Hawaii Filipino Chronicle News - June 4, 2011

inside look JUNE 4, 2011

LEGISLATIVE CONNECTION

Hits, Misses from 2011 Legislature

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PHILIPPINE NEWS

Noy Allows Opening of NAIA Terminal 3

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LEGAL NOTES

Visas May Be Revoked Without Notice

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HAWAII’S ONLY WEEKLY FILIPINO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPER

MANILA TO HOST ‘GLOBAL SUMMIT OF FILIPINOS IN THE DIASPORA’ IN SEPTEMBER 2011

By HFC Staff

he Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), led by Chairperson Imelda M. Nicolas, in cooperation with the National Federation of Filipino Associations in America (NaFFAA) and the U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG), will hold a conference entitled “Diaspora to Development: A Global Summit of Filipinos in the Diaspora” at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, Metro Manila from September 27-29, 2011.

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CFO officials estimate that the conference will attract some 700 participants from 40 countries, including previous Presidential awardees as well as leaders and convenors of the NaFFAA and USP4GG and other global Filipino networks, migration-related Philippine government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations,

academe, private sector and multilateral agencies.

CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES The main objective of the Summit is to present to all these outstanding Filipinos what they can do to become the country’s partners in development, thus the theme “Diaspora to Development,” which could range from diaspora philanthropy to

diaspora investment and entrepreneurship; from eco-tourism to health and wellness tourism; from AlayDunong sa Bayan (transfer and sharing of science, technology, arts/culture, competencies, skills and knowledge with the Philippines) to legal defense assistance of overseas Filipinos, from medical/dental missions to retirement options.

Filipinos all over the world will gather in Manila to attend the Global Summit

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Philippines Has 4 Schools China Building in Phl Waters; in Top 200 Asian DFA Summons Envoy Universities By Pia LEE-BRAGO

our Philippine universities made it in the Top 200 Asian Universities for 2011, according to the QS World University Rankings. The nation’s top-ranked school is the University of the Philippines (UP), which was listed at Number 62. A state-run school, UP is located in Diliman, Quezon City. It was followed by private schools Ateneo de Manila University (No. 68), University of Santo Tomas (No. 104) and De La Salle University (No. 107). In total, the Philippines has about 2,180 institutions for higher education. Topping the list at number 1 was the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, followed by the University of Hong Kong and National University of Singa(continued on page 4) pore.

ANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) summoned last Tuesday the Chinese charge d’affaires to protest sightings of Chinese Navy vessels erecting posts at the West Philippine Sea. Citing reports from the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the DFA requested clarification from Bai Tian, charge d’affaires of the Chinese embassy in Manila, regarding the recent sightings of a China Marine Sur-

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from GOOD NEWS PILIPINAS

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University of the Philippines

veillance vessel and other People‘s Liberation Army Navy ships in the vicinity of Iroquois Reef-Amy Douglas Bank in the West Philip(continued on page 4) pine Sea.

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HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE - NEWS EDITION

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EDITORIAL Pacquiao Wins Fight, But Misses Mark on Birth Control and Reproductive Education merican boxing great Muhammad Ali did it decades ago -- bring to the world stage a political conviction and an aura of purpose larger than the sport of boxing itself. His controversial antiwar, humanistic viewpoint added to his icon status well beyond the ring, even helping to shape American politics during the tumultuous 1960s and '70s. No fighter since Ali has been able to captivate a world audience and use his fame to raise attention on improving social issues. Not until now. During Manny Pacquiao's pre-fight promotion tour against Shane Mosley, the Filipino fighter used every opportunity to tell the world media of his new goal to end poverty in the Philippines. Rhetorical, idealistic, unachievable, or whatever naysayers could label his anti-poverty campaign, this past May fight signaled a new era for the boxer- politician, a beginning of future controversies as what happens to all larger-than-life personalities who suddenly make the transition from entertainer to leader. Sure enough and shortly after his lackluster boxing match, Pacquiao found himself embroiled in a political storm over his opposition to birth control. Critics point out, perhaps fairly, that if Pacquiao hopes to end poverty in the Philippines as he is claiming to the world, his opposition to the reproductive bill is actually counter productive to this end. Most studies show a strong correlation between a country's poverty level and high birth rate. The reproductive health bill, backed by Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, aims to control the rapidly-growing population by government funding of free contraception and information about safe sex. Funding for the government's current program that provides free birth control for the poor is about to expire. The new bill (RH bill) proposed expands the program, making modern family planning methods accessible to most Filipinos and sex education mandatory.

born into poverty can only exacerbate the country's economic woes. The Asian Development Bank affirmed that unless the Philippines controls the spiraling population growth, prospects for alleviating poverty remain slim. Studies show that central to curbing growth in poor countries is having adequate access to family planning and modern methods of contraception. Most married couples in third world countries plan for less children than they actually have.

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CONTINUING THE CURRENT TREND It is true that other factors contributing to poverty exist in the Philippines, to name a few, corruption, concentration of wealth, and inadequate education. As lawmakers contend with each one of these issues, they must also consider the greatest barrier towards economic development, that is, dealing with a booming population growth. Without some intervention at population management, the government and private sector will find it increasingly more difficult to create enough jobs and provide basic needs for the masses of Filipinos who are already strapped with one of the lowest standard of living in the region. Given Pacquiao's personal family history of poverty, his position on this issue is understandable and expected. He, as well as countless exceptional individuals like Pacquiao born into extreme poverty, have gone on to achieve wondrous accomplishments. Any form of birth control legislation to Filipinos

TAKING A LOOK AT THE FACTS The Philippines has the highest population growth rate in Asia despite being one of the first to implement a population-control policy in the 1970s. The growth rate is currently 2.3 percent per year. The Philippines is ranked 63rd in the world, behind only poverty-stricken African and Middle-East countries. As of July 2010, it is estimated that the country has 99,900,177 residents. At the current birth rate, the population will swell into the 100 million mark within a few years. Women aged between 15 and 49 bear three to four children. Among the poorer segment that average is higher. It is estimated that not until 2040 will women begin to only bear two to three children. With 40 percent of Filipinos living below the poverty level and a third of the population barely surviving on a dollar (U.S.) a day, the added millions

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LETTERS POPULATION CONTROL NEEDED The population of the Philippines is over 91 million. It is a country with one of the world’s fastest growing populations. President Benigno Aquino is working with Congress to address the booming population, particularly in the poorest communities where there are no health, reproductive and family planning services. Cardinal Gaudencio B. Rosales, the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has stood in opposition, calling any such efforts to curb population growth against the law of God. He has criticized the government and threatened to excommunicate the president. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago has called for the passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) Law which would provide obstetrics care, family planning and birth control particularly for poor and uneducated women. The bill is meant to educate, not kill human beings, as alleged by Cardinal Rosales. President Aquino is sincerely motivated to improve the economy and welfare of the Filipino people. But he cannot fulfill this task alone. He needs the support from Cardinal Rosales and the church, but they do not seem concerned about the overpopulation and poverty in the Philippines. If change is to happen in the Philippines, they all must unite and work together— for the sake of the future and the next generation.

HAWAII-PHILIPPINE NEWS EDITION Charlie Y. SONIDO, M.D. Publisher and Executive Editor

Chona A. MONTESINES-SONIDO Publisher and Managing Editor

Dennis GALOLO Edwin QUINABO Associate Editors

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Columnists Gov. Neil Abercrombie Carlota Ader Carlo Cadiz, M.D. Mayor Peter Carlisle Sen. Will Espero Grace F. Fong, Ed.D. Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Ph.D. J. P. Orias Pacita Saludes Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq. Charlie Sonido, M.D. Emmanuel S. Tipon,Esq. Felino S. Tubera Amado Yoro Sylvia Yuen, Ph.D.

JUNE 4, 2011

Jimmy Jay Dean Encarnacion Pearl City www.thefilipinochronicle.com | www.efilipinochronicle.com

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JUNE 4, 2011

by Senator Will ESPERO he 2011 Legislature ended in early May, and the good news is we did not raise the general excise tax. When the session began in January, we were looking at an $800,000,000 deficit over the next two years. By the time the session ended, that figure had become $1.3 billion. If one looks at the last three legislative sessions, we have had to make deficit adjustments between $4 and $5 billion dollars. Hopefully, this is the last year we will have to deal with these types of revenue reductions. Other good news is oil prices are going down and that is a positive sign for tourism. Also, the impact of the Japan earthquake and tsunami may not have as big a negative impact as earlier predicted, and that, too, should benefit Hawaii. If projections are correct, this should be a good year for tourism, and tax revenues should improve as we begin the 2012 legislative session.

