FIL-AM OBSERVER Articles [Leading Filipino Newspaper]

QUIRINO OBRERO PAET, The Tale of a Man from Taleb

2012-01-23T12:16:00.000-10:00

by Lucy Peros

Sakada Corner

Fil-Am Observer January 2012 Issue

Sakada Feature, Page 8

Quirino Obrero Paet’s story of hard work and endurance is the same story of every plantation worker who came in 1946 and stayed.

[Quirino and Lucia Paet wedding on April 20, 1941 at Christ the King Church in Paing, Bantay, Ilocos Sur, Philippines]

Born in Taleb, Bantay, Ilocos Sur on September 18, 1917, he was recruited to work in the plantations together with his brother, Pedro.

On January 14. 1946, he left Cabagao via Port Salomague on S. S. Maunawili for Hawaii.

He left behind a young wife, Lucia, son James, and hanai daughter, Teresita Marinas.

He arrived in Kahului via Ohau, and together with Pedro, he went to live in Spanish B Camp in Puunene with other plantation workers, among others Johnny Fontanilla, Claro Ramos, Ciano Fontanilla. They all used a community bathhouse and an outhouse. They all got along well together.

On May 20, 1946, Lucia, Teresita, James, and Precila joined Quirino in Hawaii. They were one of the very few families that lived in the camp.

Quirino’s job at the sugar mill was at the crystallization of molasses department. He worked there for twenty two years. After twenty two years, he decided to work in the Pacific Construction Company. Following that, he worked at the Kaanapali Golf Course and helped planted the grass while they were building the Kaanapali Beach Resort Hotel.

At the same time, he owned a yard maintenance company; that was to be his side job.

Lastly, he worked for Maui Sunset as a grounds keeper and retired from there for medical reasons. On August 9, 1992, Quirino passed on to the next life.

At Spanish B, Rizal Day Celebration is a very colorful event. They even had a Rizal Day Queen chosen by way of box social dancing. Box social is similar to an auction where people (usually men) bet for a box full of goodies. The highest bidder kept the box and would have the first dance with the queen contestant. The contestant who raised the most money would become the Rizal Day Queen. The contestants would also receive a pecentage of the money they raised.

Sometimes Rizal Day celebration lasted a couple of days with athletic competitions relays, games, open market, and even cockfights.

The Puunene Theater was also a very popular recreation center. They showed movies like “Darna”, a Filipino version of Wonder Woman who fought against evil often called the snake hair lady. The character of Dolphy, the Filipino comedian, comparable to Gerry Lewis was also very popular among the young. Many other Filipino movies were shown in the Puunene Theater.

Next to the theater was Teri’s Snack Shop owned by Chris and Teresa Sevilla. Oda’s 10 cents bread and the Hamada’s saimin were very popular food joints. There was also a grocery home delivery by George Guerrero, also a plantation worker.

[Happy moments of Quirino and Lucia Paet]

The Paets raised and slaughtered their own animals for their own consumption. They also sold them to their neighbors, “uraga” style, by dividing the meat into several small portions for the people to buy.

They raised their vegetables and also picked from the fields. In those days, they were allowed to plant vegetables in the fields.

Quirino and Lucia Paet were blessed with thirteen ambitious, community-oriented children.

Their first child is hanai daughter, Teresita, married to Clemente Fontanilla. They have two children and three grandchildren. Teresita once worked for the Hawaii Planters Association.

The second is James, married to Kathleen. They have three children and five grandchildren.

Third is Precila, married to James Peros. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Fourth is Gloria, married to Ongolea Filo.

Fifth is Sally Paet. Sixth is Lucille, married to Smith. They have one son.

Seventh is Shirley Ponciano. She has two children.

Eighth is Victoria, married to Wayne Fukumoto. They have two children.

Ninth is Rene, married to Thomas Akina. They have three children and four grandchildren.

Tenth is Teresita , married to Gary Piquet. They have one child.

Eleventh is William Quirino, Jr.

Twelfth is Amelia, married to Steven Lee. They have two children.

The thirteenth is Joseph Andrew.

Quirino and Lucia believed and favored Catholic education for their children. Their children attended Christ The King School and St. Anthony High School.

To help defray the cost of their tuition, they did odds and ends at the school, e.g. clean the classrooms, the cafeteria, the bathrooms, and other parts of the school.

Quirino and Lucia set up a family tradition, done by many Ilokanos, in which older siblings are sent to college but are expected to help the parents in supporting the younger siblings so they could also go to college. They did exactly that.

The Paets also had another tradition. Every Christmas, they all got together as a family including those who live on the other islands and on the Mainland, cook lechon as their main dish on their dining table. This lechon would be eaten after attending the midnight mass. They created their own family activities as well.

When Monsignor Osmundo Calip came to evangelize the Filipinos here on Maui, Lucia and Quirino together with other people took him around the camps to remind them to go to church and not to forget their loved ones back home in the Philippines. In 1950, Monsignor Calip formed the Filipino Catholic Club.

Gloria Filo lovingly shared her happy memories about her dad, Quirino. She said, “ I would go with my dad to sports events, watch dancing at the clubhouse. I even went with him to “biagan” (chicken fight). I even helped him in slaughtering animals.”

Precila and Rene also shared these about their dad: “Mom and dad were very accommodating when people came to our house. They welcomed everyone. Even though our family is big, mom and dad always shared what we had. They expected us to always look neat, go to mass, received the sacraments, and showed us good work ethics. Mom was more of the disciplinarian to us kids. They both expected us to behave well.”

Precila also mentioned that she and Sally took their dad to the Philippines in 1986 after so many years of being here in Hawaii. He was able to use his free round trip ticket that was part of his contract when he was recruited in 1946. He was able to see his siblings and his mother in law before they passed away.

Quirino and Lucia together with their thirteen children and numerous grandchildren showed to all of us that a family who prays together and love the Lord stays lovingly together.

Thank you Precila, Gloria, and Rene for sharing with us your stories and that of your parents.

Adda Kadi Impluensia ti Kalendario dagiti Tsino iti Inaldaw a Panagbiagtayo?

2012-01-23T11:53:00.000-10:00

Ni Rudy Ram. Rumbaoa
Di Nakapappapati Ngem Pudno
Fil-Am OBSERVER January 2012 Issue
Opinion Section, Page 5

TI tawen 2012 ket Maika-4710 a Tawen iti Kalendario ti Tsina, Year of the Dragon iti Zodiac animal a mangrugi no Enero 23, 2012 iti Gregorian calendar. Ti 2012 Chinese calendar ket "Zen Chen." Iti Chinese Horoscope, ti "Zen" ket Danum, idinto ti "Chen" ket Dragon. Ngarud, maawagan pay ti tawen 2012 a kas "Water Dragon Year." Ket manipud iti Lima nga Elemento ti Teoria ti Tsina, maawagan pay ti 2012 a kas "Black Dragon."

Masansan a maawagan ti Chinese New Year iti Chinese Lunar New Year iti "Lunisolar" a daytoy ti kangrunaan ken sentro ti traditional Chinese holidays. Ti Lunisolar a kalendario ket kalendario dagiti nagkaadu a kultura nga itudona ti petsa iti agpada a siklo ti bulan ken tiempo ti solar year.

Idiay Tsina, am-ammo pay daytoy kas "Spring Festival," ti literal a pannakaipatarus ti Chinese name a "Pinyin-Chun Jie," tapno mapaggiddiat ti tradisional a wagas a panagsukisok dagiti Tsino ken ti akin-laud a pagpapagilian iti panagkalkula ti panawen. Agngudo daytoy iti maudi a panawen ti lam-ek. Mangrugi ti fiesta iti umuna a bulan iti tradisional a kalendario ti Tsina ken malpas ti "Lantern Festival" iti maika-15 nga aldaw. Iti bisperas ti Chinese New Year, naisangrat daytoy nga aldaw para iti panagtitipontipon ti pampamilia dagiti Tsino a kas kaugalianda- ken naawagan pay daytoy kas "Chu Xi" wenno "Rabii/Bisperas ti Ilalabas ti Tawen."

Iti "Gregorian calendar," agtennag iti sabalisabali a petsa ti Chinese New Year iti tunggal tawen, petsa iti nagbaetan ti Enero 21 ken Pebrero 20. Iti Chinese calendar, masapul nga agparang ti winter solstice iti maika-11 a bulan, kayatna a sawen a masansan nga agtennag ti Chinese New Year iti maikadua a panagparang ti Baro/Ubing a Bulan [New Moon] kalpasan ti winter solstice. Iti kultura dagiti Tsino, ti "Lichun" maysa a termino a mainaig iti init ti mangipasimudaag iti panangrugi ti panawen ti panagrusing/panagtubo [spring], ket agparang daytoy iti Pebrero 4.

Kadagitoy a petsa ti Chinese New Year, kakuykuyogna ti Animal Zodiac ken ti Sanga a Nainlubongan [Earthly Branches]. Isuda ti Rat [Zi], Ox [Chou], Tiger [Yin] Rabbit [Mao], Dragon [Chen], Snake [Si], Horse [Wu], Goat [Wei], Monkey [Shen], Rooster [You], Dog [Xu] ken Pig [Hai]. Dagiti nagan ti sanga a nainlubongan ket awan ti itedna a parte iti tulagan iti Ingles ken saan met a pannakaipatarus iti pagsasao ti Tsina dagitoy nadakamat a nagan ti animal. Katipon iti daytoy 12-year Cycle ti Animal Zodiac ket ti kaadda met ti 10-year Cycle ti Nailangitan nga Ungkay/Puon [Heavenly Stem]. Iti tunggal 10 nga ungkay/puon ket maipasurot/makibinnulig iti Lima nga Elemento ti Chinese astrology [astrolohia], isuda ti Kayo, Apuy, Lubong, Landok ken ti Danum. Dagitoy nga elemento ket agpuligos wenno agsisinnublatda iti tunggal dua a tawen, idinto a ti "Yin" ken "Yang," agkasandi iti 60 a tawen. Kas koma, iti tawen ti Yang Fire Rat [Apuy/Bao] ket nagparang idi tawen 1936 ken iti tawen 1996- innem a pulo a tawen ti nagsinaanda.

Kalpasan ti sangagasut a tawen, agtultuloy pay laeng ti pannakaaramat ti Chinese calendar. Ikkanna ti pannakailadawan ti Internaional a Kalendario [basar iti Gregorian calendar] a maar-aramat iti agdama. Kinaagpaysuanna, maysa a sistema ti kalendario a maaramat tapno marukod ti panaglabas ti panawen, manipud iti minuto ken oras, ti pannakarukod ti aldaw, bulan [month], tawen ken ti siglo. Dagitoy dagiti kangrunaan a pagibasaran ti astronomical observations iti panagtignay ti Init, Bulan ken dagiti Bituen. Marukod dagiti aldaw babaen iti pagpatinggaan ti oras iti bukod a panagpuligos ti lubong. Marukod met dagiti bulan babaen iti pagpatinggaan ti oras iti pananglikaw ti Bulan ti lubong. Idinto a marukod met dagiti tawen babaen iti pagpatingaan ti oras a no sadino a palikawkawan ti lubong ti Init.

Ti kalendario ket sistema a pangrukod iti tiempo/panawen, manipud ti minuto ken oras agingga iti aldaw ken bulan, ken kamaudiananna ti tawen ken siglo [sentenario/sangagasut a tawen]. Ti termino nga oras, aldaw, bulan, tawen ken siglo ket rugi amin dagitoy iti panagbilang/panangrukod iti sistema ti kalendario.

Kas koma iti panangrukod ti maysa iti tiempo wenno panawen, mabalin a marukod ti distansia babaen iti maysa a bislak wenno linas/tali. Marukod met ti tiempo/panawen babaen iti pannakaobserba ti panagkuti wenno panagtignay ti Init, Bulan ken dagiti Bituen. Ket naaramaten daytoy a wagas ti panagrukod uray pay idi un-unana a tiempo.

Ammotayo a ti panaglikaw ti lubong ket maipapan iti sentro ti pagwerretanna [axis] ken no ania [kadagitoy] ti makaigapu iti panagtignay ti Init manipud iti daya agingga iti laud a kasumbangir ti tangatang. Ngarud iti lohikal a pannakailawlawag ti maysa a siklo wenno panaguddog ti Init ket kas maysa nga "aldaw." Nakaaawat iti balikas ti Tsina ti direktiba a pannakaawag ti maysa nga aldaw kas "sun."

Ti konsepto wenno ti balabala a "lawas" ket saan unay nga importante iti Kalendario dagiti Tsino. Ti daan a panawen ti Ehipto ket addaanda iti 10 nga aldaw iti lawas, kasta met dagiti Tsino. Ti duogan a panawen ti Assyria ti nangimbento ti pito nga aldaw iti maysa a lawas, ken dagiti nagnagan ti aldaw iti lawas a naaramat iti agdama ket maibasar iti sistema a naikkan iti akem dagiti lima a planeta iti law-ang a makita ti mata- ti Init ken Bulan ket nainayonda laeng tapno mabukel ti pito nga aldaw iti maysa a lawas.

Ditay' ammo no kasano't kinaisangsangayan ti pannakaiyakar ti elemento ti kultura sakbay a naimbento ti panagsurat, ken no ania ti detalye iti likudan iti proseso ti pannakaiyakarna. No adda man pakainaigan wenno koneksionna iti nagbaetan ti 10 nga aldaw iti lawas dagiti Tsino ken Ehipto, wenno daytoy ket permanente a nagpukawen a kasla tapok iti agdama a pakasaritaan.

