CANDID PERSPECTIVES trump’S three StrikeS, but Soon a fourth
OPEN FORUM income tax reform Would make haWaii more affordable
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS up Sablay: after 18 yearS
FEATURE Symphony in manila: a play
Mf aui residents will tell you no one there could have imagined a wildfire could cause the scale of devastation that just happened – Lahaina leveled to ash, over 100 dead and still counting, plus billions in damage to buildings and infrastructure. It’s the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. modern history.
There will be so much more investigative findings and information to unpack in the weeks ahead. How many more casualties? How will the sudden houseless find shelter months later? The housing crunch was already a problem before the fires. Will there be problems with home insurance reimbursement? Homeowners must report unfair insurance practices and the government must hold these companies accountable where they exist. How will a halt in tourism impact an island mostly dependent on tourists? We have officials and some local residents asking tourists to stay out of Maui, but you have other Maui residents outside the hot zones saying that they need tourists to continue coming to keep their businesses running. It’s like COVID-19 playing out again.
How many are now unemployed due to the fires? There is the immediate impact of unemployment to those whose businesses burned down, then there will be another wave to come as the economy slows. How will these unemployed be able to pay for their mortgage after the 90-day forbearance period by lenders, which is an extremely short period. Getting a new job will be challenging if the island’s economic engine collapses and an entire community is in the same desperate situation as you are.
Shelter, employment, food and basic necessities are all the things victims of the fire must contend with as well as dealing with emotional trauma and mental health, and for some physical health.
Rebuilding is another huge question mark. Not just for the residents who lost everything but for state and county government. The building permits process is already slow and backlogged. First and foremost, this needs to change, and the government must hire additional staff to expedite this process. All departments that are involved in continuing crucial operations/ services must hire additional workers.
Already there is mounting frustration over the state/county emergency response (which is under investigation). But as time goes on and desperation increases, it’s likely that the level of frustration will rise as well.
Gov. Josh Green faces a monumental task. There will be unfair politicizing of this tragedy as former President Donald Trump did, criticizing the Hawaii governor and suggesting he was busy at the beach and not handling the crisis well.
Hawaii residents must be aware of political opportunism that will play out. There will be those placing blame on government for “everything under the sun” with regards to the Maui wildfires. Recognize those attempts and see them for what they are, opportunism.
Historically, there always are opportunists wanting to gain from crisis. And not just politically. There are reports of unfair land grabs – unscrupulous investors wanting to buy property under market value to take advantage of desperate homeowners. This is illegal and these individuals should be reported to the State Office of Consumer Protection (OCP).
There will be scams and rumors floating around like the latest one casting doubt on FEMA. The rule of thumb should be to get information from reliable sources. People should do their own research, also from reliable sources.
Sadly, there are also reports of individuals in Maui doing their own fundraising via social media and money apps. Some of them
Publisher & Executive Editor
Charlie Y. Sonido, M.D.
nfortunately, unexpected crises like a viral pandemic or climate change that can devastate entire communities are something we must contend with along with traditional challenges like inflation or crime. And the wildfires in Maui is one of them, Hawaii’s worst natural disaster no one saw coming, at least to the level of devastation that occurred.
For our cover story this issue, associate editor Edwin Quinabo reports on the latest in the Maui wildfires, the resources available and relief efforts, the state’s immediate priority of search and rescue, as well as their focus to provide short term shelter for those made houseless due to fire. Maui has a vibrant Filipino community that make up about one-third of the island population. Lahaina – the major hotspot of the fires – is comprised of almost 40% Filipinos. Many in our community either have been directly harmed by or know of someone impacted by the wildfires. We share a few harrowing stories of Filipinos narrowly escaping death and losing everything they’ve owned. Yet, amid dreadful tragedies, they’re thankful for being alive and hopeful to rebuild. Our hearts and prayers go out to Maui as they deal with such unimaginable loss.
Also in this issue, HFC contributor Renelain Bontol Pfister has a feature “Symphony in Manila: A Play” by Michael Markrich that will be held on Aug. 19, 7 pm at Manoa Valley Theater. The play placed second in the 2021 Hawaii Playbuilders statewide playwriting contest. Directed by Cynthia Farias, with Kathleen Racuya-Markrich as Assistant Director, Symphony in Manila stars Jose Ver and Deanna Espinas.
The topic of last issue’s cover story, HFC columnists Elpidio Estioko and Emil Guillermo write about the criminal indictment brought against former president Donald Trump. Estioko’s article details the latest fourth indictment by a grand jury in Atlanta, Georgia on charges that Trump interfered with the state’s 2020 presidential election.
For our Hawaii Workers Corner, columnist Arcelita Imasa, M.D. contributes “Aren’t We Supposed to Get Breaks?” –an article that covers the topic of work breaks. Most will be surprised that there is no Hawaii law that requires rest or meal breaks for employees except for children ages 14-15 after working five consecutive hours. Filipino legislator Sonny Ganaden introduced last legislative session a bill to require breaks only to warehouse workers. It’s a limited bill that didn’t even receive a hearing. That topic should be revisited in the next session.
Lastly, we have an open forum contribution from Keli‘i Akina “Income Tax Reform Would Make Hawaii More Affordable.” He gives an example of Hawaii’s tax burden, “a family of four earning Hawaii’s median income of $88,005 a year would have a state income tax bill of $5,086. At that income level, only Oregon families face a higher tax burden.”
For your convenience visit our webpage thefilipinochronicle.com for the latest and archived issues. Thank you for supporting the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. Until the next issue,warmest Aloha and Mabuhay!
Publisher & Managing Editor
Chona A. Montesines-Sonido
Associate Editors
Edwin QuinaboDennis Galolo
Contributing Editor
Belinda Aquino, Ph.D.
Design
Junggoi Peralta
Photography
Tim Llena
Administrative Assistant
Lilia Capalad
Editorial & Production Assistant
Jim Bea Sampaga
Columnists
Carlota Hufana Ader
Rose Cruz Churma
Elpidio R. Estioko
Willie Espero
Perry Diaz
Emil Guillermo
Arcelita Imasa, M.D.
Seneca Moraleda-Puguan
J.P. Orias
Charlie Sonido, M.D.
Emmanuel S. Tipon, Esq.
Contributing Writers
Clement Bautista
Edna Bautista, Ed.D.
Teresita Bernales, Ed.D.
Sheryll Bonilla, Esq.
Serafin Colmenares Jr., Ph.D.
Linda Dela Cruz
Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand
Amelia Jacang, M.D.
Caroline Julian
Max Levin
Raymond Ll. Liongson, Ph.D.
Federico Magdalena, Ph.D.
Matthew Mettias
Maita Millalos
Paul Melvin Palalay, M.D.
Renelaine Bontol-Pfister
Seneca Moraleda-Puguan
Mark Lester Ranchez
Jay Valdez, Psy.D.
Glenn Wakai
Amado Yoro
Philippine Correspondent:
Greg Garcia
Neighbor Island Correspondents:
Big Island (Hilo and Kona)
Grace LarsonDitas Udani
Kauai
Millicent Wellington
Maui
Christine Sabado
Big Island Distributors
Grace LarsonDitas Udani
Kauai Distributors
Amylou Aguinaldo
Nestor Aguinaldo
Maui Distributors
Cecille PirosRey Piros
Molokai Distributor
Maria Watanabe
Oahu Distributors
Yoshimasa Kaneko
Shalimar / Jonathan Pagulayan
Advertising / Marketing Director
Chona A. Montesines-Sonido
Account Executives
have not been impacted by the fires and are asking for donations for themselves or people who they say need urgent help. The common pitch is that government and charitable channels are too slow, and they are relying on individuals for immediate assistance. Officials recommend that donations go to reputable charitable organizations such as the Hawaii Red Cross and Hawaii Community Foundation. There are others.
The one silver lining to this tragedy is the overwhelming
Carlota Hufana Ader
JP Orias
When you listen to interviews of survivors from the Maui wildfires, you hear two common themes: one that they are grateful to be alive; and second, they are thankful for their family’s safety. Survivors who had lost everything, their home and possessions, say, at least they have the most important thing – each other.
Often it takes tragedy to put things into perspective. We’ve heard how during and after the COVID-19 pandemic’s critical period, before the vaccines when people were dying, many would say the same thing – that they found renewed value in spending more time with family; and that family was what they really valued most in life.
As the entire nation watched highlights of the apocalyptic images of Lahaiana and people’s determination to live, images of people jumping into the ocean with their families, hugging and holding on to each other as they watched the blaze consume their town, it is our hope that these piercing images moves our nation in a profound way.
That we are able to find greater value in life and each other.
When people are killing each other from road rage, we know there’s sickness in our society. When we turn our backs on the most vulnerable, see their suffering, but do nothing about it. Or worse yet, despise them, seeing only their condition, but not their humanity. We know there’s sickness in our society.
response to help Maui. The entire state has come together to provide aid. Private sector and unions have done collection drives. Our lawmakers did a major collection drive at the State Capitol
There has been global assistance. South Korea donated $2 million. Billionaires and celebrities have made donations. Our Hawaii transplant communities on the mainland have stepped up and have done collection drives.