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HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE - NEWS EDITION

LEGISLATIVE CONNECTION Hits, Misses from 2011 Legislature There was a push to tax the pensions of retirees, and many people came out against the proposal. The AARP was an early advocate against the pension tax, and by the end of the session the idea was losing steam. Other tax proposals that did not make it included a soda tax, liquor tax, and an increase in cigarette taxes. Some taxes were raised to balance the budget along with cuts in spending. About $600 million in state spending was eliminated to help balance the budget. About $400 million will be raised by eliminating general excise tax exemptions from certain businesses which had been getting tax breaks. Over $90 million will be raised by repealing income tax deductions and capping itemized deductions for the wealthy taxpayers. Capping the amount of hotel room taxes going to the counties will raise $40 million, and capping the amount of hotel taxes going to the Hawaii Tourism Authority will raise $35 million over the next two years. Another $60 million was diverted from car rental surcharges for one year, but these funds will be paid back to pay for a new rental car facility for the Honolulu Airport. One legislative measure I

would like to mention is Senate Bill 651 relating to mortgage foreclosures. Our state has seen an increase in foreclosures in the last few years, and many consumers have complained about the process by which their homes were foreclosed. Some foreclosures were inevitable, however, other foreclosures appear to be due lack of communication or negotiations which benefit the banks over the homeowners. Mainland lenders who have no physical presence in Hawaii were criticized in many instances. SB651 creates a Mortgage Foreclosure Dispute Resolution Program (MFDRP) which allows owner-occupants of residential property to meet face-to-face with lenders, something that was not always done in the past. Owners must live in their homes at least 200 consecutive days. If a mortgagee chooses to use a non-judicial foreclosure, owner-occupants and the mortgagee must participate in the MFDRP. The state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) will administer the program. A formal process will be followed during the dispute resolution process. If an agreement is reached, the foreclosure is terminated. If both sides are not able to

reach an agreement during the dispute resolution process, the foreclosure is resumed. For more information on this program, contact the state DCCA at 587-3222. Other significant bills that passed included an appointed Board of Education, civil unions, the issue of labor trafficking, the area of sexual trafficking, animal cruelty, Native Hawaiian recognition, removing the statute of limitations on sex offenses against minors, sexual offender registration for violators of

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privacy, mandatory minimums on certain crimes, increased efficiency in government, and stronger fireworks oversight bills. A portion of the legislative session also included the Senate confirming Judicial appointments to the bench and new gubernatorial appointments to many state boards and commissions. To review all the bills that passed this session, go to http://lrbhawaii.info/reports/legrpts/lrb/2011/p assed11.pdf.

EDITORIAL (CONT.) (cont. from page 2; PACQUIO WINS BUT ... )

like Pacquiao may appear to be a personal assault on their very existence. But this is not what's being debated; the debate is about mothers and father having a choice to determine their family and community's economic well-being. Pacquiao siding with the Catholic Church on this issue whose leaders categorically denounce the use of contraception, calling it a sinful act, is extreme at the least. Where the country advances on contraception use and population management remains unclear. The moral magnitude of this issue deserves the utmost sensitivity and respect on both sides of the debate. Perhaps the RH bill is too strong of a mandate at this juncture. Should government be in the business of meddling with reproduction practices anyway? this is a fair question. At the same time, detractors of the bill must also practice reason and recognize the reality of unplanned births and their impact on society. We hope the Philippines can arrive at a suitable compromise -- one that avoids mandates but allows liberty for real options.

HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE - NEWS EDITION

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The conference will likewise present what the country can do for overseas Filipinos, thus the complementary message of “Return and Reintegration.” Other objectives of the global summit include: • Highlighting the achievements of Overseas Filipinos in all fields all over the world and to discuss how their resources, skills, knowledge, technology, talents, competencies could be harnessed synergistically for the Philippines’ social, cultural and economic development, with the support, coordination and assistance of the Philippine government especially through the Commission on Filipinos Overseas. • Creating, growing and sustaining an “eco-system” of the lead(cont. from page 1; CHINA ... )

“These ships reportedly unloaded building materials, erected an undetermined number of posts, and placed a buoy near the breaker of the Iroquois Bank,” the DFA said in a statement. “The Iroquois Bank is located southwest of the Recto Bank (Reed Bank) and east of Patag Island (Flat Island) and is well within the Philippines’ 200 nautical miles Exclusive Economic Zone. There are currently no structures on the said bank and the latter is unoccupied,” the DFA added. The DFA said the posts and buoy placed by the Chinese in the vicinity of Iroquois Bank are about 26 nautical miles east of Patag Island and 125 nautical miles from mainland Palawan. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said that “any new construction by China in the vicin-

HEADLINES (CONT.) ers of the Overseas Filipinos’ community working together and communicating with one another. The Global Summit is a response to the recommendation of the 2010 Presidential awardees who participated in the Vision 2020 conference in Manila on December 8-9, 2010. They voted to establish an association including Presidential awardees from the past 20 years and to institutionalize their existing programs, services and activities for the benefit of the Philippines and kababayans in their host countries. Summit organizers have been gearing up for the landmark event. At a NaFFAA strategic planning conference last month, national chair Ed Navarra appointed former Region 2 chair Bing Branigin to coordinate NaFFAA’s participation in the ity of the uninhabited Iroquois Bank is a clear violation of the 2002 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea.” ASEAN members and China signed the DOC, a basic fundamental pillar of cooperation designed to reduce tensions, peacefully resolve claims over the South China Sea and improve the general political climate in the disputed islands. A provision in the DOC states that “the parties undertake to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability including, among others, refraining from action of inhabiting on the presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other features and to handle their differences in a constructive manner.”

JUNE 4, 2011

Global Summit. According to Branigin, the three issues that NaFFAA intends to present at the Summit are the legal defense of Filipinos abroad, human trafficking particularly in labor, and global coordination of Philippine disaster relief. Branigin will also inform Summit delegates about NaFFAA’s participation in the successful campaign to pass a Veterans Equity Bill that provided financial benefits to about 20,000 surviving Filipino WW II veterans. She will also update Summit delegates about NaFFAA’s lobbying work for passage of the Save Act, the Dream Act and the Medicare Portability Act. Loida Nicolas Lewis, current chair of U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance, convened a meeting with Los Angelenos at Salakot Restaurant on May 4, 2011 where she discussed two initiatives, among them

the upcoming global summit.

The DFA Office of Asia and Pacific Affairs conveyed to Bai its serious concerns over recent actions of China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) on May 31 and sought Beijing’s explanation on the incident. The Chinese embassy said Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao was out of the country and would return in a few days. The summoning of the Chinese embassy officials followed a meeting held last May 27, where the DFA also conveyed its concern to the Chinese over reports in Chinese state media about China’s planned installation of its most advanced oil rig in the South China Sea this coming July. During the May 27 meeting, the DFA asked the Chinese embassy for the exact planned location of the mega oil rig and pointed out that it should not be placed in Philippine territory or its waters. In both meetings, the Philippines and China reiterated their respective commitment to the maintenance of peace and stability in the area, and to work together to maintain good bilateral relations.

“The Philippines recognizes that critical to the peace and stability of the West Philippine Sea is the full and faithful implementation of the ASEAN-China DOC on the South China Sea. The Philippines also believes that it is in the best interest of all claimant countries and the region to transform the area into a Zone of Peace, Freedom, Friendship and Cooperation through sustained consultations and dialogue,” the DFA said. The Zone of Peace provides a framework for segregating the disputed territorial features, which may be considered for collaborative activities, from the non-disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea in accordance with international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). “The Philippines is also committed to cooperating closely and actively with ASEAN and China in finding peaceful solutions to attain this goal,” the DFA said. The STAR could not reach Sun Yi, Deputy Chief of Political Section and spokesman of the Chinese embassy, for comment.