Nupay kasta, uray pay no awan ti direkta a naisurat nga ebidensia maipanggep iti daytoy, mabalin a ti pagpadaan ti nagbaetan ti akin-laud a pagpagilian ken ti kultura dagiti Tsino ket makuna a pannakairanranana laeng wenno naigiddan a di nairanta.

Inadaptar ti pagpagilian iti akin-laud a Yoropa ti nagnagan dagiti aldaw iti lawas maibasar met laeng ti nagan dagiti pito nga am-ammo unay a "planeta," a segun iti pannakaurnosda iti law-ang ken ti kaadayoda iti lubong [earth], isuda dagitoy: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, ti Init, Venus, Mercury, ken ti Bulan- amin dagitoy ket astrolohia a nagtaudan.

Adu ti nagdur-asan ti astrolohia iti Ehipto idi un-unana ti kina-Kristianismo; segun iti agdama nga astrolohia a pammati, tunggal oras ti panagsasagannad dagiti nadumaduma a planeta ket pamatianda nga agbalin a sagrado, sarunoen ti pannakaurnos segun ti distansia ti tunggal maysa. Ti planeta iti umuna nga oras iti aldaw ti kinonsagrado nga agturay iti dayta nga aldaw. Iti pagsasao a Teutonika, naaramat ketdi ti nailangitan a naganda Tiu, Woden, Thor, ken Freya imbes a Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, ken Venus a naaramat iti Romano.

Ti Bulan wenno panawen a buklen iti uppat a lawas [Month]
Tunggal rabii, agbaliw ti langa ti Bulan. Manipud iti "Baro/Ubing a Bulan" [New Moon] agingga iti "Sellag ti Bulan" [Full Moon], ket kalpasanna, agsublinto manen iti dati. Ngarud, ilawlawag ti kaipapanan a ti "bulan/month" ket tiempo a panagsiklo ti Bulan iti maysa a garaw. Ngarud, mapasamak daytoy iti 29.5 nga aldaw. Ngem pinagbalinda ti bulan/month a 29 nga aldaw wenno 30 nga aldaw. Manen, iti lengguahe ti Tsina ti "month" ket "Moon." Iti Ingles a pagsasao, naadaw ti balikas a "month" manipud iti balikas a "moon."

Ti Tawen ti kadakkelan a rugi ti panagbilang iti tiempo/panawen. Tapno mailawlawag, agsublitayo iti Init. Ipakita ti naannad nga obserbasion a kalpasan ti sangapulo ket dua a bulan, makita ti posision ti Init manipud nakangatngato. Kalpasanna, in-inut a bumaba no madanonan iti tengnga ti aldaw. Agbaliw ken umakikid pay ti aldaw. Kaimportantian, agbaliw ti klima manipud napudot kalpasanna, aglamiis. Ditoy a mapaggigiddiat ti uppat a klase ti panawen: Winter [panawen ti lam-ek], Spring [panawen ti panagrusing/panagtubo], Summer [panawen ti pudot/kalgaw] ken Fall [panawen ti panagrururos/panagregreg]. Ngarud, maawagan daytoy a kaatiddog ti tiempo/panawen kas [maysa a] "Tawen." Iti Tsina a balikas ti "tawen/year" isu ti "Nian." Gapu ta ti balikas a "Sun" ket addan akemna iti kayat a sawen ti "day," naaramat ti baro a balikas tapno maawatan ti eksakto nga ipaulog ti balikas a "year/tawen."

Idi 104 B.C., napaneknekan ti kinahusto nga adda 365.2502 nga aldaw. Ngem idi 480 A.D., pinasayaat ni Ju Chongzhi iti panagkalkula dagiti aldaw. Pinagbalin ni Chongzhi nga 365.2428, wenno 52 a segundo nga ad-adu pay ngem iti moderno a pateg ti 365.2422 nga aldaw. No ipantayo iti sabali a wagas, iti uneg ti 2,000 a tawen, agtotal iti nakurang a maysa nga aldaw ti di panagtunos dagiti pasamak. Ngarud, iti tinawentawen a saan pulos a pannakaputedputed ti panangisurat dagiti historiador a Tsino ti pakasaritaan, pinaneknekan ken impaayda ti nahushusto a pannakadokumentasion dagiti pasamak.

Nupay ti 0.24 nga aldaw ket saan a nasayaat iti pannakaiparangna, iti panaglabas dagiti tawen nagbalin daytoy nga importante. Kasano ngarud iti panangkompleto ti sibubukel a bilang dagiti aldaw? Adda sabali a wagas tapno maaramid. Iti Tsina, awaganda daytoy iti "Lunar Calendar," ken iti agdama a pagrukodan ti kalendario, maawagan met daytoy iti "Solar" a sistema ti kalendario.

Ngarud, tapno mabukel ti 365.24 nga aldaw iti Chinese Lunar Calendar, mainayon ti ekstra/surok a bulan bayat ti Leap Year. Iti met sistema ti Solar Calendar, addaan iti 365 nga aldaw ti maysa a tawen. Iti tunggal maikapat a tawen, mainayon ti ekstra/surok nga aldaw iti bulan ti Pebrero tapno agbalin daytoy a 365.25 nga aldaw. Daytoy ngarud ti awaganda iti Leap Year. Ngem nupay kasta, adda latta 12 a bulan iti tunggal tawen, ngem ti bilang dagiti aldaw iti tunggal bulan ket ilogiko wenno saan a nalinteg a pannakairasonna. Ngarud iti pangrugian ti tunggal bulan saan a nairanta/maigiddan iti panagsiklo ti Baro/Ubing a Bulan wenno New Moon.

Zalsos elected new president of Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce

2012-01-23T11:45:00.000-10:00

KAHULUI- Energetic. Vibrant. Committed. These are the three words that describe Sharon Zalsos, the newly elected president of the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce, according to her mentor, Teresita Bustamente Noble, a pillar in the Maui Filipino business community.

Noble, who will serve as Vice President, will be joined on the Board of Directors by Melen Agcolicol (Secretary), Lydia Dela Cruz (Treasurer), Elizabeth Ayson (Immediate Past President) and Directors C.J. Ancheta, Lucio Calina, Jr., Jeana Gamboa, Brian Moto, Lawrence Pascua, William Ruidas, Alvin Santander, and Felix Santiago.

“I’m and excited and looking forward to working with the new Board of Directors to promote business, which is the mission of the organization. We will need the support of our members, the business community, and the people of Maui to continue to move forward,” said Zalsos.

Zalsos is currently employed as a Departmental Personnel with the County of Maui Department of Environmental Management. Since 2009, she has also worked as an Executive Travel Consultant with Noble Travel.

A graduate of Maui High School (where she became the first female high school wrestler), Zalsos was also the 1997 Miss Maui Filipina. More importantly, she is a proud veteran, having served honorably in the United States Air Force as a Senior Airman from 1998 to 2002. During her time of service, she won the Personnel Manager of the Year in 2001 while she was stationed at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington.

Zalsos claims her entrepreneurial skills began when she was two years old when she sold her grandmother’s donuts in Makati. She expanded her skills at four, when she sold her Mom’s famous candy bars. By the time Zalsos turned 21, she started her own independent business for health and beauty products. In 2002, she started a commercial and residential cleaning business in Olympia, Washington.

In 2006, Zalsos, returned to Maui and secured employment with the County of Maui the following year. Interested in the promotion of business, Zalsos joined the Maui Filipino Chamber and started to develop relationships with other businesses. Zalsos also began working with the Miss Maui Filipina Pageant as a volunteer chaperone and one of the contestant coordinators.

Zalsos sees 2012 as a turning point for the chamber.

“Last year, under the leadership of Elizabeth Ayson, the Chamber started to refocus on its Mission by emphasizing the promotion of business. We also created a Foundation and held the First Annual Maui Fil-Am Heritage Festival. I know the incoming Board of Directors is focused on maintaining the momentum that was established last year. We will have a few new events, such as the Scholarship Golf Tournament on March 17, and improve our educational seminars, increase our membership benefits, and make it more valuable to be a member of the Maui Filipino Chamber. After all, the Chamber is about promoting business”

Feature Story: Consul General Julius Torres, Aloha to a Public Servant

2012-01-23T11:40:00.000-10:00

by Aurelio Solver Agcaoili

[Consul General Julius Torres]

I knew it would be tough getting a schedule to interview the new Consul General Julius Deloso Torres in Hawaii.

He had just arrived, and my request was too soon.

Even when then Consul General Leoncio Cardenas was about to retire, I already wrote to Deputy Consul General Paul Cortez to ask for a chance to sit down with the incoming consul general who would be coming from Amman

He was warming up and trying to get settled, and here I was, egging on, asking for the moon, and asking for the impossible. He had out-of-state appointments, the appointments secretary told me.

But he was gracious, and in between my final examinations at the sate university where I teach, I got an afternoon to sit down with him. I was to probe his mind.

[Aurelio S. Agcaoili and ConGen Julius Torres. Photo by Agcaoili]

I arrived at the Philippine Consulate General on Pali Highway some ten minutes earlier than the schedule, with an Observer staff photographer in tow.

There was light rain on the streets. Towards the west, two rainbows displayed their spectacular colors as if announcing to all those who would like to watch that in the days ahead so many good things will come for the people of the Philippines.

I went straight to the main door, past the consular offices.

Not far away, two men got out of a car.

I have not met Consul General Torres before and I had no idea how he looked like. One of the men wore a green long-sleeved barong, the verdant color of life. I knew right there and then that he is the new consul general.

“Are you coming for the interview?” he asks.

“Yes, sir,” I respond. “I have a schedule with the new consul general. At two.”

“You came on time,” he says. “We just had lunch.” He offers his hand.

“Thank you for giving in to my request,” I say and I shake hands with him.

He lets us in into a huge receiving room by the first floor of the consulate general. A portrait of President Benigno Aquino III hangs on a wall that leads to another inner room that I have become familiar with because of a previous media briefing I had to attend prior to the Asia Pacific Economic Conference in November.

From a stint at the Philippine Embassy in Jordan as the ambassador for about three years, Consul General Julius Torres comes to us with a fresh vision of what it is to serve the people of the Philippines everywhere.

His more than thirty years of career service with the Department of Foreign Affairs plus a hands-on experience as press officer of the late Foreign Affairs Secretary Carlos P. Romulo have prepared him to go where his service is needed.

He has been all over, with postings in a number of embassies: Bucharest, Saipan, Brussels, Canberra, Koror, and Toronto. His degree in journalism and his training in civil law, both at the University of the Philippines, came in handy in his various posting, able to merge both the requisites of diplomacy and the need to take good care of Filipino citizens in these places of assignment.

He did not plan to become a career diplomat.

Fate had it that he would become one when, at the height of his activism during the now famous First Quarter Storm, a time when the basic rights of people existed as a fiction during the dark days of Martial Law, he resolved not to give in to the temptations of becoming a factotum of big business, the economic structure that has closed all avenues to giving a fair chance to the people of the Philippines.

He understood the meaning of capital, and the need to put in place the economic infrastructure of the Philippines state.

But he did not approve the unjust ways of exploitation and dehumanization, concrete realities he himself had seen as a young student of Philippine Science High School where he received his initiation into the just cause of fighting for the basic rights of the people.

Instead, he vowed to serve the people by going into public service.

There are a number of things that are clear to him—and one of these is that his service to the people of the Philippines would never be negotiable.

It is a commitment wrought in stone.

It is a commitment wrought upon realizing full well that the need to create a just and fair society for the people of the Philippines remains an ideal worth pursuing.

This was to be his motive for going into public service, for joining the diplomatic corps.

He came from a town in Zambales that spoke Zambal and Ilokano.

But it is Zambal that stuck to him, with some ability to converse in Ilokano when forced, but not confident enough to carry a good conversation. It is in Zambal that he is most at home with, the language of his family, the language of his place, the language of his people.

He knows of the importance to picking up the Ilokano language to serve the majority of the Philippine population in this state.

He says he is looking for someone who could teach him the rudiments of good, and effective, Ilokano. He says he is ready to learn.

From PSHS, he moved to the University of the Philippines at Diliman, and there registered for the sciences, in chemistry, for his bachelor’s.

But activism had its own energy in those days of disquiet in the late 70s, when life was snuffed out from the minds of the young people looking for a chance to contribute their talents and gifts for the homeland.

The dark night of misrule raged on, and its own rage got into his young heart.

He began to speak the language of social change, of democracy that had substance, of liberty that spoke of the good life for everyone.

Awakened to the realities of an indecent regime with its indecent, abusive ways, he resolved to take part in the struggle, for which reason forced him to drop out of school for a time and take part in activism in a more meaningful way. It would take him several years before going back to college, and finish his degree in journalism, instead of chemistry.

Journalism and its emancipatory promises led him to the doorstep of then Foreign Affairs Secretary Carlos P. Romulo.

There, he would be trained in the rudiments of writing, public relations, and public administration.

It would also open his eyes to the possibilities of a government service.

He took the Foreign Service examinations while in law school, and he passed. That was to be the beginning of his work in international relations and the end of his dream of becoming a lawyer.

We exchanged notes on our experiences.

