Hawaii Filipino Chronicle - February 17, 2024

FEBRUARY 17, 2024  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  1

FEBRUARY 17, 2024

CANDID PERSPECTIVES

My Ilocano Father, Citizen Willie and His the History Made on His Birthday Week SOCIAL SECURITY Q & A

What’s New in Social Benefits This 2024?

NAPCA is Here to Help

LINGERING THOUGHTS

In Celebration of Valentine’s Day: Poetry by Will Espero

PHILIPPINE NEWS

US tells Marcos: Ask and We are here

2 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  FEBRUARY 17, 2024

EDITORIAL

FROM THE PUBLISHER

reaking just before press time Abortion Access Should features on immigration was removed this week from a conBe Maintained, Tougher troversial multi-billion dollars foreign aid package approved by Immigration Restrictions the U.S. Senate which legislation currently rests in the House. Most analysts say at the Border is Necesit was apparent reforms to immigration were going to happen before this year’s election for political reasary while Family-Based not sons. But certainly immigration (the top priority for Republicans, according to polls) and abortion (an issue Democrat lawmakers Immigration Must Be and strategists want to be a top issue) will weigh in heavily on the minds of voters in the 2024 elections.

Protected In our commitment to raising awareness as we do each election

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olls show that abortion and immigration are among the top priorities this 2024 election. Historically, both have been magnet issues, bringing voters to the polls. But this election is different as the urgency to act is amplified. And it’s not just political pundits who are saying this, but average Americans who are expressing passion over these issues.

Abortion Political conservatives on religious grounds applaud the Dobbs ruling that overturned Roe v Wade two years ago, ending decades of federal protection of abortion. This ruling gave states the power to decide how abortion should be handled. Some states like Hawaii have enhanced access to abortion; while others went the complete opposite, implementing bans on abortion that includes cases of rape or incest.

Then there are other states – mostly battleground states – where a tug-of-war on restrictions and rights to abortion has yet to be re-codified since Dobbs, and this election could determine that outcome.

Nationally, abortion is still a red-hot issue even for states like Hawaii that affirmed abortion rights because there is the possibility that a national band on abortion could take away states’ power to protect it. For conservatives, they see the ban on abortion as not complete if it could be performed in some states and not others.

Furthermore, with the availability of abortion-inducing pills, it’s even conceivable for an abortion to be done in states that outlaw it.

While there is always a place for morality and religiosity in the legislating process, the issue of abortion is unique because it involves intrinsic rights to a woman’s own body and the freedom to have autonomy over it. This is the most basic of fundamental rights as a human being and for this reason the right to an abortion should be protected.

Additionally, there are cases where abortion must absolutely be protected like when a woman’s life is in jeopardy, or a pregnancy poses health risks. This then becomes a public health issue, and, in these cases, abortion should also be protected.

Where there is a compelling and strong argument for restricting abortion is when a fetus would be viable outside the womb. In these cases, there also must be protection of life for the baby. Many states that permit an abortion have such timeline provisions.

Immigration It’s been close to three decades since the last sweeping immigration bill. President Joe Biden attempted an overhaul in his proposed U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 sent to Congress. Former President Donald Trump also proposed a comprehensive immigration reform bill.

But both presidents did not have a majority in the Congress when they proposed their plan and failed to gain any traction.

Both Biden and Trump’s bills contained features that consensus could have been reached if it were not for politics, as well as features that were diametrically in opposition to their party’s fundamental approach to immigration.

Considering that Biden and Trump most likely will face off

(continue on page 3)

year, in our cover story this issue we take a hard look at abortion and immigration. Veteran political reporter and associate editor Edwin Quinabo frames both issues, what’s at stake, what a majority of Americans would want and what top presidential contenders Joe Biden and Donald Trump said on abortion and what they most likely would propose on immigration. This is the first presidential election since the Dobbs ruling that overturned Roe v Wade.

Therefore, we see how important this issue is. How contentious is immigration? The House just voted to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, casting a historic vote that marks the first time a Cabinet secretary has been impeached in nearly 150 years. Read what some members in our community have to say about these two highly contentious issues.

On the topic of abortion, we have an opinion piece submitted

by Sheryll Bonilla, Esq. who discusses situations that could affect a woman’s choice to have an abortion, including health risks to the pregnant woman, cases of rape and incest, and chromosomal abnormalities.

On to a lighter topic -- Valetine’s Day just passed but it’s still the month of love. In this issue we have three articles relating to love and romance. First, HFC columnist Will Espero shares a few of his poetry. Like chocolates and flowers, poetry and romance have always been a perfect match. An excerpt from one of his poems: “Surround my soul with lasting hope, convince my mind you’re always here, Promise you will never leave Dream with me, erase the fear.”

Second, HFC columnist Seneca Moraleda-Puguan writes “10 Years of Love and It’s Still Worth It,” a beautiful story of her marriage to her husband from the cradle of their relationship in the Philippines to the building of their family in South Korea to their current love journey in Switzerland, one of the most romantic places in the world. Lastly, HFC columnist Rose Cruz Churma submits “Pinoy Romance Books — A Dying Genre in Philippine Publishing.” While this genre has faded into the sunset, these books remain collectors’ items.

Love is boundless and beyond romantic relationships. In this issue we also have two heartfelt family tributes. HFC columnist Elpidio Estioko writes “Marciano Reasonda Estioko, Jr: A Tribute to an Amazing Brother” and HFC columnist Emil Guillermo contributes “My Ilocano Father, Citizen Willie And His The History Made On His Birthday Week.” These tributes will inspire nostalgic moments of your own family members who’ve passed on.

In this issue we continue HFC columnist Dr. Arcelita Imasa’s Part 2 of Workers’ Compensation, and we have an article on what’s new in Social Security benefits for 2024. We hope you enjoy these and our other columns and news.

Lastly, the Lenten season began this week with Ash Wednesday.

It’s a special time for many in our community as we embark on our annual journey to strengthen our relationship with God. It’s a time of prayer, repentance, fasting and charity. We hope your Lenten season is a meaningful one as you reflect on God’s presence in your daily life.

A reminder, for your convenience, our website has the latest and archived issues of our newspaper. Get your free e-copy at www.thefilipinochronicle.com. Thank you for supporting the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. Until the next issue, Aloha and Mabuhay!

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

Publisher & Managing Editor

Chona A. Montesines-Sonido

Associate Editors

Edwin QuinaboDennis Galolo

Contributing Editor

Belinda Aquino, Ph.D.

Design

Junggoi Peralta

Photography Tim Llena

Administrative Assistant Lilia Capalad

Editorial & Production Assistant Jim Bea Sampaga

Columnists

Carlota Hufana Ader Rose Cruz Churma Elpidio R. Estioko Willie Espero Perry Diaz Emil Guillermo Arcelita Imasa, M.D. Seneca Moraleda-Puguan J.P. Orias Charlie Sonido, M.D. Emmanuel S. Tipon, Esq.

Contributing Writers

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

Philippine Correspondent: Greg Garcia

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

Cecille PirosRey Piros

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

Advertising / Marketing Director Chona A. Montesines-Sonido

Account Executives Carlota Hufana Ader JP Orias

FEBRUARY 17, 2024  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  3

EDITORIAL

The $95 Billion Aid Package Passed by the Senate Is Not the Will of Most Americans; the House Should Reject It

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here’s a reason why President Joe Biden’s approval ratings are abysmal – the lowest ever of an incumbent president running for reelection in modern history – and it’s not just because of age.

If age were the only reason, this does not explain why the Democratic Party is experiencing a rift like never before in modern history, why some 100 members of Congress from the Democratic Party are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and some several other hundreds in the House and Senate are not.

Biden’s unpopularity and the rift among Democrats in Congress has to do with – the establishment Democrats not listening to its grassroots supporters and grassroots supporters’ frustration over this.

This is why millennials and Gen Zers who voted for the Democratic Party last election are now seriously considering a third-party candidate. And even as the polls show this, there is arrogance by the Democratic Party establishment to plow ahead with business as usual.

Foreign policy debacle The latest example of this unresponsiveness to the needs of grassroots Democrats (and grassroots Republicans) by the establishment is this week’s passage of a U.S. Senate bill of $95 billion in aid for Israel,

Ukraine, and Taiwan. The legislation includes $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel’s war with Hamas, $8 billion for Taiwan and partners in the Indo-Pacific to counter China, and $9.2 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza.

Our U.S. Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono supported this funding bill. Twenty-two Senate Republicans voted for the package, along with almost all Democratic lawmakers, barring Peter Welch of Vermont, Jeff Merkley of Oregon, and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who voted against it. The 70-29 vote put an end to nearly a week of floor discussion and four months of back-and-forth over President Joe Biden’s October appeal to Congress to further support Ukraine.

The time it took to pass this bill as well as the border security language previously included that was taken out indicate that there was behind the scenes arm-twisting and hard-ball politicking to get senators on board. Still, the bill passed. It now needs to pass the House of Representatives, where it’s likely to face stiff opposition.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Putin “will regret the day he questioned America’s resolve.”

His rhetoric is of the same ilk as those expressed by politicians to convince Americans why we should invade Iraq, eventually known to be un-

der false pretenses, and over a million deaths and $1.1 trillion dollars spent over the duration of nearly two decades.

The only difference is that Schumer is a Democrat while then it was a Republican in Bush who led us down that path that most Americans agree today was not the right thing to do.

