12/15/2012 - Hawaii-Filipino Chronicle

2 News Edition DecemBer 15, 2012editorialSHindrance to DevelopmentThe campaign against corruption is a prioritynot just in the Philippines. In recenttions have also been traced to corruption.mental degradation and human rights viola-years, the United Nations, the World BankLast September, at a high-level meetingand other organizations have recognized corruptionon promoting the rule of law, the UN Generalas one of the biggest hindrances to de-Assembly stressed the importance of ad-velopment efforts and one of the major factorsdressing corruption. The assembly noted thebehind poverty.need for governments to fight corruption andThe problem was considered seriousfor citizens to raise their voices against theenough for the UN to pass the Conventionproblem.Against Corruption on Oct. 31, 2003. The conventionIn a message on International Anti-Cor-recognized that corruption posed aruption Day, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-threat to the stability and security of societies,moon called for greater effort to fight theundermined democracy and the rule of law,scourge as he declared, “Corruption is not inevitable.and endangered sustainable development.It flows from greed and the triumphWith the passage of the convention came theof the undemocratic few over the expectationsdesignation of Dec. 9 as International Anti-Corruptionof the many.”Day.The Aquino administration has achievedToday the convention has 164 state partiessome progress in confronting the problem,including the Philippines, which continues tobut more effort is needed, as indicated in thebattle entrenched corrupt practices. The UN has noted that corruption ranking of the Philippines in the latest Corruption Perception Indexhinders the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Studiesdrawn up by Transparency International. The anti-corruption thrusthave shown that corruption takes away billions in funds that could has buoyed business confidence in the country. The thrust must beotherwise be used for development projects and basic services includingsustained and the reforms must be made irreversible.public health care, education and decent shelter. Environ-(www.philstar.com)Decent Sheltersrhea from lack of safe water, and respiratory illnesses are amongWith memories of other deadly typhoons still fresh in their the most common afflictions. In flooded communities, the biggestminds, residents of many parts of Mindanao did what they risks are dengue and leptospirosis. Natural disasters can continuecould to get out of harm’s way as super typhoon “Pablo” claiming lives long after they have left the country.made landfall yesterday. Some local authorities still had to resort Some local government units have improved their preparednessto forced evacuation, but most residents readily moved to saferfor evacuating large numbers of people. In most parts of theground to avoid mudslides and torrential flooding.country, however, evacuation facilities during disasters are still inadequate.With houses destroyed, authorities must now move to preventThis is true even in coastal communities along the coun-the spread of diseases at crowded evacuation centers and flooded try’s eastern seaboard that are usually the worst hit by typhoons,communities. Pablo is expected to continue roaring across the being in the direct path of weather disturbances from the Pacific.country at least until tomorrow. It will take time before those displacedAddressing this problem should not be impossible for local gov-by the typhoon can return to their communities, especially ernments and disaster mitigation authorities. With experts pre-in areas hit by massive flooding.dicting more extreme weather disturbances in the coming years,Health officials warned that in cramped evacuation centers, every nation must improve its preparedness for the worst. Preparednesswhich housed over 50,000 people as of yesterday afternoon, diseasesincludes the provision of decent temporary shelters forcould spread quickly especially among children. Flu, diar-those displaced by natural calamities. (www.philstar.com)Advertising/Marketing DirectorCharlie Y. SONIDO, M.D.Publisher and Executive EditorChona A.MONTESINES-SONIDOPublisher and Managing EditorDennis GALOLOEdwin QUINABOAssociate EditorsRandall SHIROMADesign ConsultantColumnistsCarlota AderCarlo Cadiz, M.D.Sen. Will EsperoGrace F. Fong, Ed.D.Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Ph.D.J. P. OriasPacita SaludesReuben S. Seguritan, Esq.Charlie Sonido, M.D.Emmanuel S. Tipon,Esq.Felino S. TuberaAmado YoroSylvia Yuen, Ph.D.NEWS EDITIONContributing WritersBelinda Aquino, Ph.D., Clement Bautista, TeresitaBernales, Ed.D., Serafin Colmenares, Jr., Ph.D.,Linda Dela Cruz, Fiedes Doctor, Danny de Gracia II,M.A., Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand, Amelia Jacang,M.D., Caroline Julian, Maita Milallos, Paul MelvinPalalay, M.D., Glenn WakaiCreative DesignerJunggoi PeraltaPhilippine CorrespondentGreg GarciaPhotographyTim LlenaAdministrative AssistantShalimar Pagulayanwww.thefilipinochronicle.com www.efilipinochronicle.comChona A. Montesines-SonidoAccount ExecutivesCarlota AderJ. P. OriasBig Island DistributorGrace LarsonDitas UdaniMaui DistributorCecile PirosMolokai DistributorMaria WatanabeThe Hawaii Filipino Chronicle is published weekly by the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc. It is mailed directly to subscribers and distributed at various outlets around Oahu and the neighbor islands.Editorial and advertising deadlines are three weeks prior to publication date. Subscriptions are available at $75 per year for Oahu and the neighbor islands, continental U.S. $85, foreign country $95.Copyright 2007-2012. The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc. is located at 94-356 Waipahu Depot, Waipahu, HI 96797. Telephone: (808) 678-8930. Facsimile: (808) 678-1829. E-mail:filipinochronicle@gmail.com. Opinions expressed by the columnists and contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle management. Reproduction of the contents in wholeor in part is prohibited without written permission from the management. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

DecemBer 15, 2012Most Emotional Peopleopposite of the British voter.The British voter would firsthave to be convinced aboutthe merits of a proposition.Once convinced, the Britwould then allow emotion tocome in — to propel actionfor the desired reform.Filipinos had all of 11years to be convinced thatmartial law under FerdinandMarcos was leadingour country on the road toperdition. It took the assassinationof Ninoy Aquino onAugust 21, 1983 to shockus and make us realize thatwe’ll forever be under theMarcos yoke unless we actand remove him. The impactof the assassination ofNinoy Aquino was of suchmagnitude that it led to themaking of the current president— his son Benigno S.Aquino III.The problem of an emotionalpeople is that emotionsare short-termengines for action. Oncethe emotion had died down,we then also lose our resolveto effect improvedprotection and better goverasi wreck THis cHair by william m. espOsOAccording to a recentlyreleased Gallup Poll,Filipinos are theMOST EMOTIONAL whileSingaporeans are theMOST EMOTIONLESS.Per the Gallup Poll, the10 most emotionless countriesare:• Singapore: 36 (percent)• Georgia: 37• Lithuania: 37• Russia: 38• Madagascar: 38• Ukraine: 38• Belarus: 38• Kazakhstan: 38• Nepal: 38• Kyrgyzstan: 38The 15 most emotionalcountries are:• Philippines: 60 (percent)• El Salvador: 57• Bahrain: 56• Oman: 55• Colombia: 55• Chile: 54• Costa Rica: 54• Canada: 54• Guatemala: 54• Bolivia: 54• Ecuador: 54• Dominican Republic: 54• Peru: 54• Nicaragua: 54• United States: 54It’s easy to believe theGallup Poll results. Singaporeansare indeed themost emotionless peopleone could meet in Asia.Maybe that’s also the reasonwhy they have thisproblem of a declining population.In any case, nobodycan fault Singaporeans forbeing most emotionless.They have progress to showfor all the emotions thatthey’ve repressed.It’s also easy to believethe Gallup Poll results whenit says that we, Filipinos,are the most emotional inthe world. Filipino reactionsand choices clearly demonstratejust how emotionalwe are. We’re so easilydrawn to the emotional aspectof a human conditionthat we altogether forgetoPiNioNthe task of preventing its repeatby exercising properlyour right to effect good governance.In the work place, for example,Filipinos who fail tomake the grade tend toblame their failure to otherfactors other than the factthat they didn’t exert enougheffort to make the grade.They’d say that their supervisoris biased and that theywere not graded properly.This attitude produces animositiesin the work placeand prevents the employeefrom progressing. If you hadmore than enough of themin your organization, theycould produce a poisonedpsyche that will be fatal forbusiness.If one were to analyzeFilipino voting patterns, theemotional factor is very evident.If reason had guidedFilipinos when they voted,then a lot of public officialswould not have beenelected at all. How does oneaccount for the votes castfor candidates like LitoLapid, Joseph Estrada,Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Revilla,Tito Sotto and othershowbiz celebrities whocapitalized on their popularityto win public office? Ifthese personalities cannotoffer competence, then howcome Filipinos voted forthem? The conclusion isthat Filipinos voted with theirhearts, not with their minds.Many folks would say:“What did we do to deservethese showbiz public officials?”Several of them areunfaithful husbands, a goodbasis for not voting for theadulterer. How can Filipinosassociate the images thatthese showbiz stars projectwith their ability to performpublic service? That wouldbe the height of all the validreasons that gave way toemotions.My good friend, the latefilm director Marilou Diaz-Abaya shared with me avery valid observation whenshe was helping us duringthe 1986 Presidential SnapElection Campaign. Analyzingthe Filipino voter, Marilousaid that we’re theNews Edition 3(continued on page 6)

