Hawaii Filipino Chronicle - October 21, 2023

OCTOBER 21, 2023  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  1

OCTOBER 21, 2023

CANDID PERSPECTIVES

WHAT’S UP, ATTORNEY?

Filipino American History Month and My Birthday

How Widows or Widowers of US Citizens Can Get a Green Card

FEATURE

How The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Helps Gen Z Connect With Our Culture

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

The Taste of Waipahu in November

2 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  OCTOBER 21, 2023

EDITORIAL

Happy All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day

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t this very moment in Rome, Catholic bishops and leaders are meeting with Pope Francis for the Synodal Assembly on synodality, to discuss and understand God’s will for the Catholic Church in the third millennium. It’s a major event and many of the 85.7 million Filipino Catholics in the Philippines and millions more outside of the Philippines look forward to the outcome of this Synodal Assembly on synodality to be concluded at the end of this month.

While Catholicism is waning in the United States, Filipinos remain steadfast to the Church and helping to keep Catholic Christianity strong and vibrant into the third millennium.

The Roman Catholic Church recognizes the important role global Filipinos play in the Church. An example, in 2021, Pope Francis celebrated in the Vatican the 500th Anniversary of Christianity in the Philippines. Pope Francis has held a special mass for the Filipino community in 2019. Also in 2019, he’s done a Simbang Gabi mass in Rome.

The Simbang Gabi, nine-day series of Masses attended by Filipino Catholics in anticipation of Christmas, has been held in Catholic dioceses around the world, in New York City, Seattle, Madrid, Barcelona, Italy, Dubai and other major cities wherever there are Filipino communities.

Why is Catholicism thriving still in Filipino communities around the world? Because it’s undeniable that much of Filipino culture is intertwined and has its roots in Catholicism, the Simbang Gabi is just one among others.

One can say that one facet of Filipino identity is linked to Catholicism.

All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days Besides Simbang Gabi, another Filipino tradition that has its roots in Catholicism is the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day. In the Philippines All Saints’ Day is called Undas, but collectively both days are celebrated as one, either a oneday or two-day celebration for our deceased loved ones.

How is it practiced? Traditionally, Filipinos would go to the gravesite of their departed, bring food and Filipino desserts, and sing songs and say prayers in what is believed to be a communion or reunion with the deceased. The modern practice is that such celebrations are held at home or even virtually.

If you think about the concept behind this cultural practice: how special, unique and mystical that we have a special day that is dedicated to being in communion with our deceased loved ones.

It says a lot about our values systems, as well as our belief systems that we maintain a special place for spirit, esoterica and mysticism within our culture similar to the mystical sects of old Christianity, Kabbala Judaism and Sufi Islam.

Keeping Filipino culture alive All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day observance is arguably the most unique cultural expression we have in Filipino culture, even though it’s similarly practiced worldwide in other Catholic countries as well. All All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days observance precisely for its uniqueness also explains why it’s not as widely practiced among Filipinos in the United States. Some have even called it superstitious.

But is it really superstitious to think that our departed loved ones are watching over us and can be in communion with the living? Perhaps, no one knows that answer.

Whether we believe in this or not, Filipino culture as a whole should and must be promoted and passed down to our (continue on page 3) next generations.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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ne of our many goals when starting the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle decades ago has been to help perpetuate Filipino culture and traditions. We know in the immigration process that includes assimilating to local ways and prioritizing important matters often culture is lost. The trend usually, as immigrants eventually settle, at least some cultural practices are preserved and once again practiced.

In our cover story this issue, associate editor Edwin Quinabo reports on All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day traditions that are still very vibrant in the Philippines but slowly fading among Hawaii Filipinos. Some of the younger generations haven’t even heard of these days in part because of their close proximity and being overshadowed by Halloween. All Saints’ and Souls’ Days are held on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, respectively. Find out the significance and practices of these cultural days in the article. In the spirit of Halloween, we’ve also included a segment on some ghoulish Filipino superstitions.

Also in this issue, HFC editorial assistant Jim Bea Sampaga contributes a News Feature on Marcella Clark, a Filipino American math teacher named state finalist of the Presidential Award of Excellence In Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), the highest honor awarded to K-12 in these areas in the U.S. Congratulations Marcella. We wish you success.

We have another feature. This one written by HFC contributor Renelaine Bontol Pfister on Cynthia Farias, the director of “Symphony in Manila,” a play written by Michael Markrich and performed as a staged reading last August 19 at Manoa Valley Theatre. Farias is an attorney and musician.

Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Journalism scholarship recipient Lizette Nolasco writes “How the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Helps Gen Z Connect with Our Culture,” which is encouraging feedback for us to know that some of our editorial content designed to specifically reach GenZ is being well received.

HFC columnist Atty. Emmanuel S. Tipon writes an important article “How Widows or Widowers of US Citizens Can Get a Green Card.”

Continuing last issue’s coverage on Filipino American History Month, we have several articles on this topic written by HFC columnists Emil Guillermo, Elpidio Estioko and Seneca Moraleda-Puguan. It’s a special time for us all.

Our international correspondent wrote: “To all the Filipino Americans, we celebrate you. Thank you for all your sacrifices. Thank you for the blessing that you are, to the Philippines and America. Mabuhay kayo!”

We’ve noticed people posting on social media Happy Filipino American History Month. We encourage you all to show your pride in our community and post special messages of this occasion on your social media pages. We are a growing community now 4 million strong. We’re very visible in American society relative to our size. A special thank you to all Filipino media – newspapers, radio, and broadcast – throughout the United States for helping to tell our community’s stories, our struggles, and dreams. Stay strong, weather the financial storms, and keep uplifting our people.

Long live Filipino media in the United States. We stand in solidarity with you.

And thank you to all of you here, our advertisers, our readers and supporters. Wishing you all a Happy Halloween!

Until next issue, Aloha and Mabuhay!

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

Publisher & Managing Editor

Chona A. Montesines-Sonido

Associate Editors

Edwin QuinaboDennis Galolo

Contributing Editor

Belinda Aquino, Ph.D.

Design

Junggoi Peralta

Photography Tim Llena

Administrative Assistant Lilia Capalad

Editorial & Production Assistant Jim Bea Sampaga

Columnists

Carlota Hufana Ader Rose Cruz Churma Elpidio R. Estioko Willie Espero 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 LarsonDitas Udani Kauai Millicent Wellington Maui Christine Sabado Big Island Distributors Grace LarsonDitas Udani Kauai Distributors Amylou Aguinaldo Nestor Aguinaldo Maui Distributors

Cecille PirosRey Piros

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

Advertising / Marketing Director Chona A. Montesines-Sonido

Account Executives Carlota Hufana Ader JP Orias

OCTOBER 21, 2023  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  3

EDITORIAL

Ceasefire Now in Palestine, the World Must Understand Context in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

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ontext is everything in ethical journalism. Context is particularly paramount when reporting on war where lives are being taken.

Context nullifies one-sided bias. Without context, what we have is sensationalism, untruth and propaganda.

That said, the world is right to condemn the horrific violence perpetuated by Hamas on innocent Israelis.

We join the world in speaking out against the killings of Israelis.

At the same time, this cannot be the start of discussion when reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict because it fails to consider context. Unlike what is being portrayed by many mainstream American media, the genesis of violence between the two parties did not begin with Hamas’ terrorism in October 2023.

We must consider United Nations reports, international reports by reputable independent human rights groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, Palestinian, Israeli and international NGOs, independent news sources from renowned investigative journalists that all have documented and outlined the conditions in Palestine that Israel has been responsible for in the past several decades.

For context, what are these conditions? In a comprehensive report by Amnesty International, Israel’s Apartheid against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and

Crime against Humanity, it has concluded Israel has done the following to the Palestinian people: “massive seizures of Palestinian land and property, unlawful killings, forcible transfer, drastic movement restrictions, and the denial of nationality and citizenship to Palestinians are all components of a system which amounts to apartheid under international law. This system is maintained by violations which Amnesty International found to constitute apartheid as a crime against humanity, as defined in the Rome Statute and Apartheid Convention.”

The report continues, “Since its establishment in 1948, Israel has pursued a policy of establishing and then maintaining a Jewish demographic majority and maximizing control over land and resources to benefit Jewish Israelis. In 1967, Israel extended this policy to the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Today, all territories controlled by Israel continue to be administered with the purpose of benefiting Jewish Israelis to the detriment of Palestinians, while Palestinian refugees continue to be excluded.