But what Schumer, Biden and the Bushes represent is an establishment focused on the same foreign policy of empire and dominance by the U.S. in a vastly changing world where cooperation is increasingly needed considering the rise of co-global powers in BRICS. Grassroots Democrats and Republicans, particularly among millennials and Gen Z, believe it’s time to be investing in our country, our people, our infrastructure, our education, our affordable housing needs, our healthcare and the myriad of other needs we Americans have and not be sending billions upon billions in foreign aid for military conflict.

Security and securing the U.S. global interests, our senators might say are reasons to carry on these proxy wars in Ukraine and Israel. But is it really safer for us that we are engaged in provocation instead of cooperation? A powerful message has already been sent to Putin that NATO would not allow expansion. And is bombing (the U.S. supplying Israel with weapons) Gaza that’s already in a humanitarian crisis

helping to stop terror or is it actually inspiring terror?

More on Russia -- many military analysts are already saying that the war in Ukraine is over. We have an impasse.

We see that the U.S. sanctions on Russia are not working. Russia posted among the highest GDPs in Europe last year (BRICS picked up the slack and Europe continues to trade heavily with Russia) and Russia is now trading in the Yuan and Ruble (previously traded in U.S. Dollars) which only hurts the U.S. It’s a no brainer that Russia will survive economically and militarily in this conflict.

This is supported by impartial benchmarks. Therefore, at this stage it’s in the best interest of Americans that the U.S. be brokering a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

Americans should also be demanding that our politicians tell us what the end goal for the U.S. in our support for Ukraine is. Has any politician given the American people a straight, concrete answer?

No. Instead, our senators send Ukraine billions upon billions more in aid as we see our own American cities fall further behind other advanced cities like Tokyo, Singapore, Dubai and others.

It’s a policy choice that we’ve allowed other global cities to surpass our own urban cores that need modern-

ization. It’s a policy choice that we spend billions, trillions even, to be sent abroad for wars and conflict that not only puts our country behind others in many areas like education, but our global security remains the same. These terror groups that we’ve fought against are still in the Middle East. Where is the gain?

Where is the security?

Certainly, halting militarism is not the answer and not what Americans want. What Americans want is a balanced approach, investing in our military (not the current astronomical spending that outpaces the nine other countries’ military budgets behind us combined), but also investing in the American people and our cities.

Lastly, opinion polls show that a majority of Americans (both Democrat and Republican) over 60% want a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Funding billions more to Israel is not listening to Americans, but rather kowtowing to special interest groups who always seem to think they know what’s best for Americans despite what we articulate.

We encourage the U.S House, historically known as being more responsive to the will of the people, will do the right thing, listen to the grassroots Democrats and Republicans, and vote down this colossal aid package to Ukraine and Israel. It’s time that we reprioritize our future.

on immigration like never before according to polls. So, the political environment in 2024 is ripe for immigration to finally get an overhaul.

Both Democrats and Republicans agree on a strong border security. In fact, in the latest immigration legislation this year at the Senate, President Biden said he would sign that working bill if the House approved it. Some of the features included perhaps would not have been agreed upon by past Democratic administrations, but the crisis at the border has worsened and even Democrats favor tougher border restrictions.

Asylum laws must be changed to make it harder for migrants who do not qualify for legitimate refugee status to take advantage of the system. There should be a screening process before migrants enter the border.

This would prevent massive entry, save on processing costs and expedite legitimate claims at the Immigration Court.

Homeland security should also be given the power to close the border when there is a migrant overflow. And catch-andrelease must be dramatically altered or dismantled completely because too many migrants who come into the country

knowing that they do not qualify for asylum simply do not show up for their court hearing.

At the same time, immigration via asylum should be maintained. The system just needs to be tightened to allow legitimate asylum seekers to gain entry.

Where Democrats and Republicans disagree on is on family-based immigration, which actually is the mechanism most immigration takes place.

Democrats want to keep family-based immigration and improve on it to eliminate lengthy wait times, clear back logs and increase per-country visa caps.

They also want to make it eas-

ier for STEM graduates to stay in the US and improve access to green cards. Trump, on the other hand, had proposed to dismantle family-based immigration and replace it with an unfair merit system.

In this area of immigration, our Filipino community has a strong interest to vote for someone who would protect family-based immigration, not only in the spirit of perpetuating a system that many in our community has benefited from, but to enable the multitudes of families currently going through the process to be able to reunite with their loved ones.

(Abortion Access ....from page 2)

once again in a rematch, voters have an idea of what immigration plans might be brought to the table.

The cynical voter can rightly say that each administration after Reagan had legitimate opportunities to pass comprehensive immigration reform and either they didn’t prioritize it or used the issue as red meat to win elections. When Democrats held the presidency and a majority in Congress, they instead prioritized healthcare.

When Republicans held a trifecta, they instead passed corporate tax cuts. But like abortion, there is an urgency to act

4 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  FEBRUARY 17, 2024

COVER STORY

Democrats Want Abortion to Be the Number One Issue, Republicans Say Immigration Tops Their Priorities in Election 2024

By Edwin Quinabo

from all over the world is essential to what it means to be American.

But nearly three-quarters (72%) of Rergency and emergency – are just two of the buzz words employed publicans said being too open to immigraby Democratic and Republican tion risks America’s identity, 15% of Demostrategists to frame the debate crats, 47% overall.

Only 29% of respondents said they apon abortion and immigration prove of how Biden is handling immigration, this election year.

Abortion and immigration have histori- and Republicans hold a 12-point advantage on cally been a polarizing issue, capable of mo- the question of which party Americans think bilizing voters on both sides of the political would do a better job when it comes to dealing spectrum. Even before Dobbs’ ruling two with the issue, according to the same poll.

In a Harvard CAPS-Harris poll pubyears ago that overturned Roe v Wade, Democrat politicians have been motivating voters lished last December, just 38% of voters said they approved of Biden’s handling of to vote with abortion rights in mind.

For decades Republicans have made im- immigration.

Within immigration, voters’ top priormigration – threats of foreigners entering illegally and changing the nation’s cultural ities were increased border security (41%) and economic landscape – a centerpiece of and a pathway for legalization of DREAMers (children brought into the U.S. illegally) their election campaigns.

Politicos say both abortion and immigra- at 28%. The least importance was given to tion in this year’s election could have great- taking in refugees trying to escape war and er gravitas since this is the first presidential violence (15%) and increasing deportations election after Dobbs and that border cross- of immigrants in the country illegally (14%), ings into the U.S. at the southern border – the Marist poll showed.

Overall, polls show a majority of Amereither illegally or via legal asylum – are at an icans support abortion access or reproducall-time high.

According to national polls, voters agree tive rights. When it comes to immigration, that these two issues place high in their pri- despite a passionate and vocal anti-immiorities in 2024 and could sway their voting gration electorate that has been capturing headlines, a majority of voters remain open preferences. to welcoming immigrants.

Based on poll numbers Democrats should What national polls say An overwhelming majority of Democrats have an edge on both issues. But experts say and left-leaning independents support abortion the degree to which the voting electorate is and reproductive rights -- 82% disapproved of passionate about abortion access or immigrathe overturning of Dobbs, and 61% of Ameri- tion will determine turnout at the ballot box.

As elections are never determined by a cans opposed the end of federal protections on single-issue politicos say the economy is alabortion, according to a Gallop poll.

A new NPR/PBS NewsHour Marist poll ways a strong motivator for voters while conducted this February showed immigra- concern over inflation, a carryover from tion as the number one issue Republicans are the last midterm, will factor prominently most concerned about. Inflation was second in this election cycle once again. Unique to and everything else did not come close. For this 2024 election, politicos expect foreign independents, immigration placed second policy specific to the war in the Middle East while Democrats were most concerned with – which they say is being poorly handled – as high in their priorities among millennials preserving democracy.

The poll showed a slight majority of adult and Gen Z. Americans are still more open to immigration in 2024. A majority or 57% overall, 84% State level consideration on abortion Since Dobbs gave abortion access or reDemocrats, 27% Republicans, 55% independents said the country’s openness to people strictions back to the states, politicos say this

U

issue will most likely affect state-level races in battleground states.

In Hawaii’s case, 2024 is the first election that Hawaii voters will decide if they agree with Hawaii’s direction on abortion.

Last year, Hawaii’s Democratic-controlled legislature and Gov. Josh Green signed into law a bill that expanded access to abortion in reaction to Dobbs.

Family immigration could be a strong consideration for Hawaii voters

While the top issue on immigration concerning border crossings at the southern border is not the highest of priorities for Hawaii residents given the state’s isolation, immigration rights experts say that family immigration could be a concern.

Family immigration has been the primary basis for legal immigration to the United States, including in Hawaii. Most immigrants to Hawaii trace their immigration to a family member who sponsored them into the country.

While Trump was president in his second half of his term, he proposed a complete dismantling of family immigration, favoring a new system that’s merit based.

If it were not for the Democrats gaining control of the House in the 2018 midterm, family-based immigration could have been upended, politicos say, which is why immigrant advocates in Hawaii say immigration must be factored in their decision-making for 2024, if they want family-based immigration to be protected.

This is the context, the political climate surrounding abortion and immigration as the dawn of a weighty election approaches.

What are the specifics of these issues voters (continue on page 4) will be considering?

