LINGERING THOUGHTS my philippines visiT, TrouBle in floridA, And skyline
CANDID PERSPECTIVES
“here lies love,” or JusT “her lies?”
The AuToCrATiC diCTATorship of ferdinAnd And imeldA mArCos on BroAdWAy
Top Three philippine desTinATions you should visiT
The Women’s World Cup primer
Of f all the criminal indictments former President Donald Trump faces, this latest one brought by the Justice Department this week charging Trump of conspiring with allies to spread falsehoods and concoct schemes intended to overturn his election loss to President Joe Biden and hold on to power is the indictment most Americans wanted to happen.
Americans, our voting electorate, with this indictment have a sense that our democracy is now being protected. We’ve seen on our television with our own eyes the criminal conduct of Trump and have been waiting for this day to come, and it finally came, years later after thorough investigation by the Justice Department (which length of time, also speaks to democracy at work).
While Trump has yet to be convicted, Americans should know that federal prosecutors do not bring indictments unless they’re certain laws have been broken and more than sufficient evidence exists to win in the court of law. This is why the conviction rate of federal prosecutors is a whopping 98%. In fact, most federal criminal cases will not go to trial.
Here is a telling stat of Trump’s chances of winning in the court of law in this case. According to a Pew Research Center analysis of the latest available statistics from the federal judiciary, in 2022, only 290 of 71,954 defendants in federal criminal cases – about 0.4% – went to trial and were acquitted. Another 1,379 went to trial and were found guilty (1.9%).
Most legal experts agree that there is a very good chance that Trump will be convicted and held accountable for what were essentially democracy ending crimes.
It’s worth repeating, Trump’s criminal conduct were democracy ending crimes that we as a nation survived, barely. This is not hyperbole.
Trump could face a maximum of 55 years in prison if he is convicted of all charges in this case.
Trump’s attorneys have made an initial argument that their client was exercising his right to freedom of speech and expression.
But the indictment is very clear. Trump is not being prosecuted for his lies. It says, these charges are about Donald Trump conspiring, criminally agreeing with others to try to violate the laws of the United States. He conspired to defraud the United States out of its right to a free and fair election. It has nothing to do with his speech, but everything to do with his criminal agreements with others and his criminal conduct in trying to carry out those conspiracies.
Trump was afforded free speech, even free speech that amounted to lies that he had won the election. But he couldn’t act on those lies by scheming and carrying out criminal actions that would overturn an election.
This is the heart of the indictment that should not be overlooked. This is the part that history teachers will be explaining to their students in the future. And knowing this information is what will shield democracy from future copycat Trumps and “wannabe” dictators wanting to hold on to power after losing an election.
Today, August 3, 2023, former President Donald Trump will be arraigned in a federal court in Washington DC on charges of conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Earlier in the week, a grand jury that heard evidence in special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation, indicted Trump. It is the third criminal indictment in months. What does our community think about Trump’s legal woes?
For our cover story this issue, associate editor Edwin Quinabo looks into the Filipino community’s historic support, or lack of, of Trump from the 2016, 2020, and 2022 election cycles; and explores whether his criminal indictments could have an impact on the Filipino electorate for 2024. It appears early to be focusing on next year’s presidential election but given that Trump currently is poised to win next year’s primary, and he is neck-and-neck tied with Biden in the latest New York Times poll, it’s better earlier than later for our community to really think about the possibility of another Trump presidency. Members in our community also share what issues they would want our next president to focus on. Some areas mentioned include the economy, healthcare, national security, immigration reform and cuts to government spending.
Also in this issue, mixing a cocktail of Marcos Sr.-era Philippine politics with high-caliber entertainment, what do you have? The latest Broadway musical “Here Lies Love.” HFC columnist Emil Guillermo writes, “The show has a multi-talented all-Filipino cast, and until Aug. 13, it features the Filipino diva of Broadway herself, Lea Salonga.” This new musical will certainly bring more attention to Philippine history and Filipino talent.
Speaking of Filipino talent on the world stage, the Philippines Women’s National Team made their debut in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup this July. It was a thrilling historic first that had global Filipinos on pins and needles rooting for our team to break into the Round of 16. The Philippines was so close. In their last match against Norway in Group A, the Filipinas only needed to tie with Norway to advance, having already beaten host New Zealand. Team Philippines lost that match and has been eliminated from the World Cup. But the future looks bright for the country’s national soccer program. Dylan Bothamley and Max Levin contributed an article on this event in this issue. Dylan will be joining the Chronicle as a contributor. He is a physician at Straub Clinic and Hospital and freelance sportswriter. Welcome aboard Dylan.
Lastly, check out HFC columnists Atty. Emmanuel Tipon’s “Drinking and Driving = Deportation,” Will Espero’s “My Philippines Visit, Trouble in Florida, and Skyline,” Dr. Arcelita Imasa’s “What Are the Healthcare Workers Striking Over?” and more. Read our latest in news and a Chronicle Pulse fitting for the summer answering the question: “What is your favorite travel destination?”
For your convenience visit our webpage thefilipinochronicle.com for the latest and archived issues. Thank you for supporting the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. Until the next issue,warmest Aloha and Mabuhay!
Publisher & Executive Editor
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Account Executives
The indictment states there was a weekslong plot that began with pressure on state lawmakers and election officials to change electoral votes from Biden to Trump, and then evolved into organizing fake slates of pro-Trump electors to be sent to Congress.
Then Trump and his allies also attempted to use the Justice Department to conduct bogus election-fraud investigations in order to boost his fake electors’ scheme, the indictment says.
Further, as Jan. 6 approached, Trump and his allies pressured Vice President Mike Pence to reject specific electoral votes, and when that failed, the former president directed his supporters to
Carlota Hufana Ader
JP Orias
Americans Have a Feeling that Democracy is Being Protected with this Latest
While AI has been replacing lower-skilled jobs in multiple industries, AI is getting its first powerful and organized resistance in the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA actors Hollywood strike, the first time the two unions has come together to strike at the same time since 1960.
The two unions have typical strike demands of better pay and other industry gripes. But what the larger society can benefit from is the attention raised on AI and the ethical debates on how far AI should go in replacing humans in the workplace.
For WGA their concern is over the use of artificial intelligence when it comes to script writing. For SAG-AFTRA, one among other AI concerns is the use of actors
(mostly background work) having their likeness scanned and the company has right to use that scan for the rest of eternity without consideration. The actor, then, is paid only for that one day’s work after being scanned. That amounts to a lot of actors not having jobs.
Interestingly, artists and writers have historically had the role of being “the conscious” of society in their creative works from literature, books and film. It seems appropriate that they are the ones to strike the first salvo in what could be the beginning of “Humans War Against the Machines.”
Today, it’s the writers and actors at war with AI. But as AI continues to infiltrate other industries and workers beyond typically lower-skilled jobs, it’s inevitable that the war against machines will spread. As it should, because human capital should never
go to the Capitol to obstruct Congress’ certification of the vote, the indictment states.
This is the crime, the criminal conduct exacted by Trump, the indictment alleges.
What’s next? As we’ve seen in the sensitive documents and obstruction federal indictment of Trump, his attorneys’ strategy will be in this case as well – is to stall and delay a trial date until after the general election next November. In such a scenario, the charges could be swept away with presidential power of pardoning and immunity. In such a scenario, Trump is not held accountable, and democracy suffers a big blow.
What needs to be done is that a trial needs to move through the system quickly and fairly, in a timely matter before the upcoming presidential election. And not just for this case, but all the criminal indictments brought against Trump.
Why? Because American voters should have the right to know whether they are casting their vote for a convicted criminal or an exonerated man.
A speedy and fair trial is not only in the best interest of American voters, but it should be for Trump, the defendant, as well. If he is so confident of his innocence, he shouldn’t attempt to stall, but look forward to clearing his name before the election.
Trump insists that he has done nothing wrong and accuses the Justice Department and Democrats of trying to harm his presidential election bid.
The former president will have his day in court and an opportunity for exoneration. Trump should accept this challenge by not trying to stall, if in fact, he believes as he is claiming, that the Justice Department’s agenda is to ruin his campaign. It’s very simple, have your attorneys stop delaying tactics and clear your name before the election.
be undervalued and easily replaced.
