KALAYAAN Incorporated participated in the celebration of Dr. Jose Rizal’s 160th birth anniversary on Saturday, June 19 at the City of Carson’s International Sculpture Garden with a ceremonial wreath laying. Among the esteemed guests were Philippine Consul General Edgar B Badajos, Carson Mayor Lula-Davis Holmes, Mayor Pro-Tem Jim Dear, Assemblymember Mike Gipson of the 64th…
Contributed by Zen Vuong On June 11, Melissa Joyce Valerio became the first in her family to receive a master’s degree, putting her a little closer to her goal of helping to develop innovative cancer treatments. Valerio, 25, had wanted to be a dentist but when her father’s diffuse large B-cell lymphoma relapsed in 2018,…
By Dr. Erica Pan CALIFORNIA’S future is brighter now that protection from COVID-19 is within reach for even more of our loved ones. Adolescents aged 12 to 15 can join older teens in getting the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine – the same vaccine that has been safely administered to millions of California adults, including more than…
By Gloria Caoile AFTER a difficult year for the arts and art lovers, Las Vegas was treated to a performance of BROADWAY STRIPPED by Broadway Barkada on Friday, June 11. The group — which is composed primarily of Filipino American performers who have starred in productions such as “Miss Saigon,” “CATS,” “Here Lies Love,” “Hamilton,”…
By Jenny Manrique/Ethnic Media Services The dramatic image of Texas Democrats leaving the legislature before midnight to block a voter restriction bill spotlights a surge of activism to secure access to the polls. Voting rights advocates believe this growing activism can still win passage of federal legislation to counter measures like SB7 which Texas Governor…
By: Bill Wong, board member, Las Vegas Asian Chamber Last month, Congress re-introduced H.R.3, a bill that would enact price controls on prescription drugs. While well-intentioned, price-setting legislation could harm the future development of cures. Considering the incredible success of our biopharmaceutical industry this past year, I was surprised to hear legislators revisiting this proposal….
Grace Mercado has acquired the Jeanne Jugan Residence owned and operated by the Little Sisters of the Poor in San Pedro, California. Although the Little Sisters of the Poor have operated a Home for the Aged in Los Angeles since 1905, the time had come for them to withdraw from the area due to the…
By Jenny Manrique/Ethnic Media Services From its spot on iconic U Street in Washington, D.C., Ben’s Chili Bowl has served diners for more than six decades: demonstrators from the civil rights march led by Dr. Martin Luther King, African Americans from segregated communities, tourists from all over the world, presidents and politicians. Ben and Virginia…
AS CDC guidelines ease, Holy Name of Mary Parish in San Dimas, California re-opened its door to parishioners last Sunday, May 23 at masses held in various times. It was held at the Feast of Pentecost, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus. This represents the birth…
By Jenny Manrique/Ethnic Media Services Vaccinating 12 to 17 year olds will be one of the great milestones in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., experts speaking on an Ethnic Media Services news briefing agreed. As many as 22 million children and adolescents, 5 to 17 years, have been infected in the US since…
by Carlo Miciano, R.N. Everyone should have access to adequate health care regardless of their ability to pay or socioeconomic status; however, this is not the case in Nevada and similarly across the nation. Most individuals and families are not sufficiently insured or lack insurance, which prevents them from addressing basic health needs, such as…
By Nina Mohan / Ethnic Media Services PRESIDENT Biden’s proposed immigration reforms could provide a pathway to citizenship for over 11 million undocumented immigrants, but the proposed changes also offer fresh opportunity for scammers who know how to exploit the complicated and sometimes confusing immigration process. “Scammers do follow the headlines,” said Federal Trade Commission attorney Emily…
A Message Brought to You by Los Angeles County By Dr. Eloisa Gonzales, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Q: Maaari ko bang kunin ang bakuna ng Pfizer para sa unang dosis (dose) at Moderna para sa pangalawang dosis, o ang kabaligtaran nito? A: Hindi. Kinakailangan mong kunin ang magkaparehong tipo ng bakuna para…
[Editor’s note: Once a year, an essay competition is held at Cal State University, Northridge, amongst Asian American Studies and Education majors, as part of an endowment set up by the columnist, Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, for her deceased mother, Asuncion Castro Abarquez and her deceased sister, Rosalinda Abarquez Alcantara to provide a scholarship grant to deserving students. The essays are vetted…
By Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes WHETHER one identifies as Asian Pacific American, Asian American Pacific Islander, some subset of those categories or, like me, all of the above, May is a month where we celebrate the national contributions of a diverse group representing over fifty ethnic minority peoples and the fastest-growing minority demographic in…
