PAGE 2 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 16-30, 2014
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 16-30, 2014 • PAGE 3
By MARY LLANOS CORDERO
serving The community since 1987 Publisher Mary Llanos Cordero Managing Editor Bennette Espineli Misalucha Director of Design Armand Busmente Production Manager Alice Llanos Busmente Assistant Editor 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
Opinions expressed by the columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Fil-Am Courier. Publisher reserves the right to edit letters to the editor and other material submitted. Reproduction of material and ads appearing in the Fil-Am courier is forbidden without written permission. All photos submitted become the property of the Fil-Am Courier.
Telephone: 808.595.8787 Facsimile: 808.595.6883 E-Mail: courier@lava.net www.filamcourier.net m
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Hawaii Filipino American Media Council All rights reserved printed in the u.s.a ©
Politicians have very special reasons to be thankful since 2014 was an election year. Those who were elected or re-elected were happy about the outcome and they know they have a few years to prove themselves. T h i s ye a r ’s G e n e ra l Election saw the ascent of Democrat State Senator David Ige to the Governorship of Hawaii after beating his rivals Republican former Lieu-tenant Governor Duke Aiona and Independent former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, by a comfortable margin. In what was touted as the closest race of the election, the US House District 1 race was won by Democrat Mark Takai who squeaked in by a mere three points over Republican challenger Charles Djou. Polls had called the race a dead heat before the election. I n perhaps the most intriguing election result of the evening, the ballot issue calling for a Moratorium on GMO crops and farming in Maui County passed by a slim margin. The No vote had led by a comfortable margin all night until the highly dramatic third printout in which the vote was turned upside down and the Yes vote emerged triumphant by a couple of percentage points. Whatever the outcome, we ought to be grateful to be living in a country where democracy can be exercised and people have the right to choose. Whether one is the most powerful politician in the State, or an ordinary citizen, every person had ONE vote. Indeed, we can be thankful for the power of ONE. Being thankful. It’s the season for gratitude as the special holiday— Thanksgiving—rolls around the corner.
Thanksgiving is the catalyst for gathering together families and within a loving environ-ment. While people are surrounded by the comfort of life and hearth, they are often in the right frame of mind to be thankful for the blessings in life. Unfortunately, in many instances, that gratitude only lasts a day. Many of us revert to our ungrateful ways the day after. Sure, it’s understandable considering our busy lives. Juggling jobs, career, children, spouses, even social activities, is never easy. There is plenty to do and we hardly pause to ponder on our blessed lives. However, being thankful should not just be a oncea-year activity. In order for the spirit of gratitude to really sink into one’s pysche, people have to make a conscious effort to be thankful all year round. Think of a car. If you own a car, you don’t just fill the tank once with gas and leave it at that. You have to keep filling it with gas as you use it. The same is true of gratitude: it has little to no meaning until we live its principles. Being thankful around the holidays holds a special meaning to some people. Those of us who produce THE FIL-AM COURIER are marking our 27th year - an excellent reason to give thanks. The fact this newspaper i s s t i l l i n o p e ra t i o n i s especially worth celebrating considering the state of newspapers–large and small–across the country during the past few years. A number of newspapers have either been bought out, merged or closed down– even in Hawaii. The COURIER’s longe-vity is a testament to the hard work of its staff and the devotion of its readership.
We a r e g ra t e f u l f o r t h e d e ve l o p m e n t s t h a t have allowed our paper to progress. For instance, immediately after our 25th Anniversary, our paper had undergone a major facelift— literally and figuratively speaking. We’ve changed our logo and cover designs, including our layouts inside the pages. We have reviewed what can be improved and what can be eliminated. We have supplemented our staff especially with the addition of our Managing Editor, Bennette Misalucha. Bennette has recruited many accomplished and talented writers to contribute articles and ideas to the paper. Issue after issue, the Courier has benefited as we showcased ORIGINAL stories within our pages, all of them highlighting what makes Hawaii unique. We are proud of our cadre of writers who continue to share their invaluable tones to the rich symphony of voices that are read every two weeks. We are truly grateful for the past 27 years, for the good lessons and the painful ones, for the supportive people who have helped us, and those that challenged us but who made us grow. Our lives have been enriched. We continue to learn and grow with each passing day. One person who’s had his own share of mistakes and lessons learned is our cover subject in this November 16 issue. He is local culinary phenom Sheldon Simeon. Originally from the Big Island, Simeon is best known for competing on the 10th season of the popular culinary show “Top Chef.” Simeon made it as far the final three and was named a Fan Favorite. However, “Top Chef” was simply a notch on Simeon’s resume. Star Chefs.com
gave him a Rising Star award. Simeon has also been a two time James Beard award nominee and was nominated by Food & Wine Magazine as Best New Chef-Northwest and Pacific in 2012. Read about his meteoric rise and the journey that brought him to the remarkable heights. In this season of Thanksgiving, Simeon has so much to be thankful for. When he looks back from his humble beginnings as a dishwasher to a rising E x e c u t i v e C h e f t o d a y, Simeon is a symbol of the realm of possibilities for any of our ambitious and aspiring young Filipinos. This month is truly a November to remember. From the recently con-cluded General Election, to our Cover Subject, to reaching our YEAR 27: definitely all worthy of celebration. Lastly, we are thankful to the community that continues sustain us. Where would we be without your support and acceptance? Our love for the community fills our hearts. Thank you for all the recognition, accolades and awards you’ve bestowed upon us. We appreciate the calls, the feedback and your outreach. Thank you for allowing us to become part of your lives! So after 27 years, how else can we say it? Simple: THANK YOU! Maraming maraming salamat po sa inyo ng walang sawang pagtangkilik at pag-suporta sa Fil-Am Courier. Ito’y sariling atin!
