PAGE 2 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • MARCH 1-15, 2016 THE FIL-AM COURIER • MARCH 1-15, 2016 • PAGE 3 Bennette Espineli Misalucha SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1987 PUBLISHER Mary Llanos Cordero MANAGING EDITOR Are We Isolating Bennette Espineli Misalucha DIRECTOR OF DESIGN Armando Dela Cruz Busmente PRODUCTION MANAGER Alice Llanos Busmente Ourselves? ASSISTANT EDITOR Radiant Cordero COPY EDITOR A friend who used to live in In a magazine article Danielle Evangelista Hawaii was visiting this week, How can we participate in the political exercise if we don’t titled, “Assimilating the New PHOTOGRAPHERS/GRAPHICS and she commented how even know what the issues are? How can we even partici- American Immigrant,” author Brandon dela Cruz a part of Waipahu was fast Barbara J. Elliot, explains the Noah Felipe pate in the voting process if we are not feeling emotionally Gabe de Liso becoming like Little Manila. concept of what else is at play: Jeff Orig invested? How can we be emotionally invested in Hawaii James Ramos There were several iconic “The essence of meaningful Filipino restaurants, a Filipino if we STILL consider the Philippines as our “home”, and participation in American COLUMNISTS Edna Alikpala bakery and a Philippine-based Waipahu or Kalihi, an extension of that home? life revolves around several Rhoda Yabez Alvarez, Esq. fast food hamburger chain, all crucial factors: language, Jesse Bacon II Nancy Bernal housed in the same shopping education, employment, and Cesar Bonilla Alice Llanos Busmente complex. Everywhere in that family. Schools, churches, Amelia Casamina Cabatu neighborhood, one can hear and private organizations Anabel Gasmen Cabebe Dr. Rickie Camara a smattering of Tagalog or have historically done the Dr. Patricia Halagao Ilocano being spoken. My job of imparting strengths Zeny Muyot Angie Santiago friend joked that surrounded to newcomers to the nation, Perfecto Yasay Jr. by these reminders of the old while building up their lives CONTRIBUTING WRITERS country, new immigrants will and embedding them in the Conrad Abuel Ric Agnes not even have the opportunity matrix of relationships that Paul Alimbuyao to miss “home.” constitute the fabric of civil Ria Baldevia Eriza Bareng She has a point. When we society. If we can invest in the Marnelli Joy Basilio Bernie Caalim only surround ourselves with success of efforts that do this Randy Cortez everything that is familiar and effectively, we can add assets Radiant Cordero Mary Cruzada comfortable, are we depriving to America. We need creative Jaime de Jesus ourselves of the chance to approaches from strategically Brandon dela Cruz Photo Credit: asianamerica.matters.org. Christian Evangelista grow? Are we essentially minded philanthropists to Imelda Gasmen Veronika Geronimo building a wall that keeps us historical context of the pop am a strong advocate that we foster such efforts now to Leo Gozar Filipinos from exploring the culture, and we can even need to continue to cultivate reach this side of a growing, Ben Gutierrez Kathleen Lee rest of the world? appreciate Philippine politics our culture for the sake of the and changing, America.” Carmela Minaya When our forbearers without anyone having to next generation. In short, becoming Gladys Quinto Marrone Gladys Menor came to Hawaii to work in explain how the political But what we need is “American” is not just a John Pagaragan Paola Rodelas the plantation, the Filipinos structure works. BALANCE. We cannot afford to free ride. It comes with Judy Relosimon were not the predominant But what if ethnic exist only within the enclaves certain obligations and Sandra Sagisi Nicole Velasco culture. In fact, as the last programming may actually of familiar turf. That would responsibilities. It comes Jason Ubay immigrants to arrive, we were be working against us? Think mean we do not grow. In life, with becoming a part of the MichiVillaruz on the bottom of the totem about it: if our television we grow only when we leave greater community. NEIGHBOR ISLAND BUREAU Maui pole. In order to survive, the sets are only focused on the comfortable nest and We hope that our Kit Zulueta sakadas had to be open to the Philippines night and embrace new experiences. community leaders take this Jeremy Zane embracing new experiences, day, that means we are We expand our capacity when as an action item. How do Big Island maybe even understanding not watching local news. we meet challenges head on we learn to assimilate in Mil Asuncion Jane Clement new cultures, especially It means we are denying rather than bury our heads in Hawaii without losing our Dr. Margarita Hopkins when intermarriages started ourselves the opportunity the sand. identity, our self-worth? The Kauai to happen. As they grew to learn more about Hawaii, One of the ways that we discussion on this issue can Virgie Cruzada