PAGE 2 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • DECEMBER 1-15, 2014
THE FIL-AM COURIER • DECEMBER 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 3
Bennette Espineli Misalucha
THE GIFT OF GRATITUDE
serving The community since 1987 Publisher Mary Llanos Cordero Managing Editor Bennette Espineli Misalucha Director of Design Armand Busmente
An advance Holiday Greetings to all our readers, supporters and advertisers!
Production Manager Alice Llanos Busmente Assistant Editors Radiant Cordero Copy Editor Danielle Evangelista Photographers/Graphics Brandon dela Cruz Noah Felipe Gabe de Liso Jeff Orig James Ramos COLUMNISTS Edna Alikpala Rhoda Yabez Alvarez, Esq. Jesse Bacon II Nancy Bernal Cesar Bonilla Alice Llanos Busmente Anabel Gasmen Cabebe Dr. Rickie Camara Dr. Patricia Halagao ZenyMuyot Angie Santiago Perfecto Yasay Jr. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Conrad Abuel Ric Agnes Paul Alimbuyao Ria Baldevia Eriza Bareng Marnelli Joy Basilio Bernie Caalim Randy Cortez Radiant Cordero Mary Cruzada Jaime de Jesus Brandon dela Cruz Christian Evangelista Imelda Gasmen Veronika Geronimo Leo Gozar Ben Gutierrez Carmela Minaya Gladys Quinto Marrone Gladys Menor John Pagaragan Paola Rodelas Judy Relosimon Sandra Sagisi Nicole Velasco Jason Ubay MichiVillaruz Neighbor Island Bureau Maui Kit Zulueta Jeremy Zane Big Island Mil Asuncion Jane Clement Dr. Margarita Hopkins Kauai Virgie Cruzada Liza Trinidad Marynell Valenzuela ADVERTISING SALES MarivicAldaya Mary Cordero Annabel Cabebe Florence Tan McCollom Lydia Kamiya Joni Redick-Yundt Rudy Bautista Marynel Valenzuela CIRCULATION Florence Tan (Oahu) Ron Oshiro(Leeward Oahu) David Cordero (Maui) Marynel Valenzuela (Kauai) Milli Asuncion (Big Island) Legal Counsel Alfredo Evangelista, Esq THE FIL-AM COURIER is published twice a month by OAHU RELOCATION SERVICES located at 2221 Liliha St. Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
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I have truly been blessed this year and I attribute all of it to my Heavenly Father who continues to protect, lead and grant me and my children our daily needs. I have also been blessed with my association with special members in our Filipino community, notably the subject of our cover story, Nana Maggie Domingo who has been a mentor to many of us. Many of us consider her as a second mother. Over the past decades, Nana Maggie has been generous with her time, her energy and her resources and has given much to enrich the lives of others, not just in Hawaii but in her native Philippines. The last time the Courier featured Nana Maggie on its cover was almost ten years ago, and we are featuring her again to recognize the gifts that she has brought to the community. We hope that her example will provide inspiration for us so we can find joy, as she has, in serving others. Lastly, I would like to give this message about gratitude as a gift to you, our readers. It is from one of my favorite spiritual leaders, Diether Uchdorf of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This message touched me, and I hope it will touch your hearts too. Here is an excerpt from a talk delivered in April 2014 titled “Grateful in Any Circumstances”: “Over the years, I have had the sacred opportunity to meet with many people whose sorrows seem to reach the very depths of their soul. In these moments, I have listened to my beloved brothers and sisters and grieved with them over their burdens. I have pondered what to say to them, and I have struggled to know how to comfort and support them in their trials. Often their grief is caused by what seems to them as an ending. Some are facing the end of a cherished relationship, such as the death of a loved one or estrangement from a family member. Others feel they are facing the end of hope— the hope of being married or bearing children or overcoming an illness. Others may be facing the end of
their faith, as confusing and conflicting voices in the world tempt them to question, even abandon, what they once knew to be true. Sooner or later, I believe that all of us experience times when the very fabric of our world tears at the seams, leaving us feeling alone, frustrated, and adrift It can happen to anyone. No one is immune. We Can Be Grateful Everyone’s situation is different, and the details of each life are unique. Nevertheless, I have learned that there is something that would take away the bitterness that may come into our lives. There is one thing we can do to make life sweeter, more joyful, even glorious. We can be grateful! It might sound contrary to the wisdom of the world to suggest that one who is burdened with sorrow should give thanks to God. But those who set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift instead the goblet of gratitude can find a purifying drink of healing, peace, and understanding. … Our loving Heavenly Father knows that choosing to develop a spirit of gratitude will bring us true joy and great happiness. Being Grateful for Things But some might say, “What do I have to be grateful for when my world is falling apart?” Perhaps focusing on what we are grateful for is the wrong approach. It is difficult to develop a spirit of gratitude if our thankfulness is only proportional to the number of blessings we can count. True, it is important to frequently “count our blessings”—and anyone who has tried this knows there are many—but I don’t believe the Lord expects us to be less thankful in times of trial than in times of abundance and ease. In fact, most of the scriptural references do not speak of gratitude for things but rather suggest an overall spirit or attitude of gratitude. It is easy to be grateful for things when life seems to be going our way. But what then of those times when what we wish for seems to be far out of reach? Could I suggest that we see gratitude as a disposition, a way of life that stands independent of our current situation? In other words, I’m suggesting that instead of being thankful for things, we
From my Family to yours, a Blessed Christmas! focus on being thankful in our circumstances—whatever they may be. There is an old story of a waiter who asked a customer whether he had enjoyed the meal. The guest replied that everything was fine, but it would have been better if they had served more bread. The next day, when the man returned, the waiter doubled the amount of bread, giving him four slices instead of two, but still the man was not happy. The next day, the waiter doubled the bread again, without success. On the fourth day, the waiter was really determined to make the man happy. And so he took a nine-foot-long (3m) loaf of bread, cut it in half, and with a smile, served that to the customer. The waiter could scarcely wait for the man’s reaction. After the meal, the man looked up and said, “Good as always. But I see you’re back to giving only two slices of bread.” Being Grateful in Our Circumstances This type of gratitude transcends whatever is happening around us. It surpasses disappointment, discouragement, and despair. It blooms just as beautifully in the icy landscape of winter as it does in the pleasant warmth of summer. When we are grateful to God in our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation. In grief, we can still lift up our hearts in praise. In the cold of bitter sorrow, we can experience the closeness and warmth of heaven’s embrace. We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?
Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our presentday challenges. This is not a gratitude of the lips but of the soul. It is a gratitude that heals the heart and expands the mind. Gratitude as an Act of Faith Being grateful in our circumstances is an act of faith in God. It requires that we trust God and hope for things we may not see but which are true. By being grateful, we follow the example of our beloved Savior, who said, “Not my will, but thine, be done.” True gratitude is an expression of hope and testimony. It comes from acknowledging that we do not always understand the trials of life but trusting that one day we will. How blessed we are if we recognize God’s handiwork in the marvelous tapestry of life. Gratitude to our Father in Heaven broadens our perception and clears our vision. It inspires humility and fosters empathy toward our fellowmen and all of God’s creation. Gratitude is a catalyst to all Christlike attributes! A thankful heart is the parent of all virtues.” As we celebrate the birth of the Savior, may we continue to ring a message of hope, gratitude and good cheer, no matter our circumstances, no matter our journeys! Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays to one and all!
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By Daniel B. Eisen, PhD Pacific University
Last month I examined how the process of being asked, “Do you speak Tagalog,” creates a sense of exclusion from the Filipino community for many second or third generation individuals. While it is important to realize that we cannot define being Filipino solely by one’s ability to speak a Filipino language, we must also realize that to create truly inclusive spaces language diversity should be celebrated. To achieve this, individuals should not feel pressured to assimilate into an English only society and should feel safe speaking a non-English language or with an accent. Unfortunately, we do not promote and celebrate l a n g u a g e d i v e r s i t y, a s stereotypes are often attached to individuals who do not speak English or speak with an accent. While some individuals m ay e x p l i c i t l y d e m a n d others “speak English,” m a ny i n d i v i d u a l s s e n d this message through subtle slights call micro-
HOW MOCKING FILIPINO ACCENTS MARGINALIZES OUR IDENTITY aggressions. These slights denigrate, ignore, or invalidate an individual’s experience, creating a sense of exclusion from various communities. Since microaggression are subtle, it is the cumulative effect of numerous microaggressions that affect an individual rather than a single experience. Take for example the practice of mocking a Filipino accent. This sends a clear message that “non-accented English” is preferred, as it denigrates the speech patterns of individuals who speak with a Filipino accent. Often this mocking begins at a very young ages as one individual recalled feeling “embarrassed to return to a classroom full of opinionated four year olds, who mocked [his] inability to pronounce p’s and f’s correctly.” While this practice may
seem childish it has infused H a w a i i ’s e t h n i c h u m o r and become prevalent in everyday life. For example, Frank DeLima’s Filipino Christmas Song can likely be heard on local radio stations throughout the Christmas season. In addition to employing stereotypes about Filipinos, it mocks the “Filipino accent” for humor. For example “patepul” and “joypul” replace faithful and joyful. Played throughout our communities, one must wonder how the individuals who were mocked for mispronouncing p’s and f’s feel about this widely distributed song engaging in the same practice as their kindergarten classmates. As these practices embedded themselves in our interactions and daily life, they send very clear messages that speaking English with a Filipino accent is not tolerated; instead it is something to tease and mock. This can profoundly affects an individual’s identity, leaving
them embarrassed to be Filipino. A recent interviewee recalled growing up listening to her mother read a newspaper aloud in the living room. Unfortunately, this was not to inform the family of the daily news, but to help her mother lose her “Filipino accent” and gain prestige by doing so. Therefore, while it is important to understand how the process of asking, “do you speak Tagalog” may exclude individuals from the Filipino community, it is also
important to understand how others are marginalized for their speech patterns. Ultimately there is much potential for growth in the community when the diversity of speech patterns is celebrated and respected, as using speech patterns to define “types of people” simply creates and maintains a divided community.
Daniel Eisen grew up in Ewa Beach and graduated from Campbell High School before attending Pacific University, Oregon to earn his BA in Sociology. After living in Oregon for four years, he returned to Hawaii to earn his PhD in Sociology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where his doctoral work examined young adults’ development of a Filipino ethnic identity in Hawaii. Daniel Eisen is currently an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Assistant Dean of Strategic Initiatives at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon.
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SPECIAL TO THE FIL-AM COURIER
THE ROAD MAP IS CLEAR:
By Senator Mazie Hirono
President Barack Obama’s decision to protect close to 5 million undocumented persons from deportation gives hope to all of us who are fighting for reasonable, humane comprehensive immigration reform. An estimated 7,000 individuals in Hawaii can be covered by the President’s executive order. In our tightknit communities, many will know someone or a family who can benefit from the President’s action. When my mother brought m e a n d my b r o t h e r s t o America, it was a courageous act. Her dream was that through hard work and determination we could create a better life in America. We didn’t have much materially. I didn’t speak any English when I arrived. Mom worked hard in jobs that had no benefits. But this country gave us an opportunity. My story is just one of the many stories of immigrants in the United States – because unless you are Native Hawaiian, Native Alaskan or Native American, the rest of us are immigrants. Two years ago, I was privileged to be a part of the purposeful work to pass comprehensive immigration reform as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bipartisan Senate passed bill incorporated several amendments I offered, including one to reunite Filipino World War II veterans – those who fought side-by-side with American troops – with their children in the Philippines. Today, many of those children in the Philippines are in their 60s, or older. They’ve been waiting for decades due to the backlog of people wanting to come to our country. This reunification issue is one that I have worked on with many of you and other advocates for Filipino veterans throughout the country. While the President’s executive action is a great step, as he stated, the order is not a permanent solution. Presidents over the last 70 years, Democrats and Republicans alike, have used their executive authority to
CONGRESS MUST ACT ON IMMIGRATION REFORM “While the President’s executive action is a great step, as he stated, the order is not a permanent solution… But it is up to Congress to enact comprehensive reform to fix our broken immigration system.”
effect temporary immigration relief. But it is up to Congress to enact comprehensive reform to fix our broken immigration system. Eleven million people are waiting to come out of the shadows to live and work without fear, to take care of their families and contribute to our economy
in the open. We need to get this done. As a nation of immigrants, we can get this done by working together.