“Amnesty International demonstrates that Israeli authorities treat Palestinians as an inferior racial group who are defined by their non-Jewish, Arab status. This racial discrimination is cemented in laws which affect Palestinians across Israel and the OPT. “For example, Palestinian citizens of Israel are denied a nationality, establishing a le-

(Happy....from page 2)

At the very least, our youth should be made aware of our centuries-old Filipino traditions, beliefs and customs. And our youth can decide which ones are fit to be practiced and carried on, and which ones left behind in history.

For our millions of Filipino brothers and sisters globally practicing All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day, we wish you a happy celebration. And we honor your ancestors, our ancestors for the role they’ve played in building our community to what it is today.

We think it’s honorable that our ancestors are at least given one special day to be respected and celebrated for the life they lived and the lives they gave to us.

Mabuhay to celebrating Filipino culture. Mabuhay to the memory and legacy of our dearly departed.

gal differentiation from Jewish Israelis. In the West Bank and Gaza, where Israel has controlled the population registry since 1967, Palestinians have no citizenship and most are considered stateless, requiring ID cards from the Israeli military to live and work in the territories.

“Palestinian refugees and their descendants, who were displaced in the 1947-49 and 1967 conflicts, continue to be denied the right to return to their former places of residence. Israel’s exclusion of refugees is a flagrant violation of international law which has left millions in a perpetual limbo of forced displacement.”

Other reports by investigative journalists and independent organizations have found other horrific conditions. Palestinians have had to endure almost 50% unemployment, 50% living under poverty levels. They have a shortage of drinking water compared to Israelis. Much of the water is reported as toxic. Palestinians are not allowed to build their own water systems. Essentially, Israelis are leaving Palestinians thirsty. Electricity is sparse in Palestine. Palestinians are not allowed to travel

out of the country without Israeli approval. Escaping Palestine to become a refugee is impossible as the beaches are monitored by Israelis and boats are shot at by large Israeli vessels.

There is hyper surveillance of Palestinians where cameras are aimed into Palestinians’ homes. There are automatic rifles mounted all over Palestine and have been documented to be used on Palestinian civilians. Palestinians’ homes are regularly confiscated to be given to Israeli settlers which is illegal under international law. Palestinians are harassed and imprisoned for demanding rights. They do not have the right to assemble in protest. They have separate laws that apply to Palestinians. An Israeli settler who just arrived have more rights than Palestinians who have been living in the occupied territory all their lives. The unfair legal system has resulted in about 40% of all Palestinian men in Israeli prisons. Israeli soldiers can confiscate a house, physically assault, and even kill Palestinians without consequence.

which mirrors copious other verified reports from independent sources, it is more than reasonable to say that terror has been committed onto the Palestinian people.

Mind you, for context, all of these reports have been released before Hamas’ despicable surprise terror in October 2023.

Ceasefire NOW At this moment in war engagement, Israel is breaking international laws as set by the Geneva convention. The blockade denying Palestinians water, electricity, and international aid -- medical and food -- is illegal. The bombing of civilians is illegal. The forced mass movement from northern to southern Palestine is illegal.

There are ways as recommended by the United Nations and other international organizations to broker long-lasting peace, namely a two-state solution. But that is for another write-up.

What must happen now and be demanded is an immediate ceasefire and the opening of channels for humanitarian aid! Time is running out and genocide is at hand. No food, no water and continuous bombing in Palestine. This is Terror on both sides Based on the report above, hardly a war. It’s genocide.

4 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  OCTOBER 21, 2023

COVER STORY

What All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day Mean to Filipinos, and a Bonus on Filipino Superstitions for Halloween

By Edwin Quinabo

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he diaspora of Filipinos to the four corners of the globe helps to spread Filipino culture worldwide, but it takes work to keep some traditions thriving generationally as Filipinos settle in their new communities outside of the Philippines.

Amid the myriad of pressing concerns immigrants face like finding work and attaining citizenship – among the least on their minds is a risk of losing culture. As years pass and some cultural expressions go unpracticed, nostalgia could suddenly resurrect some of them, or apathy could lead some cultural practices to simply die off and be placed in the dustbin of “things that we used to do in the mother country.”

All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day

Fiedes Doctor says growing up her family celebrated the Filipino tradition of All Saints’ Day (Undas) on Nov. 1 and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 2.

In the Philippines, both are still fervently observed today, and both are designated special non-working holidays nationwide.

Schools, government, and many businesses are closed for these important days.

But observing these holidays many grew up with in the Philippines for some reason hasn’t stuck for many Filipino immigrants in the U.S. “I grew up in Ilocos Norte, Philippines and we did the typical All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day practice of visiting the tombs of loved ones. We would visit my late grandfather’s tomb, bring flowers, candles and food, and stay there for a while. After some time, we would visit other relatives’ tombs who have passed on. We would bring flowers and candles to place on the tombs. We Beyond tradition, All Souls’ Day is a belief in the eternal nature of spirit Gloria Casupang, Pearl City, is a second-generation Filipino whose parents hailed from Illocos Sur, Philippines. “I grew up in a staunch Catholic house-

did the same thing on both days,” Doctor said.

Since becoming a Protestant Christian Fely doesn’t observe these days anymore.

“I changed my views about visiting someone’s graveyard.” But she says out of respect for her living loved ones here in Hawaii, she will on occasion accompany a loved one to visit the cemetery like on the deceased loved one’s birthday.

All Saints’ Day is known as Feast of All Saints. It is a Catholic solemnity celebration in honor of the saints of the Catholic Church, whether they are known or unknown. A feast day in the Catholic Church is a day that honors a saint or an event in the life of Christ. A saint’s feast day can be the day of their actual death, or a day assigned by the Church. Feast days are marked with special mention of the saint or prayers to that saint for intercessional help.

Feast days are solemnities, which are the highest rank of liturgical celebration.

Examples of Feast Days include Jan. 1 Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, in April Easter Sunday, on May 18 the Ascension of the Lord.

All Souls’ Day is called the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. It’s a day of prayer and remembrance for the faithful departed, family and friends who’ve passed on. But also, for all the dead, especially those believed to be in purgatory (a realm between heaven and hell) to whom our prayers are believed to help them go to heaven.

Christianity or Catholicism was first brought to the Philippine islands by Spanish missionaries and settlers, who arrived in waves beginning in the early 16th century in Cebu by way of colonization. Compared

hold and the two days have root in Catholicism. On All Saints’ Day we would light a candle and include a prayer for the saints and my deceased grandparents.

But the real celebration was the next day, on All Souls’ Day,” said Casupang.

“On All Souls’ Day we would have a grand dinner and spread of Filipino desserts. We’d have a special prayer for my deceased grandparents who are buried in the Philippines so we wouldn’t celebrate the traditional way of going to the

to the Spanish colonial period, when Christianity was recognized as the state religion, the faith today is practiced in the context of a secular state. In 2020, it was estimated that 85.7 million Filipinos, or roughly 78.8% of the population are Catholics.

According to Pew Research Center, the Philippines is the third country with the largest Catholic population, behind Brazil and Mexico and ahead of the United States and Italy, rounding up the top five.

To some, the popularity of All Saints’ Day and All Souls Day reflects the vibrancy of the Catholic faith in a country. For example, in Mexico, their version of All Souls Day, el Dia de los Muertos, is also a holiday widely observed and celebrated with food brought to the cemetery to honor deceased loved ones like in the Philippines. But Mexico has an added tradition of holding Day of the Dead processions that have participants dressed in skeletal or skull costumes.

In the United States where Catholicism is not the dominant Christian church, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day can be seen as macabre or paganistic. But Catholics in the Philippines emphasize that these holidays are less about death, but rather a celebration of life.

cemetery with our food,” said Casupang.

“But now that my parents have passed on, my family would meet up at Mililani cemetery where they’re buried either on All Saints’ Day or All Souls’ Day. We’d bring plate lunches, bring picnic

blankets and chairs, spend quality time reminiscing of what life was like with our parents alive and close with prayers. I think our parents are happy that we’re carrying on this tradition.

“I think they feel hon(continue on page 5)

OCTOBER 21, 2023  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  5

COVER STORY (What All Saints Day....from page 4)

ored that we take the time to celebrate them, one day completely dedicated to them,” said Casupang. “I know I would appreciate it if the same would be done for me by my children. Yes, it’s about tradition, but it carries a very personal meaning of gratitude and acknowledgement that while in life, we’ve played a very meaningful role in someone’s life.”

