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Talania is not fluent in English or Tagalog, but speaks Ilocano, the third-most spoken language in the Philipinnes.

During his visa interviews with embassy officials, Talania was not provided an Ilocano interpreter.

At his embassy interview, Talania was provided an interpreter who spoke Tagalog, not Ilocano, Alice Yu said, which wasn’t ideal for making his case.

Winfred Damo, who immigrated to Honolulu from Marcos’ province of Ilocos Norte in 1999, said being Ilocano means “we always support the Marcoses.”

“No, anak ko!” she shrieked, using an Ilocano term meaning “my child.”