opposition to trump's order on immigration FEBRUARY 4, 2017 FebruarY 4, 2017 HaWaii Filipino chronicle 1 CANDID PERSPECTIVES We never KneW miss obama

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1 FebruarY 4, 2017 HaWaii Filipino chronicle 1 FEBRUARY 4, 2017 CANDID PERSPECTIVES We never KneW HoW much We'D miss obama PHILIPPINE NEWS Duterte Won't Help undocumented Filipinos Facing Deportation LEGAL NOTES WiDespreaD opposition to trump's order on immigration HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE WAIPAHU DEPOT RD., 2ND FLR. WAIPAHU, HI PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID HONOLULU, HI PERMIT NO. 9661

2 2 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 4, 2017 EDITORIALS Counting the Costs in a Long Distance Relationship n estimated 14 million people in the U.S. are involved in long distance relationships (LDRs), A with the average distance separating couples at 125 miles. In the Philippines, LDRs are a fact of life, particularly for those many Filipinos who have immigrated or are working abroad. These international LDRs are all the more challenging for couples separated not by hundreds but thousands of miles and several time zones not to mention language barriers and cultural differences. For such couples, the odds are stacked against them. LDRs test the depth of a couple's commitment to each other and those fortunate enough to survive the many pitfalls develop a steely resolve that true love conquers all. LDRs are definitely not for everyone. Choosing to be in such a relationship is a difficult decision and not one to be taken lightly. Both sides need to count the costs of being involved in an LDR. There are obvious financial costs involved when traveling to see each other but there are hidden costs as well, such as to one s health when one stays up until 4 am to talk or Skype, then rely on copious amounts of caffeine to remain awake. Doing so for weeks or months on end can take its toll on one s health and job performance. Successful long distance relationships do exist, many of them happily. But for every LDR with a happy ending, there are many more that have sadly expired. Statistics show that 40 percent of all LDRs do not last and most start to break down after about 4.5 months. Successful LDRs require tremendous levels of trust and a commitment towards meeting in person as often as possible. Although there is a time and place for videochats like FaceTime, nothing quite compares to being together in person. Most importantly, both sides need to plan for the future with the understanding that the relationship will not remain long distance indefinitely. If there is no end in sight and the chances are that living together in the same area will never happen, perhaps it is time to re-evaluate if the relationship is worth holding on to. As much as it may hurt, let the person go and move on with your life. Follow your heart and find someone who desperately wants to be physically with you for the rest of your life. Social Media Can Be A Real Addiction re you this person? - the one who spends half the A time at a party taking selfies, editing and uploading them onto Facebook while engaging in superficial conversation. If that isn t annoying enough, you spend even more time constantly checking your smartphone for comments and likes during dinner, after dinner, and even on your way out the door. Before starting your car, you reach down into your pocket or purse, grab your smartphone yet again and begin answering texts and messages. To finish off what was supposed to be a fun night out, your disappointed significant other whom you ignored most of the night, must listen to your smartphone beep repeatedly as you drive home. Each beep signals new incoming messages; but to your husband or wife, that aggravating tone means -- neglect and less time for healthy communication together. While you were alone in la-la social media land, you practically missed the entire party: a chance to reconnect with family FROM THE PUBLISHER alentine's Day is just around V the corner and we would like to wish you an early Happy Valentine's Day! Please take time to plan something special for your loved one. For this issue's cover story, contributing writer Seneca Moraleda-Puguan tells us about the joys and sorrows of long distance relationships and how she herself survived one. Many asked her if long distance courtships really work. Fortunately, it did for her and she is a living example of the quote that states that "distance means so little when someone mean s so much". R ead her stor y on how she and others overcame the challenges they encountered. Just two weeks after former Pesident Barack Obama left office, contributing writer Emil Guillermo laments about how much he miss es him. He compares Mr. Obama to the new President Donald Trump in terms of style of governance, racial relationships, and other policy initiatives. I suspect that most of our readers in Hawaii, being a blue state, agree with him. In local news, we are saddened by the sudden death of former Supreme Court Justice Mario R. Ramil who died of cancer on January 30. Ramil will be remembered for his many contributions to the people of Hawaii and to the Filipino community. We extend our sincerest condolences to his family. In other news, President Trump recently issued a controversial Executive Order that is creating waves here and in other parts of the globe. The o rder suspend s the issuance of visas for 90 days to nationals from 7 countries such as Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It also suspend s the entry of Syrian nationals as refugees. There are many more interesting articles to read in this issue, including the Open Forum written by Atty. Sheryll Bonilla, Personal Reflections by Renelaine Bontol Pfister and Philippine Language by Pacita Saludes. In closing, we thank you for your continued support through the years. It has been a pleasure to serve all of our readers. If you have a story to tell or would like to share any suggestions or concerns, please us at filipinochronicle@gmail.com. Until next time, aloha and mabuhay! and friends you haven t seen in months, a chance to have meaningful conversations, to enjoy laughter, to see your loved ones smile, to be romantic with your husband on the dance floor, to share a thoughtful story, or to simply be present at the party for someone else besides yourself and your tech devices. This scenario is all too typical for many Americans. This party setting is interchangeable to the social media addict and plays out the same way while at the mall, school events, family vacation, restaurants, or in the bedroom before retiring for the day. Wasting your life away Social media can be a real problem, even an addiction that society tends to overlook. Research shows that the average user spends about 25 hours a week ing, texting, and using social media and other forms of online communication. That is about 4.5 hours a day or 25 to 35 percent of a person s wakeful day. (continued on page 6) Publisher & Executive Editor Charlie Y. Sonido, M.D. Publisher & Managing Editor Chona A. Montesines-Sonido Associate Editors Dennis Galolo Edwin Quinabo Contributing Editor Belinda Aquino, Ph.D. Creative Designer Junggoi Peralta Photography Tim Llena Administrative Assistant Shalimar Pagulayan Columnists Carlota Hufana Ader Emil Guillermo Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Ph.D. Ron Menor J.P. Orias Pacita Saludes Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq. Charlie Sonido, M.D. Cong. Mark Takai Emmanuel S. Tipon, Esq. Felino S. Tubera Sylvia Yuen, Ph.D. Contributing Writers Clement Bautista Teresita Bernales, Ed.D Rose Churma Serafin Colmenares, Jr., Ph.D. Julia Crowley Linda Dela Cruz Fiedes Doctor Danny De Gracia, II, MA Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand Amelia Jacang, M.D. Caroline Julian Raymund Ll. Liongson, Ph.D. Federico Magdalena, Ph.D. Deborah T. Manog Maita Milallos Paul Melvin Palalay, M.D. Renelaine Bontol-Pfister Seneca Moraleda-Puguan Lilia Q. Santiago, Ph.D. Jay Valdez, Psy.D. Glenn Wakai Amado Yoro Philippine Correspondent: Greg Garcia Neighbor Island Correspondents: Big Island (Hilo and Kona) Grace Larson Ditas Udani Kauai Millicent Wellington Maui Christine Sabado Big Island Distributor Grace Larson Ditas Udani Kauai Distributor Amylou Aguinaldo Nestor Aguinaldo Jimmy Iloreta Maui Distributor Cecile Piros Molokai Distributor Maria Watanabe Oahu Distributor Yoshimasa Kaneko Jonathan Pagulayan Advertising/Marketing Director Chona A. Montesines-Sonido Account Executives Carlota Hufana Ader J.P. Orias The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle is published weekly by The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc. and is located at Waipahu Depot, Waipahu, HI Telephone (808) Facsimile (808) filipinochronicle@gmail.com. Website: Opinions expressed by the columnists and contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle management. Reproduction of the contents in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission from the management. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. U.S. SBA SmAll BUSineSS JoUrnAliSt AwArdee member, Society of ProfeSSionAl JoUrnAliStS

