Featuring the most noteworthy people impacting, inspiring, and empowering the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
EVER since he was a kid, Toshimi Pacumbala has loved fashion. Though he started as a professional makeup artist and salon owner, he had harbored a deep appreciation and delight in making gowns. Armed with only his basic knowledge about fashion and sketching, he worked hard to make his daydreams more tangible and real, one…
TWO Filipinas are among those featured in Time Magazine’s “100 Women of the Year” project in celebration of March as Women’s History Month and to highlight a century of influential women often overlooked by history. Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, both of whom were previously named Woman of the Year…
Several Filipino Americans vying for seats on the federal, state and local levels will advance to the general election in November following the March 3rd primary. For Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, Filipina American Gina Ortiz Jones secured the Democratic nomination with 66% of the votes on Tuesday night, March 3. In November, she will face…
The words “fashion” and “sustainability” were rarely ever used in the same sentence before. However, things began to change when people began talking about climate change and its chilling effects on the planet, and policies were made in order to make sure that the next generations to come would have a future. This was the…
PRESIDENT Donald Trump plans to nominate a retired Filipino American Navy veteran to be the assistant secretary for strategy, plans and capabilities for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the White House announced on Wednesday, February 26. Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Victorino G. Mercado — who was born in the U.S. and whose family…
The Vindication of Ambra Gutierrez Ambra Battilana Gutierrez said she felt “pure happiness” when movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was found guilty of a criminal sexual act and third-degree rape on February 24. “Happiness. Pure happiness. It was the verdict that I was really wishing for,” Gutierrez told CourtTV outside the New York Supreme Court in…
Considered as one of the Philippines’ emerging fashion designers, Jhay Layson has made a name for himself in the industry with his brand of sartorial elegance that has been worn by various models and celebrities. He began his career in fashion designing when he joined the second season of “MEGA Fashion Crew: Gen M,” a…
A short film highlighting Filipino nurses and their contributions to the labor movement was screened over the weekend to celebrate the launch of the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at UC Davis in Sacramento, California. Co-hosted by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) on Saturday, Feb. 22, “The Strength of Many” by Emmy-winning director…
Bryant’s widow Vanessa Bryant delivers heart-wrenching eulogy to late husband and daughter AT the time this story is published, it will have been exactly a month since beloved Los Angeles Laker and NBA legend Kobe Bryant tragically died in a helicopter crash along with his 13-year-old prodigal daughter Gianna “Gigi” Bryant and seven other individuals…
By Zhuowa Gongbo; on site fact validation by Jennifer HW Tsai, Esq Introduction: According to the teachings imparted by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, to learn from Buddha to cultivate oneself, one must practice in accordance with the Xiaman Most Excellent Oceanic Mind Essence and the Most Excellent Enlightenment Emptiness Practice Oceanic Mind Essence; abstain…
THE Law Offices of John C. Ye, a Los Angeles-based professional law corporation, announced plans to match cash donations for the month of February for the families affected by the Taal volcano eruption. Until now, the unprecedented damage of the Taal volcano eruption has affected hundreds of thousands of Filipino families who were dislocated and…
Filipino American organizer and former public school teacher Godfrey Plata is seeking to make LA more renter-friendly AS state primaries and caucuses get underway, all the focus is squarely pointed on the national race for the White House in what could be a historic general election. California will be one of the 15 states or…
IN 1991, Hollywood introduced to the world a young Filipino American by the name of Dante Basco through the Steven Spielberg film Hook, starring Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman. The then 16-year-old Basco played the role of Rufio, the leader of the Lost Boys. Fast forward to almost three decades later and we have another…
Controversial healing priest Fr. Fernando Suarez on Tuesday, February 4, died due to an apparent heart attack while playing tennis at Alabang Country Club. “Our healing priest, si Fr. Fernando Suarez, has collapsed and died of a heart attack, massive heart attack while he was playing tennis… It was a yearly tournament for priests. All…
A recent luncheon hosted by Myx before the Grammys honored three Filipino Americans representing various facets of the music industry. Those recognized on Friday, January 24 were Grammy nominated rapper Guapdad, Grammy Award winning producer Illmind, and DJ E-Man during a gathering with nearly 50 artists, DJs, producers, managers and media professionals. “This event was…
