APRIL 11, 2026
LINGERING THOUGHTS
the trump-irAniAn WAr, the epstein Files, AnD miDterm elections
FEATURE
let’s Do BAyAnihAn DisAster response For the FlooD survivors
CANDID PERSPECTIVES
the most poWerFul AmericAn in the WorlD is A mAn oF peAce, not WAr
MAINLAND NEWS
Filipino AmericAn Wins oscAr For Best cinemAtogrAphy
If you move in-state or out-of-state, or if you plan to vote for a first time or must re-register because of non-voting for consecutive years – should President Donald Trump’s SAVE America Act is made into law, it will be far more difficult for voter registration.
And the new requirements – must provide in person to an election official a US passport or birth certificate to register -- are being pushed for adoption by Trump and the Republican-majority Congress before this midterm election.
Most Americans agree that voter identification to become eligible to vote is a sound and reasonable requirement, but the SAVE America Act would require Americans to prove their citizenship with documentation unavailable to millions and upend the way American citizens register to vote.
Millions of Americans do not have a US passport, costing nearly $200 to acquire. According to the US Department of State, approximately 146 million American citizens do not possess a valid passport—for context, 153 million Americans voted in the 2024 presidential general election. Could this disproportionately disenfranchise poorer Americans? Yes, only 1 in 5 Americans with income below $50,000 have a valid passport.
Furthermore, most Americans do not have a copy of their birth certificate. For the millions of women – 84% of women who marry change their surname –their birth certificate name must match their current name otherwise that documentation cannot be used.
No longer would government-issued driver’s licenses — including REAL IDs — as well as military or tribal IDs, meet the bill’s requirements for voting registration.
The SAVE America Act has many other disturbing features including limiting mail-in voting which has become the preferred and most effective way of voting for many Americans including in Hawaii when upon implementing universal mail-in voting in the year of the COVID-19 outbreak, voter participation has gone way up.
Forty-two states permit online voter registration. That no longer will be permitted, nor will mail-in voter registration or community voter registration drives. Why? All voter registration must be completed in person before an official election worker.
Here is a shocking statistic: for the 2022 cycle, of the 80.1 million Americans who registered to vote or update their voter registration, only 5.9% did it in person at an election office. Will Americans make that extra effort to register to vote in person? Most likely, fewer.
Is this a voter suppression bill?
The added barriers of the SAVE America Act to voting and the potential for millions to be disenf-
on page 3)
IPublisher & Executive Editor
t’s an election year and a potentially consequential bill called the Save America Act sits before the US Senate for deliberation. If passed, it will have new requirements that some have called voter suppression features which would disenfranchise millions of voters in the upcoming midterms. Others say the bill aims to better secure elections. For our cover story this issue, associate editor Edwin Quinabo reports on the details of the bill, what President Donald Trump (who supports it), politicians and local Hawaii residents have to say about it. The bill seeks to change in a fundamental way how citizens must register to vote and in voting procedures like mail-in voting.
Shortly, it will mark the one-year anniversary of Pope Leo XIV, the American Robert Prevost from Chicago. HFC columnist Emil Guillermo contributes “The Most Powerful American in the World Is a Man of Peace, Not War,” about the leader of over 1.4 billion Catholics. Emil quotes the Holy Pontiff, “Let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars, and marked by hatred and the indifference that makes us feel powerless to the face of evil.”
Also addressing the war in the Middle East, HFC columnist Will Espero submits “The Trump-Iranian War, the Epstein Files, and Midterm Elections.” Espero comments, “Donald Trump stated he agreed to attack Iran because Iran was a threat to the United States. He did not provide any evidence to back his claim, and Trump contradicted himself when he stated earlier in the year that the United States and Israel had ‘obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear facilities. This appears to be false as Trump is known to exaggerate and twist the truth.”
Sadly, Hawaii has been hit hard by storms and flooding recently which has resulted in property loss and damage for some residents. HFC columnist Dr. Arcelita Imasa teamed up with Michelle Cruz Skinner on an article “Let’s Do Bayanihan Disaster Response for the Flood Survivors.” They write about disaster victims’ current struggles of repairing their homes, need for basic goods and how we can help our fellow islanders. Just a few of their suggestions: 1) Donating any amount to vetted community-led funds so farmers and families can decide how best to recover. 2) Volunteering your time to help with clean-up, rides, food preparation, or childcare. 3) Listening to and sharing the stories of those affected, without judgment. 4) Bringing warm meals. At the end of the article there is information on a group working on relief efforts you might want to contribute to.
In mainland news, March 15 was a historical moment at the 98th Academy Awards for cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw who won the Oscar for Best Cinematography for her work in the 2025 film Sinners. She became the first woman, first Filipino, and first Black person to win the award. History runs in Durald Arkapaw’s blood. In an interview with Vogue Philippines, she shared that she looks up to her maternal grandfather, Guillermo Pagan Bautista from Pangasinan who is a survivor of the Bataan Death March.
We hope you enjoy these articles as well as our other columns and news. Thank you for supporting the HFC. Visit our website thefilipinochronicle.com to get your free e-copy of each issue. For your advertising needs, email us at filipinochronicle@gmail. com.Until the next issue, Aloha and Mabuhay!
Charlie Y. Sonido, M.D.
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It should be obvious to the Philippines, South Korea and Japan that their reliance on the US for regional protection against China has just been rendered meaningless after seeing how the US hasn’t been able to protect its Gulf state allies against incoming missiles from Iran.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s shift from the previous administration’s neutrality between China and the US to one heavily pro-American is looking more like a miscalculation. Marcos Jr has invited the US access to increased military bases and undergone joint military US-Philippines military exercises. This military alignment has caused tremendous strain on China-Philippines relations.
The obvious question: How could the US provide defensive security to the Philippines in a wouldbe conflict with a much more powerful and formidable China when the US is failing to stop a lesser military power in Iran in its attacks on US allies in the Middle East? The obvious answer: the US can’t, and any serious military analyst in the Philippines now know this.
Look to South Korea where a real threat exists with their neighbor to the North. The US is so short on missile defense systems in their Middle East war that to the dismay of South Korean leaders, the US had to take some of those defense systems to be used in the Middle East.
It showed the US shortage of military defensive hardware as well as who the US prioritizes in
(The Save ....from page 2) ranchised from voting due to difficulty, cost or a lack of time, leads most logical – not cynical – Americans to believe that this bill is in fact a voter suppression bill.
Upon examining closer, this bill is not designed for added voter security, the aim is mass disenfranchisement to keep millions of Americans from voting. Why would Republican politicians be in favor of this?
Senator Mike Lee of Utah perhaps revealed this administration and Republicans’ real agenda in pushing for the SAVE America Act. He circulated pol-
allies to protect – Israel first, and everyone else falls behind it. In the Asian-Pacific region, the Philippines as a priority to protect in the case of a regional war, it would most likely be behind Japan, South Korea, and Australia.
In addition to the obvious military vulnerability exposed in this war on Iran, the Philippines, South Korea and Japan are also finding out that their energy needs are better met in the US’ foes like China, Russia and Iran (the latter controlling the Strait of Hormuz).
The Philippines, which depends on 90% of its energy from oil going through the Strait, it was in dire need when the Strait was closed to them, even having to declare a national state of energy emergency.
What did the Philippines do?
First, the US could not help them. Instead, they resorted to buying oil from China and other Asian countries. Through diplomacy and undisclosed deals, eventually the Philippines were given safe passage, the green light, from Iran to go through the Strait of Hormuz.
With limited US resources in military hardware and in providing energy (US is too far away) to the Philippines, Marcos Jr. should be thinking about repairing the Philippines’ relationship with China, who was gracious enough to sell them oil in times of their greatest need. Where was the US? Not there for them.
At least when it comes to foreign relations, the Duterte administration
ling showing his party poised to lose its Senate majority, arguing the bill could “turn this around.”
While data suggests that some of the requirements like providing a US passport to register would impact deep red states where residents there have the lowest rates of US passports in possession, they’re considered safe red states and most likely these states will not suddenly become blue. It is in the purple states with key traditional Democrat voters where these requirements could sway the election to the side of Republicans. Election experts say women, the poor and Black Americans would be hardest hit should this bill become law.
was keener, smarter and wiser in foreign policy than Marcos Jr to recognize the importance of neutrality between the two superpowers.
Multipolar world, ever more apparent in this war with Iran
And this revelation – that the US cannot protect their allies around the world which has served as an extension of US strength and Empire -- is not just for Asia to notice. Europe is already aware of the US’s limitations and the reality of a multipolar (multiple strengths with no real one dominance) world that it essentially is sitting out from this US-Israel conflict with Iran.
And in the case of some European nations like Spain, they have been emboldened to outright criticize the US in this war of aggression in the Middle East.