Casupang said ultimately All Souls’ Day is about spirit. “There is a deeply spiritual belief behind these two days, one that says the spirit lives on beyond physical death and through our Lord Jesus Christ, we can have everlasting life. And when we are bringing food to the cemetery or just celebrating at home, we believe we are in actual communion with our departed loved ones, that they are here with us, enjoying our presence and hearing our stories and prayers.

When you look at it this way, observing All Souls’ Day is bigger than just practicing tradition.

Filipinos hold value in spirituality and faith in God amid modernism “What does this say about Filipinos? It reflects that we are a people who hold importance in spirituality and faith in God and the afterlife. Personally, All Souls’ Day is one of the most important days in the year because of this spiritual aspect. I think it speaks volumes that in the Philippines these two days are still designated as holidays. We see there that spirituality, or some could call it religion or Catholicism, remains a core value in our values system, despite the world trend toward secularism and modernism. This is special,” said Casupang.

The traditional Undas in the Philippines All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in the Philippines is commonly observed as one event known as the Undas.

Philippine studies professor Schedar Jocson said Undas came from Filipinos’ habit of making words shorter in the past. Undas means Dia de los Todos Santos or Ang Ibig Sabihin ay Day of All Saints,” Jocson said.

He said because some Filipinos weren’t able to learn Spanish, they would just shorten phrases. That’s how Undas stuck with the Filipino people.

Audie Alegre, Quezon City, Philippines, said Undas was like having “fiestas” in the cemeteries, punctuated by praying and singing. “In the old days we’d bring our guitars (bandurrias) for the full effect of music. In the 1980s and beyond, people started to bring karaokes.

It’s really a celebratory occasion.”

He said food and native delicacies or desserts are brought along because they’d stay at the cemetery for hours. “It was like a reunion with our loved ones at the cemetery.”

Since Undas is actually a two-day celebration [Nov. 1 and 2], on the eve of All Souls’ Day, Alegre said they’d gather with young relatives and some elementary school boys and girls and visit houses singing youth songs from bands like the Beatles. “There were also a few small adult barrio groups roaming and singing Tagalog Undas songs.”

At the homes they’d visit, the owners of the homes would give out gift packs of usually Filipino desserts and candies like suman, kalamays, butsi.

On the second day, Alegre said a relative would host a lunch with “Pinoy

folks’ favorites like menudo, adobo, pancit, dinuguan, and puto as pahabol – the old school belief that’s close to giving thanks, and this idea of what you sow, you reap with wisdom,” he said.

“In Manila, at these luncheons, invited guests would bring gifts to exchange with each other or for the youths or children. Typical gifts would include items like shirts, caps, umbrellas,” he said.

Alegre looks at the twoday marathon tradition with nostalgia. “Now, it seems like only November 1 is observed and there’s no more fiesta culture. It’s more like a get together at a relative’s house for lunch. Gone are the lengthy cooking rituals.

Most of the food now is ordered from restaurants. I am an old school senior, and I prefer actual visitations and prayers at cemeteries,” said Alegre.

For some in the younger generation, the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day has been downscaled and watered down to virtual group prayers and short virtual chats.

Alegre said whether it’s a luncheon or virtual event, Undas is still being preserved one way or another.

And there are Filipinos who still practice the holidays the old traditional ways of celebrating at a cemetery with food and song.

Casupang says virtual observance is something that was probably created during Covid’s pre-vaccine days. “I prefer the old fashion way of in-person gatherings, but if young people are choosing some way to honor their departed loved ones, it’s okay with me.”

“There is a deeply spiritual belief behind these two days [All Saints’ Day, All Souls Day], one that says the spirit lives on beyond physical death and through our Lord Jesus Christ, we can have everlasting life. And when we are bringing food to the cemetery or just celebrating at home, we believe we are in actual communion with our departed loved ones, that they are here with us, enjoying our presence and hearing our stories and prayers.

When you look at it this way, observing All Souls’ Day is bigger than just practicing tradition. What does this say about Filipinos? It reflects that we are a people who hold importance in spirituality and faith in God and the afterlife. Personally, All Souls’ Day is one of the most important days in the year because of this spiritual aspect. I think it speaks volumes that in the Philippines these two days are still designated as holidays. We see there that spirituality, or some could call it religion or Catholicism, remains a core value in our values system, despite the world trend toward secularism and modernism. This is special.”

– Gloria Casupang, Pearl City

Practical approach to observing All Saints’ Day, All Soul’s Day Philippines resident Bing Tomas says the modern virtual celebration of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days is being practical, something he himself considers. Tomas hasn’t gone as far as downgrading the event to virtual status, but he said they visit the cemetery to say a little prayer for their departed family a week before Nov. 1.

“There’s less people and no traffic jam.”

On virtual celebrations, Doctor said, “I understand the disadvantages of virtual events, mainly that there is no real socialization; and yet, I also understand that we are coming out of Covid, which makes virtual events understandable if not necessary.”

All Souls’ Day, which is not based on superstition, Filipinos insist, Halloween is. But there are other Filipinos who will say mythological Filipino creatures such as aswangs (vampires, ghouls that shape shift), kapre (tree giant), or dwendes (bad dwarfs) are real.

Alegre explains, In fact, their said existence is believed to be responsible for many of the big fruit trees – mango, atis, daimito, samploc – being cut down or burned in the provinces.

These giant trees are believed to be dwelling places for these evil creatures.

The impact of superstition on these trees is said to be responsible for deforestation in some places which contributes to the loosening of soil that makes landslides more likely to occur.

In retaliation for these Halloween In the U.S. Filipino evil creatures’ dwelling Americans more commonly places being taken away, observe Halloween on Oct the superstition is that they 31 instead of All Saints’ Day, retaliate by bringing poor but many also observe All harvests.

Alegre said the superSouls’ Day (Nov. 2). (continue on page 6) Unlike All Saints’ and

6 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  OCTOBER 21, 2023

CANDID PERSPECTIVES

Filipino American History Month and My Birthday

By Emil Guillermo

O

ctober is my birthday. I am 118. No lie.

I won’t take a day off for Columbus, but I’ll take a day off for me. And my father.

If age is just a number, I had long reached an age where I just stopped counting.

But now I’m into counting each and every year. With honor.

It hit me while preparing for a Filipino American National Historical Society webinar commemorating Filipino American History Month.

My father would have been 118 this year. And only now have I realized that his life has been my life.

He was born in the Philippines under the American flag in 1905.

That was seven years after the U.S. bought the country from Spain after the Spanish-American War in 1898.

The Treaty of Paris sealed the deal 125 years ago. The U.S. paid $20 million mostly for the Catholic artifacts. Note, that’s less than the New York Jets paid to get quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Through the treaty, my father became more than a Filipino. He was a colonized Ameri-

can national, and able to come to America without papers.

He was legally undocumented.

And that’s where things sour. My father was not lucky enough to immediately start a family. He skipped Hawaii and went straight to the U.S. in 1928. So, he was unlucky in many ways when he arrived in 1928, ‘38, ‘48, and nearly 1958.

40 years? What happened?

Was he a lot in loud unappealing clothes? Or was he just caught in Filipino American history, a racist one where Filipinos were plugged up, stopped up, damned up?

Or maybe just dammed.

Men like my father were brought in to replace excluded Chinese and Japanese laborers, which made the male-tofemale ratio among Filipinos around 14-1.

Finding a Filipino wife was harder than finding a free women’s restroom at a stadium event. Anti-miscegenation laws were also in play. You couldn’t marry anyone you loved. Filipinos were shot or lynched just for looking at a white woman.

My father was only able to start a family well after World War II when Filipino women were allowed to come more easily to America. The Baby Boom that took place in society was especially booming among Filipinos.

But not quite for my family.

My father’s health and age prevented him from enlisting in the segregated military.

That made him ineligible for the first bit of affirmative action for Filipinos—the GI Bill, which enabled the creation of a real Asian American Filipino middle class.

And if you didn’t serve, you relived the ‘20s, the ‘30s, and the ‘40s.

Like my father. In his time he recycled the past.

My mother was not a traditional Filipina “war bride,” but survived the Japanese occupation of Manila. She hid under sewing machines at a seamstress shop to avoid being forced to become a Filipina comfort woman.