3 By Emil Guillermo CANDID PERSPECTIVES FebruarY 4, 2017 HaWaii Filipino chronicle 3 We Never Knew How Much We d Miss Obama lmost two A weeks in and I can t believe how much I miss Hawaii s Chicago-style President, who is all deep-dish compared to the thin-crust, New York-style Trump. Trump may know pizza but Barack Obama knew how to be president. Trump acts like a tough guy proud of his wad of money. Big wad? Well, we don t have any tax returns. Nevertheless, he s now incharge, officially. The transition I called the Trump Creep, aptly describing the process and the man, has ended and now we re officially in a brand new show. For some, these days since November 8 have been like the Twilight Zone. But just wait. As Trump has shown, we ain t seen nothing yet. Every day, it s something new. From minor points like my crowd is bigger than your crowd; to conflating bad voter registration rolls with illegal voting (there is a difference and nothing adds up to voting fraud); from ordering the building of a wall to paranoid extreme vetting; from NATO bad to behind NATO 100 percent; to heralding torture; to passing the buck to Defense Secretary James Mattis, Trump is learning the hard way that as president, everything you say and tweet becomes news. So it s odd that his chief strategist Steve Bannon, onetime leader of the alt-right hate mongers, is hell bent on calling the media the opposition party and demand they shut up and just listen. Shut up? He should be advising Trump to do the same. If I were advising the president, I d tell him to cool it. Act presidential. Revere the position. Act bigger than his small minded instincts. Stop acting like it s just him and Billy Bush in the back of the bus ogling women and talking about p-grabbing. Act the part. The guy s president of the Whites House. Oh, I said Whites House, because there sure aren t many minorities in the cabinet. Two Asians, an African American and zero Latinos. Trump called it the richest and smartest cabinet. With Rick Perry as potential Energy Secretary, I doubt it. But it s also one of the whitest in a long time. And this is from a GOP which before the campaign had a blueprint on making the GOP reflect the nation. It was going so well. And then Trump, the birther-in-chief, took over and won. And the GOP ripped up the blueprint and didn t mind if it set back the GOP another generation in race relations. They just wanted that win. And now, after years of seeing people truly act and respect the presidency, it s just strange to see Trump in that role acting small, not big. The man who has never held public office likes his politics raw, blunt and tweeted. Taking on the presidency should be humbling. But it only seems to have grown Trump s already monumental ego to a size that could bust the Capitol. Ironically, the term creep was also an acronym that harkens back to Nixon and Watergate. Maybe it s no mere coincidence as Trump is already the least liked president in two decades to enter office, the least ethical (anyone else settle a $25 million fraud suit?), and least transparent (seen any tax returns? Blind trusts?). Trump is on the brink as the most potentially Nixonian president we ve ever had. And now he s Trump 45 a real pistol, aimed right at immigrants, Muslims and all of us who qualify as other. And all of us do. We knew this was all coming but somehow I thought we d see some kind of pivot from Trump away from the campaign troll to more like the leader of the free world. I certainly was looking for signs of unity in Trump s America First inaugural address. That would have been a moment to let all people of color know we count in his eyes. Instead, we get lip service about how when we open our hearts to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice. At least that s what Trump said. And then when he invoked God, and I knew we were in trouble. God is your go-to when you have no idea how to govern. Answers? Plans? Buy American. America First. Trump has a lot of empty words for a guy who wants to make America great again. You ll recall how bad the country was in 2008, when bankers and money men created the mortgage crisis and brought the nation s economy to its knees. We ve recovered since then and Obama is responsible for that recovery. Just as he is for providing health insurance to more than 20 million Americans who had nothing. But now that corporate money rules our politics, a business person has been sent to lead and undo Obama s progress. I d consider one sign of progress to be a little thing like the White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders. It was one of Obama s pet projects that was reflected in his philosophy, speech and rhetoric. Asian Americans and LGBTQ were part of Obama s vision of inclusion. It s fair to say Obama watched over us when it came to discrimination and race. He always made sure we weren t forgotten. And by the way, the president said in his last press conference as he talked about racial divisions and stereotypes, it s no longer a black and white issue alone. You got Hispanic folks and you got Asian folks We ve got this stew that s bubbling up from people everywhere, and we re going to have to make sure that we in our own lives and our own families and work places do a better job of treating everybody with basic respect and understanding that not everybody starts off in the same situation. Somehow I don t see Trump singing the same tune. So as Obama 44 comes to an end, we remember fondly the closest thing to an Asian American president we've ever had Barack Obama, the bi-racial African American with the Indonesian half-sister, who was born in the nation s most Asian state. He wasn t perfect, but he seemed to balance all of our interests for the greater good. That simple trick in the name of democracy we may not see again for a long, long time. In the meantime, the White House web site has removed all the vestiges of the Obama years, including pages that celebrate Asian American-Pacific Islanders. The whitewashing has begun. emil guillermo is an award-winning journalist and commentator who writes from Northern California. He recently won the 2015 Dr. Suzanne Ahn Award for Civil Rights and Social Justice from the Asian American Journalists Association California.

4 4 HaWaii Filipino chronicle FebruarY 4, 2017 COVER STORY The Joys and Sorrows of Long Distance Relationships By Seneca Moraleda-Puguan O how ceans apart day after day, and I slowly go insane. I hear your voice on the line but it doesn t stop the pain. If I see you next to never, can we say forever? I remembered my exboyfriend, now husband John Marc, singing this Richard Marx song and playing the guitar while we were on a date. It was beautiful. Being serenaded by my lover melted my heart but at the same time broke it. It brought tremendous joy but also sadness. It was such a sweet gesture but it was painful. It would have been a perfect date, but the only problem was, he was on the other side of the computer screen. He was in South Korea and I was in the Philippines. It was already midnight where he was and an hour behind for me. I remember tears rolling down my eyes as I listened to him sing. His voice was cracking. I knew he was about to cry. Our two hearts were together but physically, we were separated by oceans and mountains. We were in a long distance Long Distance Challenges Joyce and Art Torres, now happily married for four years, have been in a long distance courtship for 52 days and a long distance relationship for 10 months before tying the knot. They are both from the Philippines but Art was in Manila when he started to court Joyce who was working in Australia. They communicated through snail mail and everything that was available in social media and technology like Facebook, Skype and Whatsapp. Joyce shares, We have faced endless challenges. Distance will always be a constant challenge when two people who love each other are far apart. Other challenges would be loneliness, insecurity and uncertainty. As we see couples everyday who could see each other whenever they wanted to, it brings loneliness indeed. It was hard being away from someone you love and value, according to Ladeña Castro who had been in a long distance relationship with her Filipino-Hawaiian boyfriend, Shaun, for five years before getting married. They are now together in Honolulu for a year and three months. She added, The time difference made it hard and the internet signal where I was from in the Philippines was not strong. We were both busy with our professions and it was one of the factors too that made our communication harder. Internet connection was also a challenge for Hawaiianrelationship for more than two years before finally getting married in Many people ask if long distance courtships really work? Fortunately, it does for some. It did for me. My husband and I are a testament of the quote that says distance means so little when someone means so much We are one of many couples who nullified the saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder. It didn t come easy. It was hard work. It required trust and commitment. Fortunately, technology was on our side. Facebook was our best friend and Skype our accomplice. Couples Joyce and Art Torres, Ladeña and Shaun Castro, She Gallardo and her Tanzanian boyfriend Sam, Mayette and Daesung Kim, Mark and Ei Thu Takushi can attest to this. They all are powerful testimonies that when two hearts are meant for each other, no distance is too far, no time is too long, and no other love can break them apart. Japanese Mark Takushi and his Burmese wife Ei Thu who met in the Philippines. Mark says, In Myanmar, the internet options are not there. Video chats would be super blurry and disconnect frequently. So we mostly tried calling on Viber, but even then there would be dropped calls. Conversations would not be complete. We couldn t understand what each other was saying. It would lead to arguments and stress because we couldn t communicate well. For Filipina Mayette and her Korean husband Daesung, the language barrier was a major challenge while they were in courtship. According to Mayette, Daesung s English was relatively better when he was in Iloilo. When he came back to South Korea, his English became rusty so there were times he couldn t understand what I was saying. During their time, Facebook was not yet available so she said, As much as we wanted to call each other often, cost of phone calls were expensive. A five-minute call from the Philippines to Korea cost a hundred pesos. Overcoming Challenges She Gallardo met her Tanzanian boyfriend Sam through a Christian online dating site. They have been in a relationship now for eight months and will be tying the knot in the Philippines a few months from now. Despite not having seen each other physically yet but only through Skype and Whatsapp, their relationship is getting stronger. She shares, Faith in God and asking for His guidance and wisdom as we got to know each other allowed us to overcome distrust and dissatisfaction. Open communication is very important in our relationship. When you are in love, you become creative to overcome the challenges. When I had no money to buy a phone card, I d send an instead. Daesung had to borrow money from a friend and his father so he could fly to the Philippines. You just have to exert every effort to make things work. Indeed, when you love someone, you will swim every ocean and climb every mountain, shares Mayette who now has two children with her husband of 10 years. Joyce exclaims, On our first day of courtship, Art and I laid down our expectations with each other given that distance, work times, daily routine and time difference would be (continued on page 5)