Senator Mazie Hirono has been serving in the US Senate since 2013. She was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Hawaii’s 2nd congressional district from 2007 to 2013. She is the first female elected Senator from Hawaii and the first Asian-American woman elected to the Senate.
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By Perfecto R. Yasay, Jr.
There are about 4 million residents in the United States of Filipino ancestry. In New York, New Jersey and Connecticut there are approximately 166,000 individuals who trace their roots from various regions and localities in the Philippines. But what I found unsettling during my years of active law practice in the U.S. is that while we are characterized as Filipinos, amongst ourselves we are further classified
Our Tenous Filipino Identity
by our territorial roots and clannish origins. We are grouped together by spoken dialects and by our special cultural traits and proclivities. Petty rivalries and jealousies between factions are frequent,
arguably giving rise to our crab mentality. When I was living in N e w Yo r k t h e r e w e r e about 36 different Filipino organizations in the Tri-State area that included Cebuanos, Ilonggos, Ilocanos, Bicolanos and Pampanguenos. There were 15 active lawyers in the Big Apple under 2 associations that did not see eye to eye. This did not include another group of attorneys who did not have licenses to practice. They had their separate alliance. Notably, a good number of Pinoys in need of legal services typically patronized white American counsels who were not any better, but who could be trusted with their deepest secrets. Filipinos were seen as tsismoso. And yet, we were envious of other ethnic minorities who succeeded in their respective ventures and trade because of unity and mutual cooperation. Subway stations in
New York are dotted with lucrative small stands selling sundry items like magazines, newspapers, cigarettes, and candies that provide their mostly Indian proprietors steady income. Chinese merchants are engaged in the same food business in Chinatown and they profit together. Koreans operate fruit stalls in the same confined localities without fear of undermining each other. Furthermore, there are numerous Japanese restaurants in Manhattan located in close proximity and
all are successfully thriving. Filipinos here in the 50th State constitute the biggest ethnic group. However, a constant disappointment is seeing two or three of our kababayans competing for the same political office, so that usually not one of them wins. We have not t ra n s c e n d e d o u r s e l f i s h concerns in order to harness the best of our ancestral legacy, values and traditions in achieving the common aspirations and welfare of all American Hawaiians. Can Filipinos get their act together? The influence of Islam throughout the Philippines predates the arrival of the Spaniards by at least 200 years. Muslims introduced a government system called “Sultanate” that represented a higher level of political and economic advancement. However, the imposition of Christianity by a colonial power swiftly destroyed our rich cultural heritage spread over the expanse of the Archipelago from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. When Ferdinand Magellan landed in Cebu, he was s u r p r i s e d t o s e e n a t i ve Muslims already well settled in various communities each headed by a tribal chief. He was welcomed by Rajah Humabon who quickly converted to Catholicism in order to win special favors from the colonizers. In a matter of days about 2000 natives were baptized. The instantaneous winning of souls encouraged Magellan to venture into the nearby island across the channel in order to Christianize LapuLapu, a Muslim from Sulu and his kinfolk. The first Filipino hero was Humabon’s staunch opponent. As it turned out, despite their superior armaments, the complement of 50 soldiers riding on a few rowboats led by Magellan were no match against the fifteen hundred or so ferocious savages merely e q u i p p e d w i t h p r i m i t i ve
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weapons. Humabon was enraged by the failed attempt to subdue Lapu-Lapu. This made him turn against the Spanish forces. He treacherously lured about 21 men from the safety of their ships with a sumptuous feast and a bevy of pretty young women and murdered them. On November 21, 1564, a new expedition was authorized by King Philip, led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. When he arrived, Legazpi chose Cebu as the site of the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. But his troublesome experiences left a lasting impression about the local dwellers that he reports as follows: “Face to Face they agree to anything. They never say no to any proposal. However, the moment they turn their backs, they never keep a promise or have any concept of honesty or sincerity. It will be difficult to make durable arrangements with them on the basis of friendship rather than through coercion and fear.” Significantly, Legazpi astutely observed that he would be able to subjugate the population with a minimum of force because they had no leader. “They were deeply divided amongst themselves. They can never join together in a demonstration of strength”. Because of the absence of a leader who wielded power beyond tribal boundaries, no one exercised sole authority over a vast expanse of territory and organize a unified force to expel the Spaniards. Thus, Legazpi readily exploited the friction between the Muslim sultanates in Luzon to make Manila the seat of colonial power. For this reason it was not difficult for him to defeat Rajah Soliman who led the Muslim monarchy south of the Pasig River, and keep Rajah Lakandula, the sovereign of the kingdom of Tondo towards the north at bay. Legazpi’s notion about our indigenous ancestors foretold an enigmatic quality about our people. C e n t u r i e s l a t e r, a bitter rivalry amongst our revolutionary patriots became a m a j o r d raw b a c k . T h i s prompted Emilio Aguinaldo to order the execution of Andres Bonifacio. In the end, we never won our independence. It was gifted to us. And yet, today we desperately need a unifying leader who could galvanize all Filipinos to unite. But first, we must succeed in weaving our varied ethnic thread into an enduring national fabric on
which our identity could be shaped with distinctive pride and integrity.
After successfully practicing law in the Philippines and the United States, “Jun” served as Chairman of the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission under President Fidel V. Ramos. He is currently Chairman of the Board of the Philippine Christian University in Manila, and a member of the Board of Governors of the Filipino Community Center. Yasay, along with his wife Cecile and daughter Stephanie, is a resident of Honolulu.
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Thank you Maggie for shining your light and being a great inspiration to all!
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By Drew Astolfi
Faith Action for Community Equity brought nearly 300 community members from all walks of life for an allday conversation about Hawaii’s affordable housing and homeless crisis at the state capitol on Saturday November 15, 2014. Developers, construc-tion workers, church leaders and the homeless all gathered to share stories and ideas. The summit was opened by Mayor Kirk Caldwell who explained the struggle to achieve home ownership. “You need 20% down to purchase a home – since the average house in Honolulu costs 700,000, that means you will need 140,000 down to be able to buy. How will our hard working local families be able to do this? Working families, hotel workers, cops, teachers, fireman… they are the people that make Honolulu work. If they cannot afford to own a home what kind of city will we have?” The mayor called for creativity in building the 24,000 new units his administration estimates are needed, with the greatest need identified as for families making less than 80,000 a year. Summit leader Rev. Sam Domingo of Kilohana UMC talked about the need for everyone to work together to make the changes required to address the crisis. “FACE has been working on affordable housing for years – from fighting fore-closures, to saving Kukui Gardens, but even as we are doing that we are falling behind every year. I grew up here in Kalihi and I never thought I’d live anywhere else – everyone used to say “lucky we live Hawaii”. But now I worry about whether my son will have an option to stay here.” James Fitzpatrick a twenty six year old member of St. Elizabeth’s church talked about this in stark terms, “increasingly there is no future for local kids…we all have to choose between moving away from the state to have a chance at a middle class life – trading our culture for a house and a pension for retirement, or sacrificing our family’s economic position for the chance to stay where we were born and grew up.
Hawaii’s affordable housing and homeless crisis summit held I honestly don’t know how to make a choice like that.” Summit panels also noted that Rental housing was increasingly unavailable, of the 400,000 rental housing units built in 2013 in the US, none were built in Honolulu. With the existing rental housing slowly being converted to condominium’s several speakers talked about the need to give incentives to developers who were willing to include affordable rentals in their projects. “We hope the transit oriented development that will take place along the rail line will include a significant amount of new and affordable rental housing” said Rev. Bob Nakata, “that’s what we felt we were promised when the rail was proposed. Now I want to make sure we realize the promise.” One way to add to the inventory of rental housing was on everyone’s mind throughout the day, and that was allowing families to build and rent Ohana units to non-family members. According to Honolulu Council member Ron Menor changing the rules for Ohana units is one way to add to the overall inventory of available rentals without requiring the county or state to spend large sums of money. “Allowing people to build these units will help address the overall problem. It doesn’t fix everything but it does tap into our biggest resource - our own people for help in solving the problem”. Menor’s proposal got strong support in committee less than week after the summit, and goes to the full council before the end of the year. The themes of affordable rental and access to homeownership for local families ran through several workshops, but the summit also grappled with homelessness. This issue was on the
minds of many people – both homeless people themselves and advocates for them as a result of the controversial bills prohibiting the homeless from sitting and lying on the sidewalk. One of the most interesting and creative options for housing the homeless was introduced by Brother Sage of Ohana Family of the Living God which shelters families on the North Shore. With the help of Craig Chappman an innovative builder, the group built a remarkably attractive two room house with a single shipping container. The container house costs $4,000 and includes a bathroom, windows and ceiling fans. Since the summit several churches have agreed to site a container house on their property, and each one can house two single adults or a single adult and two children. According to Brother Vergil Amoroso also of Ohana Family, it would be possible to build several on any site with water and sewer hook ups, and he hopes more sites can be found both via private owners and state and county government. The summit was called a success by organizers and will be followed by a similar effort in December by the Land Use Research Foundation which represents developers in the state. “We hope all this leads to action,” said Attorney Gavin Thronton of the LDS church who, along with Father Terrence Watanabe led a session on “Faith in Housing” during the day. “It’s a really big problem and there is no silver bullet for it,” says Thornton who leads the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, “but faith can map out a path to walk.” Father Watanabe agreed adding “We are navigating between the greed that drives maximum profit and the
selfishness of the NIMBY reaction that so often block affordable projects in Hawaii. Greed and selfishness are strong forces, but I have faith that love can overcome them both, with a little help from above anyway.”
Drew Astolfi is the Director of Faith Action for Community Equity since 2005.
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Christian Brand Brings YouTube stars for benefit concert By vina cristobal
In 2011, Waipahu resident John “Jon Jon” Ulep launched Glorified Supply Company, a faith lifestyle brand with a purpose and mission to encourage and inspire others to do good by putting its faith into action. Three years after starting Glorified Supply Company, Ulep is now gearing up to present “Blessed” – a show to benefit the Hawai‘i Children’s Cancer Foundation on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 6 p.m. at the Salvation Army Kroc Center Hawai‘i in Kapolei. “Blessed” will feature local musician Randy Allen
Gabe Bondoc
as well as YouTube artists Gabe Bondoc and Andrew Garcia. All three musicians who play acoustic music and covers from a variety of genres, from rock and roll to
Randy Allen
pop. Randy Allen is a local Filipino musican who has been performing professionally since 2002. He was featured on Entertainment Tonight, and is the most recommended performer for weddings in Hawai‘i. He performs at different venues in the Waikiki area almost every night, and hosts the open mic night every Saturday at Sansei Waikiki. Gabe Bondoc is one of the first Filipino singers of YouTube fame, and has been making videos since June 2006. Bondoc, a California native, has garnered more than 200,000 subscribers on YouTube and posts covers of
Andrew Garcia
popular Top 40 hits on his channel. He occasionally tours the country and vo l u n t e e r s h i s t i m e t o play music for his church services. Andrew Garcia is most notably known for being a contestant on season 9 of American Idol. Before going on the show, he already had a following on YouTube. Since the show, he performs with the YouTube comedy group, “Yesterday, Today, Forever” and continues to post videos on his YouTube channel. He most recently released the EP “Hell and Back” earlier this year. Ulep is bringing these artists to help raise awareness of children who
are battling cancer. “This event was inspired by the many people that I’ve encountered in my life,” he said. “They taught me how to serve and give back to the less fortunate, the needy and the sick.” A s a yo u n g F i l i p i n o entrepreneur, Ulep hopes to represent his community in a positive way through this special event. “I saw an opportunity to help children fighting cancer through music and decided to put faith into action.” Tickets for the event are available at www.glorified supplyco.com. VIP is $55 and general admission is $35. VIP tickets include a private concert and meetand-greet session with Gabe Bondoc and Andrew Garcia before the show. More details about the concert and ticket prices are included on the website as well. For more information, contact John “Jon Jon” Ulep at glorified supplyco@ gmail.com.
Vina Cristobal is a senior at Chaminade University who is majoring in Communications (Broadcast Journalism) and resides in Kapolei, Hawai‘i. She will be graduating in May 2015. Cristobal is also the founding editor-in-chief of HNL Flow, an online magazine about Honolulu’s urban culture. She is also the media representative of the Glorified Supply Company benefit show, “Blessed.”
