7600 Marcos Victims Get $1000 Each
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MARCH 5, 2011 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE 1 ♦ FEBRUARY♦ MARCH 5, 19, 2011 2011 ♦ ♦ LEGISLATIVE CONNECTION FEATURE PHILIPPINE NEWS PEOPLE POWER: FILIPINO FILM 1ST BATCH OF FROM PHILIPPINES FESTIVAL 7,600 MARCOS VICTIMS TO EGYPT IS BACK .....! GET $1,000 EACH HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE PRESORTED STANDARD 94-356 WAIPAHU DEPOT RD., 2ND FLR. U.S. POSTAGE WAIPAHU, HI 96797 PAID HONOLULU, HI PERMIT NO. 9661 2 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE MARCH 5, 2011 EDITORIAL FROM THE PUBLISHER elcome and thank you for Publisher & Executive Editor Congratulations, picking up the newest issue of Charlie Y. Sonido, M.D. the Hawaii Filipino Chroni- Publisher & Managing Editor New Chief Justice cle—the leading Filipino Chona A. Montesines-Sonido W newspaper in the 50th State! In of California! case you missed it, February Associate Editors 25, 2011 marked the 25th An- Dennis Galolo hen Tani Cantil-Sakauye was sworn in as Chief Jus- niversary of the People Power revolution that Edwin Quinabo tice of California on January 3, 2011, it marked sev- toppled the regime of former Philippine presi- Creative Designer eral historic “firsts.” She holds the distinction as the dent Ferdinand Marcos. His exile to Hawaii sharply divided the Fil- Junggoi Peralta first Asian-American and the first Filipino to serve ipino community and pitted Marcos loyalists against vocal critics of the former dictator. Over time, leaders in the Filipino community Design Consultant W as the Golden State’s Chief Justice. It also marks Randall Shiroma the first time that California’s seven-member put aside their differences and managed to forgive and to forget. Supreme Court will have a female majority. This issue’s cover story was written by Danny de Gracia, II, Photographer who introduces readers to Tani Cantil-Sakauye—the first ever Cal- Tim Llena Cantil-Sakauye’s achievements were hailed by immigrants rights ifornia Supreme Court Chief Justice of Filipino ancestry. She holds groups, who see her as a living, breathing example of the American Administrative Assistant the distinction as the most powerful Filipina in U.S. public service. Shalimar Pagulayan dream. Hers is the classic rags-to-riches story. Cantil-Sakauye’s par- Cantil-Sakauye oversees some 1,700 judges and manages a $4 bil- ents worked as farm and plantation laborers who pinched pennies to lion budget for California's court system which is one of the largest Columnists provide a good education for she and her three siblings. She later put Carlota Ader in the world. We are extremely proud of her not for her Hawaii Carlo Cadiz, M.D. herself through college and law school by waiting on tables. Even roots (her father was a former plantation worker here who later set- Mayor Peter Carlisle after earning her Juris Doctor, a tight job market forced her to work tled in California) but because she is an example that anyone, im- Sen. Will Espero briefly as a blackjack dealer in Nevada. Eventually, she landed a job migrants included, can get ahead in life if they are determined and Grace F. Fong, Ed.D as prosecutor in the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office. She willing to work hard. We hope you will enjoy reading her inspir- Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Ph.D. ing story, which begins on page 4. J.P. Orias worked her way up the ladder, serving on the Sacramento Municipal Pacita Saludes Court and then the Superior Court before being appointed by Gov. In news you can use, please refer to our Social Security Update Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the Court of Appeals. column for instructions on how to obtain a replacement SSA-1099 Charlie Sonido, M.D. We hope that Cantil-Sakauye will inspire young Filipinos to not form. If you are preparing to file your tax returns, Form SSA-1099 Emmanuel S. Tipon, Esq. is an important tax document to have. Please take time to read page Felino S. Tubera only study hard but to dream above and beyond what she has ac- 6, particularly if you receive Social Security benefits. You’ll be Sylvia Yuen, Ph.D. complished. If a Filipina can lead a court system as large and as glad you did. complex as the state of California, surely it’s just a matter of time be- Lastly, we would like to remind our readers that HPD will be Contributing Writers fore America elects its first president of Filipino ancestry. And why setting up DUI checkpoints starting Friday, March 4 through Sat- Belinda Aquino, Ph.D. not? There are no limitations to what our young people can accom- urday, April 30. Nine people have been killed in eight traffic col- Clement Bautista plish, particularly with the groundwork laid down by trailblazers lisions on Oahu so far this year. Speed, alcohol or drugs were a Teresita Bernales, Ed.D like Cantil-Sakauye and others before her. factor in six of the