5 COVER STORY FebruarY 4, 2017 HaWaii Filipino chronicle 5 (from page 4, THE JOYS...) challenges for us. This is essential for both to be built in the relationship and for trust to be earned so communication is a big deal. We just had to decide on what mode of communication would fit us best, and work around our schedules. We gave full priority on getting to know each other and telling about each other who we were as much as we could. Everyday without fail, we would call each other because hearing each other s voice would be the highlight of our day. She adds further, We agreed to be transparent always. God became our anchor and our strongest bond. We knew that without God, we would not have been able to overcome. Ladeña and Shaun agree with this. We just had to be understanding with one another knowing that we had different callings and purposes individually at that season. We focused more on pursuing God and allowing Him to be the center of our relationship and to protect us every step of the way. We kept on praying for one another and supported each other on things that we love and were called to do. Advice For Long Distance Couples Friendship is always a great foundation to get to know the person and to grow. If you know that there is a potential to be together with someone long distance, take it one step at a time. Distance is challenging but beautiful. Praying for one another and allowing God to write your love story will allow you to finish strong, Ladeña advises. She Gallardo says, Every story is unique indeed because God is creative and is the ultimate author of everything. Seek God before you start and as you go through the journey. Trust that He has the perfect plan for you. Encourage one another to HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS State Judiciary Announces Court Interpreter Workshop The Hawaii State Judiciary through its Office on Equality and Access to the Courts (OEAC) has announced a workshop for its 2017 Court Interpreter Certification Program. The program is the first step in becoming a qualified court interpreter and ideal for those proficient in English and a second language. The program was established to promote and ensure equal access to Hawaii's courts for those with limited English proficiency, the deaf and hardof-hearing parties by providing the qualified interpreters. The program sets standards in obtaining certified status for selected languages and alternate credentialing for other languages. Court interpreters service the courts as independent contractors and receive compensation starting at $25 per hour with potential rate increases up to $55 per hour; roundtrip mileage reimbursement at $.55 per mile; exemption from expired meter parking ticket while on assignment; and commuter time payment, if applicable. Interpreters must be at least 18 years of age, be authorized to work in the U.S. and obtain a Hawaii general excise tax license. Participants must attend a two-day orientation workshop, keep God as your first love. And finally pray. Prayer is the only thing you can control. It will instill hope when things are not going according to plan, says Mark. Mayette adds, Whether long distance or not, get into a relationship with someone only if it will lead to marriage. Trust is very important in a relationship so this is something that both have to take care of. And even after marriage, continue pursuing each other. Joyce agrees. She says, Trust the God in your partner. Communication is important and pursue each other constantly. God and us together is definitely the perfect example of a long distance relationship. We can t see Him and He isn t tangible to us, yet we trust Him and that He wants the best for us. We pursue each other and that is how He wants it to be. Know that God has both of you in His hands. Every relationship is unique, just as every person is. pass a written English proficiency exam and basic ethics exam and undergo a criminal background check. Taking an oral skills exam is optional, however obtaining a passing score on the oral exam will lead to an increased compensation rate. Offered once a year statewide, the Basic Orientation Workshop (BOW) is the first mandatory event in the certification program. The BOW is a two-day seminar that provides an introduction to court interpreting, ethics and the role of the interpreter in court. Topics covered include the role of interpreters in the state court system; court interpreting skills; interpreting practice techniques; court interpreter ethics and protocol; legal terms and resources; and next steps in the Certification Program. Applicants must attend the BOW in order to become qualified to interpret in the Hawaii State Courts. The registration fee of $95 covers the two-day workshop, course materials and a resource binder. Registration forms and fees must be received by February 10, For additional details, call the OEAC at or send an to: OEAC@courts.hawaii.gov. Distance is only as far as you measure it. In ancient times, people would travel for days to go to neighboring cities on a camel or foot. Nowadays, an airplane can bring you to different countries in hours. Technology is our friend and we no longer have to wait for days and months to receive snail mail just to hear from our partner. My husband and I didn't have the chance to go on dates when we were still boyfriend and girlfriend. When we finally got married, it felt like we were still in the courtship stage. It was beautiful. Now, we were blessed with a wonderful daughter who became the fruit of our long distance relationship. One famous quote says, Distance is not for the fearful, it is for the bold. It s for those who are willing to spend their time alone in exchange for a little time with the one they love. It s for those knowing a good thing when they see it, even if they don t see it nearly enough. All of us faced doubts and uncertainty along the way. But we chose love and trust to overcome. Distance tested our love but it strengthened it at the same time. Back then our hearts sang, I wonder how we can survive this romance. But if the end if I m with you, I ll take the chance. Wherever you go, whatever you do, I will be right here waiting for you. Whatever it takes or how my heart breaks, I will be right here waiting for you. I am glad we waited. I m grateful we took the chance. It was worth it. Truly, love always finds a way. ADVERTISE NOW AND SEE HOW THE FACE OF BUSINESS IS CHANGING! No matter how small your ad, it gets our readers attention! CALL OR GO TO OUR

6 6 HaWaii Filipino chronicle FebruarY 4, 2017 OPINION Ige Speech Unfocused, Disappointing, Lacking in Details By Rep. Bob McDermott avid Ige is a nice D man with a lovely family. But that does not make him a leader. Once again his State of the State speech offered little in specifics and direction to confront the challenges Hawaii faces. Here s my scorecard on the Gov. Ige s key issues: education: F Another top down administrative approached repackaged as Blueprint for Change. It sounds a lot like the old SCBM (School Community Based Management) of the early 1990s and is destined to suffer the same fate, being chewed up by the bureaucracy until it dies. Whether it s No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top or Common Core, teachers are tired of this sort of nonsense and just want to teach. His effort on the air conditioning and cooling of 1,000 classrooms and his ignoring of the crisis at Campbell High School have demonstrated his abysmal lack of leadership and general lack of urgency within the bureaucracy, a true embarrassment for the State. We need more discussion on rebuilding our dilapidated infrastructure and prioritizing the expenditure of education dollars based on enrollment projections in a child-centered student-based policy. Get the politicians out of the disbursement of educational CIP funds. Completely absent in his speech was any concern about non-college bound students. To that end, I have introduced legislation for a pilot project for establishing vocational/ technical education in auto mechanics, plumbing, carpentry and related fields. agriculture: F Agriculture is not helped by the government purchasing land. In fact, it is stymied by adding a layer of application to use the land. Favoritism and back door deals will abound. You keep agricultural land in agriculture by zoning and land use ordinances. It is stupid to spend money on land when we have kids with no suitable cafeterias like Campbell High School and Fort Shafter elementary. affordable Housing: F Okay, the same guys who brought us 42 air conditioners are going to solve the housing crisis. Enough said. The answer is to use his emergency powers to free up some land for rental development by the private sector so they can bypass the 10-year permitting process. Homelessness: D- This is a tough issue. He is doing his best. However, throwing more money at free and reduced housing means you are going to get more folks looking for free and reduced housing. As an immediate measure, I would suggest a tent city or look at securing scores of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trailers and placing them on State-owned land. EDITORIALS (from page 3, SOCIAL...) This is equivalent to a part-time job. People in the U.S. check their Facebook, Twitter, and other social media accounts close to 20 times a day, more than once every waking hour. In some foreign countries in Asia and Mexico, that average goes way up to 40 times a day. Unlike what most people think, compulsive social media use is no longer just a teenager preoccupation. The highest usage is now among adults between the ages of 25 and 54 who are more prone to be glued to their smartphones than even teenagers and younger adults between 15 and 24. Say it s not an addiction, then try quitting. A Cornell Information Science research found that quitting Facebook and other social networks is far from simple. The phenomenon -- people trying to quit social media -- is so common that the process has its own name: social media reversion. Just like other addictive behavior, people who intend and believe they could quit, go through a succession of failed attempts, until finally succeeding. Of course, some never make it. Why would a user want to quit in the first place? More people are starting to discover that excessive use of social media degrades life; and some can even pinpoint their addictive use as the root of problems in their marriage. Social media addiction robs relationships of time that couples could spend doing things together, robs them of healthy communication. With so few hours in a day left after work and commuting, the last concern a husband, wife or child would want is to compete for time with a smartphone or computer at home. M.I.T professor and psychologist Sherry Turkle wrote in her book Alone Together: Why We Expect More From Technology and Less From Each Other: I ve learned from the little devices most of us carry around are so powerful that they change not only what we do, but also who we are. We ve become accustomed to a new way of being alone together. We have gotten used to the idea of being in a tribe of one, loyal to our own party. We are together, but each of us is in our own bubble, furiously connected to keyboards and tiny touch screens. The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate. What many people do not realize is that they are addicted. Social media addiction is perhaps the most pervasive but least talked about form of addiction in society today. A classic definition of an addict is that the person is not able to focus on daily tasks without engaging in the addicted behavior, and prioritizes time to that addicted behavior above more important matters or relationships, regardless of consequence. Lastly, the addicted behavior leads to other emotional problems. Sounds familiar? Researchers in Germany found that people feel more lonely, frustrated, and angry after spending time on Facebook due to perceived inadequacies when comparing themselves to Facebook friends. A user s attempts at trying to project another life, another more flattering image of himself on Facebook -- no matter how much effort it takes, as some never-ending mini-documentary production - - are really attempts to mask deeper feelings of inadequacies. Social media networking sites is a platform to a fantasy world: photos are edited, comments are filtered, content is screened and deleted if it doesn t fit into our projected image. Then at some point, people begin to choregraph photo op events in real life solely to post for their profiles on social media. The line between reality and fantasy becomes blurred. What s real is in our unedited moments and silence that we reveal our true selves. Social media networking profiles are tidy and clean; in the real world, life is often messy and relationships demand attention and work, not one-liner compliments or like-checks. Steven Strogatz of Cornell University said social media sites can make it more difficult for us to distinguish meaningful relationships in the real world. We have sacrificed conversation for mere connection. We embrace an illusion of companionship in exchange of real companionship. We shortchange ourselves in the real world each moment we waste time choregraphing photo opts for our profile pages and obsessing over how people perceive us on social media. Turkle says social media is attractive for three powerful reasons: one, we are always heard; two, we can put our attention wherever we want it to be; and three, we never have to be alone. She says we think constant connection will make us feel less lonely, but the opposite is true. If we are unable to be alone, we are far more likely to be lonely. Put the Brakes on Social Media Use Clearly social media has its usefulness. There are appropriate times and places for on-line (continued on page 11)