Europe has never been so bold to reject the US in their military adventurism. Certainly, part of Europe’s refusal has to do with President Trump’s antagonism towards Europe in tariffs and demands to pony up more money for NATO. But there is also the matter of Trump’s desire to take over Greenland which Europe rejects and Trump’s half-hearted support for Ukraine. But ultimately, Europe is seeing what the world is seeing, a world of multipolarity.
It will be interesting to see how the petrodollar (global oil purchases be done in dollars) replacement among certain countries with their local currencies or Yuan will further weaken US Empire. Iran is
Trump has emphasized that the SAVE America Act is his top legislative priority, that it “supersedes everything else” in Congress. He said it himself that the bill’s passage “will guarantee the midterms.” That speech suggests political motivation, not one driven by an independent motivation for enhanced voter security.
The very premise of the SAVE America Act itself is one based more on myth than fact –that there are widespread systemic voting problems, specifically that non-citizens are voting in mass, which data confirms not to be true in multiple studies. Again, as has been Trump’s goto for his entire political career, blame and scapegoat the undocu-
already implementing oil imports through the Strait of Hormuz have a requirement that transactions be traded in Yuan over the dollar.
President Trump realizes what the world notices in the US’s slip in geopolitical influence which he thinks he can solve by throwing even more money into the military to bolster US global Empire. He wants to push for a record $1.5 trillion (up from just under $1 trillion) for the US military.
But that will do little to bolster confidence among US allies. When inexpensive drones can be cost-effective and fairly successful against multi-million dollars missiles, any leader with intelligence will choose cooperation over war with his neighbors any day – this would be one path.
The other more dangerous path this war could bring about is massive militarization among nations that relied on US for defense but no longer can. Perhaps the rich gulf states will pursue this route of massive weapons building. They can afford to do it.
Trump has exposed the US Empire’s vulnerability to the world –that it cannot be the global policeman even if it wanted to. Many geopolitical analysts already see the writing on the wall that the unilateral superpower that the US was, is no longer. We can accept this reality and choose to be better neighbors, be more cooperative, and invest in our own domestic needs. Or we can waste more money with the delusion of global Empire, continue to fight costly wars and face the possibility of nuclear annihilation.
mented. Illegal voting, especially by non-citizens has been found to be extremely rare. Voter fraud accusations have always been a political weapon and not based on reality.
Voter identification certainly is very important. But many of the SAVE America Act features are just excessive barriers. Yes, voting should be secure, but it should also be easy in order to maximize citizen participation.
We encourage our readers to call their US Senators and ask them to vote against this undemocratic bill, the SAVE America Act. It was defeated last year, and it must be blocked again, especially before this year’s midterm elections.
By Edwin Quinabo
President Donald Trump’s voting bill— the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act — could substantially alter federal voter registration and voting procedures ahead of this year’s midterm election. The measure may also result in the disenfranchisement of millions of eligible U.S. citizens, voting rights advocates say.
The SAVE America Act would require Americans to prove their citizenship in person by presenting documentation when registering to vote, re-registering, or updating their voter registration. The bill would recognize only a U.S. passport or a birth certificate as proof. It would also require the name on a birth certificate to match the voter’s current legal name—a provision that could disproportionately affect women who have changed their last name after marriage.
More than 140 million American citizens do not possess a passport and as many as 69 million women who have taken their spouse’s name do not have a birth certificate matching their legal name.
Trump prioritizing the SAVE Act
Trump has made the SAVE America Act his top legislative priority, urging Republicans to move it forward as the midterm elections near. He has also said he will not sign other legislation until the measure becomes law. Trump says his support for the bill is driven by his claims of widespread voter fraud and his stated aim of making elections more secure and fair.
“They have to get it done,” he said of the Senate. “If it takes you six months — I’m for not approving anything. ... I don’t think we should approve anything until this is approved. It will guarantee the midterms. If you don’t get it, big trouble, my opinion. It’s actually a matter in a serious way of national survival. We can’t have these elections going on like this anymore,” Trump said.
The SAVE America Act was already approved by the House with a vote of 220-208 in favor, includ-
ing unanimous support from House Republicans and four Democrats.
It is currently being debated in the Senate awaiting a vote possibly after the congressional Spring break recess. Majority Leader John Thune said he will call it up for vote while Democrats threatened to filibuster—a maneuver that allows senators to extend debate and block a vote unless 60 senators agree to proceed. Meanwhile, the president is increasing pressure on Republican senators to abolish the filibuster and pass the bill with a simple majority (50+%).
Trump has consistently said there is widespread voting by non-citizens. He believes the SAVE America Act’s goal is to stop this. “I’m asking you to approve the SAVE America Act to stop illegal aliens and others who are unpermitted persons from voting in our sacred American elections. That cheating is rampant in our elections. It’s rampant,” he said.
Trump claimed that millions of illegal votes cost him the popular vote against Hillary Clinton. And four years later, he alleged that Biden carried key states because of tens of thousands of non-citizen votes.
Critics of the SAVE America Act say it’s already illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal
U.S. elections, and that research and recent state investigations have shown that non-citizen registration and voting occur only very rarely.
Recent investigations in Louisiana, Utah and Iowa show non-citizens votes account for just a sliver of registered voters and a miniscule fraction of ballots cast. Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry said that an ongoing investigation had found 390 non-citizens on the state’s voter rolls. That number represents roughly 0.01 percent of the 2.9 million registered voters in Louisiana.
Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said, “We have not yet encountered anyone who voted illegally,” about her office’s review of the 2.1 million people on the state’s voter rolls. “I anticipate that the vast majority of these 486 are in fact citizens and just need to update their information,” Henderson said.
The Center for Election Innovation and Research (CEIR), a nonpartisan group that advises state and local election officials, says states often overstate the number of registered voters flagged as possible non citizens during preliminary reviews of voter rolls, figures that some states release publicly before completing full investigations. CEIR found that early reports alleging large numbers of noncitizen registrants or voters are “almost certain to be a misleading overestimation” of records with unconfirmed citizenship.
Virgie Casino, Waipahu, said, “The SAVE America Act is not about stopping illegal aliens from voting which I doubt is even a problem. It’s yet another anti-immigrant tool in this administration to get Trump’s base to keep supporting him. The midterm election is critical for Trump. Without the Republicans winning both chambers
Polls show the country is divided on the SAVE America Act. Fifty-one percent of respondents in a UMass Amherst national poll show support for proof of citizenship to register to vote in future elections. They strongly or somewhat support the measure. A stronger majority, 64%, said they support requiring all voters to present government-issued identification to vote.
The latest poll is based on responses from 1,000
individuals collected between March 20 and 25. The margin for error for the poll is 3.5%. According to the poll’s findings, 55% support making mail-in voting available to all voters, which is against one of the SAVE America Act’s features.
Critics of the Act say while there is support for strengthening voter ID – a reasonable idea for most Americans – it goes too far. REAL Driver’s License already requires proof of citizenship and a social security card in most states.
“The SAVE Act would function as a modern-day Jim Crow, disenfranchising millions of Americans. As Americans struggle with high costs, fewer jobs, and endless chaos from Donald Trump, House Republicans are choosing to spend their time on federalizing Jim Crow. Republicans bristle, the right-wing bristles, every time I say that the SAVE Act is Jim Crow 2.0. They don’t like it because sometimes the truth hurts. While the specific policies may have changed since the days of the Jim Crow South, the goal of the SAVE Act is the same: disenfranchising American citizens and making it harder for eligible people to vote, particularly low-income Americans and people of color. This is the truth: the SAVE Act is not a mainstream bill whatsoever. It’s a fringe piece of legislation that has now taken over the Republican party, masquerading as election security when it’s really about laying the groundwork to meddle in the midterm elections, and make it much harder for people to vote. More than 10% of voters in the country could be disenfranchised to vote. For example, if you’re one of the 50% of Americans who doesn’t have a passport, or if you’re one of the tens of millions of Americans who can’t quickly access your birth certificate, the SAVE Act could, in effect, take away your right to vote.”
– Chuck Schumer US Senate Minority Leader
in Congress, Trump can no longer push his agenda. The SAVE America Act is really the SAVE Trump Act and it’s bad for democracy and elections.” Federico Magdalena, Kapahulu, is puzzled by Trump’s reasoning. He said, “Trump wants to clamp down on illegal immigrants with that move [pushing for the SAVE America Act]. It does not make sense.”
Requiring a US passport or birth certificate to register to vote is costly and will only deter voting.
Senator Mazie Hirono (HI) posted on her X account, “The SAVE Act is NOT about strengthening voter ID. It’s a way for this regime to steal upcoming elections. Republicans want to silence MILLIONS of eligible voters by making it harder to register to vote. And married women, you’re one of the SAVE Act’s perfect targets.”