4 News EditionHEADLINESDECEMBER 15, 2012(cont. from page 1; PAROL... )and its resident choralgroup, Himig at Indak, willperform folk songs, dancesand carols of yesterday andtoday. Community groupswill compete in a choralcontest and a cookingdemonstration will highlightVisayan delicacies.tree toP ContestAnother contest that willbe a part of Pasko! is theTree Top Making Contest.The task at hand will be todesign the best tree topfrom materials that can berecycled and re-purposed.Cash prizes will begiven for three categories—most original and recyclable($100), most creative ($75)and audience favorite($50).The contest is free andopen to anyone with artistictalent. Entrants are encouragedto sign up by emailing:2012OFCCBoard@gmail.com to assure themselves ofa spot. The contest is opento all Oahu Filipino CommunityCouncil (OFCC) unitmember organizations.Choir ComPetitionIf you have singing talents,you may want to entera third competition—thePasko! sa FilCom ChoirCompetition, which is opento all choirs or choralgroups consisting of 16 to25 members.The choirs may be composedof children, youthand/or adults, and may beformed through school,church or community organizations.Judging will be basedon the performancePhoto byofTim LLENAtwoChristmas carols—“Paskona Sinta Ko” and any carolsung either in English or Filipino.The choir must have aconductor, can sing eitherwith accompaniment oracapella, and can performin any appropriate attire orcostume. Performancesmust be limited to no longer(cont. from page 1; ‘PABLO’...)10, 20120, 5:00 a.m., 647were reported dead and1,482 were injured while780 are still missing and109 rescued most of whichwere from Region 12,"theNDRRMC said.Damage to propertiesand agriculture hasreached P7.116 billion.Total number of affectedfamilies reached 487,364 or5.41 million persons in1,928 barangays in 30provinces.Some 29, 390 familiesremain inside 172 evacuationcenters.Eleven bridgesand nine roads are impassable,21 municipalities andcities are experiencingpower interruption and sixarea are experiencing interruptionin water supply.The Associated Presshowever reported that 900persons remain missing.The number of peoplemissing after a typhoondevastated the Philippinesjumped to nearly 900 afterfamilies and fishing companiesreported losing contactwith more than 300 fishermenat sea, officials said.The fishermen fromsouthern General Santoscity and nearby Saranganiprovince left a few days beforeTyphoon Bopha hit themain southern island ofMindanao on Tuesday, CivilDefense chief BenitoRamos said. The death tollthan 10 minutes.Choirs will be judgedbased on performance, musicianshipan stage presence.Why Pasko?Another special presentationat Pasko! is that ofthe Panunuluyan, a reenactmentof Mary andJoseph’s search for an innsimilar to the Mexicanposada, will be performedas it is in Tagalog-speakingtowns in the Philippines.The annual Pasko! saFilCom is a celebration ofFilipino Christmas inHawaii. As such, it not onlyreminds Filipinos of thiswonderful tradition but alsoallows them to share theirculture with the other ethnichas already surpassed 600,mostly from flash floodsthat wiped away precariouscommunities in the southernregion unaccustomedto typhoons.Ramos said the fishermenwere headed to theSpratly Islands in the SouthChina Sea and to the PacificOcean. Coast guard,navy and fishing vesselsare searching for them, andsome may have soughtshelter on the many smallislands in the area."Maybe they are stillalive," Ramos said Sunday.Bopha was dissipatingfinally in the South ChinaSea after briefly veeringback toward the country'snorthwest on Saturday,prompting worries of moredevastation.Rescuers were searchingfor bodies or signs of lifeunder tons of fallen treesand boulders in the worsthittown of New Bataan,where rocks, mud andother rubble destroyedgroups here in Hawaii.“It is one event whichbrings all Filipinos togetherand educates our childrenof the richness of their culturalheritage,” says SerafinColmenares, Jr., executiveVP and prime mover of theCongress of Visayan Organizations(COVO).“Filipinos always lookforward to Pasko,” saysBeatrice Ramos-Razon,past president of the Hawaiichapter of the University ofthe Philippines Alumni Association.“It is a good wayto be together, share thespirit of the season, andcelebrate our culture.”For more information,please call the FilCom Centerat 680-0451.landmarks, making it doublydifficult to search placeswhere houses once stood.Hundreds of refugees,rescuers and aid workerstook a break Sunday towatch the Manny Pacquiao-JuanManuel Marquezfight on a big TVscreen, only to be dismayedby their hero's sixthroundknockout.Elementary schoolteacher Constancio Olivarsaid people fell silent whenPacquiao, a congressmanwho comes from the southernPhilippines where thestorm hit, fell heavily to thecanvas and remained motionlessfor some time."It was like a doubleblow for me — this disasterand this defeat," said Olivar,whose house was destroyedin the storm. "Wewere all crestfallen. Everyonefell silent, stunned. Itwas like we saw a tsunami."Nearly 400,000 people,mostly from Compostela(continued on page 5)

