Featuring the most noteworthy people impacting, inspiring, and empowering the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
FILIPINO student Carvey Ehren Maigue on Thursday, November 19, bagged the first-ever sustainability prize at the James Dyson Award for his invention. The 27-year-old electrical engineering student from Mapua University in Manila triumphed from more than 1,800 entries worldwide with the AuREUS System Technology — a new material, made from rotting fruits and vegetables, which…
Dr. Veronico “Ver” C. Agatep is the incoming board president of the Filipino American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA), based in Historic Filipinotown. FACLA was originally established in 1945, making it one of the earliest civic groups in the city to serve the Filipino immigrant community. The current building, named the Filipino American Cultural Center, was constructed as…
Filipino World War II Veteran Venancio Espinosa recently received a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor, during a private ceremony in San Francisco. The presentation ceremony for the 93-year-old veteran was organized by the Bayanihan Equity Center (BEC), a non-profit organization originally founded in 1999 as the Veterans Equity Center, and the Filipino Veterans…
THOUGH surveys show that Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) are largely rallying behind the Democratic Party and its nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, there remains a segment of the electorate that upholds the conservative values, and is pushing for a second term under President Donald Trump. The 2020 Asian American Voter Survey in…
As protests over police brutality and the killings of Black Americans by police officers grew in cities across the United States, President Donald Trump drew criticism for having U.S. Park Police and National Guard troops clear a path using tear gas, so he could take a photo in front of the St. John’s Episcopal Church…
JOHN Eric Swing, the late executive director of Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), was awarded with the first-ever Joseph Ileto Courage Award during Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles’ virtual gala this week. The organization’s 37th anniversary gala was held virtually on Thursday night, October 22, bearing the theme “United in Action.” Swing, 48, died…
NEW YORK – Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia officially assumed on Tuesday, October 20, her post as Philippine Consul General in New York. Ambassador Garcia is a career diplomat with the rank of Chief of Mission I who has served the government for 40 years. She previously served as the Philippine Ambassador to Canada from January…
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Melody Avecilla, State Farm Agent, are teaming up with the Fire Station 83 on 4960 Balboa Blvd, Los Angeles to support Fire Prevention Week, an annual public awareness campaign promoting home fire safety. State Farm Agents are delivering Fire Prevention Week toolkits to more than 2500 fire departments…
Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has recovered from the novel coronavirus, 13 days after he contracted the disease. The Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome on Wednesday, September 23, said Tagle’s recovery was “a great joy for the whole Church.” “God wants him to continue serving in the Vatican’s office for the Missions, to bring God’s…
TWO Filipino American authors have been honored at the 20th annual Massachusetts Book Awards, the Massachusetts Center for the Book announced this month. Grace Talusan, author of “The Body Papers” who lives in Medford, was awarded with the Nonfiction Award. Her debut memoir, which was released in April 2019, explores a Filipino immigrant’s battle with…
Flora Arca Mata Elementary School honors the first Fil-Am teacher in California history THE closure of school campuses due to the pandemic has complicated the lives of students across California, but that doesn’t mean learning and inspiration have to stop. As such, on Tuesday, Sept. 22, a new elementary school in Stockton, California named after…
Cristina de Jesus, an educator of nearly three decades, has been elected the board chair of the California Charter Schools Association, the organization announced this week. The association advocates for non-profit charter schools that can help California students prepare for college and life afterward. “I am honored and humbled for the vote of confidence by…
CYNTHIA Alcantara Barker, the first Filipina mayor in England, has passed away “following a bout of serious illness.” She was 58 years old. Her death was confirmed on Tuesday, September 15, by her brother, Gene Alcantara. “It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of The Worshipful Hertsmere Mayor Councilor Cynthia Barker following…
Nine days ago, our beloved 77-year-old sister-in-law Ma. Azucena Vera-Perez Maceda, wife of the late Senate President Ernesto Maceda and eldest sister of our wife former Congresswoman Gina de Venecia, succumbed after battling heart and kidney ailments for several months. She was the eldest among seven Vera-Perez siblings, whose family owned the famed Sampaguita Pictures,…
Lauro Macabagdal Tecson Born January 13, 1954 • Died Sept. 2, 2020 Beloved Husband and Father, Great Brother, Civil Engineer, A Church Choir Singer Survived by Family Members: Fely G. Tecson, Wife Jonathan, son and wife Jayne Grandaughter Camila Gabrielle and niece Madeline Galla Brothers Andy and Vicente, sister Carmelita Memorial Service and Viewing at…
On August 28, 2020, our beloved Noli Zosa, M.D., loving husband of Nena and father of Gigi (Tim), Noli Jr., and Noel (Cathy), grandfather of Marissa, Andrew, Alex, and Lino, joined our Creator at the age of 80. Noli was born on November 20, 1939 in Cebu City, Philippines to Dr. Cipriano and Perla Zosa….