Hirono explained that the name on a birth certif-
icate may not match a married name, potentially complicating voter registration under the SAVE Act. She joined a coalition of Senators in sending letters to the Secretary of the Interior, warning that the Act could lead to mass disenfranchisement and further depress voter turnout. She adds on her website, “For tens of millions of Americans, producing these documents is not a small hurdle. It is a huge barrier.”
Rep. Ed Case was one of four Democrats to vote
for the SAVE Act. His vote drew criticism from Democrats and voting rights advocates, but Case said the bill sets uniform national standards and includes identification most eligible voters have, adding that concerns about voter suppression are overstated.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said before the Senate floor, “The SAVE Act would function as a modern-day Jim Crow, disenfranchising millions of Americans. As Amer-
By Martina Agonoy
Iran killed 13 service members and injured over 200 in this month-long war.
Trump rewarded Iran by lifting sanctions on Iran, allowing it to sell its oil to pay for its war effort. Russia gave Iran the information to know how to kill and injure our troops.
Trump rewarded Russia by lifting sanctions on it, allowing Russia to sell its oil at a profit of $760 million a day, to use to keep attacking Ukraine.
The US makes 800 missiles per year. On day 1 of the war, 803 missiles were wasted. Tomahawk missiles cost $2 Million each. Ukrainian experts sent to help found the US was wasting missiles, shooting 8 times more than needed.
Officials from previous Democratic administrations are very concerned that Pete Hegseth is burning through our military weaponry by failing to understand that depleting them leaves us vulnerable to our enemies.
The Iran war cost $1 billion per day. That $1 billion could give universal health care to all Americans and build 13,000 hospitals in rural areas where Americans need health facilities.
One billion dollars
could pay every teacher in the U.S. $60,000 for an annual salary. One billion dollars could reduce the monthly cost of childcare to $10 per child for our whole country.
Pete Hegseth, a video game master who is thrilled to be head of his selfnamed Department of War, is spending one billion dollars a day on the war, when our tax dollars would be better spent on improving the lives of Americans.
More than 50,000 service members are already in the Middle East. Another 10,000 are on their way. Sending 15,000 troops to what may be their last tour of duty contradicts Trump’s lies that the war is over.
Trump raised the draft age to 42 years, a precursor to him reinstating the draft.
Only Republicans can impeach and remove Trump. Republicans hold the majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. They control Congress. It’s the Republicans’ responsibility to stop Trump from all his chaos and incompetence.
Trump has Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, two real estate developers, negotiating for the US in the Iran War, while both also seek funds for their own projects. Neither has military or diplomatic experience and have a clear con-
(COVER STORY: Passage ....from page 5)
icans struggle with high costs, fewer jobs, and endless chaos from Donald Trump, House Republicans are choosing to spend their time on federalizing Jim Crow. Republicans bristle, the right-wing bristles, every time I say that the SAVE Act is Jim Crow 2.0. They don’t like it because sometimes the truth hurts. While the specific policies may have changed since the days of the Jim Crow South, the goal of the SAVE Act is the same: disenfranchising American citizens and making it harder for eligible people to vote, particularly
flict of interest.
Donald Trump is the most corrupt president ever in American history. The State Department, run by former Senator Marco Rubio, diverted $1.2 Billion in foreign aid to the slush fund (his “Board of Peace”) that Trump is taking with him after he leaves office.
Congress allocated your tax dollars to foreign aid and Trump is stealing your money for his personal use. This is on top of the $1 billion Trump diverted from the Department of Defense budget to refit the used jet Qatar gave him. Trump is taking that jet to his “presidential library” for his own personal use.
The funds for Trump’s Board of Peace were taken from foreign aid funds that build goodwill for the US and keep international peace: $1 billion from international disaster assistance, $200 million from peacekeeping operations, and $50 million from international organizations.
Members of Trump’s “Board of Peace” are dictators. Trump justified his plans to give $10 billion of your tax dollars by saying it would go to Gaza –yet none of the money has gone to Gaza.
Democrats tried 9 times to pay TSA yet Trump pressured Senate Majority Leader John Thune and
low-income Americans and people of color.
“This is the truth: the SAVE Act is not a mainstream bill whatsoever. It’s a fringe piece of legislation that has now taken over the Republican party, masquerading as election security when it’s really about laying the groundwork to meddle in the midterm elections, and make it much harder for people to vote,” Schumer said.
The Senate Minority leader adds if enacted, “more than 10% of voters in the country could be disenfranchised to vote. For
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson to reject Democrats’ offers. To take credit now, Trump signed an order to pay the TSA. Trump could have agreed to the Democrats’ offers to pay TSA weeks ago. Democrats have insisted that ICE not wear masks, wear badges to identify themselves, wear body cameras, and obtain real warrants from courts before they break into people’s homes.
Law enforcement are identifiable so we can tell good guys from bad guys. Actual criminals are posing as ICE to kidnap victims. We need ICE to show their faces and wear ID badges. That’s what Democrats were fighting for in this government shutdown. Republicans refused 9 times.
Democrats tried to protect people’s ACA credits in last year’s government shutdown. Republicans didn’t care that millions of their constituents would lose their health insurance, refused to continue the credit, and slashed funding for rural health clinics and hospitals.
Republicans added $2.2 trillion to the national deficit in Trump’s Big Ugly Bill, on top of the $1.9 trillion in Trump’s first term. Republicans never have any money for universal health care, childcare, or
example, if you’re one of the 50% of Americans who doesn’t have a passport, or if you’re one of the tens of millions of Americans who can’t quickly access your birth certificate, the SAVE Act could, in effect, take away your right to vote.”
Jon Go, Honolulu, does not support the SAVE America Act. “As procuring or renewing a US passport costs at least $135, not all citizens will prioritize that over daily expenses,” he said.
Magdalena says requiring US citizens to register or reregister with a passport
elder care, but they always have money for their billionaire tax cuts, including yacht credits.
Trump is singlehandedly responsible for one-half of our nation’s debt. What financial geniuses Republicans are.
Biden reduced prescription prices, sued Ticketmaster to bring down ticket fees, broke monopolies to bring down prices, got wage hikes and worker benefits, and brought infrastructure and manufacturing jobs to improve our economy. Trump gave us tariffs and high gas prices. If your priorities are to improve the well-being of yourself, other families, businesses, and communities, Democrats always work to make life affordable and improve opportunities.
Republicans can be relied on to block Democrats’ plans to benefit Americans. If you love the United States and want to protect our democracy, help Democrats help you by electing them to office.
Republicans are actively working to deprive you of health care, better pay, decent pay for teachers, and more. If Republicans block efforts to make your lives better, replace them with Democrats who do want to give you a better life.
or birth certificate may discourage them from voting.
Besides the US passport or birth certificate requirement, other features of the SAVE America Act include:
• Mail-in, online and community voter registration drives would no longer be valid for federal elections.
• A valid photo ID must be presented at polling places.
• There will be stricter rules for absentee bal-
lots. Absentee voters must submit a copy of an eligible photo both when requesting and returning their ballot. Absentee voting will be limited to only illness, disability or military service.
• Voter Roll Verification: States are required to verify voter rolls against federal databases, including the Department of Homeland Security’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system, and
By Gary Hooser
When we fill the room, we win.
When we show up at the ballot box and vote, we win.
In the 30 years I’ve been involved in government and politics, I’ve seen it happen over and over again.
When we fill the room — whether physically or virtually — 9 times out of 10, WE WIN.
Your emails, phone calls, and testimony MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Your social media posts, and your likes and shares informing and encouraging friends to do the same, MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Our world is teetering on the edge.
It’s more important than ever before that we show up.
We must show up first in our own homes, neigh-
borhoods, and communities, and prepare for the worst.
The war and destruction in Iran will only end when it literally burns itself out.
Any long-term disruption of oil production will impact overseas shipping, air transportation, and electricity generation and ground transportation.
What happens when the barges stop coming or are delayed, and when the oil and food stop arriving weekly?
As an island community, and in our own homes, we must prepare for that. We prepare for the worst, hope and dream for the best, and plan and work relentlessly towards the future we need and deserve.
Our all-important primary election is August 8, with a candidate filing deadline of June 2.
We must identify and support candidates at ALL levels who are proactive
(COVER STORY: Passage ....from page 6)
remove noncitizens from voter lists.
• There will be criminal and civil penalties. Election officials who register voters without proper documentation may face criminal penalties, including imprisonment, and private citizens may sue officials for noncompliance.
• States need to update voter registration forms, polling procedures, and absentee ballot systems. The law provides no federal funding or phase-in period, creating potential administrative burdens.