There were serendipitous circumstances that led to the crossing of our paths.

While a faculty at the University of the Philippines at Diliman, I had my office fronting the avenue that was used to film Ruben Torres’ life.

The film, Kadre, would star Cesar Montano, and I watched the shooting from my window, curious as to how they used fire trucks to simulate rain dripping from the dense branches of rain trees that formed a canopy along the oval that stretched from the famous naked man in oblation by the administration building and back to University Avenue.

Julius D. Torres the consul general is the younger brother of Ka Ruben, the famous kadre.

The older brother is known for his earlier activism, and for the political leadership that he played during the early days of the Aquino Regime, right after President Marcos’ ouster from power.

I did not know the connection before that—and the serendipity began.

We talked of the FQS, when I was still in the province as a mute witness to the political activism of those priests and college students of the better colleges of my small city in the North.

The governor, Elizabeth Marcos, would paint the walls enclosing the capitol in pristine white. When the police people were not looking, the activists would turn the while walls into a canvass of rage and denunciation, the big words, in red paint, I would memorize.

“You were involved?” I ask.

“Only the deaf and mute would not be involved.”

“Were you afraid?”

“We were. But there was no other choice.”

“Do you regret?”

“No. My only regret is that I had to go back to UP to finish my degree. Nine years before getting my degree.”

“Is this activism the same energy we expect in Hawaii?”

“It is. And more. My stint in Jordan taught me valuable lessons. I had to fight for our people. I had to fight the people who were not in the know. Our people’s right to live the good life is non-negotiable to me. You cannot just simply say that we have to stop deploying our people. We do not have many options in the Philippines. And even if we officially say that, our people would figure out a way to go to Jordan illegally. In that way, they are at the losing end. In that way, there was no means to protect them. The best option is to negotiate with Jordan. And I did.”

“What is your view of our foreign affairs?”

“We ought to have a lean and mean bureaucracy. And an efficient one. We want trained professionals who know the merits of multi-tasking.”

“If you were offered the job of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, would you accept?”

“I would do anything to serve our people.”

We talked more about our people, the prospects for a better homeland, the blighted lives of our wretched poor.

And we talked about the Ilokanos in Hawaii, their enduring spirit, and their capacity to survive.

Editorial:

2012-01-23T11:06:00.002-10:00

Resolving Anew

This New Year is another chance to get things right.

The year that is behind us now has extended the very logic of our sense of sacrifice and our sense of hope and we are not going to permit this to keep on being dragged into the New Year.

We want something new.

We want something refreshing.

We want something salving.

It was not the easiest of the years of our life even if last year’s was memorable for what pains we can remember, and what lesson we can draw from these pains, lessons that we pray will make us stronger so that we can do things better.

Part of this resolve—the need to recast our framework of looking at life anew—is to revisit the language we use to reword the vision we have for this year and all the years to come.

The poet T. S. Eliott reminds us of this responsibility when he wrote about the need for us to begin again in a new light, in an ever-new light: ‘For last year’s words belong to last year’s language/And next year’s words await another voice./And to make an end is to make a beginning.’

So many things went wrong in 2011.

So many went right as well.

Plus or minus, in the general scheme of things, there is a deficit of realizations as there is a deficit of the good events that should have visited us and given us some sense of the good life.

Truly, we need to demand from life. And this is a new language.

Truly, we need to demand from our society, community, state, and country. And this is a new language.

Truly, we need to demand from others. And this is a new language.

But truly so, we also need to demand from ourselves so that the vision we have to turn things right might come to a realization. And this is a new language too!

For a dream is only good if gives us the energy to go on, if it moves us, if it makes us hope for the best.

So many of us have been left with only one thing at this time: hope for tomorrow, and hope for the better.

Given this as our only weapon to fight it out and struggle for this dream to come true, we need to hold on to what this hope can offer us, including its power to instruct us of what is just and fair, of what is good and valuable, of what makes sense.

In our resolve, we need to trust again in our abilities, in what we can do, and in what we are willing to do to pursue something grander than our puny dreams and puny selves.

Out there is a world deprived of what we have, things we sometimes dismiss.

Out there is a world that has not experienced our experience of abundance during the holidays.

Out there is another world that reminds us that our world in this country is one of luxury, excess, surplus.

Out there is another world we cannot see because we have been ensconced in a position of convenience and comfort and as a result we can no longer see the inconvenience and discomfort of others.

Out there is another world that does not look like our own—and we refuse to recognize this world: one of misery, one of wretchedness, one in dire need of redemption.

The challenge for the coming year is this: to see once again that this world, in light of the message of hope for us all, can be made a better place for the many who have less in life.

For the many who have been deprived of their basic freedoms.

For the many who have been deprived of the day-to-day expressions of the good life.

For the many who are still dreaming of the blessings of real democracy and true justice.

Happy New Year to all of you!

Publisher's Note:

2012-01-23T10:58:00.001-10:00

Every time New Year comes, it reminds me of a Bible verse, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!" While the context of this verse refers to being born again, it also gives us a better understanding of getting rid of bad habits and welcoming good traits as we usher in the New Year.

A common phrase that we usually hear during this time of the year is New Year's resolution. The resolutions that we make are a good mental exercise, at least for the first few months, knowing that in time these resolutions would be a challenge. Nevertheless, it is worthy trying, it is worth drawing resolutions that will show us the way to hit it right in life.

Some of these would be what we call the mundane. Have you quit smoking or is it time for you to do so? Are you thinking of losing weight? What about the bills to be paid on time? What about those many days of procrastination insofar as getting fit is concerned?

The rule of the game, it seems, to make our resolutions smart: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. For example, instead to saying I will quit smoking, it should be: I will cut my smoking by three sticks a day or I will lose ten pounds by April. Also, create a plan and make it work to achive those goals. Whatever your resolutions are, I hope you have the commitment and dedication to fulfill them.

For me, the New Year brings an oppurtunity for us to focus our attention and look ahead of the positive things in life. Because of our faith in our Creator, whatever failure, sadness, and misgivings we had in the past, we can hope for the miracle of change so we can turn all these into successes, happiness, and confidence in all our understanding.

As Christ said in John 10:10, "I came that you may have life and have it abundantly." With these words, we are assured the Creator will not leave us alone, that 2012 will be better, brighter, and more blessed.

On behalf of the staff and management of Fil-Am OBSERVER, may you have a blessed and prosperous New Year! May all our aspirations and hopes for our family and community come true.

The old has gone and the new has come!

Aloha and Mabuhay!

Fil-Am OBSERVER January 2012 Issue

2012-01-23T10:56:00.000-10:00

Sakadas to be Remembered at Rice Festival

2011-12-14T10:05:00.000-10:00

[ARSENIO and VICTORIA JACINTO]

KAHULUI, Maui- They are known as the sakadas, the Filipino pioneers, who left the native Philippines, leaving behind families and friends, to come to work in Hawaii's sugar and pineapple plantations. Recruited by the Hawaiian Planters Association, the first group to come to the islands in 1906 and the last group in 1946.

Rice was their staple food, and many of them were rice farmers before they come to Hawaii to work in the islands' plantations.

Binhi at Ani will hold its Third Annual Rice Festival on December 18, 2011, from 5 pm, at the Filipino Community Center, 780 Onehee Avenue, Kahului, to remember the sakadas, to celebrate family, community and cultural heritage.

To be recognized as "Ama at Ina," outstanding father and mother, Arsenio Jacinto and Victoria Jacinto of Lahaina.

Born December 14, 1921, in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Mr. Jacinto was one of the batch of sakadas who sailed from Salomague, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, on August 30, 1946, and reached Kahului Harbor 16 days later. He worked first as grass cutter with Pioneer Mill Co., Ltd., and was paid 40 cents per hour or $3.20 per day. After one year, he became an irrigator until his retirement in 1983 when he earned $10.00 per hour.

He went to the Philippines in December 1965 to marry the former Victoria Lazaro. They have been blessed with four children. The oldest, Arthur, married to Dawn Jacinto, is a US Army Veteran who was stationed in West Germany, worked as a vehicle mechanic, and now works at Westin Maui. The second child, Edith Jacinto, obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration from Chaminade University, and is administrative manager for Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. The third child, Jane Arruda, married to Keli'i Arruda, received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fashion Merchandising from University of Hawaii at Manoa, and is Consierge Specialist Supervisor at the Westin Maui. The youngest, Lorraine Young, married to Troy Young, was Maui District Spelling Bee champion in 1988, holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, and is a Desktop Publishing Specialist at Lahaina Galleries, Inc.

The Rice Festival will feature:
-Ringing of the Centennial [Memorial Peace] Bell, pariticipated in by living sakadas and their families, and by the officers and board members of Binhi at Ani;
-A "fried rice" cookung contest;
-Cultural dance performance by the Bailes de Filipinas [Elsie Saribay], Akahi;
-Seniors [Aggie Cabebe], Good Shepherd Church Youth [Bessie Cacayorin];
-Senoras de Kahului [Alice Ragasa], and dance International Production [Madelyne Pascua];
-Presentation of the "Ama and Ina" plaque by Mayor Alan Arakawa;
-Tribute to the "Ama and Ina" by Lorraine Young;
-Special numbers by Chelsea Guzman [2011 Miss Barrio Fiesta], Shelby Bantilan [2011 Miss Maui Filipina], Kaisahan Club [Lou Symonds], Ka-Sandra Ragasa and Trani Kaluhikaua, and
-Ballroom dancing.

Justin Cruz of KHON News will be the Emcee assisted by Jennifer Valdez.

Chairperson of the festival, Alice Ragasa, longtime community volunteer. She and husband Pepito, retired ILWU business agent, were honored as "Ama at Ina" last year's Rice Festival.

Dinner tickets to the Rice Festival is $10.00 per person.

ANIA aya ti "Naragsak a Paskua?"

2011-12-14T09:59:00.000-10:00

Ni RUDY RAM. RUMBAOA
Di Nakapappapati Ngem Pudno
Fil-Am Observer December 2011 Issue
Opinio Section, Page 5

PUDNO a karit daytoy kadagiti amin a Kristianos ken tattao ti pammati iti panangikalinteganda ti kayat a sawen ti Paskua ken panangibanag dagitoy a pagayatan ni Jesus.

Tiempo a panangipaay ti panawen iti bagi tapno matungpal ti pudno a kababagasan daytoy a pasken nga insungsong ken insuro ni Jesus iti lubong. Kasapulan a masarakan ti espiritual a dana ti panagbalbaliw ken pigsa a mangisardeng iti managimbubukod, kinaagum, kinadakes, kinagartem ken dadduma pay a klase ti naindagaan a panagbiag.

"Immayak tapno agserbi saan a paserbian," "Dagiti makapukaw ti biagna gapu kaniak ket maisalakanto," "No ania man ti inaramidmo kadagiti kanunumoan a kakabsatko, inaramidmo kaniak," "Immayak tapno itedko ti biagko a kas daton iti kaaduan," dagitoy ti sumagmamano a panursuro ni Jesus.

Ti Paskua ket maipanggep iti simple, saan a barayuboy a biag iti pannakipagayam ken pannakirelasion ken ni Jesus. Agsakripisio ken makipagsagaba para iti pagimbagan ti kaaduan.

Maysa a karit kadatayo ti pakasaritaan ti Paskua. Rumbeng koma nga ipaigid dagiti banag a tubeng iti dana a daliasatentayo tapno maragpat daytoy a kalikaguman ti Apo. Iti tiempo ti Paskua, agbalin koma a mannakaawat ken managsagut wenno iburay ti kaasi nga agaun iti kaunggan a paset ti puso kadagiti nakukurapay, awaten ti kasasaad dagiti naabuso, tulongan dagiti mairurrururumen ken maikkan koma ti namnama dagiti nailaksid iti kagimongan/komunidad. Lipaten ti guranggura ket ikkan ti gundaway a mamakawan ken agpakawan. Pagarien ti kappia kadagiti puspusotayo tapno marikna ti talinaay nga awan pakaburiboran ti panunot.

Ket no maaramid ken mapukaw dagitoy a remmeng a paglemmengan dagiti naalas, rinuker ken madi nga ugali, mabang-aran ti kararua ket anian a nagganas ti agbiag ket say-open ti makasalibukag a presko nga angin! Sigurado nga adda anag ti Paskua kadatayo. Maimula iti panunot ken mataginayon iti kararua ti kayatna a sawen kadatayo. Ket babaen iti daytoy, maawattayo ti "Naragsak a Paskua" a kablaaw manipud iti email, text messages ken rinibribu a greeting cards nga aggapu iti pamilia, kabagian, gaggayyem, am-ammo ken uray iti gangannaet a tao.

Ania a talaga ti pudno a kayatna a sawen dagitoy? Ania a ragsak ti maitedna kadatayo-- ti maaddaan iti nagarbo a dinner party, wenno iti kadi panaginum iti nangina a sangabotelia nga arak, maaddaan iti bukod a pagtaengan, gumatang iti nagara a kotse, alahas wenno kumporme dita a naindagaan a bambanag? Ania aya ti makuna a "Naragsak a Paskua?"

