September 1 2015 Issue

THE FIL-AM COURIER • SEPTEMBER 1-15, 2015 • PAGE 3

ARE YOU A LEADER OR A FOLLOWER?YOU DECIDE!

PUBLISHERMary Llanos Cordero

MANAGING EDITORBennette Espineli Misalucha

DIRECTOR OF DESIGNArmando Dela Cruz Busmente

PRODUCTION MANAGERAlice Llanos Busmente

ASSISTANT EDITORRadiant Cordero

COPY EDITORDanielle Evangelista

PHOTOGRAPHERS/GRAPHICSBrandon dela Cruz

Noah FelipeGabe de Liso

Jeff OrigJames Ramos

COLUMNISTSEdna Alikpala

Rhoda Yabez Alvarez, Esq.Jesse Bacon IINancy BernalCesar Bonilla

Alice Llanos BusmenteAmelia Casamina CabatuAnabel Gasmen Cabebe

Dr. Rickie CamaraDr. Patricia Halagao

ZenyMuyotAngie Santiago

Perfecto Yasay Jr.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSConrad Abuel

Ric AgnesPaul Alimbuyao

Ria BaldeviaEriza Bareng

Marnelli Joy BasilioBernie CaalimRandy Cortez

Radiant CorderoMary Cruzada

Jaime de JesusBrandon dela Cruz

Christian EvangelistaImelda Gasmen

Veronika GeronimoLeo Gozar

Ben GutierrezKathleen Lee

Carmela MinayaGladys Quinto Marrone

Gladys MenorJohn PagaraganPaola Rodelas

Judy RelosimonSandra SagisiNicole VelascoJason UbayMichiVillaruz

NEIGHBOR ISLAND BUREAUMaui

Kit ZuluetaJeremy Zane

Big IslandMil AsuncionJane Clement

Dr. Margarita Hopkins

KauaiVirgie CruzadaLiza Trinidad

Marynell Valenzuela

ADVERTISING SALESMarivicAldayaMary Cordero

Annabel CabebeFlorence Tan McCollom

Lydia KamiyaJoni Redick-Yundt

Rudy BautistaMarynel Valenzuela

CIRCULATIONFlorence Tan (Oahu)

Ron Oshiro(Leeward Oahu)David Cordero (Maui)

Marynel Valenzuela (Kauai)Milli Asuncion (Big Island)

LEGAL COUNSELAlfredo Evangelista, Esq.

A tty. Ernesto Urbano (Phils.)

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Hawaii Filipino American Media CouncilFFAMAS

Federation of Filipino American Media Associationsof the United States and Canada

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SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1987SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1987SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1987SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1987

d) Are you open tochange? Followers arecontent to stick with thesafety of the statusquo. They see changeas frightening andtroublesome. Leadersare maximizers who seeopportunity in change.Because leaders wantconstant improvement,they’re never afraid toask, “What’s next?”

e) Are you decisive?Followers often hesitateto act, out of fear thatthey’l l do the wrongthing. Leaders aren’tafraid to make a call,even when they’re notsure if it’s the right one.They’d rather make adecision and be wrongthan suffer from theparalysis of indecision.Leaders would rathermake a decision and bewrong than suffer fromthe paralysis ofindecision.

It is often said thoughthat in order for one to be aleader, one must be a goodfollower first. Followers aremindful of details, providemuch needed insights andsupport, know how tonavigate team dynamics andare good collaborators.

Did you notice that thesame values required of afollower are similar to that ofa leader? That is because,many times, we switch rolesin our lives. We may befollowers at work, but leadersat our church. A follower in ourfamily but a leader in thecommunity.

Therein lies the secret.I believe Leadership is a

choice. Whether we chooseto be leaders or followers inone context or another maydetermine success, whicheverwe deem is the appropriaterole.

Today, I may choose to bea leader. Tomorrow, I maychoose to be a follower at theorganization I currentlyvolunteer for.

Let’s just say, like Joey, Ihave learned my lessons well.

the community alike with hishumble ways— he must haveinstil led in Joey theleadership precepts thatenabled Joey to rise togreatness.

What motivates a manto step up to a leadershiprole? How does one knowwhether we are currently aleader or a follower?

Fortune magazinerecently published an article,“Are you a Leader or aFollower” by TravisBradberry, on how we wouldknow by asking ourselvesthe following questions.Here is the excerpt:a) Do you go above and

beyond? Followers dotheir jobs, and that’s it.No matter how goodthey may be at thosejobs, it rarely occurs tothem to go beyond theirbasic functions.Leaders, on the otherhand, see their jobdescriptions as the barem i n i m u m — t h efoundation upon whichthey build greatness.Leaders see their realrole as adding value, andthey add it wheneverand wherever they seean opportunity.

b) Are you confident?Followers see thetalents and accomplish-ments of other peopleas a threat. Leaders seethose same talents andaccomplish-ments as anasset. Leaders want tomake things better, andthey’l l take helpanywhere they can findit. Leaders are trueteam players. Theyaren’t afraid to admitthat they need otherpeople to be strongwhere they’re weak.

c) Are you optimistic?Followers see thelimitations inherent inany given situation;leaders see thepossibilities. When thingsgo wrong, leaders don’tdwell on how bad thingsare. They’re too busytrying to make thingsbetter.

he did, from clerical tasksto crucial combat decisions.The crew became fullyengaged, contributing theirfull intellectual capacityevery day, and the SantaFe started winning awardsand promoting a highlydisproportionate number ofofficers to submarinecommand.”

I bring this up, becausewhether an entrepreneur, ateacher, a banker, or acommunity volunteer, we allneed to step up and becomeleaders.

In this September 1issue of the Fil-Am Courier,we highlight theachievements of Anacleto“Joey” Alcantara Jr, thePresident of FirstPacificBuilders and therecipient of the 2015 FilipinoEntrepreneur of the Yearawards. Born with a goodbusiness sense, Joey wassetting up new companieseven at a young age. It’ssomething he likely inheritedfrom his parents, Lita andLito Alcantra who are bothsuccessful entrepreneurs intheir own right. (LitoAlcantra won the FilipinoEntrepreneur of the Yearaward in the 80s andcontinues to wax strong asCEO of his own company,Group Builders, which is oneof the largest constructionfirms in the State of Hawaii.But at some point in his life,Joey wanted to learn thefamily business, so he lefthis own business to work forhis dad. From a leader, hebecame a follower. In theprofile written by GladysMarrone, CEO of the BuildingIndustry Association ofHawaii, Joey recounts thosedifficult years. He workedas a laborer and eventuallybecame the ResponsibleManaging Employee or RMEof the organization. Joey iscurrently the RME for FirstPacific Builders.

I am sure that Joey’scurrent success is due, inpart to the skills he learnedfrom being a follower in hisdad’s company. KnowingLito— the man who endearshimself to his employees and

Oh the hubris of youth!There once was a time

when I thought that to be aleader meant you had to bethe loudest and mostassertive person in theroom. I thought that inorder to be taken seriously,I had to guard my “territory”zealously since others werecertainly angling for thatposition, and just waitingfor me to fail. The sleeplessnights, the anxiety attacks,the stress levels were suchthat, at that time, I almostgave up and dismayed withthe notion that I did nothave the fortitude to be aleader.