7 By Atty. Emmanuel Samonte Tipon n whose side are O you, those who want to protect Americans or those who want to help people from countries with active terrorist groups and who might be terrorists themselves? Two recent polls found that a plurality of Americans support some type of suspension of immigration, according to the New York Times, an anti-trump newspaper. The paper cites a Quinnipiac University poll in January finding that, by a ratio of 48 to 42 percent, voters supported suspending immigration from terror prone regions, even if it means turning away refugees from those regions. And a December Politico/Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health poll found that 50 percent of Americans favored banning future immigration from regions where there are active terrorist groups. If you are on the side of the angels, then you ought to support President Trump who issued on January 27, 2016 an Executive Order titled Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States. Purpose og Immigration Ban The Executive Order states that its purpose is to protect the American people from terrorist attacks by foreign nationals admitted to the United States. and that In order to protect Americans, the United States must ensure that those admitted to this country do not bear hostile attitudes toward it and its founding principles. The United States cannot, and should not, admit those who do not support the Constitution, or those who would place violent ideologies over American law. FebruarY 4, 2017 HaWaii Filipino chronicle 7 WHAT S UP, ATTORNEY? Trump's Immigration Ban to Protect Americans Protecting Americans is the duty of the President. During the campaign, Mr. Trump promised to ban foreigners who intend to commit terroristic attacks in the United States. That was my principal motivation in campaigning for Mr. Trump. I organized the Legal Immigrants for Trump (LIFT). President Trump is fulfilling his campaign promise. He is complying with his duty to protect Americans. People who do not want to protect Americans and would rather help foreign potential terrorists should have voted against Mr. Trump. Someone said that they did. Well, they lost. So they should accept defeat instead of continuing to protest. Protesting will not get you anywhere. President Trump will not revoke the Executive Order. There are people who are protesting the Executive Order but if you ask them whether they have read it (and understood it) the honest ones will tell you that they have not. Then why are you protesting, stupid? Read it first so that you know what you are protesting against. Here is a link to the Executive Order published by an anti-trump newspaper. e-order-trump.html What Does the Order Do? (1) Suspend the issuance of visas and other immigration benefits to nationals of countries of particular concern for 90 days to enable U.S. officials to ensure the proper review and maximum utilization of available resources for the screening of foreign nationals, and to ensure that adequate standards are established to prevent infiltration by foreign terrorists or criminals. The Executive Order does not name the countries, but sources said that they are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. (2) Suspend the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for 120 days. (3) Suspend the entry of Syrian nationals as refugees until such time as the President has determined that their admission is consistent with national interest. (4) Suspend the entry of refugees exceeding 50,000 for the fiscal year 2017 because it would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. Waivers The Secretaries of State and Homeland Security may, on a case-by-case basis, and when in the national interest, issue visas or other immigration benefits to nationals of countries for which visas and benefits are otherwise blocked. Legal Basis The power to exclude foreigners is an incident of sovereignty. The Chinese Exclusion Case [Chae Chan Ping v. U.S.), 130 U.S. 581, 609 (1889). The Executive Order states that the President has the power to enact it: By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C et seq., and section 301 of title 3, United States Code. National Interest In determining whether an alien should be allowed to enter or remain in the United States, national interest has always been the overriding consideration. This is invoked by Trump s Executive Order. When an alien is placed in removal proceedings, the Immigration Judge generally asks: Is it in the national interest to keep you here? So is it in the national interest to allow the entry of people whose entry is suspended temporarily by the Executive Order? Standing to Sue There are reports of certain federal judges issuing orders to prevent the enforcement of the Executive Order. The reports do not state the legal basis for the issuance of the orders. The claim of religious discrimination is frivolous. The Executive Order does not mention religion as a basis for the suspension of admission to the United States. The news reports do not disclose what is the standing of the plaintiffs who sued. It is fundamental that the person challenging the constitutionality of a statute or order must show that such person suffered or will suffer an injury. Merely having a visa does not guarantee entry to the United States. Even having a green card does not guarantee admission to the U.S. No foreign national has an unfettered right to come to the United States, according to the DHS. How Does Order Affect You? Trump s ban has grossly affected me and my family because we are now much safer with the ban in place than we were under the Obama strategy of allowing in un-vetted dangerous individuals, said my friend Peter of Kailua. He is Caucasian. He said CNN was asking questions on how the travel ban has affected people. Other people have not been affected one way or the other. If so, why complain? What Should We Do? Join us in helping President Trump protect Americans! atty. tipon has a Master of Laws degree from Yale Law School where he specialized in Constitutional Law. He has also a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines. He placed third in the Philippine Bar Examination in His current practice focuses on immigration law and criminal defense. He writes law books for the world s largest law book publishing company and writes legal articles for newspapers. He has a radio show in Honolulu, Hawaii with his son Noel, senior partner of the Bilecki & Tipon law firm, where they discuss legal and political issues. Office: American Savings Bank Tower, 1001 Bishop Street, Suite 2305, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A Tel. (808) filamlaw@yahoo.com. Website: He was born in Laoag City, Philippines. He served as a U.S. Immigration Officer. He is co-author with former Judge Artemio S. Tipon of the best-seller Winning by Knowing Your Election Laws and co-author of Immigration Law Service, 1st ed., an 8-volume practice guide for immigration officers and lawyers. Atty. Tipon has personally experienced the entire immigration cycle by entering the United States on a non-immigrant working visa to write law books, adjusting his status to that of a lawful permanent resident, and becoming a naturalized United States citizen

8 8 HaWaii Filipino chronicle FebruarY 4, 2017 OPEN FORUM The Big Squeeze by Sheryll Bonilla don t believe I I ve ever heard a sermon on corporate greed and how it is killing America. Less than two weeks ago, I bought Canon ink for my printer. For as long as I ve owned a Canon printer, the XL size was 21 ml and the L was 11 ml. Yesterday, the new XL size was down to almost half 12 ml and the new L size was 8 ml. The amount of ink you re getting now is almost half but at the same price. Those who are in business and can calculate profits know that this whopper of a change is making a hefty profit for ink producers. My daughter liked Swanson s Chicken and Dumplings, so we always had several cans in our pantry. It came in a 15 oz. size. Several months ago, Swanson trimmed it to 10 oz., but still sold it at the same price. Campbell Soup, if you noticed, also went from 15 oz. cans down to 10.5 oz., and is not as thick as it used to be. Grocery shopping moms are buying one-third less soup but still paying the same price. Calculate the increase in profit. Pop Tarts used to be the size of an adult hand, a nice size, with a thick layer of filling. Now it is the size of a child s hand with a skimpy, thin layer of filling. Same price. Calculate the profit. I first noticed this shocking shrinking of value when my son was born. My daughter is two years older. Her Huggies diapers used to come in a jumbo pack of 96 for $10. When my son was born, that jumbo pack got cut to 48 diapers but still sold for $10. We got half as many diapers but paid the same price. Calculate the profit. When Clinton was still president, gas was $1.27 a gallon. During the Bush years, it went over $4 a gallon. Under Obama, gas came down to $2.13 a gallon. Now that Trump has taken office and his Exxon Mobil (the largest oil company in the world next to Vladimir Putin s company) oilman Rex Tillerson is the new Secretary of State, gas is now close to $3 a gallon. Corporate America is putting the squeeze on us by charging the same price but selling us one-third to one-half the product that our dollars used to buy. They then turn around and complain that paying worker wages hurts the company and demand to not have to pay taxes or medical benefits. That sounds appealing until you consider that for decades, good companies offered medical benefits and paid their taxes. People in positions of authority used to feel a responsibility to be fair and offer value to customers who purchased their products and cared more about the community they served rather than greed. Restraint has slipped from those in charge of pricing and consumers suffer by paying the same price for half as much and watching their ability to provide for their families go down the tubes. Where are the ministers to preach against greed? Where is the sense of community that brings a sense of decency to fellow citizens? Ravi Zacharias, a name recognized by many in the Christian community, long ago noticed that we changed from a nation that practiced compassion in private while maintaining moral standards in public. He gave the example of a high school girl who graduated with the rest of her class and was obviously several months pregnant. Zacharias commended the student for her grit in graduating but observed how that while our words speak acceptance, our behaviors have become cold and indifferent. In days where chastity was the standard, in private we supported girls in trouble with Mary Jane homes, adoptions and other assistance. Nowadays we lower the public standard in the name of being openminded and accepting, but the actual support and assistance have gone away. After Operation Desert Shield, it became popular to promote patriotism but the dwindling value of consumers dollars belies the actions of companies from which we are compelled to purchase our groceries and household goods. Is it patriotic to stick it to workers by shrinking the amount of food they can buy to feed their children or diapers to wrap around their babies? Doesn t real patriotism mean that you care for your fellow citizens? As Pastor Zacharias observed, our nation has shifted from one that privately showed compassion while publicly holding beneficial boundaries of behavior, to one where people speak one way and act inconsistently. It s a tearing away at the seams that holds the fabric of community, while still saying the clothes look great. It s a recipe for trouble. Actionnetwork.org and Change.org are two of the (continued on page 10)

