Issuu

MarCh 17, 2012  haWaii filipinO ChrOniCle  1

19, 2011 ♦ ♦FEBRUARY MARCH 17, 2012 ♦♦

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

IMMIGRATION GUIDE

FOOD & LEISURE

OperatiOn ManOng tO Celebrate 40th anniversary

tax evasiOn– is it a DepOrtable Offense?

the aDObO iDentity (Crisis)

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2  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  MARCH 17, 2012

EDITORIAL

FROM THE PUBLISHER

he plight of Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs) was perhaps no better captured than in a Coca-Cola promotional campaign this past Christmas. The soft drink giant, as part of its “Happiness is Home” project, handpicked three OFWs and brought them back to the Philippines. The promo centers around three OFWs, the first of whom works as an x-ray technician who hasn’t seen his family for 5 years. Rather than spend his hard-earned money on a ticket home to see an ailing, nearly blind father, the OFW instead remits money for his medicine. A second OFW is a caregiver who hasn’t been home for 9 years. Wanting badly to visit her children, she instead forces herself to continue working since they all depend on her income to pay the bills. The third OFW is a babysitter who feels all alone in a foreign land. His son was barely 1 when he last saw him— and that was 11 years ago. Thanks to Coca-Cola, all three OFWs pay a surprise visit on unsuspecting family members during Christmas, an especially important time of the year for Filipinos. The tears, excitement and overwhelming joy on their faces are priceless. The heart-tugging promo was clearly meant to sell Cokes, yet it accurately portrays the numbing sadness and plight that many OFWs find themselves in. The promo certainly won’t decrease the numbers of Filipinos seeking employment overseas or do away with the diaspora, but its positive vibe garnered emotional reactions from Filipinos around the world. And its particularly good message just may encourage other corporate giants to engage in similar projects to uplift the Philippines’ OFWs. With OFW numbers now at 11 million and counting, it’s safe to say that just about every Filipino has a relative who is working abroad. We expect the trend to continue so long as corrupt politicians hinder the Philippines’ economic progress and bureaucratic red tape discourages foreign and local investors from launching new business ventures that will generate much-needed jobs. Until there are more opportunities for meaningful employment in the Motherland, Filipinos will continue to go almost anywhere in the world where better opportunities exist.

t’s sure nice to see sunny blue skies once again, especially after several harrowing days of stormy weather that slowed commute times, ruined weekend plans and canceled scores of outdoor sporting events. But despite the hail, thunder and lightning, we are still blessed to live in paradise. If you commute into town, traffic was also notably lighter this past week due to Spring Break. Most private schools will enjoy an additional week off but public school students will soon resume classes. To our students, hang in there and continue to work hard for this fourth and final quarter! Speaking of working hard, our cover story for this issue examines the Philippines’ growing number of Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs). The number currently stands at 9.5 million. For these Filipinos, working abroad means sacrifice. It’s more than just missing family members and special events back home. Many of them are unable to return home for years at a time, if not decades, due to visa issues, job restrictions or money problems. We salute our OFWs for their hardwork and sacrifice. They enrich not only their lives but also contribute to the Philippines’ economic growth. Please see page 4 for more about OFWs and steps that the Philippine government can take to better assist them as well as their families. Many of our readers are familiar with Operation Manong, a program established in 1971 at the UH-Manoa campus which provided a support group and networking opportunities for college students of Filipino ancestry. Operation Manong is celebrating its 40th Anniversary with a gala celebration on March 25th at the Fil-Com Center. Though renamed as the Office of Multicultural Student Services (OMSS) in 2000 to reflect a broader scope of cross-cultural and social justice activities, many Filipinos still refer to the program as simply “OM.” If you are one of the many Filipino students who received financial aid or enjoyed OM’s numerous outreach and social activities, we encourage you to read page 6 for more details on how to RSVP for this exciting event. Lastly, in health news you can use, we would like to warn our readers of the dangers of drinking too much sugary drinks. A recent study shows that men who drank a 12-ounce sugar-sweetened beverage daily had a 20 percent higher risk of heart disease compared to men who didn’t drink any sugar-sweetened drinks. If you are a man who enjoys soft drinks or know of a man in your life who does, please find out more about this very important study on page 6. In closing, I'd like to once again thank our readers for their continued support. We encourage you to provide feedback, story ideas, tips or concerns via email at: filipinochronicle@gmail.com. We’d certainly love to hear from you! Until next time… aloha and mabuhay!

OFWs Find the Real Thing in Coca Cola Promo

Relocating OCCC, Expanding Halawa Prison

he State Department of Public Safety recently unveiled plans to bring back all of its inmates on the mainland by reducing the prison population by about 1,100 and building additional prison space on the islands of Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. Plans for new prison space on Oahu include expanding Waiawa Correctional Facility, a 334-bed, minimum-security prison in Waipio. The State is also considering a new prison in Puunene, Maui and either reopening Kulani Correctional Center or building a new facility on the Big Island. An even better option as far as Oahu is concerned would be to close the Oahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC) in Kalihi and expand the Halawa Correctional Facility in Halawa Valley which is already located in an industrial area. OCCC is the state’s largest jail and situated on 16 prime acres of real estate in urban Honolulu. Kalihi-Palama residents have long advocated relocating OCCC. In a 2004 Action Plan adopted by members of the KalihiPalama Vision Group, the OCCC property is envisioned as a community gathering place or a multi-cultural marketplace. Residents and community groups from Kalihi have lobbied their elected officials, including former Gov. Ben Cayetano who began tinkering with the proposal towards the end of his term. Unfortunately, the pro-

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 Photography Tim Llena Administrative Assistant Shalimar Pagulayan Columnists Carlota Ader Carlo Cadiz, M.D. 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, Ed.D Linda Dela Cruz Fiedes Doctor Danny De Gracia, II, MA Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand Amelia Jacang, M.D. Caroline Julian Maita Milallos Paul Melvin Palalay, M.D. Glenn Wakai Amado Yoro Philippine Correspondent Greg Garcia Big Island Distributor Grace Larson Ditas Udani Maui Distributor Cecile Piros Molokai Distributor Maria Watanabe Advertising/Marketing Director Chona A. Montesines-Sonido

posal lost steam under succeeding governor Linda Lingle’s administration. The proposal to close and relocate OCCC makes even more sense considering that the City’s rail project is scheduled to be built along Dillingham Boulevard. Coupled with a transit station at the Middle Street bus facility, transit-oriented development (TOD) opportunities abound for the OCCC site. Such opportunities would include housing, retail, commercial and recreational uses that would encourage transit ridership. A prison would simply be incompatible with TOD proposals slated for the area. It’s a bold proposal that will require strong leadership from a community leader, an elected official perhaps, to champion this push. We call on Kalihi’s elected officials and Gov. Neil Abercrombie to support this proposal and move forward with OCCC’s closure and subsequent relocation.

Cover Photo: Photo shows a Filipino store in the Middle East taken by one of our staff reporters stationed there.

