may 23, 2015 haWaII fILIpIno chronIcLe 1 ♦ MAY 23, 2015 ♦ CANDID PERSPECTIVES IMMIGRATION GUIDE MAINLAND NEWS Do fILIpIno In ImmIgratIon, Who hIrono IntroDuces LIves reaLLy has the greatest BILLs to Improve matter? Love of aLL? veterans' heaLth care PRESORTED HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE STANDARD 94-356 WAIPAHU DEPOT RD., 2ND FLR. U.S. POSTAGE WAIPAHU, HI 96797 PAID HONOLULU, HI PERMIT NO. 9661 2 haWaII fILIpIno chronIcLe may 23, 2015 EDITORIALS FROM THE PUBLISHER Publisher & Executive Editor eather forecasters are pre- Charlie Y. Sonido, M.D. dicting a busier than normal QMC-West Marks Publisher & Managing Editor hurricane season for Hawaii. Chona A. Montesines-Sonido 1st Anniversary With five to eight storms ex- pected this June through No- Associate Editors he first year of any endeavor in life—be it a rela- W Dennis Galolo vember 2015, we urge you to tionship, business venture or even a child’s first Edwin Quinabo refrain from waiting until the very last birthday—is usually fraught with difficult chal- Contributing Editor minute to prepare. If you hate spending your lenges that threaten its very survival. The new Belinda Aquino, Ph.D. hard earned money on expensive bottled water, consider pur- Queen’s Medical Center-West Oahu quietly Creative Designer T chasing the waterBOB—a water containment system that holds Junggoi Peralta marked its first anniversary, managing to not only up to 100 gallons of fresh drinking water in a standard bathtub survive the initial growing pains but to also thrive. in the event of an emergency. Curious? Google “waterBOB” and Photography The success of Queen’s Health System’s new satellite cam- Tim Llena read more. pus is welcomed news for West Oahu residents who were left Administrative Assistant without access to emergency room facilities and quality medical Our cover story for this issue was submitted by associate ed- Shalimar Pagulayan itor Dennis Galolo, who wrote about the first year anniversary care when St. Francis HealthCare System closed its Hawaii Columnists Medical Center West campus in late 2011. The nearest emer- of Queen’s Medical Center-West Oahu. The new hospital has Carlota Hufana Ader gency room facilities for West Oahu residents were now con- been a God-send for residents of West and Central Oahu who Emil Guillermo now have easy and available access to emergency room and Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Ph.D. siderably further away—the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Ron Menor Health Center on the Leeward coast or the Pali Momi Medical quality medical care. QMC-West Oahu has about 80 acute beds J.P. Orias Center in Aiea. Other hospitals picked up the slack but soon and a licensed capacity of 135 beds. In comparison, Queen’s Pacita Saludes found their facilities overburdened and wait times increased. Hospital on Punchbowl Street is licensed to provide 505 acute Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq. beds. For more about QMC-West Oahu and its impact on the Charlie Sonido, M.D. Queen’s thankfully stepped in to purchase the property in De- Emmanuel S. Tipon, Esq. cember 2012 and pumped in some $70 million to renovate the community, please turn to page 4 for our cover story and to page Felino S. Tubera facilities and modernize the equipment. The risk was enormous, 6 for an exclusive question and answer session with QMC-West Sylvia Yuen, Ph.D. given the fact that other hospitals have struggled financially in Oahu Chief Operating Officer (COO) Susan Murray. Contributing Writers the midst of rising costs and health care reform. In other news, if you’re looking for something fun for your Clement Bautista QMC-West Oahu is well-positioned to meet the needs of kids to do this summer, consider them signing up for “Filipino Teresita Bernales, Ed.D the island’s native Hawaiian population, 42 percent of whom for Kids,” a summer program designed to provide elementary Serafin Colmenares, Jr., Ph.D. call West Oahu home and as a whole suffers from high rates of school-age children of all ethnic backgrounds an opportunity to Julia Crowley Linda Dela Cruz diabetes and other chronic diseases. West Oahu is also home to learn about the Philippines’ rich culture and heritage. The pro- Fiedes Doctor a high concentration of Filipinos with its own set of health is- gram includes language and culture components and interactive Danny De Gracia, II, MA sues such as inadequate health screenings. activities such as games, dances, songs and a summer reading Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand For West Oahu, which has seen a steady rise in its popula- Amelia Jacang, M.D. program. To find out how to register your child, see page 11. Caroline Julian tion over the years, QMC-West Oahu’s long term viability is Lastly, congratulations to contributing writer Amado Yoro Dr. Raymund Liongson crucial. By 2016, the region is forecasted to