PAGE 4 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 16-30, 2014
By BERNIE CAALIM
Our cover....
The cover picture was taken by the staff of Mala Wailea and MiGRANT. Mahalo to Melanie Wicker of Mala Wailea and MiGRANT. Cover Concept by Noah Felipe of OrigMedia.com. Mahalo to Jeff Orig of Orig Media. He may be reached at (808) 447-9559.
Photo credit: MiGRANT Maui Ashley Takitani
F o r t h e p a s t y e a r, he has been the captain n av i g a t i n g h i s c r e w o f aspiring chefs. Together, they prepare more than 200 dinners each night
at his dream come true, MiGrant Maui Restaurant which opened last January at Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. The 32-year old execu-
tive chef who Filipino ancestry is making his culinary mark on a national level. He was recognized this year by Food & Wine magazine as one of the “Top 10 Up and Coming Chefs in the United States.” He was also Food & Wine “The People’s Best New Chef 2014 – Northwest & Pacific Region.” In 2013, he was a finalist on the Food Network Channel’s reality television cooking show “Top Chef Seattle” and was voted “Fan Favorite”, garnering him legions of fans from around the world. When you meet Simeon, you’ll sense a cool vibe about him. He sports a red knitted beanie and makes you feel at ease with his wide, bright smile. There’s not a sign of fatigue on him even though it’s only Wednesday and he’s already logged 54 hours of work so far this week. His workdays begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 1:00 a.m. everyday. A day off from work is nowhere in sight. There is, however, a glimmer of hope he will get
to spend more quality time with his wife Janice and their four young children. In this season of giving thanks, Simeon never stops to count his blessings and often pauses to reflect on them. His journey from struggling culinary student, dishwasher, busboy, culinary student intern at Disney World, to executive chef has been without a doubt filled with long, grueling hours of sweat and labor. His hard work ethic and willingness to make personal sacrifices are reminiscent of the sakadas including his grandfather who immigrated as a teen from Ilocos Sur to the Big Island, Hawaii in the 1930s and toiled away at the sugar cane plantation. The charismatic chef Simeon is the son of Reinior and the late Juanita Simeon. He recalled growing up in Hilo where fond memories of Filipino cooking stir up heart warming images of family gatherings at the Simeon house to celebrate birthdays, weddings, graduations and other special events.
At his MiGrant Maui Restaurant on Maui, Simeon excuses himself from huddling with young cooks by the kitchen stove to greet restaurant manager Melanie Wicker and me. He’s as friendly and warm as ever since our first meeting at the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival’s ”Aloha Aina, Aloha Kai” gala dinner event at Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa held in August. Gracious and inviting, Simeon makes you feel as if you are in his house for a family meal. It’s no wondering his restaurant theme is “Come My House. Eat”. What were your humble Filipino beginnings like? My dad was born here [Hawaii]. We were raised Filipino but also brought up in the Hawaii tradition of the plantation camp. I grew up with my grandparents in the countryside in a town called Pepeekeo, that’s a little outside of Hilo. But I grew up speaking more pidgin [English] than actually
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 16-30, 2014 • PAGE 5
Photo credit: HFWF Dane Nakama
engulfed in the Filipino heritage. They didn’t speak Ilocano to us. I guess one of the reasons why I became a chef… cause, the thing that was definitely Filipino was our food. We cooked Filipino. That was most culture-wise we did was to cook Filipino food. What are some of your earliest memories of Filipino cooking? I remember standing at the stove side of my grandparent’s house. I remember it like it was yesterday, standing on a chair and having my grandparents let me taste the food. They would taste it and then they make me taste it, and I remember that vividly as a kid. I couldn’t have been no more than five or six years old, or even younger. Did you always want to become a chef? In high school, my goal was to be an architect. I had mechanical drawing, drafting, math, and all but in my senior year I don’t know if I became lazy but it came to the point where (laughs), ‘Do I really want to go college and do this for a living?’ I have an older brother Jeremy. He’s three years older and he went to culinary school in Honolulu. Me and my brother grew up cooking all our lives. As far as cooking for parties, my father… well — Dad is a welder by trade but he cooks for the parties. Our house was the gathering place for family
and friends to eat. On the weekends, while other kids were playing, my brother and I were having to cook. You’ve shown that Filipino hard work ethic. Can you recall times when you just wanted to give up, you felt low self-esteem, or no confidence? There was a point I was going to school full-time and had two full-time jobs on top of that. I had a half-day off a week, three and half to four hours of sleep each night. I was super tired. I was working so hard. I was broken but I knew that I was super passionate about it. I loved it. I tell my cooks that when you’re down, super tired but you still come back to this job, then this industry is for you. How do you balance family and work? I have the most amazing and supporting wife. I have been cooking for 17 years. Going, going, that’s the chef mentality. It’s always about the restaurant. I’m heading to work when I just feel I just finished. To tell the truth, it’s all about my wife, she’s the one who stays at home with the kids. I struggle with it. We all know that at the end, hopefully, it’s for the better. I don’t know. Everyday is a new day and we just have to be thankful for what we have. What do you cook at home? I feel bad because I don’t cook at home as much as I
cook everyday for a lot of people in the restaurant. I don’t cook enough for my family but when we have parties, I cook a lot. My wife cooks at home. What is that favorite dish she cooks for you? Balatong. Mongo beans.
What is that taste of Filipino, which brings you back to your childhood days? Guisantes. Our recipe is very distinctive from the traditional. If there’s anything that people ask my dad to cook, it’s guisantes.
What makes it distinctive? It’s a secret… family secret. Any desserts? No. I’m not a sweet person. I like salty snacks. Only in recent years have I been working to learn to make the Filipino desserts.