Liza Trinidad accustomed to living with our new home. No wonder allow our community to grow easily fill a semester-full Marynell Valenzuela others, the sakadas became that majority of our people is through education. In this course work at the University ADVERTISING SALES more familiar with the defining know the developments issue of the Fil-Am Courier, of Hawaii. MarivicAldaya we feature Waipahu Science Mary Cordero characteristics of each ethnic in their barangay in the So, let’s start with baby Annabel Cabebe group and learned to respect Philippines, but have no clue teacher Michael Sana who was steps. Let’s begin by making Florence Tan McCollom Lydia Kamiya their boundaries. There was what is happening at the recently named as the Milken a point to watch local news Joni Redick-Yundt no choice. Hawaii is a melting State Legislature or the City Educator Awardee, a very rather than that those Rudy Bautista Marynel Valenzuela pot and no culture can stay Council. In some cases, some prestigious recognition akin to incessant Filipino noontime are not even able to answer the Oscar award for teaching. CIRCULATION isolated, especially in the variety shows. Florence Tan (Oahu) confining quarters of a small who the mayor of Honolulu is! Mahalo to our Courier writer At least, if anyone Ron Oshiro(Leeward Oahu) David Cordero (Maui) island. How can we participate Marnelli Ulep for flagging asks, who is the mayor of Marynel Valenzuela (Kauai) in the political exercise if this story for our community Honolulu,chances are you will Milli Asuncion (Big Island) Today, however, we live in a time where our Filipino we don’t even know what paper. Congratulations to give the right answer. LEGAL COUNSEL Alfredo Evangelista, Esq. community seems in danger the issues are? How can Michael and to Waipahu High Atty. Ernesto Urbano (Phils.) of living a life of isolation from we even participate in the School for the honor, and we commend Michael for his THE FIL-AM COURIER the rest of Hawaii. voting process if we are not is published twice a month by For example, in many feeling emotionally invested? passion, his patience and OAHU RELOCATION SERVICES located at 2221 Liliha St. Filipino homes, their tv How can we be emotionally commitment to science. Honolulu, Hawaii 96817 Opinions expressed by the columnists are their own screens seem to fixed on invested in Hawaii if we STILL It is through educators and do not necessarily reflect those of the Fil-Am consider the Philippines as like Sana that our Courier. Publisher reserves the right to edit letters TFC or GMA, both Filipino to the editor and other material submitted. Reproduc- our “home”, and Waipahu or community—particularly tion of material and ads appearing in the Fil-Am courier stations with their ethnic Bennette Espineli Misalucha is forbidden without written permission. All photos programming. Sure, I get it. Kalihi, an extension of that through the second or third submitted become the property of the Fil-Am Courier. is the Fil-Am Courier’s Managing Philippine television is like home? generation— can not only Editor. She has been affiliated Telephone: 808.595.8787 Facsimile: 808.595.6883 comfort food to us. It’s more Don’t get me wrong. achieve integration into the with the Courier since 1987 as a E-Mail: [email protected] than just understanding the I am not saying we turn mainstream community, but contributing writer and as Managing www.filamcourier.net nuances of the language. our backs on our culture. excellence. Editor since April 2013. She started M E M B E R We also grasp the humor, we Certainly, I am in favor of However, it should be her career as a journalist, and was HFAMC are entertained by familiar cultural diversity which brings noted that education is not a reporter/producer both in Hawaii Federation of Filipino American Media Associations of the United States and Canada movie stars, we are lulled a deeper dimension to our the magic bullet for the (at KHON Channel 2 News) and in FFAMAS by melodies we recall from immigrant experience and community as it aspires to Cebu, Philippines. Hawaii Filipino American Media Council our childhood, we have a benefits ALL Americans. I integrate. All rights reserved printed in the u.s.a © PAGE 4 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • MARCH 1-15, 2016 By MARNELLI BASILIO ULEP Our cover.... Our cover story subject, Michael Sana, was photographed on the grounds of Waipahu High School by the talented James Ramos of James Ramos Photography James may be reached at 808 345-3924 or at james@ jamesramosphotography.com. Photo Design by Noah Felipe. Mahalo to Jeff Orig of OrigMedia. Sana at a recent Science Fair Photo credit: James Ramos Both Noah and Jeff can be The Waipahu High School and promising futures as to present their projects watching Elmo and Sesame reached at www.Origmedia.com gym roared with excitement educators.