Hawaii Filipino Chronicle - February 5, 2011

FEBRUARY 5, 2011 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE 1

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FEBRUARY 5, 2011

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NEWS FEATURE

LEGAL NOTES

GLOBAL NEWS

TOP FILIPINO COP JOINS EAST-WEST CENTER LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

NUMBER OF NATURALIZED CITIZENS KEEPS GROWING

PHL GOVERNMENT READYING EGYPT EVACUATION

HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE 94-356 WAIPAHU DEPOT RD., 2ND FLR. WAIPAHU, HI 96797

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2 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 5, 2011

EDITORIAL

Appointed BOE is Good First Step in Fixing Education System ast November, Hawaii voters approved a constitutional amendment that allows State Board of Education members to be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State Senate. The outcome was good news for many parents who recalled the chaos that ensued during the Furlough Friday fiasco. This legislative session, lawmakers will work on enabling legislation for an appointed Board of Education (BOE) before Governor Neil Abercrombie can appoint anyone. The Senate recently passed a bill that would allow the governor to nominate 11 voting members who would be subject to Senate confirmation. In the House, a measure is pending for an advisory panel to give the governor a list of potential appointees to select from. Which ever legislation is approved, lawmakers need to move rapidly on this appointment process. It bears repeating that an appointed school board won’t cure all of public education’s ills overnight. However, it is a crucial first step towards the goal of positive change in our school system. We also need to continue to demand accountability and push students to excellence. Fixing public education is indeed possible, given the right leadership, the right policies and the right expectations. Thankfully, the finger pointing and blame can come to an end as the buck will now stop at the Governor’s Office, where someone will take responsibility for fixing the problem. With education being the most important public service the state of Hawaii provides its youth, the governor should be held accountable for it.

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A Thumbs Up for Abercrombie's Plans as Outlined in His State of the State Address here is a saying in politics that the best chances of success for any newly elected executive comes in the first year in office while momentum runs in his favor. Faced with a $844 million fiscal deficit, Gov. Neil Abercrombie will need every ounce of political will to push through some very ambitious goals as outlined in his first State of the State Address. While details have yet to be hashed out with the usual powerbrokers at the Legislature, Abercrombie's plans to balance the budget appears fair at this initial phase with a very diverse sector of society targeted to make tough sacrifices at least until state revenues and the overall economy improves. Perhaps the best news in his address is an item unmentioned that is, the governor made no reference to raise the general excise tax which has been discussed seriously among fellow Democrats in past legislative sessions. This ought to be applauded and should assist in businesses rebound easier. Instead Abercrombie's strategy to balance the budget is threefold. First, to the surprise of some public unions and social services advocates, he is opting for cuts in government spending, including reducing public workers labor costs by 5 percent ($88 million), ending reimbursements for retired public workers in Medicare Part B ($42 million) and scaling down services in welfare and benefits in Medicaid ($30-$50 million). Second, in addition to cuts, some new income generating initiatives Abercrombie is proposing include repealing select state tax deductions, taxing sodas and raising taxes on alcohol and timeshare units. He is also entrusting Lt. Gov Brian Schatz to find additional federal dollars for state projects that could infuse close to $100 million in new federal dollars in 2012 and 2013. This undertaking is where Abercrombie has years of expertise to help steer Schatz in the right direction. Already at work is the release of $6 million in fed-

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FROM THE PUBLISHER ong Hey Fat Choy! If you didn’t know it, February 3 marked the start of the Chinese New Year. Those born in the Year of the Rabbit are said to be “cuddly, warm and affectionate… mysterious, a great party-giver and host…who enjoys being the center of attention…is occasionally over-cautious and can be a bit boring.” The first month of 2011 is now in the books, but not before Mother Nature dumped a lot of rain on Oahu. If your home suffered any damage caused by the recent heavy rains, you may be eligible for low interest home repair loans of up to $75,000 from the City. If this sounds good to you, please read page 6 for further details. Our cover story for this issue looks at ways to improve our public education system. Contributing writer Clem Bautista compares Hawaii students’ performance against other selected states. He provides data showing that our eighth graders are neither the best nor the worst as measured by a set of standardized tests. As for Filipino students and higher education, Clem says that public schools with large proportions of Filipino students (Waipahu, Farrington, Maui and Campbell) have some of the lowest college enrollment figures of Hawaii’s high schools. This is where programs such as GEARUP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) come in handy. Such programs, which are active at Farrington and other public high schools, encourage Filipino students to begin thinking of and preparing for college. Please read more on this very informative and thought-provoking cover story beginning on page 4. There are other articles of interest in this issue, including a profile of a highly-decorated police officer from the Philippines who was in Hawaii for a leadership training program and will be back in May to attend the graduation ceremonies. The officer, Eric Escosio Noble, has won numerous awards for his crime-fighting skills and tireless efforts to improve the image of the Philippine National Police (PNP), which has suffered from the mis-steps of several officers over the years. His fascinating story, submitted by contributing writer Gregory Bren Garcia, begins on page 8. We hope you will also take time to read Legislative Connection (page 3), Immigration Guide (page 7), Family Corner (page 12), Legal Notes (page 13) and Philippine Language (page 14). In closing, thank you for faithfully supporting the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. Please feel free to contact us at: filipinochronicle@gmail.com if you have ideas, concerns or questions regarding Hawaii’s Filipino community. Until next time…aloha and mabuhay!

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eral grants to help stimulate jobs in energy and agriculture. The governor's third strategy is prioritizing spending such as reallocating partial monies budgeted for marketing by the Hawaii Tourism Authority ($10 million) to go to basic government services as well as redirecting funds for the Aloha Stadium rehabilitation project to more urgent capital improvement jobs. One particularly smart plan is to fix state buildings currently vacant and utilizing them to house state services instead of leasing private buildings. This helps to stimulate jobs and save taxpayers money from unnecessary leases. Abercrombie's plan of action clearly shows that the state's role in facilitating an economic rebound is the number one priority. Courageous initiatives have been outlined that no doubt will be challenged from special interests in the coming weeks and months. But it seems that the governor is intent on keeping fairness as a rule of governance as we arrive at solutions. Already he has opened the door in a spirit of cooperation that had been lacking under former Gov. Linda Lingle's administration to listening and taking suggestions from the public. This approach, a humble one not too common among veteran politicians, is a good start, much in the way Abercrombie ran his overwhelmingly successful gubernatorial campaign. If one criticism could be made of the governor's State of the State Address, it would be a commitment by Abercrombie that when the state is fully recovered from its economic slump, initiatives to help our most vulnerable sectors of society - the elderly and poor - be restored. Providing this emergency safety net is the great unwritten contract government has with its people and should never be forgotten. We wish the governor well in achieving his goals and hope lawmakers support many of his sound proposals.

Publisher & Executive Editor Charlie Y. Sonido, M.D. Publisher & Managing Editor Chona A. Montesines-Sonido Associate Editors Dennis Galolo Edwin Quinabo Creative Designer Junggoi Peralta Design Consultant Randall Shiroma Photographer Tim Llena Administrative Assistant Shalimar Pagulayan Columnists 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 Sylvia Yuen, Ph.D. Contributing Writers Belinda Aquino, Ph.D. Clement Bautista Teresita Bernales, Ph.D Linda Dela Cruz Fiedes Doctor Gregory Bren Garcia Danny De Gracia, II, MA Amelia Jacang, M.D. Caroline Julian Paul Melvin Palalay, M.D. Glenn Wakai Amado Yoro Philippine Correspondent Guil Franco Big Island Distributor Grace Larson Ditas Udani Maui Distributor Cecile Piros Molokai Distributor Maria Watanabe Advertising/Marketing Director Chona A. Montesines-Sonido Account Executives Carlota Ader J.P. Orias The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle is published weekly by The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc. It is mailed directly to subscribers and distributed at various outlets around Oahu and the neighbor islands. Editorial and advertising deadlines are three weeks prior to publication date. Subscriptions are available at $75 per year for Oahu and the neighbor islands, continental U.S. $80, foreign country $90. Copyright 2006. The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc. is located at 94-356 Waipahu Depot, Waipahu, HI 96797. Telephone (808) 678-8930 Facsimile (808) 678-1829. E-mail filipinochronicle@gmail.com. Website: www.thefilipinochronicle.com. Opinions expressed by the columnists and contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle management. Reproduction of the contents in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission from the management. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. www.thefilipinochronicle.com www.efilipinochronicle.com