PAGE 6 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 16-30, 2014
I see the generation of chefs cooking and interpreting the savory foods, but I don’t see a lot of our generation making desserts. So lately, we have been playing around with making suman, kakanin, and cascaron. It’s been fun experimenting. Learning experience. The only people to make it are nanas, aunties, or older relatives. Master sommelier Roberto Viernes said to me at the recent Hawaii Food & Wine Festival event that more than any other chef, you really brought Filipino cuisine to the national spotlight. Did it ever occur to you that you were showcasing Filipino-inspired cuisine like sinigang, adobo, pancit and balut to a national audience when you were on “Top Chef” Seattle? I don’t think I set out to do it as a mission as like, ‘Okay, I am going on this show, I am going to cook Filipino food and that’s what
I am going to do.’ It came naturally to me and in the moment it felt right in the back of my head. I knew I had to represent my family, honor my father, and Hawaii, I guess — Filipino heritage and all of that. I wanted to make the best of it and it was a cool opportunity. I did not set out to do it by cooking Filipino on the show. It came naturally. At the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival featuring other worldrenowned celebrity chefs, you prepared an interpretation of Filipinoinspired cuisine by using Big Island Berkshire pork with calabasa, adobo oyster mushrooms, and pinakbet. That modern take on the Filipino dish was exceptionally delicious. But later in the evening, after your pork belly course was served I heard some buzz that you spontaneously made something authentic Filipino?
(Laughs). In the kitchen, we had pig left over and we had blood, we had a lot of Filipino cooks so let’s make dinar-daraan… dinuguan. We ate some. It’s what we do. It’s all about people. It’s the gathering. Of all the chefs around the world, which one do you most admire? Oh man…so many
Photo credit: HFWF Dane Nakama
chefs. Roy and Alan (Roy Yamaguchi of Roy’s and Alan Wong of Alan Wong’s) have been doing Hawaii Regional Cuisine and put us on the map. This generation of chefs…we are very fortunate to have them. Their Hawaii Food &Wine Festival promotes us. They bring up the younger chefs and it’s pretty awesome. What’s it like to cook for family and friends compared to people in your restaurant? It’s the best. There’s nothing better than cooking for family and friends. There’s something powerful about food and the connection, seeing their reaction to the food I cook and watching them enjoy. There’s no difference when people come to my restaurant and seeing that same feeling eating my food. With all the immediate TV exposure and accolades following “Top Chef” Seattle, you were presented with count-less offers to open restaurants in Honolulu, New York, Los Angeles and other cities. Why Maui for your first venture? After I left my job at Star Noodle Restaurant (Maui), I had nothing on my plate. I just wanted to spend time with my family. I took the summer off with no job opportunities because I knew I wanted to spend time with the family. There were a few opportunities to do restaurants on the mainland, Big Island, and Honolulu but ultimately I
wanted to spend time with my family on Maui. Then this opportunity from came Shep Gordon and Executive Chef Mark Ellman, both business partners of Mala Wailea Restaurant and I started talking to them. I just created a friendship and growing relationship. They gave me an opportunity to open my signature restaurant — MiGrant Maui — next to Mala Wailea. On your menu, there’s tocino, karekare sauce, pancit, and even ube ice cream. Did you have any anxiety over opening up your own restaurant? Till this day I have anxiety (sighs). It’s still pretty new. Especially for a restaurant like that in Wailea, at a high-end hotel and serving local food that’s heavy Filipino influence. People are going to question that, but we are confident and we make sure the food is delicious. If you still cook from the heart and people appreciate that, they are going to be receptive to that. It’s pretty awesome. I heard you recently returned from Europe. Were you on vacation? No, I was working. It was a cruise. Went to Venice, Croatia and ended in Greece. I was doing Food & Wine magazine practical cooking classes. A vegetable preparation class. I made “Asian” noodles with patis — pancit with vegetables. I try to put my personality into the food and everyone’s been receptive to it. It’s cool. It’s awesome.
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 16-30, 2014 • PAGE 7
Recipe Special for FilAm Courier The menu at MiGrant Maui features much local and Filipinoinspired cuisine. Chef Sheldon’s culinary interpretation is what keeps media critics praising him and people returning for more. He shares his recipe for Tocino.
Tocino, Filipino Sweet Pork MiGrant Maui 2 lbs. pork butt, cut into 2-inch strips 2 cups Sprite 2 cups pineapple juice 1 cup ketchup ¼ cup white sugar ½ cup brown sugar 4 cloves garlic, crushed 1 knob ginger, crushed
Steps:
• Mix together the marinade and dissolve the sugar completely • Pour the marinade and knead it into the meat to completely absorb • Cover and leave inside the refrigerator to cure for two days • When ready to cook, remove meat from marinade and cut into 1-inch slices • Fry in cooking oil using medium heat. Season with oyster sauce. • Transfer to plate and top with guava jelly and pickled Kula onions. Masarap! Photo credit: Melanie Wicker
What particularly made it cool and awesome? I am excited to see and am thankful to be part of the emergence of Filipino cooking…culinary. It makes me proud to be Filipino. And oh…I saw so many Filipinos working on the cruise ship. About 35% of the workers on the ship were Filipino. They got together one night and did a talent show to a packed room of guests. They did tinikling and all of the other folk dances and songs. That was awesome and cool to see. You could have been anywhere in the world to see Filipino influence. What’s next in your career? I want to do more restaurants. I have concepts. I want to open a restaurant in Hilo and name it Urbano. It’s
my grandfather’s name. A cookbook is part of the goal, too. I want to take every opportunity as it comes. Do you ever ask yourself why me? Yeah…everyday. I am thankful to the Lord for the opportunities. It could have been anyone else
Be rn ie Ca a li m i s S e n i o r Vice President of Travel and Tourism at McNeil Wilson Communications, Anthology Marketing Group. Her past work experience include stints at KHON Channel 2 News and Hilton Hotels & Resorts. She graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and volunteers for the American Heart Association, Hawaii Chapter.