Various Filipino organizations are working on aid projects for Maui. Our Maui Filipino community has been greatly impacted. Close to a whopping 40% of Lahaina is comprised of Filipinos, and Filipinos make up about one-third of the island’s population, the second largest group there based on ethnicity.
Coincidentally before the Maui wildfires, Sens Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren called on the Justice Department to take the fossil fuel industry to court, to sue them for damages because they knew they were heating up the planet from as far back as the 1950s, and instead of sharing the science, they suppressed it.
Weather experts say the fires in Maui spread rapidly because of the strong winds from Hurricane Dora that had speeds as high as 80 mph. Frequency and strength of hurricanes are getting worse due to climate change. Maui’s super dry condition is also in part due to climate change. In this light, the town of Lahaina is one among other communities devastated by climate change. Sanders and Warren’s recommendation to the DOJ is a fair one. For example, who will help to rebuild Maui? The federal and local government. The fossil fuel industry, largely responsible for climate change, will once again hold no accountability. It’s time that they did. It’s also time that climate change be taken seriously. How many more Lahainas (towns destroyed) will there be around the world if conditions worsen?
The killings, the lack of empathy – these are all related to our sense of disconnection from each other. Otherwise, how else could we justify causing harm to someone if we felt connected to them.
Amid the aftermath of Hawaii’s worst natural disaster in history, the community of Maui will need healing. But the reality is all of our fragmented, divided communities in our nation need healing.
We know deep down that we are in fact connected and interdependent on each other. We are by our nature as human beings empathetic. How do we know this? Because when tragedy strikes like the devastation in Maui, we are moved and overwhelmed with emotion. We shed tears for complete strangers.
Where there is empathy,
there is hope for a better world.
The rest of the nation can learn a lot from Hawaii and our Aloha. The nation is witnessing community power in action as pop-up donation drives are happening throughout the state. Remarkably, humanitarian outreach to aid Maui has been coming from all over the world where former Hawaii residents have moved to. And the tens of thousands of visitors to Hawaii –people who’ve experienced the Aloha spirit – are also responding with charitable donations.
When we look at our unity in this state, how we’re coming together to
offer aid – this is reassuring that Lahaina will rise again and the communities in Maui will be back, strong and thriving.
It will take time, perhaps decades. But we have our Aloha spirit. That will not be swept up by a hurricane or burnt to ashes by any fire.
We hope that this awful tragedy will be a catalyst for healing in Hawaii and the rest of our nation. We hope that our division, our hatred, will be overcome with love, a sense of connectedness and community.
God bless the people of Maui, Hawaii and our nation.
Aloha and Mabuhay!
Hawaii is in a period of mourning, loss and shock.
Historic Lahaina town in Maui was leveled to debris in the deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in more than a century, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
State officials say the death toll in Lahaina climbed to 99 as of Aug. 15, but it’s expected to rise.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said, “The number of missing went from 2,000 to 1,300. Our hearts will break beyond repair if that means that many more are dead. None of us think that. But we are prepared for tragic stories. They are finding 10 to 20 people a day. Probably, until they finish. It’s impossible to guess, really.”
The current death toll count is based off 25% of search and rescue in fire zones.
The Governor estimates damages to be $6 billion. More than 2,500 structures were destroyed.
Officials say the wildfires traveled about a mile per minute. Powerful wind gusts generated from hurricane Dora hundreds of miles south of the Hawaiian Islands-chain caused hot embers to leap from home to home, neighborhoods to neighborhoods, igniting everything in its path. Fires moved quickly through overgrown grasslands, which experts believed intensified the blaze and its spread.
Maui residents describe the fire’s aftermath as apocalyptic, a level of devastation that came as a compete surprise, even as Maui residents are used to frequent brush fires.
Maui’s Filipino community – comprising about 30% of the island’s population, in Lahaina (center of fire, 38.41%) according to ZIPatlas 2023 – are among those reeling from the impact of the wildfires.
Cecille Piros, owner of KPMW-FM 105.5 (Maui’s only Filipino Radio Station), told the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle “we have been airing daily on-air how our fellow Filipinos can support those affected by the fires. The fires began in Upcountry, Kihei, and Lahaina all around the same time. We didn’t think of it much because we get brush fires all the time here on Maui.
“But I knew the very windy conditions
would be a problem. Within hours the fires around the island were a big concern. My son and I began calling our employees in the affected areas to make sure they were ok because we got reports of residents needing to evacuate. That’s when I started to see on the news and social media how serious this fire was...and that’s when a little panic set in for the safety of my friends and family,” Piros said.
Piros, who lives in Kahului, said she has family members in Lahaina who lost their homes, including many close friends and valued clients. “My thoughts and prayers go out to all the people who lost a loved one, their home or property.”
Wailuku, Maui resident, director of Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce Kit Zulueta Furukawa describes to the Chronicle the perilous situation. “Nobody was prepared to handle a disaster on this scale. There’s a lot of frustration, desperation and clamor from victims and volunteers for organization, as authorities create-and-suspend ideas to see what works. Having only one main road in and out of Lahaina has been a contentious point of discussion for West Maui community plans and there’s a lot “I-told-you-so” sentiments as well.
“The number of casualties will rise - many will be our friends and families. But what is lost here is not just generational homes and memories attached to material possessions. It is not just the livelihood, historical buildings, schools, churches and the colorful vibrant town. We have lost a sense of place and especially for the locals, they lose a part of their identity,” Zulueta Furukawa said.
The search and rescue phase are ongoing, officials say. They’re asking relatives who have family or friends missing to give their DNA so they can try to identify those bodies.
The cause of the blaze is still under investigation, as well as why sirens on the island weren’t activated by the fire (though other alerts by phone or broadcast were), Hawaii emergency officials said.
Rafa Ochoa is among hundreds of Maui survivors wanting answers to the failed emergency response. He told NBC News, “There was no warning that we had to evac-
uate. Not even police rolling by telling us to evacuate. Where were you guys trying to get us out. We’re mad. We lost our town. We lost history. Our kids are traumatized.”
Ochoa had seconds to flee. He said he grabbed his kids and his friends’ children – their parents were at work – and scrambled everyone out to safety.”
Gov. Green said the state is focusing on the need for housing for survivors, evacuees and first responders. In the short term, they’ve set aside about 500 hotel rooms. There are about 1,100 evacuees spread across several shelters. The governor has even asked people across the state to open their homes to evacuees. He said they are working on long-term plans.
Officials are asking people who have vacation plans to Maui not to come to the island because those hotel rooms can go to people who need housing urgently. But some say this could harm Maui businesses who depend on tourism. Joy Cabanas Tagalan commented on social media, “Without tourism, how would we feed our kids and pay our bills.” It’s a catch-22 situation.
Some residents say a shutdown of Maui by asking tourists to stay away is reminiscent of the early COVID-19 pandemic days.
As the pandemic caught everyone by surprise that had government scrambling to stop the spread, the Maui fires have county, state, federal and private organizations working around the clock tackling both urgent needs and planning for the long haul.
Officials expect recovery of the island to take decades. Some are hopeful, and plan to stay in Maui to rebuild. Some have expressed concern that the island charm that made Maui so special could be lost and overrun by overdevelopment. But speculating now is too futuristic for most Maui residents whose main concern is meeting basic needs. (continue on page 5)
(Filipinos....from page 4) Racing to survive, houseless but grateful to be alive
Mike Cicchino of Maui shared his narrow escape on ABC News. “I saw that my whole neighborhood was on fire. Like everybody is saying, there was absolutely no warning. We left our home. We ended up getting stuck in traffic {near Front Street]. It was a death trap. Where we were driving to was on fire. Where we had just come from was on fire. We start running in the opposite direction, that’s on fire.” He said as they raced to find a place for safety, they ended up having as a last option, to go into the beach water. “We spent three to five hours going in and out of water.”
Benny Caluya flew in from the mainland to look for his 98-year-old aunty. “She was in a senior care center in Lahaina that was burned down,” he said.
Two sisters who also fled to the water spoke with CBS Mornings. Amelita Tingson said, “We spent six hours in the water. We jumped into the ocean because we were trapped.” Her sister Nelen Cesar counts on her blessings. “You know, our life is the blessings [we take from this tragedy]. We are thankful for this. It’s so sad. Everything is gone.”
Christine Galaga, Lahaina resident, who barely escaped with her family, said “Thank ‘God that we still have each other and we’re still alive and safe and accounted for.” She said they lost everything to the fire. “We are the only things we have.”
Like hundreds of Maui residents who happen to be separated by family at the time of the disaster, Bryan Aguiran described being gripped by fear and uncertainty. He told CNN, “I really had a breakdown inside my house. In our house there were pictures on my fridge. I was talking to the pictures. I was touching them. Letting them know, ‘please, I hope you guys can hear me. I’m okay.’” He said, “We had no phone reception.”