In due time, and as Igained experience andmaturity over the years, Irealized that leadership—true leadership—was notnecessarily flashy and pushy.On the contrary, a trueleader actually gives thestage to the team while heor she quietly works behindthe scene to make thingshappen.

David Marquet, anexperienced Navy officer,details his leadership journeyin the book, “Turn the ShipAround”. In charge of anavy nuclear ship, Marquettook over the helm when theship was going through sometough times, including poormorale, poor performanceand had the worst retentionin the fleet. The story istold that the ship almosthad a disaster, and whenMarquet investigated howthe situation happened, hefound out that it wasbecause his people weremerely blind followers andwere not taught to beleaders.

Here is the descriptionof the book which capturesthe lessons learned : “Turnthe Ship Around! is the truestory of how the Santa Feskyrocketed from worst tofirst in the fleet bychallenging the U.S. Navy’straditional leader-followerapproach. Struggling againsthis own instincts to takecontrol, he instead achievedthe vastly more powerfulmodel of giving control.Before long, each member ofMarquet’s crew became aleader and assumedresponsibility for everything

Bennette Espineli Misalucha

PAGE 2 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • SEPTEMBER 1-15, 2015

you by the Philippine Medical As-sociation Of Hawaii, PMAH Foun-dation and other leading spon-sors. Contact Persons Imelda841-4195 or 888-674-7624, emailthem at [email protected]

September 20, 2015Journey, A Doctors-On-Stage Mu-sicale 6:00 PM-8:00 PM, Fil-ComCenter Ballroom 94-428 MokuolaSt. Waipahu. For the benefit ofBayanihan Clinic Without Wall,Inc. An Immigrant Health Ser-vice. For tickets and other infocontact Imelda 841-4195 or 888-674-7624, email them atpmahinfo @gmail.com

September 27, 2015FilCom Sunday Ramrambak 3featuring Amianan and IlokanoCulture, Filipino Community Cen-ter in Waipahu, 3:30 PM-7:30 PMContact Person: Arceli Rebollidoat the Filcom Center 808-680-0451; October 3, 2015; IwalaniFoundation presents MagnificentWomen of Hawaii Breast CancerAwareness @ Rumours NightClub, Ala Moana Hotel. Doorsopen 3:00 PM-8:00 PM. TicketsPre-sale $30, At door $35. Con-tact Person: Iwalani Tseu 808623-6776

October 7, 2015Filipino Junior Chamber GeneralMembership Meeting; 6:00 PM-8:00 PM, Max’s of Manila, Iwilei.This meeting is for Board nomi-nee speeches and election. Con-tact Person: Niccolo Gruta, Sec-retary at niccolo.gruta @fjchamber.org

October 23, 2015San Nicoleneous USA 9th YearAnniversary Ball, Reaffirmationof New Officers and Awards Night.Pacific Beach Hotel, Grand Ball-room 6:00 PM. Cost: $65.00 (Atthe door - $70.00) Contact Per-sons: John De Los Santos 847-6566, Lydia Kamiya 859-7147,Gina Lardizabal 389-4817, BeatrizSantiago 223-6892, RosemarieAquino 721-4853, Cesar Bonilla372-0264, Vilma Valdez 321-3186

October 24, 2015Ilocos Surian Association of Ha-waii (ISAH); Mrs. Ilocos SurianAssociation of Hawaii Coronationand Gala; Hilton Hawaiian VillageWaikiki Hotel Tapa Ballroom Cost:$75.00; Contact Persons: DannyVillaruz 778-0233; Lina Mercado526-9009; Amado Yoro 699-9814

October 31, 2015The Filipino Community Center,Inc. presents the 13th AnnualBayanihan Gala Fundraiser.Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, Cocktails5:30 PM, Program promptly tostart at 6:30 PM. This year’s Galatheme “Honoring Our PlantationLegacy”. Sponsorship opportu-nities are available. For more in-formation call Bennette MisaluchaEvent Chair, or Arceli Rebollidoat the Fil-com Center 808-680-0451 or visit filcom.org.

November 7, 2015United Filipino Council of Hawaii(UFCH) Reaffirmation of Officersand Progress Awards, PacificBeach Hotel, Grand Ballroom,

September 2, 2015Filipino Junior Chamber GeneralMembership Meeting. 6:00 PM-8:00 PM at Max’s of Manila, IwileiThis meeting will start the elec-tion process for next year’s Fili-pino Junior Chamber President,as well as opening nominationsfor the upcoming board, Presiden-tial nominee speeches/electionand Board nominations. ContactPerson: Niccolo Gruta, Secretaryat [email protected]

September 5, 2015INCAT- Ilocos Norte College ofArts and Trade; 16th Anniversary,Coronation of Ms. Incat andScholarship Presentation; Em-press Restaurant in Chinatown5:30 – 11:00 PM Cost $40; Con-tact Person: Augustine Longboy294-1446

September 6, 2015The 10th Annual Mayor’s Remem-brance Walk, Hosted by HonoluluMayor’s Office of Culture and theArts. 5:00 PM. The procession be-gins with a short ceremony at theHonolulu Police Department onBeretania and continues downAlapai to South Street ending atHonolulu Hale.

September 9, 2015Filipino Chamber of Commerceof Hawaii General MembershipMeeting, 7:00 PM Argosy Univer-sity, Honolulu Campus; 1001Bishop Street, 4th Floor. SpecialGuest Speaker Hilarie Strong ofDakota Internet Designs. Topic:“Social Media Basics & How toIntegrate them into your BusinessMarketing Plan”. RSVP toBernadette Fajardo; 342-8090 orRocky Anguay 387-5821

September 12, 2015Filipino Women’s Civic Club(FWCC) 44th Annual Maria ClaraBall, Pomaikai Ballrooms at DoleCannery, Iwilei; 6:00 PM; Con-tact Persons: Bernadette Fajardo342-8090, Cecilia Villafuerte 371-8538

September 13, 2015The United Laoaguenos of HawaiiGeneral Meeting and Elections ofOfficers at the Neal S. BlaisdellPark. 11:30 AM Potluck lunch.Contact persons: MerelleGonzales, President, ULOH 386-3468, Ella Bueno 671-7900

September 17, 2015ORI Anuenue Hale, Inc. presentsa Moon Festival Country Fair, aHealth and Wellness Fair for Se-niors at the HelemanoPlantation’s Wellness Center 64-1488 Kamehameha Highway inWahiawa 9:00 AM-1:00 PM Ad-mission is FREE! For more infor-mation call Yvonne or Rose at622-3929

September 20, 2015Leeward Community Health Fair10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at the Sonido-Alquero Bldg. (the former Ameri-can Savings Bank Bldg.) 94-229Waipahu Depot St. corner ofFarrington Highway. Free healthscreenings & consultations andfabulous giveaways. Brought to

STATEWIDECOMMUNITY CALENDARCompiled by AMELIA CASAMINA CABATU

6:00PM. Contact Persons: MariaEtrata 392-2962, Lynne Gutierrez728-1700, Ben Pulido 421-9747

November 12-22, 2015Hawaii International Film Festival,the premier international filmevent in the pacific, showcasesfeatures and documentaries fromAsia, the Pacific Islands and Ha-waii. It has more than one dozenscreening sites on six HawaiianIslands. For more info log ontowww.hiff.org

November 14, 2015Filipino Business Women’s Asso-ciation (FBWA) 32nd AnnualKimona Ball and honoring the2015 Filipino Business Woman ofthe Year, Armi Oliver Farinas. AlaMoana Hotel, Hibiscus Ballroom,6:00 PM; Contact Persons: NancyAtmospera Walch 778-3832,Bernadette Fajardo 342-8090,Lina Mercado 382-7751

November 21, 2015Nursing Advocates and Mentors,Inc (NAMI); 14th AnniversaryGala, Appreciation of VolunteerLecturers and Recognition ofnewRN's and Review Graduates;Hale Koa Hotel, Banyan TreeShowroom, 6:00pm; ContactPersons: Bea Ramos-Razon 778-6291, Jun Obaldo 277 -7495 andBong Curameng 383-0135

November 29, 2015FilCom Sunday-Pasasalamat! Atthe Filipino Community Center inWaipahu 3:30 PM-7:30 PM Con-tact Person: Arceli Rebollido atthe Fil-Com Center 808-680-0451

November 29, 2015Alliance of Residential Care Ad-ministrators (ARCA); AnnualChristmas Celebration and Inau-guration of Officers; Hale KoaHotel- Banyan Tree Showroom6:00 PM; Contact Person: LiliaFajotina 291-1706

December 6, 2015Pasko sa FilCom At the FilipinoCommunity Center in Waipahu3:00 PM-8:00 PM Contact Person:Arceli Rebollido at the Fil-ComCenter 808-680-0451

December 12, 2015Adult Foster Homecare Associa-tion of Hawaii (AFHA), ChristmasCelebration and Coronation of thenew Mrs. AFHA. Pacific Beach Ho-tel Grand Ballroom 6:00 PM; Con-tact Persons: Norma Tan 358-4985, Maribel Tan 384-0494

February 6, 2016Annak Ti Badoc Iti HawaiiValentine’s Ball and ScholarshipPresentation Ala Moana Hotel Hi-biscus Ballroom 6:00PMContact Person: Marilyn TolentinoVillar: 678-1482

OAHU

Amelia Casamina Cabatu is a familiar facein the community, often emceeing communityevents and parties. She is a veteran radio an-nouncer and guests-hosts on 1270 KNDI Ra-dio. In addition to other affiliations, Amelia isthe current Chair of the Philippine CelebrationCoordinating Committee of Hawaii. She ownsand operates an adult daycare business and ishappily married to Arnold Cabatu. They live inSalt Lake and is blessed with one daughter,Armay. Please send your event information [email protected].

JORDAN SEGUNDO

We welcome into our ever-increasing roster of writ-ers, a familiar face in the local entertainment industry.Jordan Segundo is most noted as the first contestant fromHawaii and the first Filipino-American selected as a Top 32finalist on Season Two of American Idol. Since then, hehas made a name for himself as one of Hawaii’s top enter-tainers.

In addition to singing, he has branched out into actingand television hosting. He currently presents “808 Up-date”, an events and entertainment segment everyWednesday at 8:00 a.m. on KHON2’s Living808.

Aside from performing, Segundo is also very active inthe community. He generously volunteers his time andtalents to worthy causes and non-profit organizations, suchas the Ronald McDonald House Charities, the D.A.R.E. Pro-gram and the Oahu SCPA.

A proud graduate of Farrington High School, Segundoreceived an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts from Hono-lulu Community College and will complete his BachelorsDegree in Journalism at the University of Hawaii Manoa inSpring of 2016.

Through his passion for story telling and his love forthe community, Segundo will be writing a monthly lifestylecolumn starting Sept. 16 that will focus on a variety oftopics including health and well-being, fitness, fashion, foodand entertainment.

Welcome Aboard!

LANAI (LANAI CITY)October 30, 2015Lanai Chamber of Commercepresents the Lanai City Fifth Fri-day Town Party, Dole Park, LanaiAve. Lanai City, Hawaii 5:30 PM-8:30 PM. Celebrate the uniqueand cherished way of life on Lanai.Free admission, family fun, food,

MAUIOctober 5, 2015Philippine Flag Raising Ceremonyat the County of Maui to kick offFilipino-American History Monthin Maui. 10:00 AM; Sponsored bythe County of Maui-Mayor's Of-fice and the Maui Filipino Cham-ber of Commerce Foundation.Contact Alfredo Evangelista at808.242.8100 for more informa-tion.

October 17, 2015Maui Fil-Am Heritage Festival®presented by Maui Filipino Cham-ber of Commerce Foundationfrom 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at MauiMall. A celebration of Filipino-American History Month featur-ing Filipino restaurants, back toback cultural entertainment,games, and events such as theMaster P-Noy Chef Cook Off®,the Filipino Fashionista®, the LittleFilipino Fashionista®, the SpeedyBalut Eating Contest®, the AnyKine Adobo® contest, the CanYou Tinikling?® contest, DaSupaSuman® Contest, ThePolvoron Challenge: Eat &Tweet®, the Oh Wow! Parol Mak-ing Contest®,the P-noy ArtistContest®, and the We Got His-tory Exhibit®. Contact AlfredoEvangelista at 808.242.8100 formore information.

KAUAI

BIG ISLANDSeptember 18, 2015Augie T & Friends 1st annual“Laugh with the Stars” A benefitshow for Brave Hawaii-a non-profit bringing awareness to thebulling problem. Enjoy a night ofmusic and comedy. 7:00 PM atthe Hilo Civic Auditorium. All seats$15 in Advance $20 at the door.$25 VIP seats & come with a freegift. For tickets and more info goto www.laughunderthestars.comor http://augiet.com

September 11, 2015Augie T & Friends 1st annual“Laugh with the Stars” A benefitshow for Brave Hawaii- a non-profit bringing awareness to thebulling problem. Enjoy a night ofmusic and comedy, 7:00 PM atthe Kauai War Memorial Conven-tion Hall, 4191 Hardy St. LihueKauai, HI. All seats $15 in Ad-vance $20 at the door. $25 VIPseats come with a Free gift. Fortickets and more info go towww.laughunderthestars.com orhttp://augiet.com

live entertainment, carriage ridesand lots of community. ContactPerson: Brad Dunn808-649-0808

and neighborhoods of hiscity.

What is ultimately mostvaluable in the book is thecareful way that Chin worksin an overarching themeabout keeping the essentialcharacter and culture ofChinatown intact. And notin a theme park way thatfreezes Chinatown in oneplace and time forever, butin a way that respects theway neighborhoods andpeople change and growover generations.

It is this larger lessonthat seems most urgent for

versions of all of thesequestions since the late1970’s.

The book is full ofcolorful examples of thesesuccesses, each filled withreal life people’s stories tohighlight the view from thegrassroots.

On homelessness, Chindescribes how ChinatownCDC reinvented Single RoomOccupancy, bringing insupportive services andprograms that improved thesocial character of thebuildings. (If there is anysilver bullet for gettingHawaii’s homeless populationoff the street this would beit.)

On transit, ChinatownCDC has been ahead of thecurve at every step withbussing, highway planning,and most recently commuterrail. Chin exposes the goodthe bad and the ugly of itall while demonstratingexactly how to make theselarge scale planningdecisions work for the people

a wise look back at thesteady rise of AsianAmerican political power allwrapped up in one volume.

But it’s not just a goodread. Here in Honolulu thehousing crisis has beensteadily worsening over thelast decade.

From the homelessoccupying blocks and parksin a desperate search for asafe place to sleep, to theskyrocketing cost of rentaland homeownership, pricingour children out of the statethey were raised in, all theway through to the difficultyimplementing the promisesof transit-oriented develop-ment, each of these aspectsof our crisis is challengingour sense of who we are aslocal Hawaii people.

Luckily for us, Chin’sChinatown CDC hasgrappled with andsuccessfully addressed

Drew Astolfi was the director of FACE- Faith Action for CommunityEquity for many years, covering both Oahu and Maui. Although hemoved to the Mainland early part of this year, he continues to beinvested in Hawaii’s future and will periodically contribute articlesto the Fil-Am Courier.

By DREW ASTOLFI

Building Community,Chinatown Style

“What is ultimately most valuable in the book is the careful waythat Chin works in an overarching theme about keeping the

essential character and culture of Chinatown intact.”

Legendary communityorganizer Gordon Chin’srecent book BuildingCommunity, ChinatownStyle (available on Amazon)should be required readingfor Hawaii’s politicians,planners, and activistsstruggling to solve ouraffordable housing crisis.

The book is based onChin’s nearly 50 years oforganizing in the highestland value region of theUnited States (SanFrancisco) and the story ofhis Chinatown CommunityDevelopment Corporationhas many for us here in theAloha State.

And all of them aredelivered with the easygoinghumanity that characterizesChin’s community work.Reading it is like taking awalk around San Francisco’svibrant Chinatown, a seminaron affordable housing, and

E R R A T A

Dr. Emma Avila, fourth from the left was incorrectly iden-tified in the last issue. She was named the 2015 out-standing woman Achiever in health care and medicineduring the Terno Ball sponsored by the Hawaii FilipinoWomen's Club.

Hawaii people to learn as itfeels increasingly in ourstate like a wave ofgentrification is going towash away the unique andprecious local culture thatall of us inhabit.

Reading BuildingCommunity, ChinatownStyle will inspire you to thinkbigger about the kind ofstruggles we are facingtogether as island people,and the kinds of things wemight do together to getthrough them.


Our cover....

With Diamond Head in thebackground, this issue's cover

photo of Joey Alcantara, the2015 Filipino Entrepreneur of

the Year was shot by notedphotographer James Ramos.

James may be reached [email protected]

or at cell (808) 345 3924.

Cover concept by Noah Felipe ofOrig Media.

A big mahalo to Jeff Orig of OrigMedia.

Both Noah and Jeff may bereached at www.origmedia.comor by phone (808) 447-9559

In June of this year,CNBC ranked Hawaii asAmerica’s Bottom State forDoing Business, the secondtime over the last threeyears.

While most of thefindings were based onHawaii’s high costs andonerous regulations,entrepreneurs such asAnacleto “Joey” S.Alcantara, Jr., have managedto defy the odds.

Joey, founder and CEOof First Pacific Builders,LLC.,was recently honoredby the Filipino Chamber ofCommerce of Hawaii as the

2015 Filipino Entrepreneur ofthe Year.

It took several attemptsand missed calls before Joeyand I got to chat for thisarticle, as he is a very busyman in the community andrunning his business.

When we finallyconnected, he had justcome out of a meeting ofthe Hawaii StateContractors License Board,of which he has been anindustry member since 2011.His energy level was highand it was clear during ourconversation that he loved

what he does and is verygood at it.

Entrepreneurial spiritJoey founded First

Pacific Builders, LLC, on June28, 2011, as a small businessand pilot venture. It wasestablished during a timewhen most companies wereattempting to diversify theirbusiness strategies in orderto survive the downturn inthe economy.

The success of FirstPacific Builders, LLC, is atestament to Joey’sentrepreneurial spirit andcommitment to his business.

By GLADYS QUINTOMARRONE

Photo credit: James Ramos Photography


Even if Joey is a productof an entrepreneurial family,he had to start from thebottom and work his way upwithin the constructionindustry. After seven yearsof owning and managing hisown retail, restaurant,export and import,wholesale, and constructionsupply businesses, Joeywent to work for his father,Anacleto “Lito” Alcantara,CEO of Group Builders, Inc.,as a laborer.

He simultaneouslyentered the Hawaii LaborersUnion, Local 368,Apprenticeship Program in2002, as a constructioncraft laborer, and graduatedwith excellence two yearslater. Immediately aftergraduation, Joey was placedwith a warehouse companyof Group Builders, Inc.,delivering materials to jobsites.

Then, in 2004, Joey waspromoted to Chief OperatingOfficer and soon passed theState of Hawaii ContractorsLicensure with ABC licenseand became the ResponsibleManaging Employee, or RME,at Group Builders, Inc. He isalso currently RME for FirstPacific Builders.

Forbes magazine lists 25common characteristics of

successful entrepreneurs,including doing what youenjoy, taking what you doseriously, managing moneywisely, remembering it’s allabout the customer, askingfor the sale, investing inyourself, and creating acompetitive advantage. JoeyAlcantara, Jr., embodies all

of these traits, and evenmore.

Old-fashioned valuesVince Lombardi once

said, “Leaders aren’t born,they are made. And they aremade, just like anythingelse, through hard work.And that’s the price we’ll

have to pay to achieve thatgoal, or any goal.”

Joey says he “runs hisbusiness like a 7-Eleven.”With the time differencefrom Guam, where hisbusiness is based, he willhappily answer a call atmidnight Hawaii time. He isa hands-on manager andinvolved in every facet ofhis company, which isanother aspect Forbesmagazine cites ascontributing to the successof a business. Joey worksclosely with his vendorsuppliers, conducts regularand random visits to hisjobsites, and maintains anefficient cost trackingsystem, which supports himmonitoring his budgets andprofitability effectively.

He does his ownmarketing with clients as


CEO, but “that does notstand for Chief ExecutiveOfficer,” Joey says but,rather, “for ChiefEntertainment Officer.” He israrely in his office as he isconstantly visiting with hisclients, entertaining them,and always going above andbeyond what is expected incustomer service.

Loyalty is highly valuedby Joey, whether it be fromhis employees and clients,or given to them by him.However, “honesty is themost important thing,”emphasized Joey, “ it isimportant to be fair ineverything I do.”

Competitive andcompassionate

The constructionindustry is extremelycompetitive, withcontractors vying for manyof the same jobs. “I have to

innovative products andmaterials.

Construction is a cyclicalindustry, ebbing and flowingwith high booming times andlow and sluggish times. Joeymanages his company andmanpower in order to keepenough workers on tocomplete jobs and thenallocate workers for futureprojects. Joey values hisemployees so he tries tominimize lay-offs due towork stoppages or jobcancellations by schedulingenough hours for them tomaintain their medicalbenefits. Joey has even lentsome of his field employeesto his competitors, helpingthem out during a time ofneed.

Joey is also very activein the Filipino community aswell as in numerousprofessional membershiporganizations, mostlyaffiliated with the businessand construction industries.At the Filipino Chamber ofCommerce, he coordinateda fundraising campaign thatraised about $10,000 topromote the well-being ofchildren in the Philippinesand $5,000 for the IlocosNorte public library. He alsoserved as Vice-President ofthe Isabella HawaiiAssociation and raiseddonations of medicalequipment for the provinceduring his term.

competitors and impendingeconomic turns.

be proactive inconstruction, to go outand look for jobs.” He alsokeeps aware of his

Joey strongly believesthat his employees are thekey to his successfulbusiness, so he takes careof them as the companygrows. Many of hisemployees started with himat a young age, so Joey hastaken it upon himself tomold them into seasonedworkers who value highquality-craftsmanship. Joeyensures that his own staffremains competitive in theindustry by sending hisemployees or crew membersto seminars to learn aboutproducts and applications,as well as to conventionsthat showcase new and

(LtoR) Honolulu Consul-General Gina Jamoralin, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Mayor Lucilo"Cecil" Bayron, Paul Alimbuyao, Joey Alcantara and Ambassador Liza Jane Estalilla at Ho-tel Centro Puerto Princesa.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE IN HAWAII


Leading by exampleThe general public’s

perception of the nextgeneration, the Millennials,is that this group is entitledand want success but theeasy way. Maybe so, maybenot. Whatever the case,Joey’s advice for the nextgeneration entering theconstruction industry is to“have the knowledge,experience, good attitude,quality workmanship, andlearn as much as you canbefore starting aconstruction business.” Helikened a successfulbusiness to cooking,whereby if you use highquality ingredients, have thecooking skills and experience,cook with passion, then theoutcome will be the best.

Joey’s son, Anacleto PioAlcantara III, the nextgeneration at First PacificBuilders, is being groomed tobe his right hand andupcoming leader in thecompany. When asked howhis hard work andcommitment to his companyimpacts his children,especially since he divideshis time equally betweenHawaii and Guam, Joey saysthat, “my children see howI work hard, take my workseriously, always payingclose attention to what I’mdoing,” and that his businessis nothing to play aroundwith. He instil ls in hischildren and his employees

Gladys Quinto Marrone is theCEO of the Building IndustryAssociation of Hawaii. Shepreviously served under the lateHonorable Patsy T. Mink inWashington, D.C. A graduate ofthe University of SouthernCalifornia and the W.R.Richardson School of Law,Gladys is an uber foodie, enjoyspolitics, international travel,bargain shopping, as well asquiet evenings at home with herhusband.

a supply and demand issue: not enoughsupply + high demand = high prices.Regulatory requirements, prolongedpermitting processes, and lack of backbone infrastructure are barriers toincreasing housing supply. We need tobuild more homes at ALL PRICE POINTSif we want to preserve our middle class,provide opportunities for the nextgeneration to return home to Hawaii, anddesire a viable and sustainable future inHawaii.

As we look to the future andcontemplate where we might increasethe supply of housing at all price points,we are encouraged at what the prospectof the new Rail Transit project will providein housing opportunities on Oahu.

However, strong leadership is neededto ensure that obstacles, such as thelack of infrastructure, are addressed inorder to make development around thetransit corridor successful.

by GLADYS QUINTO MARRONECEO, Building Industry Association of Hawaii

More Housing Needed atAll Price Points

In early August 2015, the medianprice of a single-family home on Oahuhit $710,000. A median household incomeof $149,952 would be required to affordsuch a home. This median is projectedby experts to hit $1M by 2018, requiringa median household income of $211,200.

Oahu’s population is projected toincrease by almost 122,000 by 2030, butwe are building homes at the lowest ratesince WWII.

The State Department of BusinessEconomic Development and Tourismestimates that approximately 5,000 newunits are needed annually toaccommodate new housing formationsat existing density.

Yet, in 2014, the Department ofPermitting and Planning issued just over1,800 building permits for single-familyhomes (unclear whether they were newaddresses or rebuilds).

What can we do to help thissituation? It’s quite clear that we have

that “your reputation has tobe good and people have totrust you,” whether it be hisbanker or a client that hepromised to finish a job ontime and on budget.

Hard work certainlypays off

First Pacific Buildersstarted as a two-personcompany, with Joey inHawaii and a manager inGuam, and in four years hasexponentially grown to apeak of 50 full-timeemployees. Joey’sentrepreneurial spirit, hiscommitment to his business,employees, family, andclients, and all of his hardwork has certainly paid off.Joey Alcantara, Jr., and FirstPacific Builders are well ontheir way to being one ofthe top-ranked constructioncompanies in Hawaii.

And you couldn’t ask fora better outcome than that.


well as the Chair of theNational Asian AmericanPacific Islander Caucus ofthe Young Democrats ofAmerica. “I wish that I could go backin time and tell my youngerself to ask my grandparentsabout what life was like inthe Philippines, and to teachme more about theculture,” recalled DosSantos-Tam. “ There’s somuch history and lessons ofvalues in who we are. My

kasama, sticking together,supporting each other. Ieven had a roommate whowas Filipino-American aswell, so that provided a richexperience for me thatinspired me to continue thiscultural growth as I mademy way back home.”

Upon returning toHawaii after graduating, DosSantos-Tam remains activewith the Filipino Americancommunity, serving on theboard of the Filipino JuniorChamber of Commerce as

It wasn’t until DosSantos-Tam went across thecountry for college that hehad the opportunity toembrace and immersehimself in the rich Filipinoheritage that seems toescape many young people.

“There weren’t toomany Filipinos on campus,but the few that wereformed a tight knit groupthat allowed me to feel likeI was part of a family awayfrom home,” explained DosSantos-Tam. “We were

As the largest Asianethnic group in Hawaii sincethe 2010 census, FilipinoAmericans make up asignificant portion of Hawaii’sworkforce.

Representing thethousands of union membersof the Hawaii ConstructionAlliance, many of whom areFilipino, Executive DirectorTyler Dos Santos-Tamfocuses on values similarlyfound in Filipino culture tofoster relationships with hismembers, and strengthenand support their stabilityand competitiveness in theworkforce.

“As a fourthgeneration Fil ipino-American, those valueswere passed on to me,” saidDos Santos-Tam. “Hardwork, humility, and stickingtogether – those are keyfoundations to the successof our members and theorganizations that representthem.”

The 27 year oldPunahou and Yale alumniwas recently selected byPacific Business News asone of Hawaii’s “Forty UnderForty”, along with otheryoung business andcommunity leadersthroughout the state.

“Although I’m alsoPortuguese, Spanish, andChinese in addition toFilipino, I have deep rootsin the Philippines. My greatgrandfather was one of theoriginal Sakadas who camefrom Cebu and my greatgrandmother grew up inBadoc. But being so distantfrom the immigrantexperience made me feeldisconnected from myidentity as a Filipino, and thecommunity that surroundedme.”

By BRYAN JACO GALLARDE

At a regular membership meeting with the members and supporters of the Filipino JuniorChamber of Commerce (Jaycees).


Dos Santos-Tam (right) with his fellow awardees at PBN’sForty Under Forty ceremonies. Flanking Brittany Amano(center) on the left is City Council member Brandon Elefante.

paternal great grandparentswere held by the Japaneseoccupiers prisoners of warduring World War II. I thinkabout this story all the timeas it relates to who I amtoday.”

Dos Santos-Tamworks closely with hismentors and othercommunity leaders tocontinue building a culturalrenaissance for Fil ipinoAmericans in Hawaii.

“You know, Filipinoidentity and culture isconstantly changing, it’sconstantly evolving. InHawaii everyone is a mixedplate and that’s always achallenge for individuals onhow to accept, promulgate,and express our ownidentities as Filipinos. I hopewe can continue this trend,and that more Filipinos findtheir identities and take

part of the celebration ofour culture.”

To assist in theseefforts, Dos Santos-Tam hasworked on having the FilipinoJaycees sponsor leadershipdinners to invite businessand community leaders tomeet and speak with theirboard, with aims to cultivatethe next generation of Fil-Am Leaders in Hawaii.

“The Jaycees werereally excited to have adinner series that wouldfocus on areas of importantfor Fil ipinos in Hawaii.Bridging together thegenerations is the key tohelping Hawaii produceinnovators andentrepreneurs that will startbusinesses, provide jobs,and help promote a strongFilipino community.”

“We need more ofthis generation to getinvolve, learn more, and bea part of something great,find your interest and theorganization and show up ata meeting. No be shame! Be

proud of who you are andfind your own way toexpress that. Even if it’s justrocking a Manny Pacquiao t-shirt”


Inc.; Marianela Jacob ofHealthcare School of Hawaii,LLC; Vinah and AlwinMorales of UltimateBeauty & Gifthings Hawaii,LLC; and Julie Oasay ofJulie’z Restaurant FilipinoHomestyle Cuisine.TheChamber also honoredJonathan Agas of EJ2Enterprises, LLC, as therecipient of the YoungFEOTY award. Brittney AnnCopp, daughter of Danieland Cynthia Copp and agraduate of James CampbellHigh school, received a$5,000 scholarship donatedby the Renato and Maria A.F.Etrata Foundation. Copp,who was ranked #1 in aclass of 637 seniors, intendsto further her education inPublic Health/Global PublicHealth and will attend theUniversity of Texas inAustin. Other scholarshiprecipients include Claire ChiefNobuhara, daughter of Wadeand Cecile Nobuhara;Leeyannah Armaine Santos,daughter of Armando andLuna Santos; and Eden Ines,daughter of Alfred andEsther Ines.

By ANGIE DYTIOCOSANTIAGO

Winning the 2015 FEOTYaward was Joey Alcantara,Jr., President and CEO of FirstPacific Buildders, LLC, ageneral and specialtycontractor operating inHawaii and Guam. Established in 2011, thecompany specializes inacoustics, buildinginsulation, drywall, lath andplaster, fireproofing, cabinetsand millwork, and exteriorinsulation finish systems(EIFS). The other fiveFEOTY nominees for 2015were Rida Cabanilla ofCardiopulmonary DiagnosticServices; Rose Galanto ofAloha Tours and Travels,

For the past 25 years,the Filipino Chamber ofCommerce of Hawaii (FCCH)has recognized and honoredFilipino entrepreneurs whohave demonstrated theirexcellence in businessthrough their vision,innovation, leadership,courage, hard work, abilityto meet challenges,achievements, andmeritorious contributions tothe community. Last May16, 2015, six nominees forthe Filipino Entrepreneur ofthe Year (FEOTY) 2015 wererecognized for possessingthese traits and formanaging successfulbusinesses in Hawaii.

Young FEOTY Awardee Jonathan Agas with proud parentsEddie and Aurea Agas.

Accepting the FEOTY 2015 award is Joey Alcantara, Jr., flanked by FCCH officials, judges, family, and friends.

Joey Alcantara, Jr.

FCCH RecognizesAlcantara as 2015

Filipino Entrepreneurof the Year

Agas Selected for Young Entrepreneur Award, andCopp Selected to Receive Scholarship


Angie Dytioco Santiago, our Gathering Place columnist, is a U.H. Manoa graduate. She is currently aGovernor of the United Filipino Council of Hawaii (UFCH), a Public Relations Officer for the Bulacan Circle &Associates of Hawaii (BCAH) and a member of the Philippine Celebrations Coordinating Committee of Hawaii(PCCCH). She served as 1st Vice President of the Oahu Filipino Community Council (OFCC) from 2013 to 2014and as the BCAH President from 2010 to 2012. She is the daughter of Angel &Rubing Dytioco and is marriedwith two sons. She enjoys photography and participating in cultural and social activities and events.

Rocky Anguay, Consul General Gina Jamoralin,FCCH President Paul Alimbuyao, SenatorClarence Nishihara, Rose Galanto, Eddie Flores,Atty. Bryan Andaya, and Mayor Kirk Caldwell.

FCCH Scholar Awardee Eden Ines, her parents Alfredand Esther, and brothers.

FEOTY nominee Vinah and Alwin Morales of UltimateBeauty & Gifthings Hawaii, LLC, surrounded by friendsand supporters.

FEOTY Judges: Atty Rick Abelman, Dr. MelodyCalisay, Matt Smith, CPA, and Carlton Williams,CPA.

Mimi Gozar, Engie Pagaduan, Jeffrey De Mesa, LuzPeirson, Vilma Evangelista Valdez, and HermiePagaduan.

Atty. Bryan Andaya, Rocky Anguay, Consul Gen-eral Gina Jamoralin, Marianela Jacob, VanessaJacob, Jose Jacob, FCCH President Paul Alimbuyao,Senator Clarence Nishihara, and Mayor KirkCaldwell.




clarifiers, which look likelarge round lakes. At SandIsland WWTP, after primarytreatment, the sewage thenmoves through an ultravioletsystem of 1,680 UV lamps.This helps to kill pathogensbefore the treated sewageis released into the deepocean outfall 1.7 milesoffshore at a depth of 230’deep. Extensive testing of42,000 samples annually isdone on the effluent beforedischarge through theoutfall and ocean teams testthe water at the outfall site.

At Honouliuli WWTP halfof the flows go through asecondary treatmentprocess where the solidsfrom the settling tank andfinal clarifier are moved to adigester. This stabilizes anddewaters the sludge whichis then sent to H-Power toproduce electricity. At SandIsland WWTP, Synagro takesthe bio-solids of approxi-mately 11,000 dry tons ofsludge per year and convertsit into fertilizer pellets to beused as a soil amendment.

At Honoluliuli WWTP theBoard of Water Supplyoperates a water reuse plantcompleting treatment of thesecondary wastewater tobring it to R-1 quality. R-1quality water can be usedfor landscaping irrigation atparks, homes andbusinesses, golf courses,and for industrial cleaningpurposes. The city plans tomeet its federal mandate byupgrading both plants tosecondary treatment for allwastewater: the HonouliuliWWTP by 2024 and theSand Island WWTP by 2035.

There are three waysthe Department of

8, processes 26 MGD. Thecity’s Wastewater Treat-ment and Disposal Divisionhas a staff of more than 300employees operating thecity’s nine treatment plantsisland-wide.

As the flows reach theplant, inorganic materials areremoved. Then the grit tankallows smaller inorganicmaterials to settle to thebottom of the tank. Theseinclude things like egg shells,sand, gravel, and othersmall debris to be collectedfor disposal at the landfill orHPOWER. The material thatgoes to HPOWER is burnedfor electricity like themunicipal trash taken there,meaning that your bathroomwater actually is recycled toelectricity so that you canturn on your bathroom light!After the grit tank, theeffluent is moved through aseries of pipes for primarytreatment. Each plantoperates several primary

Brandon Elefante representsHonolulu City Council District VIIIwhich covers Aiea, Pearl City,Waipahu. He is an activemember of several organizationsincluding the Filipino JuniorChamber of Commerce ofHawaii. He can be reached at(808) 768-5008 and his email [email protected].

By BRANDON ELEFANTECouncil Member

City and County of Honolulu

Genchi Genbutsumeans “go and see.” I am abig believer in getting outand seeing things tounderstand how they reallywork, and to that end mystaff and I are visiting cityfacilities all over the island.We recently visited two ofthe city’s largestwastewater treatmentplants: Sand IslandWastewater Treatment Plant(WWTP) and the HonouliuliWastewater TreatmentPlant. These plants servethe majority of Oahuresidents and visitors withSand Island serving NiuValley to Halawa (600,000people) and Honouliuliserving Halawa to Kapoleiand mauka to Mili lani(400,000 people). Chancesare when you washed yourdishes today, yourwastewater went to one ofthese WWTPs.

The size and complexityof these operations isimpressive. The Sand IslandWWTP processes approxi-mately 60 million gallons ofwastewater per day (MGD).This is the equivalent of 90Olympic-sized swimmingpools. The Sand Island planthas a current capacity of 92MGD. The Honouliuli WWTP,which serves Council District

Councilmember Elefante with Wastewater Treatment andDisposal Division Chief Athan Adachi and Wastewater Treat-ment Plant District Supervisor Gary Okamura at HonouliuliWWTP.

Councilmember Elefante in front of a secondary treatmenttank at Honouliuli WWTP

Environmental Servicesrecycles your wastewater:1) the inorganic materialremoved from the headworksand the dewatered sludgeproduct from secondarytreatmentis burned atHPOWER for electricity; 2)the bio-solids at Sand IslandWWTP are converted intofertilizer pellets; and 3)wastewater at HonouliuliWWTP is treated to R-1quality water to be reusedfor irrigation and industrialuses.

By being aware of thehow these plants operate

and by understanding thelarger picture of wastewaterdisposal, we can all act asresponsible stewards of ourenvironment every day.



By DR. CHRISTOPHERTORTORA, M.D.Medical Director of

Hawaiian Eye Center

covered in lectures, patientconsultations, anddiagnostic equipmentdemonstrations.

Myanmar has only about300 ophthalmologists for apopulation of 60 millionpeople, a ratio of one to

Christopher Tortora ,M.D., a Wahiawaophthalmologist withHawaiian Eye Center, joineda team of nine volunteerfaculty in Yangon, Myanmarthis past April for thecountry’s first western eyesurgical training program indecades, following its recentopening to democracy.

The four-day MyanmarEye Meeting, conducted byHawaiian Eye Foundation inpartnership with Yangon EyeHospital, was attended byabout 50 Burmeseophthalmology students andpracticing ophthalmologists.A wide range of topics,including cataracts,glaucoma, and corneal andretina disorders were

200,000 people, one-quarterof the World HealthOrganization’s target, sothere is an urgent need forophthalmic training.Hawaiian Eye Foundationwas invited to return foranother Myanmar EyeMeeting in 2015, and plansto conduct future meetingsin alternating years with itsongoing Imperial City EyeMeetings in Vietnam.

Immediately followingthe Myanmar Eye Meeting,Dr. Tortora and fellow facultymembers traveled fromYangon to Hue, Vietnam, toparticipate in theFoundation’s fifth biennialImperial City Eye Meeting.

The Imperial City EyeMeeting is conducted inpartnership with Hue CentralHospital, and is attended byhundreds of eye doctorsfrom throughout Vietnam. Inaddition to lectures,consultations, anddiagnostic equipmentdemonstrations, the four-day training includesindividualized instruction incataract surgery, usingoperating microscopes toperform surgery on pigs’eyes.

Dr. Tortora and fellowfaculty members traveled toMyanmar and Vietnam at

their own expense todonate their time. “It wasso rewarding to teachdoctors who are so eagerto learn,” said Dr. Tortora,“and we hope our programmakes a difference for thepeople of Southeast Asia.”

The non-profit HawaiianEye Foundation, based inHonolulu, has sponsoredophthalmic training programsin Southeast Asia since2006, and for 30 years hasconducted humanitarian eyesurgery expeditions toPacific island nations,including Tonga, Fiji, Samoa,Palau, Marshall Islands,Vanuatu, and Kiribati.

WahiawaSurgeonTrains EyeDoctors inMyanmar &Vietnam

Christopher Tortora, M.D., aboard certified ophthalmologist,is host of “The Hawaiian EyeShow,” a weekly informationalradio program about healthyvision broadcast live everySaturday at 8 a.m. on KHVH 830AM/rebroadcast at 9 p.m. onKHBZ 990 AM. He and hiscolleagues at the Hawaiian EyeCenter are committed toeducating the public about theimportance of preventative eyecare. To learn more about avariety of eye health issues,please call the Hawaiian EyeCenter at 621-8448 or visitwww.HawaiianEye.com andw w w . F a c e b o o k . c o m /HawaiianEyeCenter, where “lifehas never looked better.”


County of Maui Managing Director Keith Regan assisting MissHawaii Filipina 2015 Chelsea Guzman in crowning the newMiss Maui Filipina 2015 Casey Sales-Salcedo.

Women's Department supervisor Chelsey Natividad performs a hula num-ber during the grand opening ceremony for TJ Maxx in the Maui Maui.

Welcome home 292ndCombat Communica-tions Squadron! Back

from a six-monthdeployment in the

Mideast. Here TSgtRoss Antolin receives

a lei from his son.

A graduate of King Kekaulike High School, Kisa Uradomo,a violinist has been selected to play in the prestigious USNational Youth Orchestra. She was the only student fromHawaii selected for the 114-member orchestra, and onlythe second musician from Hawaii ever selected.

Mayor Alan Arakawa presented Certificates of Recognition to the players and coaches fromthe Maui Mustang All-Star Team PONY Mustang Division for winning the Pony Mustang Divi-sion Championships at the 2015 Maui State Tournament and the 2015 Western Zone Tour-nament and for their outstanding achievement by representing Hawaii at the World Series.

U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) invites a small number of Maui Filipinocommunity leaders to a breakfast meeting at Tante's Restaurant duringhis visit on Maui.