PAGE 8 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 16-30, 2014
By Bennette Misalucha Fil-Am Courier Managing Editor
It is a love story that bears repeating. Ah, yes, it must be love. How else can one explain the fact that the Fil-am Courier’s editorial staff often sacrifices precious sleep – every two weeks---in order to meet the pesky deadlines that come like clockwork, and always seemingly too soon. Sure, we mumble and grumble, yet we beam with pride when the printed publication hits the stand. At the end of the day, when we are reminded once again of the role the Courier plays as a facilitator of dialogue, as a chronicler of our shared history, as a convener on relevant issues within the Filipino-American community in Hawaii, we then realize that every hour of sacrifice was worth it. How too do you explain the continuing commit-ment of a group of great writers who keep a pulse on what’s going on in the community, and who regularly submit brilliant original pieces; this, despite them leading busy lives and juggling their multiple priorities and family responsibilities? Or how do you explain the publisher’s adamant belief in the Courier’s mission despite fiscal challenges in the past; a fact that is not unusual in the journalism world, where the number of publications have dwindled; forced to close because of economic viability issues.
A Personal Reflection THE COURIER’S YEAR 27:
YES, IT MUST BE LOVE Ah, yes, it must be love. That love story with the Courier began in November 1987, when the Courier publisher, Mary Cordero, first heard that Hawaii Filipino News was about to close. The Hawaii Filipino News was the only publication dedicated to the Filipino community. “It was a shock! I was then working as the entertainment editor for HFN, and we knew the situation was not acceptable, so we decided to do something about it,” Cordero remembers. The idea was to start a new paper became a burning d e s i r e a n d s o a g r o u p, which included Cordero, her sister Alice, her brother-inlaw Armand Busmente, and community leader Soledad Manaay, huddled shortly
thereafter and started the process to make it happen. “We felt we had no other options. Our love for the community would not allow us to just sit idly while the world changed. Thankfully, we had our families’ support in this new venture, particularly my mom, Florence Tan who contributed financially to the project.” With little capital, the Courier was launched with some fanfare. The first cover was lawyer Melodie Aduja, who was then an up and coming lawyer who was full of promise. Aduja would later become a State Representative, following in the footsteps of her father, the late Peter Aduja, the first Filipino-American to be elected in the entire United
States, when he won a seat at the Hawaii State House of Representatives. A FAMILY AFFAIR Like many family owned businesses, the Publisher and her family are very involved in the business. From bundling the issues to distribution to sales, members of the family lend a helping hand to lighten the load. The ultimate example, however, of commitment beyond the call of duty, was that of Mary Cordero while she was pregnant with her first child. Stressed beyond belief, she was already advised to go to the hospital but Mary had to finish her duties at the Courier first. Although her baby was born prematurely (only 7 months), but by the grace of God, she turned out healthy and she is now 24 years old and not surprisingly, is involved in the business: the Courier’s Assistant Editor Radiant Cordero. Yes, it must be love. A LEGACY OF GOOD EDITORS The first editor was Soledad Manaay, who had a strong background in writing and journalism dating back to her stint as a Public Affairs director at the Philippine Consulate in Honolulu. The editorial staff was all relatively young, mostly in their late 20s, and setting up the paper was not an easy task. Cordero recalls that challenging first year: “We
had to give up other priorities in our lives. There was no turning back.” In 1988, Remy Bolante took over the reins as Editorin-chief as Manaay moved on to pursue other passions. (Today, Manaay lives in San Francisco, is a published author and has business holdings in the health and beauty industry.) Bolante was then the Vice Principal at Sacred Hearts Academy elemen-tary school and her nurturing maternal style was exactly what the Courier needed in order to develop a team. Writers started to join the stable of talented contributors who covered the interesting events in the Filipino community. But of course, in spite of the passion for the work, challenges did arise. “We all knew we would face major obstacles along the way. Back then, we did not really know whether we would make it past a couple of years. But we knew in our hearts, this was the right thing to do. We did not want the Filipino community to fade. We wanted it to remain strong and vibrant,” Cordero adds. Over the years, other editors and co-editors have taken over the helm, including Danilo Campos, Carayo Caoile, Ryan Look, M a r i a To r r e s - K i t a m u r a , Imelda Fines Gasmen, Zach Labez, Leo Gozar, Marlene Manzano, Dr. Belinda Aquino and Mila (Medallon) Kaahanui. Each gave their special gifts
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 16-30, 2014 • PAGE 9
and allowed the Courier to evolve into an even stronger presence. One of the most influential Courier editors was Mila Medallon, also now known as Mila Kaahanui. She also had the longest stint, having held the reins for more than five years. A true advocate, Medallon encouraged the Courier to take bold stands in political and civic issues. The Courier gained a reputation and sealed its fate as a platfo r m fo r m ean in g fu l dialogue. For several years, Cordero also served as both Publisher and Editor after Medallon left the Courier to serve under the Abercrombie administration as its Director for Community Services. It was a daunting juggling act for anyone because it meant being responsible for both the business (ad sales and distribution) and the editorial aspects. Not to mention, Cordero also is active in the family’s real estate business. Cordero, who is the type to roll up her sleeves and get to work without complaint, admits those were difficult times for the paper. She and her production staff would stay up around the clock without going home, while her kids slept on the floor inside a cramped room used by staff as dining / kitchen area during the day. Yes, it must be love. In February 2013, the conversation for me to join the Courier team as its Managing Editor began. I have been associated with the Courier since 1988 and had been prolific in writing key articles during the early years. Although I had not written in a while, I realized while editing and writing for the Anniversary issue that writing is another way I can serve the community. It was in April 2013 that I started as Managing Editor. So many countless sleepless nights and stressful months later, I have to admit I am still having fun. Yes, it must be love. INTERESTING STORIES The Courier has covered so many important issues and done profiles of inspiring news makers for the past 27 years. One profile which speaks volume about the power of the written word was an article I wrote on Lito Alcantra, the President of Group Builders Inc. Lito Alcantra had an incredible personal narrative: an engineer in the Philippines,
