Hawaii Filipino Chronicle - November 6, 2021

NOVEMBER 6, 2021  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  1

NOVEMBER 6, 2021

OPEN FORUM

Why the Toilet Paper Shortage FEATURE

Remember Filipino Traditions This National Filipino Values Month

CANDID PERSPECTIVES

Larry Itliong Had Principles, Gen. Powell Had Medals

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

Three Filipino Films Featured in Hawaii International Film Festival

2 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  NOVEMBER 6, 2021

EDITORIAL

HFC Scholarship Aims to Build a Future with More Local Filipino Journalists

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ast month, Filipinos and journalists around the world were ecstatic that veteran Filipino-American journalist Maria Ressa was selected (along with Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov) as the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize awardee. The Nobel Committee said they were chosen “for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.”

Ressa, CEO, president and cofounder of Rappler (digital news site), is the first Filipino ever to win the Nobel Prize. How rare is this accomplishment to receive arguably the most prestigious international award? In the Nobel’s 120-year history, besides Ressa and Muratov, only six other journalists won the Nobel, two of them for their work outside of journalism.

Within journalism, three Filipino-Americans garnered the industry’s top award, the Pulitzer Prize. While working at the Seattle Times, journalist Byron Acohido won the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting for his investigative work of rudder control problems on the Boeing 737. Putting herself in harm’s way covering the Iraq war, independent photo journalist Cheryl Diaz Meyer won the Pulitzer in 2004. While at the legacy newspaper Washington Post, journalist Jose Antonio Vargas won the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting in 2008 for his work on the Virginia Tech shootings. Each year on average about 10 Pulitzers are given to journalists among thousands in the media.

There are other Filipino American standouts in the profession. To name a few: Elaine Quijano (anchor CBS News), Cher Calvin and Jean Martinez (anchors, Los Angeles), Veronica De La Cruz (MSNBC news anchor), Kristine Johnson (anchor New York), Frances Rivera (anchor Boston). Our very own Hawaii Filipino Chronicle columnist Emil Guillermo is a pioneer among Filipino journalists as the first Filipino American to anchor a regularly scheduled national news program, NPR All Things Considered.

Hawaii Filipino Chronicle (HFC) Journalism Scholarship While there are standouts of Fil-Am journalists, our community remains underrepresented in media. This is one reason why publishers of the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Dr. Charlie and Chona Montesines-Sonido (also managing editor) have established the Filipino Media Foundation (FMF) in 2019, a scholarship program that awards Hawaii students of Filipino descent who are majoring in journalism and mass communications (JMC).

Now in its third year, FMF is accepting applications for this year’s $2,500 journalism scholarship. “We believe in investing in the future of Hawaii’s media by helping college students financially as they will be the ones continuing our work someday.” said Montesines-Sonido. She also “wants local talent to stay in Hawaii since the community will benefit a lot from them.”

High cost of higher education In 2020, Forbes reported that college tuition is increasing at more than twice the inflation rate. Even with financial support, 69% of US college students in 2019 took out student loans.

The cost of college is so high that even with loans, an increasing number of lower and middle-income students are bereft of the means to attain a college education from a four-year university.

Another problem, the high cost of education is forcing some (continue on page 3)

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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ince the Trump administration, news organizations have been targets of misplaced populist angst fueled mostly by rightwing politicians and fringe groups who see the media as adversaries. Facts are called disinformation, media professionals are attacked personally – these are the current signs of the times. Added to these challenges, our industry continues to face financial hardship.

This means less jobs for journalists as media organizations downsize or close down altogether. You’d think an environment like this would deter students from entering journalism.

But apparently, it’s had the opposite effect. Journalism is arguably more important than ever, and our youth seem to agree as journalism and communications programs at universities have had increased enrollment since the Trump years (called the Trump bump).

For our cover story this issue, we highlight one way we’re impacting students and the journalism profession. HFC contributor Edna R. Bautista, Ed.D. writes about our Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Journalism Scholarship program (administered by our Filipino Media Foundation) that is now in its third year.

We are currently accepting applications. If you are a student of Filipino ancestry pursuing journalism or mass communications (JMC) and meet our requirements (see article next to cover story), you could have the opportunity to receive $2,500 to go towards your education. Our ultimate goal for starting the HFC scholarship program is to have more of us in our community practicing professional journalism. Our first two recipients were Alyssa Acob of Kapolei and Brenna Flores of Waipahu.

This issue Flores contributes a feature of particular interest to our Gen Z and millennial Filipinos, “Remember Filipino Traditions This National Filipino Values Month.”

Speaking of scholarships, HFC columnist Elpidio Estioko writes about the Beta Rho Omega Fraternity Alumni Association, Inc.’s (BROFAAI) plan to revive its scholarship program in all 15-chapter colleges and universities in the Philippines.

Also in this issue, HFC columnist Emil Guillermo contributes “Larry Itliong Had Principles, Gen. Powell Had Medals.” Oct. 25 is an official day in California to honor the contributions of Filipino labor leader Itliong. Emil writes about Itliong’s special role in American history that ultimately led to unions associating labor rights with civil rights. Itliong launched successful farm workers strikes with fellow legendary labor leaders Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta that have become models utilized by modern unions, specifically on solidarity and organizing peaceful worker resistance as negotiating leverage.

We know this issue’s Book Review will be a popular one, “the Malunggay Book – Healthy & Easy-to-do Recipes” written by HFC contributor Rose Cruz Churma. The malunggay is well-known in Hawaii and this recipe book could be a wonderful gift to add onto your early Christmas shopping list.

Lastly, HFC editorial assistant Jim Bea Sampaga contributes a feature on Ivan Guerrero and his Gremlins Lego set.

In news, we have the details on two events for our community: first, the Annual Taste of Waipahu is back, Nov. 13, 4-8 pm, Leeward YMCA in Waipahu, (take-out-only); second, the Hawaii Film Festival is also returning from a one-year hiatus with three Filipino Films to be featured (see synopsis, dates, location and time). We hope you enjoy these events.

Thank you for supporting our newspaper which is now heading into our 29th year of chronicling our community and reporting on the hard issues that matter. Until the next issue, warmest Aloha and Mabuhay!

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

Publisher & Managing Editor

Chona A. Montesines-Sonido

Associate Editors

Edwin QuinaboDennis Galolo

Contributing Editor

Belinda Aquino, Ph.D.

Design

Junggoi Peralta

Photography Tim Llena

Administrative Assistant Lilia Capalad Shalimar Pagulayan

Editorial Assistant Jim Bea Sampaga

Columnists

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

Contributing Writers

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

Philippine Correspondent: Greg Garcia

Neighbor Island Correspondents: Big Island (Hilo and Kona) Grace LarsonDitas Udani Kauai Millicent Wellington Maui Christine Sabado Big Island Distributors Grace LarsonDitas Udani Kauai Distributors Amylou Aguinaldo Nestor Aguinaldo Maui Distributors

Cecille PirosRey Piros Molokai Distributor Maria Watanabe Oahu Distributors Yoshimasa Kaneko Jonathan Pagulayan

Advertising / Marketing Director Chona A. Montesines-Sonido

Account Executives Carlota Hufana Ader JP Orias

NOVEMBER 6, 2021  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  3

EDITORIAL

Labor Shortage: A Challenge for Businesses, A Sign of Workers Reprioritizing Their Values

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awaii’s unemployment rate made a huge recovery from 21.9% last spring to Sept.

2021’s 6.6% (still higher than the national average). In real numbers, this amounts to about 67,000 Hawaii residents still unemployed.

But even as the unemployment numbers suggest workers are back at work, Hawaii’s businesses (like the rest of the nation) are reporting deep labor shortages. Nationally job postings have reached their highest level on record dating back to 2000; and financial news media are commonly saying we are in a labor crisis.

As the Christmas season approaches – a critical time for retail and restaurants – businesses are now resorting to both traditional and unique incentives to lure new workers.

Some of these incentives include: increased pay, benefits, sign-on bonuses, health care and/or expanded health care insurance (enhanced coverage for prescription drugs or eyes, dental, and hearing), flexible working schedules, employee discount programs, referral bonus programs, retirement benefits (prior to the pandemic most companies have already been phasing out retirement benefits for workers). To keep labor costs

down in the long-term, some businesses are offering additional incentives, but only to temporary workers.

Blaming government is a poor excuse The common complaint in business circles has been to blame government’s unemployment benefits (UB) for the labor shortage. But UB have already expired for many workers. September was the end of the federal government’s extended unemployment benefits. In some states, UB had been canceled for months now (in states that declined the extended Federal UB). Besides, many claimants who received UB during the last extended period have said the reduced amount wasn’t much to delay employment.

So with labor shortage persisting even after UB has expired, this suggests workers in general are not holding out on employment just because they received UB, and certainly not during the last period of reduced benefits.

ers have decided to seek new careers. Others are just taking time to reprioritize or rethink what their next move will be. And though vaccinations already exist, some workers are still afraid of catching COVID-19 and choosing to delay employment.

Whatever the reason, in what appears to be the economy making adjustments to wage-inflation triggered by the pandemic, workers are welcoming this new trend of having greater options and potentially earning higher income and increased benefits.

It’s a unique situation and is all possible due to basic supply- demand economics – that job openings (9.8 million job vacancies, demand) are exceeding the supply (8.7 million workers without jobs).

What workers are saying So what could be the reasons why workers are not back in full force?

Some workers say they are waiting for the best job options before returning to work. Some say they’re not going back to a job they never really felt was fulfilling. Oth-

Big picture is encouraging In spite of the labor shortage, overall, the big picture of the US national economy is encouraging.

Scott Hamilton, global managing director for the human resources and compensation consulting practice at Gallagher, a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting firm, said “All the big jobs numbers are great, but we’re still growing into lost jobs.”

Hiring at restaurants, bars and hotels that suffered the brunt of unemployment have

for out-of-state students. This does not include the cost of basic living needs, housing, food, books or other expenses. And Hawaii’s high cost of living adds to students already struggling to keep afloat financially.

need good journalists who are the ‘eyes and ears of the community’, and the Chronicle believes that we must build a pool of journalists in the future to safeguard our democracy,” said Montesines-Sonido.