University of Santo Tomas (cont. from page 1; PHILIPPINES ... )

Eleven Philippine universities occupied the 201+ ranking in Asia, which included Mindanao State University, Xavier University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Silliman University, Father Saturnino Urios College, Mapua In-

TOPICS AND ACTIVITIES Day 1 of the summit will include three separate, “independent” plenary sessions/ workshops designed and organized respectively by the three convenors for the Global Summit: • CFO with the presidential awardees on institutionalization of the network of awardees all over the world and enhancement of the different synergies of the various groups among the awarded especially in relation CFO’s programs/new vision/mission and strategic goals, 2010 to 2016. • NaFFAA with its own agenda/strategic plans/programs including a separate workshop/discussion on the establishment of a global network

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and fund for legal assistance for overseas Filipinos in distress. US4GG with its own agenda/strategic plans/programs.

Days 2 and 3 will be the combined conference for all the abovementioned convenors/ organizers with the theme of “Diaspora to Development” in line with the objectives of the Summit.

ENGAGING OUR YOUTH In addition, CFO has urged Philippine embassies and consulates to extend the invitation to recognized leaders, including youth leaders of the Filipino communities in their respective areas. President Noynoy Aquino has been invited to deliver the summit’s (continued on page 5)

China earlier said it was ready for an “accelerated” dialogue with the Philippines to end the dispute in the South China Sea but Beijing neither confirmed nor denied setting up military garrisons and outposts within Philippine-claimed territory in the Spratly Islands. Sun Yi had earlier said that the Philippines and China agreed to an accelerated dialogue during discussions of Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie with Philippine officials when he visited Manila recently. Although Sun did not confirm or deny the report about military garrisons and outposts set up by China within Philippine-claimed territory in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, he said Beijing upholds the DOC. A senior foreign affairs official earlier said that lodging a diplomatic protest against China after its fighter jets reportedly buzzed two Philippine Air Force planes on a reconnaissance mission in the Kalayaan Island Group in the Spratlys was not yet “opportune“ since validation of the reported incident was still underway. (www.philstar.com)

De La Salle University stitute of Technology, Adamson University, Saint Louis University, Central Mindanao University, University of San Carlos and University of Southeastern Philippines. QS is the leading global career and education network for ambitious professionals looking to fur-

ther both their personal and professional development. QS links high achievers from the graduate, MBA and executive communities around the world with leading business schools, postgraduate departments at universities and employers. (www.goodnewspilipinas.com)

JUNE 4, 2011

HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE - NEWS EDITION

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

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Officials Warn Public to Prepare for Hurricane Season ACCORDING TO THE CITY’S DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (DEM), June 1st marks the official beginning of the hurricane season. Officials are reminding the public to adequately prepare themselves, despite a forecast of a below normal hurricane season by the National Weather Service Central Pacific Hurricane Center. “We must be aware of the hazards hurricanes and tropical storms present and be prepared at all

times,” says Melvin Kaku, DEM director. “In 1992, Hurricane Iniki devastated the island of Kauai. The full force of Iniki impacted Kauai but Oahu was not spared. We suffered flooded homes from rain and storm surge, island-wide power outages, blown off roofs and tens-ofthousands of dollars of damage to public and private infrastructure. Kaku advises residents to discuss hurricane preparedness with family friends and co-workers and to consider developing an emer-

gency preparedness kit containing a 5-7 day supply of the following items: • Water—One gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation. • Food—Non-perishable food that does not require cooking to consume. Popular local foods such as Spam, corned beef and Vienna sausages are handy. • Radio—Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA

Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both. Light—Flashlight and/or a portable fluorescent light and extra batteries. Medical Supplies—First Aid Kit, prescription medications and glasses. Pet Supplies—Pet food, pet carrier and extra water for your pet. Important Documents— Wills, deeds, banking information, etc. stored in a watertight

container. In addition to emergency supplies, DEM advises Oahu residents to have a disaster plan, an out-of-state emergency contact and to learn all they can about disasters that could potentially affect Hawaii. F E M A’s w e b s i t e a t www.READY.gov contains excellent disaster preparedness tips, planning documents and suggested essential emergency items in English and in other languages.

social ties of Filipinos abroad and in their homeland. These events will connect and unite the generations for the greater good of their country, roots and home. Those who are interested in attending should contact Celia B. Lamkin, MD, Convenor—U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance (Saipan at: clamkinmd@yahoo.com. Lamkin will be accepting intent forms from overseas Filipinos living in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Australia, Canada, mainland USA, Hawaii, Singapore, Hongkong, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Dubai (UAE) and other emirates, Japan, New Zealand, UK, Brunei, Malaysia, In-

donesia, Italy, Spain, China and Taiwan. Established in June 1980, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas is an agency of the Philippine government tasked to promote and uphold the interests of Filipino emigrants and permanent residents abroad, and preserve and strengthen ties with Filipino communities overseas. The CFO envisions a community of well-respected and proudly competitive Filipinos overseas who contribute significantly to the productivity and well-being of the countries where they reside or work while maintaining strong political, economic and cultural ties with the Philippines.

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HEADLINES (CONT.) (cont. from page 4; MANILA ... )

keynote address. In his first official visit to the U.S. in September 2010, the president reached out to Filipino-Americans, including a large crowd of young Filipino-Americans who expressed the desire to give back to their homeland. He also reached out to attract investors, create jobs at home and alleviate poverty in the Philippines. Based on his interviews, his agenda is to unite all Filipinos and seize the opportunities of a new government. As part of the global summit, the CFO will conduct the first youth leaders’ global summit called “YouLeaD (Youth Leaders in the Diaspora)” in September 2011. The youth summit will be a 9-day event

from September 22-30, 2011, with the last two days spent participating the larger global summit. Joining the two generations of overseas Filipinos would strengthen the development of projects. There is wisdom, networks and innovation both generations can provide. It will also be an opportunity to recognize and lessen the generational gaps. This has long been institutionalized and internalized in many Filipino community associations/ organizations abroad and in families. The reason to target young adults is to ensure that the younger generations are equally invested and committed in the future of the

Philippines and the Filipino Diaspora. According to 2009 data from the CFO, there are 8.5 million Filipinos spread across the globe, with more than half (52 percent) ages 16-34 years. The youth are the next generation who can continue to mold and strengthen economic, cultural and

HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE - NEWS EDITION

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

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JUNE 4, 2011

Travel Tips from the BBB for a Safe, Timely Flight WITH SUMMER JUST AROUND THE CORNER, many consumers are beginning to plan their vacation getaway. However, unpredictable weather patterns, aviation system issues, maintenance or crew problems and other uncertainties can all too often ruin a fun-filled summer trip for travelers. According to 2011 statistics, 25.5 percent of all flights were reported to be not on time. To ensure safety and timeliness, officials with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) are advising vacationers to plan ahead and to be proactive when traveling this summer.

“While Hawaii residents may be well-versed in air travel to the neighbor islands, summer vacations often mean heading to the mainland, so it’s important for travelers to be aware of their flight options,” says Dwsight Kealoha, CEO of Hawaii’s BBB. Kealoha says Hawaii residents are well-versed in air travel to the neighbor islands, while others may not be as akamai when heading to the mainland. BBB and the USDOT advise travelers to consider the following when booking and securing their summer getaways: • The early bird gets the flight. When booking your flight, re-

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member that a departure early in the day is less likely to be delayed than a later flight, due in part to the “ripple” effects of delays throughout the day. Also, if an early flight does get delayed or canceled, you may

have more rerouting options. If you book the last flight of the day and it is canceled, you could get stuck overnight. Know your rights with a canceled flight. If your flight is canceled, most airlines will rebook you on their next flight to your destination on which space is available at no additional charge. If this involves a significant delay, find out if another carrier has seats and ask the first airline to endorse your ticket to that carrier. Unfortunately, the law requires compensation only when you are “bumped” from a flight that is oversold. Airlines almost al-

PHILIPPINE NEWS

More Colleges, Universities Raise Tuition by Evelyn MACAIRAN / Wednesday, June 1, 2011

MANILA, Philippines - A TOTAL

OF 324 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES have raised their tuition for school year 2011-2012. Data from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) showed the average tuition hike was 14.37 percent, up from the 10 percent posted last April. The latest tally showed CHED had approved the tuition hike application of 39 higher educational institutions (HEIs) in Central Luzon and

41 in Calabarzon. In Central Luzon, the average percentage of tuition hike is 13.29 percent, equivalent to P50.44 per unit, and Calabarzon 11.45 percent, equivalent to P66.79 per unit. Central Luzon and Calabarzon are the second and third regions with the highest number of HEIs that hiked their tuition. Metro Manila remained on top of the list with 69 HEIs hiking tuition with an average increase of 7.38 percent. In peso terms, Metro Manila HEIs imposed the highest hike in tu-

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ition at P72.77 per unit.

POLICE ON ALERT NATION-

WIDE Police nationwide were placed on alert Monday to guard the 25 million students expected to return to school on June 6. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo said police personnel and resources will be ready for security and public safety operations for the opening of classes next week. “The PNP will implement a nationwide security and public safety plan for the opening of the school year next week,” he said. The 16,000-strong National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will deploy foot and mobile patrols in strategic points near schools, he added. Metro Manila police commander Chief Superintendent Alan Purisima aims for a zero crime incidence in school and university areas. He had also fielded the Motorized Anti-Street Crime Operatives to complement foot and mobile patrols and local police units in the vicinity of schools. Bacalzo has mobilized police regional offices and national support units to implement the nationwide security and public safety plan. Of priority concern to police are street crimes like pickpocketing, snatching, swindling, robbery/holdup, and drug trafficking. Police patrols in the vicinity of schools will also be on the look out

for drug traffickers and street gangs that may infiltrate the ranks of students. Police were instructed to coordinate with school administrators and officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) and CHED to ensure the safety and security of students. The NCRPO will spearhead traffic management operations in the vicinity of schools, particularly in the University Belt in Manila. Similar security measures will be implemented in seaports, airports, and land transport terminals in anticipation of the heavy volume of incoming passengers from the provinces. Bacalzo gave police regional directors the discretionary authority to raise the alert status as they deem necessary to effectively implement their security and public safety plans.

2,488 NEW CLASSROOMS BUILT A total of 2,488 new classrooms nationwide were built by the Department of Public Works and Highways for the school opening on June 6. Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said they completed construction of 448 classrooms between January and April this year. The 2,040 completed classrooms were carried over from 2009 and 2010, he added. Singson said the DepEd needed 150,000 classrooms when the school year starts.

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ways refuse to pay passengers for financial losses resulting from a delayed flight. Secure your payment. Consider paying by credit card, which provides certain protections under federal credit regulations. For example, in all recent airline bankruptcies, passengers who had charged their fare and were not provided service were able to have their credit card company credit their account for the amount of the fare.

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“Not all construction of these classrooms have been delegated to us,” he said. “DepEd just assigned a number and for this period it is only 448 classrooms. Most of these classrooms are implemented by DepEd.” Singson said the DPWH has also completed road maintenance work for the opening of classes next week. “In line with the government’s Oplan Balik Eskwela Program, to assure safety of pedestrians and motorists, we are now completing the repair of potholes and pedestrian lane repainting works along national roads near school sites,” he said. Singson said the DPWH has also declogged canals and removed unsafe billboards within school vicinities. Seventy-six toilets were also constructed in schools nationwide, he added.

DEPED: FAIR WEATHER ON JUNE 6 Fair weather is expected when classes open on June 6, DepEd said yesterday. Jesus Mateo, education assistant secretary for planning and DepEd Oplan Balik Eskwela Task Force chairman, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has forecast good weather on that day. However, Vicente Malano, PAGASA acting deputy administrator for operations and services, said school officials must prepare for a rainy school opening day. Other agencies at the command conference were the Departments of Trade and Industry, Defense, Interior and Local Government, Public Works and Highways and Health, as well as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the Manila Electric Co., Manila Water Co. and Maynilad Water Services Inc., and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System. (www.philstar.com)

HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE - NEWS EDITION

LEGAL MATTERS Much Ado about Arnold and Adultery

JUNE 4, 2011

by Atty. Emmanuel Samonte TIPON en who have a face that only a mother can love should not be talking about other men’s love life,” Manila Mayor Arsenio Lacson remarked when President Carlos P. Garcia chided him for having mistresses. Women who have never been adulterized should not be dissecting the motivation of men who have a mistress by saying that they are displaying power or arrogance. Lust, pure and simple, is the driving force that makes men covet a mistress.

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There is a pipsqueak dance instructor (called “attorney” in the Philippines) who is said to have had a relationship with his married female instructee. Then there is a soft spoken priest who eloped with an Ilocano congressman’s wife. When we asked the wife why she did that, she justified it by saying that her husband was also fooling around. Tit for tat. Were the pipsqueak and the priest arrogant or displaying power? Adultery is as old as - or even older than – the Bible. Old Hebrew men who are believed by many to have concocted the 10 commandments were so fearful of losing their wives to virile young men that they made adultery condemnable twice – “Thou shall not commit adultery (7th Commandment) and “Thou shall not covet thy neighbor’s wife (10th Commandment). More heinous and nonconsensual crimes

– like killing another person – are condemnable only once.

LOOKING AT A WOMAN WITH LUST IS ADULTERY? I was in Maui during the Memorial Day week-end and met a pastor at a Barrio Fiesta. He asked me if I believed in the Bible. I replied “To a certain extent.” He asked me if I had ever committed adultery.” I refused to answer, invoking the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. “What do you think of that woman,” the pastor asked referring to a woman who was walking in our direction. “Very attractive,” I replied. “You have just committed adultery,” the pastor commented. “What makes you say that?” I challenged him. The Bible says “He who looks at a woman with lust in his eyes has committed adultery in his heart.” “But I did not look at her

PHILIPPINE NEWS

Noy Allows Opening of NAIA Terminal 3 by Aurea CALICA / Thursday, June 2, 2011

PRESIDENT AQUINO HAS AGREED TO PROCEED

MANILA, Philippines -

with a plan to operate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 while just compensation for its builders is being decided by the courts. Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said yesterday the issue could still take longer because of the legal options available to all parties. He added that the government’s legal team is preparing its actions as the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco) elevated the expropriation proceedings to the Court of Appeals after the Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 117 ruled that the government should only pay Piatco some $175.78 million, a far cry from its claim of $842.80 million. Ochoa said they are still discussing the issue because the arbitration and expropriation cases are “tickly.” “The point there is we can do anything now, we can proceed with the rehabilitation,

renovation and the eventual operation on the NAIA 3 in the best way that we can manage to do that,” Ochoa said after sending off President Aquino at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City for an overnight state visit to Brunei Darussalam. He said they understand the sentiments of the German firm, Fraport AG, and the German government, but he noted that the Piatco case is something that the Aquino administration inherited. “We can understand their exasperation on the settlement of the issue but then over the years, it has gone a bit more complicated and various issues have cropped up that we have to really sort of analyze,” Ochoa said. He said the decision of the Pasay RTC is welcome because “from our view, we won because the court had already settled the issue on just compensation. But there are still (legal) options from all sides.” The Aquino government had ruled out any compromise deal on the issue, saying the administration would only adhere to just compensation. “These are the realities in our country, and we realize that it is quite difficult that we inherited the case. We have to dig up what happened really, but this time we really know,” Ochoa said. (www.philstar.com)

Gov't Focuses on 5-year Plan to Reduce Poverty by Alexis ROMERO / Thursday, June 2, 2011

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) -- THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT is focusing on the newly-unveiled five-year Philippine Development Plan (PDP), with economic growth being targeted for an annual 7 to 8 percent to reduce poverty, a senior official said today. "The priority of the administration today really is the Philippine Development Plan, the

five-year development plan," Presidential Communications Operation Office Secretary Herminio Coloma told reporters. He admitted that there are still many things that the government has to do in order to achieve the goal of the 2011-2015 PDP. "The 7-8 percent growth objective will enable us to meet the poverty reduction objective as well as employment generation objective," he said. Poverty rate in the country was at 31 percent in 1991 and the government is eyeing to half it by 2015. (www.philstar.com)

lustfully. Don’t you need to have a hard on to lust?,” I protested. Just then, my nephew arrived. “You’ll have to excuse me, we are going to the nudist beach,” I rubbed it in.

WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL ABOUT ARNOLD’S ADULTERY? There is a unique pleasure in having an extra-marital affair. People who have never been involved in one don’t get it. Male-dominated legislatures in most states have legislated adultery out of the penal code. In California, according to certain attorneys, only incestuous adultery is a crime. Thus, Arnold Schwarzenegger has not committed a crime by admittedly fathering a child with his married maid who is not related to him. Such admission, however, does not necessarily prove that Arnold is the father of the child. As the maid’s husband observed, he always believed that the child is his and that the child does not look like Arnold. Where is the DNA showing Arnold is the father? he asked. By admitting the affair, Arnold violated a fundamental tenet of adulterers which is better ex-

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pressed in Spanish – “Negar hasta morir” (Deny until you die). Worse of all, Arnold has hurt the child who is being chased by the paparazzi all over the million dollar mansion Arnold allegedly built for him and his mother. Why is Maria Schwarzenegger so angry about all these, when wives of other prominent adulterers stood by their man? It appears she has been insulted since Arnold’s other woman appears less attractive than she is. When a man lusts after a woman seemingly less attractive than his wife, it implies that there is something seriously lacking in the wife. (ATTY. TIPON has a Master of Laws degree from Yale Law School and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines. Office: 800 Bethel St., Suite 402, Honolulu, HI 96813. Tel. (808) 225-2645. E-Mail: filamlaw@yahoo.com. Websites: www.Milit a r y a n d C r i m i n a l L a w. c o m , a n d www.ImmigrationServicesUSA.com. Listen to the most witty, interesting, and informative radio program in Hawaii on KNDI at 1270, AM dial every Thursday at 7:30 a.m., rebroadcast at www.iluko.com.)

HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE - NEWS EDITION

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COMMUNITY PARADE

JUNE 4, 2011

JUNE 4, 2011

HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE - NEWS EDITION

TRAVEL & TOURISM

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HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE - NEWS EDITION JUNE 4, 2011

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PHILIPPINE NEWS

RH First Before Divorce Senators by Paolo ROMERO/ Wednesday, June 1, 2011

MANILA, Philippines - SENATORS WANT TO RESOLVE DEBATES ON THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH (RH) bill first before tackling the divorce bill. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senators Joker Arroyo and Panfilo Lacson said there is a need to study the proposals to allow divorce in the country and put on hold any discussions at least until the RH issue is resolved. “I still have to study it. There are many who are in favor, we have many issues at hand,” Enrile said. “I’m not saying that it’s not the right time. We should wrap up the controversial ones first, the RH bill and the bill on the protection of the unborn and the mother.” Arroyo shared Enrile’s concern. “We should finish the RH bill before we proceed with the divorce bill because that’s another controversial matter,” Arroyo said. On Monday, Gabriela party-list Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan announced that the House of Representatives’ committee on revision of laws would take up House Bill 1799 or the proposed divorce bill today. Ilagan’s announcement came just hours after Malta voted in a referendum in favor of legislating divorce, making the Philippines the only country left without a divorce law. Ilagan’s bill is the first of two divorce measures pending before the 15th Congress. Ilagan filed her bill in July 2010 while Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez filed a similar bill last March. Lacson questioned the timing of the introduction of the divorce bill in the House, which came at the height of the controversies hounding the RH bill. “I don’t think the country is ready for that kind of legislation. It will further divide our country through the Catholic Church,” he said, adding that divorce is an even more contentious issue. But Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano believes that the present laws can provide an unhappy couple other avenues to dissolve their marriage. However, he admitted that this would not be accessible to the poor because they still have to hire a lawyer. He said he believes that divorce is not in the culture of Filipinos and it would ruin the family. “If we are the only country in the world that has no divorce, maybe the rest of the world is wrong and we are right,” the minority leader added.

DRAWING THE BATTLE LINES But Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III suspects that advocates of the RH bill are behind the campaign to legalize divorce in the country, precisely to weaken the Church’s stand against the population control measure. “I see it as a political strategy. I believe the divorce bill is being pushed by RH advocates at the House,” Sotto said at the weekly media forum in Manila hosted by the Catholic Media Network. “They want to weaken the Catholic Church and bring it down to its knees to agree to the RH bill because divorce is more serious,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino. Former Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said

after RH bill and divorce, these people would then push for same sex marriage. “Believe me, after RH and divorce, same sex marriage is hovering in the air. That’s for sure,” Pimentel told the same forum. However, he said the divorce bill could be junked using secular arguments found in the Constitution. “Looking at secular arguments, that bill would already be defeated because it destroys the family which is the basic unit of society,” Pimentel said. Rodriguez, however, clarified that the divorce bill he filed was just a remedy for Filipinas married to foreigners who divorced them abroad. “Even if they say we are the last country that does not have any divorce law, let it be that way and let us be proud of it. So what? Let’s not be swayed by comments like that for the sake of our family values,” he said. The veteran administration lawmaker said his bill was meant to give recourse and assistance to Filipino women divorced by their foreign spouses by amending the Family Code. He said Filipino women are at a disadvantage as they have to make the necessary local court filings and prove they were divorced, a process both expensive and tedious. “As such, the Filipino spouse is once again put at a disadvantage considering that the foreign spouse is already free to remarry,” Rodriguez said. “The Filipino spouse need not seek judicial recognition or enforcement of the foreign judicial decree of absolute divorce and its registration by the civil registrar shall be sufficient for the issuance of a marriage license,” he said in his bill.

PALACE STILL UNCOMMITTED

ON DIVORCE Malacañang kept its silence and refused to be dragged into the debate on divorce. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing that the Palace “doesn’t have a position on that yet” and that President Aquino had not discussed the issue with them. During the campaign, the President expressed reservations about divorce but said there must be some modifications on annulment or legal separation processes to help those who made a mistake in choosing their life partners. However, Valte said that like any other issue, they were prepared to consider the opinions of all stakeholders. The President recently ran counter to the Catholic Church’s position after he announced support for the RH bill. Valte said they were not being cautious because of the Church but only because the issue was not yet discussed. In August last year the President expressed opposition to a divorce law and reiterated he would prefer legal separation, although estranged couples should be allowed to remarry. “My own personal position on this point – but a study has to be made – is divorce is a no-no,” he said amid renewed proposals in Congress at that time to legalize divorce in the country. Aquino, a 50-year-old bachelor, said he could not support a practice common in Las Vegas, Nevada, in which “the stereotype is you get married in the morning (and) you can (continued on page 11)

HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE - NEWS EDITION

FAMILY CORNER A Day at the Beach

JUNE 4, 2011

by Grace FONG, Ed.D and Sylvia YUEN, Ph.D. ith our pleasant weather and abundant natural resources, Hawai‘i is a great place for outdoor play for children. During outdoor play, especially at the beach, preventing accidental injuries is a full-time responsibility for parents and caregivers of young children. Know what your child is able to do and what things pose dangers in the environment. The best prevention is supervision.

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WATER AND BEACH SAFETY A day at the beach is a great way to spend family time together. Keep this fun time a safe time by following some of these safety tips. • Swimming: Supervise your child at all times as he plays in or near the water; never leave

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him unattended at the beach, even if he can swim. A young child can drown in a matter of seconds. Teach your child how to float and swim. (You can begin teaching your child to swim at 4-6 years old. Check with your local community pool for keiki classes.) Water toys: Don’t rely on water wings, inner tubes, and blowup mattresses to keep your child safe; they are not official flotation devices and may not be able to protect a child from drowning. Have fun playing with them—but keep an eye on your child and be ready to help, if needed. Sand: Watch out for sand holes deeper than your child’s knees

PHILIPPINE NEWS (cont. from page 6; RH FIRST ... )

get divorced in the afternoon.” “But I do recognize that there have been unions that were wrong and no matter what interventions are done, no matter what counseling is done, they really can’t stay together and there is danger to either one or both parties in that marriage, particularly the children,” he said. The President said couples who pursue legal separation should be allowed to marry again. “(In) legal separation, it will be very, very stringent. You really have to ascertain that there really are irreconcilable differences over a long

period,” he said. “At the end of the day they should be allowed to remarry. We have legal separation today (but they) can’t marry. Pity those who made a mistake,” he added. At present, the country allows legal separation and annulment. Once the court approves an annulment of marriage, the parties may choose to remarry. A legal separation, on the other hand, allows spouses to live separately but does not cut the bonds of marriage. They are not allowed to marry again. (www.philstar.com)

(either ones that you have dug or ones left by others. Collapsing walls of sand holes can quickly bury and/or trap a person, especially a child.