FEBRUARY 5, 2011

HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE 3

LEGISLATIVE CONNECTION

Historic West Oahu By Senator Will Espero enjoy telling students on field trips here at the Capitol about all the exciting developments happening in Ewa, the fastest growing district on Oahu. I am also proud of the rich heritage of both the area I represent and its neighboring areas. Events of global and national significance, Native Hawaiian history, immigration patterns, by-gone commerce, and more all contribute to the colors and texture of the social fabric we know as West Oahu. Rich and abundant in historical sites from different periods, I believe the state should work with stakeholders to preserve these areas while promoting modern goals. A pre-dawn air raid on the Marine Corps Air Field in Ewa and Fort Barrette in Kapolei on the morning of December 7, 1941

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was the very first act of Japanese aggression against America and precipitated the entrance of the U.S. into World War II. More continuous strafing was fired on this area than any other on Oahu that morning because Japanese planes staged and re-grouped here. In three passes on that fateful morning, Japanese Zeroes struck low and fast, killing four Marines and some civilians and destroying most of the fifty aircraft on Ewa Field before Kamikaze conducted the more well-known bombing of Pearl Harbor. A Department of Defense report concluded that the attack on Ewa Field was “so precise and well-executed that it appeared as though each plane previously had selected its particular target…with the purpose of riddling them, and setting fire to the gas tanks to render them useless for pursuit and interception.” The cannons of Fort Barrette to protect Pearl Harbor made it also a target for the Japanese raid. Fort Barrette Road was a supply road to the railway in Ewa and it also connected the military base to the Kapolei Military Reservation. The roadway was riddled

with bullets in the one-hour attack on the Fort and Ewa Field. One Hawaii soldier was killed as the brave servicemen shot back at the Japanese planes. One Japanese aircraft was seen descending in flames past Fort Barrette and crashing into the sea near Barbers Point. After the assault, the site was built up to increase its defense capacity. One still-existing military bunker and its connecting roads – Guadalcanal, Roosevelt, Ranger, and Coral Sea – remain as a testament to our strong military heritage. The Honouliuli Internment Camp that resulted from the national tenor of fear during World War II was situated north of the H-1 freeway in Kunia. One of five such camps in Hawaii, its 160 acres, isolated in a deep gulch, was set up to hold up to three thousand internees. Although Japanese Americans comprised the largest group of detainees, Italians, Germans, and Koreans were also confined there. Mainland archeologist Jeff Burton, an expert on Japanese American internment, concluded that the Honouliuli camp may be

eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Hawaiian religious and cultural specialists have long held that the Ewa plain and coastline contain burial, religious sites, and remnants of structures of ancient Hawaiians. Hawaiians say that the area is the resting ground of seven alii including the last king of Maui and Oahu before Kamehameha the Great. Part of Fort Barrette Road is on an extinct dormant volcano shield known as Puu o Kapolei and is built on the ancient trail named in honor of Kualaka’i, the chief who brought ulu to the region. Kualaka’i was a leader whose many accomplishments benefitted the Hawaiian people who lived in the Ewa region. Hawaii’s grand role in the worldwide sugar industry literally has roots in Ewa’s fertile farmlands. The Ewa Sugar Plantation, Ewa Villages, and old Waipahu Sugar Mill are reminders of a golden age gone by. The colonial style Plantation Manager’s Mansion in Ewa was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The cultural richness and Asian-Pacific blending in our islands is directly the result of all of the laborers brought from overseas to work in

the fields and live in plantation housing. The last remaining segment of OR&L, the old train and railroad that carried these prized agricultural products to the harbor in Honolulu, is preserved in Ewa and is now on the National Historic Register. These and more areas from the Ewa coastline sweeping up to the Waianae range and Kunia are historical markers in Hawaii’s history, and should be preserved where possible. As needed development for our growing population continues in the region, the important history of our state should be remembered and honored for future generations. I am introducing a bill in this year’s Legislature to identify the Ewa Plain in West Oahu as a significant area in culture and history for the state of Hawaii. If the bill becomes law, this area would be known as the West Oahu Historical District. The state agency responsible for the preservation of historical sites would be permitted to work with interested stakeholders to promote this area for educational, tourism, and economic purposes while preserving its historic place and significance. I hope you will join me in this effort.

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COVER STORY

Hawaii’s Public Schools: Fixing a Broken System? By Clement Bautista

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hroughout 2010, the education of Hawaii’s youth has been a hot topic of discussion, debate and denunciation. Critics looking for blame pointed fingers at teachers, administrators, unions, former Gov. Linda Lingle, the Legislature, the federal government and sometimes even parents.

We were told we had substandard teaching, curriculum, support and standards. With all this blame thrown around, a wealth of purported solutions were followed—fire the teachers, fire the administrators, change the curriculum, combine schools, restructure schools, provide more money, reallocate money and so on. The “system was broken” and it had to be fixed. But, is the system really broken? And if it is, what “system” are we really talking about? Most teachers and administrators want to do good and, in fact, probably do good. The few teachers and administrators who might have questionable effec-

tiveness don’t make as big an impact on the total education of our students as we might think. If they did, our children probably lack other essential support. As 2011 begins and before we jump into more of a “blame game,” reviewing some of the recent research about Hawaii’s public education system might reorient how and at whom we need to point our fingers.

How Well Are We Doing? According to data published by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the primary U.S. Department of Education entity collecting and analyzing education data in the

U.S. and other nations, Hawaii’s public school students are neither the best nor the worst as measured by a set of 8th grade standardized testing. Table A shows the 2009 national average and results of selected states: The average score of Hawaii students was below the national average in all testing categories—but so were the scores of other major states. If all students have the same potential to do well, the major question that could be asked is: what makes students in different states produce different average scores? Examining the socioeconomic characteristics within schools can help illuminate some of these factors. Looking at the same states as in Table A, Table B shows the number of public school students in each state, the percentage of students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), the percentage of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch (FR-L), the per student dollar allocation ($), the percent of students who are identified as White (White), and the graduation rate (GR) of freshman students after four years. The NCES data show the number of students attending public schools in any state is highly variable and does not easily correlate with the variation of a state’s average test scores. Large num-

bers of students are in high as well as low scoring states. However, an inverse correlation exists with the percent of LEP and FR-L students and state average scores, i.e., the more LEP and FR-L students, the lower the scores. This correlation vaguely makes sense since LEP is the common measure of immigrant students while FR-L is a measure of poverty. Looking at state graduation rates (GR), Hawaii is actually doing better than the national average of 74.9 percent as well as two of the states listed with higher average test scores. Students with limited English proficiency and economic resources have always fallen behind in standardized testing. These correlations are not new but are often and easily forgotten when discussing school per-

formance and, by specious association, student performance. Addressing school performance should always take into account community levels of poverty and education, especially English proficiency, when considering “fixing the system.”

Does Money Matter? Clearly, the top scoring states in Table A spend more per student, even though their LEP and FR-L percentages are lower than other states. Comparing Hawaii to Arizona and Nevada is instructive. Arizona spends less per student than Hawaii, has similar LEP and FR-L percentages and a larger student population. Arizona has scores slightly better than Hawaii (although still below the national average) but (continued on page 5)

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COVER STORY (from page 4, HAWAII’S ...)

has a lower graduate rate than Hawaii. A mitigating factor for Arizona might be its higher White population which is correlated with all the higher scoring states. Nevada, which scores below Hawaii, also has a White and LEP population higher than Hawaii but spends less per student and has a dramatically lower graduate rate. Looking at Mississippi, it has a higher White population and a much lower LEP population than Hawaii. Its FR-L is very high and Mississippi has one of the lowest per student expenditure. Its graduation rate is low but not as low as Nevada. Money spent may not be the panacea, but it can help. A more reasonable question to ask might be money that awaits students before graduation in the form of jobs. It should also be noted that Hawaii is unique among states in that its publicly-funded per student allocation is precisely that— an equitable per student allocation. In other states, whether they spend more or less than Hawaii, funds are not distributed evenly throughout their student population. For example, in New Jersey, which records a per student figure more than twice as much as Mississippi’s, the state does not distribute funds evenly to each student. Some students receive more, some less depending upon where they live. Complaints about not enough money getting to the classrooms should framed by questions of equitable distribution.