9 t s the perfect I early Valentine s movie date: La La Land. The movie might fool you with its simplicity. It s about a guy and a girl who fall in love. It s about a guy and a girl trying to follow their dream careers. It s about the big moments the turning points in each person s life, those that propel you to a whole new path, and also the everyday, small moments like eating dinner together or watching a movie. Ryan Gosling wears suits and plays the piano. Emma Stone wears knee-length patterned dresses and tap dances with Ryan. It has the look and feel of a classic film. It is a classic of our time. But I have to admit, La La Land made me cry. I mean, at one point, I couldn t breathe because I was so choked up. I didn t dare take a breath either, because it was so quiet in the theatre and I was afraid everyone would hear me sob. It made me cry because it told the truth. Love can be so wonderful and thrilling but sometimes you might not even end up with the one you love. Sometimes the joyous time you had together was just a slice of time. And that s okay, because PERSONAL REFLECTIONS La La Love by Renelaine Bontol Pfister we can fall in love multiple times in our lives. Someone once sent me three purple roses on Valentine s Day. Purple is my favorite color. I was 19 years old, in a classroom in Cebu City. It was a beautiful gesture. And even though the boy and I never got involved, it remains a lovely memory. Just like a memory several years before that Valentine s Day when I sat behind him in high FebruarY 4, 2017 HaWaii Filipino chronicle 9 school, admiring his hair. There s another boy, my first boyfriend. Our relationship was short-lived but during that short span of time, I lived a whole other life and loved him wholly. Then there was a man. We met at a chance encounter in Bohol. We were just friends. When I rode the fast craft back to Cebu, I felt very sad that I was likely never going to see him again. He became my husband. But La La Land is not just about romantic love...but also the love for what you do in life. La La Land depicts the hardships of following your heart and dreams. You get embarrassed, hurt, fail over and over in pursuit of your dreams but you should never give up. Why? Because you love it too much. The term La La Land connotes fantasy, a dream world associated with people reaching too high for the stars. Sensible people scoff at these dreamers. These dreamers live on another reality. They re often broke and a little batty. But what s the alternative? Do what everyone tells you what you should do, play it safe, earn lots of money but go to bed dissatisfied with yourself? Stone, the film s female lead, hosted Saturday Night Live not long ago. At one point she was wearing a sweater that said La La Land or Nowhere. Exactly.

10 10 HaWaii Filipino chronicle FebruarY 4, 2017 HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS State Lawmakers Join Nationwide Effort to Address Opioid Abuse State Sen. Rosalyn Baker, Rep. Della Au Belatti and Rep. Lauren Matsumoto together with members of the Hawaii State Women s Caucus have joined legislators around the country in promoting the Women In Government s Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Policy Toolkit, as PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte announced that his administration will not help undocumented Filipinos out of respect for U.S. President Donald Trump s policies. At a news briefing at Malacañang on Monday, January 30, Duterte demonstrated support for Trump s widely criticized executive order which calls for a temporary U.S. travel ban for refugees from seven Muslimmajority nations. To Filipinos there (in the U.S.), you better be on the right track. If you are not allowed to stay there where you are well as address the growing epidemic of opioid abuse. The toolkit is meant to educate legislators on issues surrounding mental health and substance abuse and to assist legislators in developing policies to help their communities and to pass effective legislation. The Women s Caucus has focused its attention on the staying, get out because if you are caught and deported, I will not lift a finger, Duterte affirmed. You know it is a violation of the law. There are more than 310,000 undocumented Filipinos in the United States on the Department of Homeland Security s list of individuals who are up for deportation. It is unclear whether they are criminal offenders. Various Fil-Am groups criticized Duterte for his decision to stay away from the issue, which they say is liable to displace families across the nation. It s a shame that Duterte would not lift a finger to help growing epidemic of substance abuse relating to opioids. An estimated 2.1 million Americans suffer from substance abuse disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers. The number of Americans who develop a dependency on opioid drugs has more than quadrupled since 1999, while in Hawaii, drug overdoses increased 83 percent between 2006 and OPEN FORUM ( from page 6, THE BIG...) newly formed groups organized to prevent the detrimental changes proposed by those who have recently been sworn into office. If Bernie Sanders and progressive Democrats were voted into office, these groups might be funneling their energy into policies that could be of great benefit to the country. Their efforts instead are directed towards holding back the harmful initiatives being promulgated by Congress. The opioid epidemic is one that threatens our community and loved ones, says Rep. Matsumoto. Legislators nationwide are recognizing the severity of this issue and are coming together to share ideas and best practices and shine light on this epidemic. A number of opioid related measures will be introduced this legislative session. What is encouraging is Duterte Won t Help Undocumented Filipinos in US Facing Deportation by Klarize Medenilla Tuesday, January 31, 2017 PHILIPPINE NEWS Filipino migrants who are in need, Joanna Concepcion, executive director of the Filipino Migrant Center, told Inquirer. What will Duterte do for the families who are depending on (the undocumented Filipinos ) remittances? Some organizations have suspicions about Duterte s high regard for the Trump administration, like Chair of Bayan USA Bernadette Ellorin, who echoed Concepcion s argument concerning Filipinos in the U.S. providing for their families in the motherland. What is there to respect about abuse of executive power of the rich over undocumented workers in the US? Ellorin told Inquirer, adding that so many undocumented Filipinos are living in the shadows and in fear of a repressive Trump administration that has called Filipinos animals and from a terrorist nation. Pattern of respect Previously, Duterte and Trump expressed respect for one another as world leaders when Trump was elected on November 8. According to Duterte, the new U.S. president expressed support and respect for Duterte s violent crackdown on illegal drugs during a phone call on December 3, Trump even intimated that he thinks that the Duterte administration is handling the situation the right way. You know, Trump said, I will not interfere in the affairs of other countries. Now, if he has policies to protect his country, I ll understand because when he said we will not interfere in [your] anti-drug war, you re doing it right. As a matter of fact, my country is also facing the same serious problem, Duterte said at a press conference on the evening of Sunday, January 29. So out of respect, I can only answer him in the manner that he as told me. I will not Old-fashioned protests gathered petitions to show public disapproval at corporate actions. Consumers may want to connect to ask companies to stop shrinking the size of the products being sold to them at the same former prices and instead demand that companies go back to offering solid value for their hardearned and shrinking dollars. Rent control advocates have had little success outside pockets of activist communities. If you re a University of Hawaii student, you ve probably made the rounds in the Manoa Valley to Kaimuki areas where landlords have put up that over the last few years we have been able to move forward on this issue with bipartisan support, says Rep. Belatti. Sen. Baker chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health; Rep. Belatti is chair of the House Committee on Health; and Rep. Matsumoto serves on the national board of Women in Government. ALL three legislators are co-convenors of the State Women s Caucus. interfere. As the Asian Journal p r e v i o u s l y r e p o r t e d, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar affirmed the administration s decision to respect U.S. policies and promised not to intervene, even if it does mean turning away Filipinos facing deportation. I can tell you right now that that our president cares for any Filipino, not only in the Philippines, but around the world he cares for them, Andanar said at a press conference in Los Angeles on Monday, January 23. Andanar added: If you re asking me what our policy is right now, we have to respect the new administration [because] they are still in transition. We have to wait and see which policies they will push forward, which policies they announced during the campaign we respect the political and democratic process here in the U.S. and as I mentioned, non-interference. ( walls to make 100 square foot living quarters to rent for $600 a month, which seems like psychological warfare on students already pressed for bucks. Consumers have little control over prices we pay for rent or insurance, so we really need our dollars to be able to buy enough food for our families. Let s hope this new wave of activism re-instills a sense of community and responsibility for the well-being of others within us, to promote the common good that patriotism really means.

