Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), which are considered the fastest-growing minority group, are encouraged to participate in the upcoming 2020 Census despite concerns about privacy and language barriers. During a panel at the Asian American Advertising Federation’s (3AF) annual summit, stakeholders discussed the importance of AAPI communities filling out the questionnaire — such as…
THERE are only two bookstores dedicated to Filipino literature in the United States, both in California: Philippine Expressions Bookshop in San Pedro and Arkipelago Books in San Francisco. Named after the Philippines’ group of islands, Arkipelago Books sits inside the Bayanihan Community Center in the heart of the South of Market (SOMA) Pilipinas, the 10-block…
FILIPINO cuisine isn’t the only aspect of the culture grabbing attention in Los Angeles. This time, art, design and fashion from Filipino artisans, including industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue and contemporary artist Leeroy New who have been recognized by Hollywood celebrities, have drawn crowds to spaces in downtown. Filipino exhibition series Pulo Project — a “passion…
AUDIENCES will have the time of their lives watching the latest production of “Mamma Mia!” in Los Angeles, featuring a predominantly Filipino American cast. This rendition of the beloved jukebox musical comes from East West Players (EWP), the nation’s longest-running professional theater of color and largest creator of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) performance…
CAN two individuals fall in love in a day? Does destiny exist? These are some of the questions put forth by “The Sun is Also a Star,” an upcoming movie based on the young adult novel of the same name by #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Nicola Yoon. The story revolves around Natasha Kingsley…
Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg was in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 9 to show support for the city’s Measure EE, which is a parcel tax on the June 4 ballot. Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, was joined on stage by LA Mayor Eric Garcetti and representatives from the United Teachers Los Angeles…
IT is often said that running your own business is like raising another child. Entrepreneurship is already a massive undertaking, and for some mothers, there’s an extra layer of being a single parent on top of all these responsibilities. Juggling multiple roles, however, hasn’t detracted this group of mompreneurs from recognizing their expertise and creating…
“I DON’T feel any more free than I do when I’m on that stage in front of a microphone,” Filipina American rapper and spoken word artist Ruby Ibarra says. Before she takes the stage, she collects herself and starts organizing lyrics in her head. It’s a meditation of sorts until she’s out in front of…
Checking in with Don Jacinto, managing director of the Hollywood Roosevelt & regional vice president of operations of Journal Hotels FROM hosting the first Academy Awards to once being the home of Marilyn Monroe, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on the famed boulevard is perhaps one of the most iconic properties in Tinseltown. But behind the…
The third annual Los Angeles Food Bowl is back this May to celebrate the city’s vibrant food scene — and you can expect a line-up of Filipino American chefs to be featured. The month-long festival hosted by the Los Angeles Times will have close to 200 events highlighting chefs and restaurants in the city, as…
LAS VEGAS — There are 331 days until the Nevada caucuses on Feb. 22, 2020 and 586 days until the November presidential election. With Nevada as a swing state, Democratic presidential hopefuls are starting to campaign here, particularly in the Las Vegas area. In recent weeks, Senators Bernie Sanders (D-VT) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Rep….
