New York, NY-In the pop tradition of comedy musicals like “Mamma Mia” and “Rock of Ages,” comes “I Do Bidoo Bidoo” the acclaimed crowd-pleaser from the Philippines that celebrates young love, family values, and the hit songs of the Apo Hiking Society (the Philippines’ answer to The Beatles). Written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Chris…
Despite joint efforts by the government and non-profit health organizations in the Philippines to combat the rise of HIV/AIDS cases, the numbers of infected people continue to rise. This is where people from all walks of life pitch in to give their share in order to help solve a global problem. As a photographer, Niccolo…
My first encounter with a Fringe Festival was back in 2005 when a friend and I took a train from London to Edinburgh to spend a weekend in the Scottish capital. Little did we know then that their Fringe Festival was going on (this was around August). Fringe what? The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the…
A total of five Filipino and Filipino-American directors are showcasing their work in the upcoming 35th Asian American International Film Festival in New York City. Leading the pack is H.P. Mendoza, the man behind two successful musical films that were screened at AAIFF in previous years – Colma: The Musical and Fruitfly, This year, he…
Filipinos are a giving people. That is a statement that banker-turned-social entrepreneur Ayesha Vera-Yu strongly believes in. Indeed, it is not a question of why it is important to give back to the Philippines. Filipinos all over the world are already doing this – through remittances and other informal channels – we send money, clothing,…
Unless you have been living under a rock (with no internet access) for the past five years, chances are you have seen the viral video on YouTube of dancing inmates. With more than 51 million views and counting, they are among the website’s most-watched videos. Prison Dancer is an original interactive musical web series, was…
TWO weeks before Jose Antonio Vargas landed on the cover of TIME Magazine, I saw him at the UniPro (Pilipino American Unity for Progress) summit, where he was one of the keynote speakers. He had time to spare before it was his turn on the podium and he asked me if I wanted to grab…
The US Department of State estimates that there are approximately four million Filipino-Americans in the United States today. This means that there are also almost four million unique stories waiting to be told. Two Filipina writers early this year stepped up to tell these stories. Jenjen Dompor Furer wrote about what her family went through…
Activists, students and community members took a stand against labor trafficking after attending the community forum on the case of the Florida 15 workers last April 25 at Saint Peter’s College’s Pope Lecture Hall. The said forum was organized by Anakbayan New Jersey, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) and the Saint Peter’s College Social…
Iliana Inocencio, a Filipina-Singaporean actress adds new dimension to role as she joins the cast of critically acclaimed, GOLIATH. Inocencio takes on the emotionally demanding role of Maria, the young wife of an enlisted soldier. After her husband is ripped from their new marriage, she is left to confront the trials and tribulations of what it…
Some 400 Couples for Christ (CFC)/ANCOP New Jersey members, supporters and friends attended the successful launch of 2012 ANCOP Global Walk held at Conlon Hall of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Bergenfield, NJ on April 28. CFC members from New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts came to lend their collective support. The…
The Philippine Consulate General in New York, presents “Immigration Rights: The Book Launch of Fil-Am Jen Furer, Author of ‘Out of Status,’ and a Discussion on The Legal Rights of Out of Status Individuals By The Filipino American Legal Defense & Education Fund (FALDEF)”, Friday, May 18 at the Philippine Center, Kalayaan Hall, 556 Fifth Avenue,…
The Philippine Consulate General in New York, presents “Immigration Rights: The Book Launch of Fil-Am Jen Furer, Author of ‘Out of Status,’ and a Discussion on The Legal Rights of Out of Status Individuals By The Filipino American Legal Defense & Education Fund (FALDEF)”, Friday, May 18 at the Philippine Center, Kalayaan Hall, 556 Fifth Avenue,…
NEW YORK-The Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) is inviting everyone to this year’s 114th Philippine Independence anniversary to be held at Madison Avenue on June 3. This event is the “largest one-day gathering of Filipinos outside of the Philippines,” said organizer Fe Martinez. Last year’s attendance was estimated to be 100,000 as reported by…
Washington, DC-The Philippine Embassy Consular Team was in Virginia Beach on Saturday, April 21, 2012, to conduct an outreach mission for the Filipinos in the area. At least 116 Filipinos applied for passport renewals, 18 former Filipinos reacquired Philippine citizenship, and 55 applicants came for other consular services throughout the day. The team was also able to…
Monday, May 7 is a red-letter day for Godspell star Anna Maria Perez de Tagle as she stages a benefit concert for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on board the Hornblower Hybrid. The cruise ship will be embarking at 7pm from Pier 40 in time for the show that features de Tagle’s Godspell costars Corbin…
Monday, May 7 is a red-letter day for Godspell star Anna Maria Perez de Tagle as she stages a benefit concert for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on board the Hornblower Hybrid. The cruise ship will be embarking at 7pm from Pier 40 in time for the show that features de Tagle’s Godspell costars Corbin…
NEW YORK-Arnel Pineda’s story is one for the history books. Having lived a mostly hand-to-mouth existence after his mother died when he was only 13 years old, Arnel’s life made a dramatic turn about five years ago when he was plucked from obscurity to become the lead singer of the quintessential American rock band Journey….