crashes. It would be a good idea to have your Linda Dela Cruz Fiedes Doctor So congratulations to Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye on her mon- registration, safety check and other papers updated and on-hand in Gregory Bren Garcia umental achievements. Leading California’s court system is a daunt- case you are asked to pull over by police. Danny De Gracia, II, MA ing task but she is more than up for the challenges that lay ahead. In closing, thank you for faithfully supporting the Hawaii Fil- Amelia Jacang, M.D. ipino Chronicle. Please feel free to contact us at: filipinochroni- Caroline Julian [email protected] if you have story suggestions, concerns or Paul Melvin Palalay, M.D. questions regarding Hawaii’s Filipino community. Glenn Wakai Amado Yoro Big Corporations Until next time…aloha and mabuhay! Philippine Correspondent Must Pay Fair Share in Guil Franco Big Island Distributor Balancing National and and tax benefits. The billions that these corporations receive from Grace Larson tax breaks far surpasses all social welfare aid combined, AFDC, stu- Ditas Udani State Budgets dent aid, housing, food and individual public assistance. Corporate Maui Distributor s Hawaii’s Neil Abercrombie and other governors welfare costs taxpayers up to $570.8 billion over a five-year period. Cecile Piros across the nation painfully slash government spending These tax breaks extended to corporations shortchange govern- Molokai Distributor to balance state budgets, working- and middle-class ment revenues and prompt middle- and working-class Americans to Maria Watanabe Americans are asked to make do with a lot less and pos- pick up the slack by paying more taxes and fees. Advertising/Marketing Director A sibly pay more in taxes and fees. If corporate subsidies weren’t enough, the government also Chona A. Montesines-Sonido Select public schools may be closing. Cuts to Med- hands out billions to corporations, which are written off in many Account Executives icaid and essential welfare programs will be hard hit as cases as grants or packaged as zero percent or very minimal interest Carlota Ader the new GOP-led House in Congress put a plug on billions of federal loans. J.P. Orias dollars from reaching the state level. In times of financial crisis, the In one example alone, we see that social welfare pales in com- The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle is published most vulnerable sectors of society—the elderly, students and poor— parison to corporate welfare. Take the government’s Temporary As- weekly by The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc. It is mailed directly to subscribers and dis- are asked to make the biggest sacrifices. We’ve seen it during the last sistance to Needy Families (TANF) program, a cash assistance tributed at various outlets around Oahu and recession which resulted in major welfare reform. But how much project that benefits poor families, which totaled to $4.5 billion in the neighbor islands. Editorial and advertis- ing deadlines are three weeks prior to pub- more weight can the average American be asked to carry while the 2007. On the other hand, the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), lication date. Subscriptions are available at unlikeliest of groups—corporate America—gets a free ride? a cash assistance program to help failing banks, since September $75 per year for Oahu and the neighbor is- lands, continental U.S. $80, foreign country 2008 to the present amounted to $700 billion. $90. Copyright 2006. The Hawaii Filipino Another Option to Balance the Budget So one year of TANF spending equals to less than 1 percent of Chronicle Inc. is located at 94-356 Waipahu Depot, Waipahu, HI 96797. Telephone The fact is, there is another major source of income that both TARP. Citibank alone received $25 billion—five times the cash (808) 678-8930 Facsimile (808) 678-1829. the federal and state government can rely on to balance the coun- transferred to mothers and children receiving public assistance. All E-mail [email protected]. Web- site: www.thefilipinochronicle.com. Opinions try’s budget. It’s an enormous source of revenue that’s larger than the while, top executives of these banks received an estimated $1.6 expressed by the columnists and contribu- any newly-imposed tax or monies generated from spending cuts can billion in bonuses. The gross misconception is that poor and work- tors do not necessarily reflect those of the ing people are driving the government bankrupt through assistance; Hawaii Filipino Chronicle management. Re- muster. Yet, tapping this much-needed money has gone largely ig- production of the contents in whole or in part nored for political reasons. That is, until recently. yet the reality is corporations are even bigger welfare recipients. is prohibited without written permission from Americans are wising up to the surprise of powerful interest While some may argue subsidies to corporations contribute to the management.