by Edwin Quinabo
“In a world where so many stories go untold, being able to tell our community’s story with truth and integrity has been the greatest reward of all,” said Chona Montesines-Sonido, publisher and managing editor of the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle (HFC), reflecting on the newspaper’s longevity and personal satisfaction running the HFC.
Chona and her husband Dr. Charlie Sonido established the HFC in 1991 and are celebrating the newspaper’s 33rd Anniversary. Like other ethnic media, the HFC from the start set its goal as an advocacy, niche newspaper for Hawaii’s Filipinos at a time when mainstream media inadequately covered the Filipino community.
Through the years, thousands of stories have been written about in the Chronicle of Filipinos from all walks of life from cancer survivors, domestic abuse survivors, immigrants achieving the American dream – countless of both heartbreaking and triumphant stories destined to be told through this project started by the Sonidos and supported by writers and community leaders of like mind.
Issues oriented
Through the decades HFC readers have relied on the Chronicle to deliver serious comprehensive coverage on the issues that matters like immigration, Medicaid-Medicare, policy proposals and affordability, just a few of the current concerns articulated by Americans at the moment.
“Many Filipinos in Hawaii are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, and immigration policies directly affect their ability to reunite with family, secure stable employment, and access legal protections. The Chronicle consistently covered immigration legislation, visa challenges, and stories of undocumented Filipinos. It provided a platform for advocacy, urging lawmakers to support humane and inclusive policies. By amplifying these stories, HFC helped mobilize community support for immigration reform efforts, especially during periods of heightened federal scrutiny, Montesines-Sonido explained.
More on urgent contemporary issues, she adds “Filipino families, especially seniors and low-wage workers, are disproportionately affected by cuts to public health programs like Medicaid. The Chronicle published editorials, cover stories, Health Supplements, and features warning about proposed federal budget cuts that could strip thousands of Hawaii Filipinos of their health coverage. This advocacy raised awareness for healthcare policy and racial equity, reinforcing the Chronicle’s commitment to protecting Filipino lives and livelihoods.”
Currently, there are between 41,000-50,000 undocumented immigrants in Hawaii that experts say are mostly comprised of individuals from the Philippines.
An estimated 30,000-42,000 people in Hawaii are expected to lose their health coverage as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act which became law on July 4, 2025. Approximately 10,000 people in Hawaii are projected to lose coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, partly due to the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits and new eligibility.
Soledad Bueno, Ewa Beach, has been reading the HFC for at least 20 years. “It’s been troubling times especially this year. “I recall at least three cover stories that the HFC has done on immigration this year alone – denaturalization, birthright citizenship, ICE tactics and mass deportation. There might be more. Added to that they’ve done insightful editorials on immigration. As a legal immigrant very disturbed by what’s happening in this country on immigration, I have some peace of mind that there is a newspaper like the HFC advocating for immigrants.”
Clement Bautista, Honolulu, current president of Filipino-American Historical Society of Hawaii and HFC contributing writer, said the issues covered by the HFC he found important to him were the Hotel Labor Strikes (2006), Hawaii’s Brain Drain (2007), Remittances (2008), Costs of Education (2008), and Hawaii’s Public Schools (2011).
Just this year alone, the HFC has tackled issues like AI’s impact on the workforce, school bullying, drug addiction in Hawaii, Trump’s tariffs, Medicaid cuts, medical debt, Gen Z and the future of the Filipino community, Filipino Americans’ status, growth and communities in the U.S., and more.
“Community newspapers and publications, especially ethnic-focused publications, have always provided additional and, often, alternative coverage and views not covered or neglected by mainstream newspapers and publications. This selective coverage by the mainstream press has always been the case and has been especially important in regard to Hawaii’s labor and community histories. For the HFC to be celebrating its 33rd anniversary, it is important not only because of communicating the perspectives, views and voices of the Filipino community, but also because it represents the social need and economic support for this type of publication,” said Bautista on the importance of having a community newspaper like the HFC.