he immigrated to Hawaii and somehow could not land a job as an engineer, so in order to feed his family, he had to work as a janitor at a local engineering firm. In a dramatic twist of fate, Alcantra saw a blueprint while cleaning the office, recognized an opportunity and told the bosses about it, and saved the company millions of dollars. Fast forward to a few years, Alcantra left the company and set up his own construction company, Group Builders Inc. Today, it is one of the top construction companies in the state. Shortly after the article was published, the Small B u s i n e s s A d m i n i s t ra t i o n contacted Alcantra and put forth his name as Small Business of the Year, which Alcantra readily won. SBA later shared with Alcantra that it was the Courier profile which made them aware of his business performance. YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW The Courier continues to be produced from two different locations; the concept and writing is done in Honolulu but the graphic design, under the leadership of our Design Director Armand Busmente, is all done from Manila, Philippines. The arrangement works on so many levels: it capitalizes on the time difference between Hawaii and the Philippines and enables the paper to be produced efficiently. The talented Busmente, who had been part of the team for the past 27 years, has a context of what works and doesn’t work, and provides consistency to the lay-out design. In September 2013, the Courier changed its Cover design, thanks to the brilliant team of Jeff Orig and Noah Felipe of Orig Media. Their new updated design had a cleaner, more streamlined look but it also continued to honor the Courier’s legacy, hence the presence of the jeepney logo on the bottom of the cover page. And of course, our beautiful covers would not have been possible without the brilliant photographers who support the Courier: Jeff Orig, James Ramos, Gabe de Liso and Brandon dela Cruz. Their talent knows no bounds. The Courier continues to wax strong even in these days of online publishing. Copies are widely distributed to hundreds of outlets throughout the State, particularly Filipino restaurants around the State. We have established
a Facebook presence and although our website is still in the planning stages, there is the online presence on Issu. com. We are humbled by all that have been accom-plished the past 27 years. But we are also cognizant that we ought to do more. Trust that we will continue to make history at the Courier. We cannot help it. The desire to be part of something
bigger than ourselves fuels our imagination and allows u s t o c o n t i n u e t o m a ke the necessary sacrifices to achieve the best results. In a way, the Courier brings out the best in all of us. If that’s not love, what is it?
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 10 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 16-30, 2014
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 16-30, 2014 • PAGE 11
By Dr. Christopher Tortora, M.D. Medical Director of Hawaiian Eye Center and Dry Eye Clinic
On Thursday, October 9, the Hawaiian Eye Center celebrated the grand opening of our newest office in the Waipahu Medical Center at 94-307 Farrington Hwy., SuiteB7-A (previously the Zobian Eye Clinic). Local residents from the community stopped by for refreshments, games and prizes. Radio DJ Bettylicious, from Hawaii’s number one Filipino radio station KPHI (96.7 FM), entertained the crowd with her live remote broadcast from the event. The Waipahu clinic will join our other locations for patient care in Wahiawa and in Hilo on the Big Island. It will allow us to accommodate and better serve patients in central and leeward Oahu. Hawaiian Eye Center has been providing high-quality eye care to the people of Hawaii for more than 39 years. I am a board certified ophthalmologist and specialize in cataracts and glaucoma. My colleague, Steven Rhee, D.O., is also board certified and an experienced cataract and corneal surgeon with
Hawaiian Eye Center Celebrates Grand Opening of Our New Waipahu Office
sub-specialty training in cornea and external disease. We have continually invested in the latest and most advanced technology. Our Waipahu clinic provides personalized, quality service with cataract, glaucoma and diabetic eye care, complete eye exams, and an optical shop. For more information or to schedule an appointment at our new Waipahu office, please call 678-0622.
KPHI’s DJ Bettylicious and Dr. Steven Rhee
Christopher Tortora, M.D., a board certified ophthalmologist, is host of “The Hawaiian Eye Show,” a weekly informational radio program about healthy vision broadcast live every Saturday at 8 a.m. on KHVH 830 AM/rebroadcast at 9 p.m. on KHBZ 990 AM. He and his colleagues at the Hawaiian Eye Center are committed to educating the public about the importance of preventative eye care. To learn more about a variety of eye health issues, please call the Hawaiian Eye Center at 621-8448 or visit HawaiianEye.com and Facebook.com/HawaiianEyeCenter, where “life has never looked better.”
PAGE 12 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 16-30, 2014
By Gary Glauberman MS, RN, APHN-BC
Landing on the pier that summer day in 2012, I looked over my shoulder and saw the big white hull of the ship that had brought me to Calbayog City, Samar Province. I was back in the Philippines, the country of my grandparents, but this trip was different. I had come as a nurse educator, part of a multinational, multidisciplinary humanitarian team, and eager to make a difference. Prior to arrival, I recalled an earlier trip to the Philippines in 2004. To celebrate graduation from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, I joined my uncle in Manila, leaving Honolulu on Christmas morning. Upon arrival, we were greeted with terrible news that a tsunami had struck Indonesia, devastating the archipelago. The newspaper said that the U.S. government was assisting in the tsunami response by sending the USNS Mercy, a naval hospital ship, to provide humanitarian aid. Looking at the pictures of widespread destruction moved me deeply. I felt such sadness and loss. I knew from that point on, that I wanted to help people during disasters. Fast forward a few years, my vision of helping people ha s be c o m e a r ea l i ty. I returned to UH Manoa to become a nurse, receiving a master’s degree in nursing. I signed up with the American Red Cross, assisting people during disasters. And now,
Gary with his Philippine counterparts during a training session aboard The Mercy Ship.