By Dr. Raynald Samoa THROUGHOUT the COVID-19 pandemic, I have been inspired by the strength and resilience of California’s nurses, many of whom are Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). This May and every day, I urge everyone to express appreciation to nurses by helping to end the pandemic. As we celebrate Asian Pacific American…
By Sunita Sohrabji / Ethnic Media Services Contributing Editor CARMELA Bernal vividly remembers “El Dia de la Madre” Mother’s Day celebrations of her childhood. “The whole family would get together in my uncle’s backyard: 20, 30 people and lots of kids,” said the fledgling artist, who grew up in San Bruno, California. “Uncle would bring…
By Gregory A. Cendana WE have arrived at another May, which many in Asian American and Pacific Islander communities know as our Heritage Month. It is yet another moment, for Filipino Americans also, that we cannot operate business as usual. We’ve been navigating a global health crisis where Filipinos are on the frontlines and make…
By Camille Maben / First 5 California Executive Director Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month celebrates the rich and diverse Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander heritages that span the world and the depths of American history. Generations after generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) have continued to make America their home…
By Annie Walters/Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Nevada Social Security’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides cash payments to children with disabilities whose families have limited income and resources. A child must meet the following medical requirements to be considered disabled under Social Security rules: • The child must have a medical condition, or…
By Bobby T. Rimas SO far this year, America has seen many great moments of more diverse representation than ever before with Deb Haaland, the first Native American United States Interior Secretary, Xavier Becerra, the first Latino U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, and Dr. Rachel Levine, the first openly transgender U.S. Assistant Secretary for…
By Normita Fenn The Directors Guild of America recently announced the nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in television, commercials and documentary for 2020. One of the nominees for outstanding achievement in variety/talk/news/sports — specials is Filipina American Stacey Angeles for her work as the director of “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah Presents: Remembering RBG:…
by Ethnic Media Services DR. Dali Fan, Health Science Clinical Professor at UC Davis, is also a volunteer vaccinator at a clinic on the California Northstate University campus in Elk Grove, California. In this FAQ, Dr. Fan addresses the most common questions asked by his patients regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Three brands of the vaccine…
Parishioners of Incarnation Catholic Church in Glendale, California observed a Eucharistic celebration of 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines last Sunday, March 21. The event started with praying the rosary. The image of Our Lady of Solitude of Porta Vaga, Patroness of Cavite, was placed at the altar while rosary was said. Immediately after…
by Michael Milan I was born in Los Angeles to immigrant parents from the Philippines. My father served in the U.S. Navy and my mother was a registered nurse who traveled across the country and finally landed in California. After my parents divorced, my sister and I stayed with our mother who raised us as…
FUN, fellowship, and friendship awaits all U.P. alumni in the 5th Annual Spring Fling get-together of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association of Greater Los Angeles (UPAAGLA) scheduled on Saturday, April 24, 2021 from 2-5 p.m. PST via Zoom. Spring Fling is open to all U.P. alumni (UPAAGLA members and non-members) from Kern County…
Every Californian age 16 and older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination on April 15. Vaccination is one of the most important ways to end the COVID-19 pandemic, and I urge everyone to get the vaccine when it’s their turn so they can protect themselves, their loved ones, and our community. While the COVID-19…
THE East West Bank Foundation is committed to supporting diversity and anti-discrimination efforts. To help stem the rash of violence against AAPIs, the East West Bank Foundation is contributing to nonprofit organizations which are on the frontlines responding to the hate. The East West Bank Foundation is supported through East West Bank, one of the…
MANILA, 31 March 2021 – The Government of Japan pledged additional PhP190m to UNICEF strengthening its support to the Philippine Government’s COVID-19 immunization response. The pledge is part of the Japanese Government’s assistance to 25 countries in the Southeast and Southwest Asian and Pacific Island region amounting to a total of US$41 million. The funding…
The Philippines and the Department of Tourism (DOT) secure positions as nominees to the 2021 World Travel Awards (WTA), one of the most prestigious and comprehensive global recognition bodies that aims to “acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries.” “I am very excited to share with…