Imelda Calupig-Joaquin, Aiea, past president of the Pasuquinio Association of Hawaii, former secretary of the Bayanihan Clinic Without Walls, expressed HFC’s importance not just for local news but news from the Philippines. “The HFC is one of only the two Filipino newspapers in the islands and its existence is very important to the community, not just to the Filipinos living here. With the presence of social media, HFC has a vital role in relaying credible, accurate and reliable content information. It helps the readers be updated with current events happening in the Philippines and locally — be it cultural, political, social and economic.”
Elections, political coverage
HFC readers are varied like its population and look for coverage that suits their interest. But HFC staff say what’s certain is readership is ramped up during election years as interest builds on who are running for public office among Filipinos in the community. “Each issue is always something to look forward to in the HFC. The issue that comes to mind that’s really helpful and informative especially to voters is featuring all the elective candidates running for office during election time,” Joaquin said.
Montesines-Sonido said HFC’s publishing of Filipinos and non-Filipinos running for public office aims to get Filipinos aware of and support those who are most qualified and speaks to the issues we value so as to empower Filipinos in our community.
She said the HFC has also been involved in increasing voter registration and disseminating voting guides. “We also do analysis on candidates and feature in length those running for the top offices like governor, lt. governor, US Senate and House,” Montesines-Sonido adds. “We also make sure to ask candidates questions that are most important to our Filipino community that may not necessarily be emphasized by the mainstream media. It’s also true that an engaged community in the democratic process is empowering and can influence politicians to pay attention to our community and our needs. During each election, the HFC has been a credible source on the issues and political candidates.”
Features on role models in the community
HFC readers say highlighting Filipino role models has been inspiring the community for generations. It has bas been one of the most effective community engineering to foster pride in Filipino heritage while inspiring younger generations to chase after their own aspirations. Over the years the HFC has featured contributions of accomplished Filipinos from entrepreneurs, academics, philanthropists, artists to government and community leaders.
Renelaine Bontol Pfister, HFC contributing writer, says she is honored and humbled to have featured the achievements of fellow Filipinos. “I recently wrote about Gene C. Albano, who is the Director and Chief Engineer of the Honolulu Department of Facility Maintenance. I have also featured artists like Leeroy New, who installed his artwork Taklobo on the grounds of Foster Botanical Garden in Honolulu in March 2022, and writer Caris Avendaño Cruz’s wonderful children’s book, Marikit and the Ocean of Stars. I hope to entertain and inspire other Filipinos when they read these articles.”
Pfister says she writes for the HFC “to shine a light on the achievements and connect with my fellow Filipinos here in Hawaii, and to highlight events and issues that are important to our community.”
Linda Dela Cruz, HFC contributing writer, broadcast (TV and radio) journalist, recalls two inspiring features she’s written for the Chronicle. “One of the most meaningful pieces I’ve written for the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle, is when I shadowed renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Francis Duhaylongsod of Kaiser Permanente. I witnessed an open-heart surgery firsthand. The Day in the Life of story shed light on the incredible skill and compassion behind lifesaving care, inspiring pride within the community and deepening appreciation for all medical professionals. Each surgery Duhaylongsod did is a life that can continue as a gift to the family and our world. For me, it was more than just a story — it was a reminder of why I tell stories. I want to connect with people through empathy, curiosity, and shared purpose. That same commitment to purpose and community continues to guide everything I do and all that the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle does.”
Dela Cruz said another feature that holds deep meaning to her is the article on Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Alex Tizon of the Seattle Times. It was an honor to interview and learn about a fellow Filipino writer who truly mastered his craft and used storytelling to illuminate complex truths. His dedication to honest, powerful journalism inspired me to pursue my own work with greater purpose. I might never have discovered his story if not for the Hawaii Filipino Chronicle, which gave me the chance to highlight his legacy for our community. After writing the piece, I learned of one of his most talked-about works—published posthumously—which explored themes of identity, family, and the immigrant experience. Tizon’s courage in telling difficult, deeply personal stories reminded me why representation matters—because when we see Filipino voices in national conversations, it empowers all of us to tell our own.”