Bryan’s parents, wife and brother all made it out safely. But his wife’s uncle, cousin and aunt are still unaccounted for.
Bryan’s mother, Juvilyn Glinoga, said, “Smoke was black. We kept watching it. The fire was moving so fast. I asked the kids, let’s pray, hopefully there will be firefighters coming.”
She tried to assure the kids that everything was going to be okay “But we never seen any firefighters. We kept waiting. It got darker. Then we had to leave the house.
“It’s not easy to forget what we’ve seen, what we’ve experienced. It’s hard, but we must move on,” Glinoga said.
Bryan’s grandmother Feliciana Aguiran expressed happiness that her family is safe, all of whom are temporarily under one roof sleeping on cots, the floor and couches at Rosie Julaton’s house in Wailuku. Feliciana said, “I’m happy. I have six children and their family. All of us are here now safe.”
Charlie Camara told NBC News, “It looks like a war zone here.”
Bry Cebara appealed for help on social media, “We need medicine, blankets, food.”
President Joe Biden signed a Disaster Declaration to deliver federal resources and support for the emergency response to help state and local recovery efforts.
Affected individuals are encouraged to register for federal assistance by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov or use the FEMA App or call 1-800621-3362. Maui residents can also visit in person with FEMA staff.
FEMA provides financial assistance and direct services to eligible individuals and households. Survivors may also be eligible to stay in an approved hotel for a limited amount of time if they are unable to return to their damaged, primary residence.
Federal Lenders: Borrowers with a Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae mortgage loan will receive an automatic 90day forbearance, meaning that no payment will be due for at least 90 days. This forbearance is automatic – no contact with mortgage servicers is necessary.
A 90-day forbearance is also available for Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and Veterans Affairs (VA) borrowers; however, homeowners are required to contact their mortgage loan servicer to request the forbearance.
While a 90-da forbearance is helpful, many Maui residents who are now jobless due to businesses burning down could find this period to be too short.
Emergency officials say if you have sustained a loss, contact your agent or insurance company as soon as possible. File a claim with your agent or directly with your insurance company by visiting its website or calling its local or toll-free number. For more information on how to file a homeowners insurance claim, visit http://cca.hawaii.gov/ins/ resources or contact the Hawaiʻi Insurance Division at 808-586-2790 or insurance@ dcca.hawaii.gov.
The Maui District Health Office said a coordinated health clinic is open in West Maui to assist, 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The main clinic will be located at the Comprehensive Health Center on Akoakoa Place, located below the Lahaina Civic Center. Clinic services will include general wound care and first aid, pharmacy services, mental health services and other general health care.
No appointment is necessary for clinic services and insurance is not required. Mobile services operating out of the main clinic will also be available where care is needed and requested. For more information, call 808-984-8201 or 808-984-8260. Limited translation services will be available in Ilocano and Tagalog.
The Maui Food Bank is accepting both physical dropoff donations as well as monetary donations on its website mauifoodbank.org/donate.
The World Central Kitchen is on the ground to help feed Maui’s houseless and emergency aid workers with prepared meals. Big Island native and WCK Chef Corps member Peter Abarcar Jr. is helping to prepare thousands of meals working from the Mauna Kea
“Nobody was prepared to handle a disaster on this scale. There’s a lot of frustration, desperation and clamor from victims and volunteers for organization, as authorities create-and-suspend ideas to see what works. Having only one main road in and out of Lahaina has been a contentious point of discussion for West Maui community plans and there’s a lot “I-told-you-so” sentiments as well. The number of casualties will risemany will be our friends and families. But what is lost here is not just generational homes and memories attached to material possessions. It is not just the livelihood, historical buildings, schools, churches and the colorful vibrant town. We have lost a sense of place and especially for the locals, they lose a part of their identity.”
–Resort. “I want to give them comfort food that is balanced and filling. All locally grown and sourced. We love these types of meals in Hawaii,” Abarcar Jr. said.
Kanani Adolpho is a shelter volunteer. She says it’s been difficult to see families, entire groups of people impacted by the fires. “Everyday is different at the shelter. I try to focus on different things to get by. Today, I am focusing on mental health.”
Emergency officials say the best way to help people is to send money through reputable organizations unless it is essential items like toiletries, underwear, water or meals.
A few drop-off locations on Maui accepting essential items include:
* Maluhia Collective, 1960 Main St., Wailuku
* Sparky’s Restaurant, 385 Hoohana St., Suite 5C, Kahului
* Pāʻia Bay Coffee Bar, 120 Hāna Hwy., Pāʻia
* Hi-Tech Store, 425 Koloa St., Kahului
* War Memorial Complex, 700 Halia Nakoa St. Wailuku
Zulueta Furukawa with the Filipino Maui Chamber and its president Dominic Suguitan formed the Kokua Maui to help those impacted by the wildfires. Other Filipino orga-
Kit
ZuluetaFurukawa Maui resident, Director of Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce
nizations – Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Philippine Medical Association of Hawaii, FAUW and UPAAH – are in the works of offering various assistance from cash and in-kind donations to donation drives.
Gov. Green said in a press release Department Disaster/ Emergency Coordinators, Disaster Response Workers, and state employees whose work involves continuing crucial operations/services must report to work on the island of Maui.
A Disaster Distress Helpline to cope with emotional distress is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-985-5990.
The Maui Community Mental Health Center is offering crisis mental health services. They can be reached at (808) 984-2150.
Sherry Menor-McNamara, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, said the Chamber established a Business Relief Fund to help local businesses who have been impacted by the wildfires. “The extent of the loss is heartbreaking for every business, Hawaii resident and everyone that loves our state. The physical property damage is clearly significant, but the economic impact will be staggering. Businesses have been
Istarted performing my latest Amok monologue, “Emil Amok: Lost NPR Host…” in San Francisco on Aug. 12, 17 and 19.
It’s at the Cutting Ball Theater in San Francisco at 277 Taylor.
It’s not Taylor Swift’s street.
It’s in the Tenderloin. If you know it only from the news or driving by, you’ll freak out, preferring a more antiseptic life.
That’s why it’s good to do theater in an environment like that. That there’s art being created in the Tenderloin gives hope.
It’s also where my Dad hung around when he was among the first Filipinos to come in great numbers to America in the 1920s.
So for me, it’s kind of a homecoming.
And it’s the reason I feel the way I do about the third Trump indictment that was unsealed last week.
Trump? My father? Follow along.
My father, a fry cook most
destroyed and hundreds of employees are out of work.
We are just beginning to understand the full impact these wildfires created for our businesses, but we know the road to recovery will be challenging. The Business Relief Fund provides dedicated financial aid and support to impacted businesses throughout the state, as we work to rebuild our communities.”
Menor-McNamara said all proceeds from the Business Relief Fund will benefit Hawaii businesses seeking assistance to recover from the wildfires and that donations can be made online or by check made payable to “Ha-
of his life in union restaurants in San Francisco, didn’t have much. But he had the right to vote.
After coming here as a colonized Filipino barred from voting, he managed to become a U.S. citizen later in life, which earned him the only real opportunity he really valued in this country.
With the vote, my father had a voice in our democracy.
Take away the vote, and you take away America.
That’s really at the heart of the latest Trump indictment filed in federal district court in Washington, DC. More than the previous two indictments–involving the payment of hush money to an adult film star in New York, or the mishandling of classified documents in Florida, this third indictment was for crimes against democracy.
What else do you call it when a president loses an election and does whatever he can to stay in power, to the point of negating all the votes cast for the winner Joe Biden?
It’s an outrageous ploy, and it’s all outlined in the historic indictment, the first ever to allege federal crimes committed by a sitting U.S. president.
The first three counts allege Trump’s conspiracy to defraud the United States by spreading lies about winning the 2020 election that he
waii Chamber of Commerce Foundation Relief Account.”
It can be mailed to 733 Bishop St. Suite 1200, Honolulu, HI 96813.
The Hawaiʻi Community Foundation created the Maui Strong Fund to help aid communities affected by the Maui Wildfires. You can donate online at its website, hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/mauistrong, or you can send a check to Hawai‘i Community Foundation, 827 Fort Street Mall, Honolulu, HI, 96813. Make checks payable “Hawai‘i Community Foundation.”
The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (JAB-
If you were one of the 81 million Americans who voted for the winning Biden/Harris ticket, Trump was doing all he could to keep your vote from counting in order to stay in power.
If you weren’t, Trump’s still trying to change the will of the people.
guments and take a political/ media approach, essentially hinting at false defenses.
His attorney John Lauro is saying Trump didn’t “technically” violate the Constitution by his actions because to ask people to overturn an election is “aspirational.”
“knowingly” lost.
It further alleges Trump used “dishonesty, fraud and deceit to impair, obstruct and defeat the lawful government function by which the results of the presidential election are collected, counted and certified by the federal government.”
The second and third counts allege Trump entered a conspiracy to “corruptly obstruct and impede the Jan. 6 congressional proceeding” certifying the election.