She was saved by a Spanish colonial who took her under her wing and brought her to San Francisco.

When she met my father in the early 1950s, it was well after the war. But then the delayed new Filipino American generation had begun.

As the second generation, I was born in the U.S. But I was always treated like the

first, my father’s generation.

Filipino American history has always controlled my life. Even when I break glass ceilings, I am wounded by the shards.

During Filipino American History Month, it only makes sense to honor my father. My story begins with his on the day he was born under the American flag in the Philippines. An American national.

So October is not just Filipino American History Month, October is my birthday month.

I am 118. And counting, gladly.

A note from an Asian American Israeli There are an estimated 35,000 Filipinos in Israel, a small part of the 2-3 million Filipinos in the Middle East.

But my friend is unique.

A Filipino American born in the U.S., he married the Israeli sweetheart of his youth and moved to Israel nearly a decade ago.

He is essentially an Asian American Filipino Israeli.

When Israel was attacked

by Hamas, I contacted him to make sure he and his family were fine.

“We are fine, away from the southern conflict areas,” he wrote to me. “A major intelligence and operational failure by the IDF. The watchmen were sleeping. Israel’s 9/11.”

I was relieved to hear he was safe.

“There should have been a trigger with troops rushing in if

there was a breach of the hightech security fence. A quick reaction force. Failure of intel component,” he continued.

But he knew by the next Sunday something bigger and more deadly was brewing.

“The West Bank is ringed with troops. The northern border is on high alert. And Nazrullah learned his lesson in 2006,” he said. “A big ground war is coming. Two months tops on the fighting. But it is going to be bloody.”

I asked him if he was leaving for safety.

He said he’d canceled a planned trip to the U.S. and was sure he would volunteer for security duties once things were organized.

But he sounded clear and determined as an Asian American Filipino Israeli.

“We aren’t leaving.”

Said with a fearless defiance… full of pride, and a willingness to endure the pain in the fight for the right to exist.

But it means a geo-political change in the world, for everyone, maybe forever.

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.

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

(COVER STORY: What All Saints Day...from page 5)

stition has a modern twist, explaining that at these new high-end villages, resorts and mega high rises, these evil creatures are the culprits in cases where death and illnesses occur there because of their lost habitat in the forests and countryside.

Casupang recalls when her father died at the fairly young age of 61, they had a post-funeral luncheon. “I don’t remember who told my mother at that luncheon that the giant avocado tree in front of our house was bad

luck, suggesting that it could have contributed to my father dying young, but the day after my mom hired tree cutters to cut down the tree within the week.

“I didn’t understand why my mom would believe in such an absurd thing, especially since we loved that tree. Our family would have a year-round supply of large succulent avocados. And we all know how expensive avocado is.

“My mother didn’t tell us why the tree needed to

be cut down except to say someone told her it was bad luck. Years later we found out from our aunty the superstition behind giant fruit trees, that they are believed to be dwelling places for evil creatures in Filipino folklore. I still think it was a mistake my mom got rid of our avocado tree because I don’t believe in that, but at least I finally understood the reason behind it,” said Casupang.

So, what can we do to protect ourselves from these evil creatures? Alegre said

the old folks encourage us to whisper a little prayer when passing over large trees or if you feel the presence of these creatures lurking.

“And since their habitat has been disrupted, these creatures could be anywhere, even in the city, so goes the updated superstition,” said Alegre. “In essence, they’ve become more widespread and dangerous.” This is food for thought on Halloween.

As for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days, Casupang encourages Filipinos who’ve

lost that tradition to consider trying it. “It’s not necessarily a serious or sad occasion. But that could be a part of it. Mostly, it’s a fun celebration of your deceased mom’s, dad’s, grandparents’, or spouse’s life. These days could signal the start of the festive holiday season, before what’s traditionally marked as the start, Thanksgiving Day. This makes the holiday season longer.

“Happy All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day to all,” said Casupang

OCTOBER 21, 2023  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  7

WHAT’S UP, ATTORNEY?

How Widows or Widowers of US Citizens Can Get a Green Card of the U.S. citizen’s death.

INA Section 201(b)(2)(A)(i).

By Atty. Emmanuel S. Tipon

A

n alien spouse of a U.S. citizen can get a green card if such a spouse is petitioned by the citizen by filing a Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative.

But what happens if the U.S. citizen dies before the Form I-130 is adjudicated?

There is a general rule that when the petitioner dies, the petition dies with such petitioner, subject to humanitarian reinstatement which is a farce because it is extremely difficult if not impossible to obtain.

Widow or widower with pending immigrant petition However, in the case of the widow or widower of a U.S. citizen, whose U.S. cit-

izen spouse had filed a Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative before he died, the widow or widower should notify USCIS about such death.

The notification should be accompanied with the citizen’s death certificate and Form I-797C showing that Form I-130 was received by USCIS. USCIS will automatically convert the Form I-130 to a Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant.

The couple’s children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) may be included on Form I-360, whether or not the deceased U.S. citizen had filed a petition for them.

The widow or widower must establish that she/he was not legally separated from the U.S. citizen spouse at the time

er must be admissible to the United States.

The petitioner should inWidow or widower without a clude, among others, the folpending immigrant petition lowing documents: 1) Declaration of the widIf the U.S. citizen had not filed a Form I-130 for his/her ow or widower describing the alien spouse and the citizen facts and circumstances of the dies, the widow or widower marriage to establish that it can self-petition as an “imme- was bona fide and not intenddiate relative”. INA Section ed to circumvent the immigrant laws.

204(a)(1)(A)(ii).

2) Certificate of Live Such widow or widower can file Form I-360, Petition Birth of the petitioner 3) Certificate of Marriage for Amerasian, Widow(er), or of the petitioner and her deSpecial Immigrant.

The widow or widower ceased U.S. citizen spouse.

4) Certificate of Live must be a bona fide spouse of a U.S. citizen within the past Birth of the spouse showing two years and the citizen died that he/she was born in the within the past two years. INA United States (if applicable).

5) Certificate of NatuSection 204(a)(II)(aa)(CC).

If the widow or widow- ralization of the U.S. citizen er remarries before the Form spouse (if applicable).

6) U.S. Passport of the I-360 is adjudicated, his or her right to pursue the self-peti- U.S. citizen spouse.

7) Certificate of Death of tion is deemed terminated.

The widow or widow- the U.S. citizen spouse.

8) Report of Death of U.S. Citizen or U.S. Non-Citizen National Abroad of the U.S. citizen spouse, issued by U.S. Embassy that has jurisdiction over the place of death.

There is a filing fee which is $435 as of 09/27/2023. It is subject to change.

Widow or widower living outside United States If the eligible widow or widower is living outside the United States, she/he can file Form I-360 from abroad with the USCIS address specified in the instructions on the form.

If approved, the petition will be sent to the National Visa Center which will forward it to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over the country where the widow or widower lives.

Widow or widower living in the United States If the eligible widow or widower is living in the (continue on page 15)

8 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  OCTOBER 21, 2023

NEWS FEATURE

Filipino American Math Teacher Named State Finalist of Presidential Award of Excellence In Mathematics and Science Teaching

By Jim Bea Sampaga

F

ilipino American math teacher Marcella Clark has been teaching mathematics for the past 16 years at Kawananakoa Middle School (KMS). Last month, she was named as one of Hawaii’s five state finalists for the prestigious Presidential Award of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

“I was definitely honored to hear that I was a State finalist for the Mathematics award, and in some ways, it gave me some reassurance that I’m making progress in my teaching journey and having an impact on my students,” Clark shared.

“I am humbled, though, because even after 16 years of teaching, I still consider myself a work in progress. I am constantly looking for better ways to keep students curious about math.”

PAEMST is the highest honor awarded to K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers by the United States government.

The award recognizes teachers with deep knowledge of the subjects they teach while actively motivating their students to achieve success.

Nominated by KMS’s Vice Principal Dr. Bebi Davis, Clark admitted that the application packet was comprehensive and time-consuming to complete. However, this process gave her the opportunity to reflect on her career and the

From right to left, teacher Marcella Clark with mother Bernice Clark and Hawaii State Superintendent of Education Keith Hayashi

evolution of her teaching.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Clark was a 2001 graduate of Sacred Hearts Academy where she developed a love for math. “I was inspired by my math teachers, especially Mrs. Deborah Kula, who introduced me to a graphing calculator back when it was a

fairly new form of technology used in the classroom,” she said.

