November 1 2015 issue

PAGE 2 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • NOVEMBER 1-15, 2015

Grand Ballroom, 6:00PM Contact Persons: Maria Etrata 392-2962, Lynne Gutierrez 728-1700, Ben Pulido 421-9747

November 12-22, 2015Hawaii International Film Festival, the premier international film event in the pacific, showcases features and documentaries from Asia, the Pacific Islands and Hawaii. It has more than one dozen screening sites on six Ha-waiian Islands. For more info log ontowww.hiff.org

November 16- 22, 2015A Sakada Story, a short documentary featuring the story of Filipino plan-tation laborers. The story written, directed and produced by filmmaker Maribel Apuya, has been chosen to screen at this year’s Hawaii Interna-tional Film Festival. Please visit the HIFF website for dates and times of screening for the above story at http://www.hiff.org/filmsevent/box-office-tickets

November 14, 2015Filipino Business Women’s Association (FBWA); 32nd Annual Kimona Ball and honoring the 2015 Filipino Busi-ness Woman of the Year, Armi Oliver Farinas. Ala Moana Hotel, Hibiscus Ballroom 6:00 PMContact Persons: Nancy At-mospera Walch 778-3832, Bernadette Fajardo 342-8090, Lina Mercado 382-7751

November 2, 2015Deadline for submissions for the 2015 Letter to My Parents Contest Organized by Kalamansi Books & Things, Sariling Gawa- Youth Council, Inc., Read 2 Succeed Foundation and Reyukai America. Ten finalists will be selected and will be invited to present their letters during the final presenta-tion to judges on Saturday, November 21, 2015, 4:00PM at the Executive Dining Room, Campus Center, UH Ma-noa. Contact Persons: Rose Churma or Toshiro Obara (808) 358-2868 & www.LetterToMyParents.com

November 4, 2015The PMAH Golf Tournament at the Hoakalei Country Club, an 18- hole championship golf course in Ewa Beach. Shot-gun starts at 11:00 AM and Awards, Prizes and Buffet Dinner at 6:00 PM. For the benefit of the PMAH Ohana Medical Mission, Inc. Contact Persons: Elmer Baysa, MD. 689-8315, Russell Kelly, MD. 678-0700, Christopher Regala, MD. 622-2628, Ray Romero, MD. 680-0554 or contact [email protected] Ph. 888-674-7624

November 7, 2015United Filipino Council of Hawaii (UFCH) Reaffirmation of Officers and Progress Awards, Pacific Beach Hotel,

STATEWIDEcommuNITy cALENDAR

compiled by AmELIA cASAmINA cAbATu

November 14, 2015Sampaguita Association of Hawaii 21st Anniversary and Scholarship Awards Night. Hawaii Okinawa Center 5:30 PM-10:30PM Cost: $35.00 Con-tact Persons: Fely Unico 208-7194 & 783-7154; Chris Barbosa 487-9004, Florence Luzano 455-8254

November 14, 2015Basic Financial Literacy Seminar brought to you by the Philippine Consulate General Honolulu, from 1:00 PM-3:30PM at the Philippine Consulate General 2433 Pali Highway. Resource speakers from the Depart-ment of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. Free and open to the public. RSVP to [email protected]

November 21, 2015Nursing Advocates and Mentors, Inc (NAMI); 14th Anniversary Gala, Appreciation of Volunteer Lecturers and Recognition of newRN’s and Review Graduates; Hale Koa Hotel, Banyan Tree Showroom 6:00pm; Contact Persons: Bea Ramos-Razon 778- 6291, Jun Obaldo 277 -7495 and Bong Curameng 383-0135

November 22, 20154th Caregivers Recognition Day Ala Moana Hotel Hibiscus Ballroom 6:00 PM. Presented by the United Group of Home Operators (UGHO), The Primary Care Providers of Hawaii (TPCPH), United Caregivers of Hawaii (UCOP), Caregivers of Hawaii (COH), Adult Foster Home of Hawaii (AFHOP) Contact Persons: Maria Etrata 392-2962, Esther Pascual email her at [email protected]

November 29, 2015Fil-Com Sunday-Pasasalamat! At the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu 3:30 PM-7:30 PM; Contact Person: Arceli Rebollido at the Fil-Com Center 808-680-0451

November 29, 2015Alliance of Residential Care Admin-istrators (ARCA) Annual Christmas Celebration Hale Koa Hotel Banyan Tree Showroom 6:00 PMContact Per-son: Lilia Fajotina 291-1706

December 5, 2015La Union National High School Alumni USA-Hawaii Fundraising Dance and Gala Night Pacific Beach Hotel Grand Ballroom 5:30PM-12 Midnight, Dinner @7:15 PM. Cost: $65.00. Contact Persons: Baybee Hufana Ablan 753-5616, Elvie Revira 228-2965, Pia Santos Moon 220-2164, Ben Pulido 421-9747

December 5, 2015Santanians Association of Hawaii-USA Annual Christmas Party and Election of Officers, St. John the Baptist Parish Hall (Kalihi), 6:00 PM-10:00 PM Con-tact Persons: Julius Soria 722-9958 or Aurora Garcia @ 722-3150 or email [email protected]

December 6, 2015Pasko sa Fil-Com At the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu 3:00 PM-8:00 PM Contact Person: Arceli Rebollido at the FilCom Center 808-680-0451

December 9, 2015Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii Board of Directors and General

oAHu

Amelia Casamina Cabatu is a familiar face in the community, often emceeing communi-ty events and parties. She is a veteran radio announcer and guests-hosts on 1270 KNDI Radio. In addition to other affiliations, Amelia is the current Chair of the Philippine Celebration Coordinating Committee of Hawaii. She owns and operates an adult daycare business and is happily married to Arnold Cabatu. They live in Salt Lake and is blessed with one daughter, Armay. Please send your event information to [email protected].

Membership Meeting, & Christmas Holiday Celebration. Location TBD Contact Persons: Sam Acosta 306-1428, Jhoydell Magaoay 478-9802

December 11, 2015Hawaii Filipino Women’s Club (HFWC) Christmas Celebration Ala Moana Hotel Garden Lanai 6:00 PM; Contact Persons: Nelly Pongco Liu 228-7808, Chulet Paco 343-2527

December 12, 2015Adult Foster Homecare Association of Hawaii (AFHA), Christmas Celebration and Coronation of the new Mrs. AFHA. Pacific Beach Hotel Grand Ballroom 6:00 PM; Contact Persons: Norma Tan 358-4985, Maribel Tan 384-0494

December 12, 2015Cebuano Association of Hawaii Christ-mas Party; Sunset Lanai Restaurant, Camp HM Smith Grounds 5:00 PM-10:30 PM; Contact Persons: Firmo S. Dayao 339-6626

December 19, 2015Candonians of Hawaii Christmas Cel-ebration & Fundraiser.FilCom Center, Waipahu, Lunch 11:00 AM-3:00 PM; Contact Persons: Grace Go 389-1989, Bernadette Fajardo 342-8090

December 19, 2015Calayab Association Coronation Ball & Christmas Banquet. 6:00 PM Fil-Com Center, Waipahu, Cost: $55.00. Contact Persons: Gladys Menor 366-2317, Dolores Baddo 256-3459

December 20, 2015The 1st Sakada Day Celebration, 3 PM at the state Capitol grounds. Governor David Ige signed the bill designating December 20th of every year honoring the pioneering achieve-ments of the first Filipino sakadas. Limited seating, RSVP to May Mizuno 741-4503, Amelia CasaminaCabatu 282-2033, Sam Acosta 306-1428, Lindy Aquino email:linyaquino @gmail.com

