May 18, 2019 Hawaii Filipino Chronicle 1
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MAY 18, 2019 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE 1 MAY 18, 2019 CANDID PERSPECTIVES LEGAL NOTES ARE WE ASIAN AMERICANS TRUMP ORDERED CRACKDOWN YET? ON VISA OVERSTayS PHILIPPINE ELECTION 2019 COVERAGE VOTE BUYING AN INTEGRAL PART OF PHILIPPINE ELECTIONS - DUTERTE 2 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLEMAY 18, 2019 EDITORIALS FROM THE PUBLISHER Publisher & Executive Editor verybody loves a success story. Charlie Y. Sonido, M.D. Publisher & Managing Editor At a time when immigrants are Immigrant Success Chona A. Montesines-Sonido negatively mischaracterized for Associate Editors political reasons, it’s particular- Edwin QuinaboDennis Galolo Stories Remind Us How ly inspirational and refreshing Contributing Editor to read about successful immi- Belinda Aquino, Ph.D. E Layout Valuable Immigrants grants who are making great contributions to Junggoi Peralta our communities. Photography Are to Our Communities One such individual is Jade Butay, the first Filipino-Amer- Tim Llena ican to be Director of the Hawaii Department of Transpor- Administrative Assistant raveling to a foreign country is always an Lilia Capalad tation (HDOT). Butay was appointed to lead the HDOT by Shalimar Pagulayan eye-opening experience. Travelers can’t help but Governor David Ige and confirmed for this position by the Columnists to compare how their foreign destinations differ Hawaii Senate on March 2 this year. But, as associate editor Carlota Hufana Ader from their own home country: the variations in Edwin Quinabo writes in this issue’s cover story on Butay, Elpidio R. Estioko climate, architecture, air quality, noise, modes of he is not new to the DOT and served as its former Deputy Emil Guillermo transportation, nightlife, leisure activities, cul- Melissa Martin, Ph.D. T Director. J.P. Orias ture, shopping, and most importantly, the way people live. In the cover story, Butay shares his early childhood expe- Pacita Saludes But immigrants say going to a foreign place is far different riences growing up in a rural northern Philippines town which Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq. than what it is like to actually live in a foreign country because Charlie Sonido, M.D. gave him, as what he says, a “broader awareness of the world” Emmanuel S. Tipon, Esq. visitors know that their experience abroad is only temporary. and “hunger inside” of him to succeed. Today, Butay is among Felino S. Tubera Immigrants who’ve grown up in impoverished communities, the state’s most well-known experts in his field. Besides his Contributing Writers for example, see poverty in a completely different set of lens- heavily-loaded responsibilities at the HDOT, he sits on several Clement Bautista es, having believed from childhood that their situation is most Edna Bautista, Ed.D. boards of directors to some of the most powerful organizations Teresita Bernales, Ed.D. likely permanent, permanent hardship that cannot be simply from the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation to the Sheryll Bonilla, Esq. escaped by hopping on a plane. Hawaii Community Development Authority. Many who know Rose Churma This stark reality often, as immigrants say, is what ignites Butay, including Gov. Ige, will say what stands out about Jade Serafin Colmenares Jr., Ph.D. Linda Dela Cruz the fire in their belly to succeed when they finally arrive to the is his down-to-earth attitude despite being highly credentialed Fiedes Doctor U.S. where greater opportunities exist. This could also explain and highly accomplished. We wish Mr. Butay much success in Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand why immigrant children excel in schools; why immigrants as his very important role in leading the HDOT. Amelia Jacang, M.D. adults often work harder than their American-born counterparts Caroline Julian Also in this issue, Carl Bergquist, executive director of the Raymond Ll. Liongson, Ph.D. who had grown up living more comfortable lives. Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii (DPFH) contributes an opinion Federico Magdalena, Ph.D. Jade Butay, the first Filipino-American to be Director of the article encouraging Gov. Ige to sign a bill passed by the State Matthew Mettias Hawaii Department of Transportation, explained his immigrant Maita Milallos Legislature that would change the guidelines of asset forfeiture. Paul Melvin Palalay, M.D. experience this way: “In hindsight, I can see that immigrating Currently, a person’s property can be seized and sold without Renelaine Bontol-Pfister to the United States during the end of sixth grade in elementary a criminal conviction or even a criminal charge. The new bill Seneca Moraleda-Puguan school accelerated my maturity and gave me a broader aware- Jay Valdez, Psy.D. would require a felony conviction before property is forfeited Glenn Wakai ness of the world. to the government which would, as Bergquist says, “dilute the Amado Yoro “Being an immigrant helped me understand the importance policing for profit” incentive for law enforcement. Philippine Correspondent: of taking nothing for granted. My experience as