Covering the week’s most noteworthy feature stories impacting the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
Dealing with rebellious children amidst a drug epidemic in the 1980s, Corazon “Cora” Basa Cortes Tomalinas knew she had to do something or lose her children for good. She lived in a seedy part of San Jose where drugs and gangs were prevalent. Her daughter fell victim to the surroundings, and began using drugs. Rather…
If senator-judge and presiding officer Juan Ponce Enrile will not allow Corona’s defense lawyers to present the SALN of legislators and cabinet secretaries, as well as that of President Noynoy Aquino, I would suggest that they feed all the information they can mine into social media. And let it all hang out. Since their client…
AS WE go to press, the whole nation is in a lottery frenzy, awaiting the nerve-wracking results of the Mega Millions jackpot, which is now estimated at $640-million – an unprecedented amount in the history of US lottery. A latest report from Good Morning America says that the “cash lump sum payment is now worth $462 million,…
HERE is a highly elite group of intelligent and gifted scientists, whose breakthrough achievements have made an impact on the lives of people — both at present, and for future generations. Filipino-American professor and scientist Dr. Rigoberto C. Advincula, Ph.D belongs to this select few. Advincula is an internationally known world-class scientist, who is acknowledged…
Alarmed by the report of the International Labor Organization (ILO) that approximately 2.4 million minors aged nine to 17 are already working in the country, the Philippine government has recently expressed interest in focusing on one of poverty’s alarming repercussions-child labor. Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano recently called upon concerned government agencies to come…
WITH all the ballyhoo surrounding the North Korean rocket launch (expected to take place between April 12 and 16), the safety and security of the 50,000 Filipinos living in South Korea remains to be the Philippine government’s foremost priority. Last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued a statement, calling North Korea’s planned satellite…
THE Philippine government has recently expressed optimism that growth is finally within reach, citing the recent improvements in the Philippine economy. In a recent interview with the press after the Foreign Loan Approval and Registration System (FLAReS), Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. expressed elation over the fact that the Philippines has…
“JOURNALISTS are NOT the story. We tell the story. We merely chronicle our country’s comings and goings in the best way we can. This is how we serve the country.” – Marites Dañguilan-Vitug In a report from Rappler.com, The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) has opposed the request of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s defense team…
Considered as the living heroes of the Philippines, Filipino migrant workers all over the world have long been contributing to the economic growth of the country. With their families as their inspirations, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have also suffered a great deal of emotional and physical pain just to be able send money back at…
IN his interview with David Letterman last week, actor Taylor Kitsch shared having a “moment” with a local customs official, when he (supposedly) came to the Philippines to shoot scenes for his upcoming film, Savages. According to the Canadian actor, the official almost didn’t let him through, just because the there were “not enough pages”…
During the commemoration of the 26th year of the EDSA People Power Revolution last February 25, President Benigno Aquino III disproved speculations that his administration is going lax on leading the country towards economic progress. Aquino was proud to say that during the 19 months of service as President, things have started to look up…
EDUCATION is at the crossroads for the future of Filipinos. It plays a crucial role in promoting poverty alleviation and economic growth. It reflects the aspirations of the people for a successful integration into the global economy in an ever-changing world. It seems that the winds of change are blowing in the direction of the…
BESIDES the long overdue fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather (which, up to now still hangs in the air), Pacquiao’s “renewed sense of faith” has also been making headlines, not only in Philippine media, but in various media outlets here in the United States. “Will it (Pacquiao’s upcoming fight with Timothy Bradley) be the…
FOR musicians across the globe, performing in New York City’s Carnegie Hall is the ultimate dream. It is one of the most prestigious venues in the world for both classical music and popular music. Only a very select number of choirs, bands, and orchestras have the opportunity to perform in this world-renowned hall. Thus, it…
DON’T KILL the messengers (aka the media) — but whether the US-PH high-level talks will push through this March is still a bit confusing at this juncture. Last week, Philstar.com reported that talks between the United States and the Philippines regarding the US’ military presence in the Philippines “may have to be postponed unless the…