But it’s the fourth count that’s the gut punch to our democracy.
The indictment alleges Trump engaged in a conspiracy against the right to vote, and to have one’s vote counted, a violation of 18 U.S.C. section 241.
It’s the part of civil rights law that’s been used historically against the Klan from stopping the Black vote. In this modern context, it raises the seriousness of Trump’s alleged actions.
SOM) recently held a bake sale with all proceeds to go to the Maui Strong Fund. They are also organizing a “JABSOM for Maui” T-Shirt Fundraiser. JABSOM, Hawaii State Rural Health Association, Hawaii UTelehealth, and AHEC are offering free telehealth services, including mental health counseling, evaluations and medication. For more information, call 808-375-2745 or visit hawaiiutelehealth.org.
Zulueta Furukawa said there are opportunists now trying to land-grab and force victims to give up their properties. The State Department of
Trump and his cronies like to claim he’s the victim in this new indictment, but the real victims are those 81 million Americans who voted for the winner. And to a degree, those who participated and lost and believe in our country and its Constitution.
The indictment is crafted in a way that takes away any First Amendment defense by acknowledging Trump has a right to lie about an election, like claiming there were 10,000 dead voters in Georgia. Or hundreds of undocumented voters in Arizona. Both were lies.
Trump also has a legal right to challenge an election and ask for a recount.
But Trump doesn’t have the right to obstruct a vote certification process by including the creation of false slates of electors from various states, in place of real ones, to certify a fake election in Congress.
The indictment isn’t focused on Trump’s speech but by his actions.
Oddly, the Trump defense has been to eschew legal ar-
Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) warned Maui homeowners of unsolicited offers to buy their properties. Hawaii state law protects owners of distressed residential properties and provides penalties for persons who seek to exploit homeowners’ hardships for economic gain.
The Department said in a press release, “Financial pressure may prompt predatory buyers to capitalize upon the fear of foreclosure or the cost of rebuilding to induce owners to sell their properties at below-market prices. Homeowners who receive unsolicited communications about their (continue on page 10)
Sounds good in a bar argument, but not in a court of law.
I may want to murder you, but even if I don’t succeed, I don’t get off for being “aspirational.”
Trump can’t win in court. All he can do is destroy trust in everything, which is what he will do when he can’t win. Destroy democracy.
The indictment also doesn’t charge insurrection, though we know what we saw from the videos taken that day, and from hundreds of felony convictions of participants so far.
Instead, the third indictment focuses on Trump’s pressuring Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the decertification process on Jan. 6, with the insurrection as a backdrop.
The timeline on page 33 of the indictment shows how Pence told Trump as early as Christmas Day, “You know, I don’t think I have the authority to change the outcome.”
But Trump continued to press Pence, even berating him for opposing a lawsuit to block certification of the lost election. Pence said he thought there was no constitutional basis for it. Trump allegedly replied, “You’re too honest.”
More than two years after Jan. 6, 2021, Trump continues to have a grip on the Republican Party. The week of the indictment, a New York Times/ Marist College poll put Trump ahead of all Republican candidates with 54%, 43 points in front of his nearest rival, Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Pence, who was too honest for Trump and some Republican voters, has just 3%.
Pence may or may not still be in the race when he most
(continue on page 10)
We know that Hawaii has the highest cost of living in the United States. It’s one of the reasons why so many of our friends and family have left for the mainland.
So why does the state government increase the cost of living through sky-high tax rates?
According to an analysis released by the Hawaii Department of Taxation, Hawaii has the second-highest income tax burden in the country. And the news gets worse from there.
You might assume that Hawaii’s high tax burden only affects the top income brackets. After all, much of
the rhetoric about taxation in Hawaii is phrased in terms of “fairness” or taxing the rich. However, the analysis shows that Hawaii residents of all income levels pay high tax rates.
For example, a family of four earning Hawaii’s median income of $88,005 a year would have a state income tax bill of $5,086. At that income level, only Oregon families face a higher tax burden.
How does even an average Hawaii family get stuck with such a high-income tax bill? There are a few factors that make Hawaii’s income taxes especially burdensome.
First, there’s the fact that the state’s tax rates tied to various income levels increase relatively quickly — and at lower income levels than elsewhere. For example, for a single filer, the Hawaii income tax rate is 8.25% at
only $48,000 annual income. Many states don’t have tax rates that high, even at their top income levels — if they have an income tax code at all.
Among those that do, the income threshold for a tax rate over 8% tends to be much higher. For example, in New York, the tax rate doesn’t exceed 6.85% until single filers make more than $1.07 million — and then it jumps to 9.65%.
To put this into perspective, consider that a New York millionaire pays less in state income taxes than someone making between $175,000 and $200,000 in Hawaii.
In addition, Hawaii’s standard deduction and personal exemptions are also comparatively low. This means that we don’t just pay higher tax rates, but more of our incomes are subject to that taxation as well.
So what can be done?
Hawaii desperately needs to reform its income tax code by lowering the tax rates and reducing the burden across the board. That would go a long way toward lowering the cost of living and making Hawaii more affordable for everyone.
As a bonus, income tax reform would also help make Hawaii more business-friendly, as the state’s high-income taxes discourage investment and entrepreneurship.
Thankfully, there have been signs of hope. Earlier this year, Gov. Josh Green unveiled a plan to increase the standard deduction and double the personal exemption for the state income tax. Dubbed the “Green Affordability Plan,” the proposal also would have indexed the deduction, exemption and income tax brackets to inflation.
Unfortunately, the Legislature rejected those proposals, passing only a few increased tax credits instead.
Those credits will indeed help some Hawaii taxpayers, for which I am grateful, but their impact won’t be nearly as significant as the larger reform package the governor originally proposed.
Gov. Green has indicated he still wants to enact broad tax relief for Hawaii residents, so maybe next year Hawaii taxpayers will have something more significant to cheer about — if only the Legislature will go along.
Hawaii residents are tired of high tax bills and a crippling cost of living — as demonstrated by their continuing exodus to the mainland. It should be clear by now that it is time to pass meaningful tax reform to decrease our income tax burden. If lawmakers truly want a Hawaii that’s affordable for all, that’s one way to do it.
ighteen years.
EThis is the number of years Helweena Sadorra, ‘Wennah’, waited before finally wearing the renowned University of the Philippines (UP) Sablay.
“Graduating na ako for 18 years. Kung sanggol ang diploma ko, madedebbut na siya this year. Sa department namin, binansagan akong “Student Emeritus.” Kailan daw ba ako ga-graduate?” she wrote.
(I am ‘graduating’ for 18 years. If my diploma was a baby, it would be celebrating her debut this year. In our department, I was labeled as “Student Emeritus.” They are asking when I will graduate.)
These are some of her words in her very long Facebook post that has gone viral. Her story was picked up by different news outlets in the Philippines.
In her post, she listed all the 18 “manna” (God’s provision) that sustained her throughout those years, and she took time to thank all the people who have walked with her and helped her in her journey to graduation.
But Wennah, or Ate Wennah as I call her, is more than just the subject of a story that has gone viral. She is a very close friend of mine.
In fact, we are so close that we shared a bed. We would watch movies together, laugh and cry with each other. Even on my last night of singlehood, she slept beside me.
We were roommates for several years before I went to South Korea. She even stayed with us when she came to visit. I knew her story. I have seen her heartbreaks.
I have witnessed her hard work and persistence amidst all the odds stacked against her. When she announced that she was finally graduating, my
heart couldn’t help but rejoice and be proud of her. It was a long delay, but she made it!
Wennah passed the UP-College Entrance Test in 2000 but she entered Cagayan State University because her parents couldn’t afford to send her to Manila. She was able to transfer to UP Diliman in 2001 with the help of her aunt who convinced her father that she could be a working student.
With only 500 pesos in her pocket, Wennah traveled to Manila in summer of 2001. She entered UP with a degree in BA Filipino and later shifted to BA Philippine Studies.
To survive UP, her Tita Neneng paid for her first tuition and blessed her with monthly supplies. To be able to support all her fees, she would apply for different scholarships and would receive help from the church and generous people around her. She would also help her relatives in the fish market so she could have an extra allowance. While studying, she would also serve as a student assistant in their department, would take different research works for extra funds,
and take student loans.
She also served as a Research Assistant, Registration Assistant for the Registrar’s Office and Resident Assistant in UP’s freshmen dorm. Along with this, she even thought of campus governance and running for different positions in the student council.
Along the way, she took on many jobs, both freelance and part-time jobs. From being an invigilator and clerical marker for the British Council to working for the Korean Embassy.
She became a Filipino language tutor to foreigners and was even hired by Star Magic to teach the local language to some famous actors and actresses, including Sam Milby and Catriona Gray (who also became her respondents for her thesis).
She also went to South Korea as an exchange student in 2008. She also became a part of Vice-Presidentiable Kiko Pangilinan’s campaign team during the past elections.
With so many things happening in her life and with the need to provide for herself and help her family, her thesis as the final requirement for graduation has taken a backseat. To confront it was also her biggest fear.