an immigrant In our columns section, HFC’s Elpidio Estioko writes Greg Garcia dramatically shaped me and provided me with a different per- about the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Neighbor Island Correspondents: spective than my friends. I couldn’t have articulated it then, but Hawaii’s participation in the recent 27th Annual Filipino Fiesta Big Island (Hilo and Kona) looking back I recognize that I had a bigger picture orientation and 7th Flores de Mayo. UPAA-H built a Bahay Kubo (bamboo Grace LarsonDitas Udani and felt an acute sense of responsibility,” he said. hut) and re-enacted the Sabong (backyard cockfight) at their Kauai Butay said growing up in the Philippines instilled a “hun- Millicent Washington cultural booth to give fiesta-goers an idea of rural life in the Maui ger inside of him, a desire to succeed.” Philippines. Christine Sabado Like many immigrants, his life story is punctuated with Be sure to get the latest in our news sections, including an Big Island Distributors hard work, ambition, and accomplishment – starting as Butay, article on the Trump administration’s recent filing in federal Grace LarsonDitas Udani the student, excelling in high school taking AP courses (during court challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Kauai Distributors a time when only a very select few could do), to his college Amylou Aguinaldo Act (ACA). Data shows under the ACA, the Asian American Nestor Aguinaldo years at UH-Manoa and later Babson College (one of the elite and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) community’s rate of uninsured Maui Distributor schools in the nation), and ultimately his climb to the upper dropped dramatically from 16 to 6.8 percent. Experts say strik- Cecile Piros ranks of state government, to Director of one of the most pow- ing down ACA could leave many AAPIs uninsured, once again. Molokai Distributor erful departments in the state. Maria Watanabe In this issue, we also have a special Philippine Election Oahu Distributors Butay’s immigrant story is an illuminating reminder that 2019 Coverage that includes election results, articles on vote Yoshimasa Kaneko immigrants have enormous potential to contribute to our com- buying, the continued stronghold of the Marcoses in Ilocos Jonathan Pagulayan munities, our state and nation. Stories like his is refreshing to Norte, and election glitches. The Commission on Elections will Advertising / Marketing Director hear and important to be told at this time in particular when confirm the results in a few days, but unofficial counts show Chona A. Montesines-Sonido xenophobia is at an all-time high and immigrants face harsh President Rodrigo Duterte’s allies will win potentially all of the Account Executives discrimination in many parts of the nation. 12 senate seats up for grab in this midterm. Carlota Hufana Ader In many ways, Hawaii’s multi-diverse culture is condu- Lastly, in observance of the HFC’s 25th Anniversary, we J.P. Orias cive for immigrants to flourish, especially for Asian American are awarding a Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Journalism Scholar- immigrants who see their home country’s culture perpetuated, ship to a Journalism or Mass Media Major student of Filipino celebrated and respected in our state. The contrast from their heritage who is enrolled full-time in a four-year college in Ha- home country is not too stark from Hawaii; compared to having waii this semester. The scholarship is for $2,500. Applications to settle in other parts of the U.S. where immigrants report feel- are being accepted between May 20 to June 10, 2019. Visit ing alienated, and often undergo maladaptive transitions that www.thefilipinochronicle.com or see our ad in this issue. ultimately affect their ability to thrive. Thank you for supporting your community newspaper. Hawaii is a great example for the rest of the nation in the Until next time, warmest Aloha and Mabuhay! warm way residents here welcome immigrants and openly em- (continue on page 3) MAY 18, 2019 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE 3 EDITORIALS Conventional Retail Is Dying; Should We Be Concerned? niversal health- line from furniture, clothes to (e.g. McDonalds); and many that requires even less la- that led to manufacturing’s care, climate even food – basic goods and functions of call centers (e.g. bor?” doom. change, eco- essentials for daily living. credit card payment) are au- There are no easy an- Trump’s protectionist nomic security, Even cars can now be pur- tomated. And banking auto- swers. Yang proposes an an- trade policies is too little, too wage increase, chased online and transport- mation is not just relegated to nual stipend to all Americans late for manufacturing. Ear- U job creation, af- ed to the buyer’s home. standing machines outside of to help transition them to this lier attempts to bolster man- fordable education, protect- The result is far more di- banks today. There are small new futuristic economy that ufacturing have failed due to ing voting rights, protecting verse retail stores are closing automated machines at teller no one really knows where a lack of political will and Medicare, Medicaid, Social shop.