By Andrew Yang I’m Andrew Yang, and I’m running for President of the United States. I’m the first Asian-American man to run as a Democrat, and, like many of you, I’m a first-generation American. My parents immigrated to the United States from Taiwan, met in college, and started a family in New York. Growing up,…
WITH the commercials, halftime show and the game itself, Super Bowl LIV this Sunday will provide much to watch and talk about. But not to miss are the suits the players will be wearing off the field as professional sports games have unexpectedly become sources of fashion inspiration. There’s one Filipina American designer behind most…
Filipino-Americans recall the Black Mamba and what made him a standout superstar, philanthropist and ally The air in Los Angeles was still on Sunday, January 26. TMZ first broke the news of Kobe Bryant being killed in a helicopter crash near Calabasas, California, and nobody wanted to believe it. When more details were released and…
World-renowned Filipina American fashion designer Monique Lhuillier is among the incredible lineup of guest judges in the new high-stakes Netflix fashion competition series, “Next In Fashion.” The 10-episode debut season will be available on the streaming platform Wednesday, January 29, and will feature 18 designer contestants from around the world. Hosting the show are “Queer…
THIS Filipino designer is the talent behind that resplendent jewel-toned gown that Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach wore when she passed the crown to Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere, who also wore a scarlet red ombré couture gown in her final walk designed by the same amazing designer. One of his dresses was featured in…
The 24-year-old beauty queen joined Miss Universe Singapore Mohana Prabha in an exclusive meet-and-greet in Chino Hills A GROUP of lucky Filipinos and pageant fans in Southern California got to meet Miss Universe Philippines 2019 Gazini Ganados this week before the beauty queen headed back to the motherland after competing in the Miss Universe pageant…
LOS ANGELES — A Filipina American this week became the first woman of color to be promoted to the rank of full professor within the University of Southern California’s English department. Karen Tongson, who was been at the university’s Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences since 2005, announced the news on her Twitter account…
AFTER a productive two-year run under President Ellen Samson, the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles (FACCGLA) will be announcing its new officers to serve for the next two years: President and Marketing Chair Annie Nepomuceno; Vice President for Events, Lois P. Klavir; Vice President for Membership, Connie Mapue; and Secretary Evangeline…
Borough makes history with two other Filipinos on the council BERGENFIELD, NJ — The Filipino American community in the eastern seaboard has another reason to be proud as lawyer Arvin Amatorio took his oath as the new mayor of Bergenfield, a borough in Bergen County roughly 13 miles from New York City. Mayor Amatorio’s historic…
THE special week celebrating APA fashion designers is currently recruiting models to participate Contrary to popular belief, it’s not easy being a model. Also contrary to popular belief, the beauty of a model is beyond skin-deep. Tina Shih knows this. The former model, educator and pageant coach understands the importance of personal presentation; it’s more…
As the new year approaches, the Asian Journal editorial team looks back at the MDWK Magazine stories from 2019. Each week, the MDWK Magazine features long-form stories of Filipino Americans who continue to break barriers in their respective career fields, as well as highlighting the Fil-Am experience living in America and the social issues the community faces. The…
“Then we look ahead to the coming year — full of hope, and yes, goals and resolutions that we intend to achieve. It doesn’t matter if there were one or two (or more) that were on the list before, “Try and try until you succeed” will always be the motto. AS we come to the…
PINAY-founded Care.com, the world’s largest online marketplace for finding and managing family care, will be acquired by American-holding company IAC, both companies announced on Friday, December 20. The two companies have entered into a definitive agreement in which IAC will acquire Care.com — founded by Filipina American Sheila Lirio Marcelo — for $15.00 per share…
92ND Street Y’s Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact announced last week the 2020 class of Women inPower, a fellowship program to help senior-level women advance to the highest levels of leadership across sectors. Among the fellows selected is Leezel Tanglao, a New York-based Fil-Am journalist and media consultant and a current Filipino Young…
SAMANTHA Santos, a 14-year-old Filipina American from Fountain Valley, California, is one of three Claras in Festival Ballet Theatre’s production of “The Nutcracker,” a beloved holiday classic. Festival Ballet Theatre is Orange County’s premier professional ballet company and is affiliated with Southland Ballet Academy, where Santos has been taking ballet lessons since she was little. …