Fundraising difficult at this time Like most non-profits during this pandemic, FMF is also experiencing a drop in donations because benefit events had to be either modified or cancelled entirely. Plus Hawaii’s local economy has been flat, making it difficult to raise funds.

Still, publishers of HFC remain committed to awarding a scholarship this year. “We

What one scholarship could possibly do A scholarship goes a long way in helping our youth fulfill their dreams. It could be that jumpstart to making our world a better place.

A poignant example: Nobel laureate Ressa said receiving her Fulbright scholarship

reported steady hiring since the reopening of the economy.

Retail picked up with new hires and jobs. The current labor shortage situation is not all encompassing to the entire economy. Some industries are not experiencing any labor shortage.

Economists mention delta is still creating uncertainties and having an influence on labor trends. The economy is in a transition period but moving parts are gradually settling.

Economists say expectations for recovery could be set too high, too soon.

Beyond short term adjustments to the economy, others speculate the labor shortage could be a result of a new labor market unfolding in a way more permanently – one in which businesses must eventually adapt to meet new workers’ needs. An example, for a working parent, what incentive is it to get a job if the pay being offered is less than the cost of childcare?

Inflation exceeding income has become too wide a gap that ultimately wage must be adjusted at least in certain industries if business owners want to get the help they need.

This is not an endorsement for wage increase, just a fact off basic economics.

Widespread Trauma, Is it a factor?

Given the real trauma hundreds of thousands of people experienced (and is still

(HFC....from page 2)

students to work longer hours (even full-time in some cases) while attending school.

In time their overwhelming work-school schedule disrupts learning, delays graduation, or in a worst case, leads to school dropout.

How expensive is college in the US (highest college tuition in the world)? A moderate college budget for in-state tuition at a four-year public university for 2020-2021 averages $26,820 annually ($35,830 at a private non-profit college), according to a College Board report.

The 2021 tuition and fees of University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) are $12,186 for Hawaii residents and $34,218

changed her life. She grew up in the US but it was a scholarship that enabled her to return to the country she was born. “I had the Fulbright scholarship to go back to the Philippines and that changed my life. I never left.”

That one scholarship was in fact a jumpstart to making a world a better place. Ressa’s work in journalism – bold truth telling under hostile, even frightening circumstances-will always be remembered and something generations of future Filipino journalists can look to for inspiration. 

Donations are welcome to help support the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Journalism Scholarship Program. Contact FMF: (808) 678-8930 or filipinochronicle@gmail.com.

experiencing) from Covid, it’s actually unrealistic for the labor market to just bounce back in full-swing. We are humans, after all. And trauma (especially for those who lost loved ones in the last year or so) often leads to making life changes, including how we spend our valuable time earning a living.

Having time with family, time for oneself -- a routine during lockdowns and restrictions workers have become more accustomed to – is a greater lifestyle value today, since Covid, many have said.

Also, health (not overworking 60-some hours a week and holding two-three jobs that could be damaging to health) is also something being reevaluated. The current situation suggests workers are setting a higher price (wage requirement) where they feel either time or health (or both) is something that must be given up.

In this light, how can the current workers’ shortage possibly be terrible for some individuals, their families or society? Their choices reflect their changing values.

The labor shortage might be unfavorable for some businesses, but how well we are doing isn’t just about how businesses are doing or how robust our personal finances are -- at least this seems to be what many workers are taking as a lesson learned from the pandemic.

4 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  NOVEMBER 6, 2021

COVER STORY

Chronicle’s $2,500 Scholarship Offers Financial Assistance and Hope for Future Local Filipino Journalists

by Edna R. Bautista, Ed.D.

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ocal students of Filipino descent who are majoring in journalism and mass communications (JMC) at an accredited university in Hawaii or on the U.S. mainland are encouraged to apply for a chance to win a $2,500 journalism scholarship from the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle (HFC). The awardee will also have an opportunity to have his, her articles published in HFC. The scholarship program, now in its third year, was set up via the Filipino Media Foundation in 2019 by the publishers and editors of the Chronicle, Dr. Charlie Y. Sonido and Chona Montesines-Sonido, who believe in “investing in the future of Hawaii’s media by helping college students financially as they will be the ones continuing our work someday.”

PRE-PANDEMIC PRIZE WINNER The Chronicle awarded its first scholarship to Alyssa Acob of Kapolei in November 2019. She was honored at the newspaper’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, Excellence Awards and Gala Dinner at the Ala Moana Hotel Hibiscus Ballroom where more than 400 Filipino VIPs and guests attended the special banquet in support of the new journalism scholarship program.

Just a mere few months later, the coronavirus became a global pandemic, forcing everyone to adjust their way of life. During the spring 2020 semester, when Acob was completing her senior year at Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) as a double major in Integrated Multimedia and Mass Communication, Hawaii shut down and she and other students had to adapt quickly and finish their education online.

“It was a couple weeks after Hawaii Pacific University’s spring break when I found out that because of COVID-19, the university would be shut-

Montesines-Sonido specified that she “wants local talent to stay in Hawaii since the community will benefit a lot from them.” She hopes that after JMC students graduate they will contribute their skills to strengthen Hawaii’s media workforce.

“We need future Fil-Am writers and leaders in the fields of journalism and mass communications. We are short of Filipino journalists to continue our work and be of service to our Filipino community and society at large,” Sonido said. “We need good journalists who are the ‘eyes and ears of the community.’ We must build a pool of future journalists who will safeguard our democracy and fill the role of ‘check and balance’ to all large institutions from government to big corporations.

ting down and transitioning to completely online,” Acob stated in a Chronicle interview last year. “When I heard this news, it didn’t seem real at the time.

But the more I processed it and talked about it with my classmates, professors and other friends on campus, the reality of what was happening began to sink in. Everything was happening and changing so fast. I was honestly sad, angry, confused and discouraged because I had all these expectations of how I wanted my last semester of college to be, but I couldn’t do anything about it.”

Nevertheless, Acob persevered with her studies during the pandemic and graduated with honors on May 9, 2020.

But traditional commencement exercises at HPU were cancelled and replaced with a simple “virtual send-off” celebration instead.

She is now using her JMC skills as the digital media manager for Pearlside Church in Pearl City. Acob said she was fortunate to have found a full-time media job after grad-

uation, stating, “I’m extremely blessed to be given this opportunity, especially in a time like this.”

SECOND SCHOLAR SURVIVOR The Chronicle awarded its second scholarship to Brenna Flores of Waipahu in October 2020. She, too, had to adjust her schooling in COVID times to survive her senior year as a Communication major at Chaminade University of Honolulu.

“It was quite sad to complete my senior year during a pandemic as social interactions were extremely limited over Zoom and asynchronous classes,” Flores recalled. “With that being said, my teachers never failed to ask us how we were doing, given all that was going on in the world.”

Flores was able to attend a limited-gathering graduation ceremony on May 8, 2021.

Chaminade normally holds its commencement at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. Last year, the May 2020 graduation ceremony was delayed until De-

Brenna Flores

“With good reporting in place by welltrained journalists, our Filipino community locally and around the world can benefit from fair, informative reporting, and a steady flow of news. It’s important that we support these students who are preparing for a future in JMC.”

cember and was held virtually.

This year, the in-person and live-streamed event was divided into two ceremonies outdoors at the St. Louis School football field to ensure attendees could socially distance.

All COVID-19 protocols were strictly followed and, along with their caps and gowns, graduates had to wear face masks.

“It was extremely gratifying to finally be back on campus after a year and a half of online school and not physically attending in-person classes. The whole day was bittersweet as it marked the end of my educational journey and the beginning of my journey of ‘adulthood’ where I would have to find a ‘real-life job’,” Flores said.

The honor graduate continued, “As grateful as I was to even have a physical graduation/commencement, one of the hardest parts was not having my siblings there to share my special moment with me.

We were only allowed two guests, and my parents came

to support me that day. But having my whole family there would have made the day so much better as my successes are their successes, too.”

Since graduation, Flores has continued to apply for “real-life jobs” where she could apply her degree. She is hopeful that she could share her JMC skills at a public relations job to help benefit the company’s goals and needs.

As someone who survived her final years of university schooling during a pandemic, she also learned to be more confident, determined, resilient and adaptable. Flores expressed her gratitude to the Chronicle for giving her financial aid to finish her educational journey and an opportunity to write for a prestigious, local and ethnic community newspaper. Read Flores’ feature story about various Filipino traditions in this issue in honor of National Filipino Values Month in November, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 479 issued on October (continue on page 5)

NOVEMBER 6, 2021  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  5

COVER STORY (Chronicle’s....from page 4)

7, 1994, in the Philippines to create moral awakening and national consciousness on human values that are uniquely and positively Filipino.

ENROLLMENTS INCREASED; DONATIONS DECREASED The past decade had shown declining enrollments in U.S. JMC schools. From 2010-2013, there was a 3% decrease nationwide in undergraduates majoring in journalism, according to an annual report about JMC education by the University of Georgia.

From 2013-2015, a survey conducted by Texas Tech University reported a 16.3% drop.

However, in 2016, the year Donald Trump was elected president, enrollments began to rise again at some schools.

A March 2019 headline from “Insight Into Diversity” online magazine read, “Previously on the Decline, Journalism School Enrollment Benefits from ‘Trump Bump’.”

In the article, journalism educators theorized that the former president’s criticism of journalists and the media with their biased reporting and “fake news” brought on renewed interest in JMC studies.

The chaotic socio-cultural and political climate has stirred some students’ passions to pursue careers in the “Fourth Estate” where they can serve as advocates for the public and

hold those in power accountable for their actions.

The University of Hawaii-Manoa, home to the state’s only journalism major, also reported a 50% increase in enrollment last year (Chaminade and HPU offer journalism courses within its broader communications programs).

Facing budget cuts, UH-Manoa had planned to eliminate some degrees like journalism.

But in September 2020, an email letter-writing campaign from members of the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter, UH-Manoa journalism alumni, media practitioners, students and other supporters saved the journalism program. A month later, university officials announced that they would retain the degree within a revamped School of Communications.

