[COLUMN] How many more words before we can all breathe?
LAST summer around this time, America’s psyche was traumatized when Derek Chauvin, a white policeman in uniform, knelt on the neck of an African American man named George Floyd, for…
Read More
[COLUMN] The way of a conscious heart: Confronting unconscious bias in institutions and hate crimes
Part 2 of 2 “I see, above all, the pressing need to strengthen institutions, which are a vital reserve of moral energy and civic love. The hyperinflation of the individual…
[OPINION] The way of the conscious heart: Confronting racism, white supremacy, and hate crimes (Part 1 of 2)
“I confess that when I hear some speeches by someone responsible for public order or a government, I am reminded of Hitler’s speeches in 1934 and 1936. They are typical…
Kuya Lord pop-up series: Chef Maynard Llera ventures off to present Filipino food his way
PART II in series on Love-Infused LA Fil-Am Small Businesses In the Asian Journal’s previous Southern California midweek issue, I wrote about Max & Lucy’s ensaymadas, co-owned by Don Sagarbarria…
John Arcilla, a masterful thespian and actor animating Heneral Luna, Hipolito and Healing Priest Suarez
“People learn who they are through the stories they tell. As they touch the imagination, stories become alive. The images trigger the imagination to realize what is in the narrative….
How Max and Lucy’s revived a family ensaymada recipe
Part I of a series on love-leavened Fil-Am small businesses Minyong Ordoñez, a Filipino anthropologist, wrote that the Filipino culture defines Filipino identity as [something] that “manifests goodness and virtues,…
[OPINION] ‘Your Vote Matters 2 Us’: Filipino American mobilized through bipartisan efforts
“Never before in the history of American elections has the Filipino American community mobilized, strategized and organized to the degree I’ve seen. For at least the Filipino Americans for Biden/Harris…
[OPINION] Don’t let evil idly pass by. Stand up and vote on or before Nov. 3
“The human heart is the first home of democracy.” -Terry Tempest Williams, as quoted by Parker J. Palmer, “The Politics of the Broken Hearted” (2005) “This ‘one nation, indivisible’ is…
[OPINION] Are we pushing our families down the cliffs?
“Both the coronavirus crisis and the climate crisis reveal that our world is inextricably interconnected, and it’s as strong or as fragile as those connections. We have to strengthen those…
[OPINION] Rebuilding an American culture of solidarity
“It was almost like committing suicide for an African American to go to the courthouse in the Delta of Mississippi or the Black Belt of Alabama and declare his or…
Is there hope for America to transform its racist culture?
“I have witnessed with great concern the disturbing social unrest in your nation in these past days, following the tragic death of Mr. George Floyd. We cannot tolerate or turn…
Dr. Carmencita Abarquez Agcaoili’s fundamental laws of her giving, compassion and generosity for others
“My wife is a woman of grace, a woman of character, a woman of strength. She is very generous in spirit and her capacity to tolerate, to accommodate, to forgive…
Part II: Fatima: ‘A window onto a new inner world with the light of Heaven within’
“In the presence of a miracle, faith is never washed away,” 60 Minutes’ Scott Pelley reported from Lalibela, Ethiopia. Two hundred thousand pilgrims visit Lalibela for an 11 church-pilgrimage in…
Trump’s impeachment shows no one is above the law
“Our nation is founded on the principle that we do not have kings. We have presidents. And the Constitution is our compass. When you see something that is not right,…
Fatima, Portugal: ‘A window onto a new inner world with the light of Heaven within’
Part I of II “Each thing becomes a window onto a whole new world, an inner world, composed of the light of Heaven within everything.” – A Course in Miracles…
So much Grace to be had when your life is into right doings
“A Warrior of the Light knows that he has much to be grateful for. Angels help him in his struggle; celestial forces place each thing in its place, thus allowing…
Have you offered your life to wrongdoings, Mr. Trump?
“It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes. Distinctions in society will always exist under every just…
A two-week Marian pilgrimage led by Filipino priest, Fr. Joel Bugas
We all got lucky, blessed by God’s immense grace, the Blessed Mother’s faithful intercession, and the 14 saints we visited. Even the weather was temperate for most days, pleasant to…
The wheatfields of Leny Strobel’s memoir
IF you have walked the Camino de Santiago, you will come across acres and acres of wheatfields. The wheatfields have no shade and you will see colors of yellow-brown as…
‘Meeting Rosie’: A young Filipina American unveils art exhibit dedicated to grandma
YSABEL Grace Simon opened her first solo art exhibit, “Meeting Rosie,” on Sept. 5 at the Philippine Consulate in New York. It was on exhibit from Sept. 2 to 20….
Mom’s special tilapia sinigang: Remembering Asuncion Castro Abarquez
“It’s all right, you made an error but you can start again. And maybe it wasn’t really a mistake but an opportunity for deep learning. I did the same thing…
Philippine Chamber Singers LA make transcendental history in Dream Orchestra’s first International Choral Festival
“THERE exist realities that pervade the entire universe either through the vast reaches of unimaginable light-years of space or the vast journeys of unimaginable eons of time. There exist presences…
Martin Nievera and Pops Fernandez: ‘Twogether Again’ at the Palace Theatre in Los Angeles
“That’s the state of how I was taught, was the whole thing of Ohana, wishes family…and that’s one thing that we don’t get enough of in the Philippines; [it is]…
Gina Lopez’s legacy: Social-impact environmentalist for Pasig River’s revival
[EDITOR’S Note: A full version of this article was previously published in Balikbayan Magazine’s October-November 2011 issue] “Water is a great teacher that shows us how to move through the…
Resist, vote and respect the US Constitution
[Editor’s note: This column has been republished and updated.] “WE are fortunate in our society that a means of resistance has been built into the law and the political process…
The state of California’s judiciary according to Filipina Chief Justice Tani Gorre Cantil-Sakauye
“Every generation is responsible for creating democracy anew, a democracy that is relevant and responsive to the needs of that generation. One that expands upon and completes the previous work…
The depth of Mon David’s love of family as reflected in his superior jazz musicality
“I’ve been working in this field (communities in schools) for 50 years and I’ve never seen a program turn around a life. Only relationships turn around lives. We adults in…
No one is above the law
“It is more proper that law should govern than any one of its citizens.” – Aristotle On Feb. 21, 2019, “The Rachel Maddow Show” team uncovered a telegram sent by…
A foretaste of heaven: Witnessing the Episcopal ordination of LA Auxilary Bishop Alex Aclan
“We know that our liturgies—especially the Eucharist—are a foretaste of heaven on earth, I cannot think of a better foretaste of heaven than this.” – Bishop Alex D. Aclan, Auxiliary…
Do American presidents lie and betray America?
“Throughout the history of the American presidency, from George Washington’s inauguration to the present day, the chief executive’s duties have encompassed more than politics. Our presidents are charged with responding…