2016 cALENDAR yEAR

January 16, 2016Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii Foundation in cooperation with the City & County of Honolulu presents A Taste of Kalihi; Street Fes-tival. 10:00 AM-6:00 PM Dillingham Shopping Plaza 1505 Dillingham Blvd. Honolulu, Hi. See what Kalihi has to offer. Great entertainment, games, food booths, business booths, exhi-bitions & more. Contact Persons for vendor opportunities & more informa-tion. Sam Acosta 306-1428, Zhoydell Magaoay 478-9802

January 23, 2016Philippine Cultural Foundation of Ha-waii Installation & Inaugural of newly elected officers Empress Restaurant 100 N Beretania St. 6:00 PM Cost: $40.00 Contact Persons: Janice Sevil-la 595-8000, Lina Longboy 421-7381, Faye Cudal 783-7552, Maggie Domin-go 783-0068, Edith Gudoy 841-2881

January 23, 2016Annak Ti Batac International (ATBI) 5th Anniversary & Legacy Awards. Pacific Beach Hotel, Grand Ballroom. 6:00 PM; Contact Persons: Simeon Ortal 422-1667, Trina Pascual 834-2970

January 25, 2016 - February 6, 2016Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii Trade Mission to the Philip-pines. The delegation will meet with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce to strengthen the business links between Hawaii and the Philippines. Contact Persons: Sam Acosta 306-1428, Maria Etrata 392-2962

February 6, 2016Annak Ti Badoc Iti Hawaii Valentine’s Ball and Scholarship Presentation Ala Moana Hotel Hibiscus Ballroom 6:00PM; Contact Person: Marilyn Tolentino Villar: 678-1482

February 14, 2016Philippine Nurses Association of Ha-waii Valentine’s Dance Fundraiser, Rumours Night Club at the Ala Moana Hotel; 5:00PM-10:00 PM. Contact Persons: Ramon Sumibcay 489-7148, Tina Salvador 426-6183

February 20, 2016Vogue Pygmalion Hawaii The Lady In Red Gala with Masks, Hawaii Prince Hotel Maunakea Ballroom 7:00 PM Cost: $70.00; To benefit the special projects of Pygmalion Arts Fund, a 501c3 Company; Contact Person: Leo Gozar 630-6268

march 19, 2016Hawaii Filipino Women’s Club (HFWC) Annual Terno Ball; Ala Moana Hotel, Hibiscus Ball 6:00 PM. Contact Per-sons: Nelly PongcoLiu 228-7808, Carlota Ader 688-3215

march 25, 2016Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii Foundation Annual Scholar-ship Golf Tournament. Ewa Beach Golf Club 91-050 Ft. Weaver Rd. Ewa Beach, HI. Tournament proceeds fund the Foundation’s Scholarship program. Scholarship recipients will be presented during the chambers Filipino Entrepreneur of the Year & Scholarships Awards gala. Contact Persons: Sam Acosta 306-1428, Ed-die Agas 783-3327

July 16, 2016Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Ha-waii and Foundation Annual Installa-tion Banquet Hilton Hawaiian Village Resorts, Tapa Ballroom 6:00 PM. Contact Persons Bernadette Fajardo 342-8090, Sam Acosta 306-1428

August 27, 2016Philippine Cultural Foundation of Hawaii Recognition Night. Honoring the 2016 Parents/parent of the year, recognizing the 2016 outstanding achievements of graduating high school valedictorians in public and private schools & presentation of the continuing scholar recipients. Em-press Restaurant 100 N.Beretania St. 6:00 PM. We are currently searching for the parents/parent of the year who has sacrificed to send their chil-dren (3 minimum) to college and/or universities & have attained their professional chosen careers. Contact Persons: Janice Sevilla 595-8000, Lina Longboy 421-7381, Leo Rojas Gozar 630-6268, Edith Gudoy 841-2881, Maggie Domingo 783-0068

THE FIL-AM COURIER • NOVEMBER 1-15, 2015 • PAGE 3

HOW FILIPINO ARE YOU?PubLISHER

Mary Llanos Cordero

mANAgINg EDIToRBennette Espineli Misalucha

DIREcToR oF DESIgNArmando Dela Cruz Busmente

PRoDucTIoN mANAgERAlice Llanos Busmente

ASSISTANT EDIToRRadiant Cordero

coPy EDIToRDanielle Evangelista

PHoTogRAPHERS/gRAPHIcSBrandon dela Cruz

Noah FelipeGabe de Liso

Jeff OrigJames Ramos

coLumNISTSEdna Alikpala

Rhoda Yabez Alvarez, Esq.Jesse Bacon IINancy BernalCesar Bonilla

Alice Llanos BusmenteAmelia Casamina CabatuAnabel Gasmen Cabebe

Dr. Rickie CamaraDr. Patricia Halagao

ZenyMuyotAngie Santiago

Perfecto Yasay Jr.

coNTRIbuTINg WRITERSConrad Abuel

Ric AgnesPaul Alimbuyao

Ria BaldeviaEriza Bareng

Marnelli Joy BasilioBernie CaalimRandy Cortez

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Brandon dela CruzChristian Evangelista

Imelda GasmenVeronika Geronimo

Leo GozarBen GutierrezKathleen Lee

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big Island Mil AsuncionJane Clement

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Opinions expressed by the columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Fil-Am Courier. Publisher reserves the right to edit lettersto the editor and other material submitted. Reproduc-tion of material and ads appearing in the Fil-Am courier is forbidden without written permission. All photos submitted become the property of the Fil-Am Courier.

serving The communiTy since 1987serving The communiTy since 1987serving The communiTy since 1987serving The communiTy since 1987

Note: This column was first published in September 2013 but we decided to reprint it in commemoration of Filipino-American Heritage month and this issue’s Courier cover story about the Filipino Community Center. Its message resonates as our community continues to wrestle with identity issues.

“I am Spanish-Chinese, mostly local.” The young gir l was responding to my query on her ethnic mix. It was the early 80’s, I had recently moved to Hawaii from the Philippines and I remembered being shocked at how some people here did not want to be identified as a Filipino. This girl was clearly one of them. Dark, petite and blessed with the identifiable Filipino nose, her heritage was unmistakable. Yet, she uttered her lie defiantly, almost challenging me to dispute her response. Yes, despite the fact that her last was Ma_rangdang___, a undeniable Filipino last name. But although she mentioned the blood lines that comprise most Filipinos (Chinese and Spanish), not once did she utter the word “Filipino” in describing her ethnicity.

Why would any person deny their heritage? How could any person distance themselves from a culture that forms part of their identity? What experience would make one person ashamed while another may use that experience to overcome? These thoughts cross my mind as we celebrate Filipino-American History month this October. More than thirty years have passed since my

encounter with the young girl. I often wonder whether there are still some amongst us who are guilty of such feelings. Could this shame come because of stereotypes? After all, Hawaii is notorious about ethnic stereotypes. We all know what the Filipino stereotypes are and they do not deserve mention here. Enumerating them would only shine light on them and perpetuate their ugliness. Those stereotypes had their origins during the plantation days. With more positive role models, surely, they that have haunted us in the past have hopefully been laid to rest. The Filipinos in Hawaii today have made great strides in business, government and professions. Many of us immigrants were part of the Diaspora of people who have left the Philippines in search of a better life. Our struggles, hopes, dreams and successes are narratives that continue to form our collective identity in Hawai’i. Our stories inspire pride in our ability to blossom where we are planted. Our numbers have increasingly grown, aided by our prolific birth rates and the flow of immigration from the Philippines. The second and third generations have entered respectable

professions and are now part of the mainstream. Lastly, we have built the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu which is a symbol of how we have become integrated into the multi-hued fabric that is Hawai’i. Thus the ques t i on begging to be asked: Are our children today proud to be Filipino? What does it mean to be a Filipino today, anyway? So in today’s setting, how “Filipino” should we need to be? For f irst generation Filipinos, embracing our culture is a given. We cling to the familiar: we regularly serve adobo and pancit at meal times, we subscribe to TFC or GMA channels, we are more comfortable speaking our first language and we adorn our homes with knickknacks that remind us of “home”. But the next generations may have a more difficult time integrating the culture, particularly those in mixed marriages. On the other hand, the reality is, there is a downside to being “too Filipino”. The case for assimilation is compelling. Assimilation simply means “to adopt the ways of another culture”. In this context, “assimilation” means for us to be also

