MAY 30, 2009 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE 1 ♦ WEEKLY ♦ MAY 30, 2009 ♦ FEATURE PHILIPPINE NEWS GLOBAL NEWS SAKADA US OFFERS ISRAEL TO DEDICATE FINDS JOY IN $2.5 MILLION FOR MONUMENT TO SANSEVIERIA ARREST OF 3 ABUS FILIPINOS HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE PRESORTED 94-356 WAIPAHU DEPOT RD., 2ND FLR. STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE WAIPAHU, HI 96797 PAID HONOLULU, HI PERMIT NO. 9661 2 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE MAY 30, 2009 EDITORIAL FROM THE PUBLISHER Publisher & Executive Editor loha and welcome to the lat- Charlie Y. Sonido, M.D. No Easy Solutions est issue of the Hawaii Fil- ipino Chronicle! As the Publisher & Managing Editor to Ending Poverty Chona A. Montesines-Sonido school year draws to an end, t has been said that poverty has many faces. In the A thousands of high school Associate Editors Philippines, these faces number in the millions. Those who have never before seen the level of students will soon be receiv- Dennis Galolo Edwin Quinabo poverty in a Third World country are in for a rude ing their diplomas. Many families are awakening. In a vivid description, a first time vis- looking forward and preparing to celebrate Creative Designer I Junggoi Peralta itor to the Philippines says the poverty there “hits their accomplishments. We at the Chronicle extend our con- you in the face unapologetically the very moment gratulations to all of you graduates—both college and high Design Consultant you step in.” school—and wish you all the very best in your continued Randall Shiroma Philippine leaders for decades have wrestled with the prob- endeavors. Photographer lem of poverty with limited success. Efforts to emphasize ed- Our cover story for this issue is written by Dr. Belinda Tim Llena ucation, limit family size, generate more jobs, enhance social Aquino from the University of Hawaii-Manoa’s Center For Administrative Assistant services and improve agricultural productivity have barely Philippine Studies. Dr. Aquino takes an in-depth look at the Shalimar Pagulayan scratched the surface. Observers say that poverty will continue problem of poverty in the Philippines. She examines the im- Columnists to plague the Philippines as long as there is graft in govern- pacts that political events in the Philippines have had on cur- Carlota Ader ment and politicians in office who perpetuate cycles of cor- Belinda Aquino, Ph.D. rent poverty levels, factors that contribute to poverty and ruption and inequality that exacerbate poverty. Teresita Bernales, Ph.D. Consequently, poverty may be too well-entrenched in Philip- possible solutions to the problem. The fact of the matter is Carlo Cadiz, M.D. that there are no easy solutions. Those of you who have been Sen. Will Espero pine society and far too encompassing to resolve—unless there Grace F. Fong, Ed.D is first a drastic reform of the country’s political system. But with to the Philippines have seen for yourself first-hand the Mayor Mufi Hannemann a government so accustomed to corruption, reform would re- poverty there and know how bad the problem is. Please read Governor Linda Lingle quire nothing less than another social revolution, particularly more on Dr. Aquino’s analysis on pages 4-5. Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, Ph.D. Rosemarie Mendoza since there appears to be no political will for a charter change. Also in this issue, contributing writer Caroline Julian J.P. Orias The bottom line is that true impetus for change will not profiles Angel Ramos, a Kahuku resident who has taken a Pacita Saludes come from government, but from the average citizen with a liking for the Sansevieria, or snake plant, as it’s more com- Charlie Sonido, M.D. sensitive heart for the poor and true desire to help others. Non- monly known. Ramos, who is originally from Ilocos Norte, Emmanuel S. Tipon, Esq. government organizations and the influential Catholic Church Felino S. Tubera has collected and raised the plant for the past 30 years. Sylvia Yuen, Ph.D. should put aside differences and partner together on programs Ramos, 80, retired from the Kahuku Sugar Mill and was des- that feed the hungry and provide quality education to more ignated as a living treasure by the Honolulu City Council. Contributing Writers young people. Focusing on these two areas won’t eliminate More on this interesting individual is available on page 7. Calvin Alonzo, O.D. poverty entirely, but would be a good start. Rowena Ballesteros Speaking of interesting, in a recent appearance on the Clement Bautista David Letterman Show, actor Alex Baldwin angered many Linda Dela Cruz Filipinos with a comment about Filipina mail order brides. Fiedes Doctor Take Advantage of State’s Gregory Bren Garcia Baldwin’s “joke” did not result in the level of controversy Danny De Gracia, II, MA Tax Amnesty Offer that ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” generated, yet he did Amelia Jacang, M.D. eeling a bit guilty about owing unpaid