deCemBeR 24, 2011 hawaii FiliPino ChRoniCle 1 ♦♦ DFEBCREMUABREYR 1294,, 22001111 ♦♦ l e i r b a G l i g r i V y b y h p a r g o t o h P HAWAII-FILIPINO NEWS PHILIPPINE NEWS LEGAL NOTES City Releases 2012 yeaRendeR : Filing eB-2 n ow Real PRoPeRty PeaCe with milF, BeFoRe Visa CaPs assessments nPa s till elusiVe Change 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 deCemBeR 24, 2011 EDITORIAL Publisher & Executive Editor Put Your Worries Aside; Be Happy, the Holiday Charlie Y. Sonido, M.D. Publisher & Managing Editor Season Is Here Chona A. Montesines-Sonido f one thing is certain, particularly during the out to an invisible hand, saddened, but taking comfort in the Associate Editors past few years, it is uncertainty. The lingering belief that she is now joined in the presence of the main Dennis Galolo economic maelstrom has angered Americans so characters in that same liturgy we've heard every year dur - Edwin Quinabo profoundly to a point where taking massive ing Christmas mass. Creative Designer I protest to the streets seemed like the only op - We also remember as Filipinos the tradition of fiesta Junggoi Peralta tion to get the powers that be to pay attention during the holidays. All our uncles, aunties and cousins Design Consultant that so much is so wrong with the status quo: high unem - coming together to welcome in the New Year. As children Randall Shiroma ployment, low wages, rising inflation, enormous income in - all that mattered was having as much fun as possible before Photography equities, and most importantly, a it was time to go home, jumping Tim Llena general belief that our economic from one game to another, playing Administrative Assistant system can no longer endure the re - with those favorite cousins and Shalimar Pagulayan peated cyclic recessions of the past not-so favorite, other cousin. Our Columnists century with band-aid fixes. fathers worked tirelessly on that Carlota Ader Carlo Cadiz, M.D. For many of us, we are not spinning, impaled lechon over a Sen. Will Espero versed in political or economic the - spit of fire. It slowly roasting for Grace F. Fong, Ed.D ories that may or may not bring hours. Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Ph.D. J.P. Orias about solutions to our problems, The lechon was the main Pacita Saludes but we do have a sense of knowing course at any Filipino dinner, but Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq. deep down that something is wrong the roasting actually meant more Charlie Sonido, M.D. Emmanuel S. Tipon, Esq. based on our own personal hard - than a delicious meal: it was a Felino S. Tubera ships. Our bills keep mounting but perfect setting for grown men Sylvia Yuen, Ph.D. we are making do with much less; who immigrated from the Philip - our time away from home to take pines to talk about their new life Contributing Writers on multiple odd jobs means less in America, adjusting to the new, Belinda Aquino, Ph.D. Cleme nt Bautista time to spend with our spouse; our often times strange, local culture Teresita Bernales, Ed.D blessings of a house and fulfillment while contrasting it to the good Linda Dela Cruz of the American dream rich with old days of the motherland, all the Fiedes Doctor Danny De Gracia, II, MA opportunities are a shrinking real - struggles and triumphs of past and Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand ity for our children. Given the con - present. It was a kind of macho Amelia Jacang, M.D. ditions of our time, we are all too therapy of sorts enhanced by Caroline Julian Maita Milallos aware how simple it is to lose hope. But what keeps us mov - Primo beer, the crackling noise of fat dripping on white Paul Melvin Palalay, M.D. ing forward is something that no economic adversity can charcoal, orange fire, and incessant calls in the background Glenn Wakai take away -- our love for and bond with our family. This is from the mothers asking: "Is the pig crispy yet?" The prepa - Amado Yoro the one thing that we can be certain of and rely upon ration and roasting of lechon would start in the wee hours of Philippine Correspondent Greg Garcia through all the days of the year. Our family is our inspira - the morning until sunset, not dusk to dawn as some Ameri - tion for living the best we can. can parties would take place, but the reverse of that, from Big Island Distributor Grace Larson During the holiday season, we give thanks to our God dawn to dusk. The entire process required much more time; Ditas Udani and creator for all our blessings; and we celebrate our rela - and unfortunately as busy, second-third generation Fil - Maui Distributor tionships