“American” because this is what it would take to be successful in the mainstream world. We have to speak, act and engage like everyone else. I am certa in ly not suggesting that we lead double or incongruous lives: An American by day, a Filipino when we go home. Or worst, even turn our backs on our own culture and just be “American”. Simply stated, the challenge is how we can comfortably integrate our unique Filipino cu l ture wi th the host American culture. In many instances, it is a personal journey and there is no blueprint to follow. I believe the ultimate testament of how well we have integrated our identities is to ask our children. One cannot teach well what one does not know. As parents we have to be comfortable in our own skin (of embracing being Filipino) before we can pass that on to our children. At the end of the day, our children reflect back what we ourselves exhibit. Are you proud to be a Filipino? F i l ip ino. Amer ican. Filipino-American. Which one are you?

bennette Espineli misalucha

The Filipino community center in Waipahu is a symbol of how we have become integrated into the multi-hued fabric that is Hawai’i


our cover....

its recognizable palaka-design shirts. Across the mill was an open field where the community gathered for the occasional athletic events, carnivals and band concerts. Later, that field would be named in honor of Hans L’Orange, a plantation manager who served from 1937-1956. By 1995, however, the sugar industry was like a dying man gasping for breath as global market conditions forced the company to face the inevitable. The Oahu Sugar Company closed its doors for the final time after the last harvest that year. Its closure ushered in transformations in the State’s economy as well as changes to this Waipahu neighborhood. Today, the h is tor ic

smoke stack in Waipahu still stands where it has always stood; a silent witness to the shifting scenes of the past twenty years. Hans L’Orange Park has remained an open field, and continues to attract spectators to its occasional baseball games. But nothing else in the neighborhood has remained constant. What was once Arakawa’s is now an ethnic open market. Below the smoke stack sits the tidy modern facilities of Leeward YMCA. But the most noticeable change along Manager’s Drive, in a corner lot directly across Hans L’Orange Park, is the presence of a beige edifice with its distinctive Spanish architecture. A life-sized bronze statue occupies a prominent place

along its facade, seemingly welcoming visitors to the facility. On any given day, one can find people milling around the area for one reason or another, whether it be a student attending a nursing review class, a senior citizen learning computers or a fitness warrior intent on keeping fit through Zumba. Welcome to the world of the Filipino Community Center. Since its inauguration in 2002, the Filipino Community Center has embraced its role as a gathering place for the people on the West side. Although it has remained true to its goal of perpetuating Filipino culture, it has also served as a venue to celebrate life’s milestones, whether it be weddings, baptisms,

In 1897, Oahu Sugar Company opened its sugar mill in the town of Waipahu. Anchored by the smoke stack which could be seen from miles around, the sugar mill was then the center of activity for then plantation life. Small stores which catered to plantation workers’ families dotted the neighborhood, the most prominent of which was Arakawa’s, which sold

by bENNETTE ESPINELI mISALucHA

Managing Editor, Fil-am Courier

The Filcom center

Our cover features the honorees for this year’s Filipino Community

Center’s 13th Bayanihan Gala which will be held at the Sheraton Waikiki

on October 31st.

Left to right: Guy Fujimura of ILWU 142, Meredith Ching of Alexander and Baldwin, William “Bill” Balfour, Stephanie Whalen of Hawaii Sugar Planters Association (now known as Hawaii Agriculture Research Center) and sakada Angel Ramos who is also

a plantation historian.Not in photo: William “Bill” Paty

Our honorees were photographed by the talented James Ramos at the

grounds of the Filcom Center.

James can be reached at [email protected] or 808

345 3924.

Cover concept by Noah Felipe of OrigMedia. A big mahalo to Jeff Orig

of OrigMedia. Both Jeff and Noah may be reached at www.origmedia.

com or (808) 447-9559.


baby luaus or graduations—the celebrations of which cross racial and cultural boundaries. Whether by design or by a stroke of destiny, the Filcom Center — like the sugar mill of the past, has evolved as the center of activity in this area. Steeped in plantation history and surrounded by the physical vestiges of the once-thriving plantation life, the Filipino Community Center thus deemed it appropriate to remember

the plantation legacy as its theme for this year’s annual Bayanihan Gala fundraiser. There will be six honorees, all of whom represent a particular facet of the plantation history. The Bayanihan Gala will be held on Saturday, October 31st at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel with silent auction/reception starting at 5 p.m. and the dinner commencing at 6:30 p.m.

The 13th FilCom Center Bayanihan Gala Honorees

museum. In fact, it has! Most of the artifacts found in the Plantation Village in Waipahu came f rom h is personal donation. In addition, he can regale anyone who would care to listen to interesting facets of the life back then. Ramos is equally passionate about his photography, and he houses a collection of incredible pictures that showcase the simple but rich plantation life. Ange l Ramos . P roud Sakada. A witness to Hawaii’s changing times. Historian.

grandchildren and a number of great grandchildren. Rose passed away last year but Ramos, who’s still strong and sprightly at 86, continues to gather the family together during special occasions. In his retirement, he has become quite a gardener, and he has planted his garden with a profusion of ornamental plants as well as vegetables. But what sets Angel apart is his dedication to preserving the plantation history. A self-confessed pack-rat, Angel has accumulated plantation memorabilia that could fill a

He married his wife Rose in 1948 and the kids started coming. With a growing family, Ramos was motivated to work hard, first as a laborer, then later, a machinist for Kahuku Sugar for almost thirty years until it closed in 1971, after which he worked for another 25 years at Turtle Bay Resort as well as the City and County of Honolulu. Angel and Rose built a simple but wonderful l ife together in the enclaves of the old plantation vil lage where Ramos still lives today. They had 13 children, 42

Ange l Ramos ha s a compelling personal narrative that reflects the multitudes of stories of Filipino plantation workers who were recruited at the turn of the century to work in Hawaii’s plantation fields. Pretending to be 18 years old, when in fact he was only 17 years old, the adventurous Angel Ramos arrived in Hawaii in 1946, aboard the MS Maunawili, and was initially assigned to the Libby Pineapple Plantation in Haiku. Wanting a better life at a bigger milieu, Ramos transferred to Kahuku Sugar Co shortly thereafter.

Angel Ramos

meredith chingA & B Executive

Angel Ramos

Alexander and Baldwinemployees who followed, have supported A&B’s success. The Filipinos were the last of the immigrant groups and today still account for 65% of HC&S’ employees.

and, it owns and operates the state’s only sugar plantation and largest farm—HC&S on Maui. For the last 145 years, A&B has been helping to build a better Hawaii with the help of a diverse family of employees. The waves of immigrant workers who came to Hawaii to work on the sugar plantations, and the three generations of

With ownership of over 88,000 acres in Hawaii, A&B is the state’s fourth largest private landowner, and one of the state’s most active real estate investors. The Company manages a portfolio comprising five million square feet of leasable space in Hawaii and on the U. S. Mainland and is the second largest owner of retail assets in the state. A&B is also Hawaii’s largest materials company and paving contractor

In 1870, two childhood f r iends, Samuel Thomas Alexander and Henry Perrine Baldwin, formed a partnership to grow sugarcane on 12 acres on Maui. 145 years later, that partnership has grown to become Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.—one of Hawaii’s leading companies, with interests in agriculture, real estate development, commercial real estate, materials and infrastructure construction.

