JUNE 1, 2019 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE 1 JUNE 1, 2019 COMMENTARY CANDID PERSPECTIVES ATTACKS MOUNT AGAINST DUALS NEED TO PHILIPPINE HUMAN RIGHTS PAY ATTENTION ADVOCATES HERE MAINLAND NEWS FILIPINO VETERANS FAMILY REUNIFICATION ACT INTRODUCED 2 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLEJUNE 1, 2019 EDITORIALS FROM THE PUBLISHER Publisher & Executive Editor Charlie Y. Sonido, M.D. ilipino communities around the Publisher & Managing Editor world from the Middle East, Eu- Chona A. Montesines-Sonido Beware of the Associate Editors rope, U.S. mainland and Hawaii Edwin QuinaboDennis Galolo Philippines’ New are still talking about the recent Contributing Editor Philippines midterm election Belinda Aquino, Ph.D. F that occurred on May 13. Many Layout Supermajority of us have strong opinions on both sides of Junggoi Peralta t’s easy for Filipino Americans and abroad to Photography the results that had President Rodrigo Duter- Tim Llena criticize the 2019 Philippine election results te’s allies sweep all the available seats in the Senate. Given that Administrative Assistant that had President Rodrigo Duterte’s allies win the Senate was the only body that had a check on the President, Lilia Capalad a clean sweep of the Senate. alarmists question if democracy could further slide than it al- Shalimar Pagulayan It’s easy for the international press to con- ready has. Columnists Carlota Hufana Ader I demn strongman tactics when many of the In our cover story this issue, associate editor Edwin Quina- Elpidio R. Estioko countries these journalists are reporting from do not have bo writes about what experts believe the midterm election could Emil Guillermo to deal with the level of poverty and corruption that have mean for the country in terms of policies the new supermajority Melissa Martin, Ph.D. J.P. Orias historically crippled the Philippines’ growth. Projecting our (Duterte-controlled, Senate, House, Supreme Court) would like- Pacita Saludes own values, our own social and economic models onto the ly pursue. As expected, some of them are controversial like re- Reuben S. Seguritan, Esq. rest of the world have always been a high-brow, centrist hab- visions to the Constitution and bringing back the death penalty; Charlie Sonido, M.D. Emmanuel S. Tipon, Esq. it of Americans. as well as extreme measures like making children as young as Felino S. Tubera 9-years old subject to prosecution. Experts say the midterm was So it’s not a surprise that there is a schism of support Contributing Writers for Duterte (and his allies) between Filipinos who live in a pass for Duterte to continue his highly controversial anti-drug Clement Bautista the Philippines and Filipinos who live abroad, particularly campaign that has brought widespread international condem- Edna Bautista, Ed.D. nation. Voters have even elected Ronald dela Rosa, the chief Teresita Bernales, Ed.D. in the U.S. Sheryll Bonilla, Esq. Filipinos in the Philippines see Duterte as a strong re- who spearheaded Duterte’s war on drugs, into the Senate. The Rose Churma former and break from the elitist politicians that took over election, really a referendum on Duterte’s performance, wasn’t Serafin Colmenares Jr., Ph.D. just about his tough stance on crime. Read what experts say are Linda Dela Cruz since the EDSA revolution. Many of these pro-Duterte Fili- Fiedes Doctor other reasons why Duterte (and his allies) remain popular. The pinos have not seen their standard of living improve through Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand Filipino people have spoken, made their political calculus. Go- Amelia Jacang, M.D. the Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, Arroyo-Macapagal, nor Aqui- ing forward, we can only wish the best for our fellow Filipinos Caroline Julian no III (all privileged presidents) administrations. Raymond Ll. Liongson, Ph.D. and the country we love. Duterte, a son of Davao City, came from a geograph- Federico Magdalena, Ph.D. John Witeck and Seiji Yamada of the Hawaii Committee for Matthew Mettias ic and cultural origin far from the center of national power, Human Rights in the Philippines, contributed an article detailing Maita Milallos Paul Melvin Palalay, M.D. Manila. Likewise, Ilocos son Ferdinand Marcos, the nation’s the increasing number of attacks on human rights advocates, la- first strongman-autocrat, also had an outsider origin that Renelaine Bontol-Pfister bor, church, community organizers and indigenous people under Seneca Moraleda-Puguan made him appealing. the Duterte government. They are calling for the U.S. govern- Jay Valdez, Psy.D. It’s understandable that Filipinos are drawn to Duterte ment to put pressure on Philippine officials to investigate and stop Glenn Wakai as a “one-of-us,” populist politician; that he is to some the Amado Yoro the extrajudicial killings. They believe it’s time that Hawaii and Philippine Correspondent: political