deCeMber 17, 2016 HaWaii filiPino CHroniCle 1 ♦ DECEMBER 17, 2016 ♦ PERSONAL REFLECTIONS FOOD & LEISURE LEGAL NOTES tHe Melodies of Holiday Menu WHat you need CHristMas: Missing for a HealtHy to KnoW about CHristMas in Pinas Heart dePortation 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 deCeMber 17, 2016 EDITORIALS FROM THE PUBLISHER Publisher & Executive Editor hristmas and the New Year are Charlie Y. Sonido, M.D. Why Christmas both fast approaching! Hectic Publisher & Managing Editor though it may be, let’s try to Chona A. Montesines-Sonido Matters to Filipinos slow it down a bit, savor this Associate Editors Dennis Galolo | Edwin Quinabo ther than the Philippines, it's hard to think of any C magical time of the year and Contributing Editor country that plays Yuletide music as early as really enjoy the sights and Belinda Aquino, Ph.D. September—the first of the “ber” months. By sounds of Christmas. At the same time, Creative Designer Junggoi Peralta early September, streets begin to brighten as let’s also not forget the real “reason for the vendors sell their numerous Holiday Season Photography O season”—the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Tim Llena decorations, malls put up their Christmas dis- The cover story for this issue is about authentic Filipino- Administrative Assistant Shalimar Pagulayan plays and radio stations begin playing Christmas carols. style Christmas celebrations here in Hawaii and in the Columnists Things really start to heat up by November and early Decem- Philippines. Two local events have become beloved Christ- Carlota Hufana Ader ber as rush hour traffic becomes heavier and malls more mas traditions for Filipino families. The first is the dazzling Emil Guillermo Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Ph.D. crowded. In business districts and more affluent neighbor- City Lights Celebration and Electric Light Parade at Hon- Ron Menor hoods, the streets and individual homes are lit up with Christ- olulu Hale, while the second is Pasko! sa FilCom which was J.P. Orias Pacita Saludes mas decorations, garlands, colorful lights and parols held earlier this month. Hundreds attended the 10th version Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq. (lanterns). Carolers go from house-to-house where they re- of this favorite event at the FilCom Center in Waipahu. To Charlie Sonido, M.D. Cong. Mark Takai ceive either money or candies for their singing. read more about these and other timeless and uniquely Fil- Emmanuel S. Tipon, Esq. Many Christmas traditions in the Philippines are deeply in- ipino Christmas traditions, turn to page 4. Felino S. Tubera Sylvia Yuen, Ph.D. fluenced by Spanish colonizers. As the only Christian nation In other news, the November General Election was just Contributing Writers in Asia, Christmas in the Philippines is a religious holiday that a few weeks ago, but the City’s Neighborhood Board system Clement Bautista Filipinos, the majority of whom are Roman Catholics, have is already preparing for another election. Applications are Teresita Bernales, Ed.D eagerly embraced. Some even joke that the Philippines basi- being accepted from residents who may be interested in run- Rose Churma Serafin Colmenares, Jr., Ph.D. cally has three seasons—the dry, rainy and Christmas seasons. ning for a seat on their respective neighborhood board. If Julia Crowley From the Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo—nine consecutive you’ve always wanted to participate in the government Linda Dela Cruz Fiedes Doctor days of masses that culminate on Christmas Eve to the belen process and to make a difference in your community, now Danny De Gracia, II, MA (nativity scene), the Panunuluyan (re-enactment of Joseph and may be your chance. Please turn to page 7 for more details Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand Amelia Jacang, M.D. Mary's search for shelter), the Noche Buena (Christmas Eve on eligibility requirements and the neighborhood board sys- Caroline Julian dinner)—Filipinos have numerous references to cherished tem. Raymund Ll. Liongson, Ph.D. Federico Magdalena, Ph.D. Christmas customs, habits and traditions. In closing, we reported in our last issue the efforts of the Deborah T. Manog It's no secret that family is everything when it comes to Ohana Medical Mission and the preparations being under- Maita Milallos Paul Melvin Palalay, M.D. Christmas in the Philippines. Families large and small plan taken for its 10th mission to the Philippines. The team is Renelaine Bontol-Pfister their reunions around Christmas, when there is a lot of food, scheduled to leave for Manila in the next few days, so please Seneca Moraleda-Puguan Lilia Q. Santiago, Ph.D. endless talking and videoke. Some families open gifts at mid- keep them in your thoughts and prayers. We wish them a Jay Valdez, Psy.D. night, while others prefer to wait until morning. Balikbayans safe and successful journey! Glenn Wakai Amado