Photo Credit: James Ramos



At the age of 27, he started to work for the Leihue Plantation in agricultural research and as decades passed, Bill’s understanding of the business grew deep. He was passionate about the work. Not wanting to shirk his responsibilities, he once took on the work of three department heads, working 90 hours per week. But global forces were no match for Balfour’s work ethic, and as Hawaii lost its footing in the global sugar market, Oahu

sugar industry. For more than forty years, Balfour gave of himself to managing Hawaii’s plantations including Pioneer Mill Company, Lihue Plantation Company and McBryde Sugar Company. Born on the island of Kauai, William “Bill” Balfour majored in general agriculture while in College at the University of Missouri. He later graduated from Stanford University’s Exe cu t i v e Managemen t programs.

William “Bill” Balfour

Don’t let William Balfour’s strict mien fool you. Underneath all that lies a soft heart that is sentimental and easily touched. For tunate ly, a l l tha t sentimentality did not get in the way of business because as Balfour himself will tell you, the plantation he managed, Oahu Sugar Plantation, was one of the most productive of them all. Spanning 19,000 acres with 900 employees, it was considered one of the “crown jewels” at the zenith of Hawaii’s


Filipinos were very active in the union and were active participants in some of the historic strikes. Other notable Filipino leaders at ILWU over the years were Constantine (Sammy Samson) and Carl Damaso, Fred Galdones and Eusenbio “Bobo” Lapinia Jr. Today, ILWU counts over 20,000 members and retirees

forces: Local 136-Longshore and Allied Workers of Hawaii; Loca l 142-Un i ted Sugar Workers; Local 150-Warehouse, Manufacturing & Allied Workers and Local 152-Pineapple and Cannery Workers. In 1952, they merged into a consolidated Local 142 in order to build upon each other’s strengths and to better service ILWU members. The iconic labor leader Jack Wayne Hall who is credited for working tirelessly with other mainland and local labor activists in building the union into the dynamic unit is it today was elected as the first ILWU Regional director. Elected to be the first President of the consolidated ILWU Local 142 was Filipino-American Antonio Rania who was born in Badoc, Ilocos Norte.

ILWU 142

T h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Longshore and Warehouse Union 142 changed the labor movement in Hawaii, and in a way, changed the course of Hawaii’s history. As waves of plantation workers arrived from Japan, Korea and the Philippines, their working and living conditions were less than ideal. It took the collective strength of the union and the workers to overcome all odds and receive the promise of better working conditions. O r g a n i z i n g e f f o r t s were initially separate and independent w i th un ion activists representing various crafts, at each plantation, on every island. But it soon became apparent that to get better outcomes from employers, greater unity was needed. In 1938, four territory-wide locals joined

businessman, a community advocate, and for building t e amwork amongs t h i s employees. Today, Paty, who is in his 90s, continues to be active and can still be found conducting business meetings on Bishop Street. Yes, Waialua Sugar may be no more, but on weekends, one can still find Paty happily roaming his precious Waialua with his grandchildren in tow. You can get the man out of the “country” but you obviously just can’t get the “country” out of this man.

kept coming over the years. One of the milestones was in 1946 when he was named Industrial Relations Director at a time when the union was getting more militant. Paty, whose humble ways endear himself to everyone he meets, made a point to build relationships with union leaders, and although not always pleasant, he was able to negotiate win-win agreements that were acceptable on both sides. In 1986, Paty retired from Castle and Cook after spending more than 40 years as a plantation manager. During his tenure, he earned a reputation for being an astute

at a young age. In fact, to get a head start, he started working summers at the plantation and at the HSPA experimental station throughout high school. After graduation from Punahou School, he headed to Cornell University where he secured a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. His happiness could not be contained when he got his first job at Waialua Sugar as an Assistant Agriculturist. But the timing was bad as the war broke out and Paty enlisted and served honorably in Europe. When he returned to Waialua Sugar after the war ended, he was named Ag Assistant, and the promotions

bill Paty

William “Bill” Paty

William “Bill” Paty has marked h is t ime in the community in numerous capacities and roles, all of which he managed to fulfill with excellence. He was Director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, a tireless community volunteer, an environmental advocate, a political advisor, and a business leader for most of his 90 years. But being a farmer was always Bill’s first love, and his association with the sugar industry for more than four decades continues to provide him with endless pleasure and joyful memories. Bill Paty had always aspired to be in the sugar business even

in every major industry including long-shore, tourism, agriculture and general trades including health care, retail and manufacturing. The leadership structure include Guy Fujimura, a 40-year veteran, as Secretary-Treasurer, and Donna Domingo as President. Domingo is the first female President of ILWU.

Fujimura Domingo

Sugar was finally closed in 1995. Today, Balfour still wakes up at 4 am—the same time when he was still working at the plantations. He still holds down a full time job and is on the road before 8 am. At 83 years o ld , h is energy knows no bounds. But once in a while, he will be the first to admit: he pauses in remembrance of sugar’s glorious past.

bill balfour




and facilitated discussions. Over the decades, HSPA’s agricultural research had gained international recog-nition for developing research on seed, fertilization and irrigation practices at its experimental stations, the credibility of which is said to be second to none in the sugar world. I n 1996 , unde r t he leadership of its Executive Director Stephanie Whalen, HSPA changed its name to Hawaii Agriculture Research Center (HARC) to reflect its changing focus. Today, it continues to conduct research in coffee, forestry, forage, vegetable crop and tropical fruits. One o f HSPA’s mos t significant contributions to this community is its commitment

WhalenExecutive Director

HARC

The Hawaii Sugar Planters Association was the trade Association for the sugar industry in Hawaii which promoted its development, conducted scientific/economic studies and gathered accurate information on the industry. Establ ished in 1895, the HSPA was the “repository of knowledge” of the sugar industry in Hawaii. At the he ight o f the plantation era, HSPA actively campaigned to bring workers to Hawaii, and in fact, opened offices in Manila and Vigan to recruit Filipinos to bring them passage to Hawaii. HSPA was an organization that ensured alignments of goals amongst the sugar cane plantations. They tackled issues related to agriculture

to keeping historical records of the sugar industry. As companies and plantations vanished, HSPA stepped up to ensure business records were preserved. As a result, it had the most comprehensive archival collection of the era. In 1995, the HSPA Board of Directors voted to donate the precious records to the University of Hawaii at Manoa library to make it accessible to anyone. The HSPA P lantat ion Archives provide researchers with a treasure trove of details on plantation life, business aspects of the sugar industry and the historical context of the operations. Covering the years from 1950-1991, the Plantation archives is one of the most heavily used at the UHM

Library Hawaiian Collection. HARC operates nowadays from an office at the Kunia Agricultural complex.


ORIGINAL ARTWORK TO BE FEATURED IN PLANTATION LEGACY AWARDS The six honorees at the Filipino Community Center Gala will be given a framed original artwork specially commissioned for the occasion. The featured artist is Jaime de Jesus, a noted illustrator. Born and raised in Manila, Jaime de Jesus—who is fondly called “Bong” by friends and family—grew up in the San Juan/Mandaluyong area. After graduating from Ateneo (where he spent his elementary and high school years), he headed East and earned an undergraduate degree at The Philadelphia College of Art and a graduate school degree at Syracuse University. Bong had been a notable illustrator of internationally published books before retiring in 2013. Currently residing in Oahu, he has been married for 40 years to Mary Boland and they have two grown daughters.