This year was her last chance (after so many appeals) to graduate. With the help of many people around her, her courage, faith and motivation, she pushed for it and the rest was history.
At 40 years old, Wennah received her long-awaited diploma and got to wear the UP Sablay.
She could have given up. She could have let her diploma
go. But she didn’t.
She told me that there are people who are criticizing and bashing her saying that UP should have kicked her out. But they are outnumbered by the many people inspired and blessed by her story. Wennah, my Ate Wennah, is an example of what it means to not give up. She makes me really, really proud.
After 222 units enrolled in 30 semesters with summers/ midyears, zero failing grades but 13 incompletes, 4 organizations, 3 dormitories and 8 serious crushes who served as her inspiration, in July of 2023, Helweena Barrientos Sadorra finally signed off as a ‘student emeritus’ and was one of the thousands of UP graduates who formally marched the halls of the premiere University of the Philippines for one last time.
In one of her interviews, when asked what her plan is after her graduation, she confidently replied, love life! This is my prayer for her, too. Now that she’s a graduate, I believe she’s ready for love.
Sunflowers along the stretch of University Avenue in UP Diliman, the state university’s entrance, have been a fixture during graduation season since the 1970s. These flowers symbolize adoration, loyalty, and longevity.
According to Wennah, she would evade going to the university when the sunflowers are in full bloom because it pains her heart. But after 18 years, she finally got to enjoy the sunflowers knowing that these were also for her.
As the sunflowers lift their heads to the sun, Wennah can finally lift her head high and proudly wear her sablay.
On August 19 at 7 p.m., there will be a staged reading of Michael Markrich’s play, Symphony in Manila, at Manoa Valley Theater. His play placed second in the 2021 Hawaii Playbuilders statewide playwriting contest.
Michael Markrich has lived in Hawaii since 1982. He studied history at the University of Washington and the Economics of Fisheries at the University of Hawaii. Apart from his studies, Michael was fascinated by stories from local people and learned about Filipino history through his wife, Kathleen Racuya-Markrich. He started taking courses from Kumu Kahua theatre and writing his own plays, which he entered in local contests.
Symphony in Manila germinated one day when his rabbi asked him to contact the Philippine Consulate, which held a Holocaust Remembrance every year. The rabbi wished to set up a classical music program to recognize and honor the Filipinos who saved 1,200 Jews in World War II. When Michael was preparing the introduction, he came across this incredible story.
In a span of one month, from February to March 1945, 100,000 people died in Manila from massacres and bombings. Manila was destroyed.
Herbert Zipper, an Austrian composer and conductor, was in Manila at the time, having accepted an invitation to conduct the Manila Symphony Orchestra. Zipper had experienced firsthand the horrors of war – he was released from Dachau concentration camp. He came up
with the idea to gather members of the Manila Symphony and play Beethoven in the ruins of Manila.
Michael says, “People thought he was mad. But Zipper understood that the Philippines had a rich classical music tradition with highly respected composers like Antonio Molina (who wrote “Hatinggabi.”) He knew this didn’t change the catastrophe, he only wished to help the suffering and traumatized people heal.”
Michael adds, “The play
is a fictionalized account of how the concert took place and the courage, talent, and resourcefulness of the classical musicians of the Philippines.”
Directed by Cynthia Farias, with Kathleen Racuya-Markrich as Assistant Director, Symphony in Manila stars Jose Ver and Deanna Espinas. Other local actors include Cassidy Patmont, Miki Yamamoto, Amanda Chang, Tom McNamara and Chris Inouye. Eugen Schlosser from Ger-
many will be joining the cast to play Zipper.
Michael says, “The commemorative concert at Temple Emanuel was cancelled because of COVID-19 but I thought I should still tell this story. I entered the story as Symphony in Manila with the help of many extremely talented local Filipino actors who listened to my script and helped me make it better.”
The audition dates for Kumu Kahua’s upcoming play Haoleland has moved to August 27 and 28, 2023. The audition will be held at Kumu Kahua Theatre at 46 Merchant Street, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Written by Anthony Mi-(COVER STORY: Filipinos....from page 6)
properties should act with a heightened sense of doubt and skepticism.”
DCCA is working with the Office of Consumer Protection and the Regulated Industries Complaints Office (RICO). The Office of Consumer Protection (OCP) is entrusted with protecting the consumer public and may investigate matters such as home equity theft.
“The Office of Consumer Protection has been vigilant about protecting vulnerable homeowners. The public is encouraged to immediately contact us with any concerns and questions,” said Mana Moriarty, Executive Director of the Office of Consumer Protection. “Any reported
chael Oliver and directed by Harry Wong III, Haoleland follows a wealthy Native Hawaiian developer’s plan of opening a theme park exploring the influences of Caucasians in Hawaii.
The play is looking to cast six actors for the follow-
instances of misconduct will be investigated, and if confirmed, wrongdoers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Illegal conduct and those seeking to take advantage of those most vulnerable will not be tolerated.”
Members of the public receiving unsolicited offers should report the name, place of business, telephone number, and address of any person to DCCA’s Consumer Resource Center at 808-5874272.
Weather experts and scientists warn that more natural disasters like the Maui wildfires could be happening more frequently. Scientific evi-
(CANDID PERSPECTIVES: Trump’s Three....from page 6)
assuredly testifies against his old boss, who is likely to be the Republican nominee for president.
Trump almost certainly will not be testifying. What, and risk perjuring himself?
I watched the conservative TV channels to see how they were presenting the indictments and to them, it’s all about politics. Never mind that this was the work of independent special counsel Jack
ing roles:
• Alice Petty – Commissioner, Female, mid-50s
• Joseph “Doc” Kamaka – Commissioner, Male, late-60s
• Minoru “Bullet” Yamashita – Commissioner, Male, 80s
dence shows the burning of fossil fuels traps greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that heats up oceans and intensifies hurricanes and makes them more frequent. Burning of fossil fuels also creates dry conditions which makes forest fires more deadly.
They point out both of these – intensified hurricane in Dora and dry conditions in Maui – contributed to Maui’s wildfires.
Washington-based AAPI Victory Aliance issued a statement “We applaud President Biden’s swiftness in declaring a major disaster and sending additional federal aid to Hawaii. This [the wildfires] was preventable—AAPI communities have sounded
Smith, not the Biden administration.
And that all the unnamed unindicted co-conspirators appear to be Republicans and Trump lawyers identified in the press as Co-Conspirator No. 1, Rudy Giuliani; No. 2, John Eastman; No. 3, Sidney Powell; No. 4, Trump Justice Department member Jeffrey Clark, who for a short time was acting attorney general; No. 5 Kenneth Chesboro; No. 6 was described as an unidentified aide. They may all become named co-defendants or become star witnesses like Pence. But this indictment exposes an attempted steal of our democracy, a modern American coup.
It is not a conspiracy by Democrats, or “election interference.”
Still, as the polls show, the majority of Republicans would rather believe in Trump and not the facts.
This is the existential crisis of our democracy as it stands today.
• Jennifer Nish – Deputy Attorney General, Female, late 20s
• Jonathan Teves – Commission Executive, Officer, Male, late-20s
• Stephanie Balacang –Stenographer, Female, 25 Auditioners only need to
the alarm for decades that countless Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander lives are at stake without a plan to address the climate crisis. As we continue to monitor the ongoing survivor search and property recovery processes, our hope is that this disaster is the wake-up call that officials in Washington need to take bold climate action.”
Former Hawaiʻi State Representative and AAPI Victory Alliance Board Member Patrick Branco, said, “AANHPIs have been experiencing the effects of the climate crisis here in Hawai’i for years; we have been sounding the alarm for urgent federal action. Sadly, we have not had a seat at the table for
And that’s why this case is more important than one can imagine. We’re either a country that believes in the rule of law and holds our leaders accountable. Or our country is about the cult of personality, and we allow the use of lies and deceit to destroy our nation. And give those corrupt leaders free reign.
Trump, who was arrested and arraigned for a third time last week, in his own executive version of “Three Strikes You’re Out,” continues to criticize it all as a “phony witch hunt” and “election interference.”
He’s claiming he’s victim No. 1.
But if these new allegations about changing the vote of an election Trump didn’t win are true, my dad would have known the real victims in a heartbeat.
The voters.
And just to show you how criminal Trump really is, any day now, a fourth indictment in Georgia is coming.
come to one of the audition dates. Rehearsals will begin in early September. The play will be performed from November 2 to December 3, 2023, Thursday to Saturdays at 7pm and Sundays at 2pm.
To learn more about Haoleland, vist https://www.kumukahua.org/.
one of the most pressing conversations of our lifetime— and now our homes, our businesses, and our communities are burning. Right now, we need to make sure that those impacted are getting the help they need, but we have a long road ahead to protect our state, our country, and our future from the catastrophic threats of climate change.”
Zulueta Furukawa said “The Maui spirit remains strong. The sense of community driven with purpose is overwhelming. The challenge is to sustain this momentum once the cameras go away and once the headlines change. We hope you stick with us for the long haul.”