DecemBer 15, 2012HeadliNeSNews Edition 5(cont. from page 1; GABBARD...)friends, Pacquiao’s endorsementof Gabbard appearedin Hawaii print andradio ads during the weeksleading to the August 11thPrimary Election.“We have many toughchallenges that our respectivecountries are facing,and our commitment toworking together is a symbolof the unity that is necessaryin order for ourcountry and global commuoneof the first female combatveterans to ever beelected to Congress. Sheappeared at Pacquiao’straining facility in Californiaas the boxing champ preparedfor his December 8thfight against opponent JuanManuel Márquez—a fightthat the Filipino lost inRound 6.Introduced to eachother by longtime mutualnity to make progress,”Gabbard says. “As congressionalmembers in ourtwo allied countries, we arecommitted to working togetheron issues that are ofconcern to both of us—such as, eliminating humantrafficking, immigration reformand creating jobs to increasethe economicprosperity and quality of lifefor the people in our communities.”HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWSDr. Mabanglo Among OverseasFilipinos Honored by PNoyDR. RUTH ELYNIA MA-BANGLO was among 29overseas Filipinos and foreign-basedorganizationshonored by President BenignoS. Aquino III at the2012 Presidential Awardsfor Filipino Individuals andOrganizations Overseas.The event was held atMalacanang Palace on December5, 2012.A columnist for theHawaii Filipino Chronicle,Mabanglo is well-known both in Hawaiiand the Philippines as a poet, playwright,textbook writer, teacher, research scholarand translator. She belongs to the PalancaHall of Fame and has won five first prizePalanca Awards.She also received literary awardsfrom the Cultural Center of the Philippines,the Commission on the FilipinoLanguage, the Writer’s Union of thePhilippines and from the City Governmentof Manila. Her works are recognizedby Philippine literary critics,included in many anthologies and reviewedand citied in journals.Due largely to Mabanglo’s efforts, theUniversity of Hawaii-Manoa’s FilipinoProgram is currently the largest among40-plus programs in the U.S. It is the onlyFilipino program with a certificate, aminor and a BA anywhere outside thePhilippines.In 2008, she initiated a conferencecalled Filipino as a Global Language topromote Filipino internationally and toprovide a venue for the exchange ofideas among teachers of Filipino whooften are by themselves in teaching thelanguage, researchers, linguists, programadministrators, writers and agenciescatering to the use of the language.Institutionalized in 1991 through ExecutiveOrder No. 498 and signed bythen-President Corazon C. Aquino, thePresidential Awards for Filipino Individualsand Organizations Overseasis a biennial search for overseas-basedindividuals andorganizations which havededicated their work in theservice, advancement andimprovement of lives of Filipinosworldwide, or whohave excelled in their field orprofession. Since its inception,the awards have beenconferred to 338 Filipinosand foreign-based organizationsfrom 44countries.This year’s awardeesare living testaments to theenduring spirit of bayanihan,perseverance, hardwork and exemplary servicetowards the advancementand improvement ofthe lives of Filipinos in thePhilippines and abroad.Awardees are thoroughlyscreened from a total of137 nominations from 26countries by three differentcommittees with representativesfrom the government,civil society, media,academe, religious andbusiness sectors, and thepresident of the Philippines.President Aquino exhortedthe awardees towork together in helping rebuildthe areas devastatedby Typhoon Pablo.“I am seeing a greaterspirit of cooperation amongour fellow citizens and I amconfident that those of youwho have always been givinggenerously in the pastwill take the time to lend ahelping hand where it isneeded,” says Aquino.(cont. from page 1; ‘PABLO’...)Valley and nearby DavaoOriental province, have losttheir homes and arecrowded inside evacuationcenters or staying with relatives.President BenignoAquino III has declared anational calamity, which allowsfor price controls onbasic commodities in typhoon-affectedareas andthe quick release of emergencyfunds.Officials said Sundaythat 316 people were killedin Compostela Valley, including165 in New Bataan,and 301 in Davao Oriental.More than 45 people werekilled elsewhere. Nearly900 are missing, includingthe fishermen and 440 fromNew Bataan alone.Davao Oriental authoritiesimposed a curfew thereand ordered police to guardstores and shops to preventlooting.The typhoon destroyedabout 18 percent of the bananaplantations in Mindanao,causing losses estimatedat 12 billion pesos($300 million), according toStephen Antig, executivedirector of the Pilipino BananaGrowers and ExportersAssociation.The Philippines is theworld's third-largest bananaproducer and exporter, supplyinginternational brandssuch as Dole, Chiquita andDel Monte.Meanwhile, weather bureauPhilippine Atmospheric,Geophysical andAstronomical Services Administrationsaid that as ofMonday, no tropical cycloneexists within the Philippinearea of responsibility."The regions of CagayanValley and Cordilleraand the provinces of Ilocoswill have cloudy skies withlight rains. Metro Manilaand the rest of Luzon will bepartly cloudy with brief rainshowerswhile the rest ofthe country will have briefrainshowers or thunderstorms,"PAGASA said.(www.philstar.com)

6 News Edition HaWaii-FiliPiNo NeWSFilCom Revamps Computer Skills Training CoursesIF YOU NEED TO BRUSHUP ON YOUR kEY-BOARDING SkILLS or tolearn a new software, considertaking computer enrichmentcourses at theFilipino Community Center(FilCom).FilCom Center has offeredcomputer trainingsince the completion of itsEconomic DevelopmentAdministration (EDA)-funded Tech Room sevenyears ago. However, thetraining session went intohiatus when the hard-wireddesktop computers startedslowing down.Earlier this year, the Fil-Com Center replaced theoutdated computers withlaptops and converted internetaccess into WIFI thusenabling the resumption ofthe computer classes anywherein the facility.Much of the credit goesDecemBer 15, 2012to Conrad Abuel, a retiredcase manager for the City’sOahu Work Links Program.Abuel teaches “ComputerBasics,” a four sessioncourse that helps beginningslearn how to use alaptop. The course is limitedto nine students percourse and held onWednesdays, from 10 amto 12 noon.Most of Abuel’s studentsare newly-arrived immigrantswho are seeking employmentand better computerskills to navigatetoday’s technological requirements,as well as retiredseniors who want touse email or surf the internetor socialize via Facebook.Abuel’s wife Linda alsoteaches Microsoft Excelcourses on Saturdays, from2 pm to 4 pm. She is currentlychief accountant atthe Waianae Coast ComprehensiveMental HealthCenter and brings years ofexperience in using spreadsheetsoftware.The couple is also activelyinvolved with the BulacanCircle of Hawaii,where Conrad serves as amember of its board of directors.The FilCom’s computercourses are held yearround. Please call 680-0451 for more details.Filipino Junior Chamber Honors Outstanding Young FilipinosJCI HAWAII FILIPINOJUNIOR CHAMBER recognized8 outstanding individualsin Hawaii’s Filipinocommunity via its “The OutstandingYoung Filipinos”program.The honorees wereawarded a trophy, certificateof achievement and a1-year FJC membership atFJC’s Night of Honor heldat the Ala Moana Hotel onDecember 9, 2012. Theawards ceremony dramatizedeach honoree’s careerin narrative form and provideda stage for the honoreesto challenge andinspire Hawaii’s youth.The honorees are:• Jason Espero, ShelterManager for the Next StepShelter in Kakaako. Currentlythe secretary andboard memberof the HawaiiPublic HousingA u t h o r i t y ,Jason is one ofthe few young people in thefield of social services whois responsible for the day-today operations of an emergencyshelter for the homeless.Jason has a degree inpolitical science and is nowa master’s degree candidateat UH-Manoa in publicadministration.• Carmille Lim, Developmentand Advo c a c yManager ofthe YWCA.Carmille isalso a board member ofthe League of Women Votersof Hawaii and a commissionerat the HawaiiState Commission on theStatus of Women. Recognizedby Pacific BusinessNews as one of the State’sbrightest young professionalsunder 40, she was theyoungest selected in thiselite group.• Bryan Munoz, a popularDJ at KNDIRadio. KNDIradio ownerLeona Jonasays Bryan isable to bridge the gap betweengenerations of Filipinosof all ages. Bryanalso performs for thebreakdance ministry forCalvary Chapel Pearl Harborand other churches.• Brent Limos, admissionsdirector atDamien Memo r i a lS c h o o l .Under Brent’sleadership and guidance,Damien has smoothly transitionedinto a co-educationalinstitution. He hasalso organized over 300religious retreats for theschool and helped increaseenrollment.• Nicole Velasco, a memberof theKalihi-PalamaN e i g h b o r -hood Boardand EnvisionHawaii. A graduate ofPrinceton University,Nicole began her educationin public policy as researchanalyst for theHawaii House of RepresentativesFinance Committeeand the Auditor’sOffice. She ran unsuccessfullyfor State House District30 by a slim margin of120 votes. She also servesas a coach for FarringtonHigh School’s girls waterpolo team.• Rhonee Joseph Roxasis an accomplished athlete.He earned a degree in kinesiologyfrom Penn StateUniversity viaa volleyballscholarship.During hiscollegiate career,he led his team to fourNCAA championships.Named as team captain in2004, he was also recognizedas an Academic Big-10 All American. Rhoneerepresented Hawaii at theMr. Manhunt International2011 contest in Bangkokand finished in the top 15out of 60 represented nations.In October, at theheight of the flooding inCavite, he initiated a reliefgoods distribution program.• Julius Soria, an instructorat UH-M a n o a ’ sIlocano langu a g e p r o -g r a m . F o rmore than 15 years, Juliustaught heritage learners inbasic education while he(continued on page 7)oPiNioN(cont. from page 3; MOST... )nance. The assassinationof Ninoy Aquino transcendedthe normal timespan of a national emotionbecause it was integratedwith a noble challenge —for citizens to fight for freedomand democracy.The feeling of such agreat loss when Ninoy wasassassinated was supplantedby patriotism. Theshock effect of the Ninoy assassinationsegued to thewidespread feeling of patriotism— the collective resolveof Filipinos that it willrequire that all of us musttake great risks if our countryis to be freed from theshackles of Marcos martiallaw. Filipino hearts in 1983first wept over the loss of agreat son and then rechanneledthat emotion to patriotism,the willingness toundergo great inconveniencein order to attain animportant national objective.Why did the Filipino nationhave to lose a greatson in order to awaken allof us of the reality of martiallaw? Imagine how muchNinoy Aquino could havecontributed had he beenalive to administer the governmentafter martial law.Indeed, we’re an emotionalpeople and we’re notalone in that category.There’s nothing wrong withemotions as long as theseresult in intelligent resolvesto remedy undesired situations.Filipinos must learn tolive with and use their emotionsfor their personal andnational good.