11 FebruarY 4, 2017 HaWaii Filipino chronicle 11 HEALTH & FAMILY What You Ought to Know about Food Labels But Never Bothered to Ask CONSUMERLINE By Ching M. Alano o you really D bother to read product labels when you do your groceries? Fat chance you do coz you re probably always in a rush to get your grocery chores done. But wait stop, look, and read! Read this basic legalese that may help you next time you find yourself browsing the supermarket shelves. Shortly after the holiday season, some supermarkets went on sale prices of mostly holiday goodies were at 50 to 75-percent off. But here s the catch: The products are expiring in a week or two! If you don t see any expiry date on the label, you should come across the words best before or use by. It pays to know all this basic labelese. Livewell/Goodfood warns us not to use a product after the end of the use by date even if it still happens to look okay and does not smell funny (sniffing is no fool-proof test), because doing so could put your health (or that of your family) at risk. If the use by date is tomorrow, please use the product by the end of tomorrow (as there ll be no more tomorrows after this), even if you just opened it and the label says, Eat within a week of opening. However, if it s frozen food, its life can still be extended beyond the use by date, but make sure you follow strictly the instructions on the pack like, Cook from frozen or Defrost thoroughly before use and use within 24 hours. On the other hand, best before is about the quality of the product and not about safety. When it s past the expiration date, it doesn t mean that the food will be harmful; it s just that it might begin to lose its flavor or texture. So, don t toss a still good product into the waste bin. Take eggs, for instance, they must reach the consumer within 21 days from the time they were laid (known as the sell-by date, the store s guide as to how long to display the product and when to pull it out). After this date, the quality of the eggs will deteriorate besides, if the eggs harbor salmonella bacteria, these could multiply at an alarming rate. Just to clarify, the expiration date is usually printed in the standard MM/DD/YYYY (month/day/year). Make no mistake about it: The month always comes before the day. Indeed, food labels should not be taken lightly. Like, if it says light, what does it mean? Earl Mindell s Safe Eating says: This usually means either one-third fewer calories than the regular product (which could have a lot more than you thought) or that it doesn t contain more than 40 calories per serving (which could be a lot less than you thought). But it can also mean lighter in syrup density, or color, or salt content. Though the label must state this, consumers don t often read the fine print and just assume that all light or lite products are low in calories. And what does lean mean? When referring to meat or poultry, it usually means 25- percent less calories vis-a-vis the regular product or it could refer to the salt or breading. For those perpetually on a diet or those who have health concerns, here s the lowdown on the low labels. Low fat means the food item is at least 25-percent less fat than a similar product. And low sodium means the product can have no more than 140 mg. per serving. For those who think salt is a sin and those with high blood presssure or cardiovascular problems, take note that unsalted, salt free, no salt added mean that though no salt was added during processing, the product can still contain substantial amounts of sodium. Naturally, you would want to know what natural or all natural means. Mindell says, When used on a meat or poultry label, natural means that the product doesn t contain any artificial ingredients or chemical preservatives. But on other products, those whose labels are regulated by the FDA (most supermarket food), natural has no legal definition and is used by manufacturers to make people think the product is totally free of additives and chemicals which is rarely, if ever, the case. What does it mean when something is naturally sweetened? Again, this has no legal definition, and is often used only as a marketing ploy. So, even if it s sweetened naturally by honey, brown sugar or corn syrup, it s not necessarily lower in calories or good for your health! And to cap this on a sweet note: What does sugarless or sugar free mean? Mindell tells us, This means free of sugar (sucrose), but not other sweeteners (mannitol, sorbitol, and fructose, for example), and therefore such products can contain just as many calories as those with sugar. If so, the fine print must state this, or something to the effect of the product s usefulness only in not promoting tooth decay. Regrettably, not many buyers take the time to read the fine print. Happy and safe and healthy eating to one and all!( EDITORIALS (from page 6, SOCIAL...) activity. We just need to restrict its use when it becomes too intrusive and disruptive to our daily lives and relationships. Some simple solutions: create safe zones where devices (smartphones, laptops, tablets, computers) cannot be used such as the kitchen, dining room, or bedroom. Checking devices never should be allowed in the car. While in public places, minimize the tendency to document and post every activity. Simply enjoy the moment and the person you are with. Keep track of how much time you spend on social media and stick to a daily time limit. Most importantly, always be sensitive to your family and friends when you are in their presence -- no one really wants to be talking with someone while that person is on the phone or tablet answering texts, making comments on Facebook, or taking photos to post. Before you know it, an argument erupts or the person who you are with in time becomes tired of sharing you with some fantasy version of yourself that you ve created on-line. Avoid the trap of social media addiction by using common sense. Know when enough is enough, and put that device down.

12 12 HaWaii Filipino chronicle FebruarY 4, 2017 MANILA, Philippines - Philippine police, acting on instructions from the very top of government, gunned down and enlisted others to kill thousands of alleged drug offenders in a wave of extrajudicial executions that may amount to crimes against humanity, Amnesty International (AI) said in a report released yesterday. AI s investigation If you are poor you are killed : Extrajudicial Executions in the Philippines War on Drugs details how police have systematically targeted mostly poor and defenseless people across the country while planting evidence, recruiting paid killers, stealing from the people they kill and fabricating official incident reports. Quoting a police officer involved in the war on drugs, AI reported that police received from P8,000 to P15,000 as incentive for every drug personality they killed. This was denied by officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP). President Duterte and other government officials have also consistently denied condoning extrajudicial killings, insisting that all the drug suspects killed in legitimate law enforcement operations had resisted arrest or fought it out nanlaban. AI Philippines called on the Senate to reopen its investigation into extrajudicial killings following the group s findings. The Senate committees that conducted the investigation last year said there was no evidence to prove that extrajudicial killings in the course of the drug war were state-sponsored. For its part, the Archdiocese of Manila said it was pursuing its campaign against extrajudicial killings in the country despite the suspension of the PNP s anti-drug campaign. Fr. Atiliano Fajardo, head of the archdiocese s public affairs ministry, revealed that they would hold the Huwag Kang Magnakaw ng Buhay (Do Not Steal Life) movement as part of the Church s stance against killings of drug suspects and the proposed restoration of the death penalty. In a press conference in Quezon City yesterday, AI Philippines trustee Sister Maria Vida Cordero and AI Philippines campaigner Wilnor Papa presented to the media the AI s 66-page report, stating that this is not a war on drugs, but a war on the poor. Often on the flimsiest of evidence, people accused of using or selling drugs are being killed for cash in an economy of murder, said Tirana Hassan, AI s Crisis Response director. What is happening in the Philippines is a crisis the entire world should be alarmed about, Hassan said, as AI called on government officials, from Duterte down, to order an immediate halt to all extrajudicial executions. We are also calling on the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute PHILIPPINE NEWS Anti-Drug Cops Paid Per Kill AI Report by Elizabeth Marcelo Thursday, February 2, 2017 anyone involved in these killings, regardless of their rank or status in the police or government, Hassan said. The Philippines should move away from lawlessness and lethal violence and reorient its drug policies towards a model based on the protection of health and human rights, she added. The AI said its team of researchers interviewed 110 people across the country, including some policemen, and documented 33 cases of drugrelated killings, of which 20 occurred in police operations and 13 involved unknown armed men. A total of 59 people were killed in these operations, the report said. We want the Senate to reopen its investigation (on EJKs), instead of prioritizing the death penalty bill. Unless we end this culture of impunity, these senseless killings, these crimes against humanity will continue, Papa said. AI said the Philippines is a state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and must abide by international rules. We want the Philippine authorities to deal with this human rights crisis on their own. But if decisive action is not taken soon, the international community should turn to the prosecutor of the (ICC) to carry out a preliminary examination into these killings, including the involvement of officials at the very top of government, AI said. Amnesty International is deeply concerned that the deliberate, widespread and systematic killings of alleged drug offenders, which appear to be planned and organized by the authorities, may constitute crimes against humanity under international law, it added. In cash One of those interviewed by the AI team for the report was a police officer with the rank of senior police officer 1 (SPO1) who has been in service for almost a decade. The police officer, who claimed to have been part of an anti-drug unit in Metro Manila, said policemen usually receive financial incentives for every drug suspect or personality killed during the encounter. We always get paid by the encounter... The amount ranges from P8,000 to P15, That amount is per head. So if the operation is against four people, that s P32,000, the police officer was quoted as saying in the report. The police officer said the source of the money was never revealed to them, but the cash was usually given at their headquarters. We re paid in cash, secretly, by headquarters... There (are) no incentives for arresting. We re not paid anything, the police officer said, as quoted in the report. It never happens that there s a shootout and no one is killed. The police officer told the AI team that some of his colleagues also established a racket with funeral homes, which reward them for each dead body sent their way. The AI said witnesses told the researchers that several policemen also stole from victims homes. The AI report said two hired killers confessed to the team that they took orders from a police officer who supposedly paid them P5,000 for each drug user and P10,000 to P15,000 for each drug pusher killed, respectively. The targets often come from unverified lists of people suspected to use or sell drugs drawn up by local government officials. Regardless of how long ago someone may have taken drugs, or how little they used or sold, they can find their name irrevocably added to the lists, the report read. In other cases, their names could be added arbitrarily, because of a vendetta or because there are incentives to kill greater numbers of people deemed drug users or sellers, it added. The AI said several residents as well as family members of the victims also narrated how policemen planted evidence against their slain targets. Fabricating their subsequent incident reports, the police have routinely claimed that they had been fired upon first. Directly contradicting the police s claims, witnesses told Amnesty International how the police conducted late night raids, did not attempt an arrest and opened fire on unarmed persons, the AI said. In some cases, witnesses said, the police planted drugs and weapons they later claimed as evidence, it added. Papa said these findings call for the reopening of the investigation on EJKs to show the administration s sincerity in cleansing the police ranks. AI said these extrajudicial killings were incited by the rhetoric of Duterte, who vowed to protect the police officers who would get to kill drug suspects in the course of the operations against the illegal drug trade. Since Duterte came to office seven months ago, there have been more than 7,000 drug-related killings, with the police directly killing at least 2,500 alleged drug offenders, AI noted. The AI cited cases wherein suspects pleaded for mercy and surrendered but were still killed. Their bodies were also dragged and dumped or dehumanized, AI said. Fajardo, meanwhile, said their new movement would like to emphasize that life is sacred and only God can take it away. (

