JanUary 23, 2016 hawaii fiLipino chronicLe 1 ♦ JANUARY 23, 2016 ♦ ASK A DOCTOR LEGAL NOTES Q & A is it safe to K-1 Visa castro ready to Lead Use expired Under phiLippine MedicaL Medications? scrUtiny association of hawaii 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 JanUary 23, 2016 EDITORIALS FROM THE PUBLISHER Publisher & Executive Editor n case you missed it, the 2016 Charlie Y. Sonido, M.D. Kauai Deserves Hawaii State Legislature opened Publisher & Managing Editor this week but without much of the Chona A. Montesines-Sonido Philippine Cultural hoopla and fanfare of past ses- Associate Editors sions. In fact, the opening festiv- I Dennis Galolo Center ities were short, sweet and Edwin Quinabo ata from the 2010 U.S. Census show that Kauai has noticeably subdued as lawmakers quickly got Contributing Editor a healthy number of Filipino residents. In fact, down to the business at hand. There will be Belinda Aquino, Ph.D. nearly one out every three residents on the Garden no shortage of pressing issues this session for legislators to con- Creative Designer Isle (32 percent) identify themselves as either Fil- sider—including homelessness, affordable housing, the econ- Junggoi Peralta D ipino or part Filipino—which is higher than Oahu omy and funding for schools. To find out more about the inner Photography (25 percent), the Big Island (22 percent), or Maui workings of the State Legislature, go online at the Legislature’s Tim Llena (29 percent). website at: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/. We encourage you Administrative Assistant Shalimar Pagulayan Since the early plantation days, Kauai’s tight-knit Filipino to get involved in the process! community would meet on a regular basis to enjoy each other’s Columnists Speaking of getting involved, Filipinos across Hawaii should Carlota Hufana Ader company. Filipinos by nature are social, gregarious and eager to take note of efforts on the Garden Isle to build a Kauai Philippine Emil Guillermo share their experiences, food and resources with family and Cultural Center (KPCC). When complete, Kauai’s facility will Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Ph.D. friends. A strong sense of family and community led to a collec- be the third such Filipino Community Center in Hawaii, behind Ron Menor J.P. Orias tive vision for a central meeting place on Kauai to hold various Oahu and Maui, respectively. As with most capital building proj- Pacita Saludes social and cultural events. The proposed Kauai Philippine Cul- ects, funding is an issue. We hope that by reading the story, Fil- Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq. tural Center (KPCC) would do just that—provide the community ipinos across Hawaii will be encouraged to do what they can to Charlie Sonido, M.D. with a safe venue for residents to spend leisure time as well as Cong. Mark Takai help turn KPCC into a reality for their kababayans on Kauai. Emmanuel S. Tipon, Esq. for self-expression, dialogue, personal initiatives and cultural ed- Turn to page 4 for this issue’s cover story entitled “Kauai’s Fil- Felino S. Tubera ucation, including music, theatre, singing and dance. The KPCC ipinos Near Groundbreaking for Cultural Center” and read more Sylvia Yuen, Ph.D. would not be for use by Filipinos only, but also by other ethnic about how you can help and get help from your friends and as- Contributing Writers groups and members from all walks of life, and offer a variety of sociates with this very important community project. Clement Bautista programs for both youth and senior citizens to assist them in their In other news, the Philippine Medical Association of Hawaii Teresita Bernales, Ed.D transition to life in the U.S. Serafin Colmenares, Jr., Ph.D. (PMAH) will hold an installation ceremony for its officers at its Julia Crowley If the experiences of Oahu’s Filipino Community Center (Fil- 38th Anniversary celebration scheduled for January 23, 2016 at Linda Dela Cruz Com) in Waipahu are any indication, Kauai’s Filipinos face a dif- the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It is heartwarming to see many new Fiedes Doctor ficult road ahead. Oahu’s FilCom Center finally opened its doors and younger physicians taking leadership roles and being men- Danny De Gracia, II, MA Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand in 2002 after more than a decade of planning, hard work and tored by their veteran counterparts, many of whom are nearing Amelia Jacang, M.D. fundraising efforts. Today, the FilCom Center is well-used by var- retirement. The torch is being passed to the next generation of Caroline Julian ious community groups on Oahu for a variety of events, including leaders for the PMAH, which is the premiere organization of Fil- Raymund Ll. Liongson, Ph.D. Federico Magdalena, Ph.D. a weekly Farmers’ Market, martial arts classes, financial work- ipino physicians in Hawaii. We also welcome new PMAH pres- Deborah T. Manog shops, ballroom dancing, neighborhood board meetings and other ident Dr. Michael Castro and wish him and his officers the very Maita Milallos activities. best in the coming year. Dr. Castro will be taking over the reins Paul Melvin Palalay, M.D. Groundbreaking for the long-awaited KPCC in Lihue is Renelaine Bontol-Pfister from outgoing president Dr. Carolina Davide. To find out more Seneca Moraleda-Puguan scheduled for early 2016, pending a few remaining hurdles. Fund- about Dr. Castro’s background as well as his visions and goals Lilia Q. Santiago, Ph.D. ing also looms as a big concern. The center is expected to be built for PMAH, please turn to page 15 for an exclusive one-on-one Jay Valdez, Psy.D. in phases, with Phase I costing $2 million and Phase II another Glenn Wakai interview. Amado Yoro $3.5 million, according to 2014 estimates. It surely will take a In closing, please take time to read the other informative Philippine Correspondent village for the community center to be built but so far, many peo- columns and articles we have for you in this issue and email us Greg Garcia ple—from politicians to business groups and even retirees—have at: [email protected] with any story idea, suggestion Big Island Distributor all pitched in. Please consider making a tax deductible donation or concern you may have. Grace Larson to the KPCC. Every bit helps! Until our next issue…aloha and mabuhay! Ditas Udani Maui Distributor Cecile Piros Molokai Distributor What to Expect With Maria Watanabe term for the U.S. economy. The airline industry has reaped Advertising/Marketing Director Falling Oil Prices record profits, while shipping lines, the manufacturing industry Chona A. Montesines-Sonido he price of crude oil last week dipped below $30 a and related businesses are benefiting from cheaper energy. Less Account Executives barrel and is now trading at the lowest level since expensive fuel prices have also led to more capital investments Carlota Hufana Ader J.P. Orias 2003—a far cry from its price of $100 a barrel dur- and additional hiring. But on the downside, low oil prices have The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle is published ing the summer of 2014. According to online reports, resulted in massive job layoffs in oil-producing states like Texas weekly by The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc. It is mailed directly to subscribers and dis- the average price of gas nationwide was under $2 a and North Dakota. Economists also say that cheaper oil makes tributed at various outlets around Oahu and T the neighbor islands. Editorial and advertis- gallon, compared to about $3.50 two years ago. On alternative energy sources less attractive and stymies efforts to ing deadlines are three weeks prior to pub- lication date. Subscriptions are available at Oahu, many Tesoro stations are hovering in the $2.20 per gallon curb global warming. $75 per year for Oahu and the neighbor is- lands, continental U.S. $80, foreign country range for regular unleaded gas. The reason? A glut of oil on the The million dollar question is how long will the low prices $90. Copyright 2006-2014. The Hawaii Fil- global market and weak demand have driven prices to the lowest last? The truth is that predicting the movement of oil prices is a ipino Chronicle Inc. is located at 94-356 Waipahu Depot, Waipahu, HI 96797. Tele- level in years. guessing game and more an issue of politics than economics. phone (808) 678-8930 Facsimile (808) 678- 1829. E-mail [email protected]. Lower gas prices have brought significant relief to the pock- Most economists agree that prolonged lower oil prices in the Website: www.thefilipinochronicle.com. Opinions expressed by the columnists and etbooks of consumers, particularly those in the lower-income long term could lead to deflation and cause a recession. The mar- contributors do not necessarily reflect those of the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle manage- bracket, who are now enjoying extra discretionary income and fi- ket will eventually correct itself and when it does, some econo- ment. Reproduction of the contents in whole nancial flexibility. In Hawaii where wage growth has remained mists predict prices to head back into the $50-a-barrel range or in part is prohibited without written per- mission from the management. All rights re- relatively stagnant, lower gas prices easily translate into a savings perhaps by late 2016. While not a particularly large jump, it served. Printed in the U.S.A. of well over $1,000 per year for a two-car household—signifying should help to offset the largely negative impacts of cheap oil. www.thefilipinochronicle.com the pay raise that most local workers have not received.