OPINION PHILIPPINE NEWS Honolulu's Rail 3 Love Endures as 10 Project Down But Expat Overcomes Not Out Phl Adoption Process SEPTEMBER 29, 2012 H a w a i i ’ s O n l y w e e k l y F i l i p i n O - a m e r i c a n n e w s p a p e r FilCom Center at 10: a DeCaDe oF engagement anD aChievement By Belinda A. Aquino, Ph.D. Public urged to turn in unused, exPired Medication by HFC Staff he Department of the At- torney General, in part- T nership with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and State Narcotics En- forcement Division, is coordi- turn in their medications on nating its 5th National Take Saturday, September 29, Back Initiative on the islands of 2012, from 10 am to 2 pm Oahu, Kauai, Maui and at various collections Hawaii. points. On Oahu, drop-off Those who have expired locations include: or unused prescription med- • Hawaii State Capitol Participants in a citizenship class at the FilCom Center observe a mock interview to help prepare them for an interview ications are encouraged to (continued on page 7) with a consular official. The class is sponsored by the Hawaii Immigrant Justice Center at the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii and the FilCom Center n Saturday, October 6, 2012, the Filipino Community Center Fil-Am Artist BAgs New (FilCom) will mark its coming of age with a Bayanihan Gala erA’s iNtroduciNg Fundraiser Dinner starting at 6 pm at the Hilton Hawaiian Vil- gloBAl collective Art O lage’s Coral Ballroom. competitioN After 10 years of exis- a vibrant institution in the com- of the Center. The concept tence, the FilCom has munity with a continuing narra- refers to developing any system, Xxxx spanned a whole generation tive of bold initiatives that will be it a school, hospital, church, of struggle, hard work, un- bring it closer to its basic mis- bank, bureaucracy, or other, ac- certainty, persistence, en- sion. Briefly stated, this mission cording to established institu- gagement with the aims to develop and operate a tions and best practices of community and a path to community center that provides professionalism rather than on achievement. And it should a comprehensive infrastructure individual, personal or partisan be at that stage in time when for the promotion and perpetua- considerations. Visual artist Marconi Calindas it has acquired the ability to tion of the Filipino culture and A major feature of the up- chart a more stable footing spirit in Hawaii based on funda- coming celebration will be the by HFC Staff as the big winner for the for its future survival. mental values of the ancestral conferment of honors to U.S. arconi Calindas, a New Era Introducing North Its second decade homeland. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka for his long San Francisco-based America 2012 Global Cre- should be that of FilCom This framework of institu- public career and outstanding M visual artist emerged (continued on page 9) making its way to becoming tionalization is key to the future (continued on page 4) HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE LEGAL NOTES MAINLAND NEWS 94-356 WAIPAHU DEPOT RD., 2ND FLR. USCIS Releases 13 Mayweather 15 WAIPAHU, HI 96797 Deferred Action Withdraws Doping Data & Updates Allegations, Settles Guidelines With Pacquiao 2 News Edition sepTemBer 29, 2012 editorialS Ten Years and Going Strong decade ago, a dream long resident in the ethnic groups for awards banquets and church hearts and minds of Hawaii’s Filipino com- functions. A munity finally came true with the opening of The FilCom Center also offers review classes the long-awaited Filipino Community Center (Fil- for qualified individuals ready to take the NCLEX- Com). Filipinos finally had a place to meet, ex- RN board exam; classes in Filipino folk dancing, change ideas and celebrate their rich culture. ballroom dancing, computer, taekwondo and es- Not only is it a symbol of ethnic pride, the Fil- crima; academic classes on citizenship and per- Com Center is the crown jewel of the efforts of sonal finance; Filipino for Kids Program for youth many who toiled countless hours to turn their col- to learn more about the Philippines’ rich culture lective dream into a reality. The story of the Fil- and heritage, as well as a host of other cultural Com Center is really about many hands pulling projects and community activities. together. The effort was launched by small band For all of its achievements, several chal- of visionaries who were joined by dozens of vol- lenges lay ahead for FilCom, notably finances. unteers from all walks of life who secured The Filipino community should fully support the pledges, grants and loans, and donated profes- FilCom Center, not only with tax deductible do- sional services. nations but to also volunteer at the office, during