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 2006-2012. The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc. is located at 94-356 Waipahu Depot, Waipahu, HI 96797. Telephone (808) 678-8930 Facsimile (808) 6781829. 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

MarCh 17, 2012  haWaii filipinO ChrOniCle  3

4  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  MARCH 17, 2012

COVER STORY

The Rising Number of OFWs and Its Impact on the Philippines By HFC Staff

report released by the Center for Filipinos Overseas (CFO) shows that there are about 9.45 million Filipinos living in 217 countries and territories around the world as of December 2010, an increase of 10 percent from the previous year. Filipinos account for 4 percent of the total number of international migrants, which was estimated by the International Organization for Migration to be around 214 million in 2010. Released in February, the 2010 Stock Estimate of Filipinos Overseas is the CFO’s latest report on the aggregate number of all Philippine-born Filipinos who are residing or working overseas. The report mainly draws data from the annual administrative statistics of the CFO, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The secondary sources of information include census data from host countries and reports submitted by Filipino communities in other countries. The stock estimate report categorizes overseas Filipinos into three main groups: • Permanent migrants—im-

•

migrants, dual citizens and legal permanent residents, whose stay abroad does not depend on work contracts Temporary migrants— those whose residence abroad is employment-related and who are expected to return at the end of their work contracts; Irregular migrants—those who are not properly documented, working without valid residence or work permits and who are overstaying in a foreign country.

The report also showed that the top 10 destination countries were the U.S. (3.17 million; 33 percent), Saudi Arabia (1.5 million; 16 percent), Canada (667,600; 7 percent), United Arab Emirates (636,100; 7 percent) Australia (345,500; 4 percent), Malaysia (316,200; 3 percent), Japan (290,300; 3 percent), United Kingdom

A Filipino convenience store in the Middle East, a region where many Filipinos work as OFWs

(196,700; 2 percent), Hong about what my life would be Kong (169,700; 2 percent) and like here—if I’m going to enjoy my job, if I’m going to make Kuwait (169,100; 2 percent). new friends—things like that,” The Filipino Dream he says. Mike, a computer technoloWhen asked whether Filgist, left the Philippines in 2011 ipinos have an inherent capabilto work in Qatar, a country in ity to adjust to different the Middle East. Backed by cultures, Mike says it has somewealth derived from its hydro- thing more to do with motivacarbon resources, Qatar is mak- tion. ing every effort to diversify its “It’s all for our families. economic base and reinvent it- That’s our main motivation. self as a knowledge-based econ- Aside from achieving personal omy. This economic boom has prosperity for oneself, the Filturned the once-poor nation into ipino dream is really about prothe wealthiest country in the viding a good life for one’s world, with a GDP share per family,” he says. head of $109,000 in 2012. This Mike is one of the lucky has attracted foreign workers few Filipino migrant workers like Mike, who left the Philip- who are happy with their jobs pines because of personal ambi- and paid relatively well in their tions. It was his first job abroad. adoptive foreign countries. “I have a lot of goals,” he But in this oil-rich state, says, “and this includes having there are Filipinos who unfortumy own home, car and busi- nately find themselves on the ness. I’m not really picky over short end. As Mike walked out the kind of business I want. A of a Filipino convenience store, computer shop or even a drink- he was approached by Sheila, ing water refilling station is who was selling homemade rice enough for me.” cakes. When asked why she Mike wants to work abroad was selling the cakes at such a for about five years and is will- late hour, she says it was all she ing to settle permanently in an- could do to make ends meet. other country if given the “I’m still looking for a job. opportunity. He did not suffer My kababayans are basically from anxiety that other Fil- my lifeline for now. If they didipinos felt when they first left n’t buy from me, I would be livthe Philippines to work abroad. ing on the streets,” she says. “In all honesty, I never felt Sheila is trying to find a job anxious. I wasn’t even that ex- before her visa expires. If not, cited. I guess the feeling was she will have to return to the curiosity. Before I left home, I Philippines. used to make mental pictures “I’m doing all this for my

children back home. I want to be able to provide for their needs,” she says. Mike took out a 10 riyal (US$2.7) bill and gave it to her in return for a pack of kutsinta. “I hope this helps, somehow,” he says. Sheila smiled and thanked him. “Next time, buy two packs,” she quips.

Keeping Filipinos Safe Sheila might be luckier than other Filipinos who find their way to countries considered by Philippine authorities to be problematic when it comes to protecting and ensuring the welfare of its citizens. In November 2011, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration disclosed two board resolutions—one that approves the deployment of overseas Filipino workers to 49 nations and another banning OFWs from 41 other countries. Mike and Sheila’s chosen country of migration, was not listed among these 41 nations. According to Atty. Golda Roma of CFO, the 41 countries are deemed by the Philippines to be non-compliant with a critical provision of Republic Act 10022, or the revised Philippine Migrant Workers Act. “The law limits the deployment of overseas Filipinos to countries which, through their own national or local legislations, are compliant with internationally-recognized means to (continued on page 5)

MARCH 17, 2012  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  5

COVER STORY (from page 4, THE RISING....)

secure the rights and welfare of migrants, or are signatories to international conventions or treaties promoting the same, or have multi-lateral or bilateral agreements with the Philippines to comply with the standards of decent and reasonable working conditions,” Roma says. If a country does not comply with any of these conditions—despite the high salaries offered and the great demand for OFWs—then the Philippines is constrained from sending its nationals to that country. Jeremaiah Opiniano, Executive Director of the Institute for Migration and Development Issues (IMDI), says that even though Filipinos are aware of the risks involved in migrating to such countries, it can’t stop them from going to these places for work. “As long as the pay is right, endurance can make up for the differential between safety at work and higher pay. But before going overseas, whether in safe or ‘risky’ countries, Filipinos should be well-informed and government should continue to provide information about safe and orderly migration,” he says. But is the government doing enough in order to ensure that Filipinos are afforded protection and lawful aid when they need it? According to Roma, there has been steady improvement over the years in terms of policies and strategies. For instance, she says that the Philippine Migrant Workers Act has helped protect migrants from the pre-departure stage, to onsite services, to return and reintegration. “The government increased the number of labor, welfare and social welfare attachés so that there is a government representative readily available to

provide services to distressed overseas Filipinos. A specific agency called the National Reintegration for OFWs was established to focus on the needs of returning migrants,” she says. “The Integrated Bar of the Philippines also recently partnered with DFA, CFO, DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment), DOJ (Department of Justice) and other agencies to provide more legal assistance to overseas Filipinos. The DFA is also in constant discussion with host countries of Filipino migrants for bilateral or social security agreements.” Opiniano believes that the Philippines is a global model of organized handling of the overseas mobility phenomenon— prior to departure, while overseas and upon return. He says that the government’s handling of migration through policies, programs, interventions and personnel have improved. Roma adds that President Benigno Aquino III clearly stated in his social contract with the Filipino people that government should not lose track of continuously providing the needed help and support for overseas Filipinos. This is on top of making sure that migration for Filipinos will not be an economic strategy and that their departure for overseas will be one of choice and not of necessity. But the Philippine government continues to face a number of challenges, primary among which is budget and personnel limitations. For example, Roma cited the fact that despite the increase in government personnel in Saudi Arabia, there remains less than 100 of them responding to the needs of more than 1.5 million OFWs in the country. Since Filipinos are globally dispersed, the govern-

ment and allied agencies have limited means to reach out to them. In addition, Roma also talks about the challenge of human trafficking. “The President increased the budget for anti-trafficking initiatives but what’s lacking is providing sustainable livelihood to our countrymen so that they will decide not to go abroad and be victimized again. The demand side of trafficking and illegal recruitment remains a big challenge,” she says. Opiniano adds that efforts should be made to ensure three basic things. “First, assure that labor contracts to host countries are legitimate and not prone to contract substitution upon arrival in host countries; second, improve the legal redress system for Filipino workers in distress and immediately dispose of previous cases; and lastly, increase, whenever possible, public funds accorded to overseas Filipinos' concerns,” he says.