HFC columns
HFC’s columns have been a platform for community voices with contributions from mostly Filipino writers, professionals and pundits as well as non-Filipinos like Hawaii politicians and professors. Columnists have tackled pressing issues of the time from immigration, affordability, government policies, politics, Philippines current affairs and culture, mainland and local news.
HFC columnist Emil Guillermo has been a journalist for more than 30 years, on a local and regional level in Hawaii, California, Texas, and Washington, DC, and then covering national and international stories while at NPR.
“I feel compelled to use my experience to analyze and comment on the news of the day for the readers of HFC. I can put the events of the day into a Filipino context that will help people see the relevance to their own lives,” Guillermo said.
He commented on one of his columns published March 26 this year when he wrote on Signalgate, “that’s where the Defense Department head Pete Hegseth shared classified information on a common public app. And the reason it could not be covered up is because a reporter was invited in on the conversation. It’s a story that shows the arrogance and incompetence of Trump’s cabinet, as well as a kind of hidden racism.”
HFC book reviews
A gem of a column that immortalizes in print contemporary and historical Filipino personalities and authors is the HFC Book Reviews written by HFC columnist Rose Cruz Churma. HFC readers find this column unique and a format not available on a regular bases anywhere in the sphere of Filipino publications.
Churma said, “Writing for the HFC allows me to engage with a vibrant community and share insights that resonate with our readers. It provides a meaningful platform to highlight voices and stories that might otherwise go unheard, deepening my connection to both Philippine literature (and those written by Filipino Americans) and our collective heritage.”
Two book reviews she wants to highlight: Memory to Meaning and Gideon Lasco’s The Philippines Is Not A Small Country. She explains Memory to Meaning is a compilation of personal narratives collected from the Filipino community. Created from a community writing workshop in Hawai‘i, this anthology gathers voices that might have remained unwritten. Together, they weave a tapestry of experiences that remind us of the healing found in storytelling, and the connections we discover when different lives reveal their shared humanity. “This anthology proves that within each of us lies a story-fragile, powerful, and deeply human. In this collection, ordinary individuals become storytellers, breathing life into moments that shaped them: childhood joys and sorrows, journeys across oceans, lessons of resilience, and quiet triumphs of the heart,” she said.
The Philippines Is Not a Small Country written by Gideon Lasco is the latest book review Churma submitted. She said the essays featured in this book were culled from the author’s weekly column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer spanning five years—from 2015 to 2020. The author explains further that his essays address the questions—”what does it mean to be Filipino, and what is the meaningful basis for taking pride in the nation? What is our place in the world —and how should we envision a future we can all share?” Although the essays do not directly answer the questions, they hint at their answers.
“His opinions in these essays are insightful and thought-provoking and would be of interest to our local audience with ties to the Philippines. The author is so observant to the nuances of Filipino culture and the resilience of the Filipino—wherever they may be. I hope that through these book reviews, the HFC readers find time to reflect on what it means to be Filipino American in our adopted homeland,” Churma said.
Wading through changes in media
The Sonidos point out the difficulties of surviving the tsunami-size changes in the media industry. “The decline of print advertising in the 1990s, competition from digital spaces and social media platforms, and the mergers of small papers and the buying of local papers by bigger mainstream media have posed challenges,” Montesines-Sonido said.
She elaborates, “the reduced printing costs of online publication have offered an alternative, proliferated, and today dominate news reporting. This provided a lot of challenges to print media, which is facing increased printing costs. The Chronicle’s endurance stands out as a testament to community service, but the company’s printing operations are closing down and have posed the biggest challenge of all. This challenge is facing us now. We tried to find a printer in Maui after the one we had in Honolulu shut down in 2024. Now, the Maui printer has shut down its operations too.”
While the future is unknown, reaching the milestone of 33 years of publication is worth all the celebration for now.
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