SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco assembled a powerhouse panel of Filipino American women government leaders in the San Francisco Bay Area, for a hybrid forum in celebration of National Women’s Month in the Philippines and Women’s History Month in America. The Consulate hosted “Women in Government: A Forum with Filipina…
Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer paid a courtesy call on San Francisco’s District Attorney Brooke Jenkins at the latter’s office on Friday, March 17. ConGen Ferrer extended his congratulations to DA Jenkins on her successful election as District Attorney in November 2022. Both sides discussed possible collaboration between the Consulate and the District…
President Biden’s recently announced budget proposal promises to maintain entitlement programs while dramatically increasing defense spending. When President Biden formally unveiled his budget last week in Philadelphia, he took direct aim at the political football that is entitlement reform. “I guarantee you I will protect Social Security and Medicare without any change,” the president said….
The governor has also laid out ambitious plans to manufacture insulin, control substance abuse, and shut down private prisons. California Governor Gavin Newsom laid out his vision for California at a March 22 press briefing with ethnic media, and pledged to permanently eradicate homelessness. Fresh off his four day “state of the state” tour, his…
by Peter White, Ethnic Media Services $3.8 billion in investment scams and $2.6 billion in impersonator scams topped the list. Most money lost through bank transfers and crypto currencies. Ever get an email about an extended car warranty or a free gift from Home Depot? What about online service to flush out malware from your…
WASHINGTON, DC – The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) is mourning the passing of one of the Filipino American community’s most remarkable leaders, Jesus “Jesse” Antonio Vizcocho, who passed away on March 11, 2023. Born in the Philippines on December 25, 1960, Jesse immigrated to Kodiak, Alaska in 1991. He later moved to Anchorage…
Program implements Mayor’s executive order requiring expedited processing for 100% affordable housing and emergency shelter permits SAN DIEGO – In response to an executive order signed in January by Mayor Todd Gloria, the Development Services Department announced this week that it has created the Affordable Housing Permit Now program for 100% affordable housing projects and emergency shelters….
Successful program provides people experiencing homelessness with safe space to sleep overnight SAN DIEGO – The City Council on Monday, March 20 unanimously approved a plan proposed by Mayor Todd Gloria to open a new safe parking lot in the Clairemont neighborhood that will include live-in-ready camper trailers as well as free, safe parking for…
Family-friendly activities include egg hunts, scavenger hunts and more SAN DIEGO – Spring has arrived and the City of San Diego’s Parks and Recreation Department is ready to celebrate the season through spring-themed special events at recreation centers across the City during March and April. Various programs are planned, including egg hunts, scavenger hunts, Earth Day celebrations and more…
San Diegans invited to community workshops to learn more about potential long-term plans for the pier SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego is hosting a series of upcoming community workshops to share information about the Ocean Beach Pier Renewal project and gather input from community members. This project aims to provide a long-term…
Leny Dy Sarmiento recently celebrated her 80th birthday with family and friends last February 19 at a party held at Maggiano’s LIttle Italy Restaurant in Santana Row in San Jose, CA. Photo above left shows (from left) Maryann Basig, Mellie Roberts, celebrant Leny Sarmiento, Tess Gregorio and Cleo Manuel at the get-together. Photo above right shows Tess…
Culture and language are among the barriers that prevent many Asian American teens from openly discussing dating violence with their parents. When Angela Kim first fell in love at 16, teen dating violence was the last thing on her mind. Her boyfriend showered her with love, and she was infatuated with their whirlwind romance. But…
by Sunita Sohrabji, Ethnic Media Services THE California College Corps program offers students the chance to find purpose and connection through service at a moment of rising anxiety and isolation across campuses. The California For All College Corps program, launched last year by Gov. Gavin Newsom, is a unique initiative which offers up to $10,000…
COUNTY officials want San Diegans to help turn a house or rather, the County’s draft housing blueprint into a “home” by filling it with their opinions and advice. San Diegans can take a survey on the County’s Engage San Diego County webpage (https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/engagement/home.html) to help shape the County’s housing blueprint. The blueprint’s overarching goals were adopted from the…
Low Income Household Water Assistance Program expansion increases the number of households eligible for residential water and wastewater bill assistance throughout the state THE California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) on Wednesday, March 15 announced the expansion of eligibility for the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) to include all eligible low-income…
