Constants and variables
ACCORDING to official data released on May 29, a succession of natural disasters (The 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Bohol and Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013) has slowed down growth of the…
Category: Features
Covering the week’s most noteworthy feature stories impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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Why is Malacañang lukewarm to conducting lifestyle checks on public officials?
THERE are some pronouncements from the Aquino administration that are sometimes so incongruous with each other. One concrete example is in the way it is handling the multi-billion peso pork…
Time to make history in San Mateo County by electing the first Fil-Am judge, Ray Buenaventura
THIS coming June 3, 2014, the Filipinos in San Mateo County will have a chance to make history by electing one of their own as a Judge in San Mateo…
Greener pastures
Four weathermen from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) have decided to move on to greener pastures. Currently, PAGASA has 13 expert weather forecasters left. Three of…
Time is running out for our Filipino WWII vets
MEMORIAL Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer for many of us in America. It is the time of the year when families start their summer travels, backyard barbecue…
Freddie Aguilar’s 'anak' in the age of reality TV
Traditional and social media was recently inundated by news stories regarding Meagan Aguilar’s rant (the “anak” of music icon Freddie Aguilar) against her own father. Meagan has been spewing scathing…
Naturalization – Do It for Your Family
It’s hard to imagine that we as individuals can do anything about the broken immigration system that is tearing many of our families apart. But we can. There is one…
Quagmire brought about by the pork barrel scam ‘list’
THE “list” of more government officials (who are allegedly part of the multi-billion peso pork barrel scam) has created even more questions, confusion and doubt in the minds of the…
Bawal mangopya: Pinoy biz in LA raided for piracy
WHAT is it about most people (and many Filipinos), who feel a sense of pride and accomplishment in acquiring things for free, which usually need to be paid for? Is…
Of miracles and scandals
FROM May 21 to 23, Metro Manila will be host to heads of state and business and civil society leaders from over 30 countries at the World Economic Forum (WEF)…
SOS: Mother Nature in critical condition
(Part 2) RELEASED last week, The National Climate Assessment presented the most comprehensive scientific evidences of global warming. The findings were ominous, because rising temperatures are affecting the food chain,…
Motherhood
DESPITE economic improvements, the Philippines’ ranking in the 15th global “State of the World’s Mothers” report (released by Save The Children, a non-government organization) has slipped four notches — placing…
A special milestone on Mothers’ Day
MOTHERS’ DAY this year is extra special for me. It is a milestone because this 2014, I have also became a grandmother with the birth of my first apo — Azshara…
Focusing on Mother Earth this Mother’s Day
SUPER Typhoon Yolanda. Heat waves, drought and wildfires. Torrential rains and flooding. Many of us have been asking why these calamities have been happening more frequently these days. Do we…
Paraphrasing Obama
There was a collective expression of disappointment among many Filipinos and the media because Barack Obama “gave no categorical commitment” that America would “defend” the Philippines if its dispute with…
Iron and gold
“OUR commitment to defend the Philippines is ironclad and the United States will keep that commitment, because allies never stand alone.” – Pres. Barack Obama’s remarks at the 70th anniversary…
No ‘pasalubong’ from Obama?
ONE controversial issue during the visit of President Barack Obama to the Philippines last April 28-29 highlights those instances when Fil-Ams, who have already been naturalized American citizens, have to…
Affirmation
“May America’s oldest alliance in Asia always be renewed by our friendship and mutual respect.” – Pres. Barack Obama’s message in the Malacañang Palace Guest Book, April 28, 2014 IN…
TFC: 20 years of serving the Global Filipino
IT WAS, indeed, a very proud and fulfilling moment — becoming part of The Filipino Channel’s (TFC) celebration of its 20th year in using the airwaves to touch the lives…
A welcome treat for Obama in PH
PRESIDENT Barack Obama will be visiting the Philippines for the first time, on April 28-29 — the last stop of his 4-Asia nations tour in the region. As news reports state, Obama…
Asset or perpetrator?
“I INVOKE my right against self-incrimination.” These were the only words squeezed out of Janet Lim-Napoles, the suspected mastermind of the P10-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF or better known…
Happy 20th birthday, The Filipino Channel!
THIS year marks a very important milestone for ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, the media company that produces Balitang America — a daily newscast which delivers news about Filipinos and for Filipinos…
Starting over again
For Christians, Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the fulfillment of God’s promise for deliverance of man. But what precedes God’s…
Humility and sacrifice
“Humility provides everyone, even him who despairs in solitude, with the strongest relationship to his fellow man, and this immediately, though, of course, only in the case of complete and…
PH SC rules: RH law is constitutional
DESPITE opposition from the mighty Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines, key provisions in the controversial Reproductive Health(RH) Bill have been upheld by the Philippine Supreme Court (SC) as constitutional …
Moving forward
IT was a hard-fought battle, but on April 8 success gleamed when the Philippine Supreme Court (SC) deemed the basic principles of the controversial Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RH)…