WHEN it comes to desserts, there’s nothing sweeter for Chef Sally Camacho. She is, after all, a pastry chef surrounded by yummy desserts every day. As executive pastry chef for Wolfgang Puck’s WP24, Los Angeles, life has been sweet to this 32-year-old Fil-Am. Lately, Camacho has been receiving a lot of attention for her savory…
DESPITE travel advisories posted against the Philippines, foreigners—especially Europeans—remain unfazed and have continued to come and visit the country. The Department of Tourism (DOT), further confirmed that tourists still consider the Philippines as an ideal destination. The agency backed it up reporting that 3.9 million tourists visited the country last year, which was 4.6 percent…
A HERO is an inspiration – an entity that invokes the beleaguered spirit. A hero is a source of strength that keeps his peers going. Political controversy, growing unemployment, poverty, and suffering through natural calamities are unforgettable experiences crippling the Philippines right now. Many people learn to live through such difficult times with the help…
ON DECEMBER 12, 2011 at the White House Oval Office, President Barack Obama honored nine recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. One of them is Filipino-American Dr. Amelito G. Enriquez, an Engineering and Mathematics Professor at the Cañada College in Redwood City, California. “It was like an out-of-body…
THINGS seem to be looking up these days for Philippine tourism. Following the overwhelming support given to the Department of Tourism’s new ad campaign “It’s More Fun in the Philippines,” yet another accolade has been bestowed upon the country—the confirmation of the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) in Palawan as one of the New7Wonders of…
WHILE we continue to witness the resumption of the Corona impeachment trial, let us not forget other things that are important – relevant enough to become newspaper headlines. Like physics, politics follows a law of equal and opposite pairs of action and reaction forces. However, unlike physics, politics is not required to always adhere to…
THE sight of the country’s senators raising their hands to declare their vote of confidence in the senate presidency of Juan Ponce Enrile was the surest sign that Noynoy Aquino’s Daang Matuwid is running parallel to another thoroughfare, the Congressional Expressway. The Congressional Expressway is decidedly not the straightest and smoothest road in our hapless republic. It…
She’s been hailed as a Super Lawyer, referenced as one of the top trial attorneys in the nation, and the National Law Journal named her as one of the 50 most influential minority lawyers in the US. Fil-Am Attorney Lorna Schofield, a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton in New York City, has pretty much done…
FOR most Filipinos, telenovelas have proven more affective to regular households than the evening news. The recognition and relevance that the audience accords to the narratives from the characters they follow reveal a meaningful social, cultural and even political function that can be attributed to telenovelas. Analogous to a telenovela, the historic impeachment of Supreme…
THE guys at my favorite watering hole in Daly City are, as usual, confused about the state of affairs in the Philippines. And, as usual, they turn to me for enlightenment. I oblige, of course, knowing that in the land of the blind, the one-eyed is king. Take the Sin Tax, hailed by President Noynoy…
ON January 6, the much-awaited and much-anticipated new tourism campaign was launched by the Department of Tourism (spearheaded by DOT Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr.) to dispel the nation’s disappointment over the previous (and now debunked) “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” campaign. “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” is the final product, born out of convoluted pitches and…
TO commemorate the Feast of the Black Nazarene Monday, Jan. 9, some brave volunteers tried to secure the image of the Black Nazarene throughout the procession, while seven million maroon-clad devotees braved the streets of Manila hoping to touch, kiss or simply see the centuries-old image of Christ. Housed at Quiapo Church in Manila, the…
The New Year is a usual time for Filipinos abroad to visit their loved ones in the Philippines. But for most Pinoys in the Middle East, it was an involuntary homecoming due to political turmoil that has been going on in the oil-rich countries. Giving utmost priority to the safety of our kababayans abroad, local…
“LEARN from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”- Albert Einstein Forget the past and start anew. This is perhaps a trend now as the world economy begins a new year. In his speech before year 2011 ended last week, Obama expressed his confidence for an economic comeback for the United States. Reflecting on a…
DURING this holiday season, we are bombarded with advertisements about the latest and greatest deals on how we can celebrate Christmas with awesome gifts and welcome New Year with a bang. It is easy to get caught up in the hoopla of purchasing that perfect something, or scoring a sweet deal on the hottest items…