FEBRUARY 17, 2024  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  5

COVER STORY (Democrats.....from page 4)

Abortion in Hawaii A Pew Research Center poll showed 66% of Hawaii adults favor that abortion be legal in all or most cases. The right to abortion’s popularity fueled last year’s legislation to expand access to abortion in the state.

During that bill-signing ceremony, State Sen. Joy San Buenaventura said Hawaii lawmakers acted so that women would have continued access that three generations of women in the state had since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roe v Wade in 1973. Prior to the federal ruling, Hawaii legalized abortion in 1970. It was the first state in the nation to allow abortion.

“Hawaii will continue to be a beacon ... physicians need only think about their patients and need not have to worry about prosecutions or extradition,” said San Buenaventura, chairperson of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

The latest abortion law in Hawaii legalizes: * abortion until a fetus would be viable outside the womb. After that, it’s legal if a patient’s life or health is in danger. * allows physician assistants to perform abortions in addition to previously doctors and advanced registered nurse practitioners * allows minors to get abortions without the consent of a parent or guardian * stops other states from sanctioning local doctors and nurses who provide abortion care to out-ofstate residents “Hawaii has shown that we will stand by our medical providers, that we will stand with our physicians, and that those who provide safe abortion and contraception — even if it’s just to offer advice to tourists — will not have to fear arrest, extradition, subpoena,” San Buenaventura said.

Pro and anti-abortion Filipino residents that the Chronicle reached out to did not want to comment on record with their names but agreed to speak in confidence.

Cora, 52, Waipahu, said she had an abortion at 17 years old. “I was young and

felt I wasn’t prepared to have a child. It has been my secret for many years, even though society is accepting of it. Only two members of my family know about it. Until today, it is something I think about and feel guilty about.”

Cora grew up Catholic and remains committed to the faith, she said, which she believes is the reason guilt persists. “There were stages in my life that I consciously distanced myself from the Church because of this guilt.

But I believe that God is forgiving, and he knows my despair over what I did. And I believe the grace of the Holy Spirit keeps bringing me back to the Church.”

“If I could go back in time, I would have had my baby and would be loving three kids, one addition to our family,” Cora said.

Susan, Honolulu, a healthcare professional, believes reproductive freedom is a basic right, a human right, that women should have control over their own body. “Abortion is a healthcare issue, a public health issue. I know women who’ve had an abortion and believe me it’s not something they took lightly. And that choice they made was their own personal business, and it shouldn’t be the government’s business to regulate abortion. It’s such a private and personal decision that no one I know feels comfortable talking about it.”

What politicians are saying about abortion At a recent strategy retreat attended by Democratic leaders, they said they want to make abortion rights the number one issue and want to draw a contrast to Republicans both nationally and in the states.

Focusing on abortion has paid off well for Democrats in the last midterm election and had surprising results in state-level races even in ruby red states since Dobbs.

“This is the pivotal issue of 2024,” Rep. Katherine Clark (Mass.), the Democratic whip, said. “It is the fight that will determine the trajectory of the next four years, and the next four decades.”

President Joe Biden said,

“It was Donald Trump and his Supreme Court who ripped away the rights and freedoms of women in America. And it will be Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and all of you who are going to restore those rights for the women of America.”

“Donald Trump is betting we won’t — you won’t vote on this issue,” he said. “Well, guess what? I’m betting he’s wrong,” Biden said.

Realizing the popularity of abortion rights, leading GOP candidate and former president Donald Trump has toned down some of his sharper anti-abortion rhetoric. Trump said he’s open to compromise and told voters at a town hall in Iowa that he favored certain exceptions including cases of rape and incest. “We’re living in a time when there has to be a little bit of a concession in one way or another,” he said.

In large conservative pockets across the nation, Republican candidates are far from shying away from the issue of abortion despite pro-abortion rights sentiments nationally; and they are looking into legislation strengthening abortion restrictions.

National ban on abortion One in three women of reproductive age live in a state with an abortion ban. Prochoice women activists say they want federal legislation to protect access to abortion services for everyone regardless of where they live, and to protect the ability of health care providers to provide these services in a safe and accessible manner.

They say their greatest fear is for a Republican-controlled presidency and Congress -should they have the numbers – to outlaw abortion nationally.

Vice President Harris visited her home state of California in January and cautioned Democratic voters against complacency, warning that a federal abortion ban is possible if Republicans take full control of the government.

“Don’t get too comfortable,” Harris said. “Let’s understand: None of us can afford to sit back and think, ‘Thank God we’re in California.’”

A national ban on abortion

“Hawaii has shown that we will stand by our medical providers, that we will stand with our physicians, and that those who provide safe abortion and contraception — even if it’s just to offer advice to tourists — will not have to fear arrest, extradition, subpoena.”

– Joy San Buenaventura,

State Senator, Chairperson of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee would trump state laws that currently provide abortion access.

ippines. She grew up in Salt Lake on Oahu but has been living in California for over 20 years. She said living on The abortion pill the mainland has expanded her mifepristone Hawaii’s new law enacted opinions on immigration from last year repeals a requirement the time she left Hawaii.

“In Hawaii there isn’t a that abortions be performed at problem of illegal immigration a hospital or clinic. Doctors said the old law didn’t account as in the mainland. In border for medical abortions that can states, we are really feeling the be carried out at a patient’s toll that illegal immigration is home with medication pre- having on our resources. But it’s not just border states. With scribed remotely.

But the use of the abor- busing of illegals to big states tion-inducing drug while legal like New York, Illinois and in many states like in Hawaii other areas, residents there are could be banned nationally also feeling the crunch. I think in the upcoming Alliance for if we didn’t have high inflation Hippocratic Medicine v FDA and were not feeling the hurt of which is scheduled for hear- high taxes in California, illegal ing March 26 at the Supreme immigration wouldn’t matter Court. A decision is expected as much. But since many of us are experiencing financial by this summer.

More than half of abor- hardship, it’s hard to see so tions in Hawaii are done much of our tax dollars go to through taking mifepristone, a sheltering illegals and providtwo-pill regimen used to ter- ing them services that our own minate pregnancy in the first residents and homeless need.”

Corpuz said, “We need 10 weeks. In the last three years alone, more than 3,100 immigration reform. We need patients used mifepristone, to find a balance that secures according to Hawaii Depart- legal immigration and discourages illegal immigration. The ment of Health data.

If mifepristone is banned, southern border is too porous. healthcare professionals say it Too many people who don’t could pose greater problems qualify for asylum are comin some of the neighboring is- ing to the borders and using lands where facilities for surgi- asylum as an excuse to get in. cal procedures for abortion are Then with catch and release, nonexistent. They would need they don’t show up for their court date and stay illegally. to fly to Oahu to access care.

“But yes, I’m for famiHealth professionals say ly-based immigration. This without mifepristone, patients needing to go to a facility for system works because normalcare would mostly affect the ly people who come into the poor, the homeless, those with country in this way have famimental illnesses or have ad- ly to go to and help them trandiction issues, as well as those sition to self-reliance. They do from conservative families not use up needed resources who want to keep their abor- that could go to American citizens who really need them. tion in strict confidentiality.

Asylum-seeking migrants often stay in a detention faImmigration reform Erlinda Corpuz parents cility briefly for processing, (continue on page 6) are immigrants from the Phil-

6 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  FEBRUARY 17, 2024

OPINION

Some Thoughts on Abortion

By Sheryll Bonilla, Esq.

O

ne in four pregnancies ends in a miscarriage, according to the National Library of Medi-

cine.

The March of Dimes says as many as 50% of all pregnancies may end in miscarriage. About half of miscarriages are linked to extra or missing chromosomes, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Other possible contributing factors include exposure to environmental toxins, uncontrolled diabetes, smoking, drugs, alcohol, and age.

One in four – think of how common that number is. If that one in four mothers-to-be happened to be your daughter, your daughter-in-law, your wife, your friend, your relative – wouldn’t you want the doc-

tors to be able to remove the dead fetus before it caused sepsis in the mother that could end her life?

It is heartbreaking enough to lose an unborn child, but to also lose the pregnant person you love along with that miscarried child, would be grief that leaves a gap of grief in your soul.

The abortion issue is not a simple matter of killing unborn babies as religious people want to present it.

It is often a matter of the mother’s life being at stake because a miscarried child, if not removed, becomes a source of sepsis that can kill her.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 12.5% of pregnancy-related deaths between 2011 and 2016 were due to infection (sepsis).

That’s 1 in 8. One in eight – if your loved one or

your friend or relative was pregnant but miscarried and the law in your state prevented the doctor from removing the fetus (abortion), that person could be a death statistic.

Delaware has reduced its abortion rate down to 1% – repeat, 1% – by making contraceptives universally available, accessible, and affordable.

If groups opposed to

(COVER STORY: Democrats....from page 5)

assigned a date to appear in immigration court and released to go wherever they want. Most asylum seekers will have their cases dismissed and be forced to leave the country. Being granted asylum is rare from only 1528%. Often asylum-seekers do not report to the court and their whereabouts are difficult to track down.

Besides improving entry to both legal and illegal border

immigration, immigrant advocates are demanding immigration reform to streamline the naturalization process, make it easier, faster and more accessible by eliminating barriers and reducing processing times.

Immigrant advocates blast Trump and his policies while he was president as being excessive and cruel. Trump’s policy separating minor children from their parents at the border and forcing them to be detained separated from family is often cited as an example of excessive and cruel. They also find the former president’s rhetoric on immigration as racist and xenophobic.

The last sweeping immigration reform bill came in 1986 during President Ronald Reagan’s term.