Bennette Espineli Misal-ucha is the Fil-Am Courier’s Managing Editor. She has been affiliated with the Courier since 1987 as a contributing writer and as Managing Editor since April 2013. She started her career as a journalist, and was a reporter/producer both in Hawaii (at KHON Channel 2 News) and in Cebu, Philippines.




“The Courier over the years has become a solid institution for highlighting progress for Hawaii’s Filipinos. It’s certainly not a wild exaggeration to say you haven’t made an impact in our community until you’ve been on the cover of the Fil-Am Courier or featured in a profile in its pages. Mary, Alice, Armand, Radi-ant, Bennette, Danielle, Alfredo, and all the other hardworking and talented editors, writers, photographers, contributors and legal advisors over the years should be celebrated and thanked as true island treasures for producing the Courier.”

Senator Gilbert Keith-AgaranHawaii State Senate, District 5

“Congratulations to The Fil-Am Courier for 28 years of service to the State of Hawaii. The Fil-Am Courier has been an im-portant part of the community in Hawaii and I look forward to many more years of success.”

Representative Ty J. K. CullenHawaii State House, District 39

“CONGRATULATIONS! For 28 years, Fil-Am Courier has served as a unifying link among the many ethnic groups of Filipino Americans in Hawaii. The link that connects the spirit of ONE FILIPINO. I am fortunate to be part of that movement- in community affairs, government and public policy.”

Representative Romy M. CacholaHawaii State House, District 30

I would like to congratulate FIL-AM COURIER, the number one Filipino publication in HAWAII on their 28th year anniversary. I always love to read the entertainment side of Fil-Am Courier article because I always want to find out what’s going on in the local entertainment community. Being part of the local entertainment scene, and now I’m into concert promoting, it’s always nice to partner with the number one Filipino newspaper which is the Fil-Am Courier!

Arnold PontillasConcert Promoter

Congratulations Fil-Am Courier for celebrating your 28th year anniversary. Your dedication & public service to the commu-nity is excellent! MaramingSalamat, Dios tiagngina, Daghang Salamat.

From the Management & Staff of Geronimo Broadcasting, Inc.KNDI 1270 AM

Congratulations Fil-Am Courier and Staff for 28 years of in-credible service . Your newspaper has something for everyone. Once again congratulations and best wishes for many many years to come!

Artemio Basilio and Russel ReisAvid Readers of Courier

Congratulations to the Management and Staff of the Fil-Am Courier! Thank you for your dedication and service to the Fil-ipino communities of Hawaii!

Eddie FloresPresident and CEOL&L Hawaiian BBQ

I would like to congratulate the Fil Am Courier on their 28th anniversary. Professionalism, punctuality, and great custom-er service is of their upmost priority. I highly recommend them for business advertising services.

Renate KawakamiConsultant Notary Public

Congratulations to all the staff of Fil-Am Courier and happy 28th anniversary. More blessings for the Year of the Monkey in 2016.

Helen AdrianoPhlebotomist

“The Fil-Am Courier has made great strides forward since its inception in 1987. Its staying power is a testament to the true grit, dogged determination and hard work of the publisher and her production and editorial team. Congratulations and thank you for 28 years of service to the community.”

Mila Medallion-KaahanuiFormer Editor-in-Chief

As your first cover 28 years ago, it is certainly my pleasure to congratulate you on your longevity and presence in our community. Your publication has graced our home and busi-ness with informative articles and news here and abroad that each publication has been a blessing for all of us. May your success continue for many years to come! Congratulations and God bless.

Melodie AdujaAttorney

I would like to express my congratulatory wishes to Fil-Am Courier on its 28th anniversary and the great impact it has made on the Filipino community statewide. Thank you for your great work and I offer my best wishes on continued success in the future. Aloha and Mabuhay,Henry J.C. AquinoState Representative, District 38, Waipahu

Happy 28 Years of Service to the Filipino Community

Congratulations and Mabuhay to Fil-Am Courier’s 28th year and their hardworking staff! Mary and her team are always professional and timely. They continually give back to the community! Kudos to a job well done!

Vanessa KopBroker, Managing DirectorNewmark Grubb CBI



by DR. cHRISToPHER ToRToRA, m.D.Medical Director of

Hawaiian Eye Center

to underserved populations throughout the Pacific. Educating the public about the importance of preventative eye health

was another passion of Dr. Corboy and he launched “The Hawaiian Eye Show” in 1980 on KGU 99.5 FM. The weekly broadcast, which

In October 1975, John Corboy, M.D., founded Ha-waiian Eye Center with the mission ofcreating a first-class medical eye care and surgery center in Hawaii. At the time, local medi-cal care wasn’t up to par with that of the mainland, and Dr. Corboy was one of the first to deliver mod-ern outpatient surgery and high-quality service with a personal touch. Dr. Corboy decided to pass the torch to me in 2000 so he could shift his focus onto his Hawai-ian Eye Foundation, which brings top-notch eye care

now airs every Saturday on KHVH 830 AM and KHBZ 990 AM, has been under my direction since 1995 and is the longest running medical radio show in Hawaii. Today, our center op-erates clinics in Wahiawa and Waipahu on Oahu, as well as Hilo on the Big Is-land. My associate Steven Rhee, D.O., and I continue to offer a wide range of ad-vanced services, including eye exams, care of chronic eye diseases, surgery for cataracts and glaucoma and even transportation to and from the facility for those in need. Staying on top of eye care innovations, we have recently started utilizing a cataract removal proce-dure at our surgical center

Dr. Christopher Tortora, a board certified ophthalmologist, is host of “The Hawaiian Eye Show,” a weekly informational radio program about healthy vision broadcast live every Saturday at 8 a.m. on KHVH 830 AM/rebroadcast at 9 p.m. on KHBZ 990 AM. He and his colleagues at the Hawaiian Eye Center are committed to educating the public about the importance of preventative eye care. To learn more about a variety of eye health issues, please call the Hawaiian Eye Center at 621-8448 or visit www.HawaiianEye.com and www.Facebook.com/HawaiianEyeCenter, where “life has never looked better.”

known as the Femtosecond laser. This laser is used in the most technologically advanced form of cataract surgery known as the “Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery.” The use of this technology allows for the opportunity to enhance the outcome of surgeries and also offers patients the ability to reduce their dependence on eye-glasses and contact lenses. Recently, I was honored as one of Honolulu Maga-zine’s 2015 “Top Doctors in Hawaii” and the center was named one of this year’s “Best Places to Work” by Hawaii Business Magazine—four years running. Even after serving the people of Hawaii for 40 years, we have no plans to slow down.

Hawaiian Eye Center Celebrates Four Decades Serving Hawaii For 40 Years,

Life Has Never Looked Better!



The University of Hawaii at Hilo Campus Center Plaza was transformed into a barrio fiesta scene during the kickoff event of the month-long celebration of the Filipino American Heritage Month on the Big Island. University staff, students and community members donning colorful traditional and modern Filipino attires opened the event with a short parade down the center plaza. This is the third year that the University is organizing this event as part of its Filipino Studies Certificate Program. The program is intended to allow Filipino American students the opportunity to explore their heritage and for everyone else to learn more about the Philippines. Dr. Randy Hirokawa, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, attributed the success of the program to the hard

work and dedication of Dr. Norman Arancon and Dr. Rodney Jubilado during his speech. Enrollment to the program has increased from five students in its inaugural year to over fifty students this year. The day-long festivity celebrated Filipino culture with entertainment, food, pageantry, music and games. There was food sampling where people could sample delectable Filipino desserts, a “puso” or hanging rice making demonstration and

by JANE cLEmENT

UH HILO CELEBRATES FILIPINO-AM ERICAN HISTORY MONTH

Iris Viacrusis showing off a bowl of balut and his wonderful display of Filipino desserts

members of the big Island Filipino community council offered a medley of Tagalog and Ilokano kundiman.