Siempre kunatayo: tarigagayak ti makipagrikna ken mangipaay iti kaasi kadagiti makasapul-- dagiti mabisinan, dagiti tattao nga awanan pagkamangan, dagiti biktima ken napabasol iti aramid a saan nga isuda't akin-aramid, dagiti maidaddadanes ken naibalud nga ubbing. Mapapigsa koma ti pannakaipakumit wenno panangibaklay dagiti pagwadan ken pagulidanan nga ayat ken hustisia ken dedikasion tapno masalbar ti tao ken ti lubong manipud iti rinuker a hustisia ken pannakadangranna gapu iti killo a turay dagiti dadaulo.

Tarigagayantayo a sangsangkamaysatayo koma amin tapno mabiag wenno mainspiraran dagitoy a pagwadan ken pagulidanan nga aramid nga impakita nga ehemplo ni Jesus. Ket babaen kadagitoy, kabalinantayo a baliwan ti lubong-- maipaayan ti hustisia dagiti mairurumen.

Dagitoy a pagwadan ken pagulidanan ti masapul a rambakan ken itandudo iti panawen ti Paskua ken ipakita iti amin a simamata a pudno nga importante daytoy iti inaldaw a panagtulid ti pilid ti biag. Maymaysa koma ti panunot ken pigsa iti panangitrabahotayo tapno agbanag a pudno dagitoy ken agbalin a dana ti pudno a ragsak iti pannakaipatungpalna a sagrapen dagiti padatayo a daksanggasat a parsua.

No yukuyokentayo a basaen ti pakasaritaan ti Paskua, makita iti kinatao ti maladaga a Jesus, Maria ken Jose iti kasla panagpuligos a rolio ti maysa a pelikula. Makitatayo a saan ketdi a ti pannakayanak dagiti babaknang ken nabibileg a tattao ti bida iti pelikula, ngem dagiti ketdi marigrigat, mabisbisinan ken nakukurapay ti sentro iti panagpuligos ti pilid ti biag iti daytoy a pakasaritaan. Nupay adun ti nagbaliwanen iti lubong kalpasan ti nasurok dua ribu a tawen, kaarngi pay laeng ti lubong ita idi tiempo ni Jesus.

Ni Ari Herodes, maysa a napeklan a diktador ken dinudursok a panangiturayna ti Palestina, ti nangibilin kadagiti buyotna ti genocide wenno inranta a panangpapatay iti adu a tao- kas iti pannakapapatay dagiti inosente nga ubbing, ken nanglapped kadagiti kabusorna a sumrek iti Balay ni David tapno mapadisi iti panagturayna.

Iti agdama a kasasaad ti lubong, makita ti adu a panangidadanes ken panangilupitlupit, ti panagtaud dagiti genocide rulers iti pagilian a Sudan, Yemen, Darfur, Eastern Congo ken ti nakaam-ames a panagsagaba ken di panagkinnaawatan idiay Iraq, Afghanistan, Chenhnya, Syria ken uray pay iti Palestina ken sabsabali pay a suli ti lubong.

Ibaga kadatayo ti United Nations Children's Fund [UNICEF] nga inaldaw-- tunggal minuto, pumusay ti maysa nga ina kabayatan ti panagsikog wenno panangipasngayna iti ubing. Innayon pay ti UNICEF nga adda agarup 21,000 a pumusay nga ubbing iti inaldaw manipud iti nagduduma a klase ti sakit. Mamati ti UNICEF a malapdan daytoy a panagraira ti sakit kadagiti ubbing no adda naan-anay a panagtitinnulong dagiti maseknan a dadaulo iti tunggal pagilian. Dagitoy ti gapuanan ti nagramuten a piglat iti panangbaybay-a wenno liway ti gobierno ken ti pannakapaay ti sangalubongan a komunidad tapno mataraonan, mayadal wenno maisuro ti pannakaproteher wenno pannakasalaknib ti biag ti tao.

Kas ipaneknek ti agdama a mapsapasamak iti sadino man a suli ti lubong, maabuso no di pay ket marabnus ti dayaw/marames dagiti babbai ken makemmeg dagiti ub-ubbing, saan a maited ti tumutop a kasapulan pang-medikal ken iti inaldaw a pannakasalungasing ti kalinteganda. Adu met dagiti maipasngay ken maiwalang a maladaga a kas awan man ti pategda a parsua kadagiti kalkalsada, iti pagtatalonan, ken uray pay iti disierto. No abisigen dagitoy a kinapudno, iladawan ken ipalagipna laeng ti pannakaipasngay ti maladaga a Jesus. Nadangkes ti panagturay dagidi a tiempo-- adda dagiti narusanger, napeggad ken mammapatay a tattao.

Iti maysa a lugar ti sub-Saharan Africa, mapattapatta a pumusay iti maysa nga apagsangapulo ket innem a bilang dagiti babbai no masikog wenno agpasngayda.

Iti agdama, makitintinnulong ti UNICEF iti agarup 150 a pagpagilian tapno maipaayan dagiti ubbing iti tumutop a pannakataripato ti salun-at, pannakaipaay iti nadalus a danum nga inumen, nutrision, edukasion, pannakasalaknib, pannakaited kadagiti pang-emerhensia/sidadaan a kasapulan/ramit, ken dadduma pay.

Iti biang ti US, kankanayon a sisasagana a tumulong ken solido ti pannuportana iti proyekto ti UNICEF. Saan met nga agliway wenno agkurkurang iti panangipapaay ti Estados Unidos ti pagsayaatan dagiti umilina nangruna dagiti ubbing. Ngem nupay adda makuna a panagprogreso iti daytoy kalikaguman ti UNICEF, adda pay la 21, 000 nga ubbing a pumusay iti inaldaw gapu't pannakalapped a pannakaipaay iti umno a pannaripato kadakuada gapu't sobra unay a panagpulpulitiko kadagiti pagilian a seknanna. Gapuna a dawaten ti UNICEF iti pannakitinnulong dagiti babaknang a pagpagilian iti inda panangipaay ken/wenno panagsulisit, panagur-or iti pundo nga agpaay iti nasao a proyekto para kadagitoy nga ubbing.

Ngarud, saan koma lattan nga ipaakem dagitoy a problema ken responsibilidad iti UNICEF. Tumulongtayo ketdi a makipag-aywan wenno mangtaginayon, mangproteher/mangsalaknib ken ipateg ti biag-- dayta ti kayat a sawen ti kina-Kristiano. Maipaayan koma iti hustisia dagiti babbai ken ubbing, suportaran dagiti charities tapno isuda ti makatulong a mangyeg ken mangidanon kadagita naimpapusoan a donasion iti pannakabalbaliw ti biag dagiti daksanggasat a parsua.

Naindaklan ken maysa a wagas iti panangipaay ti kaasi tapno masurotantayo ti tugot ti ehemplo nga insuro ti maladaga a nayanak idiay Bethlehem-- nasurok a dua ribu a tawenen ti napalabas.*

Feature Story: Revisiting Christmas

2011-12-09T10:35:00.001-10:00

By Fil-Am Observer Staff

For the almost twenty-five percent of the population of Hawaii who descended from the various ethnolinguistic groups of the Philippines, Christmas in the land of exile is not the same as Christmas in the homeland.

The comparison is real, the nostalgia palpable.

For the many who have had a taste of what Christmas was in the home country, the contradictions of the celebration itself dwarf the message it brings to us: the coming into world of a God-made-man.

The master narrative—the grand story of epic proportion that has informed this practice introduced by the Spanish colonizers largely from the medieval interpretation of the Catholic faith—shaped and formed the Philippine understanding of what Christmas is all about.

It is a story of human salvation—all the salvation announced to mankind by an angel.

In the Philippines, as this story took root across centuries, the folk traditions had their way of interpreting what this was.

This paved the way to the summoning of the indigenous dramatic traditions that eventually paved the way to the ‘panagpadanon, or panagpatuloy’ or sometimes known in the Tagalog regions as the ‘panunuloyan.’

Here, in this folkloric rendering into a dramatic genre of the story of the first family looking for a place to stay for the night, we have a pregnant Mary in her full term and Joseph, the saintly man who stood by his wife in thick or thin, that wife who bore a child ‘without knowing any man.’

Versions of this are everywhere in the Philippines, as is the renditions of this in stylize form in the diaspora, sometimes in Honolulu.

Central to the practice of celebrating Christmas, though, is food—and food galore.

The best menus come to town, so to say, in a tongue-in-cheek way, and are laid on the Christmas table.

But this is for those who have the means.

Those who have lesser in life have to contend with some other ways to celebrate Christmas the best way they know how: that aroskaldo, or rice porridge, with margarine to taste, and with some slices of chicken meat thrown in to suggest abundance and celebration.

In schools, there is that almost mandatory gift-giving, that, across the years, has given rise to so many names: manito-manita, grab-bag, or binnunotan.

All these are poor intimations of what is beneath the act of that God-made-man: his act of self-surrender, of getting into the human story by assuming flesh.

It is, of course, the big story Jesus the Christ.

At the other end of the human spectrum of the frenzied lives of people, and their complex wish for happiness is the subtext of commerce and gain.

It is Christmas that has been transformed into bargain sales, discounted rates, and that ubiquitous box wrapped in colorful ribbons, that, if you do not have, will make you less of a person.

This is Christmas turned upside down.

This is Christmas giving in to the power of profit.

At day-end, however, is the constant reminder that with the puto, bibingka, and usual Christmas party, we need to remember: that behind all this is the message: that we learn to give ourselves to others.

For a family in Hawaii, there is no better way of celebrating Christmas other than spending some quality time together.

It is this presence that reveals to us about the salving, the redeeming.

Happy Christmas, everyone!

Editorial: The Meaning of Hope

2011-12-09T10:20:00.001-10:00

“I know how men in exile feed on dreams of hope,” so says Aeschylus in the Agamemnon.

Given the challenges of our days, we are all exiles now, out into a world whose challenges are difficult to name.

We live in interesting times, indeed, and these present themselves to us in various ways, but with the same storyline at day-end: there is hardship in our days.

The statistics of our American lives speaks of something so different from that dream through which we have found the road to here, in these shores and beyond.

Our children, so the news says, are at the receiving end, with their education at stake with the new talks of budget cuts, of controlling government spending, and of removing subsidies for the poorer families.

The numbers do not tell us something better: about one of every four children is deemed poor. With job prospects dim, and unemployment at a rate that does not suggest some light at the end of our bleak world, we welcome the birth of a man-god with these thoughts.

In Oahu, the corporal work of mercy—the feeding of the homeless—has become a ritual for some people of the Philippines who have found their lot in life a bit better than those who sleep on road pavements and in parks.

They are the same people who were swept away like dust during the week of the Asian Pacific Economic Conference, and hidden somewhere for the delegates of the other twenty-one countries to not see.

For this is Paradise—and as such, the beggars and the homeless and the poor and the wretched are not to be found here.

These are the thoughts that hit us hard as we hum our way to the day of Christmas, thinking of silent nights and mistletoes and some Santa Claus coming from somewhere riding on a sled pulled by a reindeer with a human name.

In our tropical days, the images are not even apt, and yet we swallow these hook, line, and sinker presuming that this might give us good luck.

At the back of all these is the loss of the meaning of Christmas, and that meaning that relates to a living hope that the man-god gave us.

Despair is easier to name when one cannot hope any longer.

And so this leads us back to our duty: to give hope to the hopeless.

Some one said that: ‘Never deprive someone hope; it might all they have.’

In deed, in a world such as ours, we need to go back to the meaning of meaning itself, and say, that in life as in our need to live on, ‘Hope is only love of life.’

There is much promise of Christmas.

There is much promise of this man-god of history, this man-god of our times, this man-god of our dreary days.

That promise is none but the promise of hope.

We keep this promise of hope, indeed, a dream because it is the only one we have got.

We can only hope for the best, even as we say that hope will spring eternally from the heart that loves.

Merry Christmas—and the best of the New Year to everyone!

Publisher's Note:

2011-12-09T10:14:00.001-10:00

Even as we try to instill hope among us despite the continuing challenges in our lives, we look at the Christmas celebration in an ever new light to draw from its grand narrative. The events of our lives today assault us even as they give us some reasons to be joyful as well, in that bundle of contradictions we hardly know but now must know.

Christmas is simple enough to be drowned elsewhere; it is a message of redemption, it is a message of renewal of our life, and it is a message of hope springing eternal.

At the rate the economy is going, can we ever truly celebrate Christmas? If we equate the holiday season with what money can buy, then, the season augurs gloom and not enjoyment, hopelessness and not a belief in life.

Whatever the situation is, the many others would let the water roll off their back and look at this season as the time to rejoice because it commemorates the coming of the Saviour.

What is the significance of this most celebrated holiday season of all times?

Apostle Luke recorded the first Christmas in Luke 2:9-10 and foretold by the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible.

This is how God showed His love to us—by sending His Son Jesus Christ to be incarnated among us. Jesus is the perfect role model for everyone. He is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness. When we exhibit and experience His attributes, for me, that is the real meaning of Christmas.

The material gifts we receive this holiday season are temporal compared to the eternal gift of salvation Jesus is giving to everyone.

He is the reason for the season!

On behalf of the staff of Fil-Am OBSERVER, I’m extending my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to our readers, contributors and most especially to our advertisers for making the newspaper a reality. We are committed to continue serving the Filipino-American community and the larger community as well.

A blessed Christmas to all of us! May the peace of Christ reign in all our hearts.

Aloha and Mabuhay!

Fil-Am Observer December 2011 Issue

2011-12-06T21:50:00.001-10:00

Awan Anakmo? Agadaptarka...