While journalism enrollment at UH-Manoa and other U.S. colleges and universities has increased, donations have decreased to non-profit organizations like the Filipino Media Foundation, which funds the Chronicle’s journalism scholarship program.

Financial support has been negatively impacted by the ongoing pandemic. Firstly, fundraising galas and benefit events had to be cancelled or modified because of social distancing regulations. Secondly, giving has dropped as

more people faced job loss and economic uncertainties.

Non-profits must rely on the generosity of donors to continue their charitable missions.

28+ YEARS OF COMMUNITY JOURNALISM Hawaii Filipino Chronicle has been serving the community since 1993. Its journalism scholarship program and non-profit Filipino Media Foundation were special 25th anniversary gifts for future Filipino journalists who will continue its mission.

Established on July 1, 1993, with its first edition published on Oct. 1, the Chronicle has a goal of responding to the growing need to reach out to the Filipino community, to inform and educate and to provide the vehicle with which the community can grow and prosper.

Montesines-Sonido is grateful that the newspaper is still in existence after 28 years.

At the scholarship banquet, she stated on the program: “By every measure, the Chronicle should have closed several years ago. As a business model, the print media, especially the ethnic media, has seen its better days. It has been reported that ‘in the last few years 2,000 newspapers have either closed or merged, leaving 1,300 communities without local news coverage’.”

Deadline is Nov. 30 for 3rd annual Chronicle $2,500 journalism scholarship

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pplications are being accepted now Journalism, mass communications or until Nov. 30 for the 3rd annu- media-related major (declared on transcript) al $2,500 journalism scholarship 3.0 cumulative GPA (on 4.0 scale) program sponsored by the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS Please send the following directly to ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS hfcnews@yahoo.com by the Nov. 30, Filipino or part-Filipino 2021, deadline.

U.S. citizen Completed application form (downHawaii high school graduate load from the website) Full-time college student (at least 12 Copy of recent college transcript (ficredits undergraduate/non-graduating se- nalists may send official transcripts later nior) enrolled at an accredited four-year pub- for verification) lic or private college/university in the United Two reference forms (also downloadStates by the 2021 fall semester (preference able from the website) is given to local students but mainland stuTwo news or feature writing samples dents intending to return to Hawaii and work with interviews—one story must focus on in local media after graduation are encour- a Filipino topic (please no reviews, Q&A (continue on page 6) aged to apply).

“People should donate to the Chronicle journalism scholarship program because they gave a Filipino woman like myself the chance to share my voice outside of schoolwork. They challenged me to practice writing that got published in print and also gave me a discounted tuition. When people donate to this scholarship, they give young aspiring Filipinos an opportunity to pursue a degree in communication, since there are not a lot of communication majors in Hawaii who are of Filipino descent.”

—– Brenna Flores HFC Scholarship Recipient, 2020 Social media, technological advances in communication, changes in readership and consumer behavior, economics and the pandemic have made it even more challenging for newspapers and print media. If people encourage young adults, especially Filipinos, to become journalists, the industry in Hawaii can endure for many more years.

As the Chronicle begins its 29th year in publication, Montesines-Sonido said, “We give our thanks to God Who continues to bless us in this endeavor, and to our advertisers, readers, family and friends who have continuously supported us on our journey of bringing the news and the truth around us.”

DONATE DOLLARS FOR FILIPINO SCHOLARS The Chronicle journalism scholarship committee is currently seeking its third winner, but the newspaper hopes for more donations because funds are needed to sustain the scholarship program beyond the 2021-2022 academic year.

Last year, Acob stated that she was grateful as the scholarship helped to lighten her financial hardship, especially when the pandemic hit hard during the last few weeks of her senior semester.

“This scholarship has also encouraged me to keep pursuing media and opened my eyes

to see that there are people out there who believe in the goals and dreams of this next generation to be the next-up storytellers who will keep this legacy going,” Acob said. “I’ve been so blessed by the opportunities this scholarship has given me and hope to continue seeing aspiring journalists and media content creators go after their dreams.”

Flores added, “I am so grateful for all the scholarship donors for giving me such an awesome opportunity to be a part of the Chronicle ‘ohana.

People should donate to the Chronicle journalism scholarship program because they gave a Filipino woman like myself the chance to share my voice outside of schoolwork.

They challenged me to practice writing that got published in print and also gave me a discounted tuition. When people donate to this scholarship, they give young aspiring Filipinos an opportunity to pursue a degree in communication, since there are not a lot of communication majors in Hawaii who are of Filipino descent.”

For a couple of years now, the Chronicle’s scholarship program has been successful in helping to provide financial assistance and hope for local Filipino journalists and mass communications/media practitioners like Acob and Flores. (continue on page 6)

6 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  NOVEMBER 6, 2021

OPEN FORUM

Why the Toilet Paper Shortage?

By Keli’i Akina, Ph.D.

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f you’ve found yourself at the store lately trying to grab the last of the toilet paper before the supply runs out, you’ve probably wondered how we could be in this situation again.

In some ways, this crisis reminds me of Hawaii’s shortage of healthcare capacity, in which government policy and regulation have led to insufficient hospital beds. In other words, the shipping crisis has its roots in government interference.

Thus we see photogenic scenes of ships being forced to drift offshore for up to a week or more at major U.S. ports while waiting to unload their cargo.

With retailers warning shoppers to start their holiday shopping now, some have blamed the port congestion on COIVD-19, and that’s partly true.

“The cause of the backup, say port officials, is strictly enforced COVID restrictions at the ports, including those in Asia, as well as unprecedented demand for goods from China, South Korea, and other Asian exporting countries,” reported Popular Science in mid-September.

The Wall Street Journal reported that shortages of truck drivers and warehouse workers have made shipping delays worse.

But behind it all are America’s federal maritime laws, such as the 1920 Jones Act and the 1906 Foreign Dredge Act. The former requires that all goods shipped between U.S. ports be on vessels that are U.S. flagged and built, and mostly owned and crewed by Americans, while the latter prohibits foreign dredging companies from helping modernize our ports.

Grassroot Scholar Colin Grabow, one of the nation’s foremost Jones Act experts, shared with me this week his speculation that if foreign-flagged vessels were allowed to carry goods between U.S. ports, “large containerships would likely cease making so many stops along the coast, and instead a hub-andspoke system would develop, with containers transshipped on smaller vessels closer to their ultimate destination. So, a ship might stop in New York/ New Jersey, then head off back across the Atlantic while smaller [foreign-flagged] vessels would run up and down the East Coast.”

In April, Grabow wrote for the Cato Institute that such transshipment of containers

does not happen in the U.S. because “any goods moved between U.S. ports – including those originating from abroad – must use expensive and uncompetitive Jones Act shipping.”

He said transshipment of international containerized cargo by feeder ships is prevalent abroad, but in the U.S., containers typically are moved to their final destinations by rail and trucks, with their attendant environmental costs.

Meanwhile, America’s ports themselves are in big trouble. Last year the World Bank Group and IHS Markit ranked the world’s ports in terms of efficiency, and no U.S. ports cracked the top 50.

Among ports most important to Hawaii, Seattle finally showed up at 236, followed

by Los Angeles, 328; Oakland, 332; and Long Beach, 333. Honolulu isn’t even on the list, which stops at 351,

though Guam’ Apra Harbor is, at 248.

Reasons for the inefficiency of U.S. ports include labor contracts that prevent automation, raise costs and make it difficult to extend working hours into evenings and weekends. But, again, federal maritime law also is a reason.

For example, many U.S. ports are unable to accommodate larger cargo ships because they are too shallow. Deeper ports mean you can import more goods. According to the National Ocean Service, just one more inch of depth in a port means that a cargo ship can carry about 50 more tractors, 5,000 televisions, 30,000 laptops or 770,000 bushels of wheat.

Dredging is how you make a port deeper. But because of the Foreign Dredge Act, that is easier said than done.

As Nicolas Loris of the Heritage Foundation put it two years ago, U.S. law has excluded “the world’s largest dredging companies that could provide better and cheaper service for dredging projects.”

Cato Institute analyst Daniel J. Ikenson wrote in 2015: “America’s harbor capacity shortage is the result of a domestic dredging industry that is immune to competition, has

little incentive to invest in new equipment, and cannot meet the growing demand for dredging projects at U.S. ports.”

He quoted one industry analyst who estimated European dredgers could save U.S. taxpayers $1 billion a year on current projects, and “enable more projects to be completed more quickly.”

In short, we are witnessing a chain reaction of inefficiencies, stoked by government regulations that have increased the cost and flexibility of domestic shipping and stifled the modernization of U.S. ports.

Our toilet paper shortages might have been inevitable due to the economic shocks caused by the coronavirus, but outdated federal maritime laws haven’t helped.

I hope this is the last time we see shortages in response to a public health threat. However, it will be our own fault – and the fault of our representatives in Congress – if we do not address the laws that have made this bad situation worse.

If we want to be prepared for the next emergency, we need to update U.S. maritime laws for the 21st century.

E hana kākou! (Let’s work together!)  KELI’I AKINA, PH.D. is the President and CEO of Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

(COVER STORY: Chronicle’s....from page 5)

But Montesines-Sonido is appealing for more donations.

“It is important to support our young budding students who will be the future guardians of our community. They will be your voice reporting news in our community and harbinger of news of what’s happening in our community, especially at this time of the year when we are experienc-

ing a pandemic of epic proportions. Without them, our democratic system is at stake, and we are forever left behind with a community that is in dire need of truth, honesty and resiliency,” Montesines-Sonido said. “Donating to the Filipino Media Foundation will ensure that we support our aspiring Filipino students in the media, protect our democracy

and strengthen the presence of Filipino-American community in the media”.

Donations are welcome via the Filipino Media Foundation and are 100% tax-deductible. Any amount is appreciated. To donate to the journalism scholarship program, please contact Montesines-Sonido at (808) 284-4185 or filipinochronicle@gmail.com.