Certainly, AI could have a place wherein its function improves society. But when AI’s function is only to improve the profit of corporations and to replace workers, there ought to be healthy debate on ethics and scope of AI’s use.
Journalists should stand in solidarity with our fellow writers in the WGA because there will come a time when AI’s tentacles have overreaching power in our own industry.
Already AI is impacting journalism in the rise of automated content generation also known as robot journalism. News organizations are increasingly using AI to produce data-driven articles mostly in financial reporting, sports recaps and weather forecasts for now.
As AI improves the potential for strict news writers and journalists assigned to handle simple tasks could be replaced.
It’s unlikely that investigative reporting and journalists tasked with in-depth analysis and critical thinking will be replaced. But before journalists reach this level, how the newsroom usually operates is, they get their start doing newswriting and simpler tasks. So, replacement of entry level jobs with AI impacts our entire industry.
Hollywood actors know
how this bottom-to-top process works which is why the stars making millions of dollars are fighting in solidarity with their lower paid actors and donating to the union during this time of austerity.
Media has undergone many transformations since the digital age from the rise of the internet to popularity of social media. It’s clear where the next workplace transformation will be – how AI is used in media.
Ideally, AI in our industry should be used in tasks that improve journalism and save time for journalists to do more complex tasks that better our skills as writers. In such areas, AI is welcomed. The Catch-22, however, is opening the door to technology that could in some ways be opening Pandora’s Box. Technology can improve efficiency. But at what cost? And at what limits? This is the big ethical question of our time.
For now, only a few giant media organizations are reportedly using AI in journalism. Early adopters include the Associated Press, Forbes, ProPublica and the Los Angeles Times. But journalists, especially those that belong to writers’ unions, should be aware of new AI technology and how it’s being used in our industry.
AI shouldn’t become the essential tool in the newsroom transforming the way news is discovered, reported and distributed. That’s over-
reach and jeopardizes human’s role in the news business. Media owners should also be mindful that efficiency can also result in degradation of journalistic quality.
There’s also the question of accountability. Journalists can be held accountable for the errors they make. AI can’t.
Journalists possess creativity and can empathize with the people and topics they report on. Machines can’t.
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher made a fiery and compelling speech when announcing that their union was going on strike. She said, “At some point, the jig is up. You cannot keep being marginalized and disrespected and dishonored,” she said. “At some point, you have to say no.”
These are powerful words and can be taken to heart for all workers who find themselves in situations of exploitation and underappreciation.
It’s true, sometimes, “you have to say no and negotiate with strength.”
In industries where AI and technology are fully adopted, and at the same time we see that their CEOs are making millions of dollars in annual salary and bonuses while workers skimp by just to pay for basic necessities, you have to wonder how much the cost savings rendered by AI and technology is really worth it.
Former president and 2024 candidate Donald Trump’s already low support among Filipinos is likely to drop further amid his legal woes if voting patterns hold.
This week Trump has been indicted on criminal charges for a third time. The Justice Department has indicted Trump over his efforts to hold on to power following his loss in the 2020 elections and his actions leading to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Trump was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States; conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding; and conspiracy against rights. The indictment stated, “For more than two months following election day on November 3, 2020, the defendant spread lies that there had been outcome-determinative fraud in the election and that he had actually won. These claims were false, and the Defendant [Trump] knew they were false.” It adds, “but the defendant disseminated them anyway – to make his knowingly false claims appear legitimate, create an intense atmosphere of mistrust and anger, and erode public faith in the administration of the election.”
Earlier in the year the Manhattan’s District Attorney’s Office brought a criminal indictment for alleged financial crimes; and a federal court charged Trump for his mishandling of classified documents and obstructing an investigation.
A fourth criminal indictment is expected by a Georgia prosecutor charging Trump with criminal attempts to overturn the election in that state.
Court hearings for his criminal indictments are expected next year in the thick of the U.S. presidential election that some political experts believe could dwindle support for Trump across the board.
This could spell disaster for Trump in the Filipino community where he’s already received anemic support.
In the 2016, 2020 and 2022 election cy-
cles, three surveys from independent Asian groups showed support for Trump in the Filipino community in the 20s to low 30%.
In 2022, the Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIA Vote), AAPI Data, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJC) released a bi-annual report measuring Asian American sentiments and attitudes. It revealed just before the midterm elections Trump’s popularity in the Filipino community was at an all-time low.
The report showed Trump has a 16% very favorable to 51% very unfavorable impression among Filipinos. In that same survey Biden received 31% very favorable to 26% very unfavorable among Filipinos.
Right before the election of 2020, the National Asian American Survey (NAAS) conducted a comprehensive survey that showed 34% planned to vote for Trump and 48% for Biden.
Trump’s relationship with the Filipino community had been rocky from the very beginning.
When then presidential candidate Donald Trump in 2016 suggested that immigration from the Philippines should be stopped because it’s a terrorist nation, he likely ended any chance he may have to compete for the Daly City, CA vote, said Mike Guingona, a Fil-Am councilman of that city at the time.
Guingona’s prediction proved to be an accurate weathervane not just in California, but nationally among Filipino voters. According to the Legal Defense and Asian American Education Fund that conducted a multi-state exit polling survey, only 27% of Filipinos voted for Trump and 71% for Hilary Clinton in 2016.
Emma Avilla, MD, Kakaako, said “It’s shameful to have a criminally indicted president. No one is above the law not even the president. One must pay or serve time in prison if found guilty. I did not vote for, nor will I ever vote for Trump.”
She recalls, “I remember an interview by Billy Bush on Access Hollywood where he claims as long as you are a star you can grab a woman’s private parts. That’s no re-
spect at all for women. He claims he can just shoot anybody on 5th Ave in New York and would not be held liable for it. That’s no respect at all for life.”
Dr. Avilla commented on one of the criminal charges that involves the Jan. 6 insurrection, “If he [Trump] can endanger the lives of the lawmakers, what more for the ordinary people [as far as respect].”
Roland Casamina, President/CEO of House of Finance, Inc., said “with all Trump’s legal woes he’s going through, I wonder if he can sleep at night, [also knowing] all the people he hurt, especially his immediate family. If elected, he would be distracted and not be able to focus on the duties at hand.” Like Avila, Casamina also said he would not vote for Trump. “He has strengths, everyone does, except that he is very divisive. I like some of his points, but overall, he’s very controversial.”
Marilyn Martin, Ewa Beach, said, “It’s clear to me that Trump is running for president again to avoid going to jail or face house arrest. In his campaign rallies, all he talks about is how Democrats and the deep state want him to go to jail. He accuses the Justice Department of weaponizing the legal system politically without having any evidence. As president, he has immunity at least for federal charges. And while presidential immunity doesn’t extend to state indictments if convicted, it doesn’t matter with Trump, he’d just ignore it or force a constitutional crisis.
“What’s dangerous about a second Trump term is him using the office of the presidency to go after his enemies as dictators do, as he already
(continue on page 5)
(Historic Low....from page 4) publicly said he would. I don’t understand how he is complaining about alleged weaponizing of the legal system, when he’s telling his base up front if elected, he would go after his enemies. That sounds like what he’s complaining about.
“We see Trump openly plotting how he is going to weaponize the government by cleaning house and firing anyone that his administration considers an enemy or insufficiently loyal to him.”
Martin said her main concern if Trump is elected is that it would pave the way for a dictatorship in the U.S. and be the end of democracy as we know it. “He would never leave the office until he dies. Why would he? The alternative would be to face jail time.”
Politicos say Trump’s loyal solid base of about 38% of the voting electorate will not abandon Trump no matter what controversies he is besieged with, as it has shown to be the case time and time again.
A recent New York Times/Siena College poll among Republicans taken after Trump’s second criminal indictment shows Trump leads the Republican primary race at 54%, followed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at 17%. The rest of the candidates registered less than 5%.
Political pundits say Trump will certainly win the Primary unless the field is narrowed down to a headto-head matchup between Trump and one other candidate. None of the current candidates have gained traction, which means another viable prospect must enter the race.