THE FIL-AM COURIER • DECEMBER 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 11
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TESTIMONIAL FOR DR. HOLLAND Last year my fiancé and I were rear ended twice while waiting at a red light. As a result of that accident I still suffer from head and neck pain. One morning I woke up and I couldn’t move my neck. Dr. Holland took me in right away and after the first session I immediately felt relief. After three sessions I was back in the gym and by the fourth session I was back to full mobility. He always made me feel comfortable and stressed the importance of diet and exercise. He uses very specific massage techniques to prepare your body for various adjustments and educates you along the way. I wouldn’t trust anyone else with my spine. Lehua Kai Executive Editor
Travel Media Publishing
THE FIL-AM COURIER • DECEMBER 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 13
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By Bennette Espineli Misalucha
Fil-Am Courier Managing Editor
Our cover....
This beautiful picture of our cover subject, Maggie Domingo was the work of the talented Jeff Orig of Orig Media. Photo was taken at sunset at the Philippine Consulate grounds located along Pali Highway. Cover concept by Noah Felipe of OrigMedia. Jeff and Noah can be reached at www.origmedia.com or at 447-9559.
The day Nana Maggie arrived on board a ship from the Philippines (September, 1957).
It’s not easy filling a room during a Filipino community event. After all, there is bound to be at least one Filipino organization out of 150 such regional groups celebrating an installation ceremony, a beauty pageant or an anniversary every weekend. One would have to try hard to create interest to ensure good attendance. But everyone in our community knows that if there is one person who can
gather people together, who can draw a crowd and make them listen, it is iconic Filipino community leader Magdalena Pasion Domingo or “Nana Maggie” as she prefers to be called. Perhaps, one can attribute her popularity to the fact that for more than fifty years, Nana Maggie has been a consistent presence in ethnic radio. Or to the point that she has presided over major community organizations in
the past. But if one were to dig deeper, one would find the kernel of truth: that Nana Maggie has built loyalty from others the old-fashioned way; by nurturing relationships, supporting others’ causes and bringing joy to others. This is but one of the reasons why Nana Maggie was recently honored by the Filipino Women’s Civic Club as the first recipient of the “Woman Icon of Inspiration award.”
Over 100 passengers were part of the goodwill tour sponsored by Phil-Am Travel. All proceeds were donated to Philippine Cultural Foundation under the administration of the late Mrs. Soledad Arre Alconcel.
According to a write-up from FWCC, the award was to recognize Nana Maggie for her “eight decades and two years of an undeniably magnificent life of a loving adoptive mother, delightful sister, understanding grandmother, faithful friend, patient mentor, dynamic colleague, kind nana, excellent radio announcer, outstanding community service leader and the greatly admired Maria Clara of the Filipino Women’s
Nana Maggie’s first day of officially starting her radio career at KHON Radio (April. 1958).
THE FIL-AM COURIER • DECEMBER 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 15
Receiving the Banaag presidential award, from the Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Aroyo together with Cecilia Villafuerte and Dr. Conchita Cachero, on behalf the Philippine Cultural Foundation, of which she is president.
Nana Maggie and her family on her 77th birthday.
With Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Menor and Gov. George Ariyoshi.
Civic Club.” To say that Nana Maggie has served the community well is simply an understatement. Whether in Hawaii or in her hometown of San Nicolas, Nana Maggie has planted seeds of goodwill wherever she went, cultivated and nurtured these ties over time, and delivered on promises kept and fulfilled. Her legacy points to a commitment to service to others that has brought her joy in return. EARLY DAYS To u n d e r s t a n d N a n a Maggie, one has to start from her roots and the circumstances that shaped her. “My parents both came to Hawaii in 1924 to work in
Toy Arre recommended Nana MagWith nephew Ron Menor, now a city gie for the Chinatown Advisory council member. Board under Mayor Frank Fasi.
Hawaii’s sugar plantation. I was born here, the oldest of four children. But when the contract ended a decade later, it was the middle of the Great Depression and the family decided to go back to the Philippines,” Nana Maggie recalled. “We went back to my parents’ hometown, San Nicolas in Ilocos Norte. We were poor when I was growing up. There were few jobs so my dad and my younger brothers would travel to the next town to do construction work. As the oldest child, I was expected to take care of my mom and the others. So many people depended on me so I had to work hard.” The burden of responsibility was heaviest at one point of Nana Maggie’s
At Washington Place with First Lady Beatrice Burns
childhood. “I remember several years that my mom was bedridden with a strange illness. But she insisted that I continue to go to school. I often did not have enough money for lunch or for transportation fare, so I walked about two miles each way or four miles both ways, every day to get to school. I would wake up at 3 a.m. to wash the family clothes and to cook for my mom and my siblings for their daily meals.” “Then, when I was in fourth year high school, my mom just got better all of a sudden. She woke up and started to walk. It was a miracle.” But there were reasons for optimism even in the midst of dark times. Nana Maggie recalled: “At some
Maggie receiving plaque of appreciation in promoting tourism in the Philippines, presented by Custom Commisioner, Mr. Salvador Mascardo.
Nana Magie with her boss Leona Jona, Owner of KNDI Radio (1976).
Members of the 85th Anniversary Executive Committee, (seated, left to right) Maggie Domingo, Mayor Lorraine Inouye, Liz Lishman, Helen N. Miller, Carmen Cantorna, (standing, left to right) Gerry Minoza, Cris Pablo, Consul Pete Chan, Joe lazo, and Judge Simeon Acoba.
point, my father found a job as a truck driver for the Americans. It was a blessing to work for the Americans because we then always had food; the Americans would come and bring food to our house.” Nana Maggie also admits that throughout her childhood, she never lost hope that things would get better. “I guess because I was aware I was born in America, I knew I could always come back, and that gave me a reason to hope for the future.” Since she did not have resources to return, she wrote to her Uncle Savino for help. “My dad and his brother, my Uncle Savino came to Hawaii together in 1924 but instead of returning to the Philippines like my dad did, my Uncle Savino decided to stay in Hawaii. I wrote to him and when he answered me, I started to work on my papers.”