Practicing nursing skills with Calbayog nurses
A Nurse Educator’s Lessons in Kindness and Service in the Philippines I was back in the Philippines on that very same hospital ship, embarked on the Pacific Pa r t n e r s h i p m i s s i o n , a n US Navy-led humanitarian mission to Asia and the Pacific. My role in Calbayog was to help organize a conference for nurses, doctors and health workers of the region. Our aim was to improve local public health capacity through educational exchange, focusing on topics such as infectious and chronic disease prevention, nursing care for new mothers and newborns, and disaster preparedness. We bonded quickly with our local peers. While practicing CPR chest compressions, we sang together to keep proper rhythm. Our skills practice for donning blue sterile operating gowns turned into an impromptu fashion show. When the PA system failed, someone brought a karaoke machine from home so that we could continue on with the conference. The people I met inspired
me. A doctor described her challenging work of being the sole provider for her island of 40,000 people! A nurse told us of his difficulty in getting a job. He was considering a nursing position abroad, but was worried about leaving his infant son. I was surprised that young people in the Philippines were still leaving their homeland in search of better wages abroad. I imagined my own grandparents struggled with a similar decision decades ago. My visit to Calbayog in the summer of 2012 was brief, but memories of the people, their stories of sacrifice, and their acts of kindness have remained with me. Nurses empower people to achieve better health for themselves and their families through caring and education. We go out into the world hoping to make a difference, and come back changed by the people we set out to help. Now, a year after Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines,
Calbayog City nurses
I hope our efforts helped communities in protecting their health after that devastating storm, and that they’re well on their way to recovery. I ’ m g ra t e f u l t o h ave experienced their hospitality and warmth, and in this season of giving thanks, I’m encouraged to continue to give, learn and serve.
Gary Glauberman is a nursing instructor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene. His interests are community emergency preparedness and response; and community, public and global health nursing. He is married to Naoko and the couple lives in Moiliili.
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 16-30, 2014 • PAGE 13
PAGE 14 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 16-30, 2014
By Dr. Alfred Sison
Don’t you just hate it that when during a stressful time or challenge, you go to a friend, family member, or health provider and they tell you “just relax?” Well if it was that simple you would probably do it first anyway and not ask for some advice or assistance. Sometimes, “just relax” takes a lot more effort than just telling yourself to do it. Bringing down high stress levels to a more manageable state can do wonders for your health, mind, and wellbeing and to ‘just relax’. Reactions to stress can be manifested in several ways in our minds and bodies and “just relax” may be the ultimate answer to your problem but getting there
can be very challenging. There is no magic number of the symptoms that suggest difficulty in coping with stress. Rather it is the extent to which the noted reaction is a change (different from a person’s normal condition) that makes a reaction potentially important. F u r t h e r, i t i s t h e combined presence of symptoms that determines the degree of the problem. Indicators may be isolated reactions or a combination of reaction among emotional, behavioral, and
physical indicators. Finally, it is their duration (how long the symptoms have been present/how long they last), the frequency of such incidents (how often they happen) and the intensity (strength) with which they are present that suggests the severity of the difficulty in coping with certain stressors. Some examples of emotional, behavioral, and physical reaction to stress that may be more harmful than good: Emotional reactions to
stress would include but not limited to : Apathy (the blahs, recreation no longer pleasurable, sad), Anxiety (agitated, insecure, feelings of worthlessness), Irritability (overly sensitive, defensive, arrogant, insubordinate), Mental Fatigue (preoccupied, difficulty with concentration, inflexible), over compensation, exaggeration, denial, paranoid. Behavioral Reactions to stress include but limited t o : W i t h d ra w a l ( s o c i a l isolation, work–not taking on responsibilities) Acting out (alcohol abuse, gambling, p r o m i s c u i t y, s p e n d i n g sprees) , legal infractions (shoplifting, traffic tickets, fighting, child/spouse abuse). Physical reactions to stress include but limited to: Preoccupation with illness (dwelling on minor ailments) Frequent illness, use of self-medication, physical exhaustion, immune system
suppres-sion, and Somatic (body) indicators (headache, insomnia, change in appetite, weight gain, weight loss, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, sexual difficulties). Here are a few exercises from trauma-center.org. These are things you can do in a minute or two to feel more relaxed. As you start, take a moment to do a simple check-in of your emotional state, your thoughts, and what you are feeling in your body. Just notice what is happening, without judgment or expectation. Abdominal Breathing is one of the most effective ways to relax quickly. By breathing with your diaphragm you will immediately signal your autonomic nervous system to relax. Place one hand on your
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 16-30, 2014 • PAGE 15
belly and one on your chest. Ta k e s o m e s l o w, d e e p breaths into the belly. It’s helpful, but not essential, to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. If you are doing abdominal breathing correctly, the lower hand should move as much or more than the hand on your chest. Continue this slow, deep breathing for a couple of minutes, imagining the breath calming your body and clearing your mind. Notice how you feel. Cook’s Hookup: With legs extended, cross your left ankle over your right one. With your arms outstretched, cross your right wrist over your left one, then turn your hands so the palms are touching, clasp your fingers, and twist your hands down and toward your ribs, and rest them on your chest. Hold this position for two minutes as you breathe through your nose. On the in-breath, push your tongue against your upper palate and on the out-breath, push it against your lower palate. When the two minute period has elapsed, take a minute to observe what your body just experienced. Quick Tensing and R e l a x i n g : Te n s e y o u r feet and lower legs and thighs and buttocks, pelvic muscles, abdomen, and lower back muscles. Hold them tightly for a few moments and notice the tension. Then release the tension completely and let all those muscles soften and become supple and relaxed. Te n s e y o u r h a n d s , forearms, upper arms and
shoulders, belly, midriff, middle and upper back, and facial muscles, and take a breath in so your rib cage is fully extended. Notice how that feels, then release the breath and soften all those muscles, letting them become supple and relaxed. As you continue to breathe, focus on releasing, softening, letting go. Let the tension continue to flow out with every outbreath. Creating a Symbol of Relaxation: When you are practicing relaxation, choose an image that conveys peace, comfort, or mental and physical letting go. This image can be anything you choose. You may think of the seashore, or a favorite spot in nature. It may be an image like the sun, a rope untwisting, ice melting, or a soothing color. It may be the face of a pet or of someone you love. Every time you do relaxation, call up that image as you are becoming relaxed. Allow the image to grow and fill your awareness. Let all the qualities of that symbol come to mind, and imagine them moving through your body on the rhythm of your breath. As you practice this more, you will be able to close your eyes anywhere and relax quickly by calling up your symbol and filling your awareness with it for a few minutes. This quote of Sonia Ricotti has given me some guidance to cope at difficult times, “Surrender to what is. Let go of what was. Have faith in what will be.”