John Bolton, who served as national security advisor to Trump and former interim U.S. ambassador, believes Trump’s lead will chip away in time as Republicans begin to process Trump’s mounting legal charges. He believes other conservatives could enter the presidential primary in August or September.
There is some evidence to Bolten’s theory. According to a recent NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll Republicans and Republican-leaning independents saying they believe Trump has done “nothing wrong” dropped 9 points in the last month, from 50% to 41%. Trump also dropped 6 points in support with that same group when asked whether they were more likely to support Trump or another candidate, if he continues to run for president.
Top conservatives and big Republican donors are also making the case more forcefully that Trump could win the primary, but cannot win in the general election, citing the last two national elections wherein Trump either lost or many of the candidates he endorsed lost. They say Trump is not electable because he carries too much baggage.
But Republican strategists sticking with Trump say his 38% base is solid; and that conservative independents who voted for Joe Biden in 2020 will come back to the party after now seeing what a Biden administration is like.
Filipino voters who are a part of Trump’s loyal 38% like Trump’s chances this time around.
Rey (last name withheld), Kapolei, an immigrant from the Philippines said “Trump is crushing his primary opponents. You never see that kind of resolve in primaries. Presidential incumbents also traditionally have a harder time in their re-election bids.
“The legal charges brought against Trump will only solidify his support because these charges are just political, not merited. Filipinos will come out strong for Trump because we are culturally conservative.”
Raise The FilAm Voice, a group that endorsed Trump in the last election, said “We cherish our family, our freedom to succeed, and our faith. We are traditionally conservative. This is who we are. Our conservative values are what defines our identity, our strength, and our hard-earned prosperity in the U.S.”
Ron Falconi, a FilAm,
former Mayor of Brunswick, Ohio endorsed Trump in 2020. He said, “It is clear that Filipino values are Republican values. Now more than ever, our country is at a crossroads, and it is more important than ever to uphold those values and support President Donald Trump.”
Dr. Anthony Ocampo, associate professor of sociology at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, believes we might not agree with how our fellow conservative Filipinos are voting, but it’s still important to get to know their concerns and values.
Ocampo voted against Trump in 2020. “I have no love for Trump —he who called Mexican immigrants drug dealers and rapists, bragged about sexual assault, implemented a Muslim travel ban, and disrespects Black women journalists. He’s the same man who’s incited state-sanctioned violence against peaceful protesters and evades responsibility for the more than 215,000 American lives lost [updated, 1,127,152] to the coronavirus (or as he insists, the ‘China virus.’”
Casamina said Trump could very well be elected again. “Given what’s going on with all the indictments, I hope he won’t be the next president of the United States.”
Despite Trump’s deepening legal woes, a new Siena College/New York Times poll released this week shows Biden and Trump locked in a dead heat at 43% each. But the poll shows 14% of voters who don’t support either candidate is leaning fairly strong to Biden.
Poll experts say because of the way the Electoral College is set up that gives advantage to Republicans, Biden must be leading Trump in polls by at least 7% to guarantee a victory.
Based on this Siena College/New York Times poll, that means Biden most likely could lose the Electoral College at this moment and win the popular vote. Biden would need to win at least half of the
It’s shameful to have a criminally indicted president. No one is above the law not even the president. One must pay or serve time in prison if found guilty. I did not vote for, nor will I ever vote for Trump. I remember an interview by Billy Bush on Access Hollywood where he claims as long as you are a star you can grab a woman’s private parts. That’s no respect at all for women. He claims he can just shoot anybody on 5th Ave in New York and would not be held liable for it. That’s no respect at all for life. If he [Trump] can endanger the lives of the lawmakers [in the Jan. 6 insurrection], what more for the ordinary people [as far as respect].”
– Emma Avilla, MD, Kakaako14% still undecided.
“I hope and pray that Trump does not win again! He does not deserve another term. Why would I vote for somebody that is guilty of sedition and insurrection. I think Biden is doing a good job and is trying his best to improve our economy and solve inflation.
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in an interview on CNN that Biden is doing a great job and people will just be made better aware of this [in time]. His experience as a lawmaker is outstanding. Biden was nonpartisan [at times] and was able to work with Republicans like former Sen John McCain,” Dr. Avilla said.
Casamina said he will not support Trump or Biden. “I hope there will be better choices. I will wait and see. As a registered Democrat, I will choose who I think will be better for our country, whether the person is a Republican or Democrat. [If needed,] I will vote across party lines.”
In the Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), AAPI Data, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice bi-annual report Asian Americans respondents ranked health care (88%), jobs and the economy (86%), crime (85%), education (82%), gun control
(73%) and the environment (75%) as “extremely important” or “very important” issues. Voting rights and addressing racism were also important issues.
Dr. Avilla said her priorities she wants the next president to work on are the economy, gun control, healthcare and national security.
Casamina said whoever is the next president, “there needs to be less spending. The government is too big. Our children and grandchildren are being left to pay for all the debts incurred. There also needs to be immigration reform.”
Martin also has concerns over immigration. She said, “Trump’s comprehensive immigration reform pitch was frightening. Trump proposed an immigration overhaul that would end chain (family-based) immigration, saying it posed an untenable risk to national security. Instead of family-based immigration, he wants to replace it with a merit system that would change the fundamentals to immigration. Hawaii is home to hundreds of thousands of Filipino immigrants who rely on family-based immigration. Hawaii Filipinos have become the largest ethnic group largely because of chain immigration. And Trump
When People Power forced the Marcoses to flee in disgrace, Hawaii was there to soften the fall of the dictator.
Are Hawaii Filipinos eager to see how the dictatorship plays out on Broadway?
It sounds odd, but if we apply the new Florida educational standards to the history of slavery to Filipino history, I suppose we could find one “positive benefit” of the Marcos dictatorship—the authoritarian singing and the dancing of the Marcoses themselves!
But wait a minute, the history of a Filipino dictatorship funded and propped up by Reagan and Bush and the interests of the U.S. government? If it’s taught at all in Florida schools--let alone any schools in the U.S. —that’s a paragraph at best.
But singing and dancing? We can go on for 90 minutes! It’s all on display now in the new musical on Broadway based on Imelda Marcos and the late Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos, “Here Lies Love,” or should that be more
simply “Her lies…”? The “love” part is debatable.
First, let me say I have a healthy respect for Filipino and Filipino American history from 1587 to the present, all of which are represented in my own personal and comic oneman-show “Emil Amok: Lost NPR Host,” which had a seven-show run Off-Off Broadway in New York in February. I’m doing another iteration of the show at the San Francisco Fringe Aug, 12, 17, and 19. (Go to www.amok. com for ticket info.)
I find that history tends to give my show weight. It’s so heavy, I have to make fun of it.
There’s a different use of history in “Here Lies…” which was concocted by the rock-pop icon David Byrne and Fatboy Slim.
The heavy Filipino history is just an excuse for the music and dance that’s all so good, it apparently seems to make the history float away. From all reports, this is not Mel Brooks’ dark comedy “The Producers” and its “Springtime for Hitler.”
But this Marcos musical is no satire.
“Here Lies Love” is a lot more serious about its singing
(COVER STORY: Historic Low.....from page 5)
wanted to end it, but fortunately the composition of Congress at the time rejected his proposal.
“He also said he wants to end birthright citizenship. That’s a bedrock tradition enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, that people who are born in the U.S. are automatically deemed as U.S. citizens. If Trump is elected and Republicans get a majority in Congress, I’m afraid of what immigration reform would look like.”
Martin said Trump already hurt our Filipino community, citing in 2016, he terminated the Filipino World
War II Veterans Parole Program (FWVP).
At the time, Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono said, “the depths of Donald Trump’s inhumanity where immigrants are concerned knows no bottom, but not even the most loyal of his supporters can be in favor of disrespecting the brave and distinguished service of veterans who fought alongside Americans and helped us win the war. There is no purpose to keeping the families of the quickly diminishing number of Filipino World War II veterans separated. They have been ignored and disrespected
dancers, and singers on display.
So without a doubt, I’m going to see “Here Lies Love” when I get to New York later in August. And I hope you do too.
I’m just curious. How does it feel to be embedded in the disco mindset of the Marcos dictatorship? And is that moral?
in Discoville.
and dancing than you’d think.