College Education Across the U.S. One indicator of educational success is obtaining a college education. While this goal may be considered biased or elitist by some, a college education is often viewed as a requirement for more occupational opportunities, especially newly-developed areas. Considering Hawaii’s educational situation as presented above, what might be Hawaii’s college education attainment in comparison to other states? In 2010 the Lumina Foundation published a report, “A Stronger Nation Through Higher Education,” which answered this question. Based on 2008 Community Census data, the Lumina Foundation collected two- and four-year college attainment data predicated by the vision of a nationwide 60 percent college de-

gree attainment by 2025. No state currently shows this goal and each state has been increasing their college attainment at different rates. The Foundation projects some states will reach 60 percent, but most states, including Hawaii, will not reach 60 percent at their current rate of increase. Even at the current national rate of increase, the Foundation projects the 60 percent goal will not be reached nationally by 2025. What is further illuminating in the Lumina Foundation’s report is its demographic data on college attainment within each state – in particular, its “racial and ethnic group” breakdown. Table C shows this data for the states previously listed. In Table C, the “Asian” category combines Asian (including Filipinos) and Pacific Islanders into a single group. While this practice presents some problems, it is less important for the present analysis since it is consistently applied across states, most of which have relatively small Asian populations. What is first observed in Table C is that Hawaii’s overall college attainment is just a notch above the national average but noticeably above several states which show higher standardized test scores. This discrepancy— higher college degree attainment among adults accompanied by lower standardized scores among students—points to a chasm within Hawaii’s education expanse. Further questions arise when considering the “racial and ethnic group” breakdowns. Among these selected states, Hawaii shows the highest White college attainment and the lowest Asian college attainment. Hawaii’s Black and Hispanic college attainment is above the national average but neither highest nor lowest among these selected states. Compared to all 50 states, Hawaii’s Whites show the second highest college attainment in the nation (Colorado = 51.5 percent) and the third lowest Asian college attainment (Arkansas = 42.4 percent, Alaska = 32.3 percent). For a state with the highest percent of Asian population, this would merely be disconcerting, however, when considering that Arkansas and Alaska both have low White college attainment figures, Hawaii’s racial disparity points to deeper, more pervasive structural problems.

Unless Hawaii’s White students are attaining college degrees in greater numbers than all other Hawaii groups and, moreover, in greater numbers than other Whites in all other states except for Colorado, it is probable that Hawaii’s high White college attainment is a result of in-migration. If any “brain drain” exists in Hawaii, its effects are minimized by a highly educated group coming into Hawaii. So where does that leave the rest of us “locals” in Hawaii who did not go down the “drain” like our more brainy peers?

College and Career Readiness How well are Hawaii students, in particular Filipinos, being prepared for college? Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education, a statewide partnership led by the Good Beginnings Alliance, the Hawaii State Department of Education and the University of Hawaii System, is committed to strengthening the education pipeline from early childhood through higher education. P-20’s mission is to improve Hawaii’s educational outcomes in an increasingly global economy and has set a goal of 55 percent (less than Lumina Foundation’s goal of 60 percent) of Hawaii’s working age adults to have a two- or four-year college degree

by the year 2025. The College and Career Readiness Indicators (CCRI) Report has been developed through Hawaii P-20 in partnership with the Hawaii Department of Education (DOE) and the University of Hawaii. Table D uses data from the P-20 report

and the DOE School Status and Improvement Reports to show college readiness and socioeconomic factors of selected schools with large proportions or numbers of Filipino high school graduates. Table D column definitions (continued on page 6)

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COVER STORY (cont.) (from page 5, HAWAII’S ...)

are the following: percent of Filipinos in the school (FIL), percent of graduating class enrolling in college (College), percent of UH enrollees who placed into college-level English (UH-E), percent of UH enrollees who placed into college-level math (UH-M), percent of school receiving free/reduced lunch (FR-L) and percent of school with limited English proficiency (LEP). Data is represented at school-level so the actual number of Filipino students in the last five columns is unknown. Pahoa and Nanakuli high schools were not included in the present analysis because of inconsistent CCRI data. Hawaii Pacific University did not provide data for the report. The data in Table D shows an inverse relation between a school’s Filipino representation and its graduates’ college enrollment. In other words, schools with large proportions of Filipino students (particularly, Waipahu, Farrington, Maui and Campbell) show some of the lowest college enrollment figures of Hawaii’s high schools. It should be noted that all four of these schools also have high free/reduced lunch numbers and three of four of them have high LEP figures. Among these schools, it seems LEP compounds any other existing barriers preventing college enrollment. On the other hand, McKinley High School also has very high FRL and LEP numbers

but very high college enrollment and UH-M numbers. While McKinley’s Filipino enrollment is below the state average, its Chinese enrollment is the state’s highest (23.1 percent). Regarding preparation for UH college-level English and math, as expected, schools with high Filipino representation, high poverty and high immigrant populations generally score below average on UH preparedness. Although UH math preparedness seems does not seem to be related to high or medium levels of Filipino representation, UH English preparedness is related to LEP levels. Notable exceptions are Campbell (low LEP, low UH-E) and McKinley (high LEP, average UH-E). Most educational studies do not directly name causes for the findings of their data. As expected, they are more interested in finding new and improved ways to modify the situation. But modifying the situation is different from fixing the system. Most of our solutions, like the many listed in the beginning of this article, only modify the situation. In fact, they are couched in very business-like terms such as “fire this…, fire that…, change this…, change that…, etc.” Adrialina Guerero, project director of GEARUP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) at Farrington High School says: “Coming into GEARUP, you’re tasked with preparing students for college, but it becomes apparent that that’s the easy part.

The challenge is not preparing them [for college] but rather thinking about college. How do you prepare students for college when it’s not even on their radar? They don’t even see the importance of college.” In spite of the purported advantages of a college education, many of our students sell themselves short because of their prior educational and social experiences. According to Guerero, students often respond to GEARUP’s activities with a profound fatalism: “They measure their worth according to how they are performing in school. They say they are not good at this or that, therefore I am dumb, therefore I am not going to college…. They are going to the military or work.” Schools cannot be the source of this indoctrination, even though they are reflections of and one of our primary agents for conveying this message. The source is much larger than our school system; it encompasses our families, our economy and our history. The source is our society. Hawaii, the U.S. and many other nations have always perpetuated a segmented (minimally two-tiered) education system in which college education—and the various hierarchies within and among them—helps to sort and classify the population. The end product is, of course, preparation and placement in an economic system that may or may not be advantageous for all. Whether we like to admit it or not, we educate differentially for different roles in our society. Everyone does it, it’s just that we, in the U.S., would rather believe it’s just not so.

A Hidden (Positive) Note: UH Enrollment The latest 2010 fall enrollment figures for the University of Hawaii show Filipinos comprise 12.4 percent (7,443) of the total UH system enrollment (two- and four-year campuses). This percentage of the total UH enrollment has been consistent over the decades, where the UH Filipino student enrollment was 12.6 percent (7,118) back in 1990 and showed a slight bump to 13.7 percent (5,750) in 2000. These numbers depend on students providing their own ethnicity information which, over the years, has been given under changing circumstances. As an indication of this changing self-identification, the “State of Hawaii 2009 Data Book” shows the Filipino population to be 15.2 percent (1990), 14.1 percent (2000) and 11.8 percent (2008). This diminishing proportion may have less to do with actual numbers and more to do with changing identities. More Filipinos often opt to be self-identifying as “mixed” or some other ethnicity depending on perceived benefits (e.g., qualifying for Hawaiian status). In this context of diminishing Filipino identification in society, the stable UH enrollment might actually point to an increase in Filipino representation. The System We Make is the System We Deserve While there is always room for improvement, Hawaii’s public school system is not doing as bad nationally as many detractors seem to make it. More problematic is that we have a system that sorts students not so much according to their abilities but, in the end, according to society’s

needs and priorities. This system of creating and assigning needs and priorities—of which our education system in only a part—is the system that needs fixing. These needs and priorities are primarily economic and in our economy, as we’ve seen in recent years, some people benefit even while many others suffer. As a result, real solutions are not going to be based on economic criteria, rhetoric or thinking. If the demand for highly-educated students had to be met by our public schools, more investment from all sectors of society would take place. Instead, much of the demand for highly skilled/educated workers is being met by importing from outside Hawaii. As noted in the Lumina Foundation report, the only way Hawaii will meet any 2025 goals for college attainment is to promote college enrollment and graduation among its “students of color” which, in Hawaii, are the largest group of students— Filipinos and Hawaiians. References: Hawaii P-20. College and Career Ind i c a t o r s R e p o r t . http://www.p20hawaii.org/node/ 115. Lumina Foundation. A Stronger Nation Through Higher Education. September 2010. http://www.luminafoundation.org/publications/A_ stronger_nation.pdf. State of Hawaii, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Data Book 2009. http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/economic/databook/db2009/. State of Hawaii, Department of Education. Accountability Resource Center of Hawaii. School Status and Improvement Reports, 2010. http://arch.k12.hi.us/school/ssir/s sir.html. U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. State Education Data Profiles. http://nces.ed.gov/programs/stateprofiles/.