Mail-in voting increased voting in Hawaii, the SAVE America Act could change that Hawaii adopted all-mail voting in 2020 after years of low turnout, with participation rising from 34.8% in 2016 to 51.2% in the system’s first year. Despite the
and willing to stand up to the Trump regime in D.C.,and to the corporatist DINO appeasers here at home.
We must, with utmost urgency, address the issue of food and energy self-sufficiency NOW, at BOTH the County and State levels.
It is more important than ever before that we elect leaders who feel that urgency, and who are willing to work and fight for permanent affordable housing, a true living wage, healthcare for all, food and energy independence, AND exposing government corruption and ending the “pay to play”.
And we MUST confront the ugliest of all the elephants in the room.
“Military wants Hawaiʻi to be a hub for Pacific arms manufacturing.” The Honolulu Star-Advertiser headline says it all.
Add to this the U.S. Army’s threats to take over the lands at Pōhakuloa by
increase, the Hawaii Elections Commission voted 5–3 to urge the Legislature to repeal universal vote-bymail and return to single-day, in-person elections with limited absentee ballots.
State Rep Adrian Tam said the commission is “losing sight” of its mission to provide secure, accessible and convenient election services statewide.
State lawmakers and voting¬-rights advocates have expressed opposition to the recommendation from the Hawaii Elections Commission to limit mail-in voting.
On returning to single-day, in-person election voting that the SAVE America Act would require, Go said, “Absentee voting allows voters with essential jobs to be able to vote and not have to take time off work to go to a voting location and fall in line. It also allows state residents who are traveling out of state or out of the country to still be able to exercise their right
force via eminent domain, and its refusal to complete an acceptable environmental impact statement (EIS) as required by Hawaiʻi law HRS343.
Stir in the poisoning of water at Red Hill, and the uncountable acres of conservation lands throughout the islands that have been abused, contaminated, and desecrated.
Now we learn that Hegseth’s Department of War has partnered with the State DBEDT and funding PR companies to manage public sentiment and pave the way in Hawaiʻi for his war machine.
We must, of course, support and honor our men and women in uniform, and we must maintain a strong defense.
However, our goal must be PEACEMAKING, not warmongering.
According to numerous studies, the United States spends nearly a trillion dollars per year, and has
to vote. Voting should not impose additional burden on a voter’s already busy schedule.”
Casino favors universal absentee voting. “The data shows absentee voting works to boost voter participation in Hawaii. This should remain an option for all eligible voters. The greatest obstacle to voting is inconvenience. Absentee voting works because eligible voters have time to cast and mail in their ballots. This process is good for democracy,” she said.
“Mail-in voting and early voting are here to stay,” Tam said, arguing that shifting back to in-person-only, single-¬day voting would sharply reduce access, suppress turnout, and undo years of progress by making elections less secure and less accessible for thousands of Hawaii voters.
As of early 2026,
the highest rate of military spending of any country in the world. China comes in a distant second place with an estimated $314 billion U.S. dollars spent, with Russia in third place at around $150 billion.
ENOUGH ALREADY.
We need a U.S. Department of Peace, not a Hegseth Department of War.
Food and energy independence, ending corruption and the influence of big money in politics, and a military industrial complex that is shrinking, not growing, in our islands. THIS is what we must show up for next.
Please send a message today to: Governor Green, our congressional delegation and your state legislators and councilmembers and tell them all… ENOUGH ALREADY.
GARY HOOSER is a former Hawaiʻi State Senator and Majority Leader.
Trump has not explicitly said he would deploy ICE agents to polling places. Still, the idea has been promoted by some of his allies, and reports say his administration has not definitively ruled out an ICE presence.
Talks of an ICE deployment to polling sites have been prominently circulated that there have been surveys on this possibility. In a Date for Progress survey, a majority of voters (56%) support blocking ICE enforcement actions at polling locations or other election-related sites.
Longtime Trump supporter Steve Bannon said that the deployment of ICE agents to airports is “perfect training for the fall of 2026,” referring to the midterm election.
Unsubstantiated claims by the administration that noncitizens are voting in large numbers have fueled calls to deploy ICE agents at polling places.
Magdalena said,
“Sending ICE to polling places will only threaten voters, not just illegal immigrants. ICE has become notorious these days” Casino echoes Magdalena’s assessment of intimidation at the polls should ICE be deployed there. “Sending ICE to polling stations would not be to catch non-citizen voters. Rather, should it happen, it would be about voter intimidation, specifically for Latino and Asian communities because these are the communities mostly targeted by ICE. We all hear real life stories of racial profiling by ICE. Why wouldn’t Latinos and Asians be afraid to show up to vote with racial profiling happening even if they are US citizens eligible to vote. Now is the time for Americans to talk about this possibility before it’s too late because Trump hasn’t made it clear that ICE would not be deployed to polling stations.”
By Will Espero
Donald Trump has made a huge mistake in his second term as president by listening to Israel’s war mongering Benjamin Netanyahu.
Unfortunately, the Israeli leader convinced Trump to join in his regional war against Iran, and the results have been disastrous for the world.
Other nations have been attacked or bombed, US allies have been reluctant to get involved, and China and Russia are watching closely to see how things develop.
Ironically, Russia has benefited from Trump’s unnecessary war with more Russian oil sales, as Iran’s oil output has slowed or stopped. Putin must be hap-
py with Trump for the additional millions of dollars in oil revenues to help Russia’s weak economy.
The price of a barrel of oil has risen, gas prices have increased, and nations are preparing for the worst as Iran digs in and refuses to surrender to Trump despite the enormous destruction caused by American and Israeli bombs.
Even with the deaths and assassinations of Iran’s leaders, the Iranians appear ready for combat and for a possible invasion by American troops. Donald Trump may have bitten off more than he can chew.
From what has been reported on the news and from what Trump has said during his press conferences, the damage to Iran has been total and complete. Military bases, offensive and defensive weapons, Iran’s Navy, and key infrastructure in
Iran have been destroyed, and the leadership appears to be fearful and in hiding. It is not clear who exactly is in charge in Iran.
Sadly, 13 American military personnel have been killed since Trump began bombing Iran, and the possibility of more American deaths or casual ties is growing as 8,000 soldiers prepare for action in the Middle East. With the Strait of Hormuz a crucial waterway through which oil must travel, war plans are being discussed to address this strategic location.
Polls show Americans are against the Trump-Iranian War, and the appetite
for fighting in the Middle East is just not supported. Many of us remember the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and we are tired of millions, if not billions, of dollars being spent on weapons and questionable causes.
Donald Trump stated he agreed to attack Iran because Iran was a threat to the United States.
He did not provide any evidence to back his claim, and Trump contradicted himself when he stated earlier in the year that the United States and Israel had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities. This appears to be false as Trump is known to exaggerate and twist the truth.
Also, add the fact that Trump did not get any approval from Congress to go into war mode, so this unnecessary war is all Donald Trump and Netanyahu.
If American troops are deployed on Iranian soil,
Trump and the Republican Party will be in serious trouble as the midterm elections get closer.
Rising inflation, tariff problems, ICE thuggery, high gas problems, pedophile allegations, the Epstein files, NATO issues, and an unpopular Trump war are the ingredients for a Democratic wave that could lead to a change in who controls Congress.
A Democratic-led House of Representatives would likely impeach Trump again.
Many people believe Trump attacked Iran to deflect from his Epstein files problems. The Epstein files have been devastating for wealthy and high-profile elites and executives who were friends with Jeffrey Epstein with its salacious allegations of sexual abuse and trafficking.
Since Trump and Epstein were once very good
(continue on page 12)
By Arcelita Imasa and Michelle Cruz Skinner
By now, Hawai’i residents have seen what happened on the North Shore during the recent storms. Screens have been filled with images of houses washed away, of homes surrounded by several feet of water, of inundated farm fields.
Many have heard from family and friends about fleeing late on Thursday night, March 19, or in the early hours of Friday, March 20, and now engaging in the arduous and painful task of cleaning up.
What can be done by our Filipino communities in O’ahu to support? What assistance do the North Shore residents, including farmers, truly need?
What bayanihan means in this moment
For many Filipinos, the word bayanihan describes a tradition of coming together as one community to help a family or neighbor in need.
Historically, it evokes the image of people literally lifting and carrying a house on their shoulders, but in times of disaster, it means sharing our time, skills, resources, and compassion so that no one is left behind.
Practicing bayanihan after the floods means trusting affected families and farmers to decide what they need most, while we stand beside them with solidarity, not pity.
As soon as the floodwaters receded, Hawai’i Filipinos for Truth, Justice, and Democracy, Bayanihan Clinic Without Walls, and the Hawai’i Workers Center began their bayanihan efforts, aided by Anakbayan Hawai’i, the Filipino Artists Movement, and the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, as well as members of the Filipino Association of University Women.