The show has a multi-talented all-Filipino cast, and until Aug. 13, it features the Filipino diva of Broadway herself, Lea Salonga.
Her performance of the song, “Just Ask the Flowers,” is being seen as a tribute to those imprisoned and murdered by the Marcos regime.
The tune anchors the show and maybe just the thing that singlehandedly balances the previous 80 minutes or so for its autocratic mirth and its curious subtext, the hideous martial law era of the Philippines.
As an Asian American Filipino journalist and sometimes theatrical performer, I’m interested in the use of theater as spectacle, as well as any attempt to tell an important part of the Filipino story.
I also want to be supportive of the employment of all the talented Filipino actors,
by this country for decades. They deserve our thanks, not spite from their unhinged president.”
Like Casamina and other registered Democrats, Martin is not thrilled about Biden. “I’m not bothered by Biden’s age. But I’m wanting fresh ideas and an invigorating approach to governance, and that usually comes with life experience of a younger politician like Obama was when he first became president. I think this is the real reason behind criticisms of Biden’s age. People really want invigorating leadership, inspiring leadership
From the reviews I’ve read, this Broadway production pulls it off, at least physically. The theater has been transformed into a Studio 54like nightclub, where the audience can stand on stage and be immersed among the performers. Watch Imelda rise beyond her shoulder pads with a shoe joke. See Ferdinand do his thing with other women. See the assassinated Filipino hero Benigno Aquino challenge the duo.
The Playbill comes with a timeline of actual Filipino history, so if you are drunk from song and dance and are just having too much fun, the timeline should help your moral compass.
It’s also a reminder that martial law was essentially a fun time just for the Marcos duo and their cronies.
For the majority of the Philippines, there was little joy
that Biden is not adequately capable of.
“But if the choice came down between Biden and Trump, of course, I will be voting for Biden. Unfortunately, this could very well be our only option. But my advice to Democrats and independents is this – remember Hilary Clinton’s loss. Many voters were not excited about a Clinton presidency and did not show up to vote. This is why Trump became president in the first place. We must learn from this and come out strong to vote for Biden if we don’t want another Trump presidency,” Martin said.
I know the history and covered the Philippines during Benigno Aquino’s assassination in 1983. Since that time, the country has gone from People Power toward the global trend of autocracy. Under Rodrigo Duterte, the Marcos name was rehabilitated, enabling BongBong, the son of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, to become the current president.
So has enough time passed to appreciate the Marcoses’ history in retrospect? Can this show have a run as long as the Marcos reign in the Philippines?
For some of the Filipino American producers/investors of “Here Lies Love,” this may be the time to look at the history through a different lens. They include people like Jose Antonio Vargas, the Filipino-born American-based reporter who called attention to his undocumented status and the plight of other undocumented members of the 1.5 Filipino American generation.
For decades, the Marcos family has divided the Filipino community. Pro-Marcos, Anti-Marcos. Young, old. My father, from Marcos’ province of Laoag, was Pro-Marcos. Me, I was just pro-democracy.
Will seeing the show make the U.S. Filipino community more willing to forgive the dictators? Do we sing about the past to embrace and forgive a new generation of Marcos leadership? That would be very Catholic, another colonial remnant.
And if you aren’t Filipino and don’t know Filipino history, is this your gateway invite to learn more? Or are you happy enough with humming some beautiful songs instead of learning about all the lives changed through the dictatorship’s jailing, torture, and murder of thousands of people?
Benigno Aquino is the marquee name, but I think
et us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Isaiah 22:13; Proverbs 23:35; Luke 12:19; 1 Corinthians 15
Many Filipinos drink –and then drive, but could face deportation if they are caught.
Filipinos in Hawaii are well known for eating, drinking and driving. They even brag about what they drink. A Filipino bragged to the police officer who stopped him that he drank a six pack of Heineken beer before he drove for home. For all ye drinkers, Stella Artois is the best beer.
In Hawaii, the most prominent Filipino who was caught drinking and driving was a lawyer from a prestigious (but
not Ivy League) law school, a state senator, a former state representative, and a city council member. He was driving home from a party in a wobbly manner and a cop stopped him. He identified himself as a state senator. The cop ignored his title. He told the cop that he drank only two glasses of red wine at a party. (Hey red wine is for Republicans, white wine is for Democrats. This guy was a Democrat.) His minor son sitting at the back remarked “Dad, you drank more than that.” “Children and fools tell the truth”, according to an English proverb.
The state senator was arrested, charged with drunken driving and endangering the welfare of a child. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a jail term. His picture was on television and in the newspapers. Fortunately, he was born in the U.S. and was not subject to deportation. He is no longer with us in this wonderful world.
One of the requirements for naturalization is good moral character.
It is necessary, under the Immigration and Nationality Act, that a person must be of good moral character in order to avail of two of the most common forms of relief, namely, cancellation of removal and voluntary departure.
The Immigration and Nationality Act condemns drinking. Apparently the legislators who drafted the law do not believe in the Biblical injunction to “eat and drink for tomorrow we die.” They believe in drink and be deported.
The Act provides that no person shall be regarded as a person of good moral character if he is a “habitual drunkard”. INA § 101(f)(1).
There is a “catch-all” pro-
vision in the Act stating that “the fact that any person is not within any of the foregoing classes shall not preclude a finding that for other reasons such person is or was not of good moral character.” Under this “catch-all” provision, an alien with multiple DUI convictions was found lacking in good moral character and was not eligible for cancellation of removal. Matter of Castillo Perez, 27 I&N Dec. 664 (AG 2019.
In a recent case, Hernandez v. Garland, No. 22-3120 (6th Cir. 02/06/2023), https:// www.opn.ca6.uscourts.gov/ opinions.pdf/23a0019p-06. pdf, involving an alien in removal proceedings who had pleaded guilty to drinking and driving offenses twice, and had asked for cancellation of removal, the court said that the alien’s drinking related criminal history showed his lack of “good moral character”. The court pointed out that “The Attorney General has instruct-
ed the Board (of Immigration Appeals) to adhere to a legal presumption that an immigrant lacks good moral character if the immigrant has two or more drinking-and-driving convictions in the relevant time period.” Consequently, the court denied the alien’s petition for review of the Board’s order upholding the Immigration Judge’s denial of his application for cancellation of removal for lack of “good moral character”.
The Judge also found that the alien remained a danger to his community after he admitted that he no longer drinks alcohol to excess but that he still drinks.
RESEARCH REFERENCE. See Annotation, Construction and Application of “Good Moral Character” Requirement for Cancellation of Removal of Alien Under 8 USCA § 1229b(b)(1)(B), 87 A.L.R. Fed 2d 231 § 24 (2014 & Supp 2022) by Beth Holliday.
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Irecently returned from a vacation to the Philippines in my Dad’s home province after 18 years since my last visit. I hadn’t been to Manila for 15 years, and I must say I was impressed with what I saw.
The gap between the wealthy and not-so-wealthy was still apparent, but progress and improvements were noticeable and visible.
The 10-day visit was the longest vacation I had taken in my adult life, and my experiences and connections were precious and memorable.
We celebrated my Dad’s 90th birthday in San Juan, La Union next door to Bacnotan, La Union where my brother and father were born. San Juan is the surfing capital of the Northern Luzon, Philippines and a local tourist destination, and the niche resort atmosphere and the local population mix well as the reality of local living embraced the demand of outof-towners seeking sun, fun, and beaches.
The importance of my family was readily apparent
as the children of Aunties and Uncles who passed away continued the legacy of ancestors of the past. Young nephews and nieces and aging cousins enhanced the visit as I met and reconnected with quiet, curious, and motivated relatives. Our karaoke lunch at my Aunt’s house was one of the highlights of my trip.
My Dad joined the United States Navy in 1956 and spent 21 years proudly serving our country. He was a very good cook who ended up working in officers’ clubs and personally cooking for admirals, and his after-Navy life included being a chef, caterer, and operating his own restaurant.
In 1961, my family left the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka, Japan where I was born and arrived in California via a passenger ship. We experienced military life moving every two or three years residing in California, Washington (three times), Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Cuba, and Italy. It was an exciting and special time as we were able to visit and see many places and destinations thanks to the U.S. government.