2011-11-20T11:04:00.001-10:00

Ni Rudy Ram. Rumbaoa
Di Nakapappapati Ngem Pudno

Columnist

Fil-Am Observer November 2011 Issue

Opinion Section, Page 5

TI panagadaptar [adoptation-taraknen, tagikuaen, akuen, awaten] iti maysa nga ubing ket kulminasion [pannakaragpat ti gandat] iti agpada a napno't liday ken ragsak. Kinaliday iti biang ti maysa nga ubing a lalaki wenno babai a nabaybay-an/pinanawan dagiti nagannakna ngem masuktan met daytoy iti ragsak babaen kadagiti naasi ti panagpuspusona a mangawat iti nagbalin a kasasaadna.

Kas met kadagiti sabsabali a pagilian, maysa ti Filipinas nga agtartaraken kadagiti nakaad-adu nga ubbing a naiwawa ken ul-ulila [orphanages] babaen iti panangimaniher/panangimaton iti agpadpada a pribado nga ahensia ken ti gobierno ti Filipinas. Gapu iti mapapati a nagtipon a pang-ekonomia ken personal a rason, nabaybay-an dagitoy pimpiman nga ubbing babaen kadagiti nagannak a nangipasngay kadakuada ken maited [a sipapalubos babaen met la kadakuada nga adda kasukatna] tapno mataraken wenno tagikuaen dagiti nakasagana nga agasawa nga awanan iti anak.

Saan a bastabasta mayawat lattan ti ubing iti agkalikagum a mangadaptar kenkuana, no di ket magna iti adu a pannakaproseso dagiti papeles tapno agbalin a naan-anay a legal ti panangadaptar. Ngem puera delos buenos, kasla mamaen met nga ipataraken wenno di pay ket ipadawat lattan dagiti awanan puso a nagannak dagitoy ubbing nga impultitda kadagiti agasawa nga aggagar a maaddaan iti anak a kasukat iti dakkel wenno sangkabassit a gatad.

Kadatayo a Filipinos, adda 'tay kaduogan a pamatian; a no saan a maaddaan iti anak dagiti agasawa, padasenda ti mangala iti "patpatarakda" nga isu dayta ti "adaptarenda" tapno agbalin daytoy nga ad-adda pay a mangsilmut [ti panagnaigda] iti tarigagay wenno gagarda bayat iti panangur-uray a maaddaan iti bukod nga anak nga aggapu met laeng iti bukodda a dara. Adda met dagiti makagapu wenno rason no apay a saan nga insigida maaddaan iti anak dagiti agasawa. Ngem agingga a di mapaneknekan ti doktor nga awan ti kinalupes iti asino man kadakuada [dagiti agasawa], saanda koma a mapukawan iti namnama a maaddaandanto met la iti bunga ni ayan-ayat. Sabali pay ti pamuspusan nga "artificial insemination" a kunada- "proseso ti panangikabil iti semilia wenno kapsit ti lalaki iti matris ti babai babaen iti wagas a natural wenno artipisial."

Nupay kasta, iti panangtaraken wenno panangtagikua iti maysa nga ubing manipud iti Filipinas wenno manipud iti sabali a puli ket saan a makuna nga "option" wenno kakaisuna a pagpilian dagiti Filipinos manipud iti pagilian a nakayanakanda ngem ketdi, mabalin pay a makatulong kadagiti umili ken saan a makipagili a Filipinos nga agnaeden iti Estados Unidos nga awanan iti anak nga agkalikagum a mangadaptar wenno mangtaraken kadagitoy nga ubbing.

Para kadagiti makipagili a Filipinos nga agnaeden iti U.S., kasta met kadagiti Filipino-American citizens, ti mangadaptar iti Filipino nga ubing ket maysa daytoy a wagas para kadakuada a tulong ta saan laeng a matulongan ti piman nga ubing, no di pay dagiti nangipasngay kadakuada [no addada pay]. Ket babaen dagitoy nga agasawa a mangtagikua iti nasao nga ubing, mapadakkel ken maipasagepsep iti ubbing ti sursuro ti etikal a wagas wenno mainaig kadagiti moral a prinsipio, kannawidan, ken mainaig iti pateg-pangkultural [cultural values].

Kasano nga Agadaptarka?
-Adda dua a klase iti panagadap/adoptation. Umuna, ti "Domestic Adoptation," mainaig daytoy iti agasawa nga agtarigagay nga agapdaptar ket mabalinna/da ti mangupa iti Filipino nga abogado wenno/ken sabsabali a partidos a makatulong kadakuada iti al-alisto a pannakaproseso ti panagadap maibasar met laeng iti legal a sistema ti adaptasion iti Filipinas tapno ad-adda a mapasingkedan ti pannakatagikua iti dayta nga ubing nga awan uray maysa a malabsing a linteg iti dayta a pagilian.

Ti maikadua isu ti "Inter-Country Adopatation," ditoy a makisarita dagiti agasawa nga agkalikagum nga agadaptar iti maysa nga ahensia ti gobierno iti pagilian a pagnaedanna/da tapno daytoy nga ahensia ti tumulong iti planoda nga agadaptar. Babaen iti dayta nga ahensia, isuda a mismo ti makikammayet iti gobierno ti Filipinas tapno ad-adda a mapasingkedan ti legal a proseso ken mailawlawag kadakuada ti amin a detalye babaen iti diplomasia a wagas.

Adda dua a termino a rimmuar iti isyu ti panagadaptar iti Filipinas: Umuna, ti "Relative Adoptation." Ania daytoy? -Kas pagarigan no ti maysa a kabagian wenno agasawa ti nagdesision a mangadaptar iti kaanakanna/da a lalaki wenno babai, kasinsin ken sabsabali pay a miembro ti pamilia.

Ti maikadua isu ti "Non-Relative Adoptation." Maadaptar ti maysa nga ubing nga awan a pulos ti relasionna iti agtarigagay nga agasawa a mangtagikua kenkuana. Iti ababa a pannao, nayanak ti ubing iti sabali a pamilia.

Ti Legal a Pakasaritaan ti Adaptasion iti Filipinas
-Iti libro nga "Adopting A Filipino Child the Inter-Country Way," nga insinurat ni Atty. Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana, ti umuna a linteg a naimaldit mainaig ti panagadaptar iti pagilian a Filipinas ket naaksionan idi 1923. Iti dayta met la a tawen, insurat ti Abogado Heneral ti opinyonna a maipalubos ken maited ti kalintegan dagiti non-citizens wenno/ken saan a makipagili ngem agnaed iti Filipinas ti gundaway a mangadaptar iti Filipino nga ubing.

Idi tawen 1950, nayatiddog ti kalintegan dagiti non-citizens nga agadaptar kadagiti Filipino nga ubbing babaen iti pannakaipasa ti Civil Code of the Philippines. Ti solido-legal a pundasion para kadagiti inter-country adoptations ket nayalnag idi Hunio 1975 babaen ti Adoptation of Child and Welfare Code, wenno ti naawagan iti Presidential Decree 603- a mangipalubos kadagiti non-resident aliens nga agipila ti petision iti korte ti Filipinas nga adda kalinteganda nga agadaptar iti proviso, a ti agtarigagay a mangadap iti ubing ket kualipikado nga agadaptar segun iti paglintegan ti pagilianda no sadino a saan pay a ginuped ti Filipinas ti diplomasia/diplomatiko a pannakilangen kadagiti sabsabali a pagilian.

Idi Agosto 1988, dua tawen kalpasan ti pannakapadisi ni sigud a Presidente Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., pinaritan ti Family Code of the Philippines [Executive Order 209] iti panagadaptar kadagiti Filipino nga ubbing babaen iti non-citizens, ken naipaayan wenno adda limitasion ti adaptasion dagiti ubbing nga asideg iti pamilia ti agasawa nga agtarigagay a mangtagikua kadakuada.

Nupay kasta, insurat ni Pimentel-Gana, a rinatipikaran ti Senado ti Filipinas ti United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child [CRC] idi Setiembre 1990, a pakairamanan ti "inter-country adoptations" kas "alternatibo a wagas iti pannakataripato ti maysa nga ubing," -no ti ubing ket saan a maipada wenno maiparis iti pamilia ti pagilian. Kayatna ngarud a sawen, imbilin ti UN's CRC iti pagilian a Filipinas iti pannakabukel ken pannaipasa ti maysa a paglintegan para iti Inter-Country Adoptation Act tapno mapaawan ken mawaswas ti bisa ti Executive Order 209.

Idi tawen 1993, napagsasaritaan manen daytoy nga "inter-country adoptations" idiay Hague, wenno ti maaw-awagan iti The Hague Convention. Nataming daytoy a problema tapno maipaayan ken maisapulan iti solusion ti kalintegan dagiti ubbing. Maysa ti pagilian a Filipinas kas signatory nation [karaman ti Estados Unidos] iti Maika-17 a Sesyon ti The Hague Conference on International Law a naangay iti pagilian a Netherlands.

Ti gagem iti pannaukkon ti pirma dagiti nakipartisipar a nasion/signatory nations iti The Hague Convention of 1993 ket tapno masangal dagiti pagannurotan iti pannakaproteher wenno pannakasalaknib ti "inter-country adoptations, maraem dagiti pagannurotan ken ti kooperasion iti tunggal maysa, ken tapno malapdan ti abduction [puersado a panangitalaw], pannakailako wenno pannakaipuslit dagiti ubbing a maipan iti sabali a lugar."

Idi 1995, impasa ti Kongreso ti Filipinas ti Inter-Country Adoptation Act [ICA Act wenno Republic Act 8043] tapno palakaen wenno mapaalisto ti kalikagum ti The Hague Convention babaen iti pannakaestablisar ti centralized authority a mangkita ti lugar a pakaipanan dagiti Filipino nga ubbing ken ti pamilia daytoy iti sabali a pagilian. Sabali pay a paglintegan ti naipasa idi 1998- ti Domestic Adoptation Act [wenno Republic Act 8552], a mangipalpalubos kadagiti non-citizens ken gangannaet iti kalinteganda a mangadaptar kadagiti Filipino nga ubbing iti uneg ti teritorio ti Filipinas.

Pamuspusan ken Pamay-an ti Adaptasion
Ti Inter-Country Adoptation Board [ICAB] ken Department of Social Welfare and Development [DSWD] ti agkammayet ken agtinnulong maipanggep ti inter-country adopations iti Filipinas. Ibaon ti DSWD dagiti empleadona nga agsukisok, mangadal, agukkon iti ebdiensia ken mangammo ti pudno a kasasaad ti ubing ket kalpasanna, isuda ti mangideklara no ti ubing ket pudno nga ul-ulila, nabaybay-an, maipaayan iti tulong ken mabalin a maadaptar/paadaptar.

No adda aminen nga ebidensia a nakalap ti DSWD maipapan iti ubing, maipadas nga umuna a paadaptar iti maysa a pamilia ti Filipino iti lokalidad wenno iti sabali a rehion ti Filipinas. Ket no awan ti agkalikagum wenno agtarigagay a mangadap iti nasao nga ubing, ditoy a mayallatiw ti record file ken dossier ti ubing iti ICAB para iti posible nga inter-country adoptation.

Ket kas sagudayen ti linteg iti The Hague Convention, masapul a makikammayet ti ICAB kadagiti signatory nations a kualipikado iti babaen ti pagannurotan wenno pagibasaran/pagrukodan ti kombension.

Ana ngarud, Kailian, agadaptarka? Ngem sakbay nga aramidem dayta, panunoten a nasayaat no ania ti agbalin nga ibunga daytoy a planom. Ken masapul met nga ammuem nga umuna ti kinatao, ugali, pakasaritaan ti pamilia a mangipaako kenka ti ubing. Ti akemmo kas maysa a nagannak iti daytoy nga ubing ket dakkel a responsibilidad ken saan nga ang-angaw. "No return, no exchange" a kunada.

Filipino leaders and Maui county officials with Philippine Senator Pia Cayetano

2011-11-08T12:10:00.000-10:00

Filipino leaders and Maui county officials held a dinner reception in honor of Philippine Senator Pia Cayetano(center with lei) who visited the island recently. She shared one of her initiatives in the Philippines about her "Let's Read Program" aimed at promoting literacy among young children. She also thanked the generosity of the local Filipino community. The reception was sponsored by succesful business entrepreneur Dana Pastula who owns and operates Cafe O Lei restaurants.

(L-R) Assistant Communications Director Rey Piros, Philippine Deputy Consul Paul Cortes , County Construction Supervisor Richard Ped, Maui County Chief of Staff Herman Andaya, Councilmember Joe Pontanilla, Assistant to the Chief of Staff Kit Zulueta, Assistant to the Mayor Mercy Neri, and retired Judge Artemio Baxa.

"Kababayan, Magkaisa Tayo" Conference

2011-11-08T12:05:00.000-10:00

KAHULUI- The community is invited to participate in the "Kababayan, Magkaisa Tayo" event on December 2, 2011, 8:00 am to 2:30 pm at the Binhi at Ani Maui Filipino Community Center. This is a conference on the spiritual, emotional and physical health of Maui's Filipino community. Please participate at this important gathering to support the Filipino community and human services providers of Maui by strenthening their growth, overall health and success.