DecemBer 15, 2012by atty. emmanuelsamonte TipOnImmigration law hasbeen called a “labyrinth”or a maze, which only alawyer could navigate.Nehad v. Mukasey, 535F.3d 962 (9th Cir. 2008).Hence, most aliens in removal(deportation) proceedingsrely heavily ontheir lawyer’s advice. Unfortunately,in the vast majorityof cases, the lawyerthat the alien has hired wasineffective, as a result ofwhich the alien was ordereddeported. Simply becausethe lawyer lost thecase does not mean thatthe lawyer was ineffective,since the lawyer might havedone his or her best but thelaw or the facts of the casewere such that there wasno way of winning. EvenSupreme Court justices disagreeon what the law is.A lawyer is ineffective ifthere would have been a differentresult “but for” thelawyer’s misconduct or failureto do particular acts resultingin prejudice to thealien. If the alien in removalHaWaii-FiliPiNo NeWS(cont. from page 3; FILIPINO... )earned both his mastersand doctorate degrees. Heis a recipient of the 2009United Filipino Council ofHawaii (UFCH) award forEducation and currentlyserves as the secretary ofthe Oahu Filipino CommunityCouncil (OFCC).• Damien Elefante, an activememberof the HawaiiState Jayceesand the FilipinoBar Association.He is licensed topractice law for all HawaiiState courts. Damien currentlyserves as a deputyattorney general assignediMMiGratioN GUideproceedings can establishthat he or she is a victim ofsuch ineffectiveness, thealien may have a “secondbite of the apple” by askingfor the reopening of the removalproceedings.In the book we wrote on“Ineffective Assistance ofCounsel in Removal Proceedings”we discussed thevarious standards that havebeen used by the courts indetermining whether alawyer’s conduct was ineffective.The basic rule isthat a claim of ineffectiveassistance of counsel mustallege that the lawyer’sconduct resulted in a denialof due process renderingthe proceedings fundamentallyunfair that the alienwas prevented from reasonablypresenting his orher case, and that there isa reasonable probabilitythat the alien suffered prejudicebecause of counseldeficiencies.Other standards articulatedby the courts to establishthat a lawyer wasineffective are: (1) thelawyer’s conduct was outsidethe wide range of competentor professionalassistance, (2) competentcounsel would have actedotherwise, (3) counsel’s deficientconduct is plain onthe record, or (4) counselfailed to file a necessaryapplication or appeal.In addition, the alienmust show that he or shesuffered prejudice as a resultof the counsel’s deficientconduct – that is, butfor the lawyer’s misconductor failure to act, the outcomeor result would havebeen different or may havebeen different, or that therelief sought would havebeen granted, or that therewere plausible grounds forrelief and the alien’s entitlementthereto.ProCedural requirementsThe alien must meetcertain procedural hurdlesbefore being allowed toproceed to establish a claimof ineffective assistance ofcounsel. In other words,there are certain requirementsthat the alien mustcomply with before beingallowed to cross the thresholdand enter the halls ofjustice to reopen the proceedings.The alien mustestablish that (1) such alienhas a right to effective assistanceof counsel underthe Fifth Amendment DueProcess Clause, sincesome courts do not recognizesuch a right, (2) the reviewingcourt hasjurisdiction over the constitutionalclaim or question oflaw, (3) the alien has exhaustedadministrativeremedies by having raisedthe issue in the Board ofImmigration Appeals, (4)the alien has complied withthe Lozada requirements(present the alien’s agreementwith the first counselstating what counsel wassupposed to do, notify thefirst counsel and give counselan opportunity to respond,file a statement onwhether a complaint wasfiled against the first counselwith a disciplinary authorityand if not why not),(5) the alien has met thetime limitations for raisinghis claim or that there is anequitable basis for tolling thetime limitations, and (6) theNews EditionAliens May Have “Second Bite of theApple” by Claiming Ineffective Counselto the State Department ofTaxation. As an attorney,he represented Hawaii inhigh profile cases. Damienalso served as president ofthe Young Lawyers Divisionfor the Hawaii StateBar Association.FJC’s Night of Honoralso introduced the incomingexecutive board andbestowed the highest honorsby the U.S. JuniorChamber to two of the organization’scurrent andformer members. Thisyear’s recipients are ScottArakaki, attorney atBadger Arakaki, LLC andJay Raymundo, CEO ofAloha Rehabilitation Services.7alien acted diligently in pursuingthe claim of ineffectiveness.O B S E R V A T I O N :Adam had only one bite ofthe apple and he wasdoomed until eternity. If thealien who was ordered removedcan find an excellentlawyer who can do all of theabove, the alien might havea “second bite of the apple”and probably live in Americauntil eternity.(atty. tiPon has a Masterof Laws degree from Yale LawSchool and a Bachelor ofLaws degree from the Universityof the Philippines. Office:800 Bethel St., Suite 402, Honolulu,HI 96813. Tel. (808)225-2645. E-Mail: filamlaw@yahoo.com.Websites:www.MilitaryandCriminalLaw.com,and www.ImmigrationServicesUSA.com.Listen to the most witty, interesting,and informative radioprogram in Hawaii on KNDIat 1270, AM dial every Thursdayat 7:30 a.m., rebroadcastat www.iluko.com.)

8 News Edition eSSaYDecemBer 15, 2012Drawing Inspiration from the Life of Martha thisyoung and Child ProtectiveHoliday SeasonServices recommendedby edwin QUinaBOFor most people Thanksgivingday officially beginsthe holiday season-- loved ones gather for asumptuous turkey dinnerand reminisce good oldtimes while soft Christmasmusic and big laughs fill theair. For serious shoppers,there's nothing better thansaving a bundle on BlackFriday to put them in theholiday mood.But this year somethingpeculiar out of all eventscaptured the essence of theholiday spirit for me. It happenedat a funeral for awonderful woman who I'dsee at parties occasionally.Her story epitomizes love,compassion and generosity.For her, those venerableattributes didn't just comeseasonally around Christmastime, but were a part ofwho she was every day ofher life.Her name is Martha, awoman with a contagioussmile and large presence.Being that she was passionateabout her hobbies,one of them being writing, itcame as no surprise thatshe had written her own eulogy.Most people alreadyknew a lot about Martha'sdedication to her family, butin her eulogy there weresome surprises some of usdidn't know about, namelythe tremendous sacrificesshe endured in her earlylife.In her teens, Martha'sfather had left the family,leaving her, her mother andtwo younger brothers.Shortly after, her fatherdied. At about the time shewas about to turn 18, hermother also died. They hadno one left to care for them.Her brothers were still verythat they be taken to a fosterhome. She couldn'timagine her family be brokenapart. Her brotherswere all she had left.The three teens bravelytook on immense responsibilitiesas their single-parentmom went to work whileother children their age simplyconcentrated on homeworkand having fun. Theyhad to move from theirneighborhood in the suburbsto a public housingproject. Martha and herbrothers had to grow up reallyfast, practically missingtheir childhood entirely.Then when their mompassed on, life couldn'thave gotten worse. Lifeended in many ways, morethan death itself, Martha recalls.There were no answersthis time to work atsolving. Everything wasover, she remembers feeling.Their dream for betterdays as one family, lost.But just when separationseemed imminent for thethree teens, Martha met ayoung man. The two of themfell in love and when theyboth turned 18 years old,Martha asked him if hewould be willing to marry herso they could legally adopther younger brothers.Martha prayed very hard fora miracle to keep her familytogether so that she couldlook after her younger brothers.That miracle came inthat young man, Alonso,who ended up being herhusband for over 50 yearsbefore his passing. WithMartha's guidance, heryounger brothers eventuallyturned out to become veryproductive, stable adults,having good jobs and familiesof their own. As forMartha, she was blessedwith four children.Realizing the importanceof extending help toothers during times of crisisfrom her own personal experience,throughout herlife Martha helped strugglingfamilies make endsmeet. She opened herhome rent free occasionallyto friends and their familieswho were out of a job temporarily.Eventually, peoplewould hear about Martha'sgenerosity that her homebecame known as the gatheringplace. Throughout herlife, she has helped over 30people, providing them asecure, safe place to staywhile they worked hard toget their lives back in order.Martha truly led an inspirationallife. It took herfuneral, her eulogy, to remindme of the true meaningof the holiday season.Sometimes funerals canhave that effect, helpingpeople to refocus on what's(continued on page 10)