Currently, reforms to immigration at the U.S. Senate are being lumped into a $100-plus billion package that would also include funding for the wars in Ukraine and Israel, and funding to Taiwan.

It’s not a comprehensive bill

to immigration, immigrant advocates say. But there are provisions that raise the standard to get asylum, send away those who don’t qualify and expedite cases for those who do. It would give the Department of Homeland Security new emergency authority to shut down the border at times when there are too many migrants trying to cross.

It also would end the controversial “catch and release” practice. Those entering entry ports seeking asylum would be under federal supervision for 90 days while they complete asylum interviews. Those who pass would receive work permits as they await adjudication of their claims. Those who fail would be removed from the U.S. and repatriated to their home countries or to Mexico.

House leadership said the immigration provisions at the Senate aren’t strong enough and that if that bill comes to the Senate, it would be dead on arrival.

Politicos criticize the

abortion would support the universal accessibility and affordability of contraceptives, we could reduce the incidence of abortion, without resorting to more drastic measures.

Delaware has proven that it is possible to nearly eliminate abortion by this simple approach. Let’s stop allowing political power seekers to manipulate voters to stay in power by using the issue of abortion to keep voters voting for them.

Let’s actually resolve the issue the way Delaware did.

We can prevent abortion by the commonsense route of universal accessibility and affordability of contraception.

Twenty-two states totally restrict abortion. In Texas alone, in the one year since the Supreme Court revoked Roe v. Wade, roughly 24,000 women now suffer the mental anguish of being pregnant with babies conceived by rape or incest.

Imagine the trauma of being daily reminded of the horrible crime that resulted

in you being pregnant, then think of those 24,000 women in Texas. That’s just Texas.

One in three women of childbearing age live in those 22 states where they cannot abort pregnancies that resulted from incest or rape.

It is difficult enough for victims of sexual assault to deal with the memory of the experience, but to be reminded on a daily basis of it and then give birth to the rapist’s baby must be a horror that affected the victim’s ability to cope with life on a daily basis.

In those 22 Republican-governed states, if their doctors could not save the lives of their pregnant patients, that’s a tremendous amount of heartbreak their families will bear losing those women who miscarried and are now on the brink of losing their lives through sepsis.

Many women want those babies, but chromosomal abnormalities or other causes lead nature to end the pregnancy on its own.

“Politicians should stop their power games and get meaningful immigration reform done. Increased migration is happening all over the world and things will only worsen if we don’t get a handle on the situation. We want to welcome legal immigrants and give them opportunity because immigration is good for the country. But streams of illegal immigration must be controlled so that our cities and counties can absorb them without being overburdened.”

– Erlinda Corpuz,

former Hawaii resident now living in California House of playing politics in an election year, saying much of the provisions in the bill is what Republicans have been demanding, but do not want to get it passed to avoid giving Biden – who said he would sign the bill – credit and possibly bolster his chances of reelection.

“Politicians should stop their power games and get meaningful immigration reform done. Increased migration is happening all over the world and things will only worsen if

we don’t get a handle on the situation,” Corpuz said. “We want to welcome legal immigrants and give them opportunity because immigration is good for the country. But streams of illegal immigration must be controlled so that our cities and counties can absorb them without being overburdened.” EDITOR’S NOTE: Just before press time, features of immigration were removed from the senate supplemental bill funding Ukraine and Israel.

FEBRUARY 17, 2024  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  7

CANDID PERSPECTIVES

My Ilocano Father, Citizen Willie And His The History Made On His Birthday Week

By Emil Guillermo

M

ikkiy father, Willie Guillermo, born under the American flag in the colonial America that was the Philippines, had his birthday on Thursday, Feb. 8.

He would have been 119 and thriving had he stopped eating pork at a reasonable age and gone vegan.

So, of course, he was in the back of my mind while I pondered all this week’s important Trump legal developments.

Consider this odd coincidence.

When my father’s death day was Trump’s birthday.

Would Trump’s political life die at a Supreme Court hearing on my father’s birthday?

The week started when the DC federal appeals court ruled that Trump is not immune from criminal prosecution for his actions related to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

Then, the Supreme Court heard arguments on whether Trump should be kicked off the Republican primary ballot in Colorado, based on the 14th Amendment’s Section 3 that bars people “engaged in insurrection” from holding office.

The language is pretty clear: “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each

House, remove such disability.”

Surely if the law was based on common sense, Trump would be covered by this constitutional provision when he held that rally on Jan. 6, 2021, and urged his followers to “fight like hell.”

Even the Trump lawyer, Jonathan Mitchell, admitted today that it was violent “riot.”

But then there’s that last line, the key to the whole graph. It allows that house of chaos known as Congress to play a decisive role.

One thing about my father.

He was a betting man. He preferred horses, but if he were living, I’d suggest he’d switch from that wretched, cruel sport to betting on SCOTUS decisions.

It’s just as unpredictable.

Justices Kagan and Jackson So if Willie Guillermo were listening to the SCOTUS hearing and handicapping the outcome, his ears likely pricked up when he heard more liberal justices, like Justice Elena Kagan question whether an individual state could rule and impact all the others.

Would that be fair or even democratic?

And then my Dad would wonder why his favorite, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, wasn’t getting into the merits of the insurrection itself.

Filipinos know insurrection, after all. They were the original insurrectionists, revolutionaries fighting against the U.S. imperial forces in 1899.

I like those guys; I can tell the good insurrectionists from the bad ones.

Why wasn’t there more discussion about the mob violence, aided by guns and impromptu weapons like flagpoles, to thwart Capitol police, enter the Capitol itself, and terrorize our elected officials?

It just didn’t come up as relevant in the argument.

Instead, Judge Jackson made it sound that perhaps the 14th Amendment’s section 3 wasn’t intended to be a broad

catchall for all time, but that its original intent was limited to preventing confederates of the South from rising again, and that was that.

Kagan and Jackson seemed to join the mostly conservative justices who questioned if it should even be the Court’s role to decide this national issue instead of Congress.

Given the tone of the hearing, my Dad would bet that the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision would be overturned.

I don’t like that myself, as the language in the 14th Amendment seems clear to me, and I wouldn’t exactly consider myself an “originalist.”

But going this way on the Colorado case allows the court to reject the Trump immunity case, thereby giving SCOTUS that Solomonic shine of fairness.

The Immunity Case As for the ruling by the DC Court of Appeals that rejected Trump’s claim of absolute immunity for criminal actions committed while president, my father would agree with the appellate decision wholeheartedly.

The court ruled that “any executive immunity that may have protected him while he served as President no longer protects him against this prosecution.”

Hooray, he would say with an Ilocano accent. And he would have thanked Judge Pan for questioning Trump’s lawyer last month about a hypothetical Seal Team 6 killing—a political assassination. It clarified for all that immunity for Trump would have been his license to kill our democracy.

But my Dad would be on

the moon with this statement by the court.

“Today, we affirm the denial,” the appellate judges wrote. “For the purpose of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant.”

The key word is citizen.

My Dad knows the rights of citizens are not insignificant.

He knows because for so many years, he was denied that right.

He was non-citizen Willie from the day he entered the country in 1928. He was considered a colonized American, an American national from the Philippines.

He couldn’t vote, own land, or intermarry. He had no rights until after World War II. That’s when he was allowed to become Citizen Willie.

Citizen Trump? He’ll have more rights than he needs.

I also know that though my Dad would probably bet Trump prevails on the Colorado ballot issue, he’d be disappointed in the high court.

He’d have his doubts about a Supreme Court so willing to take away abortion rights and voting rights from women and people of color, but ready to uphold the rights of a bad insurrectionist.

Citizen Willie, a proud Filipino American, would feel a little sad and fearful about how his fellow Americans were so willing to enable a man who would be dictator.

father could blow out his birthday candles, Special Prosecutor Rob Hur issued that ridiculous 300+ page report of his.

Hur’s job was to find if there was enough evidence to prosecute President Biden for his handling of classified materials. And Hur said he wouldn’t prosecute.

What Hur did instead was make disparaging remarks about Biden and his memory, all extraneous, and then used that as the reason he wouldn’t prosecute.

The report said, “at trial, Mr. Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”

So Hur wouldn’t prosecute because he felt he couldn’t beat Biden, who would be such a good witness. That’s why he added the last two words “poor memory,” A cheap shot. But that’s how politics is played these days, nasty. Hur beat up on Biden for Trump. It was a clear case of elder abuse.

The special prosecutor knew he had nothing on Biden, so instead he slandered him in a sentence that wreaks with ageism.

My father at age 119 would have recognized the low blow and disapproved.

But what a way to end an historic birthday week for my dad, with three incidents that could decide the future of American democracy.

But wait there’s more That certainly would be EMIL GUILLERMO is a jourmore than enough action for a nalist and commentator. His talk birthday week, but before my show is on www.amok.com.

8 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  FEBRUARY 17, 2024

BOOK REVIEW

Pinoy Romance Books — A Dying Genre in Philippine Publishing

By Rose Cruz Churma

T

hese pocketbooks were very popular in the 1990s and are known by different names: Tagalog romance novels, Philippine romance novels, Filipino romance novels, or Pinoy pocketbooks.

Among the possible inspirations for publishing Tagalog romance paperback novels were the Mills & Boon and Harlequin Romance love story pocketbooks, which were very popular among high school girls and young women.