SUN PROTECTION Nothing feels better than lying in the warm sun. But too much sun can lead to problems, so make sure you’re prepared! • Sunscreen: Use sunscreen of at least 15 SPF—higher for young children to prevent sunburn. Put it on half an hour before you’ll be in the sun to make it work best. Don’t forget to reapply it every couple of hours or after swimming or sweating a lot. • Shade: Set up your towels and blankets under a tree, beach umbrella, or portable canopy,

and have everyone wear a hat when in the sun. Infants should be given more shade and should wear hats to protect their delicate skin and eyes. • Liquids: Make sure everyone drinks enough to replace all the fluids lost as they perspire in the hot sun. Water, iced herbal tea, and 100-percent fruit juices are better choices than sodas and sugary “fruit” drinks. People playing hard in the sun should drink 4 to 8 ounces of liquid every 15 to 30 minutes. • Heat exhaustion: This can happen when the body is too hot and can’t cool itself. Some symptoms are nausea, headache, cramps, and dizziness. If this happens to your child, put him in a cool bath, give him liquids, and let him lie down in a cool, shaded spot or anyplace with air conditioning. If your child has a rapid heartbeat, a high temperature, difficulty breathing, or is disoriented, he may have the more serious form of heat exhaustion called heat stroke— take him to the emergency room immediately. SEA CREATURES It’s fun to look through tide pools for hermit crabs, sea cucumbers, and little fishes. But there are some sea creatures you don’t want to meet! • Box Jellyfish look like tiny floating clear plastic bags, with bright blue stringy tentacles that

11 give a painful red welt that stings for hours and may leave a scar. They float in to many beaches on the south and east shores, usually 8-10 days after the full moon. Check for warning signs on the beach. Caution children to avoid touching them if they see them on the sand (they can sting out of water, too) and to stay out of the water. If someone gets stung, see a lifeguard for help. Try remedies such as vinegar or meat tenderizer on the sting. • Wana: Sea urchins, or wana, are beautiful and fascinating to watch in a tide pool as they move their spines. Again, caution children not to touch them or step on them. If you step on the spines, your foot can become easily infected. Remove any pieces of spine broken off in the wound as soon as possible and put on antiseptic. • Coral: The reefs that protect us from the full power of the ocean waves are made up of the skeletons of trillions of tiny creatures: coral. If you’re swimming over coral, try to avoid kicking it or banging your knee against it. Coral cuts also get infected easily, so clean them well and put antiseptic on them. Keeping safety in mind can help you and your child to enjoy the ocean, sun, and sand that Hawai‘i offers! GRACE FONG is the Interim Director of the Center on the Family, and SYLVIA YUEN is the Interim Dean,College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE - NEWS EDITION

TRAVEL & LEISURE

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JUNE 4, 2011

The French Riviera - A Tale of Two Cities by Manny GONZALES, Plantation Bay Resort & Spa Part 1 of 2: Cannes ANILA, Philippines - Sophie Marceau Topless. Everything I knew about the French Riviera (which roughly runs from Cannes to Nice to a bit east of Monaco), I learned from the movies. For example, in To Catch a Thief (1955, with Grace Kelly and Cary Grant) I learned that the Carlton Intercontinental is the hotel to stay at in Cannes. From La Cage Aux Folles (1978, with Ugo Tognazzi and Michel Serrault), I learned not to go to gay bars in St. Tropez. And from Joyeuses Paques (1984, with JeanPaul Belmondo and Sophie Marceau), I learned that if you watch the movie really carefully you will see Sophie Marceau topless, with truly stunning, firm, beautifully shaped pectorals that will leave your eyes bulging (apologies to readers since this film is impossible to find, though there is still a copy, under lock and key, at Plantation Bay Resort & Spa). Dozens if not hundreds of movies have been set in the French Riviera (or, as the French call it, the Cote d’Azur). Some of the things

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you learn from movies turn out to be true, and some of them don’t. Take, for example, the Carlton. My first stop was Cannes, and I had decided to stay at this very hotel, where Grace Kelly seduced Cary Grant in the movie. My room at the Carlton was pretty good, even impressive (see picture) — large by European standards and elegantly furnished. However, and try not to be shocked — there was no seduction. No Grace Kelly. Ghost City. In fact, no people. During my stay in Cannes, some two weeks before the Film Festival, the town was darn near empty. In hindsight, this no doubt accounted for the fact that I was able to afford and get into the Carlton. It seems that Cannes is some kind of Twilight Zone, which stirs to life for the Film Festival, coasts for the rest of summer as rich people from Europe come for the Season, then peacefully hibernates for the seven months between September and April. On my first day, it was raining buckets (another reason rich people don’t go to Cannes before the Film Festival). When I stepped out

In summer, there are so many people on this beach that you can’t see any sand. Just pretend it is summer. The author would like you to note the famous Carlton Hotel on the left, where, in case you are still fuzzy on the point, he stayed. of the hotel to look for dinner, in half an hour of wandering I found only two restaurants open, and eventually picked the wrong one (but that is another story — wait for my article “Entrecôte and Fries — Adieu”). However, the following day, guided only by my Mephisto walking shoes, I discovered the perfect way to have lunch in Cannes. A Sandwich and a Bench. The boulevard running along the bay is called La Croisette. On the long promenade beside the pebbly beach, there are kiosks selling food. Find Kiosk #7 (this is for real, so write it down; guidebooks should tell you useful stuff like this; you’re welcome) where you should buy a Suedois (swed-wa, a deli-style chicken sandwich) which is way better than what you will get at other kiosks, namely a Parisien (a

thin slice of ham, a thin slice of cheese, a thick wad of butter, and two inches of French bread — you always know you’re in France if the butter is thicker than the ham). Add a Coke, then settle down on a bench by the beach, and watch beautiful people go by as you spend two hours eating the sandwich and jealously guarding your bench (it takes practice and selfcontrol, let me tell you; bring potato chips and a candy bar, and go to the bathroom first). Not for the Light of Wallet. Cannes is not a place where you actually do anything (except, if you are Brad Pitt, pose for pictures); it is a place where you hang around and enjoy the heady sensation of looking at the same beach that rich people are looking at. But if you really must do some shopping — jot

PHILIPPINE NEWS

this down: the unimaginably expensive shops (the Loro Pianas and the Cartiers) are on La Croisette, facing the sea; the shops which are only outrageously expensive (the Villebrequins and the Paul & Sharks) are inland, on rue d’Antibes. Rubbing Elbows. Speaking of rich people, there was one thing about the guests at the Carlton that I couldn’t help but notice. The guests were of varied nationalities, but all were quietly yet stylishly dressed; all were soft-spoken (confident that the rest of the world would listen) and all moved without haste (confident that the rest of the world would wait). Not a single cellphone was in sight. There was a conspicuous absence of Louis Vuitton bags. In brief, everyone looked Seriously-Well-to-Do-and-Used-ToIt. This made the hotel experience perfect, though when I think about it, my own presence may have dragged down the hotel-wide average a bit. Okay, a bit more. From Cannes, after some detours I eventually made it to Nice, which is everything Cannes wasn’t — full of traffic, shops and restaurants that were actually open, and people. To put it in a nutshell, Cannes is a movie set, while Nice is real life. Both are good. (To be continued in Part 2) (www.philstar.com)

Tax Reform May Cut Cigarette Consumption, Improve Public Health by Paolo ROMERO Wednesday, June 1, 2011

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) -

REFORMING THE TOBACCO TAX SYSTEM may be the key to discouraging cigarette consumption and reduce the growing incidence of tobacco-related illness such as lung cancer and heart disease. Cheap cigarettes is one of the reasons why the Philippines with over 17 million smokers - has one of the highest smoking prevalence rates in the world. This is expected to lead to huge socio-economic losses. According to a study by Health Justice Philippines, around 35, 000 Filipinos die every year due to tobacco-related diseases. Second-

hand smoke also causes adverse health effects. The economic costs, including expenses for health care and cost of productivity losses, amount to over 400 billion pesos (9.2 billion US dollars) . This is why, according to economist Jo-Ann Latuja, there's a need top revise the existing taxes imposed against so-called "sin products" like cigarettes and alcohol. "The purpose of sin taxes is to discourage consumption of sinful products like cigarettes. But our current taxation system is not effective in doing that," Latuja said in an interview with Xinhua. Jo-Ann Latuja is a fellow of the Action for Economic Reforms (AER), a Manila-based advocacy group that is actively campaigning