Clark later attended Fordham University in New York City and earned her BA in Mathematics with a minor in Visual Arts in 2005. As a true believer in continuing her progress, she earned her teach-

ing certificate from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2008 and an M.Ed. in Curriculum Studies (Mathematics) in 2013.

“While in college and during summers between school years, I took jobs that either involved tutoring or working with young people.

As a tutor for math, I especially enjoyed helping students make sense of difficult concepts,” she added.

Clark values the importance of strategy, teamwork and brainstorming. At the KMS faculty, Clark and her colleagues have a strong support group that shares teaching strategies and ideas with one another.

In the classroom, she encourages students to share their thought processes and understanding of mathemati(continue on page 10)

OCTOBER 21, 2023  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  9

FEATURE

How the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Helps Gen Z Connect with Our Culture

By Lizette Nolasco

G

rowing up as a fifth-generation Filipina in Hawaii, I felt disconnected from my Filipino her-

itage.

After more than a hundred years of being on Oahu, my family, whose origins are from Cebu and Bohol, has embraced the local and mixed cultures of Hawaii. So much of our Filipino identity, history and language have faded away.

However, the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle has played a significant role in helping me and others in Gen Z (a demographic cohort born between the mid-to-late 1990s and early 2010s) reconnect with our roots. This is especially meaningful during October—Filipino American History Month.

For generations, families left their homes in the Philip-

pines to seek new opportunities abroad.

During this shift, some decided to leave behind their culture, believing it would ease their assimilation to where they moved. In doing so, subsequent generations lost the traditions and knowledge of their homelands.

Recently there has been a resurgence of Pinoy pride, largely due to the representation of Filipinos in the media.

Through the media showcasing traditional food, dances, clothing and customs, an audience of youth grew up feeling proud to see people who looked like them on screen.

My friends and I are pleased to see famous Filipino American Gen Z celebrities, such as Grammy winners Olivia Rodrigo and H.E.R., movie star Jacob Batalon (from Hawaii) and even the current Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel, to name a few, in the

spotlight lately.

Besides the entertainment industry, there are many successful Filipinos in government, philanthropy, the arts, business, education, science and technology, medicine, media and more.

The Chronicle publishes narratives centered on local Filipinos, highlighting individuals who share similar backgrounds, serving as a source of inspiration for young readers as we learn about their achievements and contributions to the community.

The paper has given Gen Zers examples to follow so we can learn to work hard and reach our greatest potential like these Filipinos have done before us.

Gen Z also grew up understanding that diversity enhances our society and the importance of embracing our identity. This mindset sparks conversations among the

younger generation, making us actively seek out resources to help us better understand our Filipino culture.

The Chronicle serves as a valuable resource for Filipino youth looking for this connection. We can learn about upcoming events centered around Filipino culture and encourage others to join.

By reporting on many local cultural activities, like Filipino festivals, concerts and musicals, pageants and educational workshops, the paper helps to bring the community and multi-generations

together.

Moreover, the paper allows people to share their perspectives and builds access to the community that the youth can utilize. It provides Gen Zers with a sole resource focused on uplifting and telling stories within our demographic.

As a recipient of the Chronicle’s journalism scholarship, I have been given the opportunity to write about issues relating to my generation.

Three scholarship winners before me also got to interview (continue on page 10)

10 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE OCTOBER 21, 2023

AS I SEE IT

Filipino American Heritage Month •

By Elpidio R. Estioko

F

Filipino American History Month is celebrated in October. It is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Filipino Americans in the United States.

The Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) suggested possible activities to participate such as the following: • Read Filipino American Studies books of the past and present. For example, 2022 marks the 25th anniversary of the edited text Filipino Americans: Transformation and Identity, (edited by Maria P. P. Root) – regarded as a foundational comprehensive text in Filipino American Studies; • Support arts and media that advance Filipino American Studies, such as Lumpia with a Vengeance (film) or Larry: The Musical (theater); • Learn about the history of the Luzones Indios who first set foot in California

•

on October 18, 1587 (435 years ago); Conduct and share oral histories that highlight regional experiences of Filipino American history; and Curate a panel of Filipino American artists to describe their contributions to the arts (e.g., music, dance, theater, hip hop).

Foremost of the celebration, lately, is Larry Itliong’s contribution to the California labor movement and the cannery industry in Alaska with some info on the sugar cane industry in Hawaii. He is a highly influential leader whose pivotal role in the farm labor movement left a long-lasting legacy for all of us.

An adjunct celebration is the Delano Grape Strike of 1965 where the 1,500 farm laborers of Delano, called Manongs, led by Larry Itliong, went on strike clamoring for better pay for farm labor and equal justice/opportunity for farm laborers.

In Milpitas, after naming a park in honor of Larry Itliong, this time another park, a new one, is being named by the City Council as Delano Manongs Park and the grand opening will be on Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.

The new park is located at 1576 McCandless Drive in

Milpitas, next to the Mabel Mattos Elementary School.

The celebration includes aplaque unveiling/ribbon cutting, food, resource tables, music, and dancing performances.

There will be reading part of the park dedication proclamation by leaders in the community, according to Renee Lorentzen, Director of Recreation and Community Services.

Moreover, the Asian American Stories Video Contest 2023 launched with the theme: All of Us Belong Here! For more information about the entry guidelines, prizes and judges, visit www. aastories.org. The deadline for the submission of entries is January 15, 2024.

This is open to all and not only confined in California but all over the country for as long as entries stick to the theme. That means fellow Filipinos in Hawaii, you are welcome to participate in the video contest.

Two of the 15 distin-

(NEWS FEATURE: Filipino American Math...from page 8)

cal ideas.

“I also get very excited when students have “healthy” arguments about mathematical ideas. I’ve made it a priority to have students share their thinking and justify their reasoning and have tried to cultivate a learning environment that welcomes all voices. I also enjoy seeing a student persevere until he/she finally understands a challenging problem,” she shared.

Moreover, she also nurtures her students’ educational well-being through Math Team advisorship and Volleyball coaching.

Growing up Filipino

American, Clark is a granddaughter of sakadas Angel and Rose Ramos of Kahuku.

She credits her grandparents who inspired her to pursue her teaching career.

“Something I value the most is having a strong work ethic and putting forth my best effort. I emphasize that in my math classes. My grandparents valued education. In fact, my grandfather earned a GED while working as a plantation laborer. He led by example,” she explained.

When asked about her message to aspiring teachers, she said: “Never stop learning.

What you value, your students

guished judges are Filipino-Americans. The first one is Don Orozco, Host of Radyo Agila Sa Amerika, journalist, and a director of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Silicon Valley.

The other judge is Elpidio R. Estioko, a long-time educator, public relations (PR) practitioner, author, and award-winning journalist. He is a regular columnist of Philippine News Today (PNT), a weekly newspaper circulating in the Bay Area and also a regular columnist of Hawaii Filipino Chronicle (HFC) circulating on the island of Hawaii.

Fellow Asians, tell your stories! Join the contest!

Also, last October 8, I timed my book launching and signing during this month to drum up support and share my story with fellow Asian Americans, my book “Unlocking the Chain of Poverty: In Pursuit of the American Dream.”

Before talking about the book, itself, I thanked the people who supported me and made the book possible.

Without them, I couldn’t have done it. Their encouragement has meant the world to me.

To my beloved wife Delia, who stood with me throughout the entire process through thick and thin; Former Assemblymember of CA District 25 Kansen Chu, who wrote the foreword and helped me

publish the book financially; Ruel Manipis, who took the picture of the cover design of the book; Denis Marks, who patiently copy-read and edited my manuscript to the very end; and everyone who helped make this book possible.

I wrote the book because I believe that everyone has a story to tell. I have a story to tell, so I wanted to share it with the world through my book!

The book is a book of guts, survival, and the will to persevere against all odds.

All it needed to succeed, ultimately, was hard work, strong commitment, having a very supportive wife, a strong belief in God, and the will to move on and pursue one’s dreams.

Dr. Roman Dannug, former PUP Dean who settled in California said: “Congratulations my friend! FilAms, OFWs, and young people will surely get some precious gems of practical pointers on how to get a beautiful life journey as one flows onto the winds of life’s stability, growth and change!”

