In the wake of President Donald Trump’s self-serving assertion that any unflattering media reports about him are “fake news,” CNN, which has been among Trump’s most persistent critics, has launched an ad campaign on the theme, “Facts First.” The visual device is an apple. The voice-over announcer intones, “This is an apple.” He then continues…
NEWS ANCHOR. That is my job title. I present the news every day. You see me on camera leading in to stories or doing live interviews, moderating debates, and weaving all the stories together. BUT I am in the safety and convenience of our studio. Behind the cameras are the true newsmen who go out wherever the…
Documentary airs on November 12 “BALITANG AMERICA” (BA), the daily newscast of ABS-CBN International’s The Filipino Channel, is celebrating its 15th year and has become the leading source for Filipinos in North America. BA is a 30-minute newscast aired daily from Mondays to Fridays that presents news stories about Filipinos in North America, as well…
“Generally, it is safe to work, study, do business, and travel in the Philippines.” This was what newly appointed Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque assured foreign embassies following the fresh travel advisory issued by the Australian government against the Philippines. In its advisory, the Australian government cautioned its citizens on the Philippines’ safety or security risks….
WE hear this a lot: Just keep repeating a lie, over and over, and people will believe it. A falsehood being told, people will still believe the lie if it’s repeated enough. Apparently, this has some scientific backing as evidenced by a 2015 Vanderbilt University study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology. This scientific…
THE TRUMP administration has claimed that the independent probe by Special Counsel Robert Mueller on the alleged collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election is ending because of lack of evidence. However, the fact is: the case has moved forward with the indictment of Trump’s former top…
The Philippine economy is booming. With more foreign players starting to invest in the country, there is no better time to harness the good prospect of doing business in the Philippines than now. Despite some tough times, the country is still able to offer the best investment opportunities. The country is entering a “golden age…
THE FILIPINO CHANNEL’s daily newscast “Balitang America” has been covering the plight of our Filipino World War II veterans since the program started airing 15 years ago. In all those 15 years, we have seen how demoralized and frustrated these Filipino veterans had been for hoping, year after year, that their sacrifices would finally be…
TRUMP and DUTERTE. They like each other a lot. They only have accolades for each other, pretty much like Trump and Putin. It’s a stark contrast with the tense relationship Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had with Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, whom he cursed because the 44th president of the United States openly said he wished…
IS it really over? On Monday, Oct. 23, the Philippine Department of Defense (DND) formally announced the termination of the government’s combat operations in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. This development comes a week after President Rodrigo Duterte declared the liberation of the besieged city from the influence of terrorist groups. It has been five…
Could our American President Donald J. Trump be missing something? I mean something real. Something physical. Something psychological. I believe he is. When after 12 days he finally acknowledged that we lost 4 precious souls in an ambush in Niger, Africa. The largest number of military deaths in one battle incident since he was sworn…
OUR HEARTS go out to the victims of the California wildfires that have been devastating many parts of the wine country in Northern California this month. This is personal to me as our friends who live in Santa Rosa are among those whose lives will forever be changed by this tragedy. Dr. Marlon De Castro,…
CURRENT developments in the Philippines are bringing back the specter of martial law. President Rodrigo Duterte has given not-too-subtle hints about declaring it. And while he has been quick to take back those hints — in his trademark flip-flopping style — the threats he has made against the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and…
THE White House is calling on the University of Nevada-Las Vegas to investigate a Fil-Am history professor after she expressed an opinion critical of President Donald Trump during one of her lectures. This comes in the wake of the deadly massacre in Las Vegas that claimed the lives of 58 people and injured about 500…
HEALTH CARE is a right and not just a privilege. This is the philosophy behind the plan proposed by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders — a policy he has been advocating for years, and especially during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Because it is a fundamental right, Sanders proposes a plan that would create a federally…
I prefer standing for our National Anthem. That’s my choice. Men and women have fought, died or came home maimed fighting for our safety, freedom and to preserve our American Bill of Rights. One of those rights is to peacefully protest. So I don’t denigrate the players and teams who choose to take ‘the knee’…
“IN moments of tragedy and horror, America comes together as one — and it always has. We call upon the bonds that unite us — our faith, our family, and our shared values. We call upon the bonds of citizenship, the ties of community, and the comfort of our common humanity. Our unity cannot be…
AS CONGRESS scrambles whether to repeal Obamacare and what to replace it with, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders introduced a bill in the Senate that attempts to actualize what he has been advocating for: health care is a right for all Americans, and not just a privilege to be accorded to and enjoyed by those who…
Last week marked the 45th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law over the Philippines by Ferdinand Marcos. While the day itself may not have been as eventful, as say, 9/11, the Marcos declaration, did change the arc of many Filipino lives, both in the Philippines and abroad; it certainly changed mine. While organizing against…
Much of the criticism surrounding Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs can be pointed to how he looks at drug addiction. The administration’s policies to solve the drug menace appear to be based on the president’s belief that drug addiction is a crime, and criminals need to be penalized, and in many times…
ACCORDING to the United Nations (UN), the rate of environmental damage on our planet is increasing at a faster pace than previously thought and seen in the last 10,000 years. This makes it imperative for governments to act now and reverse the damage being done to the planet. Under the “Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-6): Regional…
AS we follow the investigations being done by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, and those of Congress in the alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia to influence, meddle, interfere in the 2016 US presidential elections—which allegedly put down Clinton and helped Trump win—I told you I will write about legal terms we often hear…
NARCISSISTIC. We hear this word in our everyday life lately. We hear this as an adjective describing today’s generation — the “I,” “me,” and “myself.” We also hear this in reference to certain stages of a person’s life — when one’s consciousness and priorities revolve around him/herself more than anything else for developmental reasons. As…
FORTY-FIVE years and five presidents later, Filipinos are once again expected to appreciate the genuine meaning of democracy as they commemorate the day when former Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos declared martial law in the Philippines on September 21, 1972. However, this year’s celebrations may be different from what Filipinos are used to. Only work and…
Whenever a major corruption scandal or a heinous crime exploded in the public sphere, oldtimers like myself followed the developments in the courts of law, as reported by the newspapers. While the wheels of justice moved excruciatingly slowly, they did manage to move. Eventually, decisions would be reached, appealed to higher courts, and finally decided…
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP is predictably unpredictable, and his recent move may come as a pleasant surprise to his political detractors as much it has been a shock to his loyal conservative base. First, he reached an agreement with Democratic leaders in Congress to raise the debt ceiling in order to avert another government crippling shutdown….
Our hearts go out to people and communities in Texas, Florida, and other states in the southeast of the United States following the devastation left by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. As of press time, at least 60 deaths have been caused by Hurricane Harvey, the storm that dumped several feet of rain in southeast Texas…
WILL Philippine Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno share the same fate as her predecessor? Sereno succeeded the late Renato Corona, the first Filipino magistrate to be impeached and convicted. Beginning this week, the House of Representatives Committee on Justice will tackle impeachment complaints again Sereno. The committee will review whether the complaints are sufficient in…
By Alex De Ocampo, Candidate for Assembly District 51 For generations, immigrants have come here seeking a better life for themselves and their children. America has welcomed these newcomers and we all have benefited from their contributions to our society. That’s why I support Senator Kevin De Leon’s legislation, SB 54, the California Values Act….
Fifteen states and the District of Columbia have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in the effort to stop it from implementing its decision to end the Obama-era program that temporarily protects “DREAMers” — young undocumented immigrants brought into the United States as kids and are now being “punished” for the “sins” of their…