My father came from the Philippines to the U.S. just for the taste of democracy. Modern Pinoys are witnessing Trump’s quest to make the U.S. a lot more like the Philippines under Marcos every day.
At some point, you just got to quit him. You can read: scribd.com/document/662462402/Trump-Indictment
NOTE: I will talk about this column and other matters on “Emil Amok’s Takeout,” my AAPI micro-talk show. Live @2p Pacific. Livestream on Facebook; my YouTube channel; and Twitter. Catch the recordings on www.amok. com. If you’re in San Francisco, see “Emil Amok: Lost NPR Host…” Get tickets here: eventbrite.com/e/emilamok-lost-npr-host-foundin-san-francisco-tickets655868910567
EMIL GUILLERMO is a journalist and commentator. His talk show is on www.amok.com.
Tuesday ׀ August 15, 2023
MANILA, Philippines — As Filipinos have become more dependent on the internet, President Marcos has launched a campaign aimed at giving the public – especially the young generation – greater protection against misinformation or fake news.
Through the Media and Information Literacy Campaign Project spearheaded by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Marcos said Filipinos would be able to discern truth from falsehood.
“We also direct our attention to young people because they are the most involved, they are the ones who consider being online, working on the internet as part of their life. It’s like breathing to young people,” the President said yesterday during the project launch at the Hilton Manila in Pasay City.
“Maybe it’s time that we give our kids – not only our kids, our citizenry – the tools for them to be able to tell what is important, what is not, what is relevant, what are the sources of these information coming from,” he said.
Marcos also emphasized the need to fight misinformation amid technological advancements, citing in particular the emergence of artificial intelligence or AI.
“With the advent of AI, we can see that the tools that are available are becoming more and more powerful… But it is also disconcerting for us when we are confronted by pure AI… that is something that we have to learn how to deal with,” the Chief Executive said.
PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil said false narratives and fake news have the power to mislead, divide and cause harm or damage. She said children are the most exposed to the digital landscape and its dangers.
“With our education sector equally dedicated to this cause, our campaign intends
to introduce these efforts to the school curriculum to ensure that every student in the country is equipped to fight fake news,” she said in her speech during the launch.
The PCO, she said, would be working with the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of the Interior and Local Government in the implementation of the program.
To ensure wider audience for the media and information literacy campaign, the
PCO has also partnered with Meta, Google, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter).
“Their support strengthens our causes… Our formidable alliance is committed to ensuring that truth and accuracy prevail in a society where every voice contributes to the chorus of truth,” she said.
In his message, DSWD Undersecretary Edu Punay said he witnessed firsthand how the poor and vulnerable sector fell prey to fake news.
“Just last January, hundreds of senior citizens
flocked to our offices for a supposed payout of social pension grant that apparently was not scheduled. It turned out that the sources
were a Facebook post from a fake DSWD account and an SMS text blasted across a nearby barangay,” he said. (www.philstar.com)
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism suspended another contract with ad agency DDB Philippines worth P124 million after the controversy that hounded its launch of the “Love the Philippines” rebranding campaign.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco told the House appropriations committee on Tuesday that the department has suspended the contract it awarded to DDB Philippines in February to provide consulting services for the “promotion of Philippine islands, award-winning Philippine destinations and tourism products.”
The six-month contract, which was supposed to end August 31, was “suspended by the Department of Tourism with the department’s exercise of the necessary due diligence to ensure that it safeguards the interest of the DOT and the country,” Frasco said.
Frasco informed lawmakers of this development after Rep. Marissa Magsino (OFW Partylist) questioned the tourism chief over the status of the department’s pending contracts with DDB Philippines during the budget hearing for the DOT.
The amount allotted for the suspended deal is at least twice bigger than the now-ter-
minated P49.92-million contract the DOT gave to DDB to handle its tourism rebrand.
DOT earlier terminated its contract with DDB after the multi-awarded ad agency released content using stock footage from tourist destinations abroad to represent the Philippines.
DDB’s deliverables in another contract ‘okay’
DDB, however, had delivered on the requirements of another smaller contract it had bagged with an attached agency to the DOT.
A representative of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) told the House panel that DDB was contracted for P12.99 million to provide consulting services for its Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) campaign, which is “already ready to launch.”
“We did a thorough review of the Terms of References and the deliverables of DDB and so far, all have been okay. We will continue on
with that,” TPB Chief Operating Officer Marga Nograles said.
DOT Undersecretary for Legal and Special Concerns Ma. Elaine Bathan said that the department has considered exploring legal action against DDB if necessary after the botched rollout of the “Love the Philippines” campaign.
“As of the moment, the priority of the department was to immediately terminate and cancel the contract and one of the serious considerations also is other courses of legal action, including filing of action in the proper courts should the same be warranted,” Bathan said.
Bathan said that the budget allotted for the campaign is “intact” and that the videos created by DDB would not be used.
The tourism undersecretary also bared that “one or two” employees related to the publication of the plagiarized “Love the Philippines” campaign materials tended their courtesy resignations over the incident.
“These are courtesy resignations tendered… (these are) in the branding department whose job we contracted out as job order employees,” Bathan said.
The official also clarified that it was not the contractual employees who approved the uploading of the videos that misused stock footage of destinations from other countries and said that it was the entire leadership of the DOT that allowed the video to be posted.
Frasco, however, maintained that the DOT had “every right to rely on DDB’s compliance with its contractual obligation to post and publish original videos.”
Under the proposed budget for 2024, the DOT will be getting P2.6 billion — a decrease from its budget of P3.4 billion under the 2023 General Appropriations Act.
Lawmakers pointed out that the tourism department needs to get the same amount as its budget last year as it is still catching up with pre-pandemic levels of tourism revenue.
“I’m concerned with the decrease of the budget of the DOT, especially since as mentioned, 3.5 million visitors---while, of course it’s higher than last year--but it’s still far away from, our 2019 and pre-pandemic levels of 8.6 million tourists,” Rep. Bernadette Herrera (Bagong Henerasyon Partylist) said. (www.philstar.com)
peacefully in court.”
By Elpidio R. Estiokoormer President
FDonald Trump
was indicted for the fourth time recently by a grand jury in Atlanta, Georgia, on charges he and his supporters attempted to interfere with the state’s 2020 presidential election.
He was charged, with 18 others including four prominent people such as Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Jeffrey Clark, and Sidney Powell.
The fourth came just a few weeks after he was indicted for the third time in Washington relating to the January 6 incident discrediting the result of the election claiming President Joe Biden won illegally.
So, Mr. Trump is now facing four criminal cases with a total of 91 charges.
First, the federal case was brought in Washington this week by the special counsel, Jack Smith. Second, a separate federal case brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith in Florida accused Trump of mishandling national security secrets. Third, a case in New York State Court accusing him of falsifying election documents. And the fourth, reelection fraud in Georgia.
Responding to the third indictment, Trump said the indictment was a means to persecute him: “This is Political Persecution and Election Interference at the highest level in history.”
As to the fourth, two senators released their joint statement. “No one is above the law — including Donald Trump,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote.
“This indictment must now play out through the legal process, without any outside political or ideological interference. We encourage Mr. Trump’s supporters and critics alike to let this case proceed
The Georgia election official who refused to help Trump said in response to the former president’s indictment that the rule of law is the most basic principle of democracy.
“The most basic principles of a strong democracy are accountability and respect for the Constitution and rule of law. You either have it, or you don’t,” Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a statement.
Trump pressured Raffensperger in a January 2020 phone call to “find” him enough votes to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory in Georgia.
“I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have,” Trump said during the now-infamous call.
Raffensperger, a Republican, resisted Trump’s pressure and stood by his November certification of Biden’s victory. “Well, Mr. President, the challenge that you have is the data you have is wrong,” Raffensperger said.
With all these multiple comments, Trump claims he is innocent and has the right to freedom of speech under the US Constitution. He might be right, but the freedom of speech is not absolute.
It was never meant to be by the framers of the Constitution otherwise there would be chaos and no order. In fact, nobody is above the law. The law must prevail, that’s why all rights and freedoms under the Bill of Rights are not absolute, although anyone has the right to free expression.
What’s surprising is that a far larger 71% of Republicans say the former president has not committed serious crimes, the same percentage who say Republicans need to stand behind Trump through his legal trials.
Another disturbing development is that Trump’s fundraising surged after each of his first two indictments. Trump’s legal challenges have proven to be lucrative fundraising op-
portunities and he is capitalizing on this to bolster his chances of reelection.
His first two indictments and court appearances have been followed by steep increases in online donations to his committees. Fundraising totals include money raised for Donald J. Trump for President 2024 and Trump Save America J.F.C. via WinRed.
A quarter of Trump’s online fund-raising this year occurred in the weeks around his first indictment. Contributions around the second indictment were not nearly as substantial, and it remains to be seen whether donors stick with Mr. Trump as his legal troubles have multiplied.
