On the quiet math of kindness
We do not truly know what goes on in people’s lives. People carry more than they let on, and what we notice is usually only a fraction of the truth….
Category: Features
Covering the week’s most noteworthy feature stories impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
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When politics plays with lives: the lesson America nearly forgot
The 2025 shutdown closed federal institutions and created hardship for federal workers nationwide. In Washington, D.C., World Central Kitchen stepped in to serve free meals to affected employees and families….
On Being Good Stewards of Our Faith
Last Sunday’s Ministry Fair was an incredible sight and a joyous event in our parish. I felt immense pride in witnessing the many active ministries in our church that promote…
De La Salle University in Trillion Peso March Against Corruption
La Salle Brother Vincent Fernandez encouraged me to join the La Sallian contingent heading to EDSA for the Trillion Peso March against corruption. Inside La Salle Green Hills, I…
Win Dream Filipino Getaway at Pasko in America: Astoria Hotels & Resorts Offers Stay in Boracay or Palawan
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – Attendees of the 3rd Annual (Philippine) Pasko in America at American Dream in this city will have the chance to win one of two luxury…
Arvin Amatorio: Bergenfield’s Filipino American mayor leads with inclusion, modernization and a wellness-first vision
Filipino American Mayor Arvin Amatorio guides Bergenfield, New Jersey, with a focus on infrastructure, wellness and community trust. BERGENFIELD, NEW JERSEY — Arvin G. Amatorio, a Filipino-born immigration lawyer who built…
Doing things right vs doing the right things
Management thinker Peter F. Drucker (1909–2005) first posed the timeless question, “Are we doing things right, or are we doing the right things?” – a challenge that continues to resonate…
Certainty is the true test of justice in the Philippines
Former Senator Anna Dominique “Nikki” M. Coseteng, President and Director of Diliman College under the Diliman Educational Corporation, continues to lead in education and civic advocacy. Her long public service…
Socialism vs communism: what Zohran Mamdani’s win reveals about a changing political vocabulary
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani shares a moment with supporters during election night celebrations in New York City, November 4, 2025. (Asian Journal Photo) Zohran Mamdani’s historic win as New York…
Daring Peace
I have been deeply impressed by Pope Leo XIV’s leadership as a figure committed to fostering peace and reconciliation in our troubled world. During his meeting with leaders from the…
A tribute to PFBA Icon Awardee Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto
A shining example of leadership and excellence, Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto was recently featured on a solo LED billboard in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, powered by Alegre De Pilipinas “Official” and Janice…
The Blessing in the Release
You probably thought this would be an article on being grateful — after all, it’s Thanksgiving, and that’s what everyone writes about this time of year. But surprise! I want…
Ramon, Anna, and Michael Orlina at ManilART 2025
It was nice to see a father and his two children participate in a prestigious art show during ManilART 2025 at the SMX Aura Convention Center in Bonifacio Global City,…
Heart of survivance: Aloha ‘āina as resistance and renewal
Abigail Lopez (Editor’s note: This essay was the winning entry in the 2024–2025 Abarquez Essay Competition at California State University, Northridge.) Growing up in the diaspora, I often attempted to…
On the Somber Days of November
All Souls’ Day falls on the Sunday following All Saints’ Day, marking the first two days of November—the most somber month of the year—during which we celebrate the lives of…
On My Jubilee Year Pilgrimage
How would I describe the jubilee pilgrimage I recently led to Italy? First and foremost, it was a ministry and mission, not a vacation. As I emphasized to the 34…
How CITEM Founder Mina T. Gabor Made Me Internationally Known
My former boss, Dr. Mina T. Gabor, once asked me to produce CITEM Trade Update—a monthly, later weekly, newsletter that caught the attention of local and foreign buyers, product specialists, academic…
The forgotten architect of farmworker solidarity
Larry Itliong during the 1965 Delano Grape Strike in California. (Courtesy of the Filipino American National Historical Society) Before César Chávez became the face of America’s farmworker movement, Filipino organizer Larry Itliong had…
The work behind wonder : Life lessons from Shohei Ohtani
Photo from @Shohei Ohtani instagram Before Shohei Ohtani became the most extraordinary player of his generation, he was a teenager quietly learning how to organize his dreams. At Hanamaki Higashi High…
Indefatigable CITEM Executive Director Leah Pulido Ocampo
During the press launch of the 2025 Manila FAME held at Centro de Turismo Intramuros—which I featured in Balikbayan Magazine some months ago—I felt honored when my former officemate, Leah Pulido Ocampo, the…
Editorial : The U.S. law that tried to send Filipinos home Remembering the Repatriation Act of 1935
Filipino farmworkers harvest crops circa 1930s–1940s. Their labor was vital to the agricultural boom, yet their contributions were often overlooked in mainstream histories. – Photo from Bulosan.org A reflection on a…
The Power of Our Words in Breaking Financial Poverty
Have you ever noticed how quickly our words shape our reality? Especially in the area of finances, what we declare often sets the direction of our lives. Many people live…
Halloween Horror Nights at LA’s Universal Studios Hollywood
At Southern California’s premier haunted Halloween event, Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles recently welcomed media representatives from across the United States during its opening night on Thursday, September 4. The…
Cardinal Ambo David and the call to live an embodied communion
Cardinal Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, during his visit to Los Angeles. The event was organized by the Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese…
Not in size but in depth
What do the words of the Gospel, “Lord, increase our faith,” mean to us? Do they signify the strength to endure grief, worries, and life’s challenges? Do they mean having…
Sariaya Association of California celebrates 40th Anniversary
Sariaya Association of California , Board of Directors with Deputy Consul General of Philippines Consulate of Los Angeles Maria Alnee Gamble. L-Right Benildo Tan -2nd Auditor, Myla Crisostomo Carranceja-1st Vice…
Beauty for Our Ashes
A tender green sprout pushes through the forest floor, catching light where fire once cleared the ground. Beauty and renewal emerge from what was once reduced to ashes, reflecting both…
Endure corruption or rise above it
The Philippine flood-control scandal has become more than a test of institutions; it is a litmus test of how much abuse a nation is willing to tolerate. Corruption in the…
The passion of teaching Filipino students
I once again left the comfort of life in Fairfield, California, to teach in the Philippines. My American brother-in-law was openly against my decision and worried about where I would…
New York–based Cecile Licad brings her music home to the Philippines
Internationally acclaimed pianist Cecile Licad takes a bow with Maestro Grzegorz Nowak, music director and principal conductor of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, during her Manila concert, where she captivated the…