It is a form of escapist fiction sometimes referred to as commercial literature—a money-making venture with very little artistic merit.

These Tagalog romance novels generally follow a formula where the stories have happy endings which influences the popularity of the book. The protagonists are wealthy, good-looking, smart and healthy—they could not possibly die! It is the typical damsel in distress and knight in shining armor story that ends happily.

Some authors though deviated from this, or from writing “rags-to-riches plots.” This was replaced by storylines with true-to-life settings. Some eventually came to reflect the true picture of how everyday folks deal with life, love, and everything in between.

The Tagalog novels in pocketbook or paperback format can be considered

the contemporary equivalent of the serial novels that appeared on the pages of Liwayway or Bulaklak magazine novels and graphical novels of the Tagalog Komiks.

Although called Tagalog romance novels, its content can hardly be called Tagalog with the inclusion of English words liberally pep-

pered throughout.

Some novels are written in Taglish and reflect how the language has evolved on the streets—a far cry from the way Tagalog was taught using balarila and panitikan textbooks. I suppose a lot has changed when Tagalog is now referred to as Filipino, the national language of the Philippines.

A regular Tagalog-language romance pocketbook is composed of around 120 pages, with a dimension of 3.9 inches × 6.3 inches.

Its cost is reasonable, and the book is portable, lightweight, and can easily be stored in one’s handbag, and pulled to read while riding the bus or jeepney. It (continue on page 10)

FEBRUARY 17, 2024  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  9

BIBLICAL REFLECTIONS

by Bermie Dizon

S

ometimes life takes unexpected turns.

It is like when you’re playing a game and suddenly the rules change. It happens to all of us.

How many times have

you heard yourself saying, “This is not what I expected!” “This is not the life I was hoping for.”

Well, you are not alone.

The Bible has tons of stories about people whose lives took a sudden twist because of what they believed

God was telling them to do.

Imagine Noah building a giant boat, or Abraham moving to a completely strange new place, or Joseph going from being a free guy to a slave. And there are more, like Moses, David, Elijah, Esther, Mary, and the apostles.

You’re left thinking, “Wait, what’s happening here? This doesn’t make sense!” We reach a point where we must admit, “I can’t handle this on my own.

It’s too much for me.”

A lot of times, I read stuff from the Bible that talks about promises God made.

But even though I know those promises, I still struggle.

Why? Because what I see with my own eyes doesn’t match up with what God promised.

Life throws situations at us that make us question everything. But you know what? The stories in the Bible give us a big clue—God knows how to handle it.

All those stories about people going through tough times in the Bible and the ones I’ve heard from church friends over the years shout one thing: God knows how to deal with our mess.

Even when everything

seems impossible, Jesus said, “Hey, with people, it’s impossible. But with God, anything is possible.”

He knows how to make things happen when we’re clueless.

He knows how to do miracles, like turning a bad situation into something amazing.

He’s done it for lots of people in history, celebrity heroes and also regular folks like us in the Bible.

So, no matter how stuck or confused you feel, remember this: God knows how. He knows how to bring victory when you can’t see it, how to provide, comfort, restore, and bless.

Even when you can’t see a way out, God knows how to make one. That’s our God. He’s got your back. BERMIE DIZON is a retired pastor of Grace Communication International at Glendora, California and a former writer for USA Tribune for 9 years.

10 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 17, 2024

AS I SEE IT

Marciano Reasonda Estioko, Jr.: A Tribute to an Amazing Brother

By Elpidio R. Estioko

M

y brother, Marciano Reasonda Estioko Jr., passed away peacefully at age 88 on December 10, 2023, and was buried on January 26, 2024 at the Lima Family Mortuary in Fremont, California.

He was the one who petitioned my family and me to immigrate to the United States. We arrived in California in 1977 after waiting 19 years for our visa. That’s how long fifth preference visa applications took at the time.

Unfortunately, fifth preference petitions are no longer in effect today.

I brought my wife Delia and five of our six children when my youngest Paul was only four years old. He is now 31. My eldest Gigi was the only child when my brother petitioned for my family. Upon the succeeding births of my children Jojo, May, Tweety, Jayson, and

Paul, we continuously reported them to the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines.

My brother was born on September 28, 1935. He was an all-around athlete: an excellent player with super moves in chess, tennis, bowling, darts, basketball, and ping-pong. He was my mentor in chess. He taught me that to be a chess player, you need to be ahead at least five to seven moves from your opponent’s move.

In his college days at Central Luzon Agricultural College (now Central Luzon State University), he was a chess caption in Central Luzon who was already playing with rated players such as National Master Glicerio Badilles and International Master/International Chess Federation president Florencio Campomanes.

Had he continued, he would have been a Grandmaster by now. However, to pursue a chess profession, you need a lot of time, but he didn’t have that luxury because he needed to concentrate on his college degree.

He promised our parents

to earn his college degree.

So, in 1959, he graduated with a BS in Agricultural Engineering and worked at the Bureau of Soils.

Marciano was born in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, Philippines, and the sixth out of 13 children (10 boys and three girls) by our parents Marciano Baguio Estioko Sr. and Leonor Esteves Reasonda. From 13, our siblings are now down to five: Engr.

Romy, Dr. Manny, Prof. Elpidio, Computer programmer Mar, and RT Technician Leo, and the deceased siblings were Engr. Leopoldo, Dr. Felicidad, Teacher Aurora, Supervisor Aida, Arch. Quintin, Engr. Marciano Jr., and Rev. Fr. Leonardo.

In 1969, he moved his family to the U.S. to pursue the American Dream where he began his career as a draftsman for Guralnick & Lee Engineering in Palo Alto, California. He later moved on to work at a wholesale nursery in San Jose. From there, he moved on to Real Estate sales and then became a successful Real Estate Broker, until his retirement.

We will miss him dearly, but we are comforted that his memory will live in the hearts of all those who loved him. Marciano is survived by his wife Rosita Sanchez and children Marciano V (Glenda); Ronald (John); Virginia Jane (Doug); and his grandchildren Kristina Rose, Gabrielle Jade, Kendrick Randall (Bailey), and Mikayla Aaliyah.

His children and grandchildren were his pride and joy! He was encouraging and supportive of all their endeavors.

Heart failure did not stop him from playing his favorite sports and games with his family and friends. No one was spared from his competitive spirit. Each grandchild had the distinct pleasure of receiving one of Grandpa’s spinning backhands on the tennis table.

An active member of St. Victor’s Catholic Church in San Jose for many years, it was Marciano’s dream to be a member of the Knights of Columbus (KoC). His dream came true and he became a Faithful navigator, St. Joseph

then it moved into reading inexpensively priced Pinoy romance pocketbooks.

In the mid-1990s, these pocket romance books were winning over the Philippine comics industry. Among the readers of Tagalog-language paperbacks, apart from the local followers in the Philippines, are OFWs, such as female domestic workers.

In Hawai’i, I noticed a lot of hotel workers reading pocketbooks while riding the bus. Public libraries in the Kalihi and Waipahu areas were ordering these books by the boxful.

Observers of the publishing scene in the Philippines noted that together with the airing of Tagalog-language television shows and films,

the publication of romance pocketbooks in Tagalog helped to further establish it as the use of a national language (called Filipino but is based on the grammatical structure of Tagalog).

But since the influx of social media and the popular use of smartphones and other devices, the popularity of this genre has declined. Readers can get their escapist fix via Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

Last December 9, during the second Hawak Kamay (a resource fair in Maui to help the West Maui fire victims), I brought a few of these books to give away.

Some middle-aged Filipinas were delighted to get them and scooped up quite a few books. The younger ones

Assembly #2246 on August 20, 2016. He was a member of the color guard and helped make countless rosaries to be dispersed to the faithful.

In June 2023, Marciano and Rosie celebrated 60 years of marriage with a small group of family. Despite having lost his first child Rosemarie suddenly in 2021, he was delighted to be surrounded by all his loved ones.

Marciano will always be remembered for making people feel welcome and loved.

We’ll always imagine hearing him say, “Okie dokie” or serenading us with his harmonica, singing Dahil Sa Iyo, or simply peeling us persimmons one more time.

We could not have asked for a better brother, husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather and will miss him dearly.

My dear brother, may your soul rest in peace… forever! ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO was a veteran journalist in the Philippines and a multi-awarded journalist here in the US. For feedbacks, comments… please email the author at estiokoelpidio@gmail.com

(BOOK REVIEW: Pinoy Romance....from page 8)

is also easy to pass on or to exchange books with other readers.

According to Wikipedia, most of the writers for Tagalog pocketbooks are females. However, there are also male novelists. Appar-

ently, there were publishers who thought that female readers would prefer female authors. Male authors used pseudonyms using feminine-sounding names.

Among the first Tagalog pocketbook writers were Edgar Reyes (among his pocketbook novels is Rosas) and Lualhati Bautista (known for her classic novels such as Dekada 70).

Although there is an element of romance in their novels, the only similarity that I see with this genre is the size of the actual book— content-wise—their novels can’t be classified under this genre.

The popular literature in the Philippines from the early 1900s through the 1990s was the Tagalog comics—

were intrigued, skimmed through them and placed them back and considered these dinosaurs of a bygone era. Even the members of a Filipino ministry didn’t want the books on their tables because of the salacious poses on the covers.