Let’s trust that life will take good care of you, because it will, if you’re willing to relax, let go and get out of your own way. “Just Relax”. If you may have further questions please visit Dr. Al at www.alspsy.com.
Alfred A. Sison, MA, LMFT, PsyD; “Dr. Al” is a licensed clinical psychologist with a subspeciality license in marriage and family therapy. He services individuals, couples, and familes through the therapeutic process, and maintains a private practice in Honolulu, HI. He holds a Doctorate of Psychology (PsyD), Clinical Psychology degree from Argosy University, Hawaii Campus and a Master of Arts (MA), Professional Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy Specialty from the American School of Professional Psychology, Hawaii Campus. He completed his undergraduate studies with a degree in Bachelor of Arts (BA), Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley.
PAGE 16 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 16-30, 2014
Born in the Philippines, Virgie Cruzada has lived on the island of Kauai since 1972. A mother of three adult children, she is a resident of Hanamaula with her husband, Bobby. She is a retired teacher who devotes a lot of time helping the community, including serving as president of the Kauai Visayan club and VicePresident of the Congress of Visayan Organizations.
Recipients of Father Ernest Claes Memorial Awards as Outstanding Members of the Year are (from left to right): Perlita Mararagan (St. Theresa FCC); Allan Villaflor (Nena Dannog posing as proxy - Holy Cross-Sacred Heart FCC); Mildred Curtis (St. Rafael FCC); Carol Mapue (Immaculate Conception FCC); and Katherine Alisna (St. Catherine FCC).
The Singing Priests from the four parishes of Kauai, led by Fr. Gerry Somera (with a guitar) serenaded the Charity Queen and her Royal Court during her coronation on September 27, 2014 held at St. Catherine’s Parish Hall in Kapaa. From left to right: Fr. Jerry Somera, Fr. Anthony Rapozo, Fr. Rex Rilveria, and Fr. Arnel Soriano.
Aretha Matsushima (in white gown, center) beamed with joy as she was crowned Miss Charity Queen. The event was sponsored by the Kauai Council of Filipino Catholic Clubs, in conjunction with the celebration of the Feast of San Lorenzo. She is seen in this picture with Princess of Peace (Meghan Melchor), Princess of Hope (Tyrelle Unciano), and Princess of Faith (Charlene Urmatam).
Aretha Matsushima, Miss Charity Queen of 2014 seen here with her father Dennis (to her right), and her mother, Lisa (in black top) who is standing right next to her brother Dennis John who was her escort. Angelika Melchor-Questin, Miss Charity Queen 2013 (extreme right) is getting ready to crown Aretha.
Anabel Portugal, President of the Kauai Council of Filipino Catholic Clubs, is pictured here with her husband, Oscar Portugal who is currently acting as the DCFCC President. Anabel delivered an inspirational message at this event, the 2014 Charity Queen Coronation, celebrating the Feast of San Lorenzo de Manila at the same time.
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 16-30, 2014 • PAGE 17
VETERAN BROADCAST JOURNALIST EMME TOMIMBANG TRAVELS THROUGH STORM RAVAGED PHILLIPINES AND RETURNS WITH A POIGNANT TELEVISION SPECIAL ON THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF TYPHOON HAIYAN KGMB-TV to Broadcast “Haiyan…After the Storm” on Thanksgiving, November 27th at 9:00 p.m.
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Emme Tomimbang with the children of Tacloban.
After a two and a half year hiatus, veteran broadcast journalist Emme To m i m b a n g , p r e s i d e n t of EMME Inc. returns to television with yet another exciting “Emme’s Island Moments” special that’s sure to touch the hearts of island residents, especially for Hawaii’s Filipino community. “Haiyan... After the Storm” is a sobering, grim anniversary show but for Emme, who recently journeyed to check on areas of her family ancestral homeland, she remains optimistic despite the horrific devastation that ripped through the Visayas region of the southern Philippines. “Emme has witnessed the human suffering on a grand scale from grieving families still searching for missing bodies of loved ones, communities having little to no access to safe drinking water, sanitation, waste disposal, and to visiting mass gravesites of unidentified storm victims. Yet, through the haunting remnants of Haiyan, Emme captures the resiliency of the Filipino people,” said Jon Matsuoka, President and CEO of Consuelo Foundation. Rebuilding communities will be an unwavering commitment as the Philippines continues its resurrection from ruin. University of Hawaii scientists traveled to the Visayas
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as part of the Consuelo Foundation delegation to assess the damage, and use that information to make recommendations for rebuilding and reconstituting a better, safer, and more resilient community pre-Haiyan. For a country that faces the perpetual risk of another typhoon, Emme caught up with the team of University of Hawaii scientists as they taught Tacloban lessons on the perils of natural disasters and the hope for resilient building structures. Haiyan has been recorded as the most destructive typhoons in recent history to make landfall. In its wake last November, the storm left a trail of more than six thousand Filipinos killed, tens of thousands missing, and a crippled infras-tructure that pushed millions into homelessness. Yet, international humani-
tarian aid continues to pour into the island nation. Last year, the local Filipino
community held fundraisers and concerts. The US/Hawaiibased Consuelo Foundation, a philanthropic, non-profit organization stepped forward to match locally raised monetary donations, raising the combined total contributions to more than $3.5 million. Be sure to watch the hour-long “Haiyan… After the Storm” on KGMB-TV on Thanksgiving, Nov. 27th at 9:00 p.m. and rebroadcast on Sunday, Nov. 30th at 9:00 p.m. on KHNL. “Haiyan… After the Storm” is sponsored in part by American Savings Bank, City Mill, Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Government Employees Association, and The Queen’s Medical Center.