NEW YORK-Arnel Pineda’s story is one for the history books. Having lived a mostly hand-to-mouth existence after his mother died when he was only 13 years old, Arnel’s life made a dramatic turn about five years ago when he was plucked from obscurity to become the lead singer of the quintessential American rock band Journey….
THE true measure of a person’s success is not only based on his achievements in his chosen career, but on how he further extends his talents and skills to be able to help others. Catherine Buan Peterson is a perfect example of this, as she faces a new journey as the new PhilDev President. Born…
THE true measure of a person’s success is not only based on his achievements in his chosen career, but on how he further extends his talents and skills to be able to help others. Catherine Buan Peterson is a perfect example of this, as she faces a new journey as the new PhilDev President. Born…
2012 was generally a good year for Filipinos. Triumphs were made, losses were faced, and lessons were learned. Filipinos are starting the year right, looking forward to 2013 with hope. In its recent survey, Social Weather Station (SWS) revealed that nine out of ten Pinoys are hopeful rather that fearful in the new year. This…
WITH only a few days left before 2012 officially ends, Asian Journal would like to look back into the most significant events that have ensued in this Year of the Dragon. 2012 may not have been a perfect year, but there are countless lessons to be gleaned from it. In the United States, the November…
SINCE it’s that time of the year again – the season for sharing, giving and hope, we are holding off on the issues, the politics, the disputes, the arguments and everything else disheartening. Instead, the Asian Journal would like to take this opportunity to focus on the good things that 2012 has brought upon us, before she…
SINCE you’re reading this, it means the world did not end on December 21, 2012, as predicted by the Mayans. However, our troubles are far from over. On Thursday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) surprisingly faced rejection from Republicans for legislation which would have raised taxes for Americans earning incomes above $1 million. “What Boehner…
AFTER weeks of excruciating debates, the Philippine Congress reached a verdict to pass the Reproductive Health (RH) bill on Dec. 17. Voting 13-8 in favor of the bill, the Senate approved Bill No. 2865 on its third and final reading. The House of Representatives meanwhile, voted 133-79 to pass the measure also on its third…
PINOYS, including those opposing the passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) bill, witnessed a metaphoric megalith transform when an overnight deliberation resulted to an actual outcome on December 11. Voting 113-104 in favor of the controversial RH bill, the Philippine House of Representatives turned the tide for the passage of the long-stalled measure. The bill…
NO one would blame Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao if he suddenly decides to call it a career and walk away from the ring for good after being knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez in their fourth meeting last Saturday, December 8. At 33, (turning 34 on Dec. 17), Pacquiao is considered an “old” boxer….
“The spirit of bayanihan will move us out from misery. Not them, not us, but all of us should move out and overcome the difficulties we are facing.” – Pres. Benigno Aquino III While super typhoons are a common occurrence in the Philippines, no one ever gets used to the devastation that they bring to…
THIS year’s Philippine economic report is a mixed bag. Last week, the domestic economy picked up more steam by expanding its growth to 7.1 percent in the third quarter, as measured by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balicasan, domestic consumption remained firm, sustained by strong local demand amid the…