Remittances: Bane or Boon? OFWs remain as one of the major workhorses of the Philippine economy. Based on data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, overseas Filipinos remitted US$18.76 billion in 2010. The following year, in 2011, remittances reached US$20.11 billion. These remittances were estimated to account for around 10 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). According to the CFO report, the top three sources of remittances were the U.S., Canada and Saudi Arabia. Based on World Bank data, the Philippines now ranks fourth globally in terms of remittances. The top remittancereceiving countries based on 2011 estimates are India, pro-

A small park in this city's Paloma District is where FIlipino's hobnob after work. With the economic crisis facing Europe, these meet-ups are also opportunities for OFWs to support each other | OFW Journalism Consortium Photo Service

Filipino OFWs dance the night away in a nightclub in Bogota, Colombia | OFW Journalism Consortium Photo Service

jected to receive $58 billion, followed by China ($57 billion), Mexico ($24 billion) and the Philippines ($23 billion). This situation presents both disadvantages and advantages for the Philippines. Various studies conducted by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and local scholars from the Philippines show that overseas remittances could promote idleness on the part of recipients and serve as a disincentive to work among migrant household members as they become more dependent

on money sent from abroad. Furthermore, income disparity among households in communities can intensify because of inequitable distribution of remittances. Nevertheless, Roma says remittances also have positive socio-economic contributions. “Such monies are spent for the needs of migrants, including food, shelter and education for their kids. At the same time, they also spend for their wants, which include cars, gadgets and travel among others. This in(continued on page 15)

6  haWaii filipinO ChrOniCle  MarCh 17, 2012

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS

Operation Manong to Celebrate 40th Anniversary

he University of HawaiiManoa and Friends of Operation Manong will celebrate OM’s 40th Anniversary on Sunday, March 25, 2012, from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu. The public is invited to attend. The anniversary celebration is an opportunity to reflect on best practices and to thank OM alumni, students and staff for their service and leadership. OM was one of the university’s first programs to address campus diversity and equal access to higher education in the early 1970s. It was launched by a coali-

tion of university and community leaders, including Amefil Agbayani, Bienvenido Junasa, James Misajon, Ethel Ward, Anthony Marsella and Sheila Forman. OM developed extensive community outreach programs and services for public school and pre-college students to assist

new immigrant public school students and to increase the number and success of Filipinos, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and other under-represented student groups at UH-Manoa. OM has successfully prepared students for undergraduate work, assisted with the transfer of community college students to UH-Manoa, provided scholar-

ships and trained future teachers and community leaders. In 2000, OM became the Office of Multicultural Student Services (OMSS) to reflect a broader scope of cross-cultural and social justice activities. Distinguished OM/OMSS alumni include Robin Campaniano (Ulupono Initiative general partner and former UH Regent), local media and television pro-

ducer Emme Tomimbang, State Rep. and House Vice Speaker Joey Manahan, Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chairperson Collette Machado and numerous teachers, social workers, lawyers, engineers, doctors and nurses. For more details about the celebration and to RSVP, please go online and visit: http://opmanong.ssc.hawaii.edu or call Adrianne Guerrero at 956-4090.

Honolulu Gets $542,000 Grant for Homeless Assistance

he City has received $541,772 in new federal grant funds for two homeless assistance activities. Of this amount, $518,700 will provide new permanent supportive housing for homeless persons with disabilities, while $23,072 will be used to update the local Homeless Management Information System. In December 2011, the City received $8.9 million through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care pro-

grams, which provide funding for transitional housing; for services such as job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, child care and for permanent supportive housing for homeless persons with disabilities. Mayor Peter Carlisle says that the grants provide essential support to meet critical needs of individuals and families who experience homelessness in the community. “I’m very pleased and

grateful to HUD for its support of these important local programs,” he says. Continuum of Care grants are awarded competitively. The City’s grant application was prepared by the Department of Community Services, culminating a year-long process that included an annual Point-in-Time Count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons in January 2011, a comprehensive inventory of shelter beds and services, identification of gaps in homeless services and establishment of Continuum of Care funding priorities.

New Study Links Sugar Drinks to Increased Risk of Heart Disease in Men

ew research shows that men who drank a 12ounce sugar-sweetened beverage a day had a 20 percent higher risk of heart disease compared to men who didn’t drink any sugar-sweetened drinks. The study was recently published in the American Heart Association journal “Circulation.” “The study supports this ad-

ministration’s work to educate the public in making healthier choices, including drinking less sugar,” says State Department of Health Director Loretta Fuddy. “We stand with the American Heart Association in the fight to reduce cardiovascular disease in Hawaii by arming the public with the newest and best information to make healthier choices and help reduce chronic disease and prevent obesity.”

The American Heart Association supports public policy efforts that reduce coronary heart disease and its risk factors like obesity. Dr. Corilee Watters, advocate and spokesperson for the American Heart Association, says that public health approaches that include policy changes and pricing changes have influenced consumers’ behavior. “We need to create healthy (continued on page 7)

MarCh 17, 2012  haWaii filipinO ChrOniCle  7

IMMIGRATION GUIDE

Tax Evasion – Is It A Deportable Offense?

By Atty. Emmanuel Samonte Tipon

his is the height of the tax filing season and aliens should be especially careful that they do not file false tax returns in trying to save a few dollars lest they face deportation which will cost them more. A number of tax preparers try to impress their clients to obtain repeat business by making inappropriate deductions, not reporting or underreporting income, and doing other unlawful acts in order that the client will pay less taxes or get a bigger tax refund. There are also people who fail to file tax returns. The courts have generally held that tax evasion is a crime involving moral turpitude. Crimes of moral turpitude are of basically two types, those involving fraud and those involving grave acts of baseness or depravity. For analytical pur-

poses, tax evasion falls within the first category. Even if intent to defraud is not explicit in the statutory definition, a crime nevertheless may involve moral turpitude if such intent is “implicit in the nature of the crime.” Intent to defraud is implicit in willfully failing to file a tax return with the intent to evade taxes. By willfully failing to file his tax returns, the person attempts to deprive the government of revenue — or, in other words, to obtain a free pass on taxes. The terms "evasion" and "fraud" have been treated interchangeably. Carty v. Ashcroft, 395 F.3d 1081 (CA9, 2005) The Immigration and Nationality Act provides in Section 237(a)(2)(A) that any alien who is convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude committed within five years (or 10 years in the case of an alien granted permanent resident status under Section 245(j)) after the date of admission and is convicted of a crime for which a sentence of one year or longer may be imposed is deportable. Furthermore, any alien who at any time

HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS (cont.) environments where the healthiest choice is the easy choice in terms of price and availability,” she says. “Sugarsweetened beverages are the largest single source of sugar in our diets and provide no nutritional benefits.” Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in Hawaii. In 2009, more than 32 percent of all deaths in the state were due to CVD. Of these deaths, 73 percent were due to heart disease and 21 percent were due to stroke. CVD is also a major source of hospitalization, accounting for 18,372 discharges in 2010. Risk factors for heart disease include obesity, smoking, physical inactivity, diabetes and poor diet. The study followed 42,883 men over 20 years. Participants were primarily Caucasian men 40 to 75 years old and all were employed in a health-related profession. Researchers found that the increase in risk of heart disease persisted even after controlling for other risk factors, including smoking, physical inactivity, alcohol use and family history of heart disease. Less frequent consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages—twice weekly and twice monthly—didn’t increase risk.

after admission is convicted of two or more crimes involving moral turpitude, not arising out of a single scheme of criminal misconduct, regardless of whether confined therefor, and regardless of whether the convictions were in a single trial, is deportable (now removable). Persons who provide fraudulent information or grossly underreport their income in a tax return are considered persons who are not of good moral character and will be denied certain immigration benefits requiring good moral character like naturalization and voluntary departure if they are placed in removal proceedings.

Tax evasion is aggravated felony if loss to government exceeeds $10,000 In a case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court on February 21, 2012, an alien who was convicted of willfully making and subscribing a false tax return under 26 U. S. C. §7206(1) which had caused a loss to the Government in excess of $10,000, and his wife who

(from page 5, NEW...)

The American Heart Association and DOH recommend no more than half of discretionary calories come from added sugars. For most American men, that’s no more than 150 calories per day and 100 for most American women. Discretionary calories are those left in your “energy allowance” after consuming the recommended types and amounts of foods to meet all daily nutrient requirements. The DOH launched its “Take the Leap” campaign in 2010 to educate Hawaii residents about the risks associated with obesity and over-consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks. The DOH will continue its public education efforts to urge people to make healthier choices and advocate for policy changes that support healthy lifestyles and reduce healthcare costs. “Reducing consumption of sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages is an important goal in preserving the health of Americans,” says Dr. Jay Maddock, Director of the University of Hawaii’s Office of Public Health Studies. “This study adds to the body of knowledge on the negative health effects related to excess sugar consumption in the American diet.”

was convicted for aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return under 26 U. S. C. §7206(2), were ordered deported because they had committed an aggravated felony under 8 U. S. C. §1101(a)(43)(M). 8 U. S. C. §1101(a)(43)(M)(i) defines “aggravated felony” to mean an offense that “involves fraud or deceit in which the loss to the victim or victims exceeds $10,000.” 8 U. S. C. §1101(a)(43)(M)(ii) defines “aggravated felony” as an offense that is “described in section 7201 of title 26 (relating to tax evasion) in which the revenue loss to the Government exceeds $10,000.” Under 8 U. S. C. §1227(a)(2)(A)(iii) “Any alien who is convicted of an aggravated felony at any time after admission is deportable.” The Supreme Court said that although in the past it had construed ambiguities in deportation statutes in the alien’s favor, as in INS v. St. Cyr, 533 U. S. 289, 320 (2001), the ap-

plication of the present statute was clear enough that resort to the rule of lenity was not warranted. Kawashima v. Holder, No. 10-577, United States Supreme Court, 02/21/2012. COMMent: Section 240A of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U. S. C. § 1229b] gives the Attorney General the authority to cancel removal for a narrow class of inadmissible or deportable aliens, but it does not include anyone previously convicted of any aggravated felony.” I.N.S. v. St. Cyr, 533 U.S. 289, 295 (2001). Thus, in the case of conviction for an aggravated felony removal is a certainty. (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.MilitaryandCriminalLaw.com, and 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.)

8  haWaii filipinO ChrOniCle  MarCh 17, 2012

FOOD & LEISURE

The Adobo Identity (Crisis) TURO-TURO Text & photos By Claude Tayag

ilipino cuisine has been making a lot of headway in the US the past two years or so. At long last, it’s finally coming out of the kitchen closet, so to speak, but more importantly, breaking away from the long, dark shadow of lutong bahay or home-style cooking found is karinderiaor cafeteria-style establishments that have bleakly represented our cuisine in the land of milk and honey for far too long. The internet newspaper Huffingtonpost.com made a list of the Top 10 New Foods Of 2011, with Filipino cuisine as number three, calling it “Nouveau Filipino”: “Filipino food is among the most far-out in the world, so it was only a matter of time before it got a hipster update. FromAdobo Hobo’s Filipino tacos in San Francisco to Maharlika Filipino Moderno’s spicy arroz caldo in New York, we’ll take

all the creative Filipino cuisine we can get.” Odette Alcazaren-Keeley, host and executive producer of New America Now, reported: “The Year of the Dragon will be the Year of the ‘Adobo’ if some local foodies are predicting it right. Braised chicken or pork in soy sauce, vinegar and garlic, adobo is considered a signature dish in Filipino cooking, which, judging from the buzz at this year’s Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, could be poised to ride the next gourmet food wave.” Another article going viral among Pinoy food bloggers was written by Sam Sifton, New York Times food critic, about our very own adobo. He wrote: “It is the national dish, many Filipinos say: protein braised in vinegar until pungent and rich, sweet and sour and salty at once, sometimes crisped at the edges in high heat, always served with the remaining sauce. Its excellence derives from the balance of its

Adobong puti: To many a purist, this is the real thing. The meat is first marinated in vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper (no soy sauce, puh-lease), then pan-fried in its o w n f a t u n t i l b r o w n e d , a n d with the burnt crust stuck on the pan deglazed

flavors, in the alchemy of the process. Cooking softens the acidity of the vinegar, which then combines with the flavor of the meat to enhance it. Whether consumed in Manila’s heat or on the edge of a New York winter, adobo holds the power to change moods and alter dining habits … As a result there is great fun (italics by me) to be had in asking Filipinos how to make adobo, particularly when they are in groups. Filipino cooking is an evolutionary masterpiece, a cuisine that includes Chinese, Spanish, American and indigenous island influences, all

rolled into one.” Sifton interviewed Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan of the Purple Yam restaurant (purpleyamnyc.com) in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, which he described as “excellent” and whose chicken adobo recipe he featured. It must be said that the couple had been operating the popular and highly acclaimed Cendrillon (French for Cinderella) in the hip Soho district of Manhattan for more than seven years serving Filipino and pan-Asian cuisine, but were finally forced to seek out greener (read: cheaper) pastures due to high rent. One

CPA - Chicken Pork Adobo

Adobo sa gata

of their best-selling dishes is Dorotan’s signature chicken adobo with soy sauce, gata (coconut milk) and siling labuyo (bird’s-eye chili), a dead giveaway of his Bicolano roots, growing up in Irosin, Sorsogon, where “he ate every dish with gata anyway,” according to my kabalen Besa, born in the Pampango-speaking side of Tarlac. This is the same creamy adobo that Dorotan cooked on Martha Stewart’s show back in 2006. Meanwhile, on the west coast, Amy Scattergood reports (continued on page 10)