The $14 million FilCom Center, which is the events or for teaching courses. If you have a skill largest Filipino community center outside of the to share, please let them know. The FilCom Cen- Philippines, sits on former sugarcane land next to ter should and must continue to be at the fore- the landmark Waipahu Sugar Mill and has already front of community activities and services for served a key role in the revitalization of Waipahu. Hawaii’s Filipinos. May it forever stand as a tes- It has been well-utilized for private functions such as seminars, ban- tament to the resilient spirit of the Filipino people and their significant quets, wedding receptions and other private events. And not just by Fil- contributions to Hawaii’s history and serve as sentinel of Filipino arts and ipinos. The FilCom Center has been used by Samoan, Laotian and other traditions. for millions of Filipinos to find better employment opportunities abroad. Job Generation Efforts so far to achieve that long-term goal of creating enough decent espite prevailing woes in the global economy, overseas deployment jobs have not taken off. The public-private partnership or PPP initiative was of Filipino workers went up by 1.3 percent in the first half of the year, supposed to be the flagship program for job generation of the Aquino ad- Daccording to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. ministration. Launched with fanfare in November 2010, the PPP has stalled, That’s 891,460 Filipinos leaving the country for jobs overseas in just six with only one project set to start construction next month: the Daang Hari- months - good news for those back home who will receive their remit- South Luzon Expressway link, with an estimated cost of P1.96 billion. tances, and good news for economic growth figures. Bidding has been conducted for a second PPP project to construct The government, however, cannot ignore the continuing crisis in the school buildings, estimated at P10 billion, with the awarding expected eurozone and the general economic slowdown in other parts of the globe. soon. The government had promised to bid out eight PPP projects this Even China and India, economic giants of the developing world, are feel- year. ing the downturn and are retooling strategies to improve economic per- Although surveys continue to show strong business confidence in the formance. Violent unrest in the oil-producing states of the Arab world is administration, the numbers are not being reflected in levels of foreign di- compounding global economic instability. rect investment. Response to the PPP initiative was so tepid that the gov- Amid the uncertainty, the Philippines must be ready to absorb more of ernment announced it would just tap official development assistance to its own workers. The overseas deployment has its social costs. Many in- finance PPP projects. At the start of his term, the President said one of the dustries are also running out of skilled workers because of the continuing immediate challenges the nation faced was regaining business confi- exodus. President Aquino, even during his election campaign, said his dence. He has taken several steps in the right direction, but more must be long-term goal is to create an environment that will make it unnecessary done to fuel job-generating investments. (www.philstar.com) NEWS EDITION www.thefilipinochronicle.com www.efilipinochronicle.com Contributing Writers Advertising/Marketing Director Belinda Aquino, Ph.D., Clement Bautista, Teresita Chona A. Montesines-Sonido Charlie Y. SONIDO, M.D. Columnists Bernales, Ed.D., Serafin Colmenares, Jr., Ph.D., Gov. Neil Abercrombie Carlota Ader Publisher and Executive Editor Linda Dela Cruz, Fiedes Doctor, Danny de Gracia II, Account Executives Mayor Peter Carlisle Carlo Cadiz, M.D. M.A., Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand, Amelia Jacang, Carlota Ader Sen. Will Espero Chona A. M.D., Caroline Julian, Maita Milallos, Paul Melvin J. P. Orias MONTESINES-SONIDO Grace F. Fong, Ed.D. Palalay, M.D., Glenn Wakai Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Ph.D. Creative Designer Big Island Distributor Publisher and Managing Editor J. P. Orias Junggoi Peralta Grace Larson Pacita Saludes Ditas Udani Dennis GALOLO Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq. Philippine Correspondent Edwin QUINABO Charlie Sonido, M.D. Greg Garcia Maui Distributor Emmanuel S. Tipon,Esq. Associate Editors Photography Cecile Piros Felino S. Tubera Tim Llena Randall SHIROMA Amado Yoro Administrative Assistant Molokai Distributor Sylvia Yuen, Ph.D. Design Consultant Shalimar Pagulayan Maria Watanabe 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. $85, foreign country $95. Copyright 2007-2012. The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc.