Thursday, May 26, 2011

Quirino Aguisanda

ALOHA, 
        Welcome to Our Hawaii



At one time, Hawaii had no name - and no people.

  The Hawaiians voyaged here
in several waves of immigration. 

King Kalakaua
wanted to bring Chinese people to the islands,
and they were the first to come
and work in his kingdom.

  In 1881 he proposed a matrimonial relationship
between Princess Kaiulani 
and a young Japanese Prince Komatsu.

  Those two groups have dominated Hawaii's Asian population until recently.

In 1906 the first fifteen Filipino laborers, all Tagalogs, came to Hawaii. By 1909, 639 workers came and by 1910, there were 2,915. From 1911 to 1920, an estimated 3,000 workers arrived yearly. In 1919, there were 24,791 Japanese workers and 10,354 Filipinos representing 54.7% and 22.9% respectively of the total plantation labor force. The 1920s saw an average of 7,630 Filipinos arriving in Hawaii annually. 



Hawaii State Flag and that of the Philipines.

According to the latest US Census,
our Filipino neighbors are now the largest Asian group 
here in the isles.








As with ANY human group, it is impossible to make blanket statements, but they are valued as nice people, hard workers and good citizens.  Their warmth, food, and culture are important parts of our island paradise.  
 

On November 8, 1994, Hawaii’s voters elected
Benjamin J. Cayetano our governor, 
making him the first Filipino-American governor
in United States history
and the nation’s highest-ranking
elected public official of Filipino heritage.




I would like to introduce you to a private citizen that most of us knew nothing of until this week.

Quirino Aguisanda
was born in Cagayan province

  He retired as a colonel from the Philippine army
and moved to Hawaii with his wife in 1992.

Beyond his family and church,
the 86 year old worked as a senior companion (!)
a few mornings a week.

After resting at home
during the long Waipahu afternoon,
he insisted on boarding a bus for Waikiki
and started his evening's work
as a bathroom attendant
at several restaurants and clubs
in the tourist district.

Starting his shift at 6 or 9pm,
he would work until 1 am. 


"He's a hard worker. 
In their generation they somehow
don't want to stop working."

Said his Granddaughter Monette Rivera
by telephone from her home in New York City.

On Monday morning he exited a city bus
near his home around 2:37 am
and was struck by a hit and run driver,
dying later that morning at Queens Hospital. 



"They're not rich,
but you know there was always abundance in his life because of his heart and character."

His Granddaughter told a local reporter."

Widow Eustacia is coping
with the love of her church and family.

"Being around people,
being out and about,
it's just his way."

Monette Rivera

Remember to appreciate the people you see today, the people doing simple work with great dignity!

Salamat, Colonel Aguisanda!  

       Please leave  Y O U R  comment, cloudia










32 comments:

Maude Lynn said...

It's a shame that he's gone.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

He sounds like a wonderful person. I like this tribute to him. And this informative bit of Hawaii's history

Anonymous said...

Very nice and poignant, Cloudia.

Cloudia said...

Thanks for your visit-

KrippledWarrior said...

I have been to the PI many, countless actually, times. From Olongapo, Bagio, Cebu, Manila and Subic City. I learned a lot from the people there. And until a few ears ago The US Navy enlisted Filipino nationals. Thanks Cloudia, for taking the time to memorialize this man.

SandyCarlson said...

In so many ways we are one great big blended family. I am sorry that good man met such a horrible end. He sure did a lot of kindness in his days.

Kavita Saharia said...

Beautiful tribute to a beautiful soul.Aloha.

Linnea said...

What interesting stories and information; so sad about the colonel. You certainly have tons of wonderful photo ops where you are! Thanks for stopping by.

KB said...

Very sad but thanks for sharing.

Charles Gramlich said...

There are great people in every group, and most of us just want to have enough to eat and a good place to sleep and safety for our children.

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

Hawaii, truly a melting pot ...

magiceye said...

may his soul rest in peace

namaste /\ from mumbai
aloha!

Brian Miller said...

how sad...yes will make sure i do...aloha from va!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the reminder to appreciate all the humble and unseen work done by people everywhere.

Mari Sterling Wilbur said...

I am now following your fascinating blog and hope you will follow mine as well. I'm enjoying reading your current and past posts. I hope you have Feedburner so I can receive your future posts via email.

Regards,
Mari

http://www.mariscamera.blogspot.com/

claude said...

Le 1rst half part of your post is very interesting Cloudia, the second one is sad. Nice tribute to that Man.
Aloha !

Kay said...

It's all so sad. I was going to do a post about how Hawaii has the most senior citizen fatalities in the U.S. This is a beautiful tribute, Cloudia.

Reader Wil said...

Great post about a loving, caring person, Cloudia! He will be missed among his relatives and friends. Groetjes, Wil

irinapictures said...

So interesting!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Every one of your posts makes me want to visit Hawaii!

the walking man said...

There is nothing to be said. A colonel of the Phillipine resistance in WWII should have been more revered by America than to have him scrubbing toilets at 2AM. I hope they find his killer.

Autumn Belle said...

Hawaii is a beautiful place with many good people.

Akelamalu said...

Fascinating history lesson Cloudia. :)

Hattie said...

So sad. Traffic is such a menace to the elderly. I'm always worried about getting run over.
Our neighbor, Lorraine Rodero Inouye, was mayor of Hilo and state Senator from our district. The many Filipinos I know here are almost defined by their hard work.

Lynn said...

Oh that gives me chills, Cloudia.

Betty Manousos said...

very powerful tribute to a great man.

i'm so sad...

betty xx

Feisty Crone said...

What a wonderful man! Thanks for sharing his story with us.

Monkey Man said...

I love history and inspirational stories.

Cloudia said...

Thank You, Ohana-

eziozerziani (Ermanno Albano) said...

Great Hawaii, great pictures! Ciao
Ermanno

Unknown said...

He's the best grandpa I've ever known, thank you Cloudia.

Unknown said...

Thank you Cloudia!