Students of the Filipino Studies Certificate Program performing a traditional tribal dance

even a lechon roasting right on campus the traditional way over an open flame. A fun addition to the celebration this year was the jeepney ride around the campus. I had the honor of taking counci lwoman Valerie Poindexter, who is half Filipino, for a short ride in it. I felt a momentary sense of nostalgia as it brought back so many memories from home. Other guests who have never ridden a jeepney before got a fleeting sense of our Filipino lifestyle.

But perhaps the most m e m o ra b l e a n d m o s t ant i c ipa tedpar t o f the entire event was the balut eating contest. A few brave adventurers signed up for the contest including councilman Greggor Ilagan who said in his speech earlier in the day that he wants to “rediscover” his identity as a Filipino. If devouring an entire balut without heaving is a litmus test if one really is a “Pinoy”, then I think he passed with flying colors.


councilwoman Valerie Poindexter and Dr. Randy Hirokawa showing off their Tinikling dancing skills

councilman greggor Ilagan, Dr. Rodney Jubilado, Jane clement and Dr. Norman Arancon

councilwoman Valerie Poindexter and Jane clement getting ready to ride around the campus in the jeepney.

Students performing a traditional and modern versions of the Tinikling dance

members of the Hilo Visayan club demonstrating how to make “puso”

“binasuhan” dance as performed by the Filipino Studies Certificate Program students

Our Big Island columnist Jane Caballero Clement is also the President of the Congress of Visayan Organizations and the President of the Kona Visayan Club. She works as a Legislative Assistant to Councilman Dru Kanuha. In addition to her volunteer activities, Jane finds time to host a Filipino television show on the local cable channel.


Born in the Philippines, Virgie Cruzada has lived on the island of Kauai since 1972. A mother of three adult children, she is a resident of Hanamaula w i t h h e r h u s b a n d , Bobby. She is a retired teacher who devotes a lot of time helping the community, including serving as president of the Kauai Visayan club and Vice President of the Congress for Visayan Organizations.

Rhoda Libre, a seasoned entertainer at Smith’s boat in Wailua, did an excel-lent job as Mistress of Ceremony during the gala night. Here, she is flanked by some cast members of the Lapulapu play. (back row, Left to Right): Noli basnillo (in red bandana); benedict Robles (Front Row, Left to Right): cheryl Jobe, Shirley Negrillo, Rhoda Libre, Rodilio baring, and Zosimo mata

Visayan beauties: Vivian Teshima, Rose Leach, Pia Salvador, myrna gooding, beth Lelm, and Jane clement.

A very attractive and graceful Sinulog dancer, Nita Alquisalas of Hanamaulu with her husband, Nelson (right), and her brother, Raymundo Sabay.

cast members in their colorful costumes of the play “Lapu-lapu”, written and directed by Virgie cruzada which was pre-sented at the gala night of the 28th congress of Visayan organizations (coVo) held on Kauai last August 8, 2010 at the Kauai coconut beach resort: Vaugh Fernandez (Rajah Humabon); Elsie Ramos (Humamai Humabon/Sinolug dancer); Rina Pascual (Sinulog dancer); Edmon battulayan (guardsman); Noli basnillo (guardsman); Rodilio baring (Lapu-lapu), a real descendant of Lapu-Lapu; benedict Robles (native warrior); Shirley Negrillo (bulakna, Lapu-lapu’s wife); cheryl ouye (Lady in-waiting, partly hidden); cheryl Jobe (Lady in-waiting); Wilfred Estenzo (expedition priest); Zosimo mata (native warrior); Harold Tallano (Spanish soldier); Alfonso Afos (Ferdinand magellan); and Taylor campbell (Spanish soldier). Nita Alquisalas (Sinulog dancer) was not available when this group picture was taken.

COVO Officers and members enjoyed an after-breakfast photo op during their recent visit at the residence of bobby and Virgie cruzada of Kauai on August 8, 2015, (coVo convention). Left to Right: ben Sanchez, Dita marshall, cora Nelson, Jane clement, Eva Washburn-Repollo, Hernando Tan, Juanita Tan, may mizuno, Virgie cruzada, bobby cruzada, and curtis Washburn.

COVO Officers at the panel table during the daytime session held at King Kaumu’ali’i Elementary School: Hernando Tan, Virgie cruzada (Vice-Pres.); may mizuno (Pres.); mary cruzada (Treasurer)


Kindness can also have an anti-depressant effect mediated by the release of serotonin. Even just focusing on warm, kind, compassionate thoughts about yourself and others, a practice called “loving kindness meditation,” can have many positive effects including increased feelings of joy, interest, serenity and hope. These feelings are linked to a boast in vagal nerve tone, lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and reduces inflammation in the body. Governments in Singapore and Canada have realized the positive effects of niceness in nation building. The Singapore Kindness Movement seeks to encourage everyone to start, show and share kindness; to inspire graciousness one kind act at a time. Th is movement was formed in 1997 under the leadership of then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong who saw a gracious society as one of the pillars of a strong country, together with a strong economy and good government. Today, Singapore is consistently rated as one of the most desirable places to live. It has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, and Singaporeans have few complaints. The nicer Singapore is viewed as a place to live, the more the flow of capital and investment

there is. Canadian niceness on the other hand is described as pure and untainted. Studies have shown that Canadians, perhaps in an effort not to offend, use an overabundance of “hedge words”, such as “could be” and “not bad.” And the most coveted of Canadian words: “sorry.” Sounds familiar, right? Yes, because we Filipinos are known as one of the sweetest and loving people in the world! Niceness is great for relationships too and is key to a functional, long-term marriage and partnership. Dr. John and Julie Gottman from Seattle, WA are able to predict - with 94 percent accuracy - which couples will stay together by just looking at certain indicators of niceness in their communication and relating to each other. Love they say is about developing a ‘habit of mind’ wherein you respond the right way to a partner’s “bids for connection” rather than dismissing it. It is like in Improv where you are encouraged to say “yes, and” rather than “no, but.” So for example, if your partner says, “what a lovely day outside,” a positive response would be something like, “Yes, and maybe we can go for a walk!” Being nice is a great technique to soften your karma away from negative thoughts, speech and actions to more positive life-affirming,

There is a joke in Hawaii that goes like this: “How do angry Filipino patients say, ‘screw you, Doctor?’” The answer, “Yes, Doctor. Yes, Doctor.” “Nice”, “hospitable”, “respectful”, and “polite” have all been used as traits to describe Filipinos. But is it good for us? There is a saying that, “nice people finish last,” implying that people take advantage of nice people. That’s true only if you equate niceness with lacking self-confidence and being passive. You can be assertive and nice if you start by being nice to yourself first and not let anyone walk all over you. Being nice without regard to any benefits that may come from it is ideal. Be nice simply because it feels good. There are so many benefits of niceness. Following are the niceties of being nice. O u r b r a i n s a r e literally wired to be nice and compassionate. The periaqueductal gray (PAG) region of the brain which is responsible for functions such as pain modulation, anxiety and sexual behavior, has been shown to be involved when subjects are stimulated to feel kindness and compassion. This is true too for the caudate nucleus and the anterior cingulate cortex of the brain, which are responsible for pleasure and rewards. These regions of the brain are important for survival so it is not surprising that recent studies have shown that cooperative behaviors actually increase survival of animal and human populations. It is cooperation not competition that is instinctive; and the rule is ‘survival of the nicest.’ Acts of kindness can also lead to increases of oxytocin in the brain and body. This can cause the release of a chemical called nitric oxide which dilates in blood vessels and lowers blood pressure.

by Dr. RIcKIE cAmARA

joyful feelings. Just simply be concerned with the people you are with and ask, “What is their need?” One tends to be more depressed when one is self-obsessed and moving away from selfish ego-hood makes you happier and happier. Being nice is a skill and like anything, the more you practice it, the better you get. Do it because it feels nice to be nice. Because I may have held your attention for too long, it would be nice of me to end this article now.