FILIPINO-American immigration activist and journalist Jose Antonio Vargas and Filipina-Australian entrepreneur Melanie Perkins landed on Fortune Magazine’s all-new expansive 40 Under 40 lists that were released Wednesday, September 2. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the many calls to end social injustice and racial inequality that shaped this year, Fortune stepped away from its…
Sebastian Reid, born and raised in Manila, is the youngest child of award-winning actress Hilda Koronel. He is the man behind Sébre Studio. Reid went to Xavier School in San Juan and moved to the South Bay in California at the age of 14. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Game Art from Full Sail University…
Celebrated Pinay activist and professor Amy Agbayani represented the Aloha State during the state roll call on the second day of the 2020 Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, Aug. 18 Agbayani, an immigrant from the Philippines, announced the final Democratic delegate vote from the state: 23 for former Vice President Joe Biden and nine for…
Nakikita ni Michelle Hanabusa, founder at creative director ng WEAREUPRISERS, ang common thread between fashion at 2020 Senso: “Ang iyong kasuotan ay ang kung ano ang iyong isinasagisag. Ang suot mo ay ekspresyon ng kung sino ka.” Gaya nito, para kay Hanabusa, ang 2020 Census ay tungkol sa representasyon ng Asyanong Amerikano at pagpapakita, sa…
SUSANA Reyes was recently elected to serve as vice president of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)’s board of commissioners. “This is a tremendous honor and responsibility and a boost for [Asian American and Pacific Islander] representation,” Reyes wrote in a Facebook post. Reyes, a 32-year veteran of the city, became the…
LUISA A. Igloria, an award-winning and prolific Filipina American poet and author, has a new title: Poet Laureate of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Originally from Baguio City, Igloria currently teaches at Old Dominion University’s MFA Creative Writing Program and has written several books of poetry. She was informed in early May that her name was on…
FILIPINA American Victoria “Vicki” Manalo-Draves was honored with a Google Doodle on Monday, August 3, on the 72nd anniversary of her winning moment at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. Draves bagged gold medals for both the 10-meter platform and 3-meter springboard diving events, making her the first Asian American woman to win a medal…
FILIPINA visual artist and activist Pacita Abad was celebrated as a Google Doodle on Friday, July 31. On July 31, 1984, the late artist became the first woman to receive the Philippines’ prestigious Ten Outstanding Young Men award from the Junior Chamber International in Manila. The doodle, featured on the search engine website’s homepage on…
As the demand for diversity continues to surge in Hollywood, the nominations for the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards reflect the shifting of tides with a significant number of nominees of color, according to the Television Academy’s nominations list released on Tuesday, July 28. Critically acclaimed shows like FX’s Pose, “Insecure” (HBO), “Euphoria” (HBO) and “Ramy”…
The Filipino American student who made headlines for being accepted to all eight Ivy League schools is now bound for Harvard University. Craig McFarland, a Filipino and Black teenager from Jacksonville, Florida, had previously committed to Yale University’s class of 2024, but he’ll be donning crimson gear instead. The switch to the prestigious institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts…
The global entertainment giant previously won production rights to the author’s romantic comedy “29 Dates” Melissa de la Cruz, the New York Times best-selling author known for her “Blue Bloods” series, has partnered up with Disney Publishing Worldwide to develop original content that will be featured across the company’s multiple platforms, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Melissa…
MOST Filipinos know VST & Company, and while V & T (brothers Vic and Tito Sotto) continue to bask in the limelight, S as in Spanky Rigor, decided to leave fame and fortune in the homeland for a more peaceful life in California. For almost 30 years now, Spanky has worked at the San Francisco…
As the United States’ decennial population count is underway in the midst of the pandemic, one Filipina American is tasked with making sure California residents, particularly those that are the hardest-to-count, respond to the 2020 Census. Going into July, the state’s self-response rate now stands at 63.2%, but Ditas Katague, director of the California Complete…
WHEN stage actor Josh Dela Cruz was announced as the new host for the “Blue’s Clues” reboot, a wave of nostalgia kicked in for kids who grew up watching Nickelodeon in the ‘90s. Not only were they reminded of the blue puppy, the talking objects and “skidooing” into another world, the lyrics to the catchy…