Fellow FilAms, let’s know our roots, let’s participate in celebrating the Filipino American History Month! 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

(FEATURE: How the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle...from page 9)

will value. Take risks in the classroom. Try new lessons and strategies and have high expectations for students.”

As for her PAEMST finalist award, Clark emphasizes the need to support and honor the teachers in our community.

“While I am just one teacher who has received recognition, there are countless other deserving teachers working every day to make a difference in students’ lives. We should all continue to support their efforts as a community.

Thank you for the opportunity to share my experience,” she said.

their peers and tell their stories and experiences about growing up Filipino today.

We also learned more about our history and heritage in the research and editing process.

The Chronicle holds the materials that can significantly benefit the lives of Gen Z individuals like me by helping us reconnect with our Filipino culture and history after years of disconnect and distance from the Philippines.

By showcasing our heritage’s rich customs and traditions, promoting representation and providing information to the youth determined to reclaim

their roots, the paper has become a valuable resource that inspires, educates and empowers young Filipinos in Hawaii.

Through its words, the Chronicle helps us rediscover our identity, amplify our voice and take pride in our historical background, becoming an essential part of our journey toward reconnecting with and preserving our culture.

Though Filipino American History Month is only in October, it is evident that for three decades now the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle has been making it special for all generations of Filipinos throughout the entire year.

OCTOBER 21, 2023  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  11

12 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE OCTOBER 21, 2023

BOOK REVIEW

BREAKING THE SILENCE, A War Memoir

By Rose Cruz Churma

T

his book won the Manila Critics Circle Award for biography in 1996 and was also selected by the Editorial Board of the University of the Philippines Press Centennial Publication in celebration of the first 100 years of the institution which was established in 1908.

In the book’s preface, the author writes: “Sixty years ago over a hundred thousand innocent civilians suffered horrendously in the hands of the retreating Japanese soldiers in the Battle for the Liberation of Manila.”

The Philippines was occupied by the Japanese from 1941 to the first quarter of 1945 until “Liberation” when American troops regained control of the entire archipelago.

The war years are part of the Filipino-American story that is mostly told from the perspective of soldiers, or biographies of war heroes and guerrilla activities.

Although the most gripping parts of the book are the author’s recollection of the last days of the war, it is also a description of the gracious days during the American Com-

monwealth period and the lifestyles of the upper middle class where her family belonged.

Except for Warsaw, Manila was the most devastated city during World War II. The Americans purposely destroyed the city to flush out the enemy who in turn inflicted barbaric atrocities on the hapless civilians.

The Japanese have chosen to forget its wartime massacre of non-combatant civilians. Those who lived through that nightmare were too traumatized and chose to forget.

This book did not start as a memoir. When Nick Joaquin was asked to write a biography of her father, Nicanor Reyes, the founder of the Far Eastern University (FEU), Lourdes R. Montinola was asked to recollect memories about her father and his last days during the war.

As a survivor of that war, Lourdes R. Montinola had “pushed back to the deep recesses of my mind” the horrors of those times. “How can I describe what I could never talk about? Someone once said that some experiences lie beyond language because their language is silence,” she said.

Through a series of journal entries for a creative writing workshop, she wrote vignettes of the war years to help tell her father’s story. The first vignette was about a young girl named Milagros abandoned by her family, who came to join their household towards the end of the war.

The last narrative was

about her mother, because as she says: “The story of my father would not be complete without the mention of my mother. Each was indispensable to the other and they needed to die together. They did—only a few hours apart.”

The author writes in short, structured sentences and the simplicity of her storytelling as she recounts those days when her entire family was massacred by retreating Japanese soldiers, is so hard to read.

I had to stop and close my eyes—move around, do something else—to remove the ghastly images that her words evoked. It was only after 50 years that she was able to relive those memories, understandably so, because what she and her family went through is so horrific.

The fact that she survived and lived a full productive life despite the trauma, is a testament to her spirit.

Lourdes Reyes Montinola is not new to writing and publications. Her first book published in 1991 was Piña, written because of her desire to preserve the uniquely Filipino weaving tradition from extinction. It won the Manila Critics Circle National Book Award for art in 1991.

She is currently Chair Emeritus of the Board of Trustees of the FEU, the university that her father founded in 1928. Although her main interests are in the field of art, culture and heritage conservation, she continues to be active in various civic, religious and charitable organizations. ROSE CRUZ CHURMA established Kalamansi Books & Things three decades ago. It has evolved from a mail-order bookstore into an online advocacy with the intent of helping global Pinoys discover their heritage by promoting books of value from the Philippines and those written by Filipinos in the Diaspora. We can be reached at kalamansibooks@gmail.com.

FEATURE

Cynthia Farias: Attorney, Musician and Director

By Renelaine Bontol Pfister

C

ynthia Farias is the director of “Symphony in Manila,” a play written by Michael Markrich and performed as a staged reading last August 19 at Manoa Valley Theatre.

The play follows Austrian composer and conductor Herbert Zipper who, at the end of World War II, gathered the members of the Manila Symphony Orchestra and played Beethoven in the ruins of Manila to uplift the spirits of the Filipino people.

When Michael Markrich approached Farias about directing his prize-winning play, she was hesitant but honored at the same time.

Farias, who is an attorney, had taken acting classes when she was younger and always enjoyed and appreciated the arts, but it would be

Cynthia Farias

her first time directing a play.

Farias was born in Honolulu and raised in Hilo.

She attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa and then the University of Hawaii Richarson School of Law. She is currently with Cox Wootton Lerner Griffin & Hansen, a firm that specializes in maritime and business

litigation. She is married to James Barry, a retired coastal engineer who is also passionate about music and moonlights as a guitar player in Pau Hana Blues Band and the rock band Tell Mama.

“Music has always been an important part of my life,” says Farias who plays the flute in the Oahu Civil Orchestra (OCC). “The OCC is made up of musicians of all ages and backgrounds. We have doctors, teachers, retired folks, you name it! What unites everyone is the love of playing orchestral music.”

She also plays for Tiki Taboo, a band that plays an eclectic mix of pop, surf, jazz, rock, and tiki sounds.

Directing a play was a whole other artistic endeavor.

“Because this was a staged reading,” Farias says, “we really wanted to fully develop the characters to the (continue on page 15)

OCTOBER 21, 2023  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  13

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

Celebrating Filipino Americans

By Seneca Moraleda-Puguan

O

ctober is a truly special month.

It is special not just because it’s my birth month, but because Filipino American History Month is commemorated during this time.

According to the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), The celebration of Filipino American History Month in October commemorates the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States, which occurred on October 18, 1587, when “Luzones Indios” came ashore from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza and landed at what is now Morro Bay, California.

Four centuries later, in June 2002, my mother followed the path of these Filipinos and set foot on one of the most powerful nations in the world and fulfilled her dream, what many call

the American Dream. And she became one of them, a Filipino American.

Filipino Americans are the second-largest Asian American group in the nation and the third-largest ethnic group in California, after Latinas/os and African Americans, according to FAHNS. According to the latest report, there are more than four million Filipino Americans in the United States with large communities in California, Hawaii, Illinois, Florida, Texas and New York.

My mother, along with millions of Filipinos, has called America home. It is where they found (and continue to find) better chances for their families back home. America has become a place of refuge and escape from poverty and the lack of opportunities in the country that is supposed to take care of them.

My mother stepping foot on American soil and eventually becoming a Filipino American is a bittersweet reality for me and my family.

It has been a tremendous blessing to us because it has immensely helped provide for our education and our everyday needs, but it also created the crack that eventually broke our family.

America must have offered many good things to her, so she decided to stay.

But looking at the life that we live now, despite the pain that the decision my mother made has inflicted on her chil-

dren, I will forever be grateful for the opportunity that America has given her.

She may have served a different family and raised other children who are not her own, I know from the bottom of my heart that she did what she thought was best for her own family and her beloved children.

It broke my heart, but never did I nurse any bitterness towards my mother who laid down her life for us. Instead of blaming, I only give her gratitude.

It was because of love that she chose to stay. We lead comfortable lives because she gave up comfort. I praise God for my mother every day. And if she’s happy to be an American, we rejoice with her.

This is the story of my mother, just one of the millions of stories of Filipino Americans just waiting to be told and are worth telling.

Some are stories of victory and happy endings, some of pain and sad endings. But all are stories of struggle to find their place in a nation where they are different and where their color and race are considered inferior.