13 By Reuben S. Seguritan FebruarY 4, 2017 HaWaii Filipino chronicle 13 LEGAL NOTES Widespread Opposition to Trump s Order on Immigration fense; 4. engaged in fraud or willful misrepresentation in connection with any official matter or application before a government agency; 5. abused any program related to receipt of public benefits; 6. been the subject of a final order of removal, but have not departed; and 7. otherwise pose a risk to public safety or national security. This enumeration causes a lot of problems because the term committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal offense is too broad. That means even a minor offense such as a traffic violation can be a ground for deportation. Furthermore, these grounds as a whole could pave the way for most if not all undocumented immigrants to be removed. They include those who entered the United States hen President W Trump issued his executive order on January 25, 2017, entitled Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States, the response from the immigrant community was outrage and condemnation. The Executive Order directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prioritize the removal of noncitizens who have: 1. been charged with any criminal offense, but such charge has not been resolved; 2. been convicted of any criminal offense; or 3. committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal ofwithout inspection, asylum seekers, refugees from wartorn countries, and people who overstayed their visas. They are a priority as they could be considered as a serious threat to public safety or national security. To ensure the compliance of all states with his plan, President Trump said that he will not give Federal funding to sanctuary cities a loose term that refers to communities that shield undocumented immigrants from deportation unless the money is for counterterrorism efforts and law enforcement. The sanctuary communities comprise at least 364 counties, 39 cities and 4 states in the United States. Some elected officials have voiced their strong dissent to President Trump s executive order. Mayor Bill de MAINLAND NEWS State Sen. President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D- Los Angeles discusses his measure SB54 after the Senate Pubic Safety Committee passed the bill, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, in Sacramento, Calif. Blasio of New York City said that We re going to defend all of our people regardless of where they come from, regardless of their immigration status. San Francisco Mayor Mr. Ed Lee announced that We will not give in to threats, or political grandstanding. Together, the Bay Area will stay true to our values of inclusiveness, compassion and equality, and united against any and all efforts to divide our residents, our cities, and our country. Boston s Mayor reiterated these sentiments by saying, To anyone who feels threatened today, or vulnerable, you are safe in Boston. We will do everything lawful in our power to protect you. Furthermore, the withholding of Federal funding from states to force their compliance with the Executive Order is problematic. According to a 2012 US Supreme Court decision, States are independent and cannot be compelled to enforce Federal programs that they do not want to implement in order to get Federal funding. If there will be conditions imposed by Congress, these must be related to the subject of the funding itself and not on other subjects such as immigration. Time will tell how well the Trump administration can enforce the Executive Order. Right now the opposition is loud and gaining momentum. This will surely be a test on the President s resolve to make changes to the immigration policy of the United States. reuben s. seguritan has been practicing law for over 30 years. For further information, you may call him at (212) or log on to his website at California Lawmakers Eye Immigration Measures to Fight Trump SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Democrats in the California Senate ramped up their fight Tuesday against President Donald Trump, advancing bills that would create a statewide sanctuary for people in the country illegally, provide money to pay lawyers for immigrants facing deportation and hamper any attempt to create a Muslim registry. The moves in the nation's largest state home to an estimated 2.3 million immigrants without legal authorization came days after Trump launched his crackdown on immigration and sanctuary cities across the nation. The city of San Francisco sued Trump on Tuesday, claiming his executive order that would cut funding from sanctuary cities is unconstitutional and a "severe invasion of San Francisco's sovereignty." San Francisco receives about $1.2 billion a year in federal funding for services that include housing, health and social services, and homelessness. In Sacramento, Democrats on the state Senate Public Safety Committee voted along party lines to prohibit state and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. "We want to make sure that police officers don't abandon their beat and go enforce immigration laws," said Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon of Los Angeles, author of the statewide sanctuary measure. Republicans and law enforcement groups said the bill would make it harder for authorities to work together to fight crime. "I think this bill is making it that much more difficult for the federal authorities to get the most dangerous criminals that we want to deport to keep our communities safe," said Sen. Jeff Stone, a Temecula Republican who voted against the measure. Hours after the sanctuary legislation advanced, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved two other measures that take direct aim at Trump's policies. In another party-line vote, Democrats backed legislation to provide an unspecified amount of money for lawyers to represent people facing deportation. Several lawmakers, however, expressed deep reservations about creating a new program for immigrants while existing legal-aid programs are underfunded. The committee also passed a bill prohibiting state and local government officials from assisting in the creation of a possible Muslim registry. Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, said he wrote the bill in response to statements by Trump during his presidential campaign. "In our country's darkest moments, we have discriminated against whole groups of (continued on page 14) Filipino Community Mourns Loss of Former Supreme Court Justice Mario R. Ramil Mario R. Ramil passed away at age 70 of cancer on January 30, He was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court who served his tenure for nearly a decade He retired from his post in 2002 after two decades in public service. In a statement, Governor David Ige said, " Justice Ramil served the people of Hawaii with distinction in a number of capacities over the course of two decades in public service. We will remember his many contributions to the people of our state and to the Filipino community in particular." Ramil is survived by his wife, Judy and two sons, Jonathan and Bradley.