Late last year, my parents and brother returned to the Philippines to spend more time in the motherland and be near family. As an 89-year-
old American of Filipino ancestry, my Dad wanted to return to the Philippines in his golden years. Being the oldest living sibling in our immediate family, I believe he feels an obligation to be near relatives and help when possible.
I was concerned because of his age and health issues but realized this would be his homecoming as he considered a part-time home in La Union so he could spend time in the US and the Philippines as many of our elderly do. Traveling back and forth is common amongst many senior citizens as the value of the dollar goes so much farther in the Philippines. With the presence of so many relatives, it’s almost just like home.
Even though I know they exist in the Philippines, I didn’t see one homeless person and I saw very little graffiti, contrary to what we often see in Hawaii. There were no loud illegal fireworks, but the distant sound of roosters crowing could be heard at times as expected.
The air in Manila was hazy but tolerable since we stayed indoors most of the
time. Manila’s modern new developments rival any major city in Asia, and I was particularly impressed during my short stay with Aseana City located near the Mall of Asia, one of the largest malls in the world.
In the province, the air was cleaner, and the skies were bluer although it was hot and humid in the daytime. It is rainy season now, and it rained mostly in the evening. For a couple of nights, the rainfall was almost non-stop, and I truly enjoyed the constant rain and the sound of monsoon downpours and a passing storm. The food was delicious, the sunsets when it was not cloudy were spectacular, and the retail prices made shopping enjoyable.
Following up on Edwin Quinabo’s July 15 cover story article about retirement in the Philippines, I can see why some Filipinos return to the Philippines to retire.
Family and cost of living play a big role in the decision, and with the high cost of living in Hawaii, the option between Las Vegas and the Philippines is an easy one for those who want a tropical setting with family and friends nearby.
My own relatives from the United States often travel to the Philippines to visit, and I certainly look forward to my next visit with the idea of traveling more throughout the beautiful islands and partaking in the rich culture and heritage.
On another note, the nonsense occurring in Florida due to its local conservative politicians and Board of Education is disgusting and pathetic. To think that slaves could benefit from slavery is ludicrous and crazy.
These out-of-touch policymakers need to be re-educated and given a true history lesson instead of trying to spread fake ideas, rhetoric, and propaganda in their education system.
Vice-President Kamala Harris was correct to be outraged and to call out these Floridians and criticize the new Florida education standards. The conservative ideology oozing out of Florida from challenging and censoring books to gender and sexual orientation issues is a threat to our Democracy and society.
Manipulating the truth about slavery and black history in Florida schools is unacceptable. An inaccurate depiction of history is the last thing we want in our schools, and we must not let these warped and misleading thoughts and thinking go beyond the bor-
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Summer is ending soon as families prepare to go back to school and work. But summer in the Philippines is all year round and Filipinos in Hawaii can fly back to the Philippines anytime to visit the homeland.
Although Filipinos in Hawaii enjoy unlimited access to world-class beaches in Oahu, Maui, Kaui and Big Island, the Philippines also offer unique beach and ocean experiences that can rival Hawaii beaches.
Moreover, experiencing Filipino culture in the homeland is something that Filipino Americans can definitely look forward to.
If you’re traveling to the Philippines soon, here are the top three Philippine destinations you should visit and add to your travel itinerary.
Manila is going to be your
first stop in the Philippines as the international airport is in this city. Metro Manila consists of multiple cities and depending on the type of traveler you are, you can definitely do it in this city.
For a delightful family shopping day, visit one of the biggest shopping malls in the world, Mall of Asia in Pasay City along Manila Bay.
If you love history, visit the walled city of Intramuros and learn about the Spanish-colonial history of the Philippines. Visit San Agustin Church and Casa Manila as you explore Intramuros.
If you’re looking to eat your way through Manila, visit the world’s oldest Chinatown in Binondo. Enjoy Filipino-Chinese food such as dumplings, pancit, soup noodles and more.
For an experience of nightlife in the city, head to Makati’s Poblacion for late-night partying with locals and tourists alike.
Explore nature in Palawan
If you look at the map of the Philippines, the long stretch of
land you see on the west of the country is the province of Palawan. This province is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the Puerto Princesa Underground River, which is worth a visit. The underground river is one of the world’s longest underground rivers and it features multiple cave rooms with stellar formations of stalactites and stalagmites.
If you’re looking to experience Palawan’s world-famous limestone cliffs, white sand beaches and crystal-clear blue waters, head to El Nido
or Coron and book multiple island-hopping tours with the local tour guides.
To reach Palawan, you must take a one-hour flight from Metro Manila. You can fly to the province’s city center of Puerto Princesa or fly straight to El Nido or Coron.
With the large Ilocano population of Filipinos in Hawaii, it’s no wonder that they’ve all been to the north side of Luzon
Island such as Vigan City, Laoag City and even Pagudpud to name a few. But there are still more to visit in the North.
Calayan Island is a 5-hour boat ride away from the Cagayan on the mainland of Luzon. The untouched nature of Calayan Island is perfect for travelers looking for adventure. The island’s mountain-to-sea views are definitely worth the travel because of nature adventures in mountains, coves, falls, rivers and beaches.
If you want to go farther, head to the Northernmost province of the Philippines, Batanes group of islands. Batanes is made up of 10 islands but only three islands are inhabited: Batan, Sabtang and Itbayat.
Similar to New Zealand’s green cliffs, Batanes is known for its mountains dotted with steep cliffs and pastureland that boasts sea-to-mountain views. Moreover, the islands’ century-old stone houses showcase the locals’ history and perseverance. To reach Batanes, there are local direct flights to Basco, Batan Island.
The Urdaneta City National High School (UCNHS) Multi High School Reunion to be held in California this year is selling like hotcakes!
Graduates now residing in Hawaii (like Assemblymember Rose Martinez, a graduate from the Divine Word College of Urdaneta (DWCU) and Iris Rosario Lauvao from the Our Lady of the Lilies Academy (OLLA), among others), may have to register their reservations now since 18 out of 30 tables were already reserved by alumni from all over the world who will be attending the reunion in California.
There are about 20 to 25 Urdanetanians who are now residents of Hawaii who graduated from the four high schools in Urdaneta City. This should be a heads-up for them! I know they are eagerly wanting to see and meet their previous classmates in high school
whom they haven’t seen for many years now.
The event organizer is OLLA alumnus Fe Gonzales Sepulveda. The reunion will be held on September 17, 2023, at 6pm at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California. A picnic will follow on Monday, September 18 at Admiral Park in San Diego, California.
The multi-high school reunion will be attended by alumni from four high schools in Urdaneta City – Urdaneta City National High School (UCNHS); Our Lady of the Lilies Academy (OLLA); Divine Word College of Urdaneta (DWCU); and the barangay high schools of Urdaneta.
Yvonne San Juan-Sera, The Global Urdanetanians (TGU) president and one of the reunion organizers who is mainly in charge of reservations said: “We will be adding tables as soon as all the 30 original tables are reserved/filled out.”
The way it is going, additional tables will have to be added as many alumni from the Philippines, in addition to a huge number of alumni in the US, are very
eager to join and attend the event.
Based on the reservations and queries, among the batches whose alumni are eagerly contemplating attending are those from Batches 60, 64¸65, 69, 72, 73, 76, 79, 80, and 81, coming from the four high schools.
Six years ago, was the last time we had our multihigh school reunion held in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 1, 2017, at Tropicana Hotel. That reunion was very memorable because, aside from 365 alumni who attended, the deadly 2017 Las Vegas shooting likewise happened the day after our gala night.
I would like to recall some facts, not to scare prospective reunion attendees but to have a knowledge of what transpired and be part of history during the active shooting incident. I remember, on the evening of October 1, 2017, Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old man from Mesquite, Nevada, opened fire upon the crowd attending the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada.
From his 32nd-floor suite on the Mandalay Bay Hotel, he fired more than 1,000 bullets killing 60 people and wounding 411 others. About an hour later, Paddock was found dead in
his own room with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident was later recorded as the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the US.