Now these books belong to my antiquarian collection—hopefully desired by book collectors who will pay any price to acquire some copies. ROSE CRUZ CHURMA established Kalamansi Books & Things three decades ago. It has evolved from a mail-order bookstore into an online advocacy with the intent of helping global Pinoys discover their heritage by promoting books of value from the Philippines and those written by Filipinos in the Diaspora. We can be reached at kalamansibooks@gmail.com.

FEBRUARY 17, 2024  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  11

LINGERING THOUGHTS

In Celebration of Valentine’s Day: Poetry by Will Espero

By Will Espero

I

can remember writing poems during my elementary school days. Who knew I would still be enjoying poetry writing at this time in my life?

Writing poetry is a way to express feelings and thoughts lingering in one’s mind. People, places, and events are my inspiration.

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, I would like to share these poems of love.

With all the problems and concerns of the world today, let a little love, hope, happiness, and peace into your life.

FOREVER Forever is farther than distant stars More vast than an empty sky Forever compels poets to write A lover to sing to a heart’s delight

Lost restrictions fluttering in space Forever entail eternity A mother’s love always meant to be

FULFILL MY DREAMS Fulfill my dreams of endless love Forever is an unknown jour- Stoke the embers in my heart ney Grasp my spirit, hold it close A visionary path which has Whisper we will never part no end Forever evokes youthful Engulf my body with your dreaming scent Full of hope and distinctive Feel our auras warmly emmeaning brace Understand my every need Forever can be consequen- Memorize my yearning face tial Leaving thinkers scholarly Grant my desire and wish Forever makes a yearning for calm mind Stormy minds must fade Passionate reason, a stirring away find Caress my body with your love Forever is an infinite time Euphoric feelings as we lay

Surround my soul with lasting hope Convince my mind you’re always here Promise you will never leave Dream with me, erase the fear.

YOUNG LOVE I yearn to see you every day Caress you every night, I yearn to hold you close to me And make it feel so right.

When I see your caring eyes And kiss your loving face, There’s nothing much more wonderful Than feeling your embrace.

A magic surrounds the two of us A force so real and strong, Within your touch, within your breath Is where I do belong.

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

Newly Introduced Bipartisan Bill Aims to Improve Evacuation Route Planning

A

newly introduced bipartisan bill presented

by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Alex Padilla (D-California), and Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) aims to develop guidelines for state and local governments to improve emergency evacuation preparedness.

In recent years, wildfires, floods and other natural disasters have become increasingly intense and destructive across the country.

In Hawaii, the Lahaina wildfires in 2023 devastated communities. A factor to consider here is the limited evacuation routes that became heavily clogged which prevented victims from escaping and seeking shelter more quickly.

The Emergency Vehicle and Community Planning Act would direct the Department of Transportation and the Federal Emergency Management

Agency to develop and publicly disseminate information and guidance about the best practices for governments and the public to utilize when conducting transportation and infrastructure planning.

“In an emergency, evacuation routes are absolutely criti-

cal to getting people to safety,” said Schatz. “Our bill will give communities the support they need to develop roadways that will help save lives.”

“As natural disasters and extreme weather events—such as wildfires—become increasingly common in the U.S., it is

crucial that our communities have effective, reliable emergency evacuation routes,” said Hirono.

“The Emergency Vehicle and Community Planning Act will help Hawai‘i, and states across the country, strengthen emergency preparedness efforts and develop infrastructure that prioritizes the safety of our communities.”

According to Joe McKinney of the National Association

I think about the happiness A blessing from above, Is this the feeling that we share?

The magical gift of love HAIKU To love is to dream A special place in the heart Shared with your best friend My love for you grows Cherishing time together Today and all days A welcoming touch Awakens sleeping senses Gentle strokes of love Find within your heart Home for trust and honesty Where love will blossom

WILL ESPERO retired from the Hawaii legislature after serving 19 years in the state House of Representatives and state Senate. He is currently a novelist, poet, and supporter of the arts. Lingering Thoughts provides a glimpse of his perspective on current events and issues.

of Development Organizations, the guidelines will provide communities with effective implementation of emergency response protocols that will “not only help strengthen regional transportation planning efforts, but would also help bolster public safety in the event of a disaster.”

He added: “This exciting legislation also has great potential to improve long-term community economic recovery.”

Hawaii Calls for Vigilance in Contracting Hiring tractors, visit http://licensedAmid Maui Wildfire Aftermath contractor.hawaii.gov

H

omeowners, especially those affected by the Maui wildfires, are urged to exercise caution and prioritize hiring licensed contractors for rebuilding and repair projects. Hiring licensed contractors ensures safety, adherence to building codes, and proper permit acquisition.

The Maui wildfires destroyed an estimated 3,971 properties. Insurers paid out approximately $1.23 billion in combined residential proper-

ty and personal motor vehicle losses.

According to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, incidents of cold-calling landowners and even visiting homeowners door-to-door attempting to take advantage of their vulnerability have been reported.

Moreover, the department receives hundreds of tips and complaints regarding unlicensed contractors who did projects poorly or took money

but did not do any work at all.

As a homeowner, here are ways to ensure the safety of your home reconstruction.

- Verify the contractor’s license by visiting www.businesscheck.hawaii.gov. This online tool provides information on licensed contractors, electricians, and plumbers about license status, classifications, proof of insurance and records of complaints.

- If you want to see a comprehensive list of licensed con-

- There are specific types to choose from to find the right contractor. General Engineering (type A) for specialized engineering projects. General Building (type B) for structures. Specialty (type C) for specific skills like electric work or roofing.

- If you find a contractor offering projects without a license, report it to the Regulated Industries Complaints Office at 808-587-4272 or online at cca.hawaii.gov/rico/file/. 

12 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 17, 2024

SOCIAL SECURITY Q & A

What’s New In Social Benefits This 2024?

NAPCA Is Here To Help

By NAPCA Staff

I

n this month’s column, we want to share what is new in social benefits in 2024.

If you have additional questions about Medicare, Medicaid, Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace, Social Security Retirement Benefit, Supplemental Security Income, or COVID/Flu vaccination, there are 3 ways you can reach us today: Call: 1-800-336-2722 Email: askNAPCA@ napca.org Mail: NAPCA Senior Assistance Center, 1511 3rd Avenue, Suite 914, Seattle, WA 98101 Question: How much income do I need to earn to get 1 Social Security work credit in 2024? Do I have to work all year to earn credits?

Answer: Credits are based on your income for the year. Each year the amount of earnings needed to earn one credit goes up slightly as average wages

increase.

In 2024, you earn 1 Social Security and Medicare credit for every $1,730 in covered earnings. You must earn $6,920 to get the maximum 4 credits for the year.

You might work all year to earn 4 credits, or you might earn enough for all 4 in much less time.

You must earn a certain number of credits to qualify for Social Security benefits.

No one needs more than 40 credits for any Social Security benefits.

Q: I have retired and am receiving Social Security Retirement. Can I still apply for Medicaid and SSI? I heard there is an income and asset limit. I own a house and a car. I also have life insurance.

A: You can get SSI or Medicaid if you are qualified based on income and assets threshold by each state. One house and one car are exempt, but some life insurance is counted as an asset.

The monthly maximum federal amounts for SSI in 2024 are $943 for an individual, or $1,415 for a

couple. Some states may provide SSP (State Supplementary Payment) on top of the federal standard.

For example, if you live in California and have no income, the monthly maximum payment would be $1,182 for an individual, or $2,022 for a couple. If your income has been increased, it would reduce your SSI amount. Note that the SSA has a special rule to calculate income.

The most accurate way to find out whether you are eligible or not is to submit the application and receive the eligibility result through Social Security Administration. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Q: How much can I earn and still get benefits in 2024?

A: You can get Social Security retirement or survivors benefits and work at the same time. However, there is a limit to how much you can earn and still receive full benefits.

If you are under full retirement age for the entire year, SSA deducts $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit ($22,320

for 2024).

In the year you reach full retirement age: • Up to the month before you reach your full retirement age, SSA deducts $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn above a different limit ($59,520 for 2024).

• Beginning with the month you reach full retirement age, your earnings no longer reduce your benefits, no matter how much you earn.

• SSA will recalculate your benefit amount to give you credit for the months SSA reduced or withheld benefits due to your excess earnings.

Q: I read in the news that COVID-19 cases are on the rise recently. Is the latest vaccine still effective in protecting us?

A: COVID-19 activity is currently high. JN.1 is now the most widely circulating variant in the US and globally and may be intensifying the spread of COVID-19 this winter.

COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths have increased in recent weeks.

Hospitalizations

reached 32,861 in the week ending January 13 2024.

In that same period, deaths went up by 10.3%, with COVID-19 deaths accounting for 4.3% of total deaths in the US. Current COVID-19 vaccines are expected to increase protection against JN.1.

As of January 13 2024, only 21.5% of adults reported having received the updated COVID-19 vaccine.

Only 40.9% of adults aged 65 years and older reported having received this vaccine, which is concerning given that they are at higher risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19.

Please make sure you have the most recent vaccine which has been available since late September 2023. If your last vaccine was mid-September or earlier, get vaccinated. It’s not too late.

National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of AANHPI older adults and their families. We operate a NAPCA Senior Assistance Center for Older Adults and Caregivers and is available in 5 different languages.

PHILIPPINE NEWS

Hawaii to Participate in Federal Effort to Improve Healthcare, Housing Services

H

awaii has been selected to participate in the Housing and Services Partnership Accelerator program, announced Senator Brian Schatz earlier this month.

