By Alfred Acenas
EBC Hawai‘i Bureau (Eagle News)
HONULULU (Eagle News) — “Often the president is depicted as a no-nonsense, tough-talking, and shoot-from-the-hip type of guy. But I assure you that this president has his heart in the right place,” said Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea about President Rodrigo Duterte, as he provided several assuring remarks like this one before an audience of both Filipinos and non-Filipinos during a Town Hall Meeting held at the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, Hawai‘i on May 19, 2018.
Other cabinet officials who graced the occasion included Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, and Interior and Local Government Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año. Diplomats accompanying them were Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez, Permanent Representative to the U.N. Teodoro Locsin, Jr., and Philippine Consul General of Honolulu Joselito Jimeno.
During the introductions, State Senator Donna Mercado-Kim, herself a Filipino-American and currently running for U.S. Congress, took a few minutes off of her busy schedule to warmly welcome the distinguished guests on behalf of the State Government of Hawai’i.
Each official then took turns in providing updates on their respective areas of responsibility, ranging from recovery efforts in Marawi to the closing and rehabilitation of Boracay Island; from veterans affairs to immigration. Afterwards, the floor was opened for questions and comments from the audience. Topics addressed included the ongoing territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea, US President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy and its impact on Filipinos, K-12 education, and the need to upgrade the Philippine Consulate building.
Moreover, Medialdea extended his personal compliments to the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) on the recently-held “Worldwide Walk to Stop Poverty.” He expressed hope for similar activities like this to be done in the future to demonstrate the solidarity of Filipinos.
Cayetano also expressed his support for events like the Worldwide Walk the INC organized.
“The importance of events like this is the raising of consciousness to certain issues that some people think are unsolvable,” Cayetano said. He also described the worldwide outreach as “very enlightening” and “inspirational.”
Año stated that he welcomes future similar activities and ensures the safety of those involved through the “necessary support from the LGUs” (local government units).
Finally on the topic of the INC’s 50th anniversary in Hawaii on July 27, 2018, Medialdea, speaking on behalf of his delegation, rendered their “sincerest congratulations.” Cayetano acknowledged the Church’s progress not just in Hawaii but also “how it has grown across the world.” He particularly thanked the INC’s Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo for his service as President Duterte’s Special Envoy for Overseas Filipino Concerns. Alluding to how the INC and its activities are well-organized, the DFA Secretary believed that embassies still “can learn a thing or two” in caring for and monitoring Filipinos at the personal level.
(Eagle News Service)