Runners at the Fourth Annual Kraig Vickers Honor Run at Kanaha Beach Park. The eventhonors the memory of Expolsive Ordnance Disposal Senior Chief Kraig M.K. Vickers, the1992 Maui High School graduate killed in action when the helicopter he was riding wasshot down Aug. 6 2011 in Afganistan. The event raises money for families of fallen ser-vice members.

Born and raised on Maui, Ryan Piros is cur-rently the Deputy Communications Director atthe office of Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa. A gradu-ate of the University of San Francisco, heworked as an on-air personality, music direc-tor and VP/Program Director for 15 years atKPMW-FM before his present role. He is activein the Filipino community and serves as anofficer/director in a number of organizations.If you want to let Ryan know about an event onMaui, please reach him at [email protected] call him at (808) 283-2020.

By RYAN PIROS


Inflammatory, Okinawan,Mediterranean, etc etc.

Name a condition andthere is now a diet for it.Hippocrates would be happyto know that indeed peopleare using food as medicine!Rather than sticking to a diethowever, it may be betterto just understand someimportant principles.

One of the worst thingsyou can do to your heart isto consume a lot of sugarydrinks, refined sugars andgrains. There is a strongcorrelation of high sugars inthe diet with hypertension,obesity, insulin resistanceand diabetes, and heartdisease; so eliminating thisfrom your diet should bewhat you do today.

An especially nefariousform of sugar is the high-

that both are regulated bythe same brain regions.

Conversely, stressreduction and increasingpositive emotions canreduce inflammation and therisk of heart disease. Sodon’t eat your heart out bydwelling on any regrets fromthe past or on the fears ofthe future; be heart happynow.

However, what’s eatingyour heart out might literallybe what you are eating. Ornot knowing what to eat;what with all the diets outthere: Atkins, Paleo, Zone,low carb, slow carb,Scarsdale, Pritikin, Ornish,Esselstyn, Gerson,Vegetarian, Whole,Macrobiotic, Low Fat, BloodType, Ketogenic, Anti-

Dr. Rickie Camara is a Board-Certified psychiatrist and BikramYoga teacher. He teaches yogaclasses at Hotyoga8 in Kaimukiand at Bikram Yoga Kapolei. Hehas a yoga-aligned healthcoaching and counseling practicein Kahala.You can hear himevery Friday on the radio at KNDIbetween 8 and 8:30 a.m. on theMedical Forum with Flor Martinez.Email contact at [email protected].

negative emotional states,brain function, inflammation,and increased risk ofcardiovascular disease.

Atherosclerosis is a‘hardening of the arteries’in which plaques narrow yourarteries leading to a host ofproblems including but notlimited to heart attack,stroke, hypertension,cognitive decline, and sexualdysfunction.

This process isaccelerated whenin f l ammatory-caus ingchemicals circulate in thebody causing systemicinflammation that can leadto worsening atherosclerosisand narrowing of arteries. Ithas been shown thatnegative emotions cantrigger higher levels ofinflammatory chemicals and

fructose corn syrup (HFCS)that you see in soft drinksand even sugary sportsdrinks. Research studiesshow that Americans whoconsume the most sugar-about 25 percent of theirdaily calories- are twice aslikely to die from heartdisease as those who limittheir sugar intake to 7 – 10percent of their totalcalories.

There is somecontroversy regarding fatintake and heart diseasewith some advocates callingfor a low or no fat diet andothers calling for up to 50 –70 percent fats in the diet.The problem with low fatdiets is that people replacedthem with simplecarbohydrates and sugarswhich lead to the problemsdiscussed in the precedingparagraph.

Where there is nocontroversy however is toavoid trans fats that arefound in margarine,vegetable shortening, andpartially hydrogenatedvegetable oils that arecommon in may snack foodsand processed foods. Inshort, when you reducesaturated fat and increase

What’s eating you? Areyou constantly pressed bytime that you always eatand run? Do you let thingsand events eat away at youlike the ocean waves erodingour beaches? Do youregulate your emotions withfood so you either eat like abird or eat like a horse? Doyou create unnecessarystress in your life by tryingto eat your cake and haveit too?

Taking the time to smellthe roses is a lot healthierthan constantly looking tosmell a rat or smellingsomething fishy. Optimismand positivity trumpsuspiciousness andnegativity every time.

I like to list stress andnegative emotions as THEmajor risk factors of heartdisease as it can make allthe other traditional riskfactors worse; factors suchas high cholesterol, smoking,obesity, hypertension, poordiet, diabetes, lack ofexercise, etc. It is fairly wellestablished now that thereis a strong link between

by Dr. RICKIE CAMARA


refined carbohydrates/sugars, you end uppromoting obesity, diabetesand heart disease.

It is only the person whohas a genetic conditionwherein triglycerides andthe bad cholesterol areabnormally high that has tobe on a low or no fat diet.People with Coronary ArteryDisease may elect to be ona low fat diet as there arestudies that show reversaland improvement ofcoronary artery disease withsuch diets that are alsoplant-based and whole.

For the rest of us, wewill need a certain amountof healthy saturated fatsfrom animal and vegetablesources for our cells, tissues,and organs, including ourheart, to function well. Asidefrom fish and fish oil, goodsources of healthy fats comefrom krill, avocados, ghee(clarified butter), organicegg yolks, coconuts andcoconut oil, raw nuts, andeven grass-fed meats.

If you want to loseweight, reduce your caloric

intake and exercise. If youwant to live longer, caloricrestriction to 20 – 40% ofyour typical intake has beenthe only proven way so farto extend life span in animals(human studies are ongoing).

If you are dieting foraesthetics and want to looksexy; well the sexiest personin my opinion is the one whois truly thankful for andconfident of their body andeats and lives to theirhealthiest maximum.

Being beautiful is simplyabout eating and livinghealthy so you feel goodinside out and radiate thatglow to help others andmake this world a betterplace.

There is much wisdom tobe found too in Yogateachings about eating anddiet. Aside from breathingexercises, asanas (yogaposes), and meditation, theyoga literature says that fora healthy life, one should eatwhole foods (i.e.unprocessed); at least halfof the food should be raw(cooking foods make them

more acidic); eat a lot ofvegetables and nuts; eatonly until half your stomachis full and fill ¼ with water(warm or room temperaturebetter) and leave ¼ ofstomach empty so thediaphragm is able to moveand you can breathe well.

Traditional yogis alsoused ghee (clarified butter)as a source of healthy fatsand to flavor herbs andvegetables. Because yoga’sroots are in India, manypractitioners did not eatbeef as the cow wasconsidered a sacred animal.

So for that heart of gold,pay attention to what youeat; exercise and stretchregularly; manage yourstress and negativeemotions; actively cultivateself-awareness andmeditation; and use yoursocial and communitynetworks to support you inyour heart healthy journey.

Medicare now reimbursesfor cardiac rehabilitationprograms that include allthese components;programs such as the Dean

Ornish Reversal Program(www. ornishspectrum.com)and the Pritikin Program(www.pritikin. com). Thegood news is that EkahiHealth Systems (www.ekahihealth.com) islaunching the Dean Ornishprogram here in Honolulu. Itis scheduled to be launched

in mid-September and willalso be covered by HMSA.That is truly an evolutionaryleap for our health carechoices in our community.

Eat well and prosper.


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