The new initiative aims to improve coordination across Medicaid, housing and healthcare systems to better serve people with disabilities and older adults who are at risk of homelessness.

“This new partnership

will mean more federal resources, including staff development, to help the state better provide critical housing and healthcare services to those in need,” said Sen. Schatz.

The 12-month initiative

will provide Hawaii with direct support from healthcare and housing experts as well as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

FEBRUARY 17, 2024  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  13

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

10 Years of Love and It’s Still Worth It

By Seneca Moraleda-Puguan

I

n April 2014, my friend Ate Fiedes Doctor asked if I could write an article for the Wedding Supplement of Hawaii Filipino Chronicle.

I was so excited because not only would I be able to do what I loved doing which is writing but it was a wonderful opportunity to share my testimony of a God-written love story. It was also the beginning of my journey as a contributor to this amazing paper which I am forever grateful for.

My husband and I shared our love story and our wedding which happened on February 12 of the same year. The article was entitled “Love is Worth It.” A decade later, here we are, still joyfully married and still declaring that love is worth it. We have been blessed with two beautiful children, the fruits of our love.

We met in the Philippines.

We started our family in South Korea. And now, we celebrate our 10th year of choosing to say ‘I do’ in Switzerland.

The land of fondue, chocolates, cheese, beautiful lakes,

and mountains had been on our bucket list for a long time.

Never did we imagine that we would be enjoying our decade of being together in a country with such magnificent views and breathtaking landscapes.

And we’re not just going to stay for a few days, we’re going to have our 11th, 12th and hopefully, the rest of our years together just being in awe of God’s beauty and creativity as we look at the Alps and the turquoise-colored lakes of this little land-locked nation.

For the 10 years we have been together, we have experienced miracles and overflowing blessings.

Our marriage is filled with joy but, be that as it may, it isn’t smooth. It’s not always happy.

There are a lot of bumps, a lot of disagreements and misunderstandings, a lot of heartaches and a lot of tears.

“Love” has moved from simply being a feeling or emotion to a decision we make every single moment of every day.

Yes, 10! Ten beautiful years of togetherness, friend-

ship, creating wonderful memories, building a family, and reflecting God’s love for His bride.

It’s also 10 years of getting on each other’s nerves, enduring each other’s loud snoring and irritating bad habits, trying to be gentle with each other when having a bad day, being patient and having self-control when overcome with anger, choosing to forgive even if it’s hard.

Ten amazing years of God’s grace to see and love each other the way we are loved by the Creator of everything, the Author of our story,

by Love Himself.

As we look back at the past years of our lives together, all we can see is a tapestry of God’s love, grace, and

MAINLAND NEWS

University of California Looking for Asian American Participants aged 18 and up diagnosed for Its Cancer Study with advanced/metastatic

T

he University of California, Irvine (UCI) is conducting research on the study of stress and coping in Asian Americans diagnosed with advanced/ metastatic cancer.

Metastatic cancer refers to a cancer diagnosis that has spread from where it started to a distant part of the body which is often called Stage 4.

The research aims to understand the stressors that Asians with Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese and Filipino heritage indi-

viduals with cancer might experience.

Examining these stressors will help researchers study their connection to the patient’s quality of life, symptoms, coping, sleep, well-being, inflammation, and antiviral responses in the body.

UCI is looking for adults

cancer who are of Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Vietnamese, or Japanese heritage to participate in the study.

The study requires about two hours over the course of three months. Moreover, participants will submit a doctor-patient form confirming the diagnosis, three surveys in total, and dried blood spot samples.

Eligible participants will be compensated with $145 in gift cards.

For more information, call (949) 342-4811 or email sc-study@uci.edu.

faithfulness showered upon His beloved children.

When we reflect upon the different seasons that we’ve been through, we can’t help but be humbled and truly amazed at God’s sovereignty over all things.

As we spend every waking hour together, we learn, time and time again, that love is patient, it is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13: 8-12) In a broken world where relationships are fleeting and love has become an empty

word, we pray that our marriage will be a testimony of God’s relentless love for His people.

We strive to be a reflection of the love that Jesus has exhibited on the Cross so that we can experience freedom and fullness of joy.

It is our goal as a married couple to tell the world that love is not just a fleeting feeling but is the deepest emotion and the greatest gift we have ever received.

Love is worth it. It was and it will always be.

To my husband, John Marc, cheers to us for reaching 10 years of faith-stretching, character-molding marriage.

Thank you for being a powerful witness of God’s patience and persevering love.

Excited to have more decades of seeing the world with you, of having adventures together, of watching Korean dramas, of raising more children who are better than us, of being best friends and partners.

I love you.

Saying yes to you 10 years ago was one of the greatest decisions I have ever made and I can proudly say that you are worth it!

Happy 10th anniversary to us!

14 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 17, 2024

HAWAII WORKERS CORNER

The Importance of Workers’ Compensation – Part 2

By Arcelita Imasa, M.D.

C

– Reader

an you please explain about Workers’ Compensation claims for work injuries?

Dear Reader, Here’s the continuation of the last issue’s Hawaii Workers Corner column.

The Hawai’i Workers Compensation Law (HR 386) requires employers to report injuries on WC-1 forms and to put an injured worker on paid leave and pay for her or his immediate medical care by the worker’s chosen physician.

The employer can NOT choose the treating physician for an injured worker. The physician or treating institution submits bills to the employer.

While the worker is on injury leave, she or he must

be paid 2/3 of regular earnings including any overtime or temporary assignment pay.

This paid compensation is taxfree, not taxable.

If an employer disputes a claim for compensation, the injured worker should request a hearing on the claim to seek total temporary disability (TTD) payments while on work-related injury or illness leave to recover.

The worker is also entitled to a final permanent partial disability (PPD) settlement once the injury/illness condition is stable and the worker is back on the job or retired.

Employers still often deny responsibility and reject claims. A hospital worker some years ago was compelled, due to lack of staffing, to work many extra hours each evening at the workplace.

After a week of working very long 12- to 16-hour shifts, he suffered an injury in an accident while driving home exhausted from work.

The employer denied that the long work hours had

caused the accident an injury, but the state hearings officer ruled that the injury was work-related.

The illness of a janitor whose asthma was worsened by her work cleaning very dusty file cabinets was deemed to be work-related and compensable.

The claim of a Honolulu treatment plant mechanic whose hand was injured as he repaired some equipment was initially denied by the employer.

The employer claimed the worker was “negligent,” but it was shown at a hearing that his injury was not purposeful, and he had performed his task in the proper prescribed way.

His injury was deemed compensable and he was entitled to injury leave, medical treatment and compensation as well as a final settlement for any permanent injury.

If injured on the job or disabled due to a work-related illness, report your injury and get treatment from your medical provider. Make sure your

employer files an injury report (WC-1 form) and places you on injury leave as necessary for whatever length of time is necessary for healing and recovery.

Choose your treating doctor and do not let the employer select the provider. It is the treating doctor who will give an estimate as to the extent of permanent disability on which final compensation will be partly based.

The treating physician needs to confirm the illness or injury is work-related. If the claim is denied by the em-

ployer, the injured employee should file a WC-5 form to request a hearing to get compensation. Any denied claim can be appealed to an appeals board.

If you need assistance, contact your union representative or reach out to the Hawaii Workers Center (phone number (503)967-5377 or (503) WORKERS) for advice.

We hope that helps!

Sincerely, Hawaii Workers Center Dr. ARCELITA IMASA is a practicing family physician and the secretary of the Hawaii Workers Center’s Executive Committee of the Board. She grew up in the Philippines before migrating to Hawaii with her family more than a decade ago.

PHILIPPINE NEWS

US Tells Marcos: Ask and Development, We Are Here forJointInternational US Military Assistance

Group and INDOPACOM.

By Helen Flores At the request of the PhilThursday ‫ ׀‬February 15, 2024 ippine government, US MaANILA, Philip- rines of the Okinawa-based pines — The Unit- Third Marine Expeditionary ed States is ready Force assisted the USAID in to assist the Philippines during providing humanitarian assistimes of need, US Ambassa- tance in the ongoing disaster dor MaryKay Carlson assured relief mission in Mindanao.

The Armed Forces of the President Marcos on Tuesday, as the envoy highlighted how Philippines (AFP) on Monday the Enhanced Defense Coop- announced that two US Maeration Agreement (EDCA) rine Corps KC-130J Hercules between the two countries has aircraft would be used to help helped the Philippines in the in the delivery of supplies to delivery of urgently needed aid. the victims of the landslide in Carlson paid a courtesy Maco, Davao de Oro. “The US Marines from the call on Marcos at Malacañang, where they talked about Wash- III Marine Expeditionary Force ington’s provision of two will assist with the ongoing diC-130s of the Indo-Pacific saster relief mission with troops Command (INDOPACOM) in from the Marine Air Group 12, the ongoing delivery of food 1st Marine Aircraft Wing delivpacks and other supplies to ering essential supplies for disresidents affected by the flood- tribution,” the AFP said.

Apart from the use of two ing in Mindanao.

“Carlson told President US C-130s, the US government Marcos that Washington is has also extended $1.25-milpleased to bring two C-130s lion emergency support.

Marcos visited Davao last from the INDOPACOM, although it is not the cheapest or week and extended P265 milthe easiest way to deliver for- lion worth of financial assiseign assistance,” the Presiden- tance to communities affected tial Communications Office by the floods in the region.