2021. He/she will be profiled in an article with excerpts of his/her essay published in the Chronicle in early 2022. Part of the scholarship money ($2,000) must be used toward the spring semester. The reWINNER REQUIREMENTS maining $500 will be paid to One winner will be select- the winner after he/she writes ed by the scholarship commit- at least one story per season tee and notified by December (a total of four articles) to be

published throughout 2022, giving him/her more practice to showcase his/her writing skills and get established as a professional journalist.

For more information and details, visit the Chronicle journalism scholarship webpage at https://www.thefilipinochronicle.com/scholarship.

(Deadline....from page 5)

style, listicles, first-person accounts, opinion pieces or fiction) [may email attachments or provide weblinks] 1,000-word essay (details on the application form)

NOVEMBER 6, 2021  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  7

WHAT’S UP, ATTORNEY?

By Emmanuel S. Tipon, Esq.

F

or several years, we and other lawyers for immigrants have been fighting the USCIS for the right to be shown derogatory evidence that it claims to have against immigration petitioners and their beneficiaries and an opportunity to rebut it under due process clause of the Constitution.

USCIS has continuously refused to provide such evidence until it is told to do so by a higher authority such as the Board of Immigration Appeals or the federal courts.

Why is there such a stubborn resistance of USCIS to give immigration petitioners and their beneficiaries a fundamental right?

In a previous article, we wrote about an alien who divorced his first spouse who then complained to USCIS that she “believed” her alien husband had married her for immigration purposes and cited lack of sexual relations, the alien remarried and his second spouse filed a new Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative.

USCIS issued to the second spouse a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID), citing the complaint of the first spouse.

The agency refused to allow the alien and his second spouse to look at the first wife’s complaint so that they could properly rebut it.

The alien filed a reply anyway and said that his first marriage was bona fide, they had lived together as husband and wife, and that they had sexual relations many times.

USCIS denied the petition of the second spouse citing Section 204(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act which provides: “… No petition shall be approved if (1) the alien has previously been accorded, or has sought to be accorded, an immediate relative or prefer-

USCIS Must Show Immigration Petitioner Derogatory Evidence and Provide Opportunity to Rebut It ence status as the spouse of a citizen of the United States or the spouse of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, by reason of a marriage determined by the Attorney General to have been entered into for the purpose of evading the immigration laws, or (2) the Attorney General has determined that the alien has attempted or conspired to enter into a marriage for the purpose of evading the immigration laws.”

The complaint of the first wife was not part of the record but the Director simply summarized it.

We appealed the case to the Board of Immigration Appeals. On October 19, 2021, the Board sustained our appeal. In Re WDC, 10/19/2021.

The Board remanded the case for the USCIS Director “to provide the petitioner with derogatory evidence from earlier proceedings involving the beneficiary and his prior spouse.”

The Board said: “Given that the record does not contain the derogatory information relied on in the NOID and in the decision of the Director, evidence of the purported fraudulent marriage between the beneficiary and his prior spouse is not sufficiently ‘documented in the [beneficiary’s] file.’ Thus the Director’s decision improperly gave ‘conclusive effect’ to a determination made in a prior proceeding that the beneficiary’s marriage was entered into for the purpose of evading the immigration laws, rather than reaching his own ‘independent conclusion based on the evidence before him.’”

“Moreover, given that there is some evidence in the record tending to support the valid nature of the beneficiary’s relationship with his prior spouse, the record – as presently constituted – does not contain substantial and probative evidence establishing that

the beneficiary’s prior marriage was entered into for the primary purpose of obtaining an immigration benefit.”

Due Process Right To Approval Of I-130 Visa Petition The Board cited Zerezghi v. USCIS, 955 F.3d 802 (9th Cir. 2020) which said: “The Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment requires that “[n]o person shall be ... deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” U.S. Const. amend.

V. In determining whether a person’s rights under that clause have been violated, the “standard analysis ... proceeds in two steps: We first ask whether there exists a liberty or property interest of which a person has been deprived, and if so we ask whether the procedures followed by the [government] were constitutionally sufficient.”

The court in Zerezghi said that a citizen petitioner has a constitutionally protected interest in the grant of an I-130 petition. Ching v. Mayorkas, 725 F.3d 1149, 1156 (9th Cir. 2013). This is because approval of an I-130 petition is nondiscretionary. By statute, the Secretary of Homeland Security “shall, if he determines that the facts stated in the petition are true and that the alien in behalf of whom the petition is made is an immediate relative ... approve the petition[.]”

Id. at 1155 (quoting 8 U.S.C. § 1154(b) (emphasis added)). “[D]eterminations that `require application of law to factual determinations’ are nondiscretionary,” meaning that USCIS must approve an I-130 petition if the facts stated in the application are true and the beneficiary is an immediate relative. Ibid. (quoting Hernandez v. Ashcroft, 345 F.3d 824, 833-34 (9th Cir. 2003)). This administrative framework thus creates a “legitimate claim of entitlement” that is “grounded in the stat-

ute defining eligibility,” rather than on a mere “unilateral expectation” for the petition’s approval. Bd. of Regents of State Colleges v. Roth, 408 U.S. 564, 577, 92 S.Ct. 2701, 33 L.Ed.2d 548 (1972). As we explained in Ching, “as long as the petitioner and spouse beneficiary meet the statutory and regulatory requirements for eligibility” an “[i]mmediate relative status for an alien spouse is a right to which citizen applicants are entitled[.]”

Ching, 725 F.3d at 1156 (emphasis added).

Using Undisclosed Records Unconstitutional Individuals are necessarily entitled to a proper procedure to contest a government determination of ineligibility because “[v]irtually no government benefit is available to individuals without a requirement that certain conditions are met.”

Since the petitioner has a constitutionally protected interest in the grant of his I-130 petition, the main issue for the court to decide is whether the procedures followed by the government is not granting the

petition were constitutionally sufficient. The government’s use of undisclosed records in deciding on marriage fraud is unconstitutional. ATTY. TIPON has a Master of Laws degree from Yale Law School and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines. His current practice focuses on immigration law and appellate criminal defense. He has written books and legal articles for the world’s largest law book publishing company and writes legal articles for newspapers. Listen to The Tipon Report which he co-hosts with son Noel, the senior partner of the Bilecki & Tipon Law Firm. 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 served as a U.S. Immigration Officer. He co-authored the best-seller “Immigration Law Service, 1st ed.,” an 8-volume practice guide for immigration officers and lawyers. Atty.

Tipon was born in Laoag City, Philippines. Tel. (808) 800-7856. Cell Phone (808) 225-2645. E-Mail: filamlaw@yahoo.com. Websites: https://www.tiponlaw.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.

8 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  NOVEMBER 6, 2021

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

The Annual Taste of Waipahu is Back Hawaii to Welcome International

A

fter postponing the 2020 event due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 15th Annual Taste of Waipahu is back on November 13, from 4 pm

to 8 pm.

Held on the ground of Leeward YMCA in Waipahu, Taste of Waipahu will feature food trucks and tents showcasing the community’s best food operators.

In accordance with pandemic restrictions, the event will be on a take-out-only basis while following required masking and social distancing.

The Taste of Waipahu is hosted by The Waipahu Community Association and sponsored by Hawaii Electric, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Bayer, NAREIT and A.P.I. Security.

For more information about the event, visit wcawaipahu.org.

Hawaiian Electric Reminds Customers to Be Vigilant of Scammers

A

n incident concerning real estate agents and a client has been the recent target of scammers using Hawaiian Electric’s credentials.

According to Hawaiian Electric’s press release, a scammer gave real estate agents a fake Hawaiian Electric phone number to provide to their client.

When one client called the number, the scammers told them to pay more than $800 or else their electricity will be disconnected.

Furthermore, the customer spoke to an “agent” and “accountant.” The customer also received an email with a Hawaiian Electric logo and QR code to make the payment.

The customer insisted to pay online at Hawaiian Electric’s website, but the scammer asked for a wire transfer. That’s when the customer knew it was a red flag and decided to contact Hawaiian Electric.

With the recent scam attempts, Hawaiian Electric would like to remind its customers to be vigilant.

“Hawaiian Electric does not request wire transfers, prepaid debit cards, gift cards, or Bitcoin to pay bills.”

For those who received similar emails or suspect a scam, file a fraud report online at hawaiianelectric.com/stopscams.

Travelers in Alignment with Federal Requirements

S

tarting Monday, November 8, the state of Hawaii will welcome international travelers under the new federal requirements.

Non-U.S. citizens who are traveling directly to Hawaii from an international destination must present their vaccination records and negative COVID-19 test results within three days of boarding a flight to the United States.

For U.S. citizens flying directly to Hawaii from an international destination, they have two options: provide proof of vaccination or provide proof of negative COVID-19 test result within one day of boarding a flight to the United States.

There will be no additional State of Hawaii requirements for travelers from an international destination. If the passengers fail to meet the stated requirement above, they will not be allowed to board the flight.

For travelers from another U.S. state or territory, the Safe Travels program will remain in place.

The current Safe Travels Hawaii requirements includes: creating a Safe Travels Hawaii account on a digital device, entering trip details, filling out a health form and attesting that all information is correct.

Domestic travelers may bypass the state’s mandatory 10-day quarantine if they upload a vaccination document or upload a negative NAAT test result taken by a Trusted Travel Partner within three days of departure.

“Thanks to the people of Hawaii for their patience and for taking precautions to keep our communities safe,” said Governor David Ige. “As more and more people are vaccinated, we are moving to ease pandemic mitigation measures, including travel restrictions, in a way that ensures the health and safety of our communities.” 

NOVEMBER 6, 2021  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  9

CANDID PERSPECTIVES

Larry Itliong Had Principles, Gen. Powell Had Medals

By Emil Guillermo

N

ovember is the month everyone stands back recovers from October, Filipino American Histo-

ry Month.

I can’t let it go without one last note on a Pangasinan native and Filipino American of note, Larry Itliong. It was his birthday on Oct. 25, an official “day” in California. Just not a holiday – you still had to work.

But then Itliong was far from a “holy man.” He was just principled.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Itliong and General Colin Powell who died October 18. Smack dab in the middle of our month.

Let’s consider the two icons.

