State Rep. Pendleton
meets Filipino leader

It was a memorable week for state Rep. David Pendleton (R, Maunawili), who met with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo last Thursday at Malacanang Palace in Manila.

Pendleton, who was in the Philippines as a speaker to the Fifth World Congress of the International Religious Liberty Association, said the two spoke informally about religious freedom worldwide, the political involvement of Filipinos in Hawaii and the plight of Filipino veterans in the United States.

"Her excellency was most gracious," Pendleton said. "It was an honor to meet with the leader and commander in chief of the Philippines, a vital ally whose history is inextricably intertwined with that of the United States."

Gov's support sought

The Anti-Defamation League is calling on Gov. Ben Cayetano to support the Middle East peace process and the state of Israel.

In a June 12 letter addressed to the governor, league officials said Cayetano was one of only eight state governors nationwide who did not sign proclamations that support the peace process in the Middle East, reaffirms the relationship between the United States and Israel and supports Israel at this time.

They said the proclamations take noncontroversial stands, such as calling for an immediate end to the campaign of terror and violence and the idea that both the Israeli people and the Palestinian people have the inherent right to live in peace and security.

"This is an issue of grave concern to the Anti-Defamation League, thousands of your constituents and national leaders," Jonathan Bernstein, regional director, told Cayetano in the letter.

Menor gets union nod

The Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pacific has endorsed state Sen. Ron Menor (D, Mililani) for lieutenant governor, even though Menor hasn't formally declared himself a candidate for the seat.

The union represents cooks, seamen, deckhands, first and second mates, engineers, dispatchers and operators working in interisland marine services and in the all of the state's commercial harbors.

IBU Regional Director Jonathan Lono Kane said Menor is aware of consumer issues and works to keep the costs of essential services fair and reasonable.

Cayetanos in Vietnam

Gov. Ben Cayetano and first lady Vicky Cayetano are in Vietnam this week as part of a trade mission.

His office says Cayetano is the first sitting U.S. governor to visit Vietnam, and it is also his first time in that country.

"We'll be talking to Vietnamese tourism officials to see whether there are prospects for Vietnam and Hawaii to do business," Cayetano said last month.

The governor and others on the trip are scheduled to meet with the president of the Hanoi School of Business and the inaugural class of its executive Master's of Business Administration program, conducted jointly by the University of Hawaii College of Business Administration.

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