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

Low Interest Home Repair Loans Available

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wners of homes damaged by recent rain storms, or otherwise needing repairs, may be eligible for low-interest loans of up to $75,000 from the City & County of Honolulu. Qualified owner-occupants may receive loans for such work as reroofing, repainting, electrical and plumbing repairs, termite damage repairs and accessibility improvements. The loans are available to home-

owners who do not exceed gross annual income limits that range from $55,650 for a onemember household to $104,900 for an eight-member household. Other restrictions apply.

Loan interest rates range from 0 to 2 percent. Monthly loan payments are based on a 15-year maturity for loans under $60,000 and 20-year maturity for loans $60,000 and over. Loans will be secured by a mortgage on the property. The City is an equal opportunity lender. For more details or to obtain a loan application, go to www.honolulu.gov/dcs/housingloans.htm or call the City’s Honolulu Rehabilitation Loan Program at 768-7076.

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IMMIGRATION GUIDE

Filipina Lawyer Representing Herself Deported By Atty. Emmanuel Samonte Tipon lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client.” Old legal proverb. “The treatment of the pro se defendant, will haunt the trial of every defendant who elects to exercise his right to self-representation. If there is any truth to the old proverb that ‘one who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client,’ the court by its opinion today now bestows a constitutional right on one to make a fool of himself.” – Justice Blackmun, dissenting in Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806 (1975), where the U.S. Supreme Court held that a criminal defendant has a constitutional right of self-representation and may defend himself without counsel when he voluntarily and intelligently elects to do so.

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Laura, a Filipina lawyer, was admitted to the U.S. “in the quaintly optimistic words of the statute, as a nonimmigrant visi-

tor for pleasure.” When she failed to depart after her authorized stay expired, deportation proceedings were commenced against her. She requested adjustment of status (AOS) to permanent resident under INA § 245(a) and withholding of deportation under § 243(h) alleging she would be physically persecuted if deported to the Philippines. INS denied AOS because she was statutorily ineligible, since no immigrant visa was immediately available. INS denied withholding because she failed to establish that the 86 criminal charges pending against her in the Philippines “constituted political persecution” or that the Philippines denied her constitutional safeguards. The criminal charges involved alleged conspiracies to falsify official or public documents arising from her representation of Chinese applicants for naturalization while she was an attorney in the Philippines. INS denied voluntary departure (VD), but the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) gave her VD. The woman delayed departure for about 5 years and was

given a final extension of VD. After the deadline passed, she filed a motion to reopen deportation proceedings to re-apply for AOS or withholding of deportation, claiming 83 of the 86 charges against her alleged conspirators in the Philippines had been dismissed. The BIA denied the motion, saying there was still no visa available to her and the dismissal of the charges weakened her claim of persecution. She filed another motion to reopen asking for suspension of deportation, claiming she had 7 years of physical presence in the U.S. and was of “good moral character”. BIA denied the motion, finding she was not of “good moral character” because she had pleaded guilty to three indictments for petty larceny by stealing funds for welfare recipients while employed as a caseworker, and had failed to take advantage of the voluntary departure privilege. The Court of Appeals denied review, saying the BIA did not abuse its discretion, and rejected her claim that she was unconstitutionally denied her right to assigned counsel, finding she was represented by counsel at the outset of the deportation hearings until she informed INS “I

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

Gov. Neil Abercrombie

Abercrombie Accepting Applications for BOE

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ov. Neil Abercrombie is accepting applications to fill a seat on the state Board of Education (BOE) formerly occupied by Lei Ahu Isa. Applicants are encouraged to apply via the governor’s website, http://hawaii.gov/gov. “We want to maximize outreach to the people of Hawaii to get the most qualified applicants and give them the opportunity to serve and advance our public ed-

ucation system,” Abercrombie says. “We need board members who will be independent, bring diverse perspectives and stand up for what is right for our children. They need to work as a team and put the interests of the children first to restore trust of parents, policymakers, educators and the public. This will be Abercrombie’s first appointment to the BOE. In November 2010, voters ap-

proved a constitutional amendment giving the governor the authority to appoint members of the BOE. The Legislature is discussing legislation specifying the appointment process. BOE members oversee the Department of Education (DOE), one of the state’s largest employers, with more workers than the state’s five largest private sector employers combined. Abercrombie is looking for talented and dedicated leaders who care about public education and the future of Hawaii. He will appoint individuals with skills, talent and experience related to governing an organization of DOE’s size and complexity including those who have led large or complex businesses, public agencies or non-profit organizations. An Oahu at-large member elected in 2004, Isa resigned on January 25, 2011. According to state law, the governor appoints a replacement when there is a vacancy on the BOE.

decided to represent myself in this proceeding.” Carbonell v. INS, 460 F.2d 240. Comment: The decision did not state whether the Filipina was licensed in the U.S. An excellent lawyer might have saved her – by (1) finding an immigrant visa that was immediately available for her, (2) seeking post-conviction relief from her petty larceny convictions, and (3) invoking the petty offense exception to such convictions. Caution: The lawyer may not necessarily be the same as the attractive woman in Google or Facebook. .

(ATTY. TIPON has a Master of Laws degree from Yale Law School and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the Philippines. He practices in Hawaii, specializing in immigration law and criminal defense. Tel. (808) 2252645. E-Mail: filamlaw@yahoo.com. Website: www.ImmigrationServicesUSA.com. He is from Laoag City and Magsingal, Ilocos Sur. He served as an Immigration Officer. He is co-author of “Immigration Law Service, 1st ed.” an 8-volume practice guide for immigration officers and lawyers. Listen to the most funny, witty, and useful radio program in Hawaii on KNDI at 1270, AM dial every Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. and on KHBC at 1060, AM dial every Thursday at 8 p.m. This article is a general overview of the subject matter discussed and is not intended as legal advice. No warranty is made by the writer or publisher as to its completeness or correctness at the time of publication.)

8 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 5, 2011

NEWS FEATURE

Top Filipino Cop Joins East-West Center Leadership Program By Gregory Bren Garcia or many years, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has suffered a negative image because of the transgressions of a number of erring cops within its ranks. More often than not, the honorable deeds of honest and principled policemen who abide by their sworn pledge to serve and protect the Filipino people go unrecognized. However, more of these policemen and women, along with others serving in the government, are now being recognized by various private and civic organizations for their exceptional contributions to the nation. One such multi-awarded civil servant is Police Supt. Eric Escosio Noble. During his fivemonth stint as PNP’s Deputy Chief of the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (PHAU) at the Camp Crame national headquarters in early 2008, he implemented a system that uncovered

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the existence of 146 so-called “ghost policemen” within the 127,000 strong police force. Ghost employees draw salaries and benefits from the government despite being non-existent. Because of Noble’s discovery, the PNP saved at least Php3 million (US$ 68,000) a month or Php36 million (US$ 862,000) a year in payroll expenses. Because of this accomplishment, Noble was recognized as one of the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS) on July 7, 2009—an award sponsored by the Metrobank Foundation, PSBank and the Rotary Club of New Manila East. Two months later on September 7, 2009, he was also conferred the prestigious Presidential Lingkod Bayan (Public Service) Award at Malacañang Palace. The award, first given by President Cory Aquino in 1992, is presented every year to individuals whose contributions, performance and heroism had a nationwide impact, and whose accomplishments serve as inspiration to other public ser-

Eric Escosio Noble poses for a photo with HPD police chief Louis Kealoha

vants to do better in their respective professions. In August 2010, Noble travelled to Hawaii as a fellow of the Asia Pacific Leadership Program of the East-West Center, expecting to further hone his leadership skills. The APLP is the center of excellence for leadership education in the Asia-Pacific region and is designed to “empower future leaders with the knowledge, skills, experiences and supportive community needed to successfully navigate personal and regional change in the 21st century.”