Free lunch to be provided and lots of door prizes, entertainment and free health screenings by Hui No Ke Ola Pono, Inc. Justin Cruz, KHON TV newscaster will be the emcee while Dr. Serafin "Jun" Colmenares will be the keynote speaker. Seating is limited to the first 250 registrants. Deadline to register is November 25. For further information, call Maui Child Welfare Services at 243-5155.

Guzman to kick off campaign for council

2011-11-08T12:01:00.000-10:00

Don Guzman

KAHULUI – Don Guzman has announced his candidacy for the Maui County Council residency seat of Kahului, which will be vacated by council member Joe Pontanilla due to term limits, and will be launching his campaign at a Kick-off party event on November 22^nd from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Maui Tropical Plantation in Waikapu. The free event is open to the public and will feature food and entertainment.

Guzman, is an attorney in Maui and runs a small general practice law firm. He was formerly a deputy prosecutor for the County of Maui. He also served on Congresswoman Mazie Hirono’s staff as the Maui Field Representative and was a legislative aide for State House Representative Tom Okamura.

Guzman, age 42, lives in Kahului with his wife Dr. Rose Guzman, a physician at Maui Medical Group, and their children Thereese, Nealon, and Andrew. Guzman said he wants to run for office because, “…I believe that my generation has to step up and take responsibility for the future of our county so that our children can have job opportunities and wages that are adequate enough to support the high cost of living in Maui county. It’s important to me that our county holds onto its love of the community and environment, while embracing economic growth and fiscal responsibility.”

Guzman is a recipient of the Asian Pacific American Law Association’s National Service Award and a nominee for “The Outstanding Filipinos of Maui Centennial.”

He has a long history of community volunteerism serving as state president of the United Filipino Council of Hawaii, and on the Boards of the Friends of Maui Drug Court, March of Dimes, Maui Bar Association, Maui Young Business Roundtable, and Lahaina Junior Golf Association. He is also an active lector and member at Christ the King Church and the Lions Club.

He is a graduate of Creighton University and the Ohio Northern University College of Law.

For more information, call Friends of Don Guzman at 243-9869, or email info@donguzmanmaui.com .

Mahalo to a Consul General: The Honorable Leoncio R. Cardenas Jr. retires

2011-11-08T11:49:00.002-10:00

by Aurelio Solver Agcaoili

When he came back from a posting elsewhere, we said in our 2009 Fil-Am Observer feature story that his was a narrative of service coming full circle.

He had served as a deputy consul general in Honolulu in the 80s, during the most difficult political times, when loyalties were divided, and the nation was in its ‘days of rage and nights of disquiet’, as one writer has described in a book about this period of contemporary Philippine history.

After the political turmoil, a new team came over to Honolulu; he was posted elsewhere.

Immediately prior to his second Honolulu posting he was the Philippine Ambassador to East Timor, then a newly independent country.

On July 29, 2009, he came back after almost two decades of absence as the consul general.

I interviewed him at the start of his term.

Consul General Leoncio R. Cardenas, Jr.

It was a first meeting, and right on, I hit it right with him, the tone of our conversation crisp and light, the texture of our words that of the breezy and gentle wind of the northern Ilocos where we both came from.

I got to know him from afar, from a press release, from a consular announcement, and from second-hand information I gathered from acquaintances; he did not know me from Eve.

During that first meeting, he in his dark and crisp barong, and I in my jeans and rolled long-sleeved shirt, we seemed like long-lost friends reuniting, laughing and exchanging notes about many things from Ilokano poetry to diplomacy and democratic institutions we sorely needed as a people.

It was a delight speaking with him.

In that interview, I came to know of the integrity of the man.

At the height of the struggle for the basic rights and freedoms of the people of the Philippines everywhere, he resolved an ethical dilemma by siding with the Filipino people.

It was service to the people—that commitment he was sworn to protect—that moved him to do the most difficult of all acts.

And history would prove him right.

He did not regret taking sides with the people; it was the most honorable thing to do.

The second interview was on a Sunday morning, on October 29. It was to be at his official residence by a ridge east of Honolulu city proper.

We came in on time. The consul general opened the door for us.

He was helping prepare a late breakfast for a couple, a newlywed from the Philippines, the bride his godchild.

We declined his offer of breakfast; we accepted the steaming coffee he himself brewed.

Here is an official of the land so down-to-earth, so easy to reach, I thought.

He is still the same official I interviewed more than two years ago.

“I have a trepidation with interviews like this one,” he emailed me back when I asked him for a schedule. “I do not usually grant one. But I trust you. And I trust that you will do justice to your material.”

“This interview is the Fil-Am Observer’s way of thanking you for the good work that you have done to our people. It is our way of saying goodbye to you as well,” I explained as soon as we sat down, he facing the balcony of his official residence where below the ridge the sea spreads boundlessly, the sea calm and blue, serene and unmoving.

I sit across him, facing the entrance and towards a two-lane road that slopes down at about 40 degrees. Beyond are the stately homes in this part of the city and county of Honolulu.

“Your coming back to Hawaii for the second time to complete your work as a career diplomat is a blessing,” I said.

“It is so,” he answered. His voice lilted, like a musician’s, soft and sure, confident and caring.

His face brightened up, perhaps thinking of his retirement that will come in a few days, right after the visit of President Benigno Aquino III. “It is very rare that diplomats are given a chance like the one that I have. When the Secretary of Foreign Affairs called me to say that I would be posted in Honolulu and that I had to leave my ambassador’s post in East Timor, I thought that this was a blessing. I enjoyed my work in East Timor. I had good working relationships with the political leaders of that country right after their independence, after going through their most difficult test as a country, and leaving them was something that saddened me. But I have fond memories of Honolulu and the Filipino people I would be representing. To come and serve them again is something that does not happen all the time.”

“You are coming full circle with your work as a foreign service official with this posting,” I remarked.

“It was one way of completing one’s career, one’s mission, one’s vocation,” he replied. “But I am going home after retiring. I will have another life. I will enjoy my new life to the full. I will be involved in a ministry.”

“What is home to you? Where is home?” I queried. I remembered all of the poets of the Ilokano people pining for home, remembering the Ilocos of old so many of them have never seen in a long while.

He thought for a moment, his pause that of a music coming into its most beautiful and haunting lyrics and notes. There is a musician’s mind and heart in the consul general, and that music would keep him company everywhere he was posted. “Home is where the heart is. Home is what we remember. So: geographically, it is Badoc, Ilocos Norte, where I was born, grew up, got educated. Then again, Manila, particularly Makati, is also home to me. I have a home there, literally, and I will stay there for a time as well. But home is also San Francisco’s Bay Area where my family is, my children in particular. In a sense, the entire Philippines is home to me. I must admit that I will have to fly to the Bay Area some of the time to reconnect with my family, with my children.”

“Was it difficult being in the foreign service?”

“I have no regrets. It was a good life. It was a good career. There is nothing nobler and more rewarding than serving our own people.”

“Do we have a hope for our country? People are quitting the homeland. Can you share your thoughts about this as a private citizen? You will soon be a private citizen. There is pessimism in the homeland. There is despair.” I took my cup and sipped from it. The warmth of the brew soothed my parched throat. We had talked for some time.

He sipped from his cup. And then he said: “Even as a private citizen, this I can say: there is hope for our country. We have to trust the current leadership. President Noynoy Aquino means well, and surely, he is showing us the way to do the right thing. I understand the pessimism. I understand the despair. I know of the figures of those who lead wretched lives. The act of doing sweeping changes to correct the errors of the past is not pretty, is not always pretty. But it is being done. We have hopes for the homeland. We have to keep on hoping for the homeland.”

“Is this hope the reason why you are going back?”

“One of the many reasons. But it is a major reason.”

“You said you are going to have your ministry.”

“I am thinking of putting up a non-profit organization for the elderly. The senior citizens have to have something concrete, some reasons to hold on to dear life, some ways to live meaningful lives. I will start this ministry in Badoc. This is to honor my parents who had to put up a lot for my education, for my future.”

“You have made a lot of strides bringing the consulate to our various communities. It is a huge footprint you are leaving behind.”

“To work for our people is always a challenge. When I came in, I simply followed the good deeds of my predecessors. And this I must say: the younger career officers have so much to give. They are oozing with talents and gifts and dedication. Older career officers like us—older senior diplomats like us—must give way to the expertise of the younger ones. The world is changing—and it is changing past. We leave behind a memory, and the fruits of the small things we have done. In the meantime, we look forward to the future and take stock of what we have yet to do so we can do them.”

“Your music will play a role in your retirement?”

“My music has always played a role in my life, both personal and professional. In all my postings, I always had a choir that I worked with. When I retire, music will not take a back seat.”

“Your message to our people in Hawaii? Our people in the Philippines?”

“Thank you for the opportunity of serving you. It was worth it, this life of service in the name of our people, in the name of our country. I am amazed at how our people in Hawaii are always on the ready to give back to our people in the Philippines. I have been part of various drives to help flood victims and other calamities. I have seen up close what kind of energy there is among our people in the state. About our people in the Philippines—there is much to hope for. Let us do the work of building our nation and soon, the good and equitable life will be ours.”

I gave Consul General Leoncio R. Cardenas Jr. a copy of the Contemporary English-Ilokano Dictionary I wrote.

“You sign it, please,” he told me.

“I already did, Apo,” I responded to him.

He flipped the pages of the dictionary to look for my dedication. Re reads from my notes in my handwriting. “I will have use of this dictionary in my retirement.”

It was about noon when the interview was over.

We said goodbye to a man we are truly proud of.

Editorial:

2011-11-08T11:31:00.000-10:00

Something to Thank For

On this day of Thanksgiving, we have many things to thank for despite the grim statistics of our lives.

One of every five children is poor. Many more are falling in the cracks of our uneven economic lives, with the number of those unable to access basic social services increasing each day.

There is a widespread discontent among Americans.

And in the streets of Manhattan that lead to the citadel of commerce and capital, the famed Wall Street, there is uproar on what has become of our iniquitous lives.

The main motive of the pilgrims, the pioneering peregrines of our immigrant lives in this country, is the search for a better life, one marked by quality, not mere quantity (read: the possession of even the most unnecessary).

It is a life marked by freedom and liberty.

It is a life marked by respect for life—one’s own and another’s.

It is a life marked by abundance, not by want, deprivation, dispossession.

On Thanksgiving Day, this is all what it means: a return to the basics of our life as a people in the United States of America--United in our diversity, united in our struggles, and united in our need to reclaim the very essence of our collective life—our union despite the odds.

We have so much to thank for despite the challenges that we see each day.

We have so much to thank for despite the increasing number of the homeless on our streets in Hawaii.

We have so much to thank for despite the need to take stock of what else we need to do so that next year, our Thanksgiving Day will be a bit better, more joyous, more bountiful.

Like the peregrines of old, we need to come to the table again, and with a thankful heart, remember that there is much to give even as there is much to ask for.

_______________________

Hurrah to the Consul General

We join the Filipino American community in thanking the Honorable Consul General Leoncio Cardenas for his years of service as a foreign affairs officer in the name of the people of the Philippines.

His coming to Hawaii for the second time is his way of coming full circle with his passion and dedication for the homeland of the immigrant Filipinos of Hawaii.

Even as we bid him adieu, we will always remember the work that he has done for our communities, his engagement with our various civic organizations, and his abiding and inspiring presence in the many things that matter to us.

We say, saludos, Apo Leoncio Cardenas! Agbiagka! Mabuhay ka! Long live!

Publisher's Note:

2011-11-08T11:25:00.002-10:00

At the outset, I would like to congratulate the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce Foundation for organizing the first Maui Fil-Am Heritage Festival. Considering that it was held for the first time, the festival was a successful event.

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Fil-Am Observer is pleased to welcome Aurelio “Ie” Agcaoili II to Hawaii and at the same time as a columnist for the newspaper. He is a creative writer, photographer and a graphic designer. He is a degree holder in philosophy at the University of the Philippines at Los Banos; then went on to study for a graduate degree in mathematics (and at one point, also linguistics) while teaching philosophy at Marikina City University. He later went on to work in a corporation as a quality assurance supervisor, and then finally as a financial advisor prior to migrating. Good luck Ie.

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Thanksgiving Day is perhaps one of the most celebrated holidays here in America probably because of its historic significance. Unfortunately, its real meaning has been washed out into a mere shopping spree. We have lost the essence of the holiday.

When was the last time we uttered those two magic words “Thank You” to our spouse for fixing a delicious dinner; to our children for helping us with the household chores; to our co-workers for doing a good job; to our teachers for imparting their knowledge; to our doctors and nurses who took care of us when we were sick; and to a stranger who opened the door for us?

We have taken for granted the simple things in life. Aren’t we thankful for the air that we breathe, for that magnificent rainbow, the sun, surf, for our freedom…?

The Word of God teaches us to be thankful. The doxology, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” is a testimony of our gratitude to our Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed we thank God for His creation and all the blessings He has poured on us and for answering our prayers.

This is what real thanksgiving is all about. Expressing your thankfulness is what matters.

Let us then make everyday a day of thanksgiving.

Aloha and Mabuhay!

Fil-Am Observer November 2011 Issue

2011-11-07T19:35:00.002-10:00

The UH Manoa Ilokano Program 40 Years of History and History-Making

2011-10-18T10:29:00.000-10:00

UH Ilokano Program majors and minors. First row, L-R: Stella Bugarin, Jessica Sarmiento, Rowena Mergillano, Eric Dulay. Second row, L-R: Jamie Casino, Dean Domingo, Steve Badua, Julius Soria (instructor), and AJ Ereno

by Fil-Am Observer Staff

Part of the diasporic narrative of the people of the Philippines in the United States is the accounting of programs that have served their various communities in exile.

