JANUARY 22, 2011 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE 1 ♦ JANUARY 22, 2011 ♦ COMMENTARY HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS LEGAL NOTES MARK FARRALES STORY VISAYAN NOTICE REQUIRED INSPIRES FILIPINOS TO FIGHT GROUP RECEIVES BEFORE TERMINATION FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM PRESIDENTIAL AWARD OF VISA REGISTRATION MAINLAND NEWS HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE PRESORTED STANDARD 94-356 WAIPAHU DEPOT RD., 2ND FLR. U.S. POSTAGE FILIPINO NAMED WAIPAHU, HI 96797 PAID HONOLULU, HI PRESIDENT AT SETON HALL PERMIT NO. 9661 UNIVERSITY 2 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE JANUARY 22, 2011 EDITORIAL FROM THE PUBLISHER ow are you doing with your Publisher & Executive Editor Charlie Y. Sonido, M.D. Congratulations, UST New Year’s resolutions? Most his year marks the 400th Anniversary of the Uni- deal with losing weight, get- Publisher & Managing Editor versity of Santo Tomas (UST)—widely known as ting more organized or taking Chona A. Montesines-Sonido the oldest university not only in the Philippines, H better care of your health. While these are great, we Associate Editors but throughout all of Asia. The venerable institu- Dennis Galolo T tion pre-dates even Harvard University in the U.S. should consider other ways to Edwin Quinabo which was founded in 1636. make 2011 one of the best years ever. Re- solve to spend more quality time with your children or invest Creative Designer UST ranks among the top universities in the Junggoi Peralta Philippines, along with De La Salle University-Manila, the in your marriage. Whatever your resolution is, keep at it and University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila Univer- don’t give up! Design Consultant Randall Shiroma sity. It has survived wars, revolutions and other landmark This past Wednesday marked the first day of the State Leg- events that helped shape the Philippines’ destiny. Through its islature. There were the usual opening day speeches, well Photographer hallowed halls have walked many of the nation’s heroes, pres- wishes, entertainment and food—but on a much more subdued Tim Llena idents, senators, scientists, engineers, artists and other influ- scale. At press time, members of the State House of Repre- Administrative Assistant ential figures. UST not only provides a quality education for its sentatives voted to retain Calvin Say as Speaker. We hope that Shalimar Pagulayan students, but also teaches them important values and virtues House leadership will decide quickly on committee assign- Columnists in life, such as community service and the importance of liv- ments and promptly carry on the business of Hawaii’s people. Carlota Ader ing out one’s faith and personal beliefs. Speaking of determined, a small but dedicated group of Carlo Cadiz, M.D. As for UST’s Quadricentennial, Thomasians have planned Filipino physicians, medical professionals and laypersons are Mayor Peter Carlisle now in the Philippines for a week long medical mission. The Sen. Will Espero a plethora of events and festivities aimed at bringing together Grace F. Fong, Ed.D the UST ohana as well as the entire nation. Preparations for team is in the Bicol region which has been recently hit hard Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Ph.D. such a colossal and once-in-a-lifetime event began several by typhoons. The mission was organized by the Bicol Club of J.P. Orias Hawaii with assistance from the Titans USA Foundation. Pacita Saludes years ago and required the concerted effort of hundreds, per- Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq. haps thousands of volunteers. Since UST is indeed a national Please read more about this mission beginning on page 7. Charlie Sonido, M.D. treasure of the Philippines, organizers are encouraging all Fil- Our cover story for this issue is about the 400th Anniver- Emmanuel S. Tipon, Esq. ipinos to join in the celebrations—even if they did not attend sary of the University of Santo Tomas (UST). Contributing Felino S. Tubera UST. Invitations have even been sent to no less than Pope writer Gregory Bren Garcia takes a look back at the rich his- Sylvia Yuen, Ph.D. Benedict XVI and the Spanish Royal family. tory of this prestigious university and interviews several Contributing Writers For an institution to last this long is a credit to the founders’ alumni who reminisced about their days at UST. In fact, a short list UST’s alumni reads like a who’s who in Philippine Belinda Aquino, Ph.D. vision, perpetual support of its faculty and alumni and a testa- Clement Bautista ment to divine favor throughout the centuries. In fact, the history— Jose Rizal, Apolinario Mabini, Manuel Quezon and Teresita Bernales, Ph.D motto for the Quadricentennial—“Unending Grace”—is an Sergio Osmena—just to name just a few. We hope you will Linda Dela Cruz appropriate reference to the unmistakable hand of Providence enjoy reading our cover story which begins on page 4. Fiedes Doctor On page 3, associate editor Edwin Quinabo tells the Gregory Bren