DecemBer 15, 2012PHiliPPiNe NeWSNews Edition9(continued on page )

10 News Edition PHiliPPiNe NeWSPRESIDENT BENIGNO S. AQUINOIII SAID THE GOVERNMENT isbeefing up its disaster response operationsto find and rescue the missingresidents in disaster-affectedareas in Mindanao following the devastationwrought by typhoon "Pablo."The Chief Executive visited theCompostela Valley and other disaster-affectedareas to oversee thesearch and rescue, relief and rehabilitationefforts there. He was accompaniedby Interior and LocalGovernment Secretary ManuelRoxas, Transportation and CommunicationsSecretary Joseph EmilioAbaya, Social Welfare and DevelopmentSecretary Corazon Solimanand National Disaster Risk Reductionand Management Council (NDR-RMC) executive director BenitoRamos"Nandito ho kami para malaman—importantesa akin—numberone, ang ating mga nawawala, iyongmissing. Gusto kong ma-accountkung mayroon po (missing)—kungpuwede lahat buhay pa, maabutannatin as soon as possible," PresidentAquino told the crowd gathered inBrgy. Cabinuan, New Bataan, CompostelaValley."Gusto kong malaman kung bakitnangyari ang trahedyang ito. Gustokong makita rin kung paano maiiwasanang magkaroon ng ganitongDecemBer 15, 2012Pnoy Visits Compostela Valleyand Other Disaster-AffectedAreas Wrought by Typhoon‘Pablo’from pcOO/Friday, December 7, 2012eSSaY(cont. from page 8; DRAWING... )really important -- loving relationshipsand how we treat one another.These are the things that people rememberin the end, not all the otherflashy resume stuff and money wespend so much energy trying to attain.Everyone responds to adversityin different ways. Just like Martha,we can pray and forge ahead with adeafening optimism. From the wayMartha carried herself, always raptwith joy, no one would have everthought she had lived through sucha turbulent childhood. Like Marthahas shown us, the mysteriousbeauty of hardship is that it can havea remarkable ability to wake up agiant hero we all have inside of us toovercome anything.trahedya ulit. Pero siyempre hokailangang maasikaso lahat ngnabubuhay, kaya nandito kami ngayongaraw na ito. Masigurado ringang gobyerno ay talagang naglilingkodsa inyong lahat," he said.President Aquino is also closelymonitoring the government’s responsefor the rehabilitation and reconstructionefforts to immediatelybring back to normal the lives of theresidents who were greatly affectedby the devastation."Nandito ako para makinig (at)gusto kong malaman lahat angsagot doon sa mga katanungangpumapalibot sa aking isipan. Gustoko lang iwan sa inyo na hindi titigilang pamahalaan niyo na maniguradona pagandahin ang buhay niyoat iwasan ang ganitong klasengsakuna," he said.The government agencies concernedwith disaster response werealready mobilized to assist the affectedcommunities as part of the effortsto mitigate the impact of thetyphoon, the President noted."Hindi ho ako kuntento, kailangantalaga habulin natin na walangmasasalanta tuwing may sasapit naganitong pagkakataon," he said.The President also called on thepeople to cooperate with the governmentin rebuilding the lives of thetyphoon victims."Makipagtulungan po tayo saating gobyerno at ilalagay naminkayo sa mas maayos na kalagayansa lalong madaling panahon," hesaid. (www.pcoo.gov.ph)For those of us whose holidayseason seems dismal for one reasonor another, someone who mayhave lost his job due to downsizing,someone who is caring for a dyingfather, someone going through separation,remember there is hope.There will be another job, peace indying, and new relationships.Everyone goes through painful transitionsin life.For those of us blessed at thistime to be able to enjoy stability duringthis holiday season, let us rememberwhat it was like in our owntrying moments, and extend compassionand help to those less fortunate.May God bless us all. May weall have a merry Christmas andhappy holiday season!

DecemBer 15, 2012PHiliPPiNe NeWSBasilio Named New Envoy to Chinaby aurea calica/Thursday, December 6, 2012MANILA, Philippines -PRESIDENT AQUINOHAS APPOINTED ForeignAffairs Undersecretary forPolicy Erlinda Basilio as thenew ambassador to China.In an ambush interview,Aquino yesterday said hechose Basilio for her“wealth of experience” as aveteran diplomat and inconsideration of the “highrecommendations” of ForeignAffairs Secretary Albertdel Rosario.“Given that she’s alreadythe senior undersecretary,it sends a signal ofhow important our relationsare with China and how seriouswe are in trying toachieve an understandingwith them,” Aquino saidafter his keynote speech atthe League of Municipalitiesof the Philippines’ assemblyat the Manila Hotel.Basilio is replacingSonia Brady, who suffereda stroke in Beijing at theheight of a standoff betweenthe Philippines andChina over Panatag Shoal.Zhang Hua, spokesmanfor the Chinese embassy,said they hope that theearly appointment of thenew Philippine ambassadorwill facilitate communicationand development of bilateralrelations between thetwo countries.The President saidMalacañang would submitBasilio’s nomination to theCommission on Appointments.“Once they confirmAmb. Erlinda Basilio(her), therefore, we canseek – the French term isagrement – the agreementfor the designation of Usec.Basilio as our new ambassadorto China,” the Presidentsaid. PresidentialCommunications Developmentand Strategic PlanningOffice Secretary RickyCarandang said Basilio hasthe “necessary skills toNBI Files Syndicated Estafa Rapsvs 17 Bank Execsby Florence HiBiOnaDa-pns/Saturday, December 8, 2012CRIMINAL CHARGES OFSYNDICATED ESTAFA havebeen filed by the National Bureauof Investigation WesternVisayas Regional Office 6(NBI WEVRO 6) against 17bank personalities of theRural Bank of Badiangan(Iloilo) Inc.The charges once upheld,carries no bail for all ofthe respondents.With an initial 37 victimdepositors,the NBI WEVRO6 concluded its probe and establishedalleged violation ofSection 1, Presidential Decree(PD) 1681 in relation toArticle 315 (2) (a) of the RevisedPenal Code asamended.At stake are over P13 millionin depositors’ moneygone missing following thebank’s closure in July of thisyear. The said amountthough is expected to significantlyballoon once the rest ofthe accounting and pendingcomplaints are resolved.To date, victim-depositorswere segregated into threegroups coming from Iloilo Cityand the Municipality ofJanuiay. Fourth group areBadiangan, Cabatuan andSta. Barbara-based victimdepositors.In an official NBI WEVRO6 press statement, namedsuspects and charged beforethe Provincial and City Prosecutor’soffices are formerbank manager Samuel Hortelanoand current managerBella Buscar. Also chargedare bank Vice President JobyArandela, bank cashier HelenRico, bank secretary EgleserioRebustes and bank memberof the board JosefinaArandela.Likewise charged are “independentdirectors” NenaMana-ay and Edgar Llave,current compliance officerEmilda Davoc, former banksecretary Herlyn HedaSalazar, bank clerks LenieAbordaje, Cynthia Tacanloy,Ma. Cynthia Paula Tacanloyalias “Mar-Mar,” former complianceofficer Cres Davoc,account officer Ana Marie Balbasor,security guard FedericoAbordaje alias “Idoy” andmember of the bank’s boardof directors, Aileen Consumo.The victim-depositors, thestatement went, “were all enticedby Bella Buscar….toopen an account due to thehigh interest rates….as wellas the assurance that theirdeposits are insured with thePhilippine Deposit InsuranceCorporation (PDIC). All of thecomplainants personally entrustedtheir money intendedfor opening a time deposit accountto Bella Buscar at herofficer in Badiangan, Iloilo orat their respective residencesin Iloilo City.”Certificates of Time Depositwere issued and renewedupon maturity asinterests supposedly earnedwere personally delivered tot h e v i c t i m - d e p o s i t o r s ’homes. However when theclosure happened in July, thePDIC disclosed that amountas purportedly depositedwere never recorded in themaster list of depositors.(PNS)build bridges to China andarticulate the policies andpositions of our country onimportant issues.”“She will play a crucialrole in shaping our evolvingand increasingly complexrelationship with China,”Carandang said.Basilio wrote a positionpaper on why there was nojoint communiqué issuedfollowing the recent Associationof Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN)’s foreignministers’ meeting in Cambodialast July.She defended thePhilippines from criticismsthat it was being obstructionist.The other ASEAN foreignministers later backedthe Philippines in pushingfor a joint communiqué toinclude the West PhilippineSea issue, which was beingNews Edition 11blocked by chairman Cambodia.In August, Basiliohanded a note verbale toCambodian embassy SecondSecretary Tan Chandaravuthto protest formerCambodian ambassadorHos Sereythonh’s claimthat “dirty politics” was behindthe “inflexible and nonnegotiable”position of thePhilippines and Vietnam onthe inclusion of the WestPhilippine Sea issue in theASEAN Joint Communiqué.Basilio also led last Octoberthe 18th Philippines-China Foreign MinistryConsultations co-hosted byChinese Vice Foreign MinisterFu Ying at the Departmentof Foreign Affairs(DFA).The DFA said the twocountries exchanged viewson the diplomatic relationsand issues of common interestin a constructive atmosphere.(www.philstar.com)

