Worst-case scenario
NORTH Korea has been firing and testing missiles—18 test launches this year—at an unprecedented pace. Amid its rising tensions with the U.S., it recently announced a detailed plan to redirect…
Category: Features
Covering the week’s most noteworthy feature stories impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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Fil-Ams weigh in on sanctuary cities that provide a safe haven for undocumented immigrants
THE TRUMP administration has intensified its crackdown on sanctuary cities — jurisdictions that provide a safe haven for undocumented immigrants by limiting how local law enforcement can cooperate with federal…
Sanctuary cities that protect undocumented immigrants: Good or bad for Filipinos in America?
PRESIDENT Donald Trump ran on the campaign promise that he would intensify the crackdown on illegal immigrants — and he is doing just that. There are places in the country,…
General meeting
CONTRARY to popular opinion, none of the world’s top diplomats, who gathered in Manila on August 2-8 to attend the 50th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and Related Meetings, brought…
Duterte and Fil-Ams can work on a common cause
DURING the Philippine revolution against Spain, the Katipunan had two mutually-hostile factions: the Magdiwang of Andres Bonifacio, and the Magdalo, which was identified with Emilio Aguinaldo. While they literally went…
Why Trump’s Filipino supporters continue to defend him
PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s job approval rating dips further south to a new historic low of 33 percent, with 61 percent disapproving of how he is doing his job as president,…
Could the new chief of staff General John Kelly reign in on Trump?
THE White House is in chaos, but let us look at the glimmer of hope in President Donald Trump’s appointment of General John Kelly as chief of staff, replacing Reince…
Law enforcement
During the early morning of Sunday, July 30, members of the Philippine National Police and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), armed with search warrants, raided homes of alleged illegal…
Defense officials, Fil-Am US military general respond to Trump’s transgender military ban
SURPRISE! President Donald Trump woke up on the morning of Wednesday, July 26, and announced via Twitter that transgenders (those born with a certain gender but identify self with another…
The many possibilities in North Korea
Two weeks ago at the first meeting of Asian and European Political Parties in the Asia-Europe Political Forum (AEPF) held in Seoul, July 6-10, 2017, we listed the major conflict…
Trump’s imminent ‘firing’ of Attorney General Jeff Sessions for recusing in Russia probe is an assault to conservative causes
MY HEART goes out to Attorney General Jeff Sessions. As you are reading this piece, the man President Donald Trump appointed to be his Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary may…
Taxi, Uber or Lyft? What is your choice, kababayans in the US?
IN the Philippines, many Pinoys do not have a car. If they do — it is one car per family. There are jeeps, tricycles, taxis (calesas in the olden days),…
Trump declares ‘let Obamacare fail’ as Trumpcare collapses again
PRESIDENT Donald Trump loves to win and he just would never give up even after his campaign promise to “repeal and replace Obamacare on Day One” has collapsed many times…
Commitment to peace
FOR decades, the Philippines has been on a quest for lasting peace. While the country is spared from being left in turmoil, the lingering process also comes with debilitating consequences…
‘Box City’ puts spotlight on homeless Filipinos in America
MANY of our kababayans back home think America is the land of milk and honey, and offers opportunities for immigrants to live a life far better than in the Philippines….
Trump Jr. releases detailed emails that give more smoke to the Russian-Trump campaign collusion
THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN has, in many times, failed to disclose, mislead and lied about its alleged communications and ties with the United States’ adversary, Russia, and has even called any…
Critical numbers
BASED on projections by the Commission on Population (POPCOM) and data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Philippine population will continue to increase in 2017 and is projected to…
Time for Pacquiao to retire?
There is no doubt in my mind that Manny Pacquiao won against Australian Jeff Horn. The CompuBox statistics showed Pacquiao landing 182 punches vs. Horn’s 92, with 123 power punches…
Poll: A vast majority of Americans say political civility has declined since Trump was elected president
HAPPY FOURTH of July! As we celebrate Independence Day in America this week, a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist Poll study reveals that a majority of Americans — 70 percent — say…
Champion in our hearts
DESPITE his impressive display of explosive punches and dynamic movements, Manny Pacquiao still bowed down before a formidable opponent during the “Battle of Brisbane” on Sunday, July 2. In his…
Knock off the self-destructive tweeting, Mr. President — You are sabotaging your own agenda!
“MY advice to President Trump about his incessant ‘Tweeting’ that undermines his ability to govern: knock it off,” was the message of Fil-Am Republican leader Rudy Asercion in the Facebook…
Bill that aims to repeal and replace Obamacare hangs in the balance (again) for lack of support
IT’S DÉJÁ VU all over again as the much-anticipated vote for another version of the health care bill—which President Donald Trump and the Republicans wish to pass to repeal and…
Numbers that matter
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has maintained excellent trust and approval ratings among top government officials in his first year in office. This is a feat considering how negatively he was portrayed…
A big majority of Americans disapprove of Trump’s response to the Russia investigation
IF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP truly wants to win the trust and support of most Americans, and not just his most loyal fan base, then he should listen to the voice…
One for Marawi
MILITARY operations against the Maute terror group in Marawi City continues to rage on. After four weeks of clashes, the conflict has claimed the lives of 59 soldiers, three policemen,…
Trump now under investigation for obstruction of justice
Wants to fire special counsel, deputy attorney general PRESIDENT Donald Trump is now personally being investigated by the team of Special Counsel Robert Mueller for a possible criminal case of…
Getting caught flatfooted
IT looks like we will not yet see the end of the speculation and argument over whether the Resorts World incident was a terrorist attack or one perpetrated by a…
After Comey, Trump wants to fire Mueller: Why is Trump so afraid of the Russia investigation?
WHAT IS President Donald Trump so afraid of when it comes to the ongoing Russia probe? First, he fired former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey because the…
Silent partner
AS FILIPINOS celebrated their nation’s 119th Independence Day on Monday, June 12, the U.S. congratulated the Philippines and emphasized the enduring U.S.-PH alliance built on “shared democratic values, growing commerce,…
Comey testifies under oath, Trump lashes back: He said vs he said
FIRED FBI Director James Comey finally testified under oath before the Senate Intelligence Committee, armed with his contemporaneous memoranda he wrote immediately after each communication with President Donald Trump that…