Others say his third and fourth indictments will even bolster more funds pouring into Trump’s political war chest, although we found out that not all the money coming in for his political campaign is being spent for the campaign, but is largely being used for his personal gain, especially his legal battles.
Despite multiple criminal indictments, however, former President Trump is still the
front-runner for the Republican nomination. Yes, he is so far leading Florida Gov. Ron De Santis coming in far second among 30 GOP candidates.
Others say this is Trumpism but I would say this is political cultism. The cult mentality prevails in Trump’s allies because, despite all these allegations and indictments, they are still standing beside him, supporting him to the hilt, sacrificing their philosophy and the party’s philosophy.
At the time of this writing, Trump has spent years focusing his cult of personality on promoting what has become known as the Big Lie — his claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him despite conclusive evidence to the contrary.
Unlike a normal political issue that springs from authentic mass opinions (abortion rights, gun control, economic policy, etc.), the Big Lie exists because of the personality quirks of a man in charge of a political cult.
It survives because, instead of being discredited by Trump’s years-long history of refusing to accept election results unless he wins and the fact that Trump’s arguments
have been debunked, Trump supporters are trained to disregard any voice that dissents from their leader’s word.
“People who believe in the Big Lie have been indoctrinated for the most part into believing only this and into disbelieving any media that is critical of it,” explained Dr. Steven Hassan, one of the world’s foremost experts on mind control and cults, a former senior member of the Unification Church, founder/ director of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center Inc. and author of the bestselling books “Freedom of Mind,” “Combating Cult Mind Control” and “The Cult of Trump.”
Okay, so with the cult mentality ingrained in politics nowadays centering on Trump, most likely Trump will be the standard bearer of the GOP come 2024. But will it carry its weight nationwide? Will the American voters propel him to the White House again, for the second time around?
Fellow Americans, the decision is yours!
ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO was a veteran journalist in the Philippines and a multi-awarded journalist here in the US. For feedbacks, comments… please email the author at estiokoelpidio@gmail.com
The Hawaii Philippines Business and Economic Council (HPBEC) held its monthly first Wednesday virtual forum last August 2 at 4 p.m. HST (or August 3, Thursday at 10:00 a.m. in the Philippines) on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Moderated by local business consultant and author, Joe Berardy, the participants consisted of two Hawaii-based panelists—Butch Dela Vega and Ian Kitajima, and two tech-savvy entrepreneurs from the Philippines—
Karen Singson and Brandon Leong.
Butch Dela Vega, a retired tech executive of AT&T who now considers Hawai’i as home, opened the session and set the tone of the forum with a brief discussion on AI.
AI refers to the simulation of human intelligence by computer systems. It acquires knowledge for decision-making and solves problems through logical reasoning from the information already available online. It can recognize patterns and process languages—and has the capability of translating
the text into other known languages.
The two categories of AI—Predictive AI have been in use for the past years. Among examples of Predictive AI are friend recommendations from Facebook, or movie recommendations from Netflix. Fraud detection in financial systems and the development of new pharmaceutical drugs are also some of the results of Predictive AI.
Generative AI, on the other hand, has trended only about six to eight months
(continue on page 14)
to take a break. Aren’t we supposed to get at least one break over eight hours?
By Arcelita Imasa, M.D.Iwork 8 hours, five days a week most weeks. My manager says we can take a break for five to ten minutes when we aren’t busy. Some days that’s okay but often, especially on weekends, I am not able
ago with the launch of the app ChatGPT last November 30, 2022 by a company called OpenAI.
ChatGPT was the first to market this powerful capability, and when it was launched, it acquired one million users in five days. In two months, it racked up 100 million users.
The app was made available in most countries worldwide, except for about six nations, and supports itself in almost all known languages at various levels of proficiency, depending on the volume of data it was trained on.
The app also was able to pass the SAT, various board exams (such as the medical board exams) and the bar exams that test the legal knowledge of wouldbe lawyers.
Early computer systems were developed in the 1940s to the 1950s, when the initial concepts of AI were first explored in the 1950s and were first used in 1956.
In 1997, Deep Blue of IBM beat world chess champion Gary Kasparov and by 2016 Alpha Zero routinely defeated humans in the game of Go, such that with more powerful computers, AI became widely used in various industries.
It answers prompts in a hu-
– From Reader Dear Reader,
As shocking or unbelievable as it may seem, there is no Hawai’i law that requires rest or meal breaks for employees except children ages 14 or 15 after 5 consecutive hours of work or it is part of a union collective bargaining agreement.
Many states require a
man-like manner. For example, it can write a poem on the challenges of raising a child or write an essay on Philippine independence. It can explain Bitcoin and other crypto-currency items at fifth grade level, or even develop and project plan for building a house, or write a screenplay and/or a movie script.
Ian Kitajima, president of the Hawai’i-based Pacific International Center for High Technology Research (PICHTR), who has over 21 years of developing and commercializing next-generation technologies for defense, medical, clean energy, and consumer applications--showed via his computer screen processes of using ChatGPT in real-time.
The app has a free version (downloadable on any smartphone) and a more advanced version that users can subscribe to for around $20 per month. In this version, one can download data that can be analyzed and then summarized in text and graphics format by the app.
Aside from ChatGPT, there are other apps using AI such as Stable Diffuser—using that app, an image was generated based on a prompt. Other apps available for free are Claude.ai, Google Bard, and Midjour-
paid 10-minute break/rest period during each four work hours. However, if an employer offers breaks, they must pay employees for their break time. In other words, the break is part of our paid work time.
We, of the Hawai’i Workers Center, think this needs to change—all workers should get breaks. Not only is it fair, but exhausted workers do not make for good workers.
In this year’s state legislative session, State Rep-
ney. Some apps can create video reels using speaking avatars that use dialogue that a user has inputted. These AI apps do the work of several data analysts in a matter of minutes.
Major corporations are investing billions in AI. For example, Microsoft just invested $10B in OpenAI while Google released Google Bard. Meta (of Facebook fame), on the other hand, has diverted its resources from Metaverse to AI. Even Elon Musk, the developer of Tesla, has just established a new AI company called X.ai. From these facts, it is evident that the development of AI will increase exponentially.
In the US, the White House last month encouraged tech companies to adopt safeguards to the use of AI. Seven leading companies (Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Inflection, Meta, Microsoft and OpenAI) all agreed to develop safeguards by allowing outside experts to test their models before release; develop a system to indicate when content is AI-generated; and prioritizing research that avoids bias and discrimination in their technology.
Karen Singson, Co-Founder & CEO of Kayamo—a Philippine-based start-up that offers loans to e-commerce entrepreneurs,
resentative Sonny Ganaden, (D) Kalihi, Kalihi Kai, Ke’ehi Lagoon, and Hickam Village, introduced legislation requiring breaks only for warehouse workers. The proposed legislation did not even get a hearing.
We hope Representative Ganaden will re-introduce his bill again next year but broaden it to include all workers. And, it deserves more than a hearing. It should become the law as it is in most of our neighboring states.
described how AI benefits her online lending platform, and how it creates business opportunities for clients who are, for the most part, “unbanked” due to the stringent banking laws in the Philippines and lack of credit-scoring systems for new entrepreneurs. Despite a limited 20-person staff dealing with an initial 40,000 applicants, none of its clients has defaulted on their loans, thanks in part to their judicious use of technology. It also has a 24-hour turnaround time to process and approve loan requests.
Brandon Leong is the Business Unit Lead for Round One, the Philippines’ first equity crowdfunding platform. Round One facilitates the onboarding of businesses looking to raise funds, by matching investors and fundraisers. He provides market education, financial literacy and fintech consultation for teams and organizations seeking to create their digital footprint in the Philippines’ financial landscape. He reflected on how AI has impacted every aspect of fintech and has democratized the investment process. The days when stocks are traded on the trading floor and only accessible to large institutions are a thing of the past. Nowadays, AI and technol-
Send us your employment-related questions to us at hiworkerscenter@gmail. com. We will be happy to address them in a future column.
Sincerely, Hawaii Workers Center
Dr. ARCELITA IMASA is a practicing family physician and the secretary of the Hawaii Workers Center’s Executive Committee of the Board. She grew up in the Philippines before migrating to Hawaii with her family more than a decade ago.
ogy have brought robust tools into the hands of individual investors and made financial markets accessible to all.
This virtual forum presented by HPBEC is in its third season. Started in February 2021 it helped pave the way for the first Aloha & Mabuhay Conference last October 2021 which was in a virtual format due to COVID. The Talk Story sessions are held every first Wednesday afternoon of the month (or first Thursday mornings in the Philippines) via Zoom and livestreamed on the HPBEC’s Facebook page. Each month, a diverse group of panelists tackles topics of interest that strengthen links between Hawai’i and the Philippines.
HPBEC is a non-profit organization incorporated in 2011 whose primary mission is to create a forum for the exchange of information and direction between Hawai’i and the Philippines to promote business and economic development, and advocate for Hawai’i residents who consider both the Philippines and Hawai’i as home. For this session on AI, as well as all the previous ones, the recordings are available via the HPBEC Facebook page at facebook.com/hpbecFB/ videos.