Of landmark achievement, for instance, is the Operation Manong that paved the way for a respectful recognition of the contributions of the many hardworking people of Philippine descent, such as the Visayans and the Ilokanos.

The two groups have come to Hawaii to eke out a life far better than they had in the homeland.

And they have found a better one over here, thanks to their industry and perseverance, and their untold, at times unnamable, sacrifices

It was a catchall phrase—this search for the good life as a reason for leaving the familiar landmarks of the land of one’s birth.

But this grand reason has the ability to capture the mixed motivations of those who had come here more than one hundred years ago—and these mixed motivations can still be encapsulated by that phrase.

But history was not always on the side of these people of the Philippines.

The tragic histories of execution, and other forms of oppression, in the fields and outside the fields, are now ingredients of the larger story of the presence of the various peoples of the Philippines in the State of Hawaii.

But the accounts of their resistance and persistence are everywhere to give instruction to the next generations of people of the Philippines, immigrants and local-born alike.

One of the institutions that have survived all through the years is the Ilokano Language and Literature Program of the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Established in 1972, it began to offer Ilokano courses to children of immigrants who came to the university to further their studies.

Many of these students have now become professionals, and are now leaders of the community in their own right.

The forty years of service to the students and the community—the forty years of bearing witness to what language and culture resources can do to enrich the larger community of Hawaii—are years of struggle and surprise.

Tapped to lead in designing the Ilokano Program that in later years was called the UH Manoa Ilokano, Philippine Drama and Film Program, was Professor Precy Espiritu.

For more than thirty years until her retirement from teaching in 2006, Professor Espiritu expanded the program until it became a degree-granting program in 2002.

The fact that Ilokano is being taught with academic rigor is something that the various universities in the Philippines have missed for the last forty years that the UH Ilokano Program has consistently been offering Ilokano courses each semester.

As a direct result of the institution of a national language, Ilokano has since been practically banned in the Philippine basic education infrastructure.

In the name of unqualified nationalism, and in the name of the sacrosanct national language, all Philippine languages—the mother languages of the children who are going to the schools—have been practically banned.

Empirical studies document the prohibition, directly and tacitly, by the fine-system being imposed upon students caught speaking a word in the Ilokano language, his very own language.

The going rate is at five pesos per word, according to some educators who are in the know.

The State of Hawaii, in 1972, adopted a different tack to the whole story.

After years of denial and deprivation as a result of many factors, including the cultural denigration of Ilokanos themselves, the Ilokano language finally gained a public space in the halls of academia as an academic and foreign language course, one that could take its place side by side with the other major languages of the world, including the majors languages of Asia, languages that have strong connections to the economy, politics, and culture of Hawaii.

The one-course program became two courses, and the two-course, one-year program became two years, until it became a full-blown bachelor’s degree program under the rubric of Philippine language and literature.

All through the years, students have come and gone—and those who passed its portals went out to the world and brought with them a renewed appreciation of what the Ilokano language can offer, of what the Ilokano culture can share, and of what the university program can do to students who are interested to reclaim their heritage, or students who want to learn more about the language and culture of their parents.

Part, therefore, of the Filipino-American History Month Celebration is the institution of the Ilokano language at the university.

Prior to 1972, the Ilokano people had to wait for seventy-four years before their language could take its own place in the academic discourse of the university.

Coming in 1906, with the centennial of their coming to Hawaii celebrated in 2006, the absence of the language of the plantation workers in the intellectual discourse of the state is something that begs explanation.

The children born of these plantation workers did not have access to the intellectual resources of their ancestors.

Some did not even have access to the language of their parents, by reason of the systemic denial by the educational institution—the schools—of the children of these workers of their own heritage language, a repeat, or duplication, of what was happening in the homeland.

The Tagalog Program of the University, instituted in 1971 through the leadership of Dr. Teresita Ramos, antedated the Ilokano Program for a year.

It was also Professor Ramos, cognizant of the need for the intellectual space for Ilokano discourse and practice, that made it sure that the Ilokano Program would have a good start, and hence, giving the free rein to Professor Espiritu to develop the Ilokano Program and push for its growth and development through all the years.

Dr. Josie Paz Clausen, along with other lecturers like Clem Montero, have come in to help through the years.

Many students of the Ilokano Program speak fondly of their own experiences as students of this program.

Three of these students, Julius Soria, Abe Flores, and Jeffrey Acido have joined the instructional faculty.

Other graduates of the program are either working as interpreters, youth development workers, teachers of Ilokano language in Waipahu High School and Farrington High School, both on Oahu, or government workers.

In partnership with other civic and culture organizations, the UH Ilokano Program has been in the forefront in mother language advocacy, in heritage language education, in cultural nationalism, and in cultural pluralism and diversity.

In 2006, the Ilokano Program began the Nakem Conferences, a movement that aims to pursue the very aims of diversity and the need to celebrate—and cerebrate—it.

Today, Nakem Conferences movement has grown, and has spread all over the Philippines.

In the summer of 2012, it will hold its 7^th International Conference on “Pag-angkon: Our Right to Our Language, Our Right to Education That Emancipates,” in Tacloban City, Philippines.

More needs to be done, and one of them is to continue erasing totally the acquired—even learned—cultural denigration of the Ilokanos, their hatred of their language and culture, a hatred that makes them conveniently deny they are Ilokanos, a hatred that makes them bury any sign that they have anything to do with the Ilokano language and culture.

Even at the 105^th year of the presence of the Ilokanos in Hawaii, we continue to experience this denigration everyday.

For it is not easy becoming the doormat of history.

It is not easy becoming the subject matter of an immigrant history that does not even want to remember itself.

It is for this reason that during this Fililipino-American History Month—a commitment to memory and to memory making, a commitment to resist forgetting—becomes urgent.

In May 2012, the UH Ilokano Language and Literature Program will hit its 40^th year.

In the years to come, another good 40 years would assure us of Hawaii’s commitment to diversity and heritage, and another 40 years afterwards would make the UH Ilokano Program a commitment for all time.

Six or seven instructional faculty now run the university’s Ilokano Program at any given time.

These are the new breed of leaders—and teachers—who inherited the wisdom and vision of the first leaders who have since retired.

From a faculty of one and a handful of students, the Ilokano Program has grown and hopefully, it will continue to grow even as it assists, and partners with, other llokano Program’s in schools and colleges, in Hawaii, and outside Hawaii.

Editorial:

2011-10-18T10:08:00.002-10:00

The Ilokano Program of the University:

Serving the New Generation, and the Community

The University of Hawaii’s Ilokano Language and Literature Program will turn 40 next year. This year marks a kick-off that presents the best of the program’s students and the best it offers to the community.

Passing through the portals of the program were students who have come unto their own, now becoming their own person, for which reason the program can never be prouder.

Peerless—there is not any single university anywhere else, not in the United States, not in the Philippines, where studies on the Ilokano “language, literature, and life” is being taught with academic rigor—the UH Manoa Ilokano Program has proven time and again that (a) instruction is the key to academic training and the preparation of students to appreciating life-long learning, (b) research makes faculty and students on the look out for what is best out there, the best that is yet to be known, and (c) extension work with the community and all other sectors in and outside the university is what relevance makes—relevance that ought to be the twin of every heritage (or academic) program.

Starting from a handful of students in 1972, students who were curious what kind of language was being spoken at their homes, and sometimes, at their back, the UH Ilokano Program has grown to hundreds, averaging 150 students every semester for the last five years.

Even with budget cuts and all other financial recourse universities all over the country are resorting to balance their budget, the UH Ilokano Program has proven to be a resilient program, with students coming in knocking to get enrolled especially in its culture-oriented courses.

The challenges are all over the place, including the onslaught of an attitude that favors one national language, a thinking that has become rampant since the 30s with the institution of a single language as a national language, and giving it an army and a navy, and all the resources that are required to develop and make that language dominant, and in the process, indirectly killing the other languages of a country.

The UH Ilokano Program, together with other advocates, has done its share to help avert a woeful condition in the homeland with its advocacy for mother language education.

To this end, the UH Ilokano Program has been instrumental in the putting up of the Nakem Conferences, now a movement that has a country chapter in the Philippines, the Nakem Conferences Philippines.

In partnership with other educators, researchers, cultural workers, and students, Nakem Conferences has since held six international conferences, all meant to advance the cause of language and culture rights, the right to be educated in the mother language, the right to have access to one’s own language, and the right to preserve, promote, and perform one’s own culture in one’s own language.

These tasks are no mean feat during the difficult times of belt-tightening, cost cutting, recession, unemployment, and widespread poverty even in a rich country like the United States.

But the UH Ilokano Program, with the help of the community, has gone a long way to serve the new generation of Ilokano Americans, the new generation of students wanting to specialize in studies on the Ilokanos and the peoples of Amianan, and the new generation of students, who despite the much-touted globalization, have refused to acknowledge that a homogenized view of the world is the best view, but instead have found ways to get to value otherness, difference, diversity, and multiplicity.

In all these, the UH Ilokano Program bears witness to history, particularly to the Ilokano American history in the islands.

Extend that logic to other Ilokanos in the continental United States, and that pride could be the same—the pride that can only come from resisting the destructive attack of similarity and sameness without any qualification.

The UH Ilokano Program remains steadfast to its commitment to bearing witness to history, to history-making, to the reclaiming of heritage, and to the struggle for a liberating education for all Ilokano and Ilokano-descended people in Hawaii and all over the world.

Publiher's Note:

2011-10-18T10:01:00.001-10:00

Proud to be Filipino-American

About three years ago, the Hawaii State Legislature approved HB 3343 declaring October as Filipino-American History Month. This law recognized the significant and fecund contributions of the Filipinos and Filipino Americans in the social, political, and economic life of Hawaii. Likewise, it affirmed that Filipino and Filipino Americans have the right to celebrate its history in their new homeland.

The plantation workers—popularly known as “sakadas”—initially coming the Ilocos, paved the way for this history to have its own place within the larger history of the state, and by extension, the broader historical narrative of the United States.

Across the years, we see them, these workers, and in tandem with the other workers contributing both brains and brawns, they helped propel Hawaii economy and moved this state to a development phase never seen before. We see the trajectory of this narrative: from the plantations to factories, from hotels to hospitals, and from resorts to schools.

Today, Filipinos operate their own businesses. Today, they occupy major positions in the banking, hotel, and retail industries. We have also witnessed Filipino-Americans occupying positions in the government.

In his article, “Honoring the Past by Creating the Future,” as published in “ANAK, ” Vince Bagoyo wrote:

“We are politicians, attorneys, soldiers, entrepreneurs, bakers, gardeners, and bankers. Can you imagine if we all unite and become one entity? We would be indestructible. So where do we go from here? We stay united and work on strengthening that unity. We stay less concerned with our own selfish ambition and remember the greater good. We teach our children struggle so that they might be stronger. We educate ourselves. We celebrate the past.”

With that said, let us be proud of who we are. Let us also rejoice for all our collective achievements. And let us look ahead and move forward towards a brighter future.

Aloha and Mabuhay!

Fil-Am Observer October 2011 Issue

2011-10-18T09:55:00.001-10:00

NE, MAMATIDA MET ITI MILAGRO NO AGNGANGABIT KEN PATAY TI IPATPATEGDA?

2011-09-07T10:23:00.000-10:00

ni Rudy Ram. Rumbaoa

Di Nakapappapati Ngem Pudno

Columnist

Fil-Am Observer September 2011 Issue

Opinion Section, Page 5

"Adda limapulo ket pito a porsiento dagiti Amerikano iti mamati a salbaren ti Dios ti maysa a tao nga agngangabit ken patay- no kano umawagka iti kaasi ti Dios..."

NO pannakasalbar ti biag ti tao ti pagsasaritaan, ad-adda a patien ti kaaduan nga Amerikano ti Dios ngem ti doktor kas pammaneknek iti naaramid a surbey. Natakuatan iti surbey a kaaduan kadagiti Amerikano ti agkuna a ti pannakiballaet ti Namarsua ti mangnamnama a mangsalbar ti biag iti maysa a pasiente no adda daytoyen iti ngarab ni patay. Iti surbey kunana: "Kasapulan a nakasagana dagiti mangngagas a mangilawlawag iti maseknan a pamilia [a ti pammati dagitoy], ti laengen milagro ti maudi a namnamada tapno agbiag ti patpatgenda."

Iti bilang ti kaaduan a tattao a napagsaludsodan, nasurok a kagudua kadagitoy karaman dagiti agtutubo ken nataengan, wenno limapulo ket pito a porsiento ti agkuna a mamatida iti pannakiballaet ti Dios ti mabalin ken kakaisuna laengen a namnama a makasalbar iti pasiente uray nalpasen ken pinal nga indeklara ti mangngagas nga awanen ti kabalinan ti agas a maipakat iti pasiente. Dandani agarup apagkatlo ti bilang dagitoy a napagsaludsodan ti nagkuna, "Nga adda kalintegan dagiti pasiente nga umawat iti nasayaat a pannakaagas/pannakataming- agngangabit man wenno saan ken ni patay."

Adda met agarup beinte porsiento iti biang dagiti mangngagas ken dadduma a pay a medical staff a napagsaludsodan iti surbey ti nagkuna: "Ti Dios laeng ti kamangan a mabalin nga aramid iti milagro tapno lumag-an ti kasasaad ti sakit a sagsagabaen ti pasiente ken mangiliklik kenkuana iti patay." Kuna pay iti surbey, "Ital-o daytoy a pammati iti panagdur-as ti panagtalek iti pannakirelasion kadagiti pasiente ken uray pay iti mismo a maseknan a pamilia." Ngarud, daytoy a pammati ti tumulong kadagiti mangngagas a mangilawlawag [iti maseknan a pamilia] dagiti bambanag a rumbeng nga ammuenda nga uray iti kinaagpaysuananna, ipakita ti sientipiko nga ebidensia a ti agtultuloy a pannakaagas [ti pasiente] ket awan ti serserbina.

Iti palawag ni Pat Loder, maysa nga ina, taga-Milford, Michigan, pimmusay ti dua nga annakna iti car crush. Iti biangna, mamati a salbaren ti Dios ti nagbanagan dagiti annakna nupay ipakita ti ebidensia nga awanen ti namnamada nga agbiag wenno makalasat iti nasao nga aksidente. Kuna ni Loder, "No maysaka a nagannak ket nagtakderka iti abay dagiti annakmo nga ammom nga addadan iti ngarab ni patay, masapul a mamatika- patiem ti Dios."

"Bayat ti panagsagana dagiti mangngagas a mangilawlawag iti situasion, saanda a mabalin nga ulboden ti kinapudno a kasasaad ken kondision dagiti pasiente," kuna ni Loder. Ti panagbalin a napudno dagiti mangngagas iti sensitibo a wagas ti makatulong kadagiti kameng ti pamilia a maseknan nga agdesision no maawatda ti kinapudno nga umay ti patay iti patpatgenda wenno palubosanda dagiti mangngagas a mangisardeng iti pannakaaramat dagiti ramit a mangted anges ken mangbibiag kadagiti pasiente, kasta met a mapagdesisionan no maaramat a maidonar dagiti organo dayta a tao para iti sabali a makasapul iti tulong.

Iti nayuswat a surbey, nakipaset ti agarup 1, 000 nga agtutubo nga Amerikano tapno masungbatan ti saludsod babaen iti telepono no ania ti panniriganda iti "end-of-life medical care." Sabali laeng ti agarup 774 a mangngagas, nurses ken sabsabali pay a medical workers ti nagresponde iti naipatulod kadakuada a questionnaires.

Kangrunaan a damagen iti questionnaires ti di mapakadaan nga ipupusay ti maysa a tao gapu iti trauma kas iti aksidente ken kinabayolente. Dagitoy a klase ti ipupusay ti masansan a di pannakaakseptar dagiti kameng ti pamilia gapu ta saan nga inkakaayatan ken saan nga ekspektaren a mapasamak nga umay ti patay kadagiti agbalin a biktima.

Iti palawag ni Dr. Lenworth Jacobs, University of Connecticut Surgery Professor and Trauma Chief ti Hatford Hospital, "Agabanse ti trauma treatment ket ditoy a maipalubos kadagiti pasiente a manglagip ti napalabas- a kadakuada, napasagdan iti lugar a nakadesgrasiaanda ti panagkunada iti bagi, ngem itdenna ketdi kadakuada ti napapaut a panagbiag. Masapul ngarud a makipaset dagiti trauma specialists iti death process."

Innayon pay ni Jacobs a masansan a makasarsaritana dagiti tattao a mamati a salbaren ti Dios dagiti pasiente nga adda iti ngarab ni patay, ket gapu iti daytoy, maituloy ti medical procedures. "Saanmo lattan a mabalin a kunaen nga awanen ti sabali a pamuspusan wenno namnama. Wenno nonsense. Saan. Masapul a respetarem ti pammatida. Ipakita kadakuada ti resulta ti rayo-X, CAT scans ken sabsabali pay nga ebidensia ti medikal a dandanin matay dagitoy a pasiente," inlawlawagna.

"Ammuen koma dagitoy a kameng ti maseknan a pamilia a saan a gapu ta dimo kayat nga adda masapak a milagro, ketdi, saan a mapasamak ti milagro para iti dayta a tao iti daytoy nga aldaw." No maminsan, mamati pay ketdi dagitoy a kameng ti pamilia ti pasiente nga ikamang [dagiti dadduma] ti medical staff ti ospital ti kasasaad ken kondision ti pasiente iti korte tapno maammuan laeng ti agbalin a desision ti korte no nainkalintegan iti pannakaisardeng ti pannakaagas gapu ta mamati dagiti mangngagas nga awanen ti serserbi ti agas a maipakat iti dayta a tao.

Awagan met ni Dr. Michael Sise, Trauma Medical Director ti Scripps Mercy Hospital ti San Diego, ti nasao a panagadal kas "naindaklan a kontribusion iti maysa kadagiti mabalin a sangnguen nga isyu dagiti mangngagas." Kuna ni Sise, maysa a napeklan a Katoliko a doktor nga agtartrabaho iti Catholic Hospital, "Saan koma lattan nga agbatay iti milagro no ipakita ti medikal nga ebidensia nga asidegen iti yaay ti patay. Agbalin koma a realistiko iti situasion."

Malagip ni Sise iti napasamak iti maysa nga agtutubo a nairaman iti gulo. Pinang-orda iti baseball bat ti ulona. Pimmusay iti panagtalinaedna [ti agtutubo] iti bassit a minuto iti ospital. Ngem saan a nagsuko ti ina. Kinalikaguman ti ina a maipakat amin a kaudian ken moderno a ramit pangmedikal iti anakna nupay ipakita iti ebidensia a nakaro unay ti sugat a sinagaba ti ulo ti agtutubo. Ammo dagiti mangngagas a saanen ken saanton nga agriing pay ti ubing. Ngem dakkel ti pammati ti ina daytoy- nagpatokar kadagiti religious songs iti uneg ti kuarto, kas man ur-urayenna ti milagro a mapasamak.

Kasano't kinaimportante ti religious belief a mangiturong kenka nga agdesision para iti bukod a pannaripato ti medikal no bilang serioso ti pannakadesgrasia? Iti pannakasurbey ti publiko, adda 41 a porsiento ti nagkuna a daytoy ket importante. Adda 25.8 a porsiento ti nagkuna a mabalin nga importante; idinto nga 13.6 a porsiento ti nagkuna a saan nga importante, ken adda met agarup 18.4 a porsiento ti nagkuna nga awan ti bibiangda.

Iti biang dagiti propesional: agpadpada a 30.6 a porsiento ti nagkuna nga importante ken saan nga importante; idinto nga adda 19.9 a porsiento ti nagkuna a saan unay nga importante, ken 17.1 a porsiento kadagiti saan a maseknan iti daytoy a banag.

Ket no bilang ngay kuna dagiti mangngagas kadagiti kameng ti pamilia nga asidegen ti ipupusay ti pasiente, mamati ngata dagitoy nga adda pannakiballaet ti Dios iti pannakasalbar ti biag ti pasiente? Kuna ti publiko a napagsaludsodan: 57.4 a porsiento ti nagsungbat iti "wen," idinto a 19.5 a porsiento iti biang dagiti propesional.

THE CHANGING FILIPINO DEMOGRAPHIC IN HAWAII: ITS MEANING AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS

2011-09-02T12:36:00.000-10:00

BelindaA. Aquino, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
University of Hawaii at Manoa

(The following is abstracted from the Keynote Speech of Dr. Aquino at the annual convention of the Congress of Visayan Organizations on August 13, 2011 at the Maui BeachHotel, Kahului, Maui, Hawaii)

First of all, I should like to extend my congratulations to COVO and itsofficers, leaders and members for holding this Convention, which marks the 24thanniversary of its founding with the avowed mission of unifying the various Visayan communities in Hawaii and promoting Visayan languages, cultures, and traditions inHawaii. Your organization has survived the test of time because 24 yearsis a long time and you can rest assured that your accomplishments all theseyears will serve to inspire the younger generations to emulate your example andkeep the Visayan spirit alive in the state.

My presentation today seeks to explore the meaning of the changing Filipinodemographic in Hawaii and its implications for public policy in areas such as employment,health, and education, among others. I may not be able to discuss allthese because of time constraints, ,so I will focus onthese three items and our distinguished panel this morning will add whatever isrelevant for the discussion to make this a more integrated public presentation.

This talk is based largely on the results of the 2010 Census for the State of Hawaii,which were released in May 2011. Other sources like the AmericanCommunity Survey, which was taken yearly from 2006 to 2009 are also referencedwhere appropriate.

I must start off with a couple of caveats which will inform this discussionaccordingly. First, I am not a trained statistical analyst, which meansthat I may not be able to deliver an airtight and authoritative interpretationof the statistical information which had been gathered from survey data. We inthe social science field view most of the data as reliable given the fact thatthe methodology for census taking has been tried and tested, and validatedthrough practice year in and year out.

The second concern, which is related to the first, is that the data are extracted fromsample populations, which may not capture the nuances or complexities ofcommunities that are being surveyed. We may not get the full picture of demographic trendsand patterns, especially in such ethnically diverse or mixed states like Hawaii. We are all aware that census surveys will always miss certaininformation, which therefore makes analysis and interpretation also a partial undertaking.

The Data

For purposes of our discussion, we will be looking at two sets of census data - onefor 2000 and the other for 2010. This will give us a comparativeperspective which is expected to yield more meaningful conclusions.

These two sets of data will show comparative growth among the three biggestpopulation groups, namely,
White (Caucasians), Filipino and Japanese. We will refer to the summaryprepared by Hawaii News Now, posted on Internet on June 20, 2011, which was eventually published byCivil Beat. The two sets of data presented below are divided into twocategories: 1) Population by Race Alone and2) Population by Race Alone or Mixed.

I. Population by Race Alone

          2000          2010 Growth

White 294,102 336,599 +14.4%
Filipino 170,635   197,497   +15.7%
Japanese 201,764    185,502 - 8.1%

UPAAH Launches Endowment Fund Campaign

2011-09-02T12:27:00.002-10:00


Divina Robillard, UPAAH President

By Maita Milallos

The University of thePhilippines Alumni Association of Hawaii (UPAAH) is launching a series offundraisers as part of its “Mahalo, UP! Endowment Fund Campaign.” Inspired by thespirited gifting of alumni and friends during the 2008 UP Centennial Year, theUPAAH board of directors established the fund in 2010 to raise $32,000 by2012. The fund aims to help finance the professional and leadershipdevelopment of the University’s faculty members and promising students.

DivinaRobillard, UPAAH President said, “We havedecided to raise funds that will be there for UP, not only for the need of themoment, but for all time. To clearly identify the fund as born in Hawaii,it was named the UPAAH Mahalo, UP! EndowmentFund Campaign to signify that we, in the 50th state, are big on aloha,generosity, and gratitude.”

The money raised will be heldin perpetuity with only the interest to be used by the seven constituentuniversities of the UP system. The investment and distribution process isassigned to the University but the UPAAH will address the guidelines for funduse.

Professor Belinda Aquino of the University of Hawaii Manoaand currently President of the University of the Philippines Alumni Associationin Americaclaimed that the endowment fund is the first collective effort of theUPAAH.

“Individual members havehad contributed funding to UP in many ways. This endowment fund poolstogether resources from individuals to provide institutional assistance to theUniversity to maintain its position and prestige as the preeminent institutionof learning in the country.” She added, “This endeavor hopesto develop the philanthropic spirit among the alumni to give back to the institutionthat provided them with the skills and the many opportunities that UP gavethem.”

The campaign is led by Nieva Garchitorena Elizaga, a 1965 UP Iloilo Home Economics graduate and wifeto internist Dr. Fortunato Elizaga. She is assisted by Rose Nabor Zabanal(BS Business Economics 1979) and Raymund Liongson (PhD in Education 1985). Among the plannedfundraisers include a yard sale on August 21, 2011 in Kailua anda $1,000-a-plate “Brunch of Champions for UP” which will be held inWaialae Country Club on October 2, 2011. Other planned fundraisers include acarwash, $1-a-day program and a coupon sale.

To realize the success of the“Mahalo, UP!” fundraiser activities,Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand, UPAAH President-Electappealed to the generosity of the alumni by relating UP to home. “Philanthropy begins at home and UP is home,” shestressed.

Norma Domingo, UPAAH Secretary brought home the point of giving back on a morepractical level. “Donating to the Mahalo,UP! Endowment Fund is like paying back for the four-year tuition feesspent in the University without the interest rates.”

Established in 1908, theUniversity of the Philippinesis the only national university in the country. It is the pioneer inhigher education through its academic excellence, outstanding research, publicservice and modernized facilities. UP has sevenconstituent universities housed in 12 campuses offering 246 undergraduate and362 graduate programs. The university currently has 50,000 students andhas produced the most notables in the political, legal, social and economiclandscapes of the country.

There are around 200 UP alumniin Hawaii who come from differentgenerations of graduates, campuses and disciplines. These alumni areactively engaged as professionals in the public and private sectors in areassuch as education, business, health and social services. Many occupyleadership positions in Filipino community organizations.

For more information about thecampaign and the different fundraisers, please check their blogsite: http://www.mahaloup.blogspot.com/or email Divina Robillardat upaahawaii@yahoo.com.