All are stories about finding hope for families to have better lives.

The Filipino Americans making a mark and an impact in America is an understatement. Their contributions to the many aspects of American society cannot be described and measured.

I am proud of my mother.

I am proud of the many Filipino Americans working hard to provide for their families back home and bless the nation they now call home.

To all the Filipino Americans, we celebrate you. Thank you for all your sacrifices.

Thank you for the blessing that you are, to the Philippines and America. Mabuhay kayo!

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

Celebrate Filipino American History Month with Helobung Art Collective

E

very October, Filipinos across the United States celebrate Filipino American History Month (FAHM) as a way to reconnect with our Filipino roots, revisit our history, and explore the relationships between the Philippines and United States.

As we are nearing the end of October, there are still more to explore during FAHM. In partnership with Tau

Dance Theatre, University of Hawaii at Manoa Center for Southeast Asian Studies and ILI Dances/ILI Performing Arts, artist collective Helobung is holding three events to commemorate FAHM. As an artist collective from Mindanao’s indigenous Tboli community, Helobung means “endless joy.” The collective hopes to engage with the Filipino American community through their indigenous roots.

Helobung will hold dance presentations and workshops at three different locations in Pearl City and Waipahu. The events are free and open to the public.

October 25, 1-3pm Wai’anae Moku EducaOctober 28, 10am-1pm nity. Helobung is sponsored tion Center, Leeward ComFilipino Community by Center Stage, a public dimunity College Center, Waipahu plomacy program of the U.S. State Department.

October 26, 1-3pm Oahu is the last leg of HeTo learn more about Leeward Theatre, lobung’s United States tour Helobung, visit https://cenPu’uloa Campus, Leeward with a mission to connect terstageus.org/artists/heloCommunity College and engage with the commu- bung. 

Explore the Taste of Waipahu in November

L

ooking forward to the annual food event in Waipahu? This November 4, the Waipahu Community Association (WCA) is hosting the 17th annual Taste of Waipahu at the Don Quijote parking lot at 94-144 Farrington Highway.

From 4-9pm, the com-

munity can indulge themselves in the community’s best food trucks, food tents and business operators such as Wicked Grindz, JFK Ono Grindz, Da Hub Truck, Sama Sama, Tea Girls Hawaii, Island Craves LLC, Ulus Lemonade LLC, N.Blends, Manang Mochi, Blue Turtle Bakery, Aloha

Charms LLC, DAK1NE and many more.

The event will have live entertainment by WTFunk, Waipahu Intermediate Band and more, keiki games, a pancit eating contest sponsored by Shays Filipino Café, and a raffle for a Las Vegas hotel package sponsored by Vacations Hawaii.

The WCA’s goal through the event is to enhance the economic, social and cultural vitality of Waipahu. Supported by the City & County of Honolulu, the Skyline operational hours will be extended to 10pm that evening to ac-

commodate attendees of the event.

For more information about the event, reach out to Ira Jane Deloso at ijdeloso@wcawaipahu.com.

14 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE OCTOBER 21, 2023

OPEN FORUM

Respect Property Rights, Remove Red Tape for Lahaina Rebuild

By Keli‘i Akina

T

he fires that razed Lahaina on Maui have left Hawaii grieving the loss of life, property and heritage in that beautiful and historic town.

Now, as volunteers, government officials, and residents begin the task of cleanup and rebuilding, many people are asking: How should Lahaina be rebuilt? And who should rebuild it?

Some people have suggested the government prohibit Lahaina residents from selling their properties to people from outside the state.

Others have floated the idea that a government board take charge of the reconstruction

process. Most of the plans involve top-down commands.

But these suggestions, no matter how well-intentioned, ignore something fundamental: private property rights.

The families and individuals who owned homes and businesses in Lahaina should not have their property rights arbitrarily stripped away from them to satisfy the grand plans of some bureaucracy.

Cities and towns should grow naturally, with individual owners making their own decisions as to how to best maximize the values of their properties. Supplanting property rights with topdown plans would stifle these decentralized decisions and potentially result in a finished product that virtually nobody likes.

The real role of the state and Maui County should be to secure the rights of Lahaina residents to rebuild without government roadblocks slowing the process.

For example, the county should offer an expedited permitting process for businesses and homes damaged or destroyed by the fire.

Already, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen has discussed creating an “Office of Emergency Permitting” similar to the one Kauai created after Hurricane Iniki hit the island in 1992.

Maui fire victims seeking to rebuild should also be exempt from the normal building permit fees. Repairs and reconstruction will not be cheap, so waiving these fees would help lower the costs.

Maui County is also taking steps to protect those whose properties were not completely razed by the fires. A bill under consideration by the County Council would allow the county director of finance to waive or reduce property taxes for those whose homes and businesses were damaged but not destroyed.

This would extend the county’s assistance beyond the emergency order that Mayor Bissen signed soon after the fires, which waived property taxes for properties that were destroyed in the fire but did not include damaged buildings.

Finally, the county should consider giving exemptions to destroyed or damaged Lahaina buildings that pre-date today’s zoning codes.

Many property owners might want to reestablish Lahaina’s historic feel with

buildings that are built to the edge of the street, connect with adjacent structures and do not offer parking. But parking minimums, setback requirements and other regulations make it hard, if not impossible, to build in the same way that people built a century ago.

These suggestions related to permitting, property tax and zoning are not meant to tell Lahaina residents what or how to rebuild. Instead, they are intended to give them the option to exercise their property rights as they see fit.

By doing so, we could see Lahaina rise from the ashes in a way that truly reflects the wishes of the people who lost so much during that tragic early August conflagration.

KELI‘I AKINA is president and CEO of the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

DATELINE: LAS VEGAS

Panagkallautang Iti Sirok Ti Init: Dumanonka

By Amado I. Yoro

D

umanonka, kabsat, wen, sumrekka Sapay ta masarakam ti Pussuak iti karayan a rangtayan Ti binerras ti masangal Ti obra-maestra Bileg ti pluma kenka A mangtiliw ipus ti ayat Ti pannakaduktal ti nagtawataw A mutia ti amianan Saanak a nanglipat –[kas panangipapanmo] Ti ramutko intukit ti dakilang ugat Ti Tapao – ti Sta Romana ti arapaap No ti kappiam ket wen Kappiak met ta agpadata Laeng a nakaawit iti sangasakruy A balikas ti kasaba – ti kasabak met A magna iti lansangan Uray iti nagsasapalan ken ummong Dagiti naruay a Tomas, Nicomedes Ken Pedro [a manangitallikud] Ti duadua uray da umsi Sagpaminsan a sumilud iti baet No adda patiem a sarusar wenno Agamang isu ti pempenko ti tagipagay [awan ti ibona] ngem ayatda a namsek iti sileng ken sudi ti nakayanakak a mangpaspasantak iti sinilong iti Ilocos a bin-i ti panagagawa a makiani no ibilangmo a ti panagmula ken panangyuna ti maysa a banag ken mangitugkel ti bin-i iti kinelleng nadam-eg a daga, isu: teddek – isu munmon

isu pondador – ti mangyusat iti desdes dagiti ganggannaet ken immay makipagindeg nagaon kenka dagita, ngem, ti kunak bay-am a ti panawen ti saksita a saan a sika wenno siak ti ukom, wenno ti nakaabungot a babai ti aramid a daliasaten isuda ti panangikasaba ti sao ti samtoy – ni Ilokano ti kayumanggi a gurong ammom: dapandapan latta ni Juan XIII nabatad ti kattukong; labig nga annangana agtartarikitik ti tudo ti agsapa, uray iti agmatuon, dagiti agligsay nga agapura ti panagmula umayka, pagayam ipakaunak: pumpunnuam ti kinamintalon ta agraraep latta padak a mannalon iti kinelleng aggipinto latta ti tukit ti amin a panawen agtubonto ti warsi ti binukel dayta saluyot sab-ok ti nalabaga a daga dapaganta pay ti dulang daytoy ti libadura ti panagdenna [manen] kalpasan ti adu a kalgaw daytoy ti sangasudo a basi ti ayat iti sagumbi ti panangrabii ammok, ammom, sidap ti pluma a mayasideg iti adu a kayaw ti nakaparsuaan riniwriwto a balikas ti ipussuak

ti barukong tapno mayurit ti sudi ken ladawan ti paraiso dagiti nagtawataw ken nagtagisaing ditoy met la a karayan ti nagdiram-osan da Laconsay, Reyes, Padua Bragado, Bulong La Julian, Raras, Agcaoili, Basuel, Lazaro, Cortes, Raquel, Tabin, Tugade iti man Nakem, ti Gumil Ta inawitda met ti nagan ti kappia Para kadagiti agmulmula ti saluyot Iti kainaran ti Ewa, Waipahu, Bassit usit ti umokko Dayta pilaw iti paraangan Siboganna ti sampaga ti orkidia Euphorbia ken masetas a tinagtagibi Dagiti naallumamay a ramay ni kasimpungalan Muyong met a bassit Adda pul-oy-pal-id ti puyupoy Nagsulian a yepyepenna ti ridep Ni CJ, ti umuna nga apokok a lalaki Saringit dagiti saringit-Cruzado, ubbak iti agsapa, aldaw Agmatuon kem malem Iti kanta nga awanan rima Ti kansionko nga awanan sonata Ket danggayan ti panagsala Nga awanan iti tokar ken musika Ngamin, ti kantak: duayya Ken lullaby ti agaw-awir iti saringit Ti biag ken silpo dagiti panagbaniaga Ken panagtawataw iti sirok

