People Features — Page 2 of 23

Filipino Sensation Vina Morales To Make Broadway Debut in Here Lies Love: Morales steps into role of ‘Aurora Aquino’ on a one-month limited guest engagement

The producers of Here Lies Love, the groundbreaking musical from David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, are pleased to announce the upcoming Broadway debut of popular Filipino actress Vina Morales, who will join the show performing as “Aurora Aquino” for a limited guest engagement from Friday, September 22 – Sunday, October 22 at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd Street). Morales steps…

Tribeca Festival features Fil-Am director’s film ‘Mahal’

Michaela Ternasky-Holland: A journey of love, grief, and immersive storytelling In a world where storytelling takes on new dimensions through emerging technologies, Filipino American director and producer Michaela Ternasky-Holland stands at the forefront of innovation. Her latest creation, “Mahal,” a captivating immersive film, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival this year, leaving audiences in awe….

DOT, NCIP ink partnership to empower indigenous peoples, protect and promote cultural heritage through tourism

The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) forged a formal agreement Wednesday (Aug. 16) in a bid to create a strategic partnership between the two government bodies to support and implement the Katutubo-KAPWA project. The Katutubo-KAPWA project is a nationwide initiative which will enjoin support for the indigenous cultural…

Manay Gina Perez de Venecia: Lessons in Life

Gina de Venecia, more known as “Manay Gina” to friends and supporters, was thrust into the spotlight when her husband, Jose De Venecia, became Speaker of the House of Representatives. With her husband’s position came her new role as the head of the Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc., where she was well loved, because of how…

Anika Braganza shines bright in ‘The Great Gatsby – The Immersive Show’

Anika Braganza, a talented Filipino-American actress and singer, has made her off-Broadway debut in “The Great Gatsby – The Immersive Show.” Her journey into the world of immersive theater was unexpected, as she had never done anything like it before. “My agent just sent it to me. And yeah, I auditioned and I had never…

Rising star Jillian Abaya takes audiences on a captivating journey in ‘The Great Gatsby – The Immersive Show ‘

Step into the Jazz Age wonderland of “The Great Gatsby” and get enchanted by the stellar performance of Jillian Anne Abaya. As the talented Filipino-American actor graces the immersive off-Broadway stage, she weaves a spellbinding portrayal of Daisy Buchanan, delighting audiences in every performance. In a candid interview with the Asian Journal, Jillian takes us…

All Filipino cast makes Broadway history with ‘Here Lies Love’

‘Here Lies Love’ stirs emotions, controversy IN a groundbreaking and historic feat, Broadway is witnessing the rise of “Here Lies Love,” an immersive theater spectacle that boldly shatters boundaries with an all-Filipino cast. With each captivating performance, this musical delves into the complex story of Imelda Marcos, the former First Lady of the Philippines, and…

From Tragedy to Triumph: The Inspiring Story of Terrace Plant Shop

Owner Peter Dario shares their best-selling plants IN the face of the pandemic’s overwhelming challenges, people around the world found solace and support in an unexpected place – the embrace of nature. As lockdowns and uncertainties took hold, a global movement emerged, turning to the nurturing power of plants for comfort and healing. From urban…

FYLPRO announces summer 2023 class of Tayo fellows

THE Tayo Fellowship Program is excited to announce the selection of twenty-four Filipino American young leaders into its Summer 2023 cohort. Through the fellowship, Tayo Fellows will have the unique experience of contributing to the growing work of Tayo’s online misinformation and public health projects and spearhead the development of the Tayo Courageous Conversations Pilot…

Celebrating the life and legacy of Chef King Phojanakong

Annabel Phojanakong, the wife of the late Chef King Phojanakong, has unveiled a remarkable foundation that embodies the indomitable spirit of her beloved husband. This foundation serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring others to rise above adversity and make a lasting impact in their communities. In the wake of Chef King’s untimely passing earlier…

Danielle Ocampo gets law degree from Loyola Marymount University Law School

Danielle Dominique Aguinaldo Ocampo recently got her Juris Doctor law degree, one of the graduates of Loyola Marymount University Law School Class of 2023. She has a strong interest in Privacy and Cybersecurity Law, having internship experiences at Indeed.com and Intuitive Surgical, Inc. She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) with the International Association…

Geena Rocero’s transcendent book ‘Horse Barbie’ inspires authenticity and empowerment

Geena Rocero, the multi-talented and award-winning producer, director, model, public speaker, and trans rights advocate has added the title of book author to her impressive list of accomplishments. In this extraordinary exploration of self-discovery, authenticity, and ancestral spirit, Rocero unleashed her literary masterpiece called “Horse Barbie,” and she fearlessly ignites a revolution of acceptance and empowerment, inspiring not…

UCLA Fil-Am Alumnus presents award to Executive Producer, Director and Writer

ON Saturday, June 17, 2023, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Alumnus, California State University, Los Angeles Associate Professor and UCLA Lambda Alumni Association Board Member Bobby Rimas presented the 2023 UCLA Lambda Alumni Association’s Alumni of the Year Award to Steven Canals, a UCLA Master of Fine Arts graduate, Class of 2015, for his…

New research sheds light on healthcare challenges faced by LGBTQ Asians in NYC

A recent study has provided valuable information about the health needs, challenges in accessing care, and availability of services for LGBTQ Asian communities in New York City. After a year-long study, Apicha Community Health Center has unveiled the results of its groundbreaking research focused on the health and wellness needs of New York City’s LGBTQ…

NYC’s Fil Am Deputy Mayor assumes expanded role

Maria Torres Springer is the city’s new Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce “Throughout her career in public service, Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer has shown clearly that she is ready to take bold action to tackle the city’s affordable housing crisis. I’m proud to announce her expanded role as Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic…

Representing Nevada’s most diverse district: A conversation with Assemblyman Duy Nguyen

by Isabella Calderon ON my first late winter trip to the Nevada Legislature in Carson City, my first stop was Assemblywoman Erica Mosca’s office. I enjoyed my time with her and was filled with excitement for my next stop, Assemblyman Duy Nguyen. After the interview, we headed over to the gift shop. We found so…

Paolo Montalban embraces new opportunities on Broadway and beyond

After 10 years of being away from the Broadway stage, actor Paolo Montalban is back in the limelight on the musical Funny Girl. A veteran known for his captivating performances on stage and screen, Montalban’s comeback onstage was unexpected. “The opportunity to join the cast of Funny Girl came out of the blue!,” he told…

An interview with Nevada’s Fil-Am assemblywoman Erica Mosca

by Isabella Calderon It was a late winter storm that greeted my sister, mother and I as we stepped outside the Reno/Tahoe airport. Strong gusts of wind shook our rental car as we drove through the icy road to Carson City. We arrived at the Capitol and feared walking through the cold winds and snow…

Loida Lewis explains love, marriage, motherhood, and running a billion dollar empire

AS I walked into the church auditorium, I was immediately welcomed by a half-dozen Titas. After I made my rounds saying hello and giving hugs, I sat next to my friend Jennifer, who had saved me a seat. The event was a book-signing and talk by the legendary Loida Lewis. Mrs. Lewis (as she prefers…

Fil-Am professor and attorney discuss importance of subpoenas

ON Wednesday, May 10th, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Filipino Alumnus and Associate Professor Bobby Rimas of the American Legal Systems course at California State University, Los Angeles’ Downtown L.A. campus had a lecture regarding the importance of subpoenas and what should be done to ensure subpoena compliance. Additionally, Mr. Rimas indicated that subpoenas…

Several influential Filipinos honored on Gold House’s annual A100 list of most impactful APIs

Among the honorees include Lea