Public Service as a Vocation Noble, who now still serves at the PNP personnel directorate,

says that being a policeman wasn’t really his childhood dream. He can still remember telling people while in elementary school that he wanted to be a lawyer. But somewhere along the way, the police bug bit him. “It was in 1988 when I got accepted as cadet of the Philippine Military Academy. I eventually graduated in 1992 and joined the Philippine National Police with the rank of Inspector,” he says. He was first assigned as a part of the law enforcement and peacekeeping force in the province of Lanao del Norte in Mindanao, where he stayed for almost two years. Initially designated as the Executive Officer of

then PNP 444th Mobile Force Company based in Riverside, Kolambugan town, he later also became the Chief of Intelligence and Investigation of the Provincial Police Office and the Chief of Police of Maigo and Munai towns, respectively. Noble was also awarded the Medalya ng Kadakilaan (Medal of Heroism) for taking part in a police operation that led to the surrender of 28 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels. It was in Lanao del Norte where Noble experienced firsthand the terrible consequences of conflict and corruption. “There, I saw the poor living conditions of the people. The place is constantly being challenged by conflict,” he says. There are many policemen like Noble who risk their lives working in dangerous places like conflict-stricken areas in Mindanao. Others fight off criminal elements in urban areas, performing their duties unquestioningly and honestly even though their compensation is often not enough. So it is particularly upsetting for public servants like (continued on page 12)

FEBRUARY 5, 2011 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE 9

PHILIPPINE NEWS

'P270-M AFP Fund Missing' by Jess Diaz Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011

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ANILA, Philippines Some P270 million of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) funds representing reimbursements from the United Nations are missing, a former government auditor told the House justice committee yesterday. Heidi Mendoza, who headed a team that conducted a financial audit of the AFP in 2004, said she was informed that in February 2001, a military officer “personally picked up” a $5-million check (P220 million based on the current exchange rate) from the UN headquarters in New York City. Mendoza said the check was “reimbursement for equipment” used by Filipino troops sent abroad for UN peacekeeping missions. “The check never entered the books of accounts of the AFP,” she said. Meanwhile, former military budget officer and retired lieutenant colonel George Rabusa said former AFP chief Gen. Diomedio Villanueva and other generals got kickbacks from the

$2-million equipment deal with an Israeli supplier of unmanned aircraft, apart from the P160million pabaon he allegedly received. Mendoza named neither her informant nor the officer who supposedly picked up the check. The financial audit was requested by then Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo in connection with the plunder case he filed against former AFP comptroller Carlos Garcia. Mendoza testified against Garcia in the plunder hearings in the Sandiganbayan. She narrated before the justice committee that in the course of their “laborious” examination of AFP documents, her team stumbled upon another UN reimbursement check in the amount of P200 million signed by Garcia. She said only P150 million of the P200 million was deposited in the trust account of the AFP in the Land Bank branch in Alfaro, Makati City. She said the remaining P50 million was not deposited in the account and could not be traced. She said she did not know how the P50 million was de-

ducted from the P200 million check. Commenting on Mendoza’s testimony, Marcelo said her statement about the missing $5million reimbursement was a new revelation and was not considered in the plunder case against Garcia. He said the P200 million check and the P50 million that could not be traced were part of the audit report that was presented to the Sandiganbayan. He said the Land Bank officer who knew about the transaction has fled to Las Vegas, Nevada. Mendoza lamented that despite the lofty objective of her task in the AFP and the risk it posed to her and her family, her superiors, including then Commission on Audit chairman Guillermo Carague, and the office of the executive secretary in Malacañang discouraged her from pursuing it. However, she said she decided to finish the job “for the benefit of the ordinary soldiers and our people.” Former executive secretary Eduardo Ermita, who was at the hearing, denied telling Mendoza

Heidi Mendoza

to go slow in auditing the AFP.

Firm but open to review During the hearing, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez maintained that the evidence against Garcia was weak and could lead to his acquittal, prompting her and her prosecutors to agree to a plea bargain with the accused. She said under the agreement, the former AFP comptroller would return P135 million of the P303 million he is accused of plundering in exchange for the withdrawal of the plunder charge against him. She promised to evaluate Mendoza’s testimony and the statements of retired AFP budget officer George Rabusa and to review the Garcia case if necessary. She told the committee she has formed a special panel to

look into the allegations of Rabusa and Mendoza and see if they can be linked to Garcia’s transactions. “What some are doing is to muddle the issue. There’s was no fixing, no money involved here (plea bargain). I swear to God, if there’s anyone who profited from this, let this person be struck dead by lightning,” an emotional Gutierrez told the panel in Filipino. “We want the public to know that this is very clean and we want to get the most out of the accused and now we are being subjected to trial by publicity through misrepresentation and false accusations,” she said. She said Marcelo, her predecessor, and former special prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio misled President Aquino in opposing the plea bargain agreement by claiming the Sandiganbayan had denied the defense lawyers’ filing of a demurrer to evidence, which basically means they would not contest the prosecution’s evidence against Garcia because it is weak. She insisted the plunder case filed against the retired general in 2004 was weak and relied only on the letter of his wife, Clarita, regarding his transactions as comptroller. (www.philstar.com)

10 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 5, 2011

PHILIPPINE NEWS

Phl Seeks Easing of Japan Nurse Hiring Requirements by Elisa Osorio Monday, January 24, 2011

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ANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will be asking for the relaxation of some of the entry requirements of Filipino nurses to Japan during the renegotiation of the JapanPhilippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) scheduled this year. Under the current JPEPA rules, only one Filipino nurse was able to go to Japan. “Something has to be done about this. Qualifications must be relaxed,” a ranking government official said in an interview. Other issues that may be raised are the reduction on sugar tariff and the increased access of the country’s agricultural products such as chicken to Tokyo. The official said the mandated renegotiations of the JPEPA have not yet started. Under the JPEPA, there must be a renegotiation five years after the agreement was signed. However, in spite of the pressure to renegotiate, the official said it may be beneficial for the country to wait because there are also issues that the Philippine government is avoiding. For instance, the official said that the Japanese would like to bring down the tariff of 3,000 cc vehicles and below. The official said that although the JPEPA is clear that the two governments

must discuss the tariff on 3,000 cc vehicles, the agreement does not specifically say when the negotiations should be. “There is no deadline for this (negotiations on 3,000 cc vehicles),” the official said. “The Philippines is avoiding this because we do not want to lower the tariff because it will be bad for our local manufacturers,” the official said. Currently, the vehicles produced here are 3,000 cc and below. Once the tariff is lowered or even removed, imported counterparts may be cheaper thus killing the local auto manufacturing industry. “We cannot afford to allow all small cars to enter without tariff,” the official said. In an earlier interview, Assistant Trade Secretary and Director of the Bureau of International Trade Relation Ramon Vicente Kabigting said the Philippines is asking for some help from the Asian Development Bank to come up with a study on JPEPA so that the government could be guided during the review. Kabigting explained that the five-year prescriptive review period started in September 2006 when then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and then Japan Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi signed in Helsinki, Finland the agreement and not in December 2008 when JPEPA became effective following the ratification of the Philippine Senate. (www.philstar.com)

FEBRUARY 5, 2011 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE 11

PHILIPPINE NEWS

Rabusa: P164 M withdrawn for ex-AFP chief Villanueva by Christina Mendez Tuesday, February 1, 2011

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ANILA, Philippines Angelo Reyes was not ganid or greedy;

he shared. This is the latest allegation of retired Lt. Col. George Rabusa, who claimed Reyes gave him $20,000 out of about $1 million given as pabaon or sendoff when Reyes retired as Armed Forces chief. Rabusa, the former military budget officer who spilled the beans on a “tradition” in the Armed Forces of gifting its chiefs with huge sums of money, also said he withdrew P164 million from a private bank supposedly for former chief of staff Diomedio Villanueva. Rabusa told The STAR yesterday he withdrew the amount in tranches from a Security Bank branch upon instructions from then military comptroller Maj. Gen. Carlos Garcia. Rabusa said Garcia instructed him to withdraw the money in batches – P10 million at each time – to avoid detection by the Anti-Money Laundering Council. “He (Garcia) told me it was General Villanueva,” Rabusa said. He said that when he approached Villanueva last year to remind him of the amount and seek financial help, the general appeared dumbfounded. Rabusa said he believed Garcia kept the money. He also said then defense secretary Angelo Reyes got 100 bundles containing $100,000 each for his P50 million pabaon (sendoff money). Rabusa said he met with Reyes at his official quarters called the “White House” at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City just after Reyes’ retirement in March 2001. He admitted that Reyes even

handed him and then comptroller Gen. Jacinto Ligot two envelopes each containing what he described as balato (goodwill money) for delivering the P50 million converted into $100 bills. He said they placed the money inside a Rustan’s plastic bag. “General Ligot also got his envelope, but it was thicker than mine. My estimate was that it was about $50,000 to $100,000,” Rabusa said. Rabusa earlier revealed to Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada that Reyes had talked about his future after his retirement as AFP chief. “It was then the two (Rabusa and Ligot) answered that he would be the next defense chief, which eventually happened,” Estrada said.