12 News Edition Food aNd leiSUreWho Says Veggies Are Boring?DecemBer 15, 2012FeasT wiTH me by stephanie ZUBiriLast Nov. 13, Nielsen revealedthe top 50 ConsumerPackaged Goodsthat Filipinos buy the most.What is most alarming to meis that the top three are carbonatedsoft drinks, winesand spirits, and biscuits.Even more alarming is thatfive out of the six food andbeverage products that findthemselves on the top eightlist are just as packed withsugar and empty calories —instant noodles and snackfoods. Powdered milk, atnumber six, can also be arguedto have less benefitsthan that of a healthymother’s breast milk. Ironically,sitting at number fourright under biscuits are dietetics.the dangerous, ironiC1 2(1) Alugbati Frittata(2) Red Rice Risotto(3) Avocado Salad3misConCePtion oF FoodWhat does this say aboutour eating habits as a nation?We want to indulgethen take a quick fix to bejust as slim and abdominallyripped as the bikini-clad andshirtless models on the billboards,forgetting the adverseeffects of extremes onthe body. Recently a seriesof ads on TV and radio promotinga multivitamin supplementdescribes someonegorging himself on fatty, richfoods, then saying it’s allright because you can easilytake a pill to get the propernutrition you need. Anotherad shows the difficulty of eatinghealthy and the lack ofaccessibility of healthy food,again the pill coming to therescue. While multivitaminsare certainly helpful, whatthey don’t say is that a lackof nutrients is not the onlyproblem you’ll have by unhealthyeating.Another question comesto mind: Why is it more andmore difficult to find real, accessiblewhole food? In acountry surrounded by vastwaters and abounding withlush, fertile land, why are fishand vegetables so pricey?Also, have our taste budsevolved as a nation to findfresh, clean food repulsive?On a giant billboard for vegetable-enrichedspaghetti,the tagline says proudly,“With no veggie taste!” Whatis so wrong about the tasteof vegetables? I find myselfhaving to finely chop herbsand vegetables so thatguests eating my food don’tpick them out. This, for me,reflects a serious issue withhow we see food and ourperception of health.The Department ofHealth cites diseases of theheart and diseases of thevascular system as the toptwo causes of mortality in theP h i l i p p i n e s(http://www.doh.gov.ph/node/198). In the most recent NationalNutrition and HealthSurvey (NNHeS II) conductedin 2008, one in fourFilipino adults has hypertension(25.7 percent). We oftenforget or perhaps choose toforget the direct correlationbetween our food intake andour general health. It’s simple.Fatty, rich, sugary andoverly salty foods will take itstoll. The general public,based on my interactions withsome impoverished urbanand rural communities, arenot aware of this correlation.Investing in good eating helpsprevent chronic diseases inthe long run. Once again, it’sthe Band-Aid solution ratherthan prevention.‘i Can’t aFFord to eathealthy’A common argument isthat it is expensive to eathealthy. Yes, it is. But itshouldn’t be. One of themajor causes is the difficultyof direct access from farm totable. Ka Becca Miranda, anonion farmer and activistfrom Nueva Ecija, sells heronions to a local middlemanfor P25/kilo. In most supermarketsyou end up payingthe retail price of P75 —sometimes up to P95 — perkilo. We need serious effortfrom the government to openaccess to these producers.Talking to one of these farmersfrom Batangas, she saidthat their town was so abundantin carabao milk andkesong puti that they werepractically giving it away or itwould spoil. Another cause isour incessant demand forWestern-type vegetables.Growing up in the Eighties, Iate macopa picked from aneighbor’s tree and one ofmy favorite dishes was alugbatiand giniling. We oftenhad sayote in the house,atis, mangosteen, malunggayand the like. I see morepears than atis nowadaysand go try and find alugbatiin a regular grocery or askyour 10-year-old nephew ifhe likes macopa. They probablywon’t even know what itis. Many farmers are makingthe switch to more popularwestern crops, which aremore costly to grow andstore. Indigenous vegetableslike saluyot (jute leaves) orkulitis (amaranthe) proliferatelike weeds and are extremelynutritious. Legumeslike tapilan are rich in proteinand fiber, and take almost noeffort to grow. Making theswitch to brown rice, for example,will increase your dietaryfiber intake, cleansingyour colon of fatty residueand providing a good sourceof vitamin B. Filipinos don’tconsume enough fiber. Wemostly eat heavy dishes, accompaniedby refinedstarches full of empty caloriesand sugars.‘But healthy Food isBoring Food’Most people dismissvegetables as being boring.But it’s all a matter of creativityand education — startingkids young by not gettingthem used to artificial flavors.Cooking nowadays is all amatter of powders and mixesand our traditional culinaryart is also dying from it. Tastetests in culinary schoolshave shown that people nowprefer the powdered sinigangmix to the real deal.Why? Because we got usedto it. Re-educating the palateis extremely important.Thinking out of the “pakbetadobo-gata-sabaw”boxwhen cooking our local veggiesis also helpful. Lookingto other cuisines for inspiration.During a cooking demo,we came up with a “monggofalafel” that we turned into a“burger” that both parentsand children enjoyed.Whole-grain rice andlegumes have nourished civilizationsin Africa and the Indiansubcontinent for years.An alugbati frittata can convertmany non-leafy veggieeaters in just minutes. All aretasty. All are cost-effective.(continued on page 14)