Unlike Powell, Itliong had no medals. He had seven fingers (lost three when he migrated to Alaska and worked in the salmon canneries). And you could usually find him holding a cigar. He wasn’t a soldier. Just a fighter. But he was part of history.

For a time in the late ‘60s, he was seen as the most powerful Filipino American in the country, with politicians courting him for endorsements – most notably, Robert F. Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey in their runs for president.

Itliong’s fame came from starting the Delano Grape Strike in 1965, leading a group of Filipino farmhands in California’s Central Valley that ultimately formed the basis of the United Farm Workers Union.

Cesar Chavez’s union?

That’s the problem. It was Itliong who started it all, demanding that growers pay workers $1.40 an hour.

Chavez and his group joined days after the strike began, but it was Itliong and the Filipinos who were affiliated with the AFL-CIO that essentially merged labor rights

with the civil rights movement in the U.S. People remember Chavez as a national hero, naming schools and parks after him. Not Itliong.

But that’s starting to change. This weekend in the Central Valley, where Filipino and Mexican Americans still work the fields, they named a community center for Itliong.

One thing that happened is a statement made by Dolores Huerta, a UFW leader with Chavez. Huerta told a group of Larry Itliong Day celebrants that she “organized” Itliong.

Larry Itliong

A joke, right? Let’s hope.

Huerta, who has been honored by the Obama Administration with a medal knows the real

history. Itliong was the leader of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) which was affiliated with the AFL-CIO. I’ve spoken to everyone involved in starting the strike.

Huerta knows better. Itliong was the leader of the Filipinos who made up AWOC and forged that merger in 1965 with Chavez’s National Farmworkers Association which wasn’t even a union. But they had people. That’s how the UFW was created.

It’s been said that historians and journalists overlooked Itliong and looked uncritically at Chavez because of

the latter’s charismatic sense that came from adopting the non-violent tactics of Gandhi and Dr. King.

That was a stark contrast to a battle-hardened Itliong, who saw decades of often violent racism in the fields but who still evolved into a principled union man.

So, Chavez may have been the man who said yes, “Si Se Puede.”

But Itliong knew the power of the strike and just saying no to the growers; no to those who would attempt to buy him off. And ultimately, it was also no to the UFW when Itliong (continue on page 12)

(continue on page 9)

10 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  NOVEMBER 6, 2021

AS I SEE IT

56th Anniversary Shapes Fraternity’s New Role as a Partner of the Community

By Elpidio R. Estioko

T

o exist as a potent organization in this modern times, Greek-letter fraternities need to find a way to be relevant!

This was the position of the Beta Rho Omega Fraternity Alumni Association, Inc. (BROFAAI) during its 56th-anniversary celebration held simultaneously on October 10, 2021, in Las Vegas and via Zoom.

Hawaii-based Ireneo “Jun” Gappe, a member of the moth-

er chapter University of the Philippines, who attended the Las Vegas gathering, said it is high time the Greek-letter fraternity needs to focus on things that will make the organization relevant to the community.

The 38 members who attended the Zoom meeting hosted by Pioneer brother Bert Cabardo and Egay Sevilla, both from the mother chapter University of the Philippines and 18 members who attended the celebration in person in Las Vegas believe that the fraternity needs to redefine its existence and be relevant to the present times.

The alumni group heeded the messages delivered by Pioneer member Oscar David, Canada, who spoke on behalf of the overseas members and Pioneer member Ed Gonzalez, Philippines, on behalf of the members in the Philippines; to redefine the group’s existence and make it relevant to this date.

As a non-profit organization, the group will revive its scholarship program in all 15-chapter colleges and universities in the Philippines. The scholarship program started at Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2005 with Jo Estioco as the first scholar. Now mar-

ried, Jo Estioco Panday, is a successful professional based in Singapore.

The University of the Philippines in Diliman (UP-Diliman) was the mother chapter founded in 1965 and it spread in various universities and colleges in Metro Manila. The chapters include Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT), Far Eastern University (FEU), National University (NU), Roosevelt College, University of the East (UE). Philippine College of Commerce (PCC now the Polytechnic University of the Philippines – PUP), Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU), University of Santo Thomas (UST), Philippine College of Criminology (PCCr); Adamson University, FEATI, Marikina College, Philippine School of Business Administration (PSBA); and the Philippine Maritime Institute (PMI).

Attendees came from various places in the world such as London, Australia, Canada, California, Singapore, Hawaii, Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles, Georgia, and the Philippines.

After the messages by David and Gonzalez, there was a two-part presentation showing activities (trivia/memory lanes/pictures) of individual chapters and a nostalgic presentation for the members to remember. The Zoom meeting lasted four hours using the Zoom account of Pioneer Brod Bert Cabardo from Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines.

As agreed, a small group of conveners representing the various chapters will meet and prepare the working papers to be used during the next Zoom meeting. The focus for the next Zoom meeting will be the scholarship program and the mechanics of the program.

The BRO Zoom meeting participants from the Philippines are: Feliciano Caringal, Jr.,FEATI; Aaron Cervantes, FEATI; Edilberto Cabardo, UP (Pioneer); Eduardo Gonzalez, UP (Pioneer); Jose Galo Isada, UP (Pioneer);

Nick Jimeno, UP; Bobby Genio, UP/UE; Edgar Sevilla, UP; Joey Reyes, UP; Narciso Adraneda, UP; Rolly Tungpalan, UP; Raul Basa, UP; Miguel Soledad, UP; Nestor Mondok, UP; Edwin Cutiongco, UP; Romy and Beth Serrano, Mapua; Gerry Marcelo, Roosevelt/NU; Redie Villafuerte, Roosevelt; Jimmie Jimenez, UE; Joey Aspiras, UE; Zoilo Belano, Mapua; Bong Garcia, Mapua; Rose Casasola, Mapua; Joseph Crisostomo Vallar, Mapua; Romy and Beth Serrano, Mapua; Gerry Marcelo, Roosevelt/NU; Redie Villafuerte; Jimmie Jimenez, UE; and Joey Aspiras, UE; Overseas - Oscar David UP (Pioneer), Vancouver, Canada; Elpidio Estioko, UP, California, USA; Bob Bantolo, UP, California, USA; Joven Gregorio, UP, Sydney, Australia; Raul Bautista, UP, Toronto, Canada; Gerry Cabanero, UP, London, England; Ireneo Gappe, Jr., UP, Hawaii, USA; Juanito and Velvalane Campos, UE, Georgia, USA; Joanna Estioco Panday, Singapore; Erick Salenga, Mapua, Sydney, Australia; and David Eusebio, Jr. Mapua, Philadelphia, USA; Those who attended the Las Vegas ceremonies from UP are Rudy Saez (Pioneer); Willie Osorio (Pioneer); Jun Gappe; Terry Chentes; Bob Bantolo; Onofre de Jesus (OJ); Roe Tamaray; Efren Sotto; and Boyet Barza.

The MIT brods who attended the Las Vegas gathering were led by UP Pioneer and founder of MIT chapter Ed Ramos. Jojo Cruz, Ben Ang; Ding Ahyong; Gary Cuna; Romy Ignacio; Ed Jabson; Jesse Cuison; and Vergel Regencia.

The activities in the Las Vegas celebration were emceed by Jun Gappe, UP, from Hawaii and Pioneers in attendance Willie Osorio, Ed Ramos, and Rody Saez talked about how the Beta Rho Omega Fraternity was conceived and founded.

This brings me back to my college days at the UP-Diliman campus. During those days, fraternities were the training grounds for leaders in the community. Fraternity members felt they were truly men on campus transitioning to society.

Maybe it was that I felt like I could control the course and direction of my own destiny. I had become truly self-reliant for the first time in my life.

But the reason I was able to succeed was that I had a brotherhood that was also working to create their vocation on their own terms. These men helped me, believed in me, and made me stronger than I was standing alone. I joined the Beta Rho Omega Fraternity in 1966 and met and rubbed elbows with other awesome men to do cool things.

The Pledge of Commitment was recited by the members, which goes this way: “Fraternal life is a constant affirmation of brotherhood among men, an unending assertion of collective worth; For this reason, living with men possessed with the same ideals, on this earth must be seen as a continuing movement toward some common goal, toward whatever talent and the thousand possibilities that each man can blend to give life a more meaningful definition.”

The Greek letter Beta Rho Omega Fraternity, Inc., with a rejuvenating spirit after the 56th anniversary celebration, will be a renewed non-profit organization caring for the youth, the community, and each other from here on. The scholarship program in all chapters is the launching program of the fraternity towards its new role as a partner in community development! ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO was a veteran journalist in the Philippines and an award-winning journalist here in the U.S. For feedbacks, comments… please email the author at estiokoelpidio@ gmail.com).

NOVEMBER 6, 2021  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  11

PERRYSCOPE

The Advent of Pax Pacifica

By Perry Diaz

O

n September 15, 2021, US President Joe Biden together with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the formation of AUSUK – a defense and security partnership between Australia, the US, and the UK – which “will protect and defend shared interests in the Indo-Pacific.”

AUSUK had been in the works secretly for 18 months.

AUSUK’s primary aim is to block China at sea. However, in all honesty, it is intended to stop China from encroaching into the South China Sea, which is delineated by the First Island Chain that stretches from Japan by way of Taiwan, the Philippines, Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

It will turn Australia into a base for a nuclear-powered submarine fleet and increase information sharing among Australia’s allies.

The first initiative under AUSUK will be the creation of nuclear-powered submarine technology for the Royal Australian Navy. For starters, eight nuclear-powered submarines are planned. In addition, the pact also covers the sharing of cyber warfare and other diverse undersea technologies.

US long-term strategy On geopolitical terms, AUSUK would strengthen the US long-term strategy to contain China using Australia as a proxy. With a fleet of nuclear submarines prowling the depths of the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, Australia’s naval power would supplement America’s naval supremacy in the Indo-Pacific region.

AUSUK would supplement the Five Power Defense Arrangements (FPDA), which

was established 50 years ago to enhance bilateral defense relationships and cooperation between Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK. It’s noteworthy to mention that they’re all Commonwealth members and once were part of the British Empire.