New witness Meanwhile, Estrada said he would ask the Blue Ribbon committee to invite in the next hearing a former military officer assigned as assistant to Rabusa. “He can corroborate Rabusa’s statements since he was his assistant at the budget division,” Estrada said. Rabusa confirmed that one Col. Antonio Ramon Lim was his former assistant at the budget division. “I hope he comes out and corroborates me,” Rabusa said. “He was my workhorse because I had so many things to do then.” Rabusa admitted that he burned huge volumes of documents shortly after Reyes’ retirement because they wanted to cover Reyes’ back when he was then eyeing the position of defense secretary. “I recommended to Gen. Garcia and Gen. Ligot na sunugin (documents), because we have to protect his back since he was going to be the Secretary of National Defense,” Rabusa said. “It’s good I was able to keep

Whistle-blower retired Lt. Col. George Rabusa explaining the “pasalubong” and “pabaon” system to chief of staffs in the Armed Forces of the Philippines during a Senate investigation.

some other documents, which are enough to prove my allegations (against Reyes, and the others),” said Rabusa. He declined to comment further.

Jetsetting wives Rabusa also said the wives of Reyes and Ligot traveled in style, using their own pabaon from the military of not less than P20,000 for local trips and $10,000 for trips abroad. Rabusa said he was assigned by Ligot to make sure that all the needs of Reyes’ wife, Teresita, were taken care of. Estrada said he had a list of the two wives’ travels together since 1996 until the time when Reyes became Armed Forces chief. “Everytime they travel, Rabusa gives them allowances. I think Col. Rabusa will expose this during the next hearing. I do not want to preempt his exposé,” Estrada said. Estrada said Rabusa’s statements would be corroborated by immigration records, which he would present on Thursday’s hearing at the Senate. It was Estrada who brought Rabusa as a witness during last Thursday’s hearing of the Blue Ribbon committee on the circumstances behind the plea bargaining agreement between Garcia and the special prosecutors. Interviewed at ANC, Rabusa said they only gave Mrs. Reyes allowances everytime she traveled.

“We don’t give her regularly or monthly,” he said. Rabusa said he usually gave the allowances personally to Mrs. Reyes or through a trusted aide. He said Mrs. Reyes would call to ask him not to tell her husband that she had been given

large amount as this would anger him. He said he would assure her that her husband would be told that she had only received P20,000 for local trip and no more than $2,000 for foreign travel. Rabusa said Reyes’s children also benefited from military funds for “nights out” that he himself arranged. “There were some activities pero wag na natin pag-usapan yan kasi (but let’s not talk about it) it’s too personal. Yung mga special ops, mga kalokohan. Yung mga boys’ night out, ako nag-a-arrange. Kasama din ako. At that time, it was P8,000 per person,” he said. (www.philstar.com)

12 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 5, 2011

FAMILY CORNER

Getting to Know You By Grace Fong, Ed.D. and Sylvia Yuen, Ph.D. f you watch a group of children at play, you will notice how different they are—not just in physical appearance, but in the way they play and interact with others. One child rushes from the swings to the sand box to a running game with other children within a few minutes time. Another child digs in the sandbox for a very long time and never looks up or says a word. Still another child stands back and watches for a while then runs to play with a group of children. Yet another child never leaves his parent’s side. Some of these differences may be due to the developmental age of the child. Others may be due to temperament—a blend of behavior traits that are unique to each person and that are part of one's personality. Some traits are present at birth; most emerge

by two or three months of age and remain the same as the child grows older. Three traits that make up a child's temperament are activity level, adaptability, and regularity. • Activity level. Some children are very active and don’t like to sit for long periods of time. Other children prefer quiet activities like reading or coloring instead of climbing and running. Most children like both active play and quiet play. • Adaptability. Some children are eager to try new things like taste a new food or meet a new person. Others may be hestitant to try new things or refuse to try them at all. The majority of children are in-between. • Regularity. Some children sleep though the night, take regular naps, eat about the same amount of food daily,

(from page 8, TOP FILIPINO COP ...)

pulis (policemen who are lazy, abusive, disrespectful and insubordinate). The training was part of his stint as a trainer, lecturer and curriculum developer at the PNP Values and Leadership Training School in Subic. Before being assigned at the PNP personnel directorate in February 2008, Noble first served for almost two years at the United Nations Mission in Haiti as a finance personnel officer. Drawing from his experience at the UN, he then instituted policy changes in the PNP PHAU’s personnel management system, which led to the discovery of the ghost policemen. As Chief of Police of Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan from July 2008 to September 2009, he initiated endeavors such as the Feed and Read Program under the Pulis Ko, Titser Ko (My Policeman, My Teacher) campaign, which eventually spawned similar projects like the Heritage Tours, a youth leadership program aimed at instilling the values of leadership and heroism among the youth to help keep them away from vices. In addition, he has also received a Community Leadership Award for his programs

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and have a bowel movement at almost the same time each day. Other children wake up several times during the night and may not nap. They may eat a lot at lunch one day and very little the next. Their bowel movements are at different times each day. Most children’s daily patterns fall somewhere between . Temperament influences how children interact with their environment and how they approach learning. It also influences the way adults respond to children, creating an effect, sometimes referred to as the “goodness of fit” between children and their parents or caregivers. When your child’s temperament is similar to yours and her behavior and traits are consistent with you want or expect of her, there’s more likely to be a “good fit” between the two of you. In contrast, when your child’s temperament is different from yours, it can sometimes be challenging because the two of you see and approach experiences in different ways. Whether there’s a good fit or not

is no one's fault—not your child's and not yours. Trying to change her temperament (who she is) will only result in frustration for everyone. Getting upset with yourself or your child doesn't help. Neither does scolding. However, patience and understanding may be helpful. One of your most interesting tasks as a parent is to watch your child's personality develop and learn more about her unique temperament. How does she deal with the world? Does she want everything "right now" or is she willing to wait? What is her reaction to new or unfamiliar situations? Is she "into everything" or does she play quietly and happily by herself? As you discover who she is, you can figure out what works best in guiding her in most situations, making life easier and more enjoyable for both of you. For example, if your young child is hesitant to go to another person, you might ease her anxiety by talking to her about who the person is and giving her time to get acquainted, instead of forcing her into an uncomfortable situation. If she is reluctant to try a

new food, rather than making a big deal about it, you could routinely offer it to everyone in the family, including her, and after a few times, she will probably eat it. If your child has irregular bowel movements and is learning to go to the toilet by herself, know that it may take her longer to master this skill compared to a child with regular bowel movements. Being patient and providing encouragement rather than showing frustration or anger can go a long way in helping her in this learning process. Remember the children at the park? One person observing them might say the active child is curious, friendly, and full of life. Another might say she is out of control and hard to handle. The child who stays in the sandbox could be described as persistent and quiet or as unfriendly and uninteresting. There are many ways to look at and react to the same behavior. Whatever traits your child may have, remember they are normal for your child. Your child’s temperament (and yours) will affect the way you and she react to each other. As you get to know her and understand her temperament, you can enjoy her for who she is.

NEWS FEATURE (cont.) Noble to hear about the wrongdoings of colleagues who go astray. “Personally, it is very disturbing to hear the negative stories that tarnish the image of the PNP. The PNP is a young organization with much potential. It was formally organized in 1991 with the passage of Republic Act No. 6975. I witnessed how it evolved from the Philippine Constabulary and the Integrated National Police of the martial law years. Comparing now from the previous years, the PNP is evolving slowly into a professional organization. By being affiliated with officers who share the same vision of working in a world-class police organization, my ideals were preserved and nurtured,” he says.