hero-villain to deliver on all the things disenfran- its large Filipino population speak up against the atrocities. Greg Garcia chised Filipinos have been hoping for, no matter how he ac- Also in this issue, Federico Magdalena, PhD, contributes a Neighbor Island Correspondents: complishes them. news feature on three outstanding members in our community Big Island (Hilo and Kona) He may also have been successful to some in his first who will be honored by the Supreme Council of the Order of Grace LarsonDitas Udani three years in areas such as boosting the country’s econo- the Knights of Rizal (KOR), an international civic organization, Kauai my (despite the brief recession) with new sources of foreign during the 9th Dr. Jose P. Rizal Award Gala on August 24 at the Millicent Washington investment from China, helping to build infrastructure, and Ala Moana Hotel. The trio are Dr. Belinda Aquiino, KOR of- Maui Christine Sabado suppressing an uprising in Mindanao. ficers Dr. Serafin Colmenares and Dr. Raymund Liongson. All Big Island Distributors three of them have a long history of civic contributions to both Grace LarsonDitas Udani Case Against Duterte communities in Hawaii and the Philippines. We are pleased that Kauai Distributors But given all these reasons why Duterte could be reason- they all happen to be contributing writers to the Hawaii Filipino Amylou Aguinaldo Nestor Aguinaldo ably seen as an able president, enough for voters to elect his Chronicle. Maui Distributor allies in this Duterte-referendum midterm election – the Fil- In our news sections, read about the Maui Filipino Chamber Cecile Piros ipino voters failed to see the bigger picture and the potential of Commerce’s upcoming Gintong Pamana Leadership Award Molokai Distributor harm to Philippine democracy. recipients and banquet; the University of Hawaii’s Board of Maria Watanabe Regents approval to freeze tuition rates through 2021; and the Oahu Distributors There is a clear line between being tough on law and or- Yoshimasa Kaneko der and exacting terror onto a sector of the population, drug reintroduction of the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Jonathan Pagulayan addicts or dealers. There is moral bankruptcy in a leader of a Act introduced in the U.S. Senate and House by Hawaii’s Sen. Advertising / Marketing Director country and citizens who support that leader when a means Maize Hirono and Rep. Ed Case. Chona A. Montesines-Sonido Lastly, we’d like to remind our Filipino community organi- to an end (winning a drug war) include extrajudicial killing. Account Executives zations and clubs to share your upcoming events. The HFC is Once a line of government-accepted brutality has been Carlota Hufana Ader your community’s newspaper. Feel free to send us press releas- J.P. Orias crossed, who knows where it could lead. The target might es at least two weeks prior to your event; and your event will be be drug dealers now; but tomorrow it could be political op- posted on our online community calendar. Visit the Hawaii Fil- ponents or any other group – this is the slippery slope when ipino Chronicle website to view our past issues that you might dictators and their mob rule. have missed. The idea of “safer” streets with Duterte as president – Thank you to the Filipino community, our readers, and which is why many support Duterte according to pollsters – all our loyal advertisers for your continued support. Until next couldn’t be more blind-sighted and suggests that it’s accept- time, warmest Aloha and Mabuhay! able to kill just as long as those murdered are drug users and dealers (and are not connected to myself and my family). Filipino voters got it wrong in their political calculous (continue on page 3) JUNE 1, 2019 HAWAII FILIPINO CHRONICLE 3 EDITORIALS Enough Is Enough, Stop The War Train Heading to Iran .S. Rep. Tulsi candidate, appealed to mil- largest weapons manufactur- more costly, lengthy, and dev- in the Middle East and the U.S. Gabbard might lions of Americans who op- ers in the world that reported astating than the Iraq war, and push for war in that region have a mixed posed the hawkish U.S. pol- revenues in just last year of could also broaden to include have been too costly, chaotic, Progressive icy in the Middle East. He $101.127 billion. His appoint- conflict with Russia. impulsive, and counterproduc- Democrat report criticized the U.S. invasion ment should be red-flagged as A war with Iran could po- tive. U card ranging of Iraq. He criticized the way a conflict of interest and cer- tentially triple war expendi- Americans have allowed from A to C on various issues; Americans were lied to in or- tainly sets the stage for poten- tures nearing $20 trillion; and war hawks to lead the nation but the presidential hopeful der to justify war with Iraq. tial war-profiteering. who knows how many more into war far too frequently for scored big approval points He promised no more unnec- lives lost.