And with AUSUK now part of the Indo-Pacific geopolitical calculus, it brings the alliance under America’s nuclear umbrella or to be more precise, underwater nuclear deterrence. With Australia becoming a nuclear submarine power, it adds strength and breadth to America’s worldwide network of military alliances that now encompass the entire Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

Pine Gap Australia is also the site of Joint Defense Facility Pine Gap (JDFPG), which plays a key role in providing information for intelligence purposes, as well as for military operations, including airstrikes. It is partly run by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and US National Security Agency (NSA).

Pine Gap’s location is strategically significant because it controls U.S. spy satellites as they pass over one-third of the globe, including China, the Asian parts of Russia, and the Middle East.

In other words, once a missile is launched from any of these places, Pine Gap is instantly alerted and the missile is tracked, providing the U.S. with valuable information to intercept it.

Since the South China Sea is within range of Pine Gap’s satellite surveillance, China’s seven bases in the artificial islands in the Spratly Archipelago are within reach of the U.S.’s cruise missiles deployed in the area and can strike any of the bases within 30 seconds.

The Quad Another development that has been moving fast is the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (also known as the

Australian PM Scott Morrison

Quad (US, Australia, Japan, and India).

In a joint statement in March 2021, “The Spirit of the Quad,” the Quad members described “a shared vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” and a “rules-based maritime order in the East and South China Seas.” The Quad members said they are needed to counter Chinese maritime claims in the South China Sea. Recently, South Korea applied for membership in the Quad, a move that would solidify the Quad’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. It would be a counter-balance to China’s growing influence in the region.

With South Korea and the possibility of New Zealand and Vietnam also joining the Quad, the partnership could evolve into “Quad Plus,” which could eventually emerge as the next global theater of power politics and competition.

As a result, there had been talks of building an Asian NATO with Quad at its core.

Indeed, an Asian NATO would definitely counter a militarized China. Looking back at how NATO was formed, it was the threat of Soviet ex-

pansionism that led to its creation. An Asian NATO could be the antidote to Chinese expansionist ambitions.

AUSUK would be the catalyst in bringing together a strategic framework of the collective might among the US’s mutual defense alliances with Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Australia, Thailand, and Taiwan, which in effect draws the US’s first line of defense at the First Island Chain.

ASEAN reaction Reactions from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were mixed.

Breaking with some of its neighbors, Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin welcomed the formation of AUSUK, saying: “ASEAN member states, singly and collectively, do not possess the military wherewithal to maintain peace and security in Southeast Asia.”

He argued that AUSUK would address the imbalance in the forces available to the ASEAN member states. “In that regard, we believe that the fresh enhancement of Australia’s military capacity through this trilateral security partnership would be beneficial in the long term.”

Nuclear powers While, I don’t think it would lead to a nuclear arms race -- the US and UK are already two of the biggest nuclear powers in the world -- adding Australia to the nuclear mix would solidify America’s position because of

the proximity of Australia to the South China Sea. Besides, the US has already deployed 2,500 marines in Australia since 2011 when then-President Barack Obama’s “Asia rebalance” had pivoted the US away from the Middle East towards the Pacific.

AUSUK has made it official that Australia will be playing a key role in geopolitical matters in the Indo-Pacific.

Needless to say, America – as always – would still be calling the shots. But the huge Australian continent will be where the action would be. It was announced recently that more US troops were being rotated to Australia, and missiles, air force planes, and visits by US nuclear submarines were being planned in the near future. Australia would become an unsinkable aircraft carrier.

Heck, the US “invasion” would culminate in strong trilateral relations between Australia and its former colonizer Great Britain and future colonizer America (just kidding – “partners-in-arms” would be more appropriate).

It would also boost the economic well-being of Australia whose population of 27 million is just a drop in the 2.9 million square miles of land.

By all accounts, Australia will be the focus of the advent of Pax Pacifica (Pacifican Peace). It will be the linchpin of AUSUK to check a rising China and put it in its proper place in a world at peace. PERRY DIAZ is a writer, columnist and journalist who has been published in more than a dozen Filipino newspapers in five countries.

12 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  NOVEMBER 6, 2021

BOOK REVIEW

The Malunggay Book – Healthy & Easy-to-do Recipes

By Rose Cruz Churma

M

alunggay, also known as moringa in English and marunggay or kalamunggay in Ilocano is usually associated with Filipino cuisine. It is not unusual to find this tree in the backyard of a Filipino household. Referred to as a miracle plant, it is both food as well as a health and wellness supplement.

Malunggay contains four times the beta-carotene of Vitamin A in carrots. It is also rich in Vitamin C and a rich source of calcium and protein. It has more potassium than bananas, as well as zinc and iron (three times more than spinach).

Moringa also helps balance the cholesterol levels in the body and contains amino acids that help in the growth and maintenance of body tissues. Since it balances sugar levels, it is good in the fight against diabetes.

Malunggay also is an immunity-stimulant – the body’s natural defense mechanism increases with the consumption of this food item daily – such that this was recommended by doctors in Africa for AIDS af-

flicted patients.

Considering that this book was published before the COVID pandemic, it is likely that its regular consumption could also increase one’s immunity against the virus.

The consumption of malunggay also stimulates metabolism and is likely to aid in weight reduction and is known to promote the feeling of well-being in people.

The authors’ interest in malunggay started during a medical mission to Bohol in 2001 where they noticed a high incidence of goiter in the islands.

It was suggested that this could be due to protein deficiency, and since the leaves of the moringa plant are known to contain high levels of protein, vitamins and minerals, malunggay leaves, in sufficient amounts was the chosen solution.

This was fed to school children in small communities and the results were encouraging. Thus, the concept of this book was born – to encourage the use of malunggay as a nutritional supplement by creating recipes that incorporate the malunggay leaves.

Usually, the malunggay

is used for chicken tinola, dinengdeng or munggo beans stew. This cookbook offers other creative recipes using the leaves – in powdered form or fresh from the tree.

For the breakfast meal, the leaves can be added to scrambled eggs, or the powdered form added to the pancake mix. A few handfuls of the leaves can be thrown into the smoothie in whatever flavor.

The powder can be added to mayonnaise, or in preparing pesto sauce. The powdered form can also be mixed in the dry ingredients when making pasta or lumpia wrappers. A recipe in the book called for mixing chopped malunggay leaves in preparing burgers or tossing a cup of leaves in making salsa.

Some years ago, to encourage the use of malunggay in everyday cooking, we organized a potluck dinner where the participants were asked to bring a dish using malunggay.

Among the dishes was a shrimp dish cooked in the Mediterranean style garnished with malunggay leaves. Another cooked quiche – and in lieu of spinach – used tons of malunggay leaves. He even did a cooking demonstration minutes before the dinner to show how easy it is to use the leaves.

Since the malunggay tree

grows in abundance in Hawaii and needs to be pruned regularly, one homeowner decided to sun-dry the discarded leaves. She spread it out on pans in her lanai and when dried, crumbled the leaves and stored it in air-tight jars. I was one of the recipients of those dried leaves. The powdery product can then be sprinkled on steamed rice like furikake or mixed into smoothies – a painless way to get finicky eaters to consume the plant.

My next culinary project will be oatmeal-malunggay cookies – its recipe is found in this book. For wellness fanatics, this would be the epitome of a guilt-free cookie: mixing fiber-rich oats with nutrient-packed malunggay!

For anybody interested in the outcome and taste, you can email me at kalamansibooks@ gmail.com. ROSE CRUZ CHURMA is a former President of the FilCom Center. She is also the co-owner of Kalamansi Books and Things, an online bookstore promoting works

by Filipino Americans. For inquiries, email her at kalamansibook@ gmail.com.

(CANDID PERSPECTIVES: Larry Itliong....from page 9)

disagreed in its strategy and tactics.

Filipinos wanted to fight and strike. Chavez wanted to do hunger strikes and march from the fields to the state capitol in Sacramento.

As one Itliong loyalist, the late Ernesto Mabalon, said of Chavez, “Marching 366 miles behind a statue of the Virgin Mary is not a strike.”

Chavez needed Itliong to show him the way. Itliong may not have had medals. But he had principle. Here’s a story he told to Asian American history students at UC Santa Cruz in 1976.

“A lot want to buy me off,” Itliong told the students.

“One of the biggest organizations that I grew up with in this country offered me $200,000.”

Itliong described the offer: “They said, Larry Itliong, we know you need money. You’re doing a good job in California.

We’ll give you $200,000 to do whatever you want to do.”

But then he described the conditions.

The money would be his

“if you’re going to help Cesar Chavez run the service center,” Itliong said on the tape.

This was after he left the United Farm Workers union as a VP to Chavez. It was as if the union acknowledged Chavez needed Itliong to unify the two biggest groups in the fields, the Mexicans and the Filipinos.

“You know what I tell them,” he said. “I don’t need that $200,000. I can eat rice and pusit (squid), bagoong (anchovy paste), mango. I don’t need $200,000.”

He said young Pinoys with him were amazed by his refusal.

“I said, $200,000 to sell out my countrymen?” Itliong asked rhetorically. “I figure we have about 350,000 Filipinos in California. That’s only $200,000. That’s not even $1 a head. No, I don’t want your money. If I want to sell my countrymen, then give me $50 million. I’ll take it.”

Itliong would never sell out his fellow Filipinos. And that’s why we don’t forget him and not just on Filipino Ameri-

can History Month.

More principled than Colin Powell?

Surely, principles come into play in Powell’s story. Recently when considering Powell, I may have given him too much credit when I was writing as a human being at the moment.

The news had broken of Powell’s death, and I was simply reacting at face value, in sympathy and sorrow at the loss. A man of uniform and medals, a BIPOC American success story had died.

I did not thoughtfully consider his mistakes.

I did mention how Powell himself admitted a “blot” on his record: his speech before the United Nations Security Council in 2003, in which he falsely declared Saddam Hussein had the capability of producing weapons of mass destruction.