Helping Transform PNP For many years now, Noble has been doing his share in the evolution of PNP. In August 2005, he was awarded the Medalya ng Kasanayan (Medal of Efficiency) after helping train more than 1,000 cops who were identified as tamad, abusado, bastos at ayaw padisplinang

mobilizing his community to cooperate and volunteer during disaster and relief efforts. He is also credited for the arrest and prosecution of notorious gun-for-hires and illegal drug offenders, as well as for opening the PNP’s first municipality-based Service Store System, whose purpose is to provide common household merchandise to PNP personnel at affordable and cooperative prices. Noble is hoping that all the recognitions he is getting will help Filipinos “see the light”— that there are still many policemen and public servants who only have the good of the country in mind. “The COPS award was given by people coming from the private sector, and getting recognized by them is very heart-warming. The Lingkod Bayan Award, on the other hand, is the highest one that can be given by the government to pubic servants. I cannot fathom the depth of joy that was visible in the eyes of my mother, who went with me when I was in Malacañang Palace. Those awards gave me better opportunities. I know I got accepted as

fellow of the East West Center because of the recognition,” he says. The East West Center’s Asia Pacific Leadership Program is a prestigious program whose vision is “to create a network of action, focused on building a peaceful, prosperous and just Asia Pacific Community.” Previous APLP participants originated from 48 different countries and have come from various backgrounds including politics, government, civil society, medicine, religious orders, science, business, development, art, finance and the academe. Graduates of the APLP are expected to understand key trends that will affect the Asia-Pacific region in the future. Participants are trained to understand the kind of leadership that these trends require and how they, as leaders of their own communities and as individuals, fit within these changing milieus. Noble arrived in Hawaii last August 2010 and participated in events like the FilipinoAmerican History Month in October and the 2010 Asia Pacific Homeland Security Summit in November. He returned to the Philippines in December

and is now spending the second semester of the program working for the PNP personnel directorate again. He will return to Hawaii in May 2011 for the APLP graduation. With his training, Noble believes he will be able to further transform his organization. He says one only needs to have faith in both God and country in order for change to occur in the Philippines. “I hope that in the future the police force will help pave the way to a transformed nation. Being focused and having an orientation towards excellence will definitely help us find our way, just like having a candle in the dark,” he says. Noble says there are many of his colleagues who share a similar vision. “I know officers with the same outlook and hope, who dream of a better Philippines. José Rizal believed that a life not dedicated to a great ideal is a useless life, like a stone wasted in the field for not being part of an edifice. In 15 years, I will retire as police officer. Whatever happens, I want my time in the PNP to not go to waste,” he says.

FEBRUARY 5, 2011 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE 13

LEGAL NOTES

Number of Naturalized Citizens Keeps Growing By Reuben S. Seguritan he USCIS has released the latest figures on naturalized citizens. The number of naturalized U.S. citizens grew by approximately 676,000 during fiscal year (FY) 2010. In the past decade, a total of 6.6 million became naturalized citizens. Each year, there are approximately 680,000 new citizens naturalized in ceremonies in the U.S. and other parts of the world. In FY 2009, the Philippines was the third top country of origin for naturalization, with Mexico, India, China and Vietnam rounding the top five. Seventy-four (74%) percent of all persons naturalizing in FY 2009 resided in the following ten

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states: California, New York, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, Virginia, Massachusetts, Washington, and Maryland. Naturalization is the process of becoming a United States citizen. It is often a milestone in an immigrant’s life. A naturalized U.S. citizen may vote in U.S. elections, get a position in federal government, participate in federal programs, obtain a U.S. passport, and bring family members to immigrate into the United States. To be eligible for naturalization, one must fulfill the eligibility requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Generally, the applicant must be at least 18 years old, be a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), maintain continuous residence in the United States for 5 years, and be physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months before filing the naturalization application

(Form N-400). Trips of one year or longer break the continuous residence period and the applicant must complete a new period of residence after coming back to the U.S. On the other hand, trips with a duration of more than 6 months to less than one year are presumed to break the continuity of residence, but this presumption can be rebutted with evidence that the applicant did not abandon permanent residence in the U.S. This evidence may include the filing of U.S. tax returns, presence of family ties in the U.S., and maintaining a home in the U.S. The applicant must also present proof of residence for at least three months in the state where the application for naturalization is filed. There is also a requirement that the applicant establish good moral character. This is “measured by the standard of the community” and evaluations are

made on a case-by-case basis. Certain activities may disqualify a person under this requirement, such as crimes of moral turpitude (i.e., gambling, habitual drunkenness, prostitution), violations of drug laws, willful failure to support dependents, and crimes involving fraud, harm to persons or damage to property. Crimes involving murder or other “aggravated felonies” present a bar to naturalization. After the application is filed, the applicant will be scheduled for an interview by a USCIS officer and take a citizenship test, which will test his or her knowledge of the English language and U.S. government and history. If the application is approved, the applicant will be asked to attend a ceremony and take the Oath of Allegiance. The INA has special provisions for spouses of U.S. citizens and members of the military, as well as children under the age of 18. Forinstance, qualified

spouses of U.S. citizens may apply for citizenship 3 years after becoming lawful permanent residents and need to be physically present in the U.S. for only 18 months prior to filing the application. Spouses of U.S. citizens stationed abroad may not be required to meet any particular residence or physical requirement. Children residing abroad who are temporarily present in the U.S. after a lawful admission may apply for naturalization while under 18 years of age if they have at least one U.S. citizen parent who meets certain physical presence requirements in the U.S. On the other hand, children below 18 years old who are in lawful permanent resident status, residing in the U.S., and in the custody of a U.S. citizen parent, may automatically acquire U.S. citizenship. 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

PHILIPPINE NEWS SPORTS

Pacquiao-Mosley Ringside Tickets Fetch P.3M Each by Abac Cordero Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2010

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ANILA, Philippines They’re buying and selling tickets like it’s Pacquiao’s farewell

Manny fight. “Incredible. Simply incredible,” said Top Rank chief and promotional guru Bob Arum yesterday after 16,000 tickets to the May 7 fight between Pacquiao and Shane Mosley were sold inside three hours. It was like selling 88 tickets a minute or easily one for every second. “I have never promoted a fight that has sold so many tickets so quickly,” Arum told philboxing.com upon hearing

the news of what may be considered as panic-buying for tickets to the coming fight. The fight is set at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Tickets were priced at $1,000, $750, and $300, and are limited to 10 to a person. There are only a thousand left with three months to the fight. The selling of the tickets at the MGM Grand ran from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday (US time) and it was described as “one of the biggest ticket runs in Las Vegas boxing history.” Almost immediately, some tickers were already on the Internet with the lowest priced at $450 (almost P20,000) and the highest at $8,665 (an unbelievable P381,000).

Top Rank chief Bob Arum

Yes, a ringside ticket for the Pacquiao-Mosley fight (Floor E from Rows 1 to 4) for almost the price of a small car, brandnew. Get a Floor E ticket, the ones now selling for P381,000 each, and you may end up seated beside Denzel Washington or

Mariah Carey, facing the camera, your face beamed worldwide. It will be Pacquiao’s first fight in Las Vegas since 2009 when he fought and destroyed Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand, also the venue of the fights against Ricky Hatton and Oscar dela Hoya. Pacquiao fought his last two fights against Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito outside of Sin City, at the massive Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, and now he’s returning to Las Vegas, the gambling capital. Everybody wants to be part of the show. “Manny Pacquiao never

ceases to amaze the world with his achievements. The excitement he generated today with the initial ticket sales makes it feel like fight week already,” Arum said. He must be grinning from ear to ear, with the tickets almost sold out, and the press tour still more than a week ahead with stops in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York and Washington. With tickets almost gone, the pay-per-view sales, over Showtime, will be the next target. Arum, for sure, won’t have any problem with that as well. Now, who says this fight is garbage? (www.philstar.com)

14 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 5, 2011

PHILIPPINE LANGUAGE

Fiesta Ti Kailokuan Sinelerbraranna Ti Maikapat A Pulo A Panagtawen Ti Gumil Hawaii DAYASADAs By Pacita Saludes tay napan nga Enero 16, naaramid ti FIE S T A T I KAILOKUAN ITI AMERICA ti impaayna a panangselebrar ti maikapat a pulo a tawen ti GUMIL HAWAII a naorganisar idi Enero 16, 1971. Naunday a tawen a panagyaman dagiti Ilokano ti pannakairusat ti adu a