have a population who won election to the Ewa Neighborhood Board. He was Federico Magdalena, Ph.D. of 218,584 individuals, including many young families. Two Deborah T. Manog among the winning candidates who earned a seat on a neighbor- new development projects are also expected to further increase Maita Milallos hood board. For a list of neighborhood board election winners, Paul Melvin Palalay, M.D. demand for medical care—D.R. Horton’s massive 1,554 acre turn to page 6. Seneca Moraleda-Puguan Ho’opili project in East Kapolei which will add some 12,000 In closing, we encourage you as always to contact us at: fil- Lilia Q. Santiago, Ph.D. homes and Castle & Cooke’s Koa Ridge project for 3,500 Jay Valdez, Psy.D. [email protected] with story ideas, tips or concerns re- homes on 575 acres located not far away in Central Oahu. Glenn Wakai Amado Yoro A major hospital like QMC-West Oahu not only provides garding Hawaii’s dynamic and vibrant Filipino community. Our sincerest thanks to all of you for reading and faithfully support- Philippine Correspondent much-needed medical care but also contributes to the local Greg Garcia economy and is a major employer. The hospital has already ing the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle! Until next time…aloha and mabuhay! Big Island Distributor made a substantial imprint on the community it serves and will Grace Larson continue to do so even more in the coming years, staying true Ditas Udani to its mission of providing health care services for the well- Maui Distributor being of all of Hawaii’s people. Cecile Piros Molokai Distributor Maria Watanabe Given the current state of the American elections system with Advertising/Marketing Director Mandatory Voting –Wow! disproportionate big money influence and very low voter turnout Chona A. Montesines-Sonido (about two-thirds of Americans do not vote), it’s about time a Account Executives A Truly Revolutionary Idea completely revolutionary idea is thrown into the debates over Carlota Hufana Ader election reform -- and Americans have Obama to thank for at least J.P. Orias Deserving Of Support planting this seed. The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle is published weekly by The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc. olitics has become so humdrum with rehashed ideas But in order for a serious idea as this one to gain momentum It is mailed directly to subscribers and dis- tributed at various outlets around Oahu and that the average American pays very little attention and enter the stage of policy-making, Americans need to take it the neighbor islands. Editorial and advertis- ing deadlines are three weeks prior to pub- to what’s going on. further and be talking about it. lication date. Subscriptions are available at Then suddenly, a truly big, fresh idea surfaces, $75 per year for Oahu and the neighbor is- lands, continental U.S. $80, foreign country catches momentum and gets even political junkies Upend Politics As We Know It $90. Copyright 2006-2014. The Hawaii Fil- P ipino Chronicle Inc. is located at 94-356 thinking: “Wow! This idea just might work. Why Studies show that the people who tend not to vote are young, Waipahu Depot, Waipahu, HI 96797. Tele- phone (808) 678-8930 Facsimile (808) 678- haven’t people been talking about it all these years.” lower income, working class, immigrants and minorities. Studies 1829. E-mail [email protected]. Website: www.thefilipinochronicle.com. At a speech in Cleveland, President Barack Obama floated also show that American democracy has become an oligarchy, a Opinions expressed by the columnists and such an idea when he said voting should become mandatory. form of power structure ruled by a few. The Supreme Court’s contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle manage- He elaborated that voting should be made easier, not harder shamefully misguided ruling that allows corporations to donate ment. Reproduction of the contents in whole or in part is prohibited without written per- for people. to campaigns without limit further concentrates power in the mission from the management. All rights re- “It would be transformative if everybody voted – that would hands of the extremely wealthy and powerful interest groups. served. Printed in the U.S.A. www.thefilipinochronicle.com counteract money more than anything, Obama said. Mandatory voting could equal the playing field between the www.efilipinochronicle.com Cover Photo: Staff photo was taken by Jason Kimura which was superimposed against the haves and have-nots, reverse the increasing gap between the two MeMber, SOCiety Of PrOfeSSiOnal backdrop of the Queen's West-Oahu hospital building taken by our staff. (continued on page 3) JOurnaliStS may 23, 2015 haWaII fILIpIno chronIcLe 3 CANDID PERSPECTIVES Do Filipino Lives Really Matter? was lucky.” I wish Stephen had been cans, young legal immigrants for justice. Just for paperwork.