DecemBer 15, 2012by reuben s.seGUriTanFilipinos and Latinoswould benefit from a Republican-sponsoredimmigrationbill that would givetemporary visas to spousesand children of lawful permanentresidents (LPR).Known as the STEMJobs Act, the proposed legislationwould provide 55,000additional green cards a yearto foreign nationals receivingadvanced degrees in science,technology, engineeringand mathematics(STEM) The bill is seen asthe Republican Party’s wayof showing that they are seriousabout immigration reform.Last September 20, theSTEM bill was already takenup in the House of Representatives.It failed to passeven though it received themajority votes of the membersbecause the procedureused required a two-thirdsvote.Democrats opposed thebill because it would eliminatethe 55,000 green cardsallotted each year under theDiversity Visa Lottery program.These green cards aregiven by lottery to qualifiedimmigrants from countrieswith low rates of immigrationto the United States. Theproposed bill, in effect, doesleGal NoteSnot increase the total numberof visas issued each year.This time, the Republicansmade the bill more appealingby adding a provisionwhich will allow the spousesand minor children of LPRs toenter the U.S. while they waitfor their own green cards.They will enter the U.S. undera temporary visa. Althoughthey will not be able to workuntil they obtain their greencards, this will allow them tobe reunited with their familieswhile they wait.At present, spouses andminor children of LPRs willhave to wait over two yearsbefore they can be issuedtheir green cards. Those whoare receiving their greencards today are those whowere petitioned prior to August22, 2010.The backlog has approximately322,000 spouses andchildren of LPRs waiting fortheir immigrant visas. The billwould allow LPRs to be reunitedwith their families in theU.S. one year after they file I-130 petitions on their behalf.Whether the Senate willsupport the bills remains tobe seen. The provision ontemporary visas for immediatefamilies of LPRs maydraw some support; however,it is clear that Democratsremain opposed to theelimination of the diversityvisa program and seek to increasethe number of visas.The Democrats have introduceda version of theirown STEM bill which has notbeen taken up in the House.News EditionRepublican Bill to Give TemporaryVisa to Families of LPRsFIRST FIL-AM IN CA ASSEMBLY. Rob Bonta (second to the left;Inset) is shownwith fellow Assembly Members-elect as they took their oath of office last Monday,Dec. 3 in Sacramento. Bonta broke the glass ceiling as the first Fil-Am to servein the California Legislature. | AJPress photo by Malou Liwanag-Bledsoe13Like the Republican-version,the proposed bill provides foradditional green cards forSTEM graduates; however, itretains the Diversity VisaLottery program. Their proposalalso includes utilizingunused visa numbers forSTEM graduates to make upfor backlogs in the employment-basedcategories.Although the STEM bill isnot a major fix to a brokenimmigration system, it willexpand visas for STEMgraduates and allow familiesto reunite. More importantly,passing this GOP immigrationbill is a tell-tale sign thatimmigration reform is alreadyin the works.reuBen s. seguritan has beenpracticing law for over 30 years. Forfurther information, you may call him at(212) 695 5281 or log on to his websiteat www.seguritan.comMaiNlaNd NeWSRob Bonta Breaks the Glass Ceiling as First Fil-Am in theCalifornia Legislatureby malou liwanaG-BleDsOe/Wednesday, December 5, 2012S A C R A M E N T O — H I S -TORY WAS DEFINITELYMADE WHEN ROBBONTA took his oath of officeand became the first Filipino-Americanlegislator inthe State of California, duringthe 2013-2014 OrganizationalSession of the Assemblylast Monday, Dec. 3.Bonta, was the formerVice Mayor of the City ofAlameda before he waselected last Nov. 6 as amember of the State Assemblyfor District 18, winningagainst another Democrat,Abel Guillen.The session, held in theAssembly Chamber in theState Capitol Building inSacramento, convened at12:00 noon by a call to orderand roll call and followedwith a prayer by Rev. ScottSantarosa, SJ; pastor of theDolores Mission Church inLos Angeles.Bonta, along with otherAssembly Members-electtook their oath of office, administeredby Los AngelesSuperior Court Judge MaryLou Villar de Longoria.Wearing the traditionalbarong tagalog, Bonta stoodout in the sea of black suits.He was joined by his wife,Mialisa.Bonta has receivedtremendous support from theFilipino community not onlywhile he was running for theState Assembly, but alsowhile he was in office as ViceMayor and Alameda CountyTransportation Commissioner.As the son of labor organizers,serving the peopleruns in his blood.He graduated with honorsfrom Yale College with adegree in History. He obtainedhis Juris Doctoratefrom Yale Law School afterstudying at Oxford Universityin England.A husband and father ofthree, Bonta is a strong advocatefor public schoolsthroughout his career in publicservice and has fought forpublic safety. He also haspushed for economic developmentand exercising fiscalresponsibility.The session continued onto the re-election of JosePerez as the Speaker of theAssembly and his speech,the appointment of theSpeaker Pro Tempore andother organizational business.There is more optimism inthe State Legislature in 2013compared to past years, withnew revenues that will comein through the voter-approvedProposition 30. Theproposition, which is the initiativeof Governor JerryBrown, raises taxes on thewealthy and hikes the statesales tax by a quarter cent.(www.asianjournal.com)ADVERTISE NOW AND SEE HOWTHE FACE OF BUSINESS IS CHANGING!No matter how small your ad,it gets our readers attention!CALL 678-8930 OR GO TO OUR WEBSITE @www.efilipinochronicle.com www.thefilipinochronicle.com

14 News Edition MaiNlaNd NeWSNAFCON Launches Relief Efforts for Typhoon VictimsTHE NATIONAL ALLIANCEFOR FILIPINO CONCERNS(NAFCON) is appealing toFilipinos across the U.S. toassist victims of TyphoonPablo which ravaged thesouthern region of Mindanaoand left over 500 dead.According to the PhilippineConsulate General inHonolulu, a total of 418 aredead, 445 injured and 383missing. The typhoon has affectedover 5.1 million individuals,with the areas mostaffected as Compostela Valley,Davao Oriental and Surigaodel Sur. The latestupdates are available onlineat: www.ndrrmc.gov.ph.“Days have passed andthe people are still seekingrelief from the government,”says NAFCON organizerAnne Beryl Corotan. “Eachday more people have nofood and water, are homelessand becoming sick. It’san inexcusable neglect in astate of calamity.”NAFCON’s relief effort,which is part of its overallmission to protect the rightsand welfare of Filipinos in theU.S. and around the world,has assisted victims of typhoonsOndoy, Sendongand now Pablo.NAFCON vice presidentJoy de Guzman was in Mindanaolast August and sawhow much-needed supportfrom private sector organizationscan effectively assist typhoonvictims.“It’s only because of people’sorganizations that victimsof Sendong were able toget relief and settle in evacuationcenters because theAquino government is not reallydoing anything. Now, thistyphoon ravaged the wholeof Mindanao and parts of theVisayas. Let’s step up our effortsto raise donations for typhoonvictims.”In lieu of material goods,NAFCON is collecting monetarydonations that will arrivequickly and directly to communitiesadversely affectedby the typhoon. Donationswill be given through the Fr.Fausto “Pops” TentorioFoundation, NAFCON’s partnerorganization on theground in Mindanao.Donations can be madethrough PayPal athttp://tinyurl.com/nafconrelief3or by sending checks toDecemBer 15, 2012“Tulong Sa Bayan (TSB)”519 S. Spring St., Los Angeles,CA 90013. TSB hasbeen NAFCON’s establishedpartner in sending relief donationsto the Philippines.On the check’s memo,please write: NAFCONBayanihan Relief and yourcity of residence along with areturn address. Donations of$250 or more will be tax deductible.For more information onregional collection centers,fundraising and relief activities,please go online andvisit: http://nafconusa.org/.Food & leiSUre(cont. from page 12; WHO ... )a Personal ConFessionNo, I am not a beacon ofgood health and nutrition. I’mjust like everyone else —torn between enjoying life’sepicurean indulgences andleading a healthy lifestyle.Every so often I fall into thattrap, forgetting that health isnot just staying slim. Justlast week, after a fewmonths of deliriously amazingfood adventures, I hadpacked on a few poundsthat simple exercise was notshedding. I had taken someherbal (or so it said on thebox) appetite suppressantsand between intense work,stress and daily intensiveexercise, I finished lastweek by fainting. Yes, a serious“blackout, smellingsalts, carry her to a chair”fainting spell. While I shouldalready be happy with how Ilook and my generallyhealthy lifestyle, it’s difficultnot to be influenced by theprevalent national attitudetowards food: Indulge, butthen you have to have a sixpack.Oh, and let’s take apill for all the missing stuff.Being a foodie and trying tobe healthy at the same timeis a constant battle. But yes,I know it is possible. TheFrench have been doing itfor ages! And why? Becausethey eat everything.They love veggies as muchas they love their foie gras.They also have massive respectand support for agricultureand fresh produce.They eat real food and notprocessed foods.For people like me wholove to eat, food is a comfort,a source of joy … but itsmost beautiful aspect is thatit nourishes both figurativelyand literally. Let the words ofHippocrates be our newmantra: “Let food be thymedicine and medicine bethy food.”alUGbati FRittata(Serves 6-8)Ingredients:8 eggs1/2 cup milk1 cup grated cheese of choice1 large onion2 cloves garlic4 cups uncooked alugbati leaves chopped roughly;salt and pepper to taste; olive oilProcedure:In a non-stick pan, heat some olive oil and saute garlicand onions till soft and light golden brown. Add the alugbatileaves and let wilt. Season with salt and pepper. Cook forabout two to three minutes. In a separate bowl, whisk theeggs and milk together. Spread the onions, garlic and alugbatievenly in the pan and pour the egg mixture on top. Addsome grated cheese all over. Season with salt and pepper.Turn down heat and cover pan. Let the egg cook slowly frombottom up for about 10 minutes. There is no need to flip overthe frittata. For quicker cooking you may also place the panin the oven, uncovered if the pan is oven proof.Red Rice Risotto(Serves two)Ingredients:2 cups cooked red rice1/2 onion minced1 clove garlic1/2 cup squash cubes1/4 cup crumbled feta1/2 cup white wine1/2 cup chicken stockSalt and pepper to tastefresh thyme for garnisholive oilProcedure:In a deep skillet, heat olive oil and saute onions, garlicand squash. Cook the squash for about seven minutes oruntil cooked through. Add the red rice. Add the white wineand some chicken stock on high heat. Let the liquid reduce.Add some crumbled feta. Season with salt and pepper. Stirthrough. The texture should be neither soupy nor dry butslightly creamy. Garnish with more feta and fresh thyme.(www.philstar.com)

DecemBer 15, 2012News Edition15COmmUNITy CAlENDARPaRol Festival / sUNdaY ● Nov. 30-Dec 15, 2012 ●Philippine Consulate ● Please contact 596-6316 ext. 106 or emailhonolulupc@hawaii.twcbc.comsaN PedRo calUNGsod thaNKsGiviNG masscelebRatioN / sUNdaY ● December 16, 2012, ● St. AnthonyChurch, Kalihi ● For dinner reservation, please contact, GeneLumantas @ 623-0598 home or (714) 767-4076 cell, for food ticketby mico leTarGO/Saturday, December 8, 2012LOS ANGELES – A DOCU-MENT RECENTLY RE-LEASED by the White Housemay prove as a potential breakthroughin the long enduringcause for due recognition of theelderly Filipino veterans, whofought under the United Statescommand in World War II.The document, which previouslyhad classified information,could finally loosen the grip of theUS Armed Forces on the remainingamounts of compensatoryfunds payable to the aging veterans.On Nov. 19, the White HouseInitiative on Asian Americans &Pacific Islanders announced thatthe National Archives & RecordsAdministration has released to thepublic a 335-page report (entitled,“US Army Recognition Program ofPhilippine Guerrillas”) that couldhelp swing the tide for the vets.The report was compiled afterthe end of WWII. It includes documentationissued by the US Armyduring and after the war. Filvet advocatesbelieve that these recordscan make a strong impact on theresults of pending appeals filed byveterans and their surviving kin.Notably included in this reportare the official rosters of what theUS Army deems as “recognized”guerilla units. These rosters couldpotentially bolster the claims ofthe elderly soldiers.In a Veteran’s Day engagementat the White House, representativesof the AmericanCoalition of Filipino Veterans(ACFV) were invited to meet thepresident. There, PresidentObama received a letter from thecoalition expressing their appreciationof Cabinet Secretary Chris Luand his efforts in the Filvets’ cause.Advocates also called onObama to prioritize the deliberationsand the decision-making onthe pending appeals of the veterans.MaiNlaNd NeWSdonation of $5.00. Tickets are also available at SaintAnthony’s Kalihi officePasKo sa Filcom / sUNdaY ● December 16,2012, ● 94-428 Mokuola Street, Waipahu ● 3:30 - 7:30PM ● please contact, Gene Lumantas @ 623-0598 homeor (714) For inquiries, contact (808) 680-0451 or email:filcom@filcom.org.Released ‘Classified’ Document May Helpin WWII Filvets’ CauseFilipino World War II veterans“It is our priority,” Obama said, in a report from New AmericaMedia.Secretary Lu told the veteransand advocates that an InteragencyWorking Group of representativesfrom differentgovernment departments will analyzethe eligibility process to ensurethat all applications are givenfair deliberations.At the same event, ACFV executivedirector Eric Lachicaspoke to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki.Lachica expressed his gratitudeto Shinseki for the latter’ssupport of the Interagency WorkingGroup.In a separate interview,Lachica reiterated the need to expeditethe resolution on the veterans’appeals because of thelooming ‘fiscal cliff.’ The ACFVhead said that the budget cutscould impact the VA budget.Most Filipino veterans, now intheir mid-80s and 90s, are dyingout at an alarming rate. Of theoriginal 550,000 fighters fromWWII, only about 50,000 vets nowremain.The ACFV estimates thataround 300 of them pass awayper month on average. At thisrate, in roughly 13 years, almostall of the remaining veterans willhave passed away.In 2009, Congress passed theFilipino Veterans Equity CompensationAct as part of an economicstimulus package enacted in thatyear.However, thousands of soldierswho applied for compensationwere denied claims, and arenow waiting on the Department ofVeterans Affairs (VA) for the rulingson their appeals.Of the remaining veterans,only 43,083 filed for claims underthe compensation fund. If the applicationsare successful, onetimegrants of $15,000 will begiven to veterans based in the US,while $9,000 will be given to thosebased in the Philippines.According to NAM, the VA initiallyapproved 18,698 applications,while more than half weredenied for the program. Amongthe estimated 24,000 former soldierswhose applications wereturned down, only 4,000 filed toappealed for reconsideration.The rejections precipitatedcomments from veterans’ welfareadvocates, saying that there is an“unjustly complicated standard”that makes it difficult for the eldersto prove their qualification for thecompensation packages. Manybelieve that their disqualificationcan be traced to the stern rules setby the VA in 2011.Under these rules, the NationalPersonnel Records Centermust certify that an applicant’sname appears on both the Rosterof Troops and the Discharge Listprepared by the US Army at theend of WWII. However, many ofthe names can only be found in eitherone list or the other, but neverboth.A number of those names arealso found in the records of theUS Commonwealth PhilippineArmy, which are also archived atthe National Personnel RecordsCenter. The US Army has howeverdetermined that these files“are not official.”The ACFV is appealing that theUS government considers all otherrecords of war service, as they believethat these could help the4,000 applicants who filed appealsfor the compensation program.Furthermore, they believe that therecently released records wouldmake a strong impact on the deliberations.(www.asianjournal.com)ClaSSiFied adSAL PHILLIPS THE CLEANERP/T, F/T Costumer Service/AlterationsTraining, High Pay with benefitsCall: 284-7878BUSINESS DIRECTORy

News EditionDecemBer 15, 2012