The good thing is that all the alumni who attended the reunion survived the shooting! However, there were inconveniences for some. David Sumera, Batch ‘65, his wife Merry and his cousins were trapped in the Strip and locked down at the Bellagio Hotel, while we (my wife Delia and I) were likewise grounded/locked down at adjoining Tropicana Hotel where we were billeted when the shooting started at about 10:00pm in the evening. Everyone scampered for their lives toward our hotel’s parking area as police officers positioned themselves to track down the active shooter.
I remember another Batch ‘65, Alberto Lapena and his wife Zeny from Melbourne, Australia who were also scheduled to attend the reunion with purchased tickets to the concert, but they failed to make it due to an unforeseen circumstance. Had they made it, they may have been victims also considering that they would surely be attending the concert (they being country music lovers), so it turned out to be a blessing on their part.
Cris Ramirez, Batch
(CANDID PERSPECTIVES: “Here Lies....from page 6)
of my friend Violeta “Bullet” Marasigan, who died in a freak car accident in 2000 in San Francisco. During martial law in the Philippines, she and her husband were among the 70,000 jailed for their anti-Marcos activism.
Perhaps, too, the show is relevant to America a year away from the 2024 election, a cautionary tale of how a fascist regime of the past looks like live. Can you imagine it happening in America now because we were all too busy
’65 with his wife Jackie, from the Philippines, were stopped on their way to the Strip that evening by police officers and were told to turn around and leave the area.
Event coordinator Sepulveda was worried and tried to call everyone making sure everybody was fine. She was happy we were all safe. Except for hours of fear, tension and no sleep till the early morning the following day due to the lockdown, all the alumni in attendance were safe and sound.
The Las Vegas incident was a scary moment of our life which we were able to avoid and thank God we were all safe! We became part of history in the making, I would say!
That flashback reunion will never happen again, not in Temecula, right?
In fact, this will not deter the alumni from attending the 6th Multi High School Reunion in California this coming September 17, 2023, because there’s a lot to recall, a lot of bonding to be made, and more hello’s and hi’s with old high school buddies and BFF’s, whom we’ve missed for years!
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
singing and dancing? Forget about Nero fiddling while Rome burns, can Donald Trump sing and dance? Will we see that on Broadway? Years after the fourth indictment?
All those questions and the immersive staging make me want to see “Here Lies Love.”
We can argue later about what it all means, as is our mutual First Amendment right.
Now that’s a contextual memory we should never forget. No one could have said
boo to the Marcoses without reprisal under martial law in the Philippines.
NOTE: I will talk about this column and other matters on “Emil Amok’s Takeout,” my AAPI micro-talk show. Live @2p Pacific. Livestream on Facebook; my YouTube channel; and Twitter. Catch the recordings on www.amok. com.
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicked off on Thursday, July 20 in Auckland, New Zealand. This year’s event is hosted by Australia and New Zealand, and has been expanded to include 32 teams.
This year is the first time the Philippines has made the Women’s World Cup, joining the United States Women’s National Team, winners of the 2019 World Cup.
The Philippines has had a significant presence on the international stage in sports like basketball and boxing, but the women’s soccer team has made great strides in recent years.
They narrowly missed out on the 2019 World Cup and then made the semi-finals of the 2022 AFC Asian Cup, which allowed them to secure qualification for
this World Cup. The Philippines entered the tournament as major underdogs to advance out of a strong Group A bracket that also included Switzerland, New Zealand and Norway.
The team is led by star striker, Sarina Bolden who is of Filipino descent but was born in the United States, where she attended Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She has played professionally in Sweden, Taiwan, Japan and now Australia.
Bolden has been terrific for the Philippines throughout qualification, scoring the penalty which secured the Philippines entrance into the World Cup, and a total of 22 goals in 37 appearances for the Philippines heading into the tournament.
Like the Moroccan team that advanced to the semi-finals of the 2022 Men’s
World Cup on the strength of a number of foreign-born players of Moroccan decent, pulling from its diaspora has been a great advantage for the Philippines in building its team.
Captain Tahnai Annis and key defender Hali Long were also born in the US, and are joined by players born in Canada and Norway, as well as coach Alen Stajcic, who previously served as coach
of his native Australia’s women’s soccer team.
Coach Stajcic has instilled a strong collective attitude among the team and helped to build a sturdy defense that propelled them to qualification for the World Cup.
Many feared the worst when the team lost their opening match 2-0 to Switzerland on July 21, but the Philippines struck back with
a hard-fought victory over co-hosts New Zealand in Wellington. Bolden scored the only goal of the match with a header in the 24th minute of the match, and the Philippines defenders dug deep to stave off several waves of pressure from a talented New Zealand team.
The nature of the World Cup tournaments is different than that of professional soccer in which stars and role players frequently switch teams season after season. World Cup squads typically play together for years, bound by their love of country.
A victory against the host team in the World Cup is a very impressive showing. This is the type of win that a team can build upon. It’s even more impressive for a country appearing in its very first World Cup. This was an announcement to the world that the Philippines are here to compete with the very best.
The month of August is Buwan ng Wika in the Philippines, so it is just fitting to honor the month of August with a review of Carlos Bulosan’s classic autobiographical novel on his journey as an immigrant in the 1930s.
The original is written in English, but the book has been translated into Tagalog/ Filipino at least twice. The first is by Carolina Malay in 2002 and the latest is a translation by Jovianne Figueroa (2017 & 2022; Anvil Publishing).
Buwan ng Wika (or Language Month in English), is a month-long annual observance in the Philippines held every August to promote its national language.
The establishment of a “national language” started in 1935 during the Commonwealth period when the Philippines was still a colony of the United States and was led by then President Manuel Quezon who hailed from Baler, Aurora—a native Tagalog-speaking area.
In 1946 a language based on Tagalog was adopted as the national language and became “official” by 1959.
However, in 1973, it was renamed “Filipino” and Filipino and English were named as official languages of the Philippines.
Initially observed as Linggo ng Wika (Language Week), then president Fidel Ramos changed its observance to the entire month of August and thus changed its name to Buwan ng Wika.
Acknowledging that the country has other indigenous languages, in 2019, the promotion of the other languages has become part of the observances in line with UNESCO’s designation of the year as the “International Year of Indigenous Languages.”
Translated into Tagalog/ Filipino from the original English, Nasa Puso ang Amerika (America is in the Heart) was originally published in 1946 and was republished in 1973 by the University of Washington Press. It was regarded as an autobiography, especially with the addition of “A Personal History” to its sub-title.
According to some of Bulosan’s friends, the narrative had to be “fictionalized” by the author who considers it 70% factual (autobiographical and case histories of the Pinoys he has met) and 30% fiction.
The book was the earli est publication that depicted the life stories of Filipino immigrants to the Continental US who were seeking a better life.
The first chapters of the book describe his life in a farming community in the Philippines, where his father tended and lived on a farm while his mother and younger siblings lived in a barrio near the town of Binalonan, Pangasinan.
The subsequent chapters described his journey to the United States, as well as his fellow migrant Filipinos’ struggles that they have endured—initially in the fisheries in the Northwestern part of the US and later in California.
Despite the harrowing life he lived as a migrant worker of Filipino descent, he retained his faith and love for America and in later writings—in an essay titled Be American — he described America as “…a country of great opportunity.”
Carlos Bulosan at the age of 17, and with three years of formal education, arrived in Seattle on July 22, 1930. Carlos spoke little English, was
destitute but was desperate to survive and took on various low-paying jobs.
His struggles dealing with economic hardship and racial brutality damaged his health. During his two-year recovery from tuberculosis at a hospital in Los Angeles, he spent his time reading and writing. Self-educated, he was a prolific writer and an activist and was determined to document the struggles of fellow migrants.
According to P.C. Morante (Remembering Carlos Bulosan, New Day Publishers, 1984), Carlos went to America because he was attracted to becoming a writer.
By 1936, six years after reaching Seattle, seven of his poems were published in one issue of Poetry Magazine. But it would be the publication of The Laughter of My Father in 1944 (Harcourt Brace and Co.) that placed him in the company of other notable writers.
Like most immigrants, I first read the book in its original English when I arrived in the US. I was determined to learn as much as I could about the history of Filipinos in America. It was an eye-opener.