I

ganuat nga inar-aramiden ti GH a nangitungpal kadagiti GANUATNA NGA ARAMIDEN a kas nakaisangratanna. Panagiinnadal ti panagsuratan a mangtaginayon kadagiti nakaisigudan a kababalin, kultura ken tradision ni Ilokano ken kangrunaanna ti pannakaurnong ti gapuanan dagiti napudno a mannurat kadagiti gapuananda tapno maurnong a mailibro dagiti gapuanan dagiti kamkameng. Naginad ti panawen nga

awan ti makita a naaramidan ti GH bayat ti panglabas ti lima a tawen nga awan ti kabukbukodanna a partuat a mangipakita ti pannakaitungpal dagiti nabalitukan a gandat a nakabuklanna. Iti daytoy a rabii Enero 16, aldaw a panangselebrar ti pannakabangonna, naidasar (nai launch ti libro ti GUMIL HAWAII IN 4 DECADES) a naglaon kadagiti importante a petsa, aldaw, panawen dagiti tattao a nangbukel ken nangitungpal kadagiti rumbeng nga

aramidenda a kas mannurat a parnuar ti GUMIL HAWAII dagiti amin a nakatulong iti tinawen a proyecto, addada amin a nailanad iti 40th anniversary ti Gumil Hawaii. Naragsak ti programa babaen ti panangidalan da Roland and Edith Pascua, sigud a mangur-urnos ti programa iti tinawen a panagrarambak ti AKA ken GUMIL. Adda met a timmalantan ni Consul General Leoncio Cardenas, Dr. and Mrs. Edmund Calaycay, ti kappili a Presidente ti ANNAK TI BADOC ken ni

Attorney Malodie Aduja nga isu ti Legal Counsel dagiti dua nga organisasion ti AKA ken GH. Dua a reyna ti nangparanga iti dayta a rabii. Ni Talen Cristobal a binalangatan ni Consul General Cardenas ken ni Adore Udani ti Mrs. AKA a binalangatan ni Attorney Aduja. Ti pakasaritaan dagiti organisasion ti agtultultoy nga agtitinnulong a mangitultuloy kadagiti gandat nga mangtagtaginayon ti kabukbukodan a tradision ken kultura ditoy Estado ti Hawaii.

GLOBAL NEWS

Government Readying Egypt Evacuation by Mayen Jaymalin Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011

M

ANILA, Philippines The government is readying to evacuate an initial batch of 100 Filipino workers from Egypt, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday. This developed as Malacañang said it would await recommendations from the Philippine embassy in Cairo as to when the

Filipinos would be evacuated from Egypt as protests continued against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Presidential Communications Development Secretary Ricky Carandang said embassy officials were ready to relocate the Filipinos especially in Cairo but they refused to leave at this time. Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said embassy and labor officials in Israel already have the identities and location of 100

overseas Filipino workers who may possibly be the first batch of OFWs to be evacuated from Egypt. “Our officials in Israel already have the profile of 100 Filipino workers in Egypt and they are now getting ready to accommodate them in case there would be an evacuation of workers to safer areas,” Baldoz said. Although data from various government agencies indicate that there are about 6,000 OFWs in

Egypt, Baldoz said they still have to verify whether all of them are still in Egypt or some have returned home. Baldoz stressed that the Philippine government has placed the situation in Egypt under alert level 2 and until it has been raised to level 3, there would be no evacuation to safer area. Baldoz further ruled out the possibility of the government banning the deployment of Filipino workers to Egypt despite the prevailing tension there. The labor chief said there is really no need to impose a deployment ban considering that Egypt is not among the top markets for Filipino workers. According to Baldoz, the

government is more inclined to defer or delay the deployment of those who are applying to work in Egypt instead of imposing a ban. “The recommendation from the Department of Foreign Affairs is for deferment of deployment and based on our record there is only one worker awaiting deployment to Egypt at this time,” Baldoz disclosed. Meanwhile, the DFA also said that it has made arrangements with third countries to allow the transit of Filipinos through their borders. In Manila, DFA officials met with the ambassadors of countries near Egypt to request the assistance of their governments to allow the safe passage of Filipinos from their areas. (www.philstar.com)

FEBRUARY 5, 2011 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE 15

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GLOBAL NEWS

Singson Sentencing Postponed to Feb. 17 By Carina Roncesvalles / Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011

trazepam were found in his checkbook. Another plastic ONG KONG – The Wan bag containing traces of coChai District Court here caine was found in his wallet. yesterday deferred the verAfter body search, a plasdict on Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald tic bag of 12.26 grams of Singson, who pleaded guilty to trafpowder with 5.58 grams of ficking 6.67 grams of cocaine. cocaine; a glass bottle with District Court Judge Joseph 1.02 grams of powder conYau ordered the adjournment and taining 0.44 grams of cocaine; reset the hearing to Feb. 17. and a plastic spoon containing The order came even after yes0.01 grams of powder conterday’s hearing focused on the taining cocaine were found in Rep. Ronald Singson in Hong Kong question of whether Singson Singson’s underpants. brought the drugs for his own consumption. In its summary of facts, the prosecutor said the cocaine Three defense witnesses had already testified that seized from Singson had a retail value of approximately Singson could have used four grams of the illegal drug for HK$ 15,791.60 or P89,634.28. a day. Ody Lai, a Filipino barrister based here, said Singson According to Singson’s defense lawyer John Reading, is facing two years imprisonment. Lai explained the senit was possible for the Ilocos congressman to personally tence for trafficking six grams of prohibited drugs usually consume 14.8 grams. starts with three years imprisonment. Defense witness Dr. Wayne Moran said Singson has adA guilty plea would mean a one-third discount from mitted to taking cocaine since 2004. the jail sentence, Lai said. Moran said Singson has already built tolerance to the “The starting point for sentence, given six grams, is apdrug because of continuous use. proximately three years. But it’s possible that the sentence Moran added that even if Singson withdrew from his would start with 34 months since the arithmetic is not alcocaine binge years back, he still has the same tolerance ways exact. It’s possible to be lenient in his case if they level. would say that it’s for personal consumption,” she said. Prosecution witness Dr. Lam Ming, however, claimed Lai, however, stressed these factors don’t mean that the it was impossible for a person to consume four grams of co- court would consider lowering the case of drug trafficking caine in a day. into possession. He disputed the claims of Singson that he could use She added that good behavior while in jail could also around 10 grams of the substance by snorting it. mean a one-third discount from the sentence, to approxi“If the drug is administered the intranasal way, it will be mately 16 months. very difficult to imagine that he can take 10 grams within 24 Lai also said the drug trafficking charges usually carry hours because of the nasal constriction effect of cocaine. Of imprisonment sentence but the ordinance also carries a course a person can take 10 grams within 24 hours by oral maximum fine of HK$5 million (P28.5 million). injection,” Lam said. “But of course, I haven’t seen a case of trafficking in Prosecutor Virginia Lau said they still have to present dangerous drugs with only fine. The fine is provided in the two customs officers as witnesses in the next hearing. ordinance, but the judge can give both the imprisonment Singson pleaded guilty on Monday to drug trafficking and fine. But most of the time, they imprison you,” Lai said. but stressed the 6.67 grams of cocaine found in his possesShe said the case of Singson would now depend on the sion were for personal use. discretion of the judge. Reading argued several mitigating factors in favor of “It all depends on the judge. But our case law in Hong Singson in the effort to lower the sentence. Kong is so strict on the period of imprisonment. If they He said the admission of drug use for personal con- want to punish him more than just this period of imprisonsumption, remorse, and Singson’s stature as legislator and ment, then imprisonment plus fine. But sometimes it’s difbusinessman could be considered as mitigating factors. ficult to double the sentence. Then they can appeal,” she Singson said he started using the drug heavily follow- added. (www.philstar.com) ing a spat with his girlfriend actress Lovi Poe. Singson claimed he became depressed after a breakup with Poe, making him seek solace in cocaine. He also claimed becoming depressed having lost HK$ 2 million in his company-produced concert last July 9. Singson was apprehended last July 11 at the customs arrival hall of the Hong Kong International Airport for trafficking in 14.8 grams of powder containing 6.67 grams of cocaine, and 2 tablets of nitrazepam. Two plastic bags of 1.51 grams of powder containing 0.65 grams of cocaine, and two tablets of ni-

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16 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 5, 2011