For Carlson, there is so said in a statement.

“But when you ask and much that can be done more you need it, we are here,” Carl- efficiently “through the mechson told Marcos, referring to anism that exists.”(www.philthe teams from the US Agency star.com)

M

FEBRUARY 17, 2024  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  15

COMMUNITY CALENDAR LET’S ZUMBA | Filipino Community Center | Every Monday starting January 8, 2024 at 6:15pm | FilCom Center, Consuelo Courtyard, 94-428 Mokuola Street, Waipahu | Need to unwind in movement and dance after a long workday? Join the community as we Zumba through the evening.

Only $5 per class. Proceeds go to support these program-types for FilCom Center.

Lanai Ballroom, Ala Moana Hotel, 410 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu | Join Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii for this in-person and virtual event to increase trade and facilitate the exchange of ideas between sistercities of the counties of Hawaiʻi and sister-provinces of the State with different provinces of the Philippines. Visit http://cochawaii.chambermaster.com/events/details/ hawaii-philippines-sister-province-symposium-1114449.

HAWAII-PHILIPPINES SISTER PROVINCE BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM | Filipino Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism | March 13, 2024 at 2-9pm | Garden

FLORES DE MAYO & FILIPINO FIESTA | FilCom Center, Filipino Jaycees of Honolulu | May 4, 2024 | FilCom Center, 94-428 Mokuola Street, Waipahu | The community is urged to save the date for this year’s celebration of Filipino culture and heritage!

To stay up to date with new information, visit filcom. org./2024filipinofiesta.

31ST ANNUAL PISTAHAN PARADE AND FESTIVAL | Filipino American Arts Exposition | August 10-11, 2024 | Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco, California | The Filipino American Arts Exposition (FAAE) of the rich tapestry of cultures and ethnic communities of the San Francisco Bay Area through its promotion of Filipino American art, music, film, dance, cuisine, history, and more.

FAAE celebrates its ancestral heritage and contemporary traditions, broadening awareness and understanding of Filipino history, achievements, and culture. For more information on the festival, visit www.pistahan.net.

DATELINE: LAS VEGAS

Ti Ayat ken Sakripisio Iti Labes Ti Nasudi a Kari –Part 2

By Amado I. Yoro

N

asarakak ti pusok iti sidong dagiti annak ti kakaisuna nga anakmi.

Iti nalaus a panagkedkedko nga umay ditoy Las Vegas, isu met iti pannakalunag ti pusok iti kalikagum ti kakaisuna nga anakmi nga umaykami ditoy tapno as-asideg iti ayanda a sangapamilia.

Nangnangruna pay iti kalikagum ni Gloria gapu iti kastoy a kasasaadna. Abus man pay ta agpapaimbag, now in her five years in road to recovery, mailiw kano la unay kadagiti tallo nga appokomi.

Napukawko ti St. Paul’s Episcopal & Philippine Independent Church [Iglesia Filipina Independiente] iti Queen Emma Square Honolulu, Hawaii a nagserserbianmi nga agassawa kas aktibo nga opisial aganay wenno sumurok a tallopulo ket siam [39] a tawen no inrugimi iti1984, nagserbiak kas Bishop Warden [presidente] iti simbaan 19912007] iti panangimaton ken panangtarabay dagiti tallo a papadi a nagsisinnnukat da Rev. Fr. Tim Quintero, Rev. Imelda Padasdao, Rev. Canon Randolph VN Albano, iti tallo nga Obispo da Rt. Rev Donald Hart, Rt. Rev. Richard Chang, Rt. Rev. Robert Fitzpatrick ngem nagasat ta nasarakanmi ti Epiphany Episcopal Church ditoy nagsulian ti Cactus Ave/Gillespie St. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Napukawko dagiti fellow volunteers kadagiti adu nga aktibidad iti Hawaii

pakaibilangan iti Feed the Homeless, Adopt a Highway iti Farrington Highway Waipahu, Kalihi Street ken Likelike Highway, Kalihi, Ti Hawaii Food Bank, Life Savers Club, Blood Bank of Hawaii, The Tree Planting for Life; Make America Beautiful, Bus shelter construction, Graffiti Buster Program, Weed & Seed with Narcotic Division, Honolulu Police Department, painting school bletcher, painting the house of the blind, Feed the Orphanage, Feed the Elderly, Walk for Life ken dadduma pay ngem naigasatak ta nasarakak ti Food Bank & Distribution ditoy Stober Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Napukawko ti ABC Group Burger King Coffee Hour a kaduak pakaibilangan da sigud a State Representative Romy Mindo, Grand Knight ken Union ang Manunulat sa Pilipias [UMPIL] Awardee, Pedro Bucaneg Awardee Francis Ponce, Pat Bolo, Hermie Estrada, Martin Mendoza, Virgilio Banda, kdpy, adda Billiard gameko inaldaw malaksid iti Sabado ken Domingo.

Namissko dagiti nasayaat a dodoktor pakaibilangan da Dr. Charlie Y. Sonido, Dr. Lo, Go, Bautista, kdpy, ngem ketdi adda met dagiti nalaing a dodoktor ditoy pakaibilangan da Dr. Dizon, Dr. Avelar, kdpy. Adda met ramutda a Filipino a kas kaniak.

Nayadayoak iti kakaisuna a kabsatko a babai ken dagiti kakaanakak ngem itan kas katimbeng dagiti napukawko, nadennaanmi ti KAKAISUNA NGA ANAKMI

ni Cheryl Lei Balcita ken ti pamiliana.

Iti walo a bulanen a kaaddami ditoy Las Vegas, saanak pay a nakapasimsimpa. Kaslaak agkarkarawa ken agmatamata pay laeng ditoy.

Sadino ti daya a taudan ti init ken iti laud a lennekan ti init; ti abagatan iti gagan-ayan ken amianan iti Big Dipper.

Adu pay ti birbirokek.

Masapul met ti naan-anay a panawen.

Panangidilig nagdumaan wenno adda panagpada iti lugar.

Iti bukodko a pammaliiw, sabali ti Las Vegas iti man paniempo, iti napalaus a kinapudot; kasta met iti agkutkutimermer a lamiis.

Presio dagiti magatgatang, taraon, aruaten, nalaklaka la ti presio ket makatulong iti aginaldaw a panagbiag.

Adda ketdi makitak kadagiti bukodko a mata, adda panagpada ti Hawaii ken Las Vegas.

Maibilang dagitoy. dagiti street people, dagiti homeless. Addada iti sulsuli iti kanto, karenderia, iskinita.

Adda met dagiti sapawsapawda kas iti man daan nga ules, tolda, karkarton. Iggemda ti dakkel wenno bassit a pedaso a karton, naisurat. I need help. I am Hungry.

God Bless.

Numan pay saanak pay unay a nakapagpaspasiar ditoy, dagiti ketdi nakitakon dagiti sumagmamano a pagtagilakuan, restauran, ken dadduma a negosio, kukua ken imatonan dagiti kadaraan.

Adda ketdi metten dagi-

ti supermarket, grocery stores a napaspasiarko. Kas kadagiti pagtagilakuan met iti Honolulu, aglalo paset ti Kalihi, Waipahu, Ewa, nakita dagiti bukodko a mata dagitoy sumagmamano a tagilako iti uneg iti tiendaan, maibilang dagiti: puraw a bindunggo [white tripe], ginarapon wenno naibotelia a papait, karaykay ti manok, saba, natnateng, tirem [oyster], napagbalay a dara ti baboy, longanisa, igad ken dadduma pay a kagusgustuantayo a Filipino, aglalo dagiti kapadak nga Ilokano.

Nupay saanak pay a nakikamkameng kadagiti gunglo Filipino ditoy, adda naammuak nga Ilocano American Association in Nevada [IAAN], segun iti nabasak nga impormasion ket addaan iti aganay a sangapulo ribu a kamkameng.

Ket nupay saanko pay a nakontak, ngem kadagiti masungad nga aldaw, ikagumaakto a kontaken daytoy nabasak a maysa ken kakaisuna nga UMUNA a FILIPINA a kameng iti Ne-

H E L P

vada Assembly [Legislature] a segun ti nabasak adda ramutna manipud iti Mindanao.

Iti Hawaii, ni Atty. Peter Aduja, tubo ti Vigan, ti umuna a Filipino a nagkameng iti Territory of Hawaii Legislature idi 1954-1958.

Kangrunaan nga ibilangko a kapatgan a gameng a nasarakak ditoy kunada a siudad ti basol, wenno siudad ti disierto, ditoy sirok ti sumsumged ken dumardarang nga init, isu a sinursurotko: THE BEST OF THE BEST OF ALL TREASURE, I have found, for me, ni Gloria ken siak addakamin a mayasideg iti kakaisuna nga anakmi ken ti pamiliana. Awan ti baet a taaw ken rinibu a milia.

Adda talged, adda talek, no balitok man dagiti napukawko idiay Hawaii, nabirbirtud, nabalbalor ti nasarakak ditoy: EUREKA: nasarakakon.

I’ve found it, a bunga ti The Love and Sacrifices, beyond the promise “I do”, and the Cameliajos Offspring: Anak, Manugang, Ina, Ama, Appoko, ditoykami kas pamilia.

W A N T E D

Cabinet / millwork person. No exp. Fully paid med, drug, vis, den, vac, holiday. Pay negotiable.

Call 808 671-6133

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

Call (808) 226-3790

FEBRUARY 17, 2024