MarCh 17, 2012  haWaii filipinO ChrOniCle  9

10  haWaii filipinO ChrOniCle  MarCh 17, 2012 FOOD & LEISURE

(from page 8, THE ADOBO...)

in the LA Weekly blog that Marvin Gapultos and Natassia Johnson, both LAbased Fil-Am food bloggers (burntlumpia.com and letmeeatcake.com, respectively), broke barriers by becoming the first food bloggers to start their own food-truck business and the first in Southern California to specialize in Filipino cuisine in June 2010. In such a short time, their mobile restaurant The Manila Machine gained quite a following as well as critical acclaim. In fact, Gapulto’s recipe for Pineapple Adobo won the runner-up award for “Best Noveau Street Food” at the 2010 LA Street Food Fest, getting praise from the likes of famous American chefs Susan Feniger and Walter Manzke, and from Jonathan Gold, a Pulitzer Prizewinning food writer.

Where’s the beef, or rather, the chicken & pork adobo? So, do we finally see our adobo trending in the US as a unifying dish that could propel Filipino cuisine into the mainstream American consciousness? After all, there are some five million Fil-Ams living in the US, making up the third largest ethnic group. But wait, “nacho fast,” as a popular food chain would have it. Which adobo, may I ask? In the Filipino context, adobo generally refers to the chicken/pork stew braised in vinegar and garlic. It is perhaps the country’s most popular dish, spawning countless variants, such that it is inaccurate to call it a singular dish. To say there are 7,100 recipes of our adobo is an understatement; there are as many kinds of adobo as there are households. Treating adobo as a cooking technique will give us a better understanding of its nature. It is the braising of any meat (chicken, pork, beef, quail, duck, venison, seafood, etc.) or vegetable in vinegar, garlic, black peppercorn, and bay leaf, with regional variations or personal preferences of adding soy sauce (from the Chinese), achuete (a Mexican import achiote during the galleon trade), onion, coconut cream, lemongrass, or turmeric. It can be made like a saucy stew or thickened with chicken liver, or the cooked adobo meat pulled apart to be deep-fried into crispy flakes. It is this versatility that makes it the most popular and well-loved Filipino comfort food. It is also the great leveler, both the cooking method and the cooked dish transcending all economic boundaries. And for the record, it is the venerable Glenda Barretto of Café Via Mare who first served crisp adobo flakes way back in 1975. It was such a novelty back then when it first came out, but it caught on and became part of our adobo repertoire. And to think all she had in mind was pleasing her dad, who was fond of crispy dishes. She fried some leftover chicken adobo, and voila, a new dish was born! Indeed, necessity is the mother of all invention. Taking a quantum leap to the present,

chef Roland Laudico of Bistro Filipino serves an over-the-top Adobo Overload. It is a generous portion of seared foie gras nesting on adobong kangkong on a mound of sticky rice (cooked with adobo sauce, we were told), stuffed with chicken adobo and salted duck egg, accompanied by more adobo in the form of pork cubes in a puddle of adobo sauce reduction. Does it make it any less “authentic” with the chef’s risqué interpretation, daring to go out of the rigid box with his western styling, without compromising the dish’s original essence yet still remaining within its comfort-zone Pinoy panlasa or taste/palate? Adobo as the cooking process is indigenous to our archipelago, dating back to pre-colonial times, as noted by American food historian Raymond Sokolov. It should not be confused with the Spanish and Latin American adobos, as they are completely different in nature, using different ingredients despite having the same name. When the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines in the late 16th century, they encountered a cooking method commonly used by the natives that involved stewing with vinegar. For lack of a better term, perhaps, they simply referred to it as “adobo” due to its seeming similarity to the Spanish adobo (“Parece nuestro adobo” must have been the observation). Doreen G. Fernandez wrote in Palayok that the Spanish and Mexican adobos refer exclusively to meat, while the Filipino adobo is an entirely different process of cooking not just with meat, but also with seafood and vegetables, with vinegar as a matter of seasoning and as a natural preservative necessary in our tropical climate. It is quite distinct from Spanish adobo, which uses a marinade of paprika, oregano, salt, garlic, and wine vinegar, while the Mexican version uses a spicy marinade called chipotle, a mixture of chilies, seasonings, and seeds that goes particularly well with pork.

Bistro Filipino’s Adobo Overload by chef Roland Laudico In The Adobo Book by Ronnie G. Alejandro and Nancy Reyes-Lumen, there are at least 150 recipes of adobo, from the usual chicken, pork (belly, legs, trotters, innards), and beef, to duck, quails, snipes, fish, eel, prawns, crabs, oysters, mussels, squid, dried fish, frogs, kamaru (mole crickets), sawá (boa constrictor), balut (fertilized duck egg), tokwa, eggplant, ampalaya(bitter melon), radish, and banana blossoms. Indeed, it is a living testament to the versatility and popularity of adobo as a cooking method. So, to claim your adobo is better than others is pretty much a personal thing. Isn’t it more fun having so many kinds of adobo? (www.philstar.com)

MarCh 17, 2012  haWaii filipinO ChrOniCle  11

PHILIPPINE NEWS

Palace: No Way CJ Can Be Acquitted by Delon Porcalla Monday, March 12, 2012

ANILA, Philippines - Taking the cue from her boss, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte indicated yesterday there is no way Chief Justice Renato Corona could be acquitted by the impeachment court. “Given the weight of the evidence that has been presented, President Aquino said he really

does not see (an acquittal). It will eventually lead to a conviction,” Valte said over radio station dzRB. Aquino has said Corona could not escape liability under the 1987 Constitution when he kept his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) in “a locked vault.” This alone could merit a conviction since nowhere in the Constitution has it been stated that a government

official can conceal his SALN, which should have been made public, Aquino said. Aquino, in effect, could have referred to the entire 15man Supreme Court since all of them – except for two – have kept their SALNs from scrutiny. SC justices – from the time of the late Chief Justice Marcelo Fernan to retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno – have kept their SALNs from the public, saying exposure would make them vul-

nerable to threats and harassment over pending cases. The only two justices who made public their SALNs were Antonio Carpio and Ma. Lourdes Sereno. Sereno was Aquino’s first appointee to the SC while Carpio’s law firm and associates have been rendering legal assistance to Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II, a close ally of Aquino. In several interviews, Aquino said he “cannot imagine an acquittal” for Corona.

Phl Can Survive Weak Global Demand - BSP by Lawrence Agcaoili Monday, March 12, 2012

ANILA, Philippines The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has identified four countervailing forces that would help the Philippines survive the weak global demand amid the fragile economic growth in advanced economies led by the US as well as the sovereign debt crisis in Europe. BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said the country’s strong external payments position, resilient banking system,

demographic dividends, and manageable inflation would serve as countervailing forces to offset weak global demand. “The country enjoys three... no, four factors that have become countervailing forces to offset the slack in external demand that we now face (because of the volatile global market),” Tetangco stressed. He pointed out that the favorable external sector dynamics would continue to be a source of strength for the Philippine economy. He said sustained foreign

BSP Gov. Amando Tetangco

exchange inflows, including remittances of overseas Filipinos and earnings from the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector have provided the BSP the opportunity to build up its inter-

national reserves. Once the revitalized tourism program of the national government goes into full swing, Tetangco said the country’s external liquidity position would improve even more. “This will further enhance the country’s self-insurance. The BSP maintains a policy of a market-determined exchange rate, with scope for official action only against excessive rate movements. With the varying effects of exchange rate movements on different economic sectors, this policy has proven to be most

“Yes, given the evidence that has been presented thus far,” Valte said, echoing the prediction made by her boss. Valte also called on Corona to stop his media blitz and start answering the disparities in his SALN, among them cash deposits and real estate properties. “The discrepancy between the assets that were declared and not only for 2010 – this starts from 2002 where he started in the Supreme Court and it was proven that they were all his,” she said. (www.philstar.com) equitable and efficient for the overall economy,” he said. The BSP sees the country’s gross international reserves (GIR) - the sum of all foreign exchange flowing into the country - hitting a new all time high of $79 billion this year from $75.3 billion last year. It also expects the balance of payments (BOP) surplus stabilizing at $2.8 billion this year from $10.9 billion last year. The BOP position refers to the difference of foreign exchange inflows and outflows on a particular period and represents the country’s transactions with the rest of the world. (continued on page 12)

12  HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE  MARCH 17, 2012

PHILIPPINE NEWS

Sandigan Orders Arrest of GMA, 3 Others Over ZTE by Michael Punongbayan Wednesday, March 14, 2012

ANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan ordered the arrest of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her husband Jose Miguel Arroyo for allegedly receiving millions of dollars in bribes from a Chinese telecommunications company for a contract later found to be overpriced. Apart from the Arroyo couple, the anti-graft court also ordered the arrest of former elections chief Benjamin Abalos and former transportation secretary Leandro Mendoza who were also charged over the anomalous contract with China’s ZTE Corp. Mr. Arroyo, accompanied by his counsel Ferdinand Topacio, personally went before the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division where he submitted his pictures instead of being subjected to mug shots and samples of his fingerprints taken.

The former first gentleman also posted bail in the amount of P30,000. Former President Arroyo – represented by counsel Estelito Mendoza – and Abalos are both detained for the non-bailable offense of electoral sabotage. Former secretary Mendoza, through his lawyer Alex Poblador, also posted the P30,000 bail. Mrs. Arroyo, for her part, tasked her lawyer Jose Flaminiano to file a motion asking the Sandiganbayan to send a court officer to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) where she is currently detained to undergo bail proceedings there. Gabriel Villareal, legal counsel of Abalos, said the former elections chief is in no rush to post bail since he is already in detention. Mr. Arroyo, a lawyer who was seen as a backroom operator during his wife’s troubled nine-year presidency, is accused

of accepting money to push through a $329-million government contract with China’s ZTE Corp. to set up a nationwide broadband network in 2007. The contract was originally priced at $130 million. Mrs. Arroyo approved the deal, but later backtracked under public pressure and a congressional investigation. Mr. Arroyo has denied wrongdoing and said the graft charges are flawed because the former president canceled the deal. “This (warrant of arrest) comes as a surprise to me because there are no valid charges against me and my wife,” he said. “Besides, this does not apply to me because I’m a private citizen,” he said, adding his lawyers have filed a motion on the issue of probable cause against him. Mr. Arroyo said he informed his wife of the issuance of the arrest warrant against her but did not say how she reacted (from page 11, PHL ...)

The BSP chief also cited the country’s banking system that continued to remained stable amid the mounting challenges posed by the current global economic conditions. “The reforms - which were instituted well ahead of this crisis — paved the way for banks to enhance their risk management systems, adopt international accounting standards and improve transparency and disclosure to clients. These have, in turn, promoted well-capitalized, better-governed, and ... profitable banks,” Tetangco said. He pointed out that the bank regulator does not foresee a significant adverse impact on banks even if the BSP announced an accelerated adoption of higher capital requirement under the Basel 3 framework starting January 2014 as the industry’s capital

to the news. He vowed to prove their accusers wrong in the trial in the anti-graft court. He said the Office of the Ombudsman should not have filed the charges against him and his wife since the contract was cancelled in the first place. “That contract (with the ZTE) was abrogated so there’s no damage done. Also why was she (Mrs. Arroyo) charged, when she did not sign it (contract),” he said. Mr. Arroyo said the previous panel in the Office of the Ombudsman that investigated the deal noted the most important part of the graft investigation, which is the contract, was missing. “There is no contract so there is no corpus delicti (body of crime),” he said.

‘A step in the right direction’ Malacañang said the arrest warrants issued by the Sandiganbayan against the Arroyos and the other accused in the ZTE deal are a “step in the right direction” in light of the Aquino administration’s campaign against corruption. “The warrant is a preventive measure in order to assure that the accused persons are here and that they can be present in their day in court,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abiadequacy ratio (CAR) stood at 17 percent way above the BSP treshhold of 10 percent and the international standard of eight percent. He also noted the country’s demographic dividends and domestic consumption continued to be fuelled by strong remittances from Filipinos working abroad. ‘We have a vibrant, young, skilled, ready-to-consume population. The country’s domestic consumption has certainly continued to buoy our economic growth. Consumption has also remained to be underpinned by strong remittances from overseas Filipinos and receipts from the BPO sector,” he added. According to him, the country’s inflation remained manageable and is expected to fall within the mid-point of the BSP target of three percent to five percent this year and next

gail Valte said. The issuance of the warrants would now allow the defendants the opportunity to rebut the allegations hurled against them and that “they will be able to defend themselves in the best possible manner,” she said. Mr. Arroyo’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio expressed surprise over the issuance of an arrest order against his client considering that a motion for judicial determination of probable cause was filed Monday. “We asked for a hearing to determine probable cause on this case, so we were surprised about the arrest warrant,” Topacio said. He said there is already a Supreme Court ruling that stated that if a deal did not push through, there could have been no damage to the government. The Sandiganbayan, however, junked the motions filed by the respondents asking for a hearing for the presentation of oral arguments on Friday. In its four-page ruling, the anti-graft court said judicial determination of probable cause is a procedure that is required “without need of any motion or intervention from the parties” who cannot even “assert any demandable right to be heard or p a r t i c i p a t e t h e r e o n . ” (www.philstar.com)

year. Monetary policy has certainly been successful in providing just the right amount of domestic liquidity.. to fund the productive sectors of the economy. This favorable inflation outlook has allowed BSP to accommodate economic growth, without fuelling an asset price bubble,” Tetangco stressed. The Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) sees the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) growing between five percent and six percent this year after slackening to 3.7 percent last year from 7.6 percent in 2010 due to weak global trade and cautious spending by the Aquino government. “Given all these factors, I believe there is basis for continued optimism on the country’s growth prospects,” the BSPchief said. (www.philstar.com)

MarCh 17, 2012  haWaii filipinO ChrOniCle  13

LEGAL NOTES

Aliens of Extraordinary Ability May Self-Petition for a Green Card By Reuben S. Seguritan

very year, more than 40,000 immigrant visa numbers are available for the first employmentbased preference (EB-1). This category is open to aliens of extraordinary ability, outstanding professors or researchers, and certain multinational executives and managers. Unlike the last two classes of workers, the extraordinary ability alien does not need a job offer from a U.S. employer. The extraordinary ability alien may “self-petition” or file an I140 him/herself. There is also no labor certification requirement for workers in the EB-1 category. The demand for this category is low. In 2010 for in-

stance, only 5,198 applications were filed. At the same time, however, approval can be difficult to obtain. Of those 5,198 applications, only 62% were approved and this is already the highest approval rate since 2005. Nonetheless, for those who can meet its high requirements, the EB-1 is a good option not only because of the exemption from the job offer and labor certification requirements but also because there is currently no visa backlog under this category. In order to qualify, the foreign national must show that he has extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics. He must be able to demonstrate that his level of expertise indicates that he is one of a small percentage of those who have risen to the very top of the field of endeavor.

The foreign national must have been recognized in his field and received acclaim for those accomplishments. This can be done in either of two ways. First, it can be through a one-time achievement in the form of an internationally recognized award. In reality, however, very few people receive this type of international acclaim. More frequently, applicants use the second way of demonstrating extraordinary ability status which is by submitting evidence of at least three of ten criteria, or the so-called “threeout-of-ten” rule. These criteria are: receipt of lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence; membership in associations in the field that demand outstanding achievement of their members; published material about the alien in profession or major trade publica-

tions or other media; evidence of original contributions of major significance to the field; authorship of scholarly articles; display of the alien’s work at artistic exhibitions or showcases; evidence of performance in a leading or critical role for organizations that have a distinguished reputation; evidence of high remuneration in relation to others in the field; and evidence of commercial success in the performing arts. Published material about the foreign national must relate to his work in the field for which the classification is sought and must contain the title, date and author of the material and a translation if necessary. As for the criterion of proof of membership in an association, the focus of the USCIS’s inquiry is the requirements for membership and not the association’s overall reputation.

When it comes to evidence of contributions of major significance to the field, the foreign national must show that his contributions significantly influenced the field and place him significantly above his peers. Evidence of high remuneration as compared to others in the field is also helpful but less so for individuals in science or education where salary levels are not good indicators of the worker’s ability, unlike in athletics or the performing arts. In order for the extraordinary ability alien to be eligible for a visa under EB-1, his entry must “substantially benefit prospectively the United States”. This means that he must continue to work in his field upon admission to permanent residence.

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

MAINLAND NEWS

Maharlika Filipino Moderno Named Best New Restaurant in New York

aharlika Filipino Moderno has been named Best New Restaurant of 2012 by Metromix New York. Maharlika was also nominated in the Best International Eats category of Time Out New York’s 2012 Food & Drink Awards. The magazine highlights New York’s best restaurants, bars, chefs and dining

trends of the year. Young Filipino-Americans entrepreneurs Nicole Ponseca, Enzo Lim and Noel launched Maharlika in January 2011 as a weekend “pop-up” restaurant, moving from one host restaurant to another. As its popularity grew, the trio decided to open a permanent location in East Village. In its write-up on the restaurant, Metromix New York men-

tions dishes like longganisa hot dogs with pickled papaya and shrimp-paste mayo, goat adobo braised in soy sauce, ube waffles and a Filipino party staple, spaghetti with hot dogs. The restaurant’s interiors was inspired by 1970s and 1980s Filipino homes and includes a photo of 1973 Miss Universe Margie Moran. Time Out New York’s fa-

Western Union Introduces ‘$50 for $5’ Promo

o facilitate long-distance gift giving solutions, Western Union recently introduced its newest promotion “$50 for $5.” Consumers from the U.S. can send up to $50 from participating U.S. agent locations to loved ones in the Philippines for a $5 transfer fee. The new transfer fees help facilitate gifting solutions for consumers who send money more often and to more loved ones, no matter the occa-

sion or how small the amount, to the Philippines. The gift of cash through Western Union is the perfect present for all occasions. This new pricing also enables con-

sumers to send the gift of cash and show their love to more family members and friends— for graduations, birthdays, ann i v e r s a r i e s , w e d d i n g s , baptismals and other special occasions. With more than 44,000 agent locations in the U.S. and more than 8,000 Agent locations in the Philippines, Western Union is close to loved ones who want the gift of cash. For more information or current exchange rates, call 1877-PERA-ITO or visit www.westernunion.com.

vorite dishes included “Eggs Imelda,” which is poached eggs on pan de sal with taro leaves, coconut milk, prawns and sizzling sisig. Also mentioned was a tropical cocktail called Manileño, which mixes brandy, pineapple, maraschino, Peychaud’s Bitters and lime. The prestigious New York Times also gave the restaurant a full review.

“For Filipino-Americans, this is the family photo album. It is kitsch and not kitsch, irony and homage both,” says Times restaurant review critic Ligaya Mishan. “For everyone else, Maharlika is a gateway restaurant — an exotic excursion with a soft landing, a chance to discover an unsung cuisine without getting too down-and-dirty.” (Good News Pilipinas)

14  haWaii filipinO ChrOniCle  MarCh 17, 2012

MAINLAND NEWS

Strong 3 Months of Hiring as US Adds 227,000 Jobs from www.philstar.com Saturday, March 11, 2012

ASHINGTON (AP) — The United States added 227,000 jobs in February, the latest display of the breadth and strength of the economic recovery. The country has put together the most impressive three months of job growth since before the Great Recession. The unemployment rate stayed at 8.3 percent. It was the first time in six months it didn't fall, and that was because a halfmillion Americans started looking for work. In the past two months, almost a million have started looking. "I have more optimism," said Freda Bratcher, 54, who had worked as a substance abuse counselor but has been unemployed 16 months. She had stopped searching, but showed up Friday at a Miami career center after some of her friends landed jobs. "There's something out there for me," she said. "And if other people are getting hired, then why not me?" The Labor Department, in its monthly jobs report, said Friday that December and January, al-

ready two of the best months for jobs since the recession, were even stronger than first estimated. January job growth was revised higher by 41,000 to 284,000. December job growth was raised by 20,000 to 223,000. The overall job growth for February of 227,000 beat economists' estimate of 210,000. "It's a very strong report," said Bob Baur, chief global economist at Principal Global Investors, an asset management company. "I could hardly find anything not to like in it." Since the beginning of December, the country has added 734,000 jobs. The only threemonth stretch that was better since the recession ended was March through May 2010, when the government was hiring tens of thousands of temporary workers for the census. Before that, the last stretch that was better was February through April 2006. A threemonth gain of 734,000 is roughly what the country was achieving in the late 1990s, although it is less impressive now because the country holds about 40 million more people. Stocks rose after the report came out, though they lost most of their gains later in the day.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 14 points at 12,922. Last week, it closed above 13,000 for the first time since May 2008, four months before the financial crisis. The improving jobs picture figures to improve the re-election chances for President Barack Obama and to complicate the political strategy for the Republicans competing for the right to replace him. Obama on Friday visited a manufacturing plant run by Rolls-Royce, a maker of aircraft engines, in Virginia, a state expected to be closely contested in November. He told workers there that American manufacturing is adding jobs for the first time since the 1990s. "The economy is getting stronger," the president said. "When I come to places like this and I see the work that's being