She arrived in Hawaii in September 1957. The boat took three weeks to get to the Islands. Her first job was as a cashier at Frankie’s Market in Kalihi. “Truthfully, I did not really have the experience, I stretched the truth a bit, but somehow, I was able to convince them to hire me.I always had guts. I did not have the skills at that point, but I knew they would train me,” Nana Maggie laughed at the recollection. Soon after she arrived, she was invited by a relative to go the Big Island to attend a wedding. While she was there, she was convinced to find a job and live in Hilo. She applied at Bank of Hawaii, Honokaa Branch. “They took me right away. I was supposed to start the following Monday, but that Sunday, the plantation strike of 1958 started, and the job did not materialize. I guess I
PAGE 16 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • DECEMBER 1-15, 2014
Co-chairing the 2nd fundraising for Filcom at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel with Melga Gendrano. Left to right: Jun Colmenares, Jake Manegdeg, Jun Abinsay, Buddy Gendrano, Mel Europa and Roland Casamina.
Nana Maggie’s sons and spouses. Left to right: Noel Ramirez, Kim Ramirez, Tina Ramirez, Ramil Ramirez.
was not meant to live in Hilo.” She started taking evening courses at a trade school but within a few months, she found her network of friends started to increase and social invitations came her way. Nana Maggie remembers that she got invited to sing at a party. A radio announcer at KHON heard her sing a duet and invited her to sing in his program. Her first husband saw her and asked her to read a script. She must have made an impact, because favorable listener calls started to pour in. She was then invited to start her own show in April 1958. Nana Maggie later moved to KAIM where she received top billing until 1970. But when KAIM was going through some changes in programming, she moved to KCCN, and started the “Saniata Variety Hour.” “Saniata means Pearl of the North,” she explained. The program moved to KNDI in 1976 where it remains to this day. “I was recruited by the then owner, Mr. Ombi to apply for the announcer job. When the new owner, Leona Jona came , I hit it off with her and the rest is history.” Nana Maggie remains one of the anchors of the Filipino programming. When asked whether she felt alone or scared during the early days, she replied, “My childhood has prepared me for any challenge. I was
Handing over a donation of $100,000 to the FilCom with Eddie Flores and Roland Casamina.
Taken at Washington Place during the visit of First Lady of the Philippines Mrs. Macapagal, early 1960s.
With her granddaughters, Daryanne and Lecia Ramirez, and her sister Leonie Ramirez.
used to being alone, and hard work never fazed me. I did what I needed to do.” COMMITMENT TO FAMILY AND COMMUNITY Nana Maggie maintains a rigorous schedule no matter what age, what more at 82 years old. Every day, she gets up at 3 a.m. and is at work at the KNDI studios on King Street by 3:45 a.m. She reads the papers and gets ready for the morning broadcast which starts at 4:30 a.m. The program airs on KNDI radio seven days a week. It has been reported that for the past fifty years, Nana Maggie has never missed a radio show unless she was sick or out of town. Her commitment to her listeners has been rewarded by loyalty as her radio program continues to wax strong. When the program finishes at 6 a.m., Nana goes
back to her home to rest for a few hours. Then she returns to the office by 8:30 a.m. to meet with clients or work on community projects. Unfortunately because of community meetings or events, she does not typically go home until 8 or 9 p.m. On weekends, when there are community functions, she gets home close to midnight. “I guess my body has gotten used to the lack of sleep”, she laughed. When asked where she draws her energy from, “I pray a lot. I truly believe in the power of prayer. My faith has seen me through some tough times.” Nana Maggie says one of her sources of strength comes from the knowledge she has done what she needed to do for her family. For instance, upon her arrival in Hawaii and as soon as she got herself situated, Nana Maggie made
Nana Maggie’s mother, Laureana Domingo at the wedding of her sister, Leonie.
Nana Maggie after being declared the first woman President of UFCH, at an event held on Kaua’i.
it her priority to bring her whole family to Hawaii. She began with her mom who arrived in 1965. She has since brought all her siblings and their families over. Her generosity did not end there. Over the years, she also helped all her siblings get settled. She humbly admits that she gave them all down payments for their homes, and even now occasionally helps them out when they have a hard time meeting their mortgage payments. Since Nana Maggie did not have children, she legally adopted two sons from her dying sister. The boys, Noel and Ramil, have been with her since their elementary school days and now, they are 50 and 45 years old, respectively. Nana Maggie enjoys being a grandmother to three grandchildren.
LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS Nana Maggie attributes a lot of her success to her mother, Laureana Pasion Domingo, who was her role model. “She not only taught me how to cook, wash clothes, how to clean the house, she also taught me values of kindness and hard work.” Although her service to the Filipino community in Hawaii dates back several decades, one can say Nana Maggie’s leadership skills were fully honed when she became the first woman President of United Filipino Council of Hawaii in 1990. Under her guidance, UFCH brought a new energy into the mix and Nana Maggie initiated several projects including an exhibit honoring the Sakadas. During her administration, she also worked with Sariling Gawa and helped develop the Benjamin Menor Scholarship at the University of Hawaii-
THE FIL-AM COURIER • DECEMBER 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 17
Manoa. Today, she remains very active in many organizations, chairing committees or supporting various causes, including the Philippine Celebrations Coordinating Committee of Hawaii, the organization that supports the Philippine Consulate in its various activities. One of Nana Maggie’s strongest connections is with the Philippine Cultural Foundation where she has been President for more than twenty years. The Foundation has clearly established itself as a credible presence when it was the first community organization to step up and donated $100,000 during the initial round of fundraising for the Filipino Community Center. The donation amount has not yet been duplicated by any Filipino group. To Nana Maggie, however, her greatest fulfillment as a community leader did not come from the visible and public accolades but from the quiet moments where she knew she had made a difference. She explains: “Around 1990, there were some parents who came to me for help because their teenage children were going through tough times. They approached us to counsel the children. The parents would bring them to the Amihan restaurant, and we would spend time with them. We would talk, listen to the problems.The teenage kids were immature and because we spoke their language, they trusted us. The parents also were struggling financially so I would shop for clothes for them. Many years later, these children are now productive citizens of the community. I am so proud of what they have become. One is a pastor and one of them is a manager at Safeway. I truly felt at that point that I was making a difference as an individual.” Nana Maggie’s hometown of San Nicolas continues