“Just one more episode” — it’s something we whisper to ourselves to resist ending a Netflix binge-watch, despite the clock ticking or other responsibilities calling. There are several factors that allow us to succumb to the continuous entertainment on the platform, from captivating content to no interruptions from advertisements. But perhaps a component we take…
“I REALLY wasn’t interested in space,” confesses Josephine Santiago-Bond, while reflecting on her engineering education during a recent interview with the Asian Journal. The Filipina-American engineer never anticipated that her experiences would culminate in a career revolving around missions and exploration in outer space. It was 15 years ago when Santiago-Bond first landed an internship at…
LOS ANGELES — A high-ranking Filipina American in City Hall is now a commissioner on the Board of Public Works. Jessica Caloza was confirmed to the position on Tuesday, March 19 after the City Council voted unanimously, making her the first Pinay to sit on the Board. She was nominated for the vacant seat back…
LEGEND has it that during the final months of World War II, Japanese forces constructed underground tunnels in the Philippines to bury treasure worth hundreds of billions of dollars stolen from across Asia. Often referred to as “Yamashita’s gold” — named after General Tomoyuki Yamashita, who led the Imperial Japanese Army in the Philippines in…
WITH Women’s History Month underway, the Asian Journal takes a look at the contributions Filipina-American women have made to the dessert scene across Southern California. There is an abundance of examples we can point to, whether these women are pastry chefs at top restaurants or pushing Filipino ingredients like the now ubiquitous ube (purple yam)…
AS mentioned in the Asian Journal’s recent profile on Now Serving — Los Angeles’ only cookbook store owned by Filipino-American couple Ken Concepcion and Michelle Mungcal — cookbook sales have significantly increased in the past two years because of the preference of dining at home, learning about regional cuisines, or keeping the book on a…
ON a Saturday morning in January, 92 Filipina women congregated at the backyard of a hillside home east of downtown Los Angeles for a half-day business and wellness retreat. They spread out their yoga mats, where they would spend the next two hours being led through an opening ritual by an albularya (a traditional folk…
IT’S hard to believe that before 2017, the city of Los Angeles had gone eight years without a dedicated cookbook store after Cook’s Library on Third Street closed in 2009. Sure, there are a handful of general bookstores with a shelf or more of cookbooks, or kitchenware stores that happen to carry such books. But…
WHETHER you’re vegan, have a shellfish allergy, want a quick rice bowl with ulam, or are unfamiliar with Filipino food, a new Filipino-American café in Historic Filipinotown seeks to satisfy all of the above. HiFi Kitchen, a fast-casual, weekday spot, comes from Justin Foronda of the Benaddictz brunch pop-ups and a long-time resident of the…
LOOKING for a movie to watch with your significant other, group of friends, or even alone this Valentine’s weekend? Romantic comedy “Isn’t It Romantic,” which hit theaters on Valentine’s Day, is sure to conjure some (or a lot of) laughs as it satirizes all the tropes found in rom-com favorites. Film stars Priyanka Chopra (who…
IT’S Valentine’s Day this week and you can expect couples posting on social media about how they’re spending the day, their “love story,” and what they enjoy about one another. Among the relationship dynamics that exist, there is a rare crop of couples who have added another level by working and running a business together….
When you think of the Delano Grape Strike, who are the key figures who immediately come to mind? Largely missing from history and school textbooks is the name of the Larry Itliong, a Filipino-American farm worker and labor organizer, who led the strike along with a group of fellow Fil-Am workers like Philip Vera Cruz,…
LOS ANGELES’ list of restaurants serving Filipino-influenced dishes continues to grow with the latest addition of Ord & Broadway in Chinatown. At the helm of the kitchen is Chef Getty Lustre whose training comes from fine dining establishments like Patina and Redbird. Meanwhile, co-owner JP Modesto brings his expertise as an owner of several businesses…
A FILIPINA doctor has been named the chief of staff at Dignity Health-Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, California, becoming the first person of Filipino descent to hold that position and the fourth female in the hospital’s history. Dr. Brigeli Westerband, who has been an emergency room physician at the hospital for the past 20 years,…
LUNAR New Year falls on Tuesday, February 5, as we bid farewell to the year of the Earth Dog and usher in 2019 as the year of the Earth Pig (boar), according to the Chinese zodiac. Following the lunar calendar, the celebration lasts for two weeks until February 19 with each day bearing its own…
The City of Los Angeles could soon have an 18-week fully paid parental leave policy through a proposed motion introduced during the city council’s meeting on Tuesday, January 29. The plan — introduced by City Council members Nury Martinez (CD6) and David Ryu (CD4) — would allow new parents to be on leave for up…
THE first Filipino-American paid commissioner for the city of Los Angeles has “voluntarily resigned” from his post on Friday, January 18, after being named in a federal search warrant. Joel Jacinto, who was appointed to LA’s Board of Public Works by Mayor Eric Garcetti in 2015, handed in his resignation letter on Friday effective immediately….
LAS VEGAS — There is no sign that Manny Pacquiao’s fight on Saturday, January 19 will be his last. In a sideline interview with reporters on Wednesday, January 16, the 40-year-old Filipino boxer teased that he won’t be shelving his sports career any time soon and could still go on for two to three more…
Pixar will have its first-ever short film featuring Filipino characters, created by a Filipino-American story artist at its studio. Bobby Rubio — whose work at Pixar Animation Studios includes “Incredibles 2,” “Up,” “Brave, and “Monster’s University” — is now taking the writer and director’s seat for “Float,” a short film that will have Filipino lead…