done, it gives me confidence there are better days ahead. I would bet on American workers and American know-how any day of the week." Mitt Romney, the leader in delegates among Obama's wouldbe challengers, did not directly address the fresh economic data at a stop in Mississippi, but he criticized Obama for failing to bring the unemployment rate below 8 percent. The unemployment rate has remained above 8 percent since February 2009, a month after Obama's inauguration, a point regularly hammered by Romney. But as more jobs are created, it is increasingly likely that the rate will fall below 8 percent by Election Day. Matt McDonald, a partner at Hamilton Place Strategies and former Bush White House official, calculates that the economy needs to add about 185,000 jobs per month to get to that point. "It will be a photo finish to get below 8," he said. Hiring in February was broad-based and improved in both high-paying and low-paying industries. The industries of manufacturing, professional services and health care all added jobs. And government — federal, state and local — cut only 6,000 jobs in February and a revised 1,000 in January. Last year, government cut an average of 22,000 jobs a month, taking some of the economic punch out of job creation in the private sector. The small government losses meant the private sector added 233,000 jobs in February. In all, 142.1 million Americans reported that they had a job in February, the highest since January 2009, during the depths of the recession. The low was 138 million, in December 2009. The government uses a survey of mostly large businesses and government agencies to determine how many jobs are added or lost each month. That is the survey that produced the 227,000 number. But the payroll survey tends to undercount small businesses and does not count the self-employed. It uses a separate survey of American households to calculate the unemployment rate. That survey picks up hiring by companies of all sizes, including

small businesses, companies being started, farm workers and the self-employed. The household survey found that 428,000 more Americans reported having a job in February. When the economy is improving, many economists say, the household survey does the better job of picking it up because it detects small business hiring. Over the past three months, the household survey has shown that the number of employed people has risen by 1.45 million, the biggest three-month gain since 2000. Normally the gain of 428,000 in February would lower the unemployment rate. But a long-awaited trend is emerging to offset: Unemployed people who had given up looking for a job have started looking again. The work force consists of those with a job and those looking for one. People who aren't looking aren't part of the work force, and the government doesn't count them as unemployed. News that the economy is starting to perk up has caused many of those "discouraged workers" to start looking again. They're still unemployed, but they're back in the work force. The work force surged by 476,000 in February and almost 1 million the past two months. There are still about a million discouraged workers in the United States. Workers are no longer counted as discouraged if they haven't looked in the past year. The gains produce something of a paradox: If the work force keeps growing because more people are confident enough to look for a job, the unemployment rate won't decline as quickly. The labor force participation rate, which measures how many adults are working or looking for work as a share of the adult population, rose in February for the first time since last August. The rate came in at 63.9 percent, up from 63.7 in January, the lowest since 1983. It had fallen gradually for two years — even after the worst layoffs of the recession were finished, as people continued to give up looking for work. A measure of all unemployed and the so-called underemployed — people who are working parttime but would rather by working (continued on page 15)

MarCh 17, 2012  haWaii filipinO ChrOniCle  15

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DFA: Filipino Killed in Ambush in Syria

ANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) today confirmed that a Filipino was killed in an ambush in the violence-stricken city of Homs in Syria. DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said in a radio interview that the Filipino, identified only as Montesor, was killed in an ambush by armed gangs in Homs last February 24. Fernandez said that the embassy of the Philippines in the strife-torn

country received the information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "We were informed na iyong isa nating kababayan ay namatay sa pananambang ng armed gangs, parang ambush, sa Homes last February 24," he said. Also last month, a Filipina who was supposed to be repatriated from Syria died due to renal failure. The DFA said that the Filipina was rushed to the Mujtahed Hospital in Damascus while waiting for on-

MAINLAND NEWS (cont.) full-time — fell to 14.9 percent, the lowest the three years. That figure includes three groups: the part-time workers who want fulltime work, people who are unemployed and looking for work and people who are unemployed and have stopped looking. Other economic indicators have improved markedly in recent weeks. Consumer confidence in February was the highest in a year, and applications for unemployment benefits, the best measure of the pace of layoffs, have averaged 355,000 a week, near a fouryear low. Wages are still rising only mod-

COVER STORY (cont.) travel among others. This increased spending power intensifies economic activity. Real estate boomed in the country by reason of the remittances. There are also plenty of good stories about returning migrants who have successfully established their businesses in their hometowns,” she says. The Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has likewise pointed out the benefits of remittances, which include creating a broadened middle class, supporting private consumption, raising people’s savings and increasing investment in human capital, especially for the education and health of beneficiaries. The BSP, in partnership with various government and private agen-

ward connection to Manila at the Damascus International Airport last February 22. She was with 11 other OFWs, who were supposed to be repatriated from the strife-torn country. The DFA had said that more than 1,000 Filipinos have been repatriated from Syria. Filipinos in conflict areas including Homs, Daraa, Hamaa and Idlib are asking to be repatriated. (www.philstar.com)

(from page 14, STRONG...)

estly. Average hourly pay increased by 3 cents in February to $23.31. In the past year, it has gone up only 1.9 percent, trailing the rate of inflation. The factors restraining the US economy seem to be easing, or at least less damaging than they used to be. Greece has struck a deal to get an international bailout and avoid a default later this month that could have rattled the world financial system. And while the price of gas has crept up almost every day for a month, and is the highest on record for this time of year, that has less of a bite when the economy is growing and people feel more confident.

Another strong month of hiring makes it less likely that the Federal Reserve will take additional steps to help the economy at its meeting next week. But it makes it more likely that the economy can continue a pattern known as a virtuous cycle — a reinforcing loop in which stronger hiring leads to more consumer spending, which leads to even more hiring and spending. "Overall, another very strong payroll report and there's every chance that March will bring more of the same," said Paul Ashworth, chief US economist with Capital Economics, an economic research company.

(from page 5, THE RISING...)

cies, has also taken an active approach to reducing the costs of remittances and to mobilizing remittances towards development and productive activities. For instance, the Central Bank improved access to competitive data about banks’ remittance-related products and services, helping overseas Filipinos and their beneficiaries make more informed decisions about the money they send. The BSP has also been instrumental in helping improve remittance channels, encouraging overseas Filipinos and their families to increase savings and investment and promoting financial learning among overseas Filipinos and their beneficiaries.

These reforms being made by the country’s financial decision makers are pinned on the idea that international migration is a reality which Filipinos must face. The challenge is for both the government and the people to maximize its benefits and harness its potential for development, while at the same time mitigating social costs. “The Philippines must now be in the position to finally convert the gains of migration into productive jobs, businesses and investments so that the country improves and Filipinos will somehow have more choices to earn a living, not just by going overseas,” Opiniano says.

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16  haWaii filipinO ChrOniCle  MarCh 17, 2012