It was used to justify the Iraq War, but we now know Saddam had no such capabili(continue on page 13)

NOVEMBER 6, 2021  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  13

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

South Korea’s Cancel Culture

By Seneca Moraleda-Puguan with Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

C

ancel culture has been a buzzword for quite some time now but just recently, the buzzing sound became really loud when a rising star from South Korea became involved in a scandal and got “canceled.”

I am rarely bothered by the personal lives of celebrities but this one really affected me and many Korean drama lovers whose hearts have been captured by this celebrity named Kim Seon-ho.

Kim Seon-ho started as a theater actor before appearing on screen. He rose to fame with the 2020 K-drama series StartUp where he played as the second lead. He broke many hearts over “second lead syndrome” as many were rooting for him instead of the main lead.

He was finally given a chance to take the lead role as Shin Min-ah’s co-star this 2021

which aired on TvN (Korean cable channel) and Netflix.

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha was a story about a dentist who moved from the city to a seaside village and a handyman who is loved by the community but haunted by a dark past. It’s a romantic comedy that tackles relevant issues about marriage, pregnancy, family and so much more.

The makers of the drama meant it to be a ‘healing drama’ and it definitely delivered.

The show’s eight-week run gave its viewers comfort, feel-good vibes and a roller-coaster of emotions. It became a hit that it has made the top 10 on Netflix in more than 20 countries.

But just right after the airing of its last episode, a scandal surrounding Kim Seon-ho broke out.

An anonymous post on a local social media platform circulated claiming that Kim forced her to take an abortion. It was later identified that the poster was his ex-girlfriend who was a weather forecaster and an influencer.

She also described the actor as one who was greedy for money and very different from what the public perceived him to be. Kim Seon-ho later issued an apology letter for his careless and inconsiderate actions.

Brands being endorsed by Kim one by one took down their ads and commercials. His face has been removed from their social media platforms. He has been removed from a famous show where he was a regular.

His future projects, including two movies he will be starring in, have been put to a halt.

He also faces a hefty penalty for breaching his advertising contracts – for being involved in a scandal.

In other words, he has been canceled overnight.

This is not the first time this happened in South Korea. Many celebrities, mostly starting and rising ones, have been canceled because of exposure and allegations of their misconduct either done in the present or even in the past. And many have a hard time going back.

(CANDID PERSPECTIVES: Larry Itliong....from page 12)

ty. Powell should have known better. And he should have resigned instead of playing into the “good soldier” role, following the dictates of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, et al.

But as it turns out, it was just the most egregious of a few blots. Last week, a friend asked, “What about My Lai?” The rape and massacre of hundreds of innocent Vietnamese people took place in March 1968. Dozens were charged in the murder, but only one man was convicted, Lt. William Calley, Jr., the platoon leader. His life sentence turned into just 3 ½ years under house arrest.

As Charles Kaiser wrote in the Columbia Journalism Review in 2009, Powell as a young Army Major was asked to investigate a soldier’s letter that described the atrocities against the Vietnamese people.

Powell rejected the charges and wrote: “In direct refutation of this portrayal is the fact that relations between American soldiers and the Vietnamese people are excellent.”

Powell was learning how to play the game all too well.

And when he found himself at the moral crossroads, he did not always do the right thing.

A guest editorial in the New York Times by Theodore Johnson, entitled “The Paradox of Colin Powell,” spoke to the contradictions in assessing the man. Soldier, statesman.

African American, Republican.

As I have, the author also looked to Powell as a “first,” and what is implied when one who is the only BIPOC in the room.

It’s a survival game at the top. Does it matter what you stand for if you’re no longer standing? So you say what you must, and not what you should. Not if you’re still carrying someone else’s water.

That’s how one gets set up to be the shiny hood ornament on a Bush-Cheney armored tank. That’s how blots are created along the way.

Powell beat off the critics with his charisma and medals.

He flashed some principles later in public life. Bucking

the GOP to back Obama in 2008. Then again, as a Never-Trumper, when he left the Republican party after Jan. 6.

It may not balance all the blots of an imperfect leader, but that’s all part of the paradox. And after the last four years, all the leadership meters are askew.

As for me, I considered Powell at the moment, October 2021. It informed the compassion I felt for Powell the man now, on the week he passed.

For that, I’m not ashamed.

This we can say about the soldier/politician/ human being Colin Powell: He made mistakes.

But he wasn’t a mistake.  EMIL​ GUILLERMO​ is a veteran journalist and commentator. He was a member of the Honolulu Advertiser editorial board. Listen to him on Apple Podcasts. Twitter @ emilamok.

The South Korean media industry is highly competitive and vicious. It holds a high standard for everyone who wants to remain on the playing field. A simple scandal – verified or not, a tarnishing of reputation can destroy one’s career.

This is a very stark contrast to Hollywood and the Philippine show business where actors and actresses can continue with their careers despite getting involved in nasty scandals.

According to an article by South China Morning Post, a sociology professor Song Jae-ryong explained why brands, corporations and the public are so quick to distance themselves from celebrity scandals: “Celebrities stand out and draw the public’s attention, people tend to be less tolerant of any perceived moral or ethical misconduct. They market a certain image to raise their value, they are met with bigger criticism when the image is outed as a fake, so people could become angrier, and they express their opinions strongly.”

I think there is nothing wrong with holding people of influence to high standards and being accountable for their actions, but to be judged wrongly and ruined big time for being human who makes mistakes can be fatal. This led to many Korean celebrities committing suicide.

My friends and I who have learned to love Kim Seon-ho for his charm, excellent acting, cute dimples and warm smile, are very sad that we will not be able to see him for a while unless a miracle happens to allow

him to bounce back quickly.

But more than the fans and viewers losing the chance to see him on screen, I am more concerned about his mental and emotional health who worked hard for several years just to gain his well-deserved attention only to lose it overnight over a scandal/ unverified anonymous post about a ‘mistake’ he has done in the past.

This goes true for all the celebrities who have been canceled and misjudged.

As for Kim Seon-ho, several reports came out a few days later invalidating the claims of the ex-girlfriend. Though the actor remains mum about the issue, friends came out to share the other side of the story.

Kim Seon-ho has been receiving overwhelming support from fans – Koreans and foreigners alike. Many are standing by him, fighting for him and still rooting for him. Many are hopeful he bounces back from this fall because he is truly deserving.

We are all broken people. No one is perfect. We all have dark pasts. We all have made mistakes we deeply regret. But our past doesn’t have to dictate our present and define our future. Just like what a dear friend of mine said: “Normal people like us can move on without a trace of our past mistakes. Celebrities don’t have that luxury. But they are humans too. They make mistakes. A life is a life. But don’t we all need grace? Don’t we all need God? Extend grace if you can. If you can’t, maybe you should throw the first stone?”

I hope that we learn to cancel cancel culture. No one deserves to be canceled. What one needs is a second chance. We all do.

14 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  NOVEMBER 6, 2021

PHILIPPINE LANGUAGE

SADINO TI PAPANAM MANG ANGKUAN: Kayumanggi a Gurong ILOKO By Amado I. Yoro

K

et sirmataem iti adayo a masakbayan Iti awan makaibaga ti ungto daytoy a dalan Naiwayaten ti desdes a daliasaten ti dapan A tapoktapok iti awan patinggana a kalsada Wenno karayan ti biag dagiti agpagpagna Tapno kargaenda ti kinasiasino ken bukod a rupa.

Agtaytayyek a kanayon ti ligay ti panawen Tapno iparangda dagiti masukansukat a pagteng Ti panaglupos kakuykuyog sabali a pannakasukog Iti saan nga agressat a panagdaliasat dalana nawatiwat Ket dagiti agbambaniaga awitenda latta ti dagsenti krus Ti agud-uddog a parola ti biag iti panaglayag.

Saanmo a saludsoden no sadino ti panungpalan ti biahe Agkamkamat latta ti panagalla-alla ti agtultuloy a serye Lamolamo latta ti bulan; aglinling-et latta ti ili Iti awan sardayna a paratignay; ti saka nga agkutikuti

Iti taaw man wenno iti takdang; agpallayog latta ti kari A pumangal-kumalatkat sabali pay a pangal ti balligi.

Sika ti sibibiag a daga a magna desdes a naiwayat Addaan natibker a duri, bael, takder a tawid iti puli Saanka a karikatura, ketdi sika ti agbibiag a bida iti drama A kasilpo ken sulbod ti agtultuloy a panagkallautang Magnaka! Wen, ala, magnaka, kayumanggi a gurong Iti tibker ken kinasaranta iti panagtakuat-adbenturera Iti sabali a let-ang; sabali Iti ngumatngato a panirigan; lubongmo lumawlawa.

Siaawitka man iti krus iti bukodmo a kalbario Agatipukpok latta ti dalan iti panaglupos ken progreso Nailet-nasiit man dalan dalepdepen sumlep a ling-etmo Ngem magnaka, ala, umaddangka, kargaem ti namnama Iti pannagnam mabirokamto met pudno a kaibatogam.

Agkaradapka man iti barukong ti daga a kas ganggannaet Dadduma awan ti sarian ti init ngem ti sinamarna itdennanto

Ti direksion a sursurotem ibagnosnanto Ta saanka nga agkarkarawa ken agpugpugto Wenno lingka ti sirib ngem agbukarka a parupa iti baelmo Ket iti kinaganggannaetmo iti gimong adda latta lugarmo.

Sirigem iti a-adayo a masakbayan: arapaap Iti kaipapanam agtakderka iti husto a pagannurotan: sirmata Agtakderka iti bukodmo a dapan ken pagsiriban: prinsipio Tangsit ti pulim; ti daram-ling-et a mangimarka iti nagan: puli Ta dagiti panagalla-allam sinakruymo latta daeg, pintas ti tinubuam: kultura ken kaputotam.

Ket taliawem ti ilim; puon met ti sibilisasion ugma ken dur-as Dagiti umad-addang a panagbalbaliw nabiagda a pagwadan Masansan latta a perngem ti init ti namnama a bimmeggang Ti nagsilpo nga arapaap-sirmata daytan ti kaibatogam Maimarka met itoy a daga ti sudi ti naganmo iti tugot a paglasatam.