to be a recipient of her largesse. Amongst her many projects: an effort that donated medicine and medical equipment, paid for nurses in their medical center, helped the police force buy uniforms, helped the youth buy their sports equipment and donated musical instruments as well water pumps for the residents. In 2009, in gratitude for her generosity, the town of San Nicolas and the San Nicolas International association gave her the award for “Pride of San Nicolas.” She explained why it is important to go back to one’s roots: “I was raised there, and my values were shaped by my experiences in that town. I feel for the people there especially because I know life is hard. I believe that those that can help should help.” Whether in the Philippines or here in Hawaii, Nana Maggie can be counted on to support the latest cause. She is quite adamant, however, that our community needs more true leaders.”Our Leaders need to think about changing the image of our Filipino community. We need to stand united. We need to continue to improve.” THINKING OF HER LEGACY Over the years, Nana Ma g g ie h a s a lso bui lt a successful career in the travel industry as well as in sales. However, she claims that for her, this was not the end goal. “Money is not what drives me. I did not pursue financial success as others did. It actually came by accident. Once my reputation became established, people came to me. Whether at the travel agency or the Valley of the Temples, there is a strong referral market within our community. I really try to serve my customers and I always get repeat business and they tell their families
Thank you Maggie for shining your light and being a great inspiration to all! from Father Randolf Albano St. Paul’s Church ---VPF 229 QUEEN EMMA SQUARE Honolulu, Hi. 96813
and friends about me. In fact, I remember a few of the pageants where I donated the commissions that were supposed to be coming to me. As long as I know it would be put to good use, I would rather donate it.” “Growing up, I did not have big dreams. I did not allow myself to dream big dreams. I was merely content to live each day fully. My involvement with the Filipino community taught me leadership skills and gave
me the confidence to move forward.” “At this time of my life, I am old and all I want is respect and a little acknowledgment of my legacy. This honor from the Filipino Women’s Civic Club was special to me. I believe the award was not just for Maggie Domingo, the person, but the legacy we left behind.” “I am happy. I have helped my community. My siblings are all well established. I have all I need and more.”
Bennette Misalucha is the Managing Editor of the Fil-Am Courier. She has been involved in the media industry for more than 30 years, starting as a TV reporter/producer/news anchor in the Philippines and as a reporter/producer at KHON Channel 2 news. She owns her own consulting business and has been affiliated with the FilAm Courier for about 24 years.
PAGE 18 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • DECEMBER 1-15, 2014
By Angie DYTIOCO Santiago
Faith Navasca, Miss Hawaii Teen Filipina Raizza Pulido, Joy Sanbei, Jeniffer Ordonez, Dr. Carol Davide, Angie Santiago, Ms. Maria Clara 2013 and Miss Hawaii Filipina 2013 - Erika Ordonez, May Mizuno, Jenny Quezon, Mrs. Hawaii Filipina 2014 – Novie Hartwell, and Edna Alikpala.
Mr. Barong Tagalog Winners: 1st runner-up – Larry Ordonez, Mr. Barong Tagalog 2014 – Dr. Arnold Villafuerte, 2nd runner-up – Matthew Long, and 3rd runner-up – Jeffrey de Mesa.
Filipino Women’s Civic Club Celebrates 63rd Anniversary at the Maria Clara Ball
The first Woman Icon of Inspiration Awardee Maggie Domingo being escorted on stage by Mayor Kirk Caldwell.
The Filipino Women’s Civic Club (FWCC) held its 43rd Annual Maria Clara Ball last September 13 at the Hawaii Prince Hotel. The Club also celebrated its 63rd anniversary. FWCC’s 2012 – 2014 President Bernadette Dario Fajardo, Event Chair
To Maggie Domingo... May our good Lord bless you with more years to live, laugh and love.... Congratulations! from Helen Grace Go & Family Candonian Association of Hawaii
Cecilia Villafuerte, and Cochair Fe Velasco spearheaded this year’s Ball. The FWCC hosts this annual gala celebration to award scholarships to deserving Filipino-American students in higher education. This year’s scholarship went to Michelle Cudal, a sophomore at the University of Hawaii. Michelle is the daughter of Flordeliza and the late Nestor Manzano. The other scholarship recipient was Chloe Nobuhara, a sophomore at the Boston University. Chloe is the daughter of Wade Nobuhara and Cecile Sebastian.
Maria Etrata, Lina Longboy, Cleo Bala-Casino, Bernadette Fajardo, Edith Godoy, Mimi Gozar, Rose Baybayan, Nancy Walch, and Fe Velasco.
The highlights of the evening were the Miss Maria Clara and the Mr. Barong Tagalog Contests, as well as the Most Elegant Maria Clara Contest for FWCC’s members. The Miss Maria Clara 2014 title went to
Lovely May Orsino, who is currently Miss Oahu Filipina 2014. Other winners included: 1st runner-up – May Mizuno; 2nd runneru p – Yo n i e M a l i g - o n ; 3rd runner-up – Marivic Dar; and Consolation acknowledgements went to Rose Galanto, Anmercil Romaguera, Angie Santiago, Ruby Sarmiento, and Aurora Sera. The Mr. Barong Tagalog 2014 title went to Dr. Arnold Villafuerte. Other winners included: 1st runner-up – Larry Ordonez; 2nd runnerup – Matthew Long; 3rd runner-up – Jeffrey de Mesa; Consolation acknowledgements went to Paul Alimbuyao, Bert Cabaccang, Dr. John Hayden, Rafael Ignacio, and Ben Pulido. The Most Elegant Maria Clara award went to FWCC member Thelma Zales. Other winners included1st runner-up - Edna Alikpala; 2nd runner-up – Adela Salacup; and 3rd runnerup – Flora Pasion. The FWCC presented its first Icon of Inspiration
THE FIL-AM COURIER • DECEMBER 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 19
FCCH’s President Paul Alimbuyao, FWCC’s President Bernadette Fajardo, Philippine Consul General Gina Jamoralin, UFCH President Maria Etrata, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, The Woman Icon of Inspiration Awardee Maggie Domingo, Representative Romy Cachola, Representative John Mizuno, FilCom Center’s Board of Director’s Chair Edmund Aczon, and FWCC’s Event Chair Cecilia Villafuerte. Winning the Ms. Maria Clara 2014 is Lovely May Orsino.
Award to Maggie Domingo. Affectionately known as “Nana Maggie,” this award honors the lifelong contributions and achievements of this remarkable woman, radio personality, and community leader who inspires those around her. Since 1958, Aunty Maggie has been heard over the Hawaiian airwaves as a radio personality at KHON Radio and KNDI radio stations and has held numerous positions including serving as President of the Oahu Filipino Community Council (OFCC), the United Filipino Council of Hawaii (UFCH), the Ilocos Nortenian Association of Hawaii (INAH), and the Philippine C u l t u ra l Fo u n d a t i o n o f Hawaii (PCPH).
Angie DytiocoSantiago, our Gathering Place columnist, is a U.H. Manoa graduate. She is currently a Governor of the United Filipino Council of Hawaii (UFCH), a Public Relations Officer for the Bulacan Circle & Associates of Hawaii (BCAH) and a member of the Philippine Celebrations Coordinating Committee of Hawaii (PCCCH). She served as 1st Vice President of the Oahu Filipino Community Council (OFCC) from 2013 to 2014 and as the BCAH President from 2010 to 2012. She is the daughter of Angel &RubingDytioco and is married with two sons. She enjoys photography and participating in cultural and social activities and events.
Sandra Sagisi Moser and daughter Ashley Moser served as emcees.
PAGE 20 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • DECEMBER 1-15, 2014
By Nancy Bernal
Maureen McCormick Cha Thompson and Al Waterson
CabaRAE opened at The Hilton Hawaiian Village in a brand new beautiful showroom on the ground level of The Tapa Tower and it is fantastic! The acts were flown in from all over the world and
Jessy J
Alan Goldberg with Cast Members from CabaRAE
Michael Paulo and David Sanborn
include singers, aerialists, comedians, balancing acts, roller skating experts and much more. You will experience two hours of incredible entertainment in a creatively-decorated showroom presented by Alan Goldberg (a man with an extensive background in the circus and performance companies). The show is ongoing on Wednesdays thru Sundays at 8 p.m. Get your tickets at www. CabaRAE.com ••••• Apaulo Music Productions (Michael Paulo - Owner/ Producer) presents a Smooth Jazz Concert featuring four incredible saxophonists from different
Echo Gu and Paul Klink
backgrounds - Marion Meadows, Jessy J, Michael Lington and Michael Paulo. This one-night only concert will be held at The Magic of Polynesia Showroom located in The Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Resort, 2300 Kalakaua Avenue at 8:45 p.m. on December 6. This will be the first time that these four popular artists are sharing the stage together performing their favorite holiday tunes, as well as their smooth jazz hits. Tickets can be purchased at TIX.com or (951) 696-0184. For more information, check ApauloMusicProductions. com ••••• The David Sanborn Concert on November 1 at The Magic of Polynesia Showroom was a sold-out success! There were multiple standing ovations for this legendary sax player and his musicians. Congratulations to Michael Paulo on another great show! ••••• Maureen McCormick (Marcia Brady on “The Brady Bunch”) was in Honolulu recently for The Best Buddies Friendship Jam on November
15. Maureen is a National Representative for The Best Buddies Organization. While in Hawaii, she promoted the purpose of Best Buddies on morning television shows. ••••• The Ronald McDonald H o u s e G a l a F u n d ra i s e r on November 16 was a star-studded evening of entertainment featuring Al Waterson as Emcee, Jordan Segundo, Michael Paulo, Rene Paulo, Shari Lynn, Brian Robertshaw and The Rhapsody Choir from The Performing Artist and Dance Academy under the direction of William Daquioag. The Paris theme was evident in the gorgeous decorations and the attendees enjoyed every aspect of this event. Congratulations to Veronica Kaneko for winning the Grand Prize - diamond earrings valued at $9,500.00. ••••• It was a memorable evening for Cha Thompson when she was honored at a banquet presented by Palama Settlement at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel on October 25 for her years of service to this organization. Al Waterson was the emcee
Rhapsody Choir with Jordan Segundo and William Daquioag
THE FIL-AM COURIER • DECEMBER 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 21
Left to right: Al Waterson, Rene Paulo and Michael Paulo
for the fabulous event and the Tihati Show Cast showcased their beautiful talents. A surprise guest artist - John Rowles from New Zealand - performed for long time friend, Cha Thompson on her special night. It was a well-deserved honor for this wonderful lady. ••••• If you want to get into the Christmas spirit, stop by The Ala Moana Shopping Center Main Stage on December 13 at 10 a.m. til 4 p.m. for free entertainment presented by The KHON 2 Laulima Project. Trini Kaopuiki will host the line-up and the KHON 2 team will be gladly accepting gifts for families in need. Check out Jordan Segundo performing with Ginai at 2:15 p.m. til 3:00 p.m. at this event. ••••• If you are looking for a spectacular way to welcome The New Year, consider attending the Casino Royale Extra-vaganza presented by LUX VIP. Paul Klink and Echo Gu are the hosts for the LUX NYE 2015 Party at The Trump Tower. The black tie event opens at 8 p.m. with
Shari Lynn and Jordan Segundo
non-stop enter-tainment by Al Waterson, Jordan Segundo, Dana Kruse and Tahiti Rey. At 12 midnight, enjoy the perfect view of the fireworks over Waikiki. Tickets can be purchased at Luxatthe-trump.com ••••• During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, take time to appreciate the special people in your life and be thankful. Best wishes to each of you for a healthy, safe and happy Christmas season! ••••• For now, That’s Entertainment! (If you would like to submit entertainment information, please contact Nancy Bernal at 947-5736 or e-mail her at NancyBernal@ aol.com)
John Rowles and Al Waterson
Left to right: Haumea Hebenstreit Ho, Maureen McCormick and Al Waterson
PAGE 22 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • DECEMBER 1-15, 2014
THE FIL-AM COURIER • DECEMBER 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 23
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Happy 27th Anniversary FilAm Courier!
PAGE 24 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • DECEMBER 1-15, 2014
Thank you Maggie for shining your light and being a great inspiration to all!
THE FIL-AM COURIER • DECEMBER 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 25
PAGE 26 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • DECEMBER 1-15, 2014
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THE FIL-AM COURIER • DECEMBER 1-15, 2014 • PAGE 27