PH Embassy, Consulates in US take steps to meet increased demand for consular services amid COVID-19 pandemic
THE Philippine Embassy and Consulates General in the United States are actively taking steps to meet the surge in demand for dual citizenship, passport, and visa services amid prevailing uncertainties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Depending on the local conditions and state restrictions in each Post, these steps may include increasing the number of appointment…
Eric Arias becomes first Fil-Am councilmember for Bakersfield, CA
BAKERSFIELD, California now has its first Filipino American councilmember. Eric Arias, a 24-year-old who was born and raised in the Kern County city, was elected to its council to represent Ward I during the special general election on November 3. Arias, a Democrat, received 76.22% of the vote (4,118 votes) versus his opponent, Gilberto De…
Indoor dining shut down in San Francisco
A steep increase of COVID-19 cases in San Francisco is forcing San Francisco restaurants to close their indoor dining rooms starting Friday, November 13. Mayor London Breed announced that starting Friday at 11:59 p.m., restaurants will have to cease indoor operations as the city has observed a 250% increase in cases since early October. “The…
Philippine Senate approves bill declaring child marriage a crime
A bill declaring child marriage illegal in the Philippines has been passed on its third and final reading. Senate Bill No. 1371, also known as the “Girls Not Brides Act,” was unanimously approved by Senators on Monday, November 9. The measure was principally authored and sponsored by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee…
2 Fil-Ams win re-election in Claremont, Anaheim
TWO Filipino Americans came out victorious during the 2020 general election as they won re-election for their respective positions in Southern California. Corey Calaycay was re-elected to his fifth term as a member of the Claremont City Council, representing the first district. “As the only candidate who possesses institutional memory and the only candidate who…
Joe Biden wins the US presidential election: ‘It’s time for America to unite’
FIVE days after Election Day, former Vice President Joe Biden came out victorious, becoming the 46th president of the United States on Saturday, November 7. Biden captured Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes, putting him ahead to secure the necessary 270 electoral votes to win. Biden also carried Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan on his path to…
Pilipino Workers Center, various artists pay tribute to unsung hero, Larry Itliong
The Pilipino Workers Center and the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs proudly present the Larry Itliong Day Festival 2020 on Saturday, November 7, in partnership with The Filipino Channel (TFC). The free event will take place on Saturday starting at 2 p.m. PST via Zoom webinar, Facebook Live and Kumu. Various Filipino artists will…
ACDC holds open enrollment, food distribution event in Las Vegas’ Chinatown
LAS Vegas community organizations and leaders are urging Nevada’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community to participate in the latest open enrollment period under Nevada Health Link, the state’s online health insurance marketplace. The enrollment period, operated by the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange, began on Sunday, November 1, and will run until January…
2020 election results for California’s ballot measures
IN additional to the top of the ticket presidential race and local offices, California voters cast their votes for a dozen propositions during the 2020 election. Here’s how the 12 measures faired on Election Day, November 3. Prop 14 — Stem Cell Research Institute Bond Initiative (YES) This ballot measure would send $5.5 billion in…
DFA reports an increase in COVID-19 cases among overseas Filipinos
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday, November 3, noted a spike in the number of Filipinos abroad who have contracted the coronavirus, recording an additional 119 infections. This brings the official case count to 11,364. It also logged 75 new recoveries, which raises the total tally to 7,354. “Today, the DFA reports…
Filipino World War II veteran receives Congressional Gold Medal at Bayanihan Equity Center in SF
Filipino World War II Veteran Venancio Espinosa recently received a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor, during a private ceremony in San Francisco. The presentation ceremony for the 93-year-old veteran was organized by the Bayanihan Equity Center (BEC), a non-profit organization originally founded in 1999 as the Veterans Equity Center, and the Filipino Veterans…
Bay Area Fil-Am family in search of donor for baby with leukemia
A Bay Area Filipino American family is in need of a bone marrow or stem cell donor for their 9-month-old infant. The baby, AJ, has been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of leukemia. Doctors say that for a full cure, he would need a donor. “AJ has finished his first round of chemotherapy,” said…
Sen. Mazie Hirono files resolution recognizing Filipino American History Month
A resolution seeking to acknowledge October as Filipino American History Month in the United States has been introduced in the U.S. Senate. On Friday, October 30, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) introduced S. Res. 761, which honors and celebrates the history and culture of Filipino Americans. It also honors Filipino American contributions to the United…
Meet the Fil-Am millennial serving as a Trump campaign spokesperson
THOUGH surveys show that Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) are largely rallying behind the Democratic Party and its nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, there remains a segment of the electorate that upholds the conservative values, and is pushing for a second term under President Donald Trump. The 2020 Asian American Voter Survey in…
PH ranks 7th among countries with worst journalist killings
THE Philippines is the seventh country among the world’s worst impunity offenders, according to a new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). In its 2020 Global Impunity Index, released on Wednesday, October 28, Somalia remained as the world’s most dangerous country for journalists with 26 unsolved journalist deaths in a country of 15.4…
Fil-Am reserve deputy sheriff recognized for frontline service
ABOUT four days a week, Charlie Ongsingco suits up in uniform and reports for duty at the Altadena Sheriff’s Station. Ongsingco is among over 600 active reserve deputy sheriffs in the county’s Reserve Forces Details, which is one of the largest law enforcement reserve units in the nation. As a reserve deputy sheriff for the…
All vote centers now open in LA County
ALL vote centers for the 2020 general election are now open in Los Angeles County through Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. Every registered voter in California received a vote-by-mail ballot in October, which can be returned at a designated and secure dropbox. For those who want to cast their ballots in-person, they can do so…
Sen. Hirono: There’s ‘the chance to change the trajectory of our country’ on Nov. 3
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the rushed confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, on top of other crises from racial injustice to climate change, are some of the reasons why Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii is urging eligible Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters to cast their ballots on or…