Dr. Rickie Camara is a Board-Certified psychiatrist and Bikram Yoga teacher. He teaches yoga classes at Hotyoga8 in Kaimuki and at Bikram Yoga Kapolei. He has a yoga-aligned health coaching and counseling practice in Kahala.You can hear him every Friday on the radio at KNDI between 8 and 8:30 a.m. on the Medical Forum with Flor Martinez. Email contact at [email protected].


Legally, only the Philippines can construct these artificial structures within its exclusive economic zones (EEZ) or continental shelf. To date , Ch ina has constructed the following artificial structures on top of these LTEs: • Subi Reef • Johnson Reef • McKennan Reef • Kagitingan Reef • Gaven Reef • Calderon Reef

The 9-dashed lines. A seemingly innocuous claim promoted by China over the entire South China/West Philippine Sea. This claim, if left unchecked, carries significant ramifications. Continued enforcement of these “9-dashed lines” places

The arbitration against China is solely a maritime dispute, not territorial since the disputed areas are low-tide elevations (LTEs). UNCLOS has no jurisdiction over territorial disputes, only maritime disputes. Under UNCLOS, only the Philippines can seize land in low-tide elevations. Therefore an LTE, states Justice Carpio, “does not become an island or rock above water at high tide by virtue of reclamation” (GMA News Online). Moreover, he explains that “Reclamation cannot convert an island incapable of human habitation or economic life of its own into one that is capable” (GMA News Online). In applying this rationale, Justice Carpio argues that the artificial structures China has constructed, and continues to construct, are clearly illegal under the UNCLOS.

two, the arbitration seeks a peaceful resolution to the dispute. Indeed, in an article from GMA News Online, Justice Carpio commented that, “The Philippines loses about 80 percent of its exclusive economic zone facing the West Philippine Sea.” he said. “China’s nine-dashed lines claim encloses 85.7 percent of the entire South China Sea. This is equivalent to 3 million square kilometers out of 3.5 million square kilometers surface area.” According to Just ice Carpio, China did not explain the legal basis for the 9 dashes. Furthermore, the terms China uses, namely “adjacent” and “relevant” waters, to substantiate their claims,are not official United Nations Convention on the Law and the Sea (UNCLOS) terms. When prompted to elaborate on these terms, China refused to explain their meanings. Based on China’s actions, Justice Carpio interprets the 9-dashed lines as conferring upon China sovereignty rights. In other words, if Philippine Navy ships cross this “national boundary” line, they would must first seek permission from China. Since 1946, China’s gradual expansion in the South China Sea has led to moving their defense perimeter southward. This expansion, Justice Carpio asserts, is China’s grand design to control the South China Sea for economic and military purposes.

“Hal f of the wor ld ’s seaborne t rade passes through the South China Sea, annually valued at $5.3 trillion.” These were the opening words declared by Senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Cour t o f the Philippines Antonio T. Carpio for a September 18th lecture entitled “Developments and Evidence in the Philippine Arbitration Against China on the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea Dispute” at the University of Hawaii’s William S. Richardson School of Law. At the lecture, Justice Carpio discussed recent developments concerning the Philippine arbitration currently pending before the United Nations Arbitral Tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Peace Palace at the Hague inthe Netherlands. After multiple incidents with Chinese sea vessels, the Phi l ippines initiated a United Nations Convention on the Law and the Sea (UNCLOS) Annex VII arbitration in 2013. The arbitration considers policy implications stemming from China’s recent massive buildup of land reclamation activities in the disputed South China/West Philippine Sea. More specifically, the Philippine arbitrations seek to invalidate China’s famous “9-dash line” map asserting Chinese ownership over the entirety of the West Philippine/South China Sea. In light of the tension between the

Photo Credit: Philippine Consulate in Honolulu

The Fight for the Philippine Sea

Reclaiming the global commons:

Randy Cortez currently attends the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii Manoa. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy along with a Bachelor’s Degree in Filipino and Philippine Literature at the same institution. Randy is a Past President of the JCI-Hawaii Filipino Junior Chamber (a.k.a Filipino Jaycees), and also devotes his time to the Knights of Rizal - Hawaii Chapter.

Sources:Carpio, Antonio. “”Developments and Evidence in the Philippine Arbitration Against China on the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea Dispute.” University of Hawaii – Manoa.William S. Richardson School of Law, Honolulu, HI. 18 September 2015. Keynote Address.

Justice Antonio T. Carpio.,Supreme Court of the Philippines, (2013), http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/aboutsc/justices/j-carpio.php.

Justice Caprio: China’s Reclamation Poses ‘National Crisis’ for PHL”, GMA News Online, (Apr. 23, 2015), http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/475282/news/nation/justice-carpio-china-s-reclamation-poses-national-crisis-for-phl. UN Arbitral Tribunal Starts Hearing on Phil ippine Case vs. China, PhilStar, (July 7, 2015), http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/07/07/1474277/un-arbitral-tribunal-starts-hearing-philippines-case-vs-china.

by RANDy coRTEZ

the Philippines in a crisis of national proportions. Just ice Carpio, with the official support of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, continues to provide lectures all over the world to discuss the merits, evidence, and developments of the South China/West Philippine Sea dispute. Born in Davao City, Philippines, Justice Antonio T. Carpio was sworn in as member of the Supreme Court on October 26, 2001. Justice Carpio obtained his law degree in 1975 from the College of Law of the University of the Philippines where he graduated valedictorian and cum laude.


to expand housing inventory options, increase the number of placements made through the Housing First program, and urge them to make the placement of homeless families a priority. Homelessness can have a disproportionate impact on children in homeless families,according to www.doorwaysva.org, including:

• Homeless children are sick four times as often as their classmates, with high rates of acute and chronic illnesses;

• H o m e l e s s c h i l d r e n suffer from emotional or behavioral problems that interfere with learning at almost three times the rate of other children, including episodes of anxiety, depression and/or withdrawal; and

• Homeless children who are able to attend school have more problems l e a r n i n g i n s c h o o l compared with other children. For example, homeless children are four times as likely to have developmental delays, twice aslikely to have learning disabilities, and twice as likely to repeat a grade, most often due to frequent absences and moves to new schools.