LET’S ZUMBA | Filipino Community Center | Every Monday starting January 9, 2023 at 6:15pm | FilCom Center, Consuelo Courtyard, 94-428 Mokuola Street, Waipahu
| Need to unwind in movement and dance after a long workday? Join the community as we Zumba through the evening. Only $5 per class. Proceeds go to support these programtypes for FilCom Center.
DUKE KAHANAMOKU OCEAN FESTIVAL Duke Kahanamoku Festival, Hawaii Tourism Authority and more |
August 18-27 | The week-long festival will begin with opening ceremonies in front of Duke Kahanamoku’s statue in Waikiki Beach. The festival will honor the Olympic champion’s disciplines of surfing, swimming, and other aquatic aports. Visit dukekahanamokuoceanfestival.org for more information.
FAMES HAWAII ANNUAL FREE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP
| FAMES Hawaii, Makani Lani, Burgers on Bishop | August 19 from 8:30am to 1:30pm | Dave & Buster’s Paina Hale Showroom | Learn
from four industry leaders to empower your business and leadership skills. The free event offers limited seating. To attend, register at FAMESHAWAII.org.
69TH ANNUAL WAIKIKI HOOLAULEA
Stryker Weiner & Yokota | September 23 from 6pm to 9:30pm | Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki | Aloha Festivals will host its premier block party at Waikiki’s beachfront Kalakaua Avenue with booths highlighting Hawaii cuisine, crafts, culture and entertainment.
Ita pay, uray saanak pay unay a nakapagsimsimpa iti kaaddak ditoy, kas kabarbaro iti daytoy a lugar, para kaniak, isu ti baro a takuat, baro nga aglawlaw, baro a panagsukimat: ti laud ken daya; ti amianan ken abagatan; ditoyak man baro a nagsulian ti Twain wenno Mark Twain Ave [Samuel Clemen, the writer]; Stober Blvd; Spring Mountain Road, Sand Creek Street, nga agmatamata kas kabarbaro a makipagindeg ditoy estado a nangpadakkel iti naglatlatak a nag-Majority Leader iti US Senate Harry Reid ken kinabaddungalan ni nalatak a nagsenador Daniel K. Inouye iti Hawaii, ngem babaen iti napateg a mensahe ni Mrs. Chona Sonido iti email: “You are always welcome to write to Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. Dateline: Las Vegas, every issue if you will.”
A kas sungbat ti emailko kenkuana a nangipakaammuak, addaakon iti Las Vegas.
“I was wondering what happened to you for the past months.”
TI DAKKEL A PAMMATIK, sadino man iti ayanko –I ALWAYS WRITE, WRITE AND WRITE, AND READ AND WRITE, AS PART OF MY ADVENTURE AND LONG JOURNEY – SO HELP ME GOD.
Saanak a naglibas. Saanak nga umay aglemmeng. Diak ngamin kayat ti mangisturbo. Silent exit.
Umuna nga ayatko iti panagsuratan, inkakaubingak: piksion. Daniw, sarita, nobela, sarindaniw, salaysay, bukanegan, kolum, ken dadduma.
Ket kunaek: agsursuroak latta.
Itugtugotko latta a kanayon ti kina-Ilokanok, ken makunak, kas maysa a mannurat. Napateg ti pagsasaok. Siak iti pagsasao- siak dagiti sinuratko. Dagiti sinurat ken sursuratek ket isu ti kinapudnno a maysaak nga anak ti talon, anak ti Ilokano. Siak latta tay managkilaw. Managsida ti patis wenno bugguong. Saluyot ken rabong, nateng. Siak ni addaan iti kayumanggi a gurong ken piglatan a bukot ti dapan. Pudos ti nalaing a magna.
Iti labes iti nalaus a panagkedkedko nga umay ditoy a daga, isu met iti kinabileg ti kalikagum ken tarigagay ti kakaisuna nga anakmi tapno madennaanmi manen ida ken ti pamiliana.
Nalaus met tarigagay, essem, iliw, segga ken pannakaikawa ni kasimpungalan –iti nasurok a 51 a tawenko dita Hawaii, ti nangrugiak a nagbiag, nangipasdek ken nangmuli iti kinataok, kas maysa nga ordinario mangmangged nga agikay-o iti daga. Gagangay a utility field work iti plantasion ti kaunasan. Malaksid ditoy a nangrugian, dagiti nabangonko a kinasiak – napukawko ida.
Napukawko ida iti pannakayadayo. Adu a naimbag a pagayam, dagiti adu pada a community volunteers. Iti baet ti amin, agyamanak kadagiti diak napagustuan. Maawatak ti kaipapanan ti
Pingki ken Salugsog ti biag. Bigbigek latta: tinubaynak ti Hawaii.
Wen, ket no ditoyak Las Vegas a mangrugi manen, iti makuna a sabali a kapitulo ti biag. Taliawek latta ti naggappuak. Ammok ti naggapuak.
Napateg ti tapao a nakayanakak a pinanawak, napateg ti Oahu, ti Nanu Place, Aiea, ti Hinaea, Waipahu, napateg ti Ewa Villages [40a tawen], Ewa Beach, 3 a tawen.
DITOY LAS VEGAS, ti kunada a Sin City, the Meadows, DITOYAK A MANGARAKUP KEN MANGABRASA TTI BARO A KRUSKO.
Ti krus a baklayek, no isunto met ti pakailansaak. Mabitayak no isu ti kayat a sawen ti ipapanaw.
We arrived very early on May 17, 2023 at the McCarran Airport where my daughter met us, straight to Maravilla Village, then Gloria and I moved in into the new unit on May 20, about 20 minutes drive away from Maravilla.
To me, I feel welcomed in this senior community. It is a new environment, new world, new life, with peace, friendly, quiet, safe clean, people with diverse background. I call it “the well of raw knowledge and continuation of our journey,” my CameLiaJos, in God’s Guidance and Blessings.
Surely, we miss Hawaii especially Honolulu where we spent more than 51 years with the Filipino community where I got involved with since 1971. It shaped my personal and professional growth.
But, there is a valid reason for us why the decision was made. We fulfilled the invitation of our one and only daughter Lei, and her husband Jun. The power and the value of family ties are strong. Our granddaughter Lia, one of our three grandchildren, just graduated from Tyrone Thompson Elementary School.
ADDA PAGSASAO: it hurts to say goodbye, adda latta mapanawan, ket adda latta masangpetan. Saan a mabalin ti tao iti agtaeng iti dua a puro----no one can live in 2 islands.
Adda chapter iti tunggal biag. nalawag iti sabali a panangrugi, nalawag ii sabali a komunidad,, nalawag a sabali a karit, sabali nga oportunidad, ketdi nalawlawag pay ti pannakaituloy iti panagbirok, iti panagbaniaga ken panagsapul ti baro a kaipapanan.
I call this move: Love and Sacrifice. Because I love you, beyond my promise: I do.
I will continue to explore, to experience and to extend, expand my horizon, to seek a home of my faith, in God’s name with the process of adjustment and my quest.
BAGIK: yanna dagiti padak a mannurat nga ILOKANO?
YANNA dagiti padak a taga Sinait?
YANNA dagiti padak a taga Ilocos Sur?
YANNA dagiti padak a volunteers, community leaders a sigud a taga Hawaii?
Saludsod laeng dagitoy iti kaunggak. Ti agallango-
gan a saludsod iti barukong ni Angkuan Deppa.
I believe I will be able to find them. It takes time-----to build a community is not that easy. Organizing is an honorable task; it is a process.
Take and do your FIRST TOP PRIORITY: Health. Family. Stability. First thing First. Siempre, immuna a sinarungkarak dagiti dadduma a kakabagiak. Sa dagiti gagayyem ti anakmi, maysa a simple dinner.
Naginnawagkami ken ni Franklin Borromeo, pasado presidente ti OFCC. Simmarungkar met da Danny Villaruz, dati met nga OFCC president; OFCC Council of of Past President ken ni Emmie, ken nagpaayak met a vice chair ti COPP.
Ni Danny ti kapautan a presidente ti Ilocos Surian Association of Hawaii, [20012018] gapu iti adu a napateg a proyekto, awan pay makaartap, makuna a kabungaan ti administrasion iti dakkel a suporta dagiti kakaduana.
Ni Danny ti agdama a presidente ti Ilocos Sur International Association and Foundation [aka ISIF] a duly registered with DCCA Hawaii as a non profit organization.
ITA met laeng, kudos and congratulations to Vigan Association of Hawaii and Associates [VAHA] for its 40th Anniversary Celebration on August 18, 2023 at the Ala Moana Hotel. Guest of Honor the Honorable Mayor Jose Bonito Singson, Jr. of Vigan City.
Salute to the VAHA founding president Felipe Palma Abinsay, Jr., and the current president Teresita Fallet Aganon, and of officers, and members.