The first step was hearing from manangs, manongs, lelongs, lelangs, aunties, uncles, and kupuna, who are impacted, about how they wished to be served,
Through these conversations, the organizations learned there is no shortage of supplies, such as food and household items, flowing into the affected communities.
However, community members reported needing immediate financial support and space to decide for themselves how best to use it.
Many people explained that they have been busy cleaning and repairing the damage to their homes and the homes of friends and neighbors. This urgent task of ensuring their homes are habitable is consuming their lives 24/7.
It also means they cannot go to work. They are unable to farm, deliver packages, care for their patients, or build, all jobs that brought in income.
In the meantime, they must spend their limited funds on property restoration, home repairs, mortgage or rental payments, and car payments, even if the car is destroyed.
While assistance may eventually be available to some in the form of insurance payments or government or private funding, that will take time. Right now, they are unable to work and must pay for expenses out of pocket.
This is where bayanihan can look like direct financial donations that allow farmers and families to decide what to do first: fix a wall, repair a flooded truck, replace lost tools, or pay for medication.
Giving unrestricted support respects their dig-
nity and autonomy – it says, “You know your life best. We trust you.” It also avoids harmful judgments about “right” or “wrong” ways to use help, such as shaming a family for returning more than once to pick up food when the need is clearly ongoing.
Based on the needs expressed by the residents interviewed, members of the participating organizations have started to gather community donations of any amount, which will be distributed to those affected by the floods on the North Shore.
These funds will help families close the gap between bills due now and assistance that may arrive months from today.
An everyday example of bayanihan is neighbors, friends, and strangers pooling resources so that a farmer does not have to choose between repairing a field or filling a medication prescription.
Money is not the only way to practice bayanihan Volunteers can help muck out homes, move debris, clean fields, or offer rides to appointments. These tasks may seem small, but together they lighten the heavy load families are carrying.
Listening to people’s stories is another powerful act of solidarity. When community members have space to share what they went through, the fear of rising water, the long nights of cleaning, the uncertainty about the future, they feel seen, not forgotten. Bear-
food donations is something to be ashamed of.
In a true bayanihan spirit, we recognize that repeated need reflects the scale of the disaster and the inequalities that existed long before the flood, not any moral failure on the part of those seeking help.
ing witness to these stories can be as healing as any material donation, especially when listeners respond with empathy rather than blame or stigma.
Sharing warm food is also a simple but deep expression of care. After days and nights of cold floodwater, damp clothes, and interrupted sleep, a hot meal can symbolize comfort, safety, and community. Cooking for farmers and families, sitting down to eat together, and celebrating their resiliency honors the reality that they are not just “victims of a disaster” but leaders rebuilding their lives and feeding our islands.
some communities are more vulnerable
Bayanihan is not only about helping in the moment; it is also about learning why certain communities are hit harder by disasters and working together to change those conditions.
Education can help us understand how factors such as low wages, lack of flood protections, limited access to health care, language barriers, unsafe housing, or immigration status can make it harder for families to prepare for, survive, and recover from floods and storms.
Community forums, teach-ins, and small group discussions can explore these structural issues while also lifting up stories of resilience and mutual aid. This type of education can correct harmful myths, such as the idea that going back multiple times to receive
Members of the collaborating organizations will continue to stand with North Shore families in the months ahead. However, a natural disaster of this scale calls for the whole community to come together. Many hands make light work. Practicing bayanihan today can look like:
- Donating any amount to vetted community-led funds so farmers and families can decide how best to recover.
- Volunteering your time to help with clean-up, rides, food preparation, or childcare.
- Listening to and sharing the stories of those affected, without judgment.
- Bringing warm meals that nourish both body and spirit.
- Joining educational efforts that explain why some communities are more vulnerable, and challenging shaming, blaming, and misinformation when you see it. In doing so, we honor not only those directly impacted by the floods but also a living tradition of bayanihan that has carried generations of Filipinos through hardship. Please consider donating any amount to our fundraising effort (tinyurl.com/ BayanihanForHawaii). Please email us at arcelita@ hawaii.edu and we will help you find your own way to show up.
Together, we can help our North Shore neighbors rebuild their homes, their farms, and their sense of safety.
By Elpidio R.
Have we encountered all-women candidates for president and vice president in the Philippines before? Maybe the 2028 presidential election will be the first!
The presidential election is scheduled to be held on May 8, 2028, as part of a general election that will also determine the control of Congress.
This early, politicians started to position themselves running for the highest positions of the land, and there is a possibility that all candidates from the major parties for president and vice president will be women.
Under the Constitution of the Philippines, incumbent president Bongbong Marcos is term-limited and is ineligible for re-election, so an administration candidate will have to be determined. Incumbent vice president Sara Duterte is eligible for re-election to a second term but has decided to run for president instead.
With the announcement of VP Sara Duterte to run for president recently, there
is a possibility that a SaraImee tandem will emerge. Incumbent senator and sister of Bongbong, who has shown her opposition to her own brother president, Imee Marcos might be the vice-presidential candidate of Sara. The two have shown collaboration and a good relationship with each other that Imee is willing to be her running mate.
On the other hand, the opposition is grooming former Vice President and incumbent Mayor of Naga City Leni Robredo to run for president as their united opposition candidate.
With the recent meeting of President Bongbong and Mayor Leni celebrating projects of the city of Naga, Leni might even come out to be supported by the administration, and Sara might be the opposition candidate.
Leni, however, denied that their meeting was political and kept denying that she is not running for president but will continue to be Naga City’s chief executive.
These developments are slowly but surely shaping up, and should Leni finally agree to run, she might tap incumbent Senator Risa Hontiveros as her vice president. The latter
has shown this as a possibility, so we’ll have all women candidates for the two highest positions of the land.
VP Sara Duterte has said she is running for president in the upcoming 2028 election, following the footsteps of her father, ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently on trial at the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
In her announcement, she said: “It took me 47 years to understand that my life was never meant to be only mine. For a long time, I questioned the weight of responsibility to my family, to my country, to everyone who called on me. I am Sara Duterte, and I am running for president in the Philippines.”
While, as of February 2026, Sara has confirmed that she has already selected and “recruited” her running mate for the 2028 presidential elections, she has not yet publicly revealed their identity.
Being mentioned were Sen. Bam Aquino and Sen. Robin. Padilla, Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, and Sen. Imee Marcos. As I see it, it may be Sen. Imee who will likely be the running mate.
Senator Imee Marcos expressed her support and openness to the tandem, stating, “basta sunud-sunuran ako dun” (I will just follow her lead). She even
joked that she has long been Duterte’s “running mate,” saying: “Whether running, crawling, kneeling, standing, or sitting, I have never left her side.”
Despite her stated willingness, however, Imee clarified in mid-February 2026 that she was not officially confirming a vice-presidential run yet, noting that the Vice President had not yet officially tapped her.
The tandem was heavily pushed by Senator Robin Padilla, who described a Sara-Imee ticket as a “girl power” team.
These developments follow a widening gap between the Duterte family and the administration of President Bongbong Marcos, with Imee aligning herself with the opposition and the Duterte camp.
As to Leni for president, eight months into her new job as Naga chief, she said her decision remained the same — her priority is Naga City, not the presidency.
“I don’t want to be distracted because we have a lot of work to do. Our response [to calls to run] is the same: regrets, because I don’t want to be always leaving [Naga],” she said in Bicolano.
Along this line, Rep. Leila de Lima said she remains optimistic that former vice president and Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo will run for president, calling her the “most winnable candidate.”
Leni’s continued service at the local level in Naga City only reinforces her credibility, showing she leads by example rather than ambition.
The 2028 election could mark a turning point for the Philippines: a chance to choose honesty over theatrics and unity over division. Leni’s extensive grassroots network, proven executive
experience, and people-first programs give her a strong foundation for a renewed campaign.
If she builds broader alliances and captures the growing desire for clean and accountable leadership, she could inspire a coalition for real change.
Leni’s strength is not just her record—it’s her ability to remind Filipinos that leadership grounded in service and decency is still possible. A Leni comeback would not just be a political fight; it would be a moral reset for the nation.
As to Sen, Risa Hontiveros being Leni’s running mate, she has indicated she is open to running for either president or vice president in the 2028 Philippine elections, including a potential tandem with former Vice President Leni Robredo, provided it is chosen through a united opposition consensus.
Hontiveros stated, “I would be willing to take on any task na hihingin ng united opposition (that the united opposition asks of me).”
Hontiveros has emphasized that the goal is to present the “strongest and most credible candidate” for 2028, and she is focused on building a coalition rather than pushing her own candidacy.
Another possible running mate of Leni was Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan. Sen. Erwin Tulfo and Sen. Bam Aquino. But, considering the situation, and as I see it, the running mate of Leni would be Risa. So, are you ready for an all-women candidate for president and vice president come 2028?
ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO was a veteran journalist in the Philippines and a multi-awarded journalist here in the US. For feedbacks, comments… please email the author at estiokoelpidio@gmail.com
By Emil Guillermo
aster greetings. As I write this, I’ve just watched a moving display by the most powerful American in the world.
Donald Trump? Sorry, DJT. You’re nothing where it counts.
The most powerful American right now is Robert Prevost of Chicago, also known as Pope Leo.
I just saw him forgive all those assembled at St. Peter’s Square with his Easter blessing and message. And the blessing applies to all following on Radio and TV.
They were all eligible to receive a plenary indulgence, essentially full remission of temporal punishment for their sins.
Clean slate. That’s better than what you get when you buy a Trump meme coin.
Before the blessing, you just had to receive the message, and today it was all about non-violence, and being one who “rejects the instinct for revenge” and to instead be “filled with compassion and praise for the one who has committed the offense” toward oneself.
That’s tough. Essentially, it’s “love your enemy.”
Leo called that the “strength that brings peace to humanity” that fosters “respectful relationships at every level, not merely individuals, but families, social groups, and nations.”
“It’s a strength that does not seek private interests, but the common good,” said Leo. “It does not seek to impose its own plan, but to help design and carry out a plan together with others.”
And then he pointed to the significance of Easter.
“Christ’s resurrection is the beginning of a new humanity,” Leo said. “It is the entrance into the true Promised Land where justice, freedom, and peace reign. Where we all recognize one another as brothers and sisters, children of the same father, who is love, life, and light.”
“Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace,” the Pope said. “Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue, not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them.”
The Pope warned that we are all accustomed to violence that exists in
the world to the point of indifference. “We’re indifferent to the deaths of thousands of people, indifferent to the repercussions of hatred and division, indifferent to the economic and social consequences they produce which we all feel globally,” he said.
Leo called it the “globalization of indifference,” a phrase he borrowed from the late Pope Francis, who a year ago reminded us “what a great thirst for death, for killing we witness each day in the many conflicts raging in different parts of the world.”
Leo said “we cannot afford to continue to be indifferent,” as he announced a prayer vigil for peace on April 11 at St. Peter’s Square.
“Let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, power, and implore the lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars, and marked by hatred and the indifference that makes us feel powerless to the face of evil.”
He ended saying, “We entrust all hearts that suffer and await the true peace that only He can give…. Happy Easter.” And then to all those who could hear him, he forgave them their sins.
I doubt Donald Trump was listening. But he was the target. The pope was less direct in this Easter message, as he ended a week that started more directly.
On Palm Sunday Leo said: “God rejects the prayers of those who wage war because they have blood on their hands.”
That sounded like a shot at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who sprinkles scripture over war like it’s holy water. But no—the Pope’s aim was higher. Straight at the president.
“I was told President Trump says he wants to end the war. Hopefully, he’s looking for an off-ramp,” Leo said to the media after a papal retreat.
An off-ramp. A detour from hell. Then the Pope made it plain:
“Hopefully, he’s looking for a way to decrease the violence and bombing…a significant contribution to reducing the hatred that’s growing in the Middle East and elsewhere.”
And then the simplest, hardest thing: “Come back to the table. Dialogue. Reduce the violence. Let peace reign.”
A prayer. A plea. A warning. If it was heard in Washington, it didn’t stick.
Trump usually doesn’t like to share the stage on deeply religious holidays. Last Christmas, when the Pope was in the spotlight, Trump chose that day to bomb suspected ISIS targets in Nigeria. Merry Christmas.
This year, he seemed to resurrect his war proclivities when that second F-15 pilot was found safely. “We got him” Trump posted just past midnight Easter Sunday (ET).
The rescue was a display of commando force, the kind that gets, Trump excited. One Blackhawk helicopter was impacted by enemy fire, and personnel were injured. But all are now safe.
“An AMAZING show of bravery and talent by all,” the president tweeted. And now he’s re-energized.
In an Easter morning post, the president wrote: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!! Open the F*ckin’Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell–Just Watch! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
I don’t think he was following the Pope’s social media feed.
It’s a far cry from midweek, when Trump seemed sleepy and tired after his incoherent national address, a strange, rambling, contradictory speech where he claimed we basically won and obliterated Iran, but we would keep bombing just the same.
He suggested countries dependent on the Strait of Hormuz should just…buy American oil.
Monetize the war. Then he told them to “take the strait” themselves. Do your own war. America’s out. Except—we’re not. Because he also said bombing would continue for two to three weeks.
He floated targeting energy in-
frastructure—war crime territory— then reminded us that nothing stops him but his own “moral authority.” His words. So now he’s the referee? Or something higher?
That’s where we were left. A president grading his own morality. And then reality hit.
Iran shot down that U.S. F-15. Two American pilots ejected. Just like that, the abstraction became real. This isn’t a video game. This isn’t a tweet.
This is Americans in harm’s way—because of a war launched on impulse. Trump’s war. Iran’s military obliterated? Not exactly.
Trump rolled out a massive $1.5 trillion defense budget–a $440.9 billion dollar increase–plus another $200 billion for the Iran war.
And what gets cut? The State Department. Because diplomacy is apparently optional. Also on the chopping block: Health and Human Services. Housing. Education. All the things that actually make America livable. So much for “America First.”
The candidate who promised to end forever wars? He’s expanding one. The guy who ran on fiscal responsibility? He’s lighting money on fire. This isn’t “America First.” This is “American Might.” And not the good kind. The kind that lines us up with the autocrats—Russia, China, North Korea.
That’s the club. That’s the aspiration. At the expense of everyday Americans.
So no, there’s not much comfort this Holy Week. Not after that speech. Not after that budget. Not after that trajectory.
When Trump finally exits what he calls his “little journey to Iran,” it won’t be remembered for what it achieved. It will be remembered for why it started. And how it spiraled. Because when the most powerful American in the world—a man of peace—asked for an off-ramp… Trump hit the gas. And kept going. The man warned about blood on his hands, doesn’t have enough. He simply wants more.
EMIL GUILLERMO is a journalist and commentator. His talk show is on www.amok.com.
By Rose Cruz Churma
In The Company of Strangers is the third published anthology by Michelle Cruz Skinner, current president of the Filipino Association of University Women (FAUW).
Prior to this book, she has published two short story collections, Balikbayan and Mango Seasons which were nominated for a Philippine National Book Award.
This anthology includes three short memoirs. “Translating” is the first narrative in the collection, while the “Old Man’s Head” is positioned midway, and the third, “Paper” concludes the collection.
These mini-memoirs are my favorites in the collection. I spent my childhood summers in the province of Zambales and have cousins I visited often in Olongapo, the setting for most of her recollections.
The author is able to capture the essence of Olongapo or any urban setting in the Philippines of the late 60s and early 70s, especially in areas affected by the insidious American
presence via its military bases.
Her observations of that era’s daily routines are astounding: in reading these, one is transported once more to those days, and I realize how our Fil ipino women folk have a universal way of reacting to life’s daily surprises.
And when we find ourselves transported to other lands, or forced to be in the company of strangers, we realize that “the love of a daughter for a heritage that, even while suppressed or denied, can never be erased” as noted by Marian Villanueva in her brief review of the anthology at the back of the book’s cover.
of the novella. There is a sadness to it—the longing for the scents and sounds of home and the pervasive homesickness that lurks in the dialogue. It was hard to shake-off.
Formatted at the middle of the collection is a three-chapter novella revolving around the travails of a Philippine ambassador’s staff in Italy. Interestingly, graphics reminiscent of ethnic weaving from the Philippines adorns the edges of the pages that contain the novella.
The graphics etched at the pages of the three chapters piqued my interest, so I read these first, and it set the tone for the rest
(LINGERING THOUGHTS: The Trump ....from page 8)
friends, the spotlight has been shining on Trump as photos and videos of the two have feverishly circulated throughout social media and the news.
The Epstein files have provided information and evidence that Donald Trump may be a pedophile, and this is very disturbing for our nation.
Many people want action taken against the president, but Congress has been useless and has refused to subpoena Trump, even though Congress did subpoena Bill and Hillary Clinton.
It’s time for Congress to subpoena Donald and
Melania Trump, but that’s not happening soon due to a timid Congress that does not want to anger the president.
Melania has faced brutal rumors and allegations regarding Epstein that have portrayed her in a negative light, and this could be one reason why Trump is doing everything in his power to dismiss the Epstein files and move on to other items and issues.
Thus, we are now in the Trump-Iranian war which will reshape the Middle East and change the power structure in the region. This is a Trump distraction or deflection.
500-600 teachers who arrived in the Philippines sent by the U.S. government in August 1901 to establish a public school system in the newly minted American colony.