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to use tobacco taxation to improve public health and boost government revenues. As the world observes World No Tobacco Day May 31, the AER released a statement noting that a reform in the tax system will raise more revenues and fund the administration's urgent programs, including the Universal Health Coverage Program. An AER study, authored by Latuja and Filomeno Sta. Ana III, revealed that cigarette excise tax as percentage of gross retail price

(GRP) ranges from 14 percent to 42 percent based on 2010 cigarette prices. This is below the World Health Organization's recommended rate of at least 70 percent of the GRP and is the reason why the Philippines has one of the world's lowest cigarette prices. A pack of 20 cigarette sticks retails for less than one U. S. dollar in Manila. The AER has noted three major weakness in the current to-

bacco excise tax system - the absence of indexation of taxes to inflation, the price classification freeze, and the multi-tiered tax (continued on page 13)

JUNE 4, 2011

by Reuben S. SEGURITAN he death of 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden may very well be a turning point in the United States’ fight against terrorism. However, although a battle has been won, the “war on terror” is not yet over. Since September 11, 2001, the government has taken steps to increase domestic security through changes in immigration rules, such

T

HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE - NEWS EDITION

LEGAL NOTES Visas May Be Revoked Without Notice as the visa revocation process. For instance, three years after the attack the DOS had revoked 1,250 visas based on information suggesting possible terrorist activities or links. These measures in part resulted from findings that the hijackers used temporary visas which allowed them to stay in this country and perpetrate the attacks. Citing security concerns, the Department of State issued a new rule that allows a consular official to revoke an immigrant or non-immigrant visa “at any time, in his or her discretion”. The rule, which was published in the April 27, 2011 issue of the Federal Register, took effect immediately. Under the new rule, the DOS may if practicable give notice of the

revocation to the alien, but the consular official may revoke the visa without any notice to the alien either before or after the revocation is effected. A visa may be revoked when the applicant was, has become, or may become, ineligible for a U.S. visa. Traditionally, this revocation authority was exercised for national security concerns and foreign policy interests. Furthermore, the alien whose visa was revoked may no longer seek reconsideration of the revocation. Under the old rule, it was possible for the alien to receive a notice of intent to revoke with opportunity to respond and to appeal the revocation. Now, the only remedy is to re-apply for a visa and prove one’s eligibility all over again. Previously, the holder of the revoked visa was asked to submit

the visa to be stamped “revoked”. However, the new rule states that the revocation is valid despite the failure or inability of the DOS to physically cancel the visa. Because the visa holder no longer needs to be notified, there is a high probability that the alien will learn of the revocation only when he or she is refused admission at a port of entry. A revoked visa is invalid and may not be used for travel. The new rule, however, allows for a provisional revocation when the DOS needs to consider more information that might lead to a final revocation. If the alien is found eligible, the visa will be reinstated without need of application. Except for holders of provisionally revoked visas that were later reinstated, an alien whose visa was revoked must apply for a

MAINLAND NEWS

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new one and his/ her eligibility will be adjudicated at that time. This means that even though you have several years remaining on your 10-year multiple entry visa, once it is revoked you may no longer use it to enter the U.S. and you would have to apply for another visa. An immigration officer is also authorized to revoke a valid visa by physically cancelling it if the alien adjusts status or obtains an immigrant visa, is ordered excluded from the U.S., given permission to withdraw an application for admission, issued a final order of deportation, or permitted to voluntarily depart from the U.S.

REUBEN S. SEGURITAN has been practicing law for over 30 years. For further information, you may call him at (212) 695 5281 or log on to his website at www.seguritan.com

Fil-Ams Unify Ranks in NaFFAA Conference in Las Vegas by Cynthia DE CASTRO Saturday, May 28, 2011

THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FILIPINO AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS (NaFFAA) held a Strategic Planning Conference in Las Vegas last May 13-15 to discuss the federation’s national agenda for 2011-2012 and unify the ranks of Filipino Americans. Attended by around 90 executive board members and representatives of NaFFAA’s 12 regional chapters, the successful conference took up important topics relevant to

PHILIPPINE NEWS (cont. from page 12; TAX ... )

structure. Taxes imposed cigarette prices did not keep up with inflation as taxes were computed based on the 1996 retail prices. "The combination of the price classification freeze and the absence of a yearly adjustment to inflation have diminished the real value of tobacco taxes over time. Automatic inflation adjustment is necessary to ensure the robustness of revenues from the specific tax for tobacco," the study

the Filipino American community. “We unified our ranks throughout the US, defined our strategy of primarily empowering our community through advocacy, discussed ways and means of strengthening all NaFFAA regions, and approved resolutions of concern to our community,” said Ed Navarra of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, NaFFAA national chair. Among the issues taken up at the Conference include NaFFAA’s FilAmVOTE project which aims to increase the registration of FilAm

voters to become a political force in US politics. Newly-appointed Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. also promoted the Save Our Industries (SAVE) Act, which would allow apparel products from the Philippines to enter the US duty-free. “The Philippine government understands how important this legislation is to our workers and our relationship with the US,” Cuisia said. “The SAVE Act would provide tens of millions of dollars in new exports for US businesses and

save hundreds of thousands of jobs in the Philippines,” he added. NaFFAA delegates unanimously passed the resolution “supporting the campaign for portability of US Medicare benefits” after Eric Lachica, lead organizer of US Medicare PH, Inc., spoke about the need to amend US Medicare law to allow US retirees to avail of their Medicare benefits in the Philippines. NaFFAA also unanimously endorsed passage of the DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for

said. Under the multi-level tax structure, the government imposes different specific tax rates for each price classification. Lower priced cigarettes are taxed low while higher priced cigarettes are taxed high, thus widening the price gap between higher and lower price classes of cigarettes. "But the taxes should be levied on the quantity of cigarettes consumed and not on the price of the cigarettes," Latuja said, noting that whether a smoker buys a cheap or expensive brand of ciga-

rettes, the smoker will suffer the same harmful effect of nicotine addiction. And instead of quitting, smokers who can't buy expensive brands will just shift to lowerpriced cigarettes. The AER study noted the multi-level tax structure "diminishes the effectiveness of the excise tax as a tool to reduce consumption." This is why AER is proposing that instead of multi-level tax structure, the government needs to impose a more unitary tax structure. This will not only lead to better tax

administration but also boost revenues. The AER said its proposal won't hurt local tobacco farmers because the tax is levied on the final product, cigarettes, and not on the raw ma-

Alien Minors) Act which was recently reintroduced in the US Senate and would provide conditional permanent residency to illegal alien students who graduate from US high schools and meet certain requirements. The attendees also unanimously voted the co-sponsoring by NaFFAA of the Global Summit of Filipinos in Diaspora, which is scheduled to be held in Manila on September at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). (www.asianjournal.com)

terials for cigarettes, which are produced by the local tobacco farmers. The AER's proposal have been included in several bills filed in the House of Representatives. (www.philstar.com)

HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE - NEWS EDITION

14

ILOKO

by Amado I. YORO en, mabalin a kumanunongka, kabsat, itoy a topikotayo. Ti panagserbi iti komunidad kadagiti sobra nga oras ken mainaig met la iti obligasion ken responsibilidad iti taeng ken pamilia. Sakripisio iti awagtayo no ikari ken isapata nga aramiden ti pagimbagan para iti bukod a bagi ken pada a tao. Iti sabali a pannao, community service in the spirit of volunteerism. Panangited ti naisangayan a panagserbi iti baet ti obligasion ken responsibilidad iti pagtaengan, pamilia, simbaan, trabaho, ken komunidad. Umuna: panangikomitar iti kallaysa no de pamiliaka. Nagsapataka iti sanguanan ti padi, pastor wenno hues, mayor wenno asino man a naikkan ti porte a mamagkallaysa kadakayo nga aglantip iti panagasawa. Iti sabali a pannarita, nagsapataka met iti sango iti installing officer babaen iti panangitayag iti kanawan nga ima. Maikadua: panangiplano iti

W

PHILIPPINE LANGUAGE Adda Panagkanaig Ti Sakripisio Ken Pannangted Ti Oras Iti Komunidad Ken Iti Pamilia