14 14 HaWaii Filipino chronicle FebruarY 4, 2017 DAYASADAS By Pacita Saludes diay Ilukos, tinawen I a maselselebraran ti F I E S T A T I K A I L O K U A N. Kasta met ditoy Hawaii nga araramiden ti ANNAK TI KAILOKUAN iti Hawaii. Maar-aramid daytoy iti kada Enero iti tawen. January 28, 2017, from 5-8 pm dita SUN- SET LANAI iti CAMP SMITH. Ditoy manen ti pakabuyaan ti salsala Filipino kasta met dagiti tuktokar Filipino. Ditoy met ti pagaramatan dagiti umatendar ken kamkemeng ti arwat Filipino. Kas ti tinawen a maar-aramid mabalangatan met dagiti reyna ti tawen. Ti Mrs. AKA ni Mrs. Fely Alejandro, kaduana ti little Miss AKA ni Hilary Labtingan. Kasta met ti Mrs. GUMIL HAWAII ni Mavelyn Ramos, Miss GUMIL HAWAII ni Katherine Pineda, Little Miss GUMIL HAWAII ni Kaylie Joy Ramos. Isuda manen ti agikut ti balangat ti Kasta met iti daytoy a rabii, isu met ti panagsapata dagiti kappili nga opisyales ti ANNAK TI KAILOKUAN ITI AMERIKA. 36 a tawen ti panagakem ti organizer ti AKA ni Mrs. Saludes ket mabalin nga ad-adu ti mairusat ita a pannakalagip kadagiti maararamid a ragragsak ken pagsayaatan dagiti kamkameng. Pagsapataen ida ni SENATOR WILL ESPERO, ti Guest Speaker. Dagiti napili nga opisyales ti AKA para iti dua a sumaruno a tawen. Ti President-- RAYMOND SEBASTIAN; Vice-President LILIA DEL ROSARIO; 2nd Vice-President RITA SAGUCIO; Secr e t a r y M A R L E N E ESPIRITU; Corresponding S e c r e t a r y J O S I E TAKAMOTO; Treasurer ALBINA GAMPONIA; Assistant Treasurer ANDREA MENDOZA; Auditor Evelyn Mizukami; PRO AMY AN- DERSON, FELY ALEJAN- DRO, PAZ LABTINGAN ken JOCELYN AGUSTIN; Board PHILIPPINE LANGUAGE Fiesta Ti Kailokuan Iti Hawaii 2017 of Directors FROEBEL GARCIA, ADOR UDANI; Sergeant at Arms REY PINEDA, JOHN ESPIRITU; Advisers PACITA C. SALUDES, ROLAND & EDITH PASCUA ken SAL- VADOR UBALDO; Spiritual Advisor ADRIAN W. GALVEZ. Dagitoy dagiti nabisked nga ILOKANOS a mangtamtaming ita ti ANNAK TI K A I L O K U A N I T I AMERIKA. GOOD LUCK AKA!! Dagitoy ti mangitungpal kadagiti gandat ti AKA. Dagitoy ti objectives ti ANNAK TI KAILOKUAN: 1. To unite the Ilokanos in America 2. To preserve the culture and arts of the Ilokanos 3. To give scholarship grants to qualified students in the Philippines whose parents cannot afford to send them to school 4. To teach Iluko to the none speaking people 5. To compile the history of Ilokos provinces, its people at home and abroad 6. To work together with other Filipino organizations. ILOKANO, SIKA DAYTA Maysa a kolor ti bullalayaw naibaetka Melting pot, kunada ti lugar nga ayanmo ita Rumbeng a saanka a maatiw, Filipinoka Dimo rumbeng ti umatras nalabbaga ta dara Pook knife ti ibirngasda saan a nakababain dayta Book book bay am ta napimpintas pay dayta Dagiti managbasa iti libro atiwem ida Kirmet saan a dakes nga aramid Ilokanoka Dayaw ta kinatao awan suknorenna dika maibaba Ipaneknek ketdi ti makita a progresom ita Addaan iti talingenngen iti biag, addaanka banko ken balay Saan nga agalla-alla wenno homeless a kunada Matangtangadka ketdi gapu t talentom inda makita. Manong ti pangawagda kenka, Ilokano Gapu iti tignay, panagarwat ken panagbalikasmo Awan diperensia, adu met di makabalikas Iluko Ti manong ken manang naanus ken nadungngo Abakna pay da tatang ken nanang a mangisuro Naasi mannakaawat no agayat agipaay napudno Amok ti maysa a panangumsida kenka, Ilokano Gapu t madlawda ni Ilokano disidido a mangdisso Di umatras, matay mabiag aglalo no dayaw maikulbo Awan pakawanen ti buli ken imuko Kadagitoyen a panawen kaaduannan makabasa ta kinatao Agkurno awanan kolor, natingra a kolor kakulkulormo Gapu ta makitada a nanakem nakababain tignaymo Mapagwadan nga aramid, kabaelan ken panagsao Mabain dagiti nagum-umsi idi didaka pay am-ammo Makitam ti nagluposam saanen a kas sangsangpetmo. MAINLAND NEWS (from page 13, CALIFORNIA...) people," Lara said. Months ago, Trump called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on." The president last week signed an executive order temporarily halting migration from seven Muslim-majority countries. California voted overwhelmingly against Trump in November, and Democratic legislative leaders and Gov. Jerry Brown have loudly vowed to resist the Republican president. Their actions stand in stark contrast to more conservative states. In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott instructed lawmakers Tuesday to send him a bill that punishes local governments that don't cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Many of California's largest cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento already have sanctuary policies that prohibit police from cooperating with immigration agents. SB54 would extend those policies statewide, prohibiting police officers and jailers from arresting or detaining people solely for immigration violations unless a judge issues a warrant. State and local law enforcement agencies could not help investigate immigration violations, inquire about someone's immigration status or provide addresses to immigration officers. Law enforcement databases would be off limits for immigration investigations, though police officials could still discuss someone's previous arrests and convictions with immigration agents. The legislation also seeks to limit immigration enforcement activity at schools, court- (continued on page 15)

15 MAINLAND NEWS U.S. Filipinos to Duterte: It is Your Duty to Protect Filipinos Abroad! As it continues to organize the Filipino community to combat Trump s racist and inhumane policies on Muslims, refugees, and immigrants, the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) denounces Duterte s statement that he would not lift a finger to help Filipinos deported from the US by the Trump administration. NAFCON demands that Duterte follow through on the proposal for the Philippines to welcome Muslim refugees, and that the Philippine government justly support its Filipino citizens abroad. We would like to remind President Duterte that Filipino immigrants abroad, regardless of immigration status, must be served by the Philippine government. He himself has said before that he plans to improve the Philippines so that leaving the country would be a choice, and not a need for survival. He knows full well that Filipinos are forced to leave because of unemployment and poverty, says AV David, NAFCON Secretary General. Over the past weekend, thousands across the United States took it to dozens of airports across the country to protest Trump s executive order banning immigration from 7 predominantly Muslim countries and suspending the entry of refugees. Filipinos participated in these actions, standing in solidarity will the Muslim, immigrant, and refugee communities. During his campaign, Trump included the Philippines in his terrorist nation list and even called Filipinos animals, so it would be no surprise if he also banned immigration from MAINLAND NEWS (from page 14, CALIFORNIA...) houses and shelters. Democrats said the bill is needed to protect people such as Victor Alvarez, a U.S. citizen who told the committee that his father was pulled over for a broken taillight and deported hours later. "Since my dad was deported the whole family has been suffering," Alvarez said. "I had to put school on hold just to support the family." The sanctuary legislation now goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee. It's unclear how it might fare if it reaches the Assembly. Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount, has resisted Trump's policies, but the Assembly also has a bloc of moderate lawmakers in swing districts who have balked at legislation favored by the more liberal Senate. ( Stanford students stand in solidarity with immigrant communities on Trump s inauguration day. the Philippines. While we welcome Duterte s pronouncements that he will consider offering sanctuary to refugees affected by Trump s Muslim ban, we challenge him to see the same humanity in Filipinos abroad. Many are already sharing heightened experiences of racial discrimination, fear of deportation, and lack of support, continues David. Out of the over 4 million Filipinos the US, 1 million are undocumented and Philippine officials in Washington DC recently reported that more than 300,000 could be facing deportation due to Trump s anti-immigrant policies. NAFCON has long called for Consulates in the US to provide free legal services and Know Your Rights trainings to the Filipino community as vital resources. The group also scores the Philippine government for failing to stop the execution of Jakatia Pawa, a Filipina domestic helper in Kuwait, last week. Michael Tayag of Migrante Northern California also draws connection to Duterte s strong pronouncements criticizing the unequal FebruarY 4, 2017 HaWaii Filipino chronicle 15 relations between the Philippines and the United States, as exemplified in his latest tirade stating that the Mamasapano fiasco that killed 67 Filipinos is CIA operation and sending notice to the US military not to build permanent weapon depot in the Philippines. He knows that US big businesses and the US government have exacerbated the conditions that push Filipinos abroad in the first place. Rather than turning away Filipinos who have been victimized by these unequal relations that Duterte himself has called out in the past, he should fulfill his promises to assert Philippine national sovereignty and defend Filipino citizens abroad, says Tayag. The Philippine government must provide timely and sufficient services to Filipinos abroad. Ultimately, it must create conditions in the Philippines, such as ending contractualization and creating industries, to ensure that Filipinos can find work domestically and would not need to leave the country to feed their families, ends David. ( CLASSIFIED ADS HOUSEKEEPER/COOK Full-Time (40 hrs/week) in gated private residence in East Honolulu. Need own vehicle. Experience & references required. Medical/dental, PTO/holiday pay. persoasst808@gmail.com or call HUI KU MAOLI OLA Hiring Nursery Workers! 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