Workshops, camps and storytimes will focus on clean energy, mobility, recycling and more SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego Public Library (SDPL) has launched a series of free, interactive workshops and programs to bring awareness to climate change and empower communities to become more climate resilient. “Our Climate, Our Future: Our Sustainable San…
Successful program provides safe, lawful 24-hour vehicle camping for individuals and families SAN DIEGO – Working to create new options for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, the Wednesday, March 15 recommendation by the City Council’s Rules Committee moved forward a plan to open a new safe parking lot in the Clairemont neighborhood that will include…
Several opportunities for residents to get rid of large items and help beautify their neighborhoods SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego’s Think Blue program has teamed up with Project Clean Water and Caltrans to promote the responsible disposal of bulky items like mattresses, chairs, tires, appliances and more, along with several opportunities for…
SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco delivered a record 56,466 consular services in 2022, registering a 27.84-percent increase from the previous year. During the Consulate’s Planning Meeting for Consular Services held in January of this year, Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank Ferrer said: “I am very pleased to…
by Selen Ozturk, Ethnic Media Services Business owners in San Francisco say they remain vulnerable to fraudulent ADA lawsuits which have targeted more than 35,000 businesses statewide. LAST April, the San Francisco and Los Angeles District Attorneys sued San Diego law firm Potter Handy, LLC for filing allegedly fraudulent disability lawsuits with over 300 businessowners…
DID you get a message from a friend on social media about a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grant opportunity? Or from someone saying they were an HHS employee? Well…they weren’t who they said they were. They were scammers. This new twist on the age-old government grant scam often goes like this: someone reaches out…
Housing for All effort would streamline the site permit process to significantly reduce permitting times for new developments and major renovations SAN FRANCISCO — Mayor London Breed, City Administrator Carmen Chu, the Department of Building Inspection, and the Planning Department on Tuesday, March 14 announced an effort to improve San Francisco’s Site Permit approval process…
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO – Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer and South San Francisco City Mayor Buenaflor Nicolas met with Filipino co-founder of U.S. biotech company InterVenn Aldo Carrascoso at its headquarters in South San Francisco. InterVenn is a biotech company founded by Carrascoso, Nobel Laureate Dr. Carolyn Bertozzi and distinguished UC Davis…
PHILIPPINE Consul General in San Francisco Neil Ferrer met with the President of the University of San Francisco (USF), Reverend Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J. on Wednesday, March 1 at the USF campus. During the meeting, ConGen Ferrer and Rev. Fitzgerald exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including education, cultural exchange, and Philippines-U.S. bilateral relations, especially…
Consul General Senen T. Mangalile paid a courtesy call on Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop on Friday, March 10, at the Jersey City Hall. With Jersey City home to the largest Filipino population in New Jersey, Consul General Senen T. Mangalile remarked how Filipino-Americans have become a significant part of the fabric of Jersey City…
by Antonio Ray Harvey, Ethnic Media Services A Filipino American woman was killed in front of her two children by her partner in Daly City, California on Monday, March 6. Frances Kendra Lucero, 27, was shot and killed by her partner, Romier Narag, also 27, in front of her two children, aged 3 and 4….
A new study finds masks do little to prevent the spread of viruses like the flu and Covid, and that hand washing and vaccines offer more protection. An international network of health researchers reviewed 78 randomized controlled studies and concluded that wearing masks has little or no effect on spreading the flu, COVID, or other…
A coalition of more than 100 civil rights and advocacy organizations is accusing the Biden administration of falling short on its “visionary” commitment to step up voter registration and that the failure to shore up voting rights is disproportionately hurting non-white voters. In an early March letter to President Biden and 10 federal agencies, the…
SAN FRANCISCO – Officers of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) called on Consul General Neil Ferrer and discussed ways to strengthen economic ties between the Philippines and the U.S., especially California. The meeting was attended by Deputy Consul General Raquel R. Solano, Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona, Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil, Trade Commissioner in Silicon…
AAPI community leaders are concerned that the tense U.S.-China relationship, which has become more fraught in recent weeks over accusations of Chinese spying, has spurred on a fresh wave of xenophobia as high-ranking Asian American politicians become the targets of Republican attacks. Rep. Judy Chu, the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress, is accused…