state taxes? enough damage that the Philippine officials have banned Caroline Julian Paul Melvin Palalay, M.D. Under the state’s Tax Fresh Start program, delin- him from entering the country. To his credit, Baldwin has Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq. quent taxpayers can come clean on back taxes they apologized. Please read more on page 13. Glenn Wakai owe, pay the amount and receive exoneration for In closing, we hope that you will enjoy reading the other Philippine Correspondent F penalties and interest. articles and columns of interest in this issue, particularly the Guil Franco It is a sweet deal for the state, which faces “Legislative Connection” on page 3, “Governor’s Column” Big Island Distributor shrinking tax revenues and an uncertain economic on page 6, “Legal Notes” on page 13 and “Philippine Lan- Elmer Acasio Ditas Udani future. State tax officials hope to bring in millions of dollars guage” on page 14. that otherwise would have gone uncollected and to mirror the Until next time…aloha and mabuhay! Maui Distributor success of other states that have implemented similar tax Cecile Piros amnesty programs. Oklahoma, for example, received $82 mil- Molokai Distributor lion in unpaid taxes from its tax amnesty offer last year, which Maria Watanabe was twice the amount that officials there had hoped to collect. Advertising/Marketing Director By choosing a quick fix to replenish its tax coffers, the LETTERS Chona A. Montesines-Sonido State is willing to forego over $1 billion in unpaid taxes from Account Executives individuals and businesses. Rather than pursue lengthy audits Concern For Philippine Collection at UH Library Carlota Ader and lawsuits to collect back taxes it is owed, it would be less J.P. Orias expensive in the short run for the state to administer a volun- I am among many Filipinos who are concerned about the UH The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle is published tary, one-time tax amnesty program. Hamilton Library’s intent to integrate the Asia collection (including weekly by The Hawaii Filipino Chronicle Inc. It is mailed directly to subscribers and dis- On the downside, it could very well undermine the pub- the Philippine collection) into the general repository. tributed at various outlets around Oahu and lic’s confidence in the tax system, especially since tax cheats I do hope that Belinda Aquino of the UH Philippine Studies De- the neighbor islands. Editorial and advertis- partment and other UH Filipino academics will initiate a dialogue ing deadlines are three weeks prior to pub- don’t have to pay a price for non-compliance. Furthermore, lication date. Subscriptions are available at some taxpayers could simply hold onto their money to invest with officials at Hamilton Library. And I would certainly invite the $75 per year for Oahu and the neighbor is- or spend and then take advantage of the next time the state of- Filipino Caucus of the Hawaii State legislature to be a part of this lands, continental U.S. $80, foreign country discussion. $90. Copyright 2006. The Hawaii Filipino fers amnesty. This explains why an amnesty program is un- Chronicle Inc. is located at 94-356 Waipahu sound tax policy for the long term and why the state is unlikely As a researcher, I have found Hamilton Library’s Philippine Depot, Waipahu, HI 96797. Telephone collection to be an excellent resource and helpful in making me (808) 678-8930 Facsimile (808) 678-1829. to ever make the offer again. E-mail [email protected]. Web- more aware of my ethnic history and identity. site: www.thefilipinochronicle.com. Opinions In the meantime, it would be wise for delinquent taxpayers expressed by the columnists and contribu- to make good on the state’s amnesty program which ends on tors do not necessarily reflect those of the June 26, 2009. After that, the situation could become more hos- Hawaii Filipino Chronicle management. Re- Mel Domingo production of the contents in whole or in part tile, as a bill pending before Gov. Lingle would lengthen the Honolulu is prohibited without written permission from statue of limitations for tax offenses, impose stiffer penalties the management. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. and add more resources to go after tax cheaters. MAY 30, 2009 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE 3 LEGISLATIVE CONNECTION On Freedom and Captivity (Part 2) On the Other End of the Spectrum – Prison Confinement multiple arrests and multiple and emphasizes reentry pro- some offenders need to be in- Finally, House Bill 358 al- convictions. grams and servicing. It also carcerated on the mainland so it lows certain offenders to be There were several meas- creates an advisory Re-entry is important to review and audit placed in secure drug treatment ures that were successful in Commission to monitor and the system which has already facilities in lieu of incarcera- By Senator Will Espero helping to reform our prison work with the DPS to make cost the state hundreds of mil- tion.