JUNE 4, 2011

panangipataray iti mapasamak. Ken ni kasimpungalan, duakayo a nagtulag ken nangplano ti kayatyo a panangiturong ti kallaysayo, ken iti panangbangon iti bukel a pamilia ken panangiturong ti direksion pinansial, panagputot, panaganak, panagpaadal kadagiti maibunga nga annak tapno maidalanda iti nasayaat a masakbayan. Kasta met iti gunglo a pagsapataam gapu kadagiti naipondar nga objectives ken goals ti organisasion nga inkarim a salakniban, tulongan ken takderan a sipupudno ket dinawatmo pay iti So help me God. Maikatlo: ti pannakaitungpal dagiti plano iti pamilia kasta met iti komunidad. Ti kabaelam a mangipataray ti akemmo iti komunidad, mabalin nga ipakitana met ti balligim iti pamiliam. Maikapat: tunos iti pamiliam, kasta met iti komunidadmo. Kadagiti pada a naasawaan, saan a nasken a kanayon nga agkuyogkayo nga agatendar iti pasken ti gunglo no dayta ti pagtulagan maibatay iti pinansial a situasion. No dagiti pasken ti a pabuniag, pakasar, minatay ken selebrasion pamilia, am-ammo ken gagayyem, nasken a pagtulagan. Iti tunos ti agassawa, man-

grugi iti bukodyo a saritaan. Adda dagiti saritaan iti kuarto [bedtalk] ken dakayo laeng nga agassawa ti makaamo. Iti miting imatang dagiti tao, liklikan nga agsinnungbat wenno agparang nga agkontra ti kapanunotanyo. Mabalin manen a tulagen iti uneg ti taeng. Saan a pananginkukuna daytoy iti bukodmi a panirigan. Ditoy a maipakita ketdi ti simbeng ken urnosyo nga agassawa. Puera delos buenos, adda dagiti agassawa a no dadduma, agsinada ti panig. Kadakami, maysa dayta a negatibo a pagilasinan ti nakurang a komunikasion ken panagsinnukat iti kapampanunotan iti uneg ti siled. Maikalima: Balanse a panangusar iti panawen a saanka nga agkurang iti pamiliam, itdem met iti dadduma a kasapulan iti panagbiagmo. Mabalin nga i-date ti kapuso. Adda dagiti restauran a makaited ti sabali a panirigan. Adda dagiti espesial nga okasion kas iti Aldaw ti Inna, Aldaw ti Panagyaman, kasangay, anibersario ti kallaysa. ken dadduma a signipikante iti biagyo nga agpada. Time Management ti awagmi iti panangiwardas ken panangusarmi iti panawenmi. Mano ti

kayatmo nga usaren a tiempo iti maysa a banag iti tunggal aldaw, tunggal lawas, tunggal bulan, iti nasaysayud a panangiturong iti tiempo a maibukbok iti maysa wenno ad-adu pay nga aktibidad a kayat a pagkomitan. Adda kunami a priorities by importance and necessity. Simbaan kas pagarigan, mano nga oras ti panangtungpal iti spiritual responsibilities with a quality time and contribution to your church. Panagsurat iti poetry, fiction or non fiction, mano ti ilasinmo tapno saan nga agngelngel ti plumam. Community outreach and mission day service kas iti feeding the homeless, dadduma pay a voluntary works. No iwarastayo iti panagkitatayo iti aglawlaw iti agdama a komunidad a Filipino ita, iti biangmi, ibilangmi a naballigi dagiti oldtimers

ken pioneers nga uray kadagitoy nga aldaw, iti laksid ti nadurdur-as a tawenda a regalo ti Apo, ditoy Oahu, saluduanmi da Abe Mariano, Pacita Saludes, Jake Manegdeg, Maggie Domingo, Don Alvarez, ken dadduma pay. Agsangit ti aldaw wenno week-end no adda man malibtawanda a pasken a Filipino Uray saandan nga ibaga, dakkel ti pammatimi: naurnos la ketdi ti panangbinsabinsada iti panawen a mangitaray ti biag: ti pamilia, negosio ken dagiti extracurricular activitiesda. Patienmi met a saanda a perpeksionista ngem iti aramidda, itedda ti puso ken sinseridad iti baet ti ‘panagkamtud’ kas tao. Humble, Flexible, Committed and Available with an attitude to listen, learn and live. Isuda pay laeng dagiti addaan iti young at heart and high active participation in action.

MAINLAND

NEWS

Third Pinoy Reported Killed in Missouri Tornado by Pia LEE-BRAGO Wednesday, June 1, 2011

MANILA, Philippines - A THIRD

FILIPINO WAS KILLED IN THE TORNADO that struck Joplin town in Missouri on May 22, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed yesterday. The Philippine consulate general in Chicago reported to the DFA that Thomas Sarino died in the tornado that hit Missouri. DFA spokesman Eduardo Malaya said the DFA Office of Migrant Workers Affairs was in the process of notifying the family of Sarino. “No other details are available at this time,” Malaya said. Last Friday, the DFA confirmed that a second Filipino was killed in the tornado – Esterlita ManansalaMoore who was carried away from

her apartment when the tornado struck. The consulate is coordinating with the Missouri Office of the Governor for the release of the remains of Manansala, and another Filipina casualty, Grace Aquino, to their families. According to the DFA, there are about 10,396 Filipinos in Missouri, most of them in St. Louis, St. Charles, Fort Leonard Wood, and Blue Springs. Meantime, Filipinos who have relatives in Missouri may contact the Missouri SEMA at telephone (573) 526-9100 and fax (573) 6347966, the Office of the Missouri Governor at telephone (573) 7513222 or the American Red Cross at telephone (1-800) 733-2767 or at its website www.redcross.org. (www.philstar.com)

JUNE 4, 2011

HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE - NEWS EDITION

C OMMUNITY C ALENDAR OFCC'S MS. OAHU FILIPINA / SATURDAY June 4, 2011, 6pm ● Hawaii Prince Hotel ● Contact: Maria Etrata-392-2962 DINNER BALL, 113TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROCLAMATION OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE / SATURDAY June 11, 2011, 6pm ● Hilton Hawaiian Village, Tapa Ballroom ● For details, call Maggie Domingo @783-0068 or Edna Alikpala @ 282-3669 or the Philippine Consulate @ 505-6316 ext. 241 OFCC CONVENTION / SUNDAY June 12, 2011, 7:30am – 4pm ● Philippine Consulate ● For more info, Contact: Mario Palma @ 397-8626, Maria Etrata

@ 392-2962 or Amado Yoro @ 699-9814 KNIGHTS OF RIZAL-HAWAII DR. JOSE P. RIZAL 150TH BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AND DR. JOSE P. RIZAL AWARD GALA NIGHT / SUNDAY June 19, 2011, 6pm ● Waikiki Ballroom, Hale Koa Hotel ● For more information, please call 864-5222 or email rliongson@gmail.com UFCH CONVENTION IN LAS VEGAS / FRIDAY July 15, 2011, 7:30am – 4pm ● Contact: Lynne Gutierrez-728-1700 ILOCOS SURIAN ASSOCIATION OF HAWAII, DINNER AWARDS AND FUNDRAISING / SATURDAY

CLASSIFIED ADS NEWSPAPER DISTRIBUTORS NEEDED, OAHU AREA Additional newspaper distributors are needed in the island of Oahu ● Must have a valid driver's license and at least 2 years of driving experience preferred. ● Send your resume to filipinochronicle@gmail.com or call 808-678-8930. August 27, 2011, 6pm ● Coral Ballroom, Hilton Hawaiian Village ● Contact: Danny Villaruz @ 778-0233 or Maria Etrata @ 392-2962

GLOBAL NEWS

Government Urges Filipinos to Leave Troubled Yemen by Jun PASAYLO Tuesday, May 31, 2011

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - THE

PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT HAS ASKED FILIPINOS living in troubled Yemen to consider sending their minor children and dependents to the Philippines while commercial flights are available and the international airport remains open. In a statement issued Tuesday, the Philippine foreign affairs department urged Filipinos to use the free repatriation being offered by the government.

There are 1,422 registered Filipinos in Yemen. The Philippine government raised the crisis alert level in Yemen to number 3, which means voluntary repatriation at government's expense will be offered to Filipinos who wish to leave in light of the increasing tensions. But most Filipinos in Yemen decided to stay to avoid losing their permanent jobs. The Filipino workers'refusal to take part in government evacuation in the initial stages of conflict in some troubled

Arab states had led to bigger problems. Some of those who stayed behind in Libya had a hard time moving to safer grounds when armed fighting escalated. (www.philstar.com)

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B USINESS D IRECTORY

HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE - NEWS EDITION 16

JUNE 4, 2011