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PAGE 18 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 16-30, 2014
Pinay: Culture Bearers of the Filipino Diaspora The Filipino Association of University Women (FAUW) are inviting women to a forum on November 16, 2014 at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Hamilton Library to share their lived experiences of Filipino culture, their core values as passed on by their ancestors, and their own culture transmission and culture perpetuation behaviors. After the forum, the project proponents anticipate gathering, compiling and using the valuable “culture transmission data” in these ways: • Conducting outreach presentati ons that share what we find about culture transmission and perpetuation in the context of past and current generations. • Documenting stories of Filipino women immigrants’ stories of culture, cultural behaviors, guiding principles and thoughts in a book format. The book would investigate, through
first person stories contributed by Filipino women of all ages, the extent to which they believe in, incorporate and practice any of the core values in their life experiences. The collected data will be helpful in putting together curriculum notes for culture workers, educators, culture practitioners and others who are interested in transmitting and perpetuating Filipino culture. Dr. Virgie Chattergy, Professor Emeritus of the University of Hawaii’s College of Education is chairing the project. The first forum is s c h e d u l e d f o r S u n d a y, November 16, at 1:00 p.m. at the University of Hawaii’s Manoa Campus, Hamilton Library, # 301. For more information, please contact Rose Churma at rosechurma @mac.com or 808-358-2868.
TESTIMONIAL Dr. Holland’s physical therapy and chiropractic services have changed the quality of my life in a very positive way. I remember when I hurt my back and thought of all the activities I would have to sacrifice to preventfuture occurrences. Dr. Holland is a physical therapist and chiropractorlike no other. He suggests stretching and strengthening exercises, mademe work at it, and follows up. In addition, I keep my twice monthly regiment of office visits to ensure that I am able to continue to enjoy this gift of improved quality of life. It is a special opportunity to discover people who do what they do so well, loves what they do and is a pleasure to work with. FRED CAMIT Haleiwa, HI
THE FIL-AM COURIER • november 16-30, 2014 • PAGE 19
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Compiled by Edna Alikpala
November 22, 2014 Filipino Business Women Association and FBWA Foundation’s Kimona Ball and Filipino Business Woman of the Year and scholarship awards. Pomaikai Ballroom at Dole Cannery in Iwilei, 6 p.m. Ticket Cost: $50. Contact: Nancy Atmospera Walch 778-3832, Lina B. Mercado 382-7751. November 22, 2014 Kalayaan Philippines International presentation of Miss Philippines Hawaii USA. Pacific Beach Hotel, 6 p.m. Ticket cost: $65. Contact: Ben Pulido, 808-421-9747. November 22, 2014 Nursing Advocates & Mentors Inc. (NAMI) 13th Anniversary Gala: “Graduation” of Reviewees, Appreciation of Volunteer Lecturers and Recognition of New RN’s. Banyan Tree Showroom at Hale Koa Hotel 6pm. Ticket cost $60. Contact Bea Ramos-Razon 778-6291, Jun Obaldo 277-7495. December 3, 2014 Filipino Women’s Civic Club of HI and Filipino Business Women Association’s joint Christmas celebration. New Empress Restaurant at Chinese Cultural Plaza. Ticket cost: $35. Contact: Letty Saban, 255-9429; Bernadette Fajardo 342-8090. December 6, 2014 Hawaii Association of Filipino Travel Agents, Reaffirmation of Officers, Award Night & Christmas Gala, Ala Moana Hotel, 6
p.m. Grand prize: two round trip tickets to the Philippines, via PAL. Ticket cost: $65. Contact: Rose Galanto 8452218, Edith Gudoy 841-2881, Maggie Domingo, 783-0068. December 7, 2014 Filipino Community Center (FilCom Center) presents the annual Pasko sa FilCom (Christmas at FilCom) 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. The theme is Pagkakaisa sa Diwa ng Pasko (Unity in the Spirit of Christmas featuring a day filled with singing, dancing, crafts and cultural and public service exhibits, contests for creating parols, choral performances, tabletop Christmas tree decorations and sungka. Call 680-0451 or email at donnie@filcom.org for more information. December 12, 2014 Filipino Chamber of Commerce, Christmas party at Pomaikai Ballrooms at Dole Cannery. Celebrate Christmas with the 60’-70’s attire in emerald green and red and pearl necklaces. Ticket cost: $40. Contact: Vanessa Kop 256-0370, Yonie Malig-on 497-9244, Tess de Jesus 783-4468 December 21, 2014 Filipino Association of University Women (FAUW), PASKO! At Honolulu Museum of Arts (former Academy of Arts), 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Free admission to Pasko and Museum courtesy of Bank of Hawaii’s monthly family Sunday.
If you would like to have your event listed on this Statewide Calendar, please contact Edna Alikpala at (808) 262.3669 or email her at alikpalaedna@ hotmail.com