nida Gonzales-Chan of United Filipinos of North America. “This is a battle of good and evil. We are for the good, the

truth, and clean governance.”

For more information regarding Philippine voting eligibility and procedures in the US and abroad, contact your city’s Philippine Consulate General or Philippine Embassy office. The full list of offices worldwide can be found here: dfa.gov.ph/index.php/201303-21-05-48-17.

KROSWORD ni Carlito Lalicon PAHALANG

Blg. 19

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