FEATURE

Remember Filipino Traditions This National Filipino Values Month

By Brenna Flores

W

hen the Filipino “sakadas” (migrant workers) came to Hawaii to work at the sugar and pineapple plantations in the early 20th century, they brought their language, practices, beliefs and traditions with them.

As a descendant of the “sakadas” who was born and raised in Hawaii, I am familiar with most of these traditions. But my half-Filipino/half-Portuguese family and I have not been aware of all of them listed below. While researching our cultural customs, I was able to learn more about these Filipino traditions and gain a better understanding of my Filipino heritage.

In honor of National Filipino Values Month, I would like to share some popular Filipino traditions with other young Pinoys like myself so we can help preserve these special cultural customs for future generations.

Faith, Family, and Friends Traditions Faith is a very important aspect of Filipinos’ everyday

life, but Sundays are especially dedicated to the Lord. Filipinos attend mass or church services where they can celebrate their faith with a community of believers.

Elders are very respected in the Filipino family for their wisdom and life experiences. Younger Filipinos practice “mano po” to elders. “Mano po” translates to “hand” in Spanish; “po” in Filipino speech is used to express respect. When a younger person does “mano po”, he/she takes the elder’s right hand and places it on his/ her forehead, followed by a slight bow.

Titles of respect are given to elders. “Lolo” (grandfather) and “Lola” (grandmother) can sometimes be used to address other Filipino elders in general.

“Manong” and “Manang” are Ilocano titles given to the firstborn male and female of the family. Similarly, “Kuya” and “Ate” are used in Tagalog to address an older brother amongst siblings and can also address a stranger that is older than the speaker.

“Tito” and ‘”Tita” refer to the uncle and auntie in the Filipino culture (but remember to only use it when the person is a younger

brother or sister of the parents).

Filipinos are very thoughtful. When they go on a trip, they prepare “pasalubong” for their family and friends. “Pasalubong” in Tagalog is the tradition of travelers bringing gifts, such as souvenirs and native snacks, to share with people back home.

Baptism and Birthday Traditions Catholic Filipinos usually baptize their baby to coincide with the 1st birthday. For the baptism ceremony, a “ninong” and “ninang” are selected as the child’s godfather and godmother, respectively. This reflects the Filipinos’ value of family, including an extended family relationship.

On a Filipina’s 18th birthday, some of the wealthier families celebrate the young lady’s adulthood at a “debut” (cotillion), which is a grand birthday celebration similar to a quinceañera or Sweet 16. The debutante has a group of 17 friends to complete her court and they have a specially choreographed waltz, preceded by a father-daughter dance. She also has 18 candles for 18 wishes as well as 18 roses presented to her.

Wedding Traditions At a Catholic wedding ceremony, sponsors are significant members of the bridal party. The number of sponsors varies for the Filipino couple, but there are typically four sets of secondary sponsors, including coin sponsors, veil sponsors and candle sponsors, and can be anyone from family members to friends.

The Coin sponsors carry 13 “arras” (coins in a pouch that represent Jesus and His 12 Apostles) and bring them to the altar as a representation of the couple taking care of each other financially. The veil sponsors drape a white veil over the bride’s head and on the groom’s shoulders as a symbol of protection. Cord sponsors place the “yugal” (cord) over the veil as a representation of the couple’s bond and union. Finally, the candle sponsors present the bride and groom with these items as a symbol of unity.

The money dance is the most famous Filipino wedding tradition in Hawaii that even non-Filipinos are adopting it.

Male guests line up to pin money on the bride’s dress or veil and female guests line up to pin money on the groom’s clothing.

Sometimes the guests dance with them. The money dance represents good fortune for the couple and is also a means of helping the couple financially as they begin their life together.

Another tradition that can be heard at Filipino weddings is the toast of “Mabuhay,” which means “long life.” This enthusiastic toast is done three times (“trinity”) for the couple in hopes of granting them a long lasting and blessed marriage.

Funeral and Death Traditions Since Filipinos are very religious, they usually offer up the rosary or a nine-night novena after a loved one has died. They pray for the soul of the deceased to enter into heaven.

Usually, a picture of their dearly departed is displayed and Filipino family members leave a plate of food in front of the picture as a symbol for their loved one to enjoy in the afterlife.

Filipinos visit the graves often but most especially on All Saints Day on Nov. 1. Similar to the Mexicans’ Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), Filipinos have a feast to honor the life of their dearly departed. (continue on page 15)

NOVEMBER 6, 2021  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  15

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

Three Filipino Films Featured in Hawaii International Film Festival

A

fter a fully-online celebration last year, the Hawaii Film Festival is back this year to celebrate its 41st edition with film screenings both online and in-person.

In-person film screenings and artist conversations will be held at Consolidated Theatres Ward with TITAN LUXE, Bishop Museum, Box Jelly and Consolidated Theatres Kahala.

Three Filipino films from Canada, California and the Philippines are part of HIFF’s diverse line-up this month.

Islands • Nov. 14 at 4 pm | Kahala • Nov. 15 - 28 | Online The film follows Joshua, a timid middle-aged Filipino immigrant in Canada whose mother suddenly passed away. As his father’s health declines, he quits his job to look after his father. Marisol, an overseas filipino worker (OFW) and caretaker, moves in to help him because she doesn’t want to return to her life in Kuwait. Anxious of being alone, Joshua wonders if Marisol is the

answer to his prayers.

saff and actor Tirso Cruz III.

The Fabulous Filipino Brothers • Nov. 13 at 2:30 pm | Kahala • Nov . 20 at 5:30 pm | Ka’ahu manu • Nov. 21 at 7 pm | Waimea

Whether The Weather Is Fine • Nov. 14 at 7:30 pm | Kahala • Nov. 14 at 7:30 pm - 11 pm | Online • Nov. 17 at 7 pm - 11 pm | Online

Hook-star Dante Basco makes his directorial debut in this intergenerational comedy film about love, family and Filipino culture in America. Dante co-stars with his siblings Darion, Arianna, Dionysio and Derek with performances from actress Solenn Hue-

With the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, Tacloban is preparing again for an impending storm. The film follows Miguel and his girlfriend Andrea desperately trying to board a Manila-bound ship. While his mother Norma searches for a man from her past.

For more information on the film festival, screening line-up, festival passes and individual ticket purchases, visit hiff.org.

(FEATURE: Remember Filipino....from page 14)

When Filipinos are mourning their loved ones, it is customary to wear black clothes to the funeral as a sign of their grief. They may also tie a black ribbon around their arm or wear a black pin until the first anniversary of the death date.

Gambling Traditions As Filipinos are no strangers to gambling, they believe in “balato,” which is when someone wins money and shares it with those around as an act of goodwill.

Despite it being illegal in the United States, cockfighting is a long tradition and a way of life in the Filipino community. Gamblers gather in a cockpit to watch as two chickens fight to the death with the stronger chicken emerging as the winner.

Christmas Traditions The Philippines holds the world re-

cord for observing the longest Christian season. Filipinos begin holiday decorating and playing Christmas music as early as September.

During Christmas time, many beautiful, colorful parols are displayed outside of houses. The starshaped decoration represents the victory of light over darkness along with hope and goodwill.

During the Yuletide, Filipinos celebrate Noche Buena, which is the night and the feast before Christmas Day. This tradition is held after midnight mass followed by a feast for the family. Some traditional dishes include lechon (roast pig), pancit (noodles), lumpia (egg rolls), rellenong bangus (stuffed milkfish), adobo, rice, pan de sal (rolls) and various sweets like ube (purple yam) and rice cakes (bibingka and puto).

Misa de Gallo is another tradition during the Christmas season which begins on Dec. 16. Misa de Gallo is a nine-day series of masses observed by Filipino Catholics.

Misa de Gallo is the final mass at midnight on Dec. 24, where the tradition is finished with another bountiful Christmas meal.

New Year Traditions On New Year’s Eve, Filipinos celebrate with loud noises because they believe that the sounds shield off the bad luck and bad spirits. So before the clock strikes midnight, Filipinos clang pots and pans to ring in the new year for good spirits.

Also on New Year’s Eve, the tradition of collecting coins in one’s pocket and shaking it at midnight is believed to bring good fortune and

riches to the new year. Filipinos also drop coins all around the house to symbolize always having money in the home.

And like other Asian cultures, eating “pancit” (noodles) on New Year’s Day will bring good luck and longevity throughout the new year.

There are many, many more Filipino traditions.

But the important thing is to practice and preserve them for generations to come and be proud to share them with other cultures. BRENNA FLORES, Class of 2021 communication honor graduate from Chaminade University of Honolulu, won the Chronicle journalism scholarship last fall.

(Solution to Crossword No. 10 | October 16, 2021)

KROSWORD ni Carlito Lalicon

Blg. 11

PAHALANG

1. Lingid 6. Paningin 13. Artista 14. Abilidad 15. Agrabyado 16. Ang taong

namamahala sa kantina 17. Balintatao 18. Insidental 19. Alak 20. Walang-wala 22. Takaw 23. Pangnakaraan ng ‘maging’ 24. Kasong

PABABA

1. Buli 2. Isang uri ng matigas na punongkahoy 3. Ipugal 4. Papa 5. Propyedad 6. Magwagi 7. Luho 8. Ano

25. Labing 26. Kuminoy 27. Mangulutding 28. Impyel 29. Isang uri ng matamis 30. Kasambahay 31. Kalunya 32. Paakyat 33. Pamamaga 34. Madaling dumami 38. Kapital ng Zambales 39. Alambike 40. Ale 41. Diskusyon 43. Yugyugin 44. Atbang

45. Pahid 46. Pangyayari 47. Daing o hinaing ng

9. Din 10. Taong isinilang sa Amerika 11. Propesyon 12. Tiwali 14. Angkop 16. Bahay-sugalan 18. Kapara 21. Naakit

22. Salungatin 34. Negatib 24. Kamalig 35. Balanga 25. Buway 36. Idolatriya 26. Sabuyan ng tubig 37. Ina 27. Magpakaabala 39. Ko 28. Palugit 42. Idea 29. Magbanat 43. Alkila 30. Kamot 32. Kibal (Solution will be on the next issue of the Chronicle)

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