Fil-Ams in Hawaii concerned over West Philippine Sea issue

WAIPAHU, Honolulu — Filipinos in Hawaii are concerned over the growing tensions in the West Philippine Sea given the island state’s proximity to both the Philippines and China.

Some are also worried about their families and friends in the Philippines, a government official said here.

Consul General Emil Fernandez said that Filipinos or those with Filipino ancestry in the island state have been monitoring developments back home.

“Yes, of course Filipinos here keep abreast of developments back home because they still have relatives and friends living there,” Fernandez told visiting Filipino journalists when asked if the WPS issue was a concern for Filipinos in Hawaii.

Hawaii, strategically located in the Pacific, is the seat of power of the United States Indo-Pacific command, its oldest and largest combatant command.

It’s also no stranger to wars with Japan’s 1941 historic attack on Pearl Harbor, located west of Honolulu, plunging the US into World War II.

However, Fernandez was quick to add that the government is doing what it can to address the situation.

“We’re confident the government is doing the right thing,” he told reporters who are part of the United States’ Friends, Partners, Allies program.

Leaders of the Filipino Community Center or FilCom, a community center for Filipinos or those with Filipino ancestry in Hawaii, also said that Filipinos are indeed concerned about the increasing tensions between the Philippines and China.

Edmund Aczon, chairman of FilCom said that it’s a reality that cannot be ignored.

“There’s always a possibility (of war) and if there is a war, the first target is the Philippines. It’s a concern for Filipinos here,” Aczon said.

Eva Washburn-Repollo, vice chairman of FilCom, shared the same view.

“Filipinos in Hawaii are very concerned about that,” she said.

She said that the 2018 Hawaii false missile alert has “brought a strong awareness of Hawaii’s proximity to China and what’s happening in the Philippines.”

“So even if we’re just watching TV and just hearing the news, the geographical reality is that this is a state that has all the military power of the US facing the Pacific,” she said.

Washburn-Repollo was referring to the Jan. 13, 2018 advisory in Hawaii which instructed citizens to seek shelter due to an incoming ballistic missile.

It was accidentally issued and officials attributed it to miscommunication during a drill. Hawaii Gov. David Ige apologized for the erroneous report.

The false missile advisory came amid escalating tensions between North Korea and the US.

On the social media website and forum Reddit, individuals from Hawaii also posted questions on the possibility of China attacking Hawaii, Guam, Micronesia, Philippines and Taiwan.

The new commander of the US Indo-Pacific command, Navy Admiral Samuel Paparo said in a change of command ceremony on Friday that “we will be ready to fight any adversary that threatens the peace, security and well-being of the nation and all our allies and partners.”