(LINGERING THOUGHTS: My Philippines....from page 8) ders of Florida.
The sunshine state is cloudy, and we must prepare for the coming storm being exploited by unreasonable, troublesome decision-makers.
Finally, Oahu’s rail system (Skyline) has been running for over a month, and the short route is great for those traveling from Kapolei to the stadium. Ridership is low for now, but, air-conditioned seating is readily available for all.
The complete benefit of rail won’t be fully realized until it goes to downtown, Ala Moana Shopping Center, and maybe the University of Hawaii, however, the over-bud-
I realized that friends I knew were related to him, or had uncles who had encountered Carlos Bulosan while living in the Pacific Northwest (where he passed away and was buried at Queen Ann Hill in Seattle).
The story of Hawai’i’s sakadas also closely paralleled the life that he lived. Reading about his struggles and his fellow migrants made me appreciate the gains that have been made to pave the way for more recent immigrants who would continue to come to seek their own American dream.
This Tagalog translation does not deviate from the English original. If Carlos Bulosan hailed from Pangasinan, he probably spoke another Philippine language—Ilocano perhaps?
I couldn’t find any mention of his native language. It would have been a better choice to have translated this seminal book into his native language—then this book review would be a better commemoration of Buwan ng Wika since it would be an acknowledgment and celebration of the other indigenous languages of the Philippines.
ROSE CRUZ CHURMA established Kalamansi Books & Things three decades ago. It has evolved from a mail-order bookstore into an on-line 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.
get project is a key investment in Oahu’s future transportation infrastructure. Rail is about mobility, moving commuters with ease, and getting people out of their cars.
If the Stadium site overlooking Pearl Harbor can be developed to include massive affordable housing for our local population, transit-oriented development can help the governor and mayor deal with the housing shortage and crisis facing our local families.
Other rail stops have the same potential, and county and state governments must now work together to deliver
crucial affordable housing. If the government and the private sector fail to maximize the value of transit-oriented development along Skyline, the exodus of Hawaii families leaving for the continent will continue, and the loss to Hawaii will continue to hurt the middle-class, low income, and poor.
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.
“Seneca, research about Liminal Space.” These were some of the last words spoken to me by a very good friend, an ‘ate’ or an older sister who passed away just a few weeks ago.
Ate Riza and her family came to South Korea for a vacation. It was their first trip overseas as a family after the pandemic. We were spending time along the Han River on a Sunday after our church service when she told me to look for the meaning of ‘liminal space’ in relation to our spirituality and faith.
The next day, she felt sick. Little did we know that just four days after our meeting, she would breathe her last. She was taken to a hospital here
in South Korea on a Tuesday. She was admitted to the ICU and just two days after, her husband and two children, aged 20 and 14, went back to the Philippines utterly heartbroken and devastated, but still filled with hope and faith.
As I read about ‘Liminal Space’ on the day that she died, tears fell from my eyes. Those were the very words I needed to hear, the encouragement I needed to lift my soul. God spoke to my heart through my Ate Riza and my heart welled up with joy despite the grief and the pain I was feeling that day.
Let me share with you an excerpt from a Christian Today article by Mandy Bayton titled “How to Live in the Tension and Grace of the Liminal Space.”
“Liminal comes from the
Latin ‘limen’ which means ‘on the threshold’. A liminal space is a transitional space, where we are leaving something behind that feels comfortable and safe while not knowing what lies ahead, a space where we feel as if we are on the threshold between what is behind and what is in front. It can be a place of great tension but also of great grace. It is a place where we can let go of what we’ve been holding and stretch out tentative fingers to explore what’s next.
“The liminal space is where God can give us that fresh vitality and purpose to keep our lives moving, where we can develop courage and
boldness to be overcomers and conquerors as we battle with our fears. The liminal space is where we mature strength and quality of character as we choose to persevere and to go on in spite of it. It is a place to grow the faith needed to have confidence in what we hope for so that we too can still have a dream.”
This has brought comfort and peace in my heart as I mourn the passing of my friend and as I wait for the great things that await my family.
Ate Riza’s passing left her family in a liminal space – a time of being with her to a season of navigating life without her and hopeful for the
time to be reunited with her in eternity someday.
My family is in a liminal space at the moment, too. We are in a time of uncertainty, confronted by the unknown. After being in South Korea for almost a decade, we are willing to move to a different country and a different region. The doors are still closed, and the waiting is taking so long.
My husband and I are feeling the tension of being in such a challenging season of uncertainty but at the same time, we are experiencing supernatural grace and overflowing hope as we anticipate the best that is yet to come for our family.
Maybe this is your season, too. I pray that as you walk through your in-between place, you experience peace in the confusion, joy in the discomfort, and clarity in the uncertainty. May you find joy in your waiting and grace in your liminal space.
Like I do.
Katelyn Usam
My favorite place to travel this summer was Vancouver B.C., Canada. It was my first international trip which my friends and I had planned for almost a year prior, packed with fun-filled adventures in the city and the outdoors! Canada offers an abundance of eateries that are considered scarce in the United States, like buffalo, poutine, and so much more, perfect for amateur foodies, like myself. After exploring tourist destinations like Gastown and Stanley Park, we made sure to carve out time to get out of the cityscape and take in the views of the coast, rivers, and valleys, starting with an adrenaline-inducing white-water rafting adventure. Overall, this trip easily made it to my top 3 travel destinations that I’ve been to, as of yet! Though I still have a lot more to see in this world, I can confidently say that my trip to Canada in the summer of 2023 was one for the books.
Disney World makes me feel like a young person, that for a moment in time, I have no problems, no worries and no obligations!
My favorite travel destination is Palawan, Philippines. This is where the underwater cave is located and lots of tourists go there during summer. It’s fun to just go around and, you’ll have a chance to visit the beaches of El Nido.
I have four children, all girls and they always dreamed of going to Disneyland. They can enjoy all the rides and the sceneries like Treasure Island. They enjoy just watching lots of kids around with their parents. It’s a good bonding quality time with my children.
This summer marked an unforgettable chapter in my life as I embarked on a journey to Spain, where I traversed the enchanting cities of Barcelona, Ibiza, Valencia and Madrid. Venturing to Europe for the first time, I was brimming with anticipation for the plethora of extraordinary experiences awaiting me, ones I could never encounter back home in the States. Throughout my stay, I forged incredible friendships, indulged in delectable new dishes, and revealed in the vibrant tapestry of the nightlife. Embracing the thrill of novelty and pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone in a foreign land was nothing short of mesmerizing, igniting a passionate desire within me to explore the world internationally once more!
My favorite travel destination is Southern California. We have friends and relatives there and we spent three days of park hopping at the happiest place on Earth, Disneyland.
Isee many of my fellow Filipinos who work in the healthcare field are going on strike. What are the issues they are striking over?
– From Reader
Dear Reader,
That is a great question. The Philippines is the largest exporter of nurses and caregivers in the world. In the United States, one-third of all foreign nurses are from the Philippines. While Filipino nurses comprise 4% of all nurses in the US workforce, a whopping 31.5%
died of COVID-19 infection during the pandemic.
Seven out of 10 nurses and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) have reported they are “burned out” for long hours, double shifts, no breaks, and caring for more patients than is safe.
Filipino nurses and Filipino CNAs disproportionately work in highly acute care areas such as Intensive Care Units or Emergency Rooms or in long-term care facilities that have had very high COVID-19 infection rates. This is certainly much of the reason why so many Filipinos in healthcare have died and why nurses and CNAs struggle for better wages, patient-to-staff ratios, and other working conditions.
Recently, nurses and CNAs at the Oahu Care Facility (OCF) in Honolulu,
represented by the Hawaii Nurses Association went on a seven-day strike.
They have been working without a contract since February. They are among the lowest-paid nurses and CNAs in the state. CNAs throughout Hawaii average $20 per hour but at the OCF they earn a meager $14.95 per hour. And, nurses earn about $33.00 compared to their counterparts who earn in the mid $40 per hour.
They also want better patient-to-staff ratios to ensure
better care for their patients. One picketing CNA carried a sign saying “Safety Over Profit.” They are forced to work mandatory overtime even when exhausted or need time with their families. Frankly, as one nurse said, “We have reached our limit, and must stand up for our patients and ourselves.”