Yoro are often tempted to extend their vacation during Christmas This issue also marks our very last for 2016, so on behalf Philippine Correspondent: because of the happy vibes and completeness of the family, of the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle, I’d like to wish all of you Greg Garcia which basically shows the tight-knit closeness of a typical a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year. We Neighbor Island Correspondents: Filipino family. For hard-working Overseas Foreign Workers are deeply grateful for your faithful support of our paper. Big Island (Hilo and Kona) (OFW)s, spending Christmas with family can ease the strug- Grace Larson | Ditas Udani Until our first issue in 2017…aloha and mabuhay! Kauai gles and loneliness of working abroad. Millicent Wellington In short, Christmas is the most beautiful time of the year Maui for many Filipinos because it is a festive season into which Christine Sabado Big Island Distributor love, generosity and acceptance are woven as timeless (where an individual’s one vote equals to one vote) but not be Grace Larson | Ditas Udani virtues. Christmas becomes even more meaningful when cel- elected if the candidate loses in electoral votes. In the 2000 Kauai Distributor ebrated with those whom we cherish the most—our family Bush vs. Gore election, Bush was elected president for winning Amylou Aguinaldo Nestor Aguinaldo and friends. Above all, Christmas is the time for Filipinos to the electoral votes, but lost the popular vote. Once again, De- Jimmy Iloreta celebrate the birth of Christ, which is a reminder to love, give mocrats find themselves on the losing side of this archaic sys- Maui Distributor and share with others during this special season. Merry tem, as Hilary Clinton won the popular vote by more than 2 Cecile Piros Christmas to all! million over Donald Trump but we all know who is occupying Molokai Distributor Maria Watanabe the White House due to our electoral system. Oahu Distributor To further demonstrate in real numbers how unfair the sys- Yoshimasa Kaneko Update or Abolish the tem is—Trump beat Clinton in the swing states of Michigan, Jonathan Pagulayan Advertising/Marketing Director Wisconsin and Pennsylvania which helped to put him over the Chona A. Montesines-Sonido Electoral System top of the required 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. Account Executives ven something as definitive and absolute as math When adding the popular or individual vote collectively in all Carlota Hufana Ader J.P. Orias can be reduced to mean something else when pol- three of these states, Trump beat Clinton by a little over 100,000 The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle is published itics get in the way. For example, the average votes. Clinton’s popular vote aggregate of over 2 million plus weekly by The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc. and is located at 94-356 Waipahu Depot, American believes one person’s vote equals to votes ahead of Trump is basically cancelled out by the measly Waipahu, HI 96797. Telephone (808) 678- 8930 Facsimile (808) 678-1829. E-mail fil- one vote. Common sense tells us this is correct. 100,000 votes Trump received over Clinton in these three states. [email protected]. Website: E www.thefilipinochronicle.com. Opinions But under the Electoral College—our system that Why? Because the entire electoral votes of Michigan, Wisconsin expressed by the columnists and contribu- tors do not necessarily reflect those of the we rely on to elect a U.S. president—an individual citizen’s and Pennsylvania went to Trump and tilted the national election. Hawaii Filipino Chronicle management. Re- production of the contents in whole or in part vote in one state could be equal to two, three, or even four In more simpler terms—the 100,000 Trump votes in these swing is prohibited without written permission from states was given more numeric weight than over 2 million Clin- the management. All rights reserved. times the vote in another state. In Wyoming, the weight in elec- Printed in the U.S.A. ton votes nationally. Imagine that. Deconstruct the entire election toral votes is quadruple to an individual in California. U.S. SBA SmAll BUSineSS JoUrnAliSt AwArdee The net result is what most people already know—a pres- mathematically and this is what you get. memBer, Society of ProfeSSionAl idential candidate can receive more direct or popular votes (continued on page 3) JoUrnAliStS deCeMber 17, 2016 HaWaii filiPino CHroniCle 3 CANDID PERSPECTIVES Trump Plays It Loose, Filipino Partners Selling Condos Play It Looser tices that can sometimes go named the Philippines’ special As chair of the Century Juvenal Castro knows how An- over the line. envoy to Washington for trade, Properties Group, he’s building tonio conducts business. By Emil Guillermo And that has some in Cali- investment and economic af- the $150 million, 57-story high fornia wondering if real estate fairs.