with our family and loved ones. ipinos, it is a culinary practice quickly fading. Cecile Piros As Filipino Catholics, we remember midnight Christ - But just as the memories of our departed can easily be Molokai Distributor mas masses holding on to our mother's hand as a young recalled especially during the holidays, when Filipinos see Maria Watanabe child while listening to the Christmas liturgy of the Holy perfectly crispy lechon skin, we can almost visualize in HD Advertising/Marketing Director Mother giving birth to our Savior Jesus. Her hand felt warm our parents, grandparents, uncles, aunties and cousins many Chona A. Montesines-Sonido and strong. We felt protected. Years later as adults, we re - years ago taking delight in with full smiles, and collectively Account Executives member our mother beside us once again listening to the raving over the finished masterpiece of lechon prepared in Carlota Ader same liturgy; her hands now softer and wrinkled. We now the old style of open fire by our very proud fathers. J.P. Orias feel like her protector. Our hands strong and warm. Then as Time goes by so quickly. Check that, life zips by. But The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle is published older adults and our mother already passed on, we still keep the memories do last. weekly by The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc. imprinted in our hearts and minds her memory, and reach During this holiday season, let us really take pleasure It is mailed directly to subscribers and dis - tributed at various outlets around Oahu and in our own equally special traditions we share as a family the neighbor islands. Editorial and advertis - ing deadlines are three weeks prior to pub - and put our nagging troubles, financial woes and political lication date. Subscriptions are available at discontentment aside. The holiday season should be a re - $75 per year for Oahu and the neighbor is - lands, continental U.S. $80, foreign country treat from the seemingly towering obstacles we face the rest $90. Copyright 2006. The Hawaii Filipino of the year. Again, if peace of mind could be a vacation des - Chronicle Inc. is located at 94-356 Waipahu Depot, Waipahu, HI 96797. Telephone tination, there's no better time to take a trip there during (808) 678-8930 Facsimile (808) 678-1829. Christmas and the New Year's festivities. Let's return to our E-mail [email protected]. Web - site: www.thefilipinochronicle.com. Opinions truer, simpler nature -- one of happiness and communion expressed by the columnists and contribu - tors do not necessarily reflect those of the with God, family and loved ones. It is in this blessed state Hawaii Filipino Chronicle management. Re - of being that we are able to build memories that last a life - production of the contents in whole or in part is prohibited without written permission from time. the management. All rights reserved. From the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle staff, we wish all Printed in the U.S.A. our readers, supporters and their families a very happy hol - www.thefilipinochronicle.com www.efilipinochronicle.com iday season. deCemBeR 24, 2011 hawaii FiliPino ChRoniCle 3 OPINION Corona stated many things that plunged. For the Class E to be P- who is trying his case, sent emis - Unbelievable! were simply unbelievable. The Noy’s biggest support base saries in order to extort P100 AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR By William M. Esposo most unbelievable was the CJ’s means that they they’re feeling million from him. This tale of claim that P-Noy was out to con - improvements in their lives and Abalos received the same level nbelievable is the ther forced to sign nor disal - trol the Judiciary and rule like a they like what he is doing. of doubt Filipinos had when best word to de - lowed to ask questions by look - dictator. Since CJ Corona has joined Elena B. Horn, Gloria Macapa - scribe many of the ing at the roster of those who Son of a martyr of democ - P-Noy on the political stage, he gal Arroyo (GMA) spokesper - recent pronounce - voted to impeach Corona. racy — Ninoy Aquino — and a must now figure out how to earn son, announced a plot to put ments of im - Bayan, whose associates in champion of democracy — Cory the sympathy of the Classes D GMA to sleep. U many front organizations of the peached Supreme — P-Noy’s every breath is dedi - and E. After the Class E, the Your Chair Wrecker sees two Court (SC) Chief Justice (CJ) Left have been P-Noy’s most un - cated towards strengthening Class D are P-Noy’s biggest sup - possible angles in this extortion Rene Corona’s supporters.