Also, this year, therapists and social workers employed by Kaiser Permanente on Oahu went on strike. A key issue was that they wanted Kaiser to hire more therapists. Kaiser Permanente members were waiting 3 months or more for a mental-health appointment with therapists working long, grueling hours.
After a long strike by their union, the National Union of Healthcare Workers, they won a new contract and better staffing ratios.
During COVID we clapped for health care
workers and called them “heroes.” Now they are justly asking for what they really need.
The Hawaii Workers Center supports the nurses and CNAs at OCF (whose workforce is predominantly Filipino) as they press for better wages, better working conditions, and patient care. If you’re looking for ways to support our striking healthcare professionals, send your questions to hiworkerscenter@gmail.com. We will be happy to address them in a future column.
Thank you, 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.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp. salt
2 cups carrots (sliced or grated)
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup cold water
4 eggs
4 cups kalabasa (squash - sliced or grated))
PROCEDURE:
4 cups bean sprouts
1/2 kg. shrimps (cut in the middle)
1 1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 cups green beans (sliced)
1. In a container, mix together cornstarch, flour, salt, baking powder and cold water. Blend well to make a smooth batter. Stir the eggs and drop the kalabasa, bean sprouts, carrots, green beans and shrimps and mix them well.
2. Heat 1 1/2 cup oil in a 10-inch cooking pan. Carefully drop 2 separate 1/4 cup of mixture in pre-heated oil and deep-fry until golden brown. Drain off excess oil.
3. Place in a serving platter and serve with vinegar mixed with garlic and a pinch of salt. Serve it hot.
LET’S ZUMBA | Filipino Community Center | Every Monday starting January 9, 2023 at 6:15pm | FilCom Center, Consuelo Courtyard, 94-428 Mokuola Street, Waipahu | Need to unwind in movement and dance after a long workday? Join the community as we Zumba through the evening. Only $5 per class. Proceeds go to support these programtypes for FilCom Center.
UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING
ADHD IN CHILDREN WORKSHOP
Assets School | August 10 at 6pm to 7:15pm | Virtual Workshop | Learn about the science, symptoms and how to help families with ADHD. Free workshop via Zoom. Register at https://forms.gle/AWwNaWzBpMkxHmFj7.
OBON DANCE & FESTIVAL | Pearl City Hongwanji Temple | August 12 from 7-10pm | Pearl City Hongwanji Mission, 858 2nd St, Pearl City, Oahu | During the summer Obon season, honor the spirit of those who passed with special services and festivals. This festival will include food booths and taiko drummers while audiences can join in on the bon dances.
DUKE KAHANAMOKU OCEAN FESTIVAL
Duke Kahanamoku Festival, Hawaii Tourism Authority and more | August 18-27 | The weeklong festival will begin with opening ceremonies in front of Duke Kahanamoku’s statue in Waikiki Beach. The festival will honor the Olympic champion’s disciplines of surfing, swimming, and other aquatic aports. Visit dukekahanamokuoceanfestival.org for more information.
FAMES HAWAII ANNUAL FREE BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP | FAMES Hawaii, Makani Lani, Burgers on Bishop | August 19 from 8:30am to 1:30pm | Dave & Buster’s Paina Hale Showroom | Learn from four industry leaders to empower your business and leadership skills. The free event offers limited seating. To attend, register at FAMESHAWAII.org.
69TH ANNUAL WAIKIKI HOOLAULEA Stryker Weiner & Yokota | September 23 from 6pm to 9:30pm | Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki | Aloha Festivals will host its premier block party at Waikiki’s beachfront Kalakaua Avenue with booths highlighting Hawaii cuisine, crafts, culture and entertainment.
Adda lagip ditoy, Daan a pakasaritaan, sibibiag
Ti sariugma ti Ganonggong
adda kappia ditoy
Ti ugma a Cangitingitan iti naamo a pul-oy yeg dagiti dalluyon…
umay ti agmatuon, umay pay iti
panagligsay ti init
sumaruno ti panagpakada ti init ditoy… ditoy a manggungunggon a daga, ti darat ti kadaratan
adda biag iti kadilian, iti katangriban, dagiti nabiag a lames
adda talna ditoy iti sallukob ti kappia adda kayaw ditoy iti ayamuom ti sabong, ti ayamuom ti ruot-baybay, adda daniw ditoy kas panangtaliaw
ti away a nakayanakan agsubliakto manen
The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), through its Securities Enforcement Branch (SEB), announces that investors who purchased retail precious metals from Lear Capital (Lear) will receive compensation as a part of Lear’s bankruptcy plan. State securities regulators had been investigating Lear for
RECOMMENDATION:
Become a U.S. citizen and you can drink to your heart’s content like the Hawaii state senator and avoid deportation. You can also drink non-alcoholic beer, which tastes like beer but lacks the punch.
ATTY. EMMANUEL SAMON-
TE TIPON was a Fulbright and Smith-Mundt scholar to Yale Law School where he obtained a Master of Laws degree specializing in Constitutional Law. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines. He placed third in the 1955 bar examinations. He
deceptive securities and commodities activities and misleading marketing at the time of the company’s bankruptcy.
Under the terms of the bankruptcy plan, Lear will provide $5.5 million to be distributed to investors in Lear’s precious metals. Lear investors that filed a timely bankruptcy claim will receive refunds based on calculations deter-
mined by Lear’s bankruptcy plan. In addition, Lear will provide a pro rata distribution of the remaining funds to investors who did not file claims.
The pro rata distribution applies to investors that purchased precious metals from Lear between January 1, 2016, and March 3, 2022.
As a part of Lear’s bankruptcy plan, the company has
iti sabali a gundaway, say-opek ti puyupoy iti kadaratan kas pannakailili ti inosente a maladaga, adda iliw ditoy, kaanonto manen a maep-ep, adda kaibatogan ditoy nasudi a balikas: Ay-ayatenka!
also agreed to improve its sales practices and disclosures, including agreeing not to misrepresent its fee, not to offer portfolio assessments of securities holdings, not to hold itself out as an investment adviser in any way, and not to provide investment advice or commit securities or commodities fraud.
Various regulators had alleged that the Los Angeles-based company, which sells and buys back metals through both direct-to-con-
sumer transactions and self-directed IRA transactions, used deceptive business practices, and violated investor protection laws. These actions were resolved as part of the $5.5 million bankruptcy settlement.
Investors are encouraged to come forward if they suspect they have been targeted by similar precious metals investment schemes. Please contact the DCCA’s Securities Enforcement Branch at (808) 586-2740 or via electronic mail at seb@dcca.hawaii.gov.
Election Laws.”
is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, New York, and the Philippines. He practices federal law, with emphasis on immigration law and appellate federal criminal defense. He was the Dean and a Professor of Law of the College of Law, Northwestern University, Philippines. He has written law books and legal articles for the world’s most prestigious legal publisher and writes columns for newspapers. He wrote the annotations and case notes to the Immigration and Nationality Act published by The Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Co. and Bancroft Whitney Co. He wrote the best-seller “Winning by Knowing
he co-hosts with his son Attorney Emmanuel “Noel” Tipon. They talk about immigration law, criminal law, court-martial defense, politics, and current events. It is considered the most witty, interesting, and useful radio show in Hawaii. KNDI 1270 AM band every Thursday at 8:00 a.m. Atty. Tipon was born in Laoag City, Philippines. Cell Phone (808) 225-2645. E-Mail: filamlaw@ yahoo.com. Website: https://www. tiponimmigrationguide.com The information provided in this article is not legal advice. Publication of this information is not intended to create, and receipt by you does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.)
Recently signed into law by Governor Josh Green, Act 243 gives Oahu residents the option to renew their driver’s license online rather than in person or by mail as long as they meet the provisions to do so.
The new option will be available to residents in July 1, 2025 as the state pre -
pares the system for online renewals which will accommodate more than 600,000 active driver’s licenses in the City and County of Honolulu.
When implemented, Hawaii will join 40 other states and the District of Columbia that currently allow online renewal process of driver’s license.