By prioritizing homeless fami l ies for immediate housing this can begin the critical stabilization process for the children that is so necessary to their education and growth. Both of these resolutions are just two small tools we can use in a very large toolbox as solutions to the complex problem of homelessness and our affordable housing needs. I will continue to work with the city and our state partners to improve the quality of life for all of our residents.

mEN’S mARcH AgAINST VIoLENcE. councilmember Elefante, Representative Ty cullen, councilmember Ron menor, and Senator clarence Nishihara joined hundreds of other supporters in the men’s march Against Violence held on october 8. Participants walked from the State capitol to Honolulu Hale. They are joined here by Aiea High School students.

by bRANDoN ELEFANTECouncil Member

City and County of Honolulu

Expanding affordable housing opportunities and

housing the homeless As we continue to search for options to make more housing units available in an affordable range, we have appealed to landlords to participate in the Housing First program. I also recently introduced Resolution 15-284 urging the Hawaii State Legislature to appropriate sufficient funds to ensure that the public housing rental units that are currently off-line pending renovations/repairs are renovated as soon as possible to help meet the shortage of affordable housing units. With over 400 units off-line it becomes critical that these public housing units be restored to the available inventory of homes quickly. The Hawaii State Legislature appropriated $45 million in Fiscal Year 2014 and $26 million in Fiscal Year 2015 to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA) to upgrade and renovate public housing facilities. In the last legislative session, lawmakers appropriated $4.1 million per year for Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017 to be used for improvements and renovations of public housing facilities, though the HPHA Executive Director testified that the Authority needed $180 million to begin addressing the $822 million backlog of public housing repair and maintenance needs over the next 10 years. The state and the city are both engaged in finding ways to increase affordable housing opportunities, and by quickly prioritizing and funding these repairs at our existing public housing projects,the state will be taking immediate steps to get units back online to help address the acute shortage of affordable housing in Honolulu. T h o u g h t h e c i t y administration is moving forward with placing homeless individuals in housing through the Housing First program, I also introduced Resolution 15-283 to urge the administration

by NANcy bERNAL

success for A.P. Productions, LLC. Jed Madela is one of the finest male vocalists from the Philippines with an impressive vocal range. His versatility for performing all types of music from Opera to Top Forty Hits to Oldies is very entertaining, and his warm engaging personality captures the audience. He is truly a superior artist that deserves recogni t ion nat iona l ly a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y. Congratulations Arnold Pontillas on producing an excellent concert.

• • • • The Malama Palama Gala Fundraiser for Palama Settlement was held on October 17 at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel Monarch Room. Al Waterson emceed this prestigious event that honored Emme Tomimbang and Chief Francis Keala. Emme graciously accepted her award and Mark Keala (son of Chief Keala) accepted the award on behalf of his father. Congratulations to Executive Director – Wendy Abe on organizing this beautiful event.

• • • • T h e Be s t Budd i e s organization held their annua l fundra i se r on October 17 at J immy Buffett’s Restaurant and

presented a star-studded entertainment l ine-up. Two nationally-acclaimed actresses participated – Kelly Hu and Lauren Potter (“Becky” from the television show “Glee”). Leo Days (“Elvis” from “Burn’n Love Waikiki”) with dancers - Christina and Natalie, Jordan Segundo, Aidan James and Al Harrington performed – all for a very worthy cause.

• • • • The Miss Hawaii USA and Miss Hawai i Teen USA Pageant is scheduled for November 22 at The Hawaii Convention Center. Participating in the Miss Division is Michelle Targonski (Miss Diamond Head USA). Michelle is also a professional dancer in the “Burn’n Love Waikiki” Show and has been busy doing appearances and interviews on the KHON 2 Morning Show, Hawaii Public Radio and for various publications. In addition, she is helping a great charity – The Fur-Angel Foundation by fostering puppies that need a forever home. F o r n o w , T h a t ’ s Entertainment! (If you would like to submit enter ta inment information, please contact Nancy Bernal at 947-5736 or e-mail her at [email protected])

com or (951) 696-0184. For more information, go to ApauloMusicProductions.com

• • • • The Jed Madela “All Requests” Concert on October 23 was a huge

Taylor, Guitarist – Paul Brown, Keyboardist - Gregg Karukas and Saxophonist – Michael Paulo on Saturday, November 21 at The Hawaii Convention Center – Liliu Theater, 1801 Kalakaua Avenue at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at TIX.

Get ready for another Smooth Jazz Concer t coming to Honolulu in November! Apaulo Music Productions (Michael Paulo – Owner/Producer) presents a Smooth Jazz Concert featuring Saxman – Paul


Paul brown Jordan Segundo and Jed madela at the “All Requests” concert

Al Waterson and Emme Tomim-bang at The malama Palama gala Fundraiser for Palama Settlement

Al Waterson, Wendy Abe and mark Ke-ala at The malama Palama gala Fund-raiser for Palama Settlement

Left to right: christina cowle (Dancer), Leo Days (Elvis in “burn’n Love Waikiki”), Kelly Hu and Natalie Freeman (Danc-er) at The best buddies Fundraiser

Jordan Segundo and Lauren Potter (Ac-tress in “glee”) at The best buddies Fundraiser

Leo Days (Elvis in “burn’n Love Waikiki) and michelle Targons-ki (miss Diamond Head uSA)

“The Senate’s unanimous action is a key step to ensuring that critical veterans’ programs and offices will continue uninterrupted,” said Senator Hirono. “I’m proud to have worked with my Veterans’ Affairs Committee colleagues to ensure the passage o f l eg i s l a t i on I authored that will help hundreds of thousands of homeless veterans across the country each year, including hundreds in Hawaii, and keep the Manila VA Regional Benefit Office operational.” T h e K e e p i n g O u r Commitment to Overseas Veterans Act extends the authority to operate the VA Regional Benefit Office in Manila, which serves about 15,000 VA beneficiaries residing in the Philippines and

WA S H I N G TO N , D . C — President Obama has signed into law legislation that, amongst other things, keeps the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Benefit Office in Manila open for business. U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Republican colleague Senator John Boozman (R-Arkansas) have included legislation in S.2082, a bill that extends a number of crucial health and benefit programs for veterans. In all, funding for the VA Regional Benefit Office in Manila along with seven federal programs aimed at assisting homeless veterans have been extended for another year. These programs would have expired on September 30, had the senators not acted.

Hirono Legislation to Keep Manila VA Office Open Becomes Law


some 30,000 Social Security beneficiaries across the Asia-Pacific. The new law also sustains health care programs for

homeless veterans, provides grants and additional financial assistance for homeless veterans with special needs.

by ANgIE DyTIoco SANTIAgo


Mrs. Hawaii Filipina

Novie Hartwell takes her final walk as Mrs. Hawaii Fil-ipina 2014.

Five lovely mrs Hawaii Filipina contestantsin their beautiful ternos.

Kauai residents Jimmy Iloreta, Edwin Navar-ro, Kauai mayor bernard carvalho, and Lester calipjo.

Froebel garcia, Lei Acidera Juliano, grace go, Amy and Romy Dela cruz, Salvador obaldo, Alex Vergara, and mayrose and Richard borromeo.

mrs. Hawaii Filipina 2015 wiith her supportive husband Law-rence miguel.

mrs. Hawaii Filipina 2014 Novie Hartwell, Ambassa-dress of Education Jocel Taguiran, 2nd Runner-up Ivory carin, mrs. Hawaii Filipina 2015 maryann miguel, 1st Runner-up Leilanie Tanaka, and Ambassadress of culture Janeth Doruelo.

maryann miguel was crowned mrs. Hawaii Filipina by outgoing queen Novie Hartwell and uFcH President maria Etrata.


Miss TeenHawaii Filipina

Newly crowned miss Teen Hawaii Fili-pina was ecstatic and all smiles as she received kisses and hugs from her big-gest fans - her proud mom and Dad!

mrs. Hawaii 2015 maryann mi-guel, miss Hawaii 2015 chel-sea guzman, uFcH Teen Am-bassador Shannon Domingsil, miss Teen Hawaii Filipina 2014 Raizza Pulido, miss Teen Hawaii Filipina 2015 Ronnie campman, First Runner-up Rachel Dela cruz, miss oahu Filipina 2015 Kylie Nishida, and uFcH President maria Etrata.

cousins Tiffani Domingsil and Jennavie Ancheta sang a beautiful duet for the au-dience.

uFcH Teen Ambassador Shannon Doming-sil with parents Ana and Roger Domingsil and brother Shane.

miss Teen Hawaii Filipina 2015 Ronnie campman is surrounded by supportive family and friends.

First runner-up Rachel Dela cruz and par-ents Amy and Romy Dela cruz.


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