OCTOBER 21, 2023  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  15

COMMUNITY CALENDAR 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 program-types for FilCom Center.

HAWAII INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL | Halekulani | October 12-22 on Oahu, October 26-29 on Maui and Kauai, October (DATELINE: LAS VEGAS: Panagkallautang....from page 14)

Ti langit Nalpasen ti sentenario Dagiti nagtagipalang ken nagkalupi Linaga a way ken bungsot ti magi a naggapu idiay Candon, 15 a bin-ig a lallaki aggaama ti dadduma, isuda agtawen iti 14-56 a siimangpet umuna a panagbaniaga Dis 20, 1906 babaen iti SS Doric a simmanglad iti pantalan Honolulu.

Umayen ti sabali a panagsangal iti sangariwriw A balabala dagiti nagtagipluma, dagiti de kampanilia A sirib ti puli ni malalaki iti Ilocos; uray idiay Kandong Kasta met dagiti nagpakada iti Puerto Salomague Sinakruyda ti nga iliw, dagiti segga Ken pannakigasanggasat nga inyadayo da SS Maunawili ken SS Falcon dagiti kalamiis ti baniaga ti Enero-Hunio 1946. itan

30-November 1 on Lanai, and November 2-5 on Big Island | Consolidated Kahala, Ward Theatres and various locations in the state | Celebrate indie and art house cinema that focuses on Asia-Pacific, Pasifika, Indigenous and Kanaka Maoli films. Critically lauded films from Sundance, SXSW, Purchase festival passes from hiff.org.

HALO-HALO ART SHOW | Minasa Gallery | Until December 1, 2023 | UMinasa Gallery, 94-866 Moloalo Street, D12, Waipahu | Hosted in Waipahu’s first art gallery, “Halo-halo” (meaning mix-mix in

nayanaken ti Baro a henerasion ti kired ken duri ti sabali a siglo ken ti umay a sentenario bunga dagiti nagbunga ken bin-i dagiti sabali a bin-i dagiti kapanagan iti biag kablaawanka, pagayam, no ti giwang ti napalabas sika ti “sabali a Moses” wenno “baro a Bucaneg” a mangtignay kuerdas ti naisaluket a kutibeng ken makanta manen dagiti kundiman ni ayat ket dayta narung-o a pluma, luaanna iti nalaus a ragsak dagiti nawingiwingan a manuskrito sagrapemto man ti ridep ket iti nabiag a tagainep mariingam ti maysa a kinapudno ditoy saanka a ganggannaet ta Ilocos met ditoyen iti isu met la nga init iti sabali a disso ken panawen saankanto a maila, ammok: obra maestra ti yawidmo iti nabileg a pakasaritaan.

(WHAT’S UP, ATTORNEY?: How Widows....from page 7)

United States, she/he may file Form I-360 together with Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.

In the event, that the U.S. citizen had filed a Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative for his/her alien spouse before he died and the alien spouse had filed a Form I-485 based on the Form I-130, USCIS will continue to process the Form I-485. The widow or widower must notify USCIS of the death of the U.S. citizen spouse.

The supporting documents and filing fee for Form I-360 are listed above.

The supporting documents for Form I-485 include, among others, 1) Copy of Applicant’s Certificate of Live Birth.

2) Copy of the Applicant’s passport pages (biographic information, nonimmigrant visa, admission stamp, or parole stamp (if applicable).

3) Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record (if applicable).

4) Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record 5) Form I-797 showing

receipt or approval of Form I-130 (if applicable).

6) Two passport-style color photographs of Applicant.

The Applicant must establish that she/he is eligible to receive an immigrant visa and is admissible to the United States for permanent residence as shown in the Form I-485 and supporting documents.

CAUTION: The Forms, Instructions, Place of Filing, Fees, Supporting documents, and other requirements change often. The USCIS website, the law, and the regulations should be checked for current information.

RECOMMENDATION: If the widow or widower is in the United States and wishes to work, she/he can file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. ATTY. EMMANUEL SAMONTE TIPON was a Fulbright and Smith-Mundt scholar to Yale Law School where he obtained a Master of Laws degree specializing in Constitutional Law. He grad-

uated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines. He placed third in the 1955 bar examinations. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, New York, and the Philippines. He practices federal law, with emphasis on immigration law and appellate federal criminal defense. He was the Dean and a Professor of Law of the College of Law, Northwestern University, Philippines. He has written law books and legal articles for the world’s most prestigious legal publisher and writes columns for newspapers. He wrote the annotations and case notes to the Immigration and Nationality Act published by The Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Co. and Bancroft Whitney Co. He wrote the best-seller “Winning by Knowing Your Election Laws.” Listen to The Tipon Report which he cohosts with his son Attorney Emmanuel “Noel” Tipon. They talk about immigration law, criminal law, court-martial defense, politics, and current events. It is considered the most witty, interesting, and useful radio show in Hawaii. KNDI 1270 AM band every Thursday at 8:00 a.m. Atty. Tipon was born in Laoag City, Philippines. Cell Phone (808) 225-2645.

E-Mail: filamlaw@ yahoo.com. Website: https://www. tiponimmigrationguide.com

The information provided in this article is not legal advice. Publication of this information is not intended to create, and receipt by you does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.)

English) is all about celebrating the beauty of mixing ang merging, just like the delicious Filipino dessert it’s named after. Show your support by visiting the gallery.

FIL AM HISTORY MONTH HELOBUNG COLLECTIVE SHOWS | October 25, 1-3pm | Wai’anae Moku Education Center, Leeward Community College; October 26, 1-3pm Leeward Theatre, Pu’uloa Campus, Leeward Community College; October 28, 1-3pm Filipino Community Center, Waipahu | For details, visit https://centerstageus.org/artists/helobung TASTE OF WAIPAHU | November 4, 4-9pm | Don Quijote Parking lot, 94-144 Farrington Highway | Contact ijdeloso@wca.com for details.

(FEATURE: Cynthia Farias....from page 12)

same extent as with a full production.”

In a staged reading, there are few, if any, props and costumes. Farias explained: “In one sense, the restriction in movement across the stage and ability to fully employ gestures and body language to enhance and express the spoken word poses challenges for a staged reading, where actors tend to be stationary and reading from a script. A staged reading also does not have the benefit of a full set which enhances the story and conveys a sense of place. Because of this, the cast worked hard to define the characters and bring them to life essentially through their voices. The actors rose to the challenge and made this a reality.”

They did, however, add music, sound effects and

lighting to enhance the theatrical experience.

Being an attorney helped Farias with her role as director.

She says: “Litigation attorneys learn the art of persuasion. Attorneys must craft an argument and present it in a way that convinces a judge, jury, clients or other attorneys that what they are saying is correct. Actors must also persuade, and I believe a director’s job is to guide an actor’s performance towards an authentic and believable expression of the character.”

Now that the performance is done, Farias remarks: “It was a great experience working with Michael and Kathleen Markrich and the cast of talented and passionate actors.”

One day, they hope to bring the full production of “Symphony in Manila” to Hawaii’s audiences.

H E L P W A N T E D Part time • To package candies

Call (808) 226-3790

OCTOBER 21, 2023