Framed as a series of letters from Harry to his sister Anna, we experience the Philippines from the eyes of one transplanted to a new land. It is also a delightful love story, one with a happy ending.
The book’s author, Michelle Cruz Skinner has also written both fiction and non-fiction which have appeared in various magazines, journals, and anthologies.
The rest of the anthology consists of nine typical short stories and one titled “Natural Selection” formatted as a series of letters written by a young man newly arrived to the Philippines to participate in the “establishment of a modern school system…one of the most gratifying results of American control in the islands.”
Often referred to as Thomasites (after the ship that transported them), Harry, the protagonist, is one of
The president is now trying to negotiate a ceasefire or peace deal with Iran with little progress. As of this writing, there are no proposals on the table as US troops prepare to act in the region.
Without a ceasefire, the Trump-Iranian war drags on without real purpose and with questionable goals. Regime change is possible, but Trump wants to approve of the new leader. What are the chances of Iran agreeing to this?
Whatever happens, Trump’s presidency is in big trouble. In his second term, the national debt of
The label of each can used in the front and back covers were reproduced at the last pages of the book along with some explanations. Each has the word “leche” and is used as a curse word, which means “milk” in Filipino slang and used as a vulgar term for semen.
A former teacher at Punahou School, her anthology, Mango Seasons has been nominated for the Philippine National Book Award. “Faith Healer” from Balikbayan, was selected for the PEN Syndicated Fiction Project and her work has been adapted for stage and public radio. She was born in Manila but raised primarily in Olongapo City and now resides in Kailua, Hawai’i.
The book’s cover was art created by Dindo Llana who satirizes politicians and celebrities and depicts them on milk can labels.
the United States has surpassed $39 trillion, and the Trump-Iranian War will add to the national debt as our economy is hurt byTrump’s policies and actions.
The United States must now figure out how to end this war, and the president must not escalate the problem to appease Israel or Saudi Arabia. We do not want a prolonged war or more American casualties.
The president got us into this mess, and now Congress must use its authority and power to rein in Trump. Lack of action should be a sign to make significant political changes in the midterm elections.
Dindo Llana’s work has appeared in numerous books, one of which is the popular You Know You Are Filipino If…as well as other children’s books. His paintings and installations have been shown in galleries and museums in the Philippines, as well as Australia, Spain, Hong Kong and San Francisco. He was awarded an art grant from the Asian Cultural Council in 2009, retired from advertising and re-started with the art scene after a long hiatus, and plans to take-up a Masters Studies in Anthropology. He resides in Quezon City, Philippines.
ROSE CRUZ CHURMA established Kalamansi Books & Things three decades ago. It has evolved from a mail-order bookstore into an online advocacy with the intent of helping global Pinoys discover their heritage by promoting books of value from the Philippines and those written by Filipinos in the Diaspora. We can be reached at kalamansibooks@gmail.com.
Our country under Trump is in decline as a war grows, protests continue, and economic uncertainty looms. We must change this trajectory.
Moreover, we must find the truth in the Epstein files, identify any closeted pedophiles, and bring justice to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and his wealthy criminal friends.
WILL ESPERO is retired from the Hawaii legislature after serving 19 years in the state House of Representatives and state Senate. He is currently a novelist, poet, and supporter of the arts. Lingering Thoughts provides a glimpse of his perspective on current events and issues.
By Seneca Moraleda-Puguan
ala na kong kinikita, Sir! Napupunta lahat sa boundary.” (I’m not earning anything anymore, Sir! It all goes to the boundary, known as the operator’s daily fee).
“WGrab driver Jeaybster Balse, with sadness in his voice and a thick Bisayan accent, said this to my husband, John Marc. What started as a light conversation about the meaning of his unique name slowly unfolded into a story about his life and the struggles he faces as a Grab driver working under an operator.
With a daily boundary of 1,500 pesos and the rising fuel prices, he barely has anything left to take home to support his family: his parents, nieces, and nephews.
My husband and I have always loved talking to and listening to the stories of our ride-hailing (Grab and InDrive) drivers. Before the war, many of them would say that their earn-
ings were enough to sustain their needs.
But now, with fuel prices skyrocketing, their tone has changed, and their spirits have dampened. We can sense the sorrow in their voices, the quiet panic behind their stories.
Some of them shared that a number of their fellow drivers have already stopped working. But for those who remain, stopping is not an option. Questions haunt them: What will happen to our families? Will this ever end?
In many ways, we understand their struggle. When we were living in South Korea, and the Ukraine-Russia war began, we also felt the burden of rising fuel prices. I even developed a habit of checking and comparing gas prices at every station we passed.
But this crisis does not only affect motorists, it affects everyone. When fuel prices rise, the cost of basic commodities follows. And with news of the Philip-
pines’ fuel supply depleting, a sense of panic fills the air. We may brush it off and go about our daily routines, but the tension is real.
A Facebook post from one of our pastors deeply encouraged me, and I hope it brings encouragement to you as well.
He pointed out that while many funny memes about fuel price hikes are circulating, they reflect something very real beneath the surface. For many of our countrymen who live day to day on what they earn, this is not just an inconvenience – it is a heavy burden.
These are indeed challenging times. But his reflection on Romans 4 spoke powerfully. He reminded us of Abraham, who received
a promise from God that he would become the father of many nations, even when everything in his situation seemed to contradict that promise. He was old, his body was “as good as dead,” and the future looked humanly impossible.
Yet Abraham responded differently. He did not deny reality, he faced it honestly. But he also held on to something deeper. He was fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised. Against all hope, Abraham hoped.
Today, we face a reality that seems to go against all hope – depleting fuel supply and skyrocketing prices that may lead to devastating consequences. But like Abraham, we can choose to trust that God is able to
fulfill His promises- that He will meet all our needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).
I agree with our pastor: we live in this tension- honest about our circumstances, yet anchored in hope. Our family still wishes we could do more to ease the burden of the drivers we meet in every ride.
For now, we give what we can- an extra tip, a kind word, and encouragement: “Kapit lang kuya! Mabuti ang Panginoon. Hindi ka Niya pababayaan.” (Hold on, brother! The Lord is good. He will not forsake you.)
We hope these small gestures bring even a little comfort. And just like in every story I tell, hope is alive. Hope has a Name. His Name is Jesus.
The fuel prices may increase, but He provides. The future may be dim, but He brings light to the darkness and He holds our world in His hands.
Again I will say, against all hope, we continue to hope. Fuel tanks may be empty, but faith remains full.
Last March 15 at the 98th Academy Awards, cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw won the Oscar for Best Cinematography for her work in the 2025 film Sinners. She became the first woman, first Filipino, and first Black person to win the award.
Durald Arkapaw is of Filipino descent on her mother’s side and Black Creole on her father’s side. She grew up in California, went to Loyola Marymount University to study art history, and then headed to AFI Conservatory, where she took the cinematography program in 2009.
In her work on Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, she used a combination of IMAX 15-perf and Ultra Panavision 70 cameras to shoot Sinners in rare 65 mm film. This marks her as the first female director of photography to shoot any movie on a large-format IMAX film.
Sinners is a supernatural action film set in 1932 Jim Crow South in Mississippi, where twin brothers, Smoke and Stack, return to their hometown to build a better life, but they are faced with a supernatural evil.
Dural Arkapaw’s historic Oscar win is part of Sinners’ historic run in the awards circuit. Sinners
was nominated for sixteen awards at this year’s Academy Awards, which is the most of any film in history.
Alongside her Best Cinematography win, Sinners also won three Oscars: Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, Best Original Screenplay for Ryan Coogler, and Best Original Score for Ludwig Goransson.
History runs in Durald Arkapaw’s blood. In an interview with Vogue Philippines, she shared that she looks up to her maternal grandfather, Guillermo Pagan Bautista from Pangasinan. A survivor of the Bataan Death March, Bautista evaded Japanese forces in the Philippines and
fought with the resistance.
“He was always the most important man in my life. One of the biggest in-
fluences on my childhood and my family,” Durald Arkapaw told Vogue Philippines.
Overseas Filipinos are being tapped to serve as frontline first responders in the global fight against human trafficking, moving beyond their traditional roles as economic providers to become vital links in the nation’s maritime and border security.
On March 16, the Philippine Embassy in Bangladesh hosted a webinar titled “Know Your Rights: Family Law, Divorce, and Child Custody for Filipinas in Cross-Border Marriages.” The forum targeted the growing Filipino diaspora in the Indian subcontinent, specifically Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Ivy Miravalles, chief of the Migrant Integration and Education Division at the Commission on Fil-
ipinos Overseas (CFO), emphasized that a trained diaspora is a potent weapon against Trafficking in Persons.
“The Filipino diaspora provides vital remittances, but when equipped by advocates, they serve as first responders,” Miravalles said.
“By arming our citizens abroad with the skills to recognize coercive control and online exploitation, they can effectively mobilize volunteers and offer critical support to survivors of trafficking and cross- border marriage scams.”
This approach marks a significant strategic pivot for the CFO, moving toward deeper diaspora engagement.
By transforming over-
seas Filipinos into active monitors of their own communities, the Commission aims to bridge the geographical gap in protecting marginalized migrants.
The CFO’s involvement is rooted in its mission to nurture the welfare of permanent migrants and its critical role as a member-agency of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking.
Under this mandate, the CFO is responsible for the pre-migration phase, ensuring that Filipinos— particularly those entering cross-border marriages—are not victimized by mail-order spouse schemes or labor trafficking disguised as domestic arrangements.
The webinar specifically addressed: love
scams and online exploitation, coercive control and support systems that link survivors to both local legal aid and Philippine government resources.
While the Filipino population in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka remains smaller compared to Middle Eastern hubs, it is a high-risk demographic characterized by skilled professionals and spouses in cross-national marriages.
Current estimates place the Filipino community in Bangladesh at approximately 3,000, with a similar number in Sri Lanka. Many are concentrated in the garment manufacturing sector, international NGOs, and hospitality. However, the rise in cross-border marriages in the region has necessitated stronger legal protections to prevent domestic ex-
ploitation and ensure child custody rights are upheld across jurisdictions.
To institutionalize these efforts, Philippine Ambassador to Bangladesh Leo Tito Ausan Jr. (represented by Ambassador Nina Cainglet) expressed intent to formalize a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the CFO.
The proposed partnership seeks to enhance safe migration pathways and improve welfare services through a permanent framework of cooperation between the Embassy and the Commission.
Barrister Shajib Mahmood Alam of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh also provided legal perspectives on the regional protections available to Filipinas under Bangladeshi law.
For nearly a decade, Lord Leomer Bayong Pomperada lived the quintessential “Global Filipino” dream.
From the cold streets of New York City to the halls of the United Nations, and across 60 countries as the global president of the World Youth Alliance, Pomperada’s life was a whirlwind of high-level diplomacy and multicultural leadership.
But in October 2021,
the man who once managed gala dinners at the Harvard Kennedy School and negotiated with European delegates made a choice that defies the traditional “brain drain” narrative: he came home.
Pomperada’s return to his home province of Antique marks a significant personal milestone, but it also reflects a broader strategic pivot in the Philippines’ diaspora engagement.
The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), under its mandate to strengthen the ties between the motherland and its diaspora, has increasingly focused on “brain gain”—the idea that Filipinos abroad possess skills, networks, and “grit” that are vital for local nation-building.
“I moved back to the Philippines two years ago because I wanted to help take care of my mom and our family businesses,”
Pomperada shares.
“But it was more than that. I knew that God had given me these skills not just for myself. We complain about the Philippines—the corruption, the traffic, the lack of leaders—but that happens because our potential leaders have left.”
Since his return, Pomperada has been a whirlwind of civic activity, treating his province with the same professional rigor he applied at the UN. His leadership journey, which began with a single teacher believing in him in high school, has come full circle through several “institutional firsts” for Antique.
Among them are the Kinaray-a Conference, the first high-level conference dedicated to elevating Kinaray-a from a “dialect” to its rightful status as a language and cultural identity; the candidates forum which allowed con-
gressional and gubernatorial candidates to present their platforms and face public accountability and the construction of Antique’s first public children’s park in San Jose.
“I asked myself, why don’t we have a playground? We complain that kids are addicted to social media, but we forget to create spaces for them to be kids,” he says.
Pomperada’s story embodies the CFO’s mission to transform the diaspora into permanent partners in Philippine development. As a 2021 Pamana ng Pilipino Presidential Awardee, he represents the highest level of excellence recognized by the Philippine government for Filipinos overseas. His message to the millions of Filipinos still abroad is clear: you are the country’s number one ambassadors. “Going back is not just saying thank you,” Pomperada
explains. “It’s about building a new generation who will foster hope. Even if you can’t move back yet, you can help financially or through your expertise. Your presence shows the next generation that you believe in them.”
Today, while managing a boutique hotel and a human dignity curriculum, Pomperada continues to inspire through his book, You’re Never Too Young to Lead. Translated into four languages, the book serves as a roadmap for youth— especially those in the provinces—to realize that their geography does not define their destiny.
“The most painful thing I heard was a young person saying, ‘Lord, we’re just from the province,’” he recalls. “I want to break that. Whether you’re from Manila or Antique, we are given the same opportunities. You are the only one limiting yourself.”
BE SMARTER AND SAFER ONLINE SERIES | AARP Hawaii | Online seminar | April 7 and April 28, 2026 at 10 am | In this two-part series, you'll build confidence navigating the online world as you explore how to manage your privacy and learn tools for evaluating online information. Register here: https://events.aarp.org/event/tech4-26/ summary.
FLORES DE MAYO & FILIPINO FIESTA | FilCom Center, Filipino Jaycees of Honolulu | The Filipino Community Center, 94-428 Mokuola Street, Waipahu | May 2, 2026 | The FilCom Center and Filipino Jaycees of Honolulu are teaming up to celebrate this year’s Flores de Mayo and Filipino Fiesta. The event is open for sponsorships. Vendors are encouraged to apply early to secure their spot. Head to filcom.org/filipino-fiesta for more information.
39TH ANNUAL MEMORIAL WEEKEND CME CONFERENCE | Philippine Medical Association of Hawaii | Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko’Olina, 92-1001 Olani St, Kapolei | May 23-24, 2026 | Join the conference at the majestic Four Seasons Resort and learn about the recent updates in patient care from the Philippine Medical Association of Hawaii. Tickets available at pmah-hawaii.org/memorialday2026.
By Kester Co Katindig
Before I came to know Christ, my life was far from God. I was the black sheep of the family—struggling with pornography, gambling, suicidal thoughts, and even hurting others.
I entered into an immoral relationship, searching for comfort and satisfaction in all the wrong places. But the more I pursued sin, the emptier I became. I was lost and heading toward destruction.
Everything changed in 2010 when someone shared the gospel in our classroom and explained the truth of John 3:16. For the first time, I truly understood how much God loves us.
I realized that Jesus did not come for the righteous, but for sinners like me. He loved me and gave Himself for me—not because of anything I had done, but purely by His grace.
At that time, I still had many questions about God’s Word. But as I continued attending church services and activities, I began to understand His unconditional love more deeply.
I learned that while hardships and trials would still come, the only way to endure them was by holding on to Him.
When I surrendered my life to Jesus, real change began to take place. My speech and habits were transformed. I became more obedient to my parents, and my suicidal thoughts completely disappeared. In time, God led
me to serve in the music ministry and to share the gospel with others.
As God continued to transform my heart, He opened doors for me to reach the people around me.
During the COVID pandemic, when many were fearful, hopeless, and searching for answers, God used that dark season as an opportunity for me to share the gospel with my family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers who were longing for hope.
It was also during this time that I faced one of the greatest trials of my life. I was diagnosed with a stage 4 pancreatic and duodenal neuroendocrine tumor with liver metastasis. I was in pain, afraid, and deeply broken.
Yet the same gospel that saved me was the gospel that sustained me in my darkest moments. Even while confined in the hospital, I never questioned God’s plans or His purpose.
Instead, He gave me joy every time I was able to share the gospel with fellow patients, their families, and even the nurses.
Then came the day of a long and highly complicated surgery. I was on the brink of losing the battle. I cried out to God, pleading for my life, and I promised to serve Him for the rest of my days.
In His mercy, Christ heard my plea and walked with me through every moment of suffering and healing.
During my hospitalization, my parents and my then-girlfriend Maileen—
Kester, with his wife Maileen and their son, Samuel Kyle, joyfully celebrating another year of
whom I met while serving at CCF Cainta—became my caregivers. Despite intense pain, immobility, and even moments of hallucination, God surrounded me with people who loved and supported me.
He provided compassionate doctors and medical staff, and He faithfully supplied for my needs through many individuals and channels that helped cover my medical expenses.
After three long months in the hospital, God restored my health. Today, I give all glory to my Jehovah Rapha—I am now three years cancer-free.
Galatians 2:20 became the anchor of my life: “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
My old self is gone. Christ now lives in me.
Every breath I take and every victory I experience is by faith in Him—not by my strength, not by my works, but by His grace alone.
I once lived in darkness, but now I serve God and His people. I was once lost and dead in sin—but now I am alive in Christ. Cancer is not the big
“C” in my life. Christ is, and all glory belongs to Him alone!
KESTER CO KATINDIG is a full-time ministry worker serving as Satellite Admin and Ministry Coordinator at CCF East Ortigas. Today, he faithfully serves in ministry alongside his wife, Maileen, and is a devoted husband and father.