Garcia upon the school. Danny De Gracia, II, MA So congratulations to UST and all of its students, alumni, plight of Mark Farrales, a Fil-Am doctoral student at the Uni- Amelia Jacang, M.D. faculty and staff—both past and present. Here’s to 400 more versity of California-San Diego and Harvard magna cum Caroline Julian years of success, service to our fellow man and providing qual- laude graduate who now faces deportation. Fortunately, the Paul Melvin Palalay, M.D. Filipino community and key legislators have rallied to his de- Glenn Wakai ity education for tomorrow’s future leaders. Amado Yoro fense. His case is an important reminder that it’s not just un- Philippine Correspondent documented Latinos who have been targeted by Immigration Guil Franco Green Light at Last and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. If anything, more Filipinos need to join the fight for immigration reform. Big Island Distributor for Rail Transit Project Grace Larson There are other articles of interest in this issue, including Ditas Udani he City received the Record of Decision (ROD) an award bestowed to the Congress of Visayan Organizations from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) last Maui Distributor from the Philippine government (page 6), a warning from the Cecile Piros week that clears the way for construction to begin Better Business Bureau about the top 10 scams of 2010 (page on the $5.5 billion fixed rail project. The ROD con- 6), our Immigration Guide column (page 7) and Legal Notes Molokai Distributor Maria Watanabe T firms that the project has met all requirements of column (page 13). In closing, we again would like to thank the environmental review process. The Carlisle ad- you for faithfully supporting the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle. Advertising/Marketing Director ministration in response announced a ground- Please feel free to contact us at: [email protected] Chona A. Montesines-Sonido breaking for March 2011. The ROD comes on the heels of the if you have ideas, concerns or questions regarding Hawaii’s Account Executives Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) which was Carlota Ader Filipino community. J.P. Orias signed last month by Gov. Abercrombie. The FEIS declares Until next time…aloha and mabuhay! that the State is satisfied with the project’s plans to mitigate The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle is published weekly by The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc. potential impacts. It is mailed directly to subscribers and dis- For rail supporters, the ROD is the culmination of numer- hard part is over. Opponents have also vowed to file lawsuits tributed at various outlets around Oahu and the neighbor islands. Editorial and advertis- ous hard-fought events that began in 2005 when then Mayor to stop the project, alleging that the City was biased in its tech- ing deadlines are three weeks prior to pub- Mufi Hannemann launched all-out efforts for a rail project for nology selection and did not properly study all alternatives. lication date. Subscriptions are available at $75 per year for Oahu and the neighbor is- Honolulu commuters. The pieces slowly came together, be- Native Hawaiian groups will be monitoring the project for iwi lands, continental U.S. $80, foreign country ginning with legislation that established the general excise tax kupuna, or bones of their ancestors, if and when they are en- $90. Copyright 2006. The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc. is located at 94-356 Waipahu (GET) as the funding source, followed by an Alternatives countered. Lastly, there will always be an outspoken core of Depot, Waipahu, HI 96797. Telephone Analysis (AA) report, selection of the transit technology, mim- transit critics questioning the City’s ability to adequately pay (808) 678-8930 Facsimile (808) 678-1829. E-mail [email protected]. Web- imum operable segment (MOS), draft environmental impact for the project. site: www.thefilipinochronicle.com. Opinions statement, modification in alignment, a ballot question in the Our response? In as simple terms as possible, there will al- expressed by the columnists and contribu- tors do not necessarily reflect those of the November 2008 election, a Programmatic Agreement (PA) for ways be critics in whatever venture life holds. Because we can- Hawaii Filipino Chronicle management. Re- native Hawaiian burials, an independent financial review of not accurately predict what the future holds, we must plan production of the contents in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission from the project by Gov. Lingle and endless hours of testimony, dis- carefully, go with our best and most educated estimates and ad- the management. All rights reserved. cussion and presentations at community and Council meet- just as we go along. To kill this project or worse yet, do nothing, Printed in the U.S.A. ings. is unacceptable. We have studied transit to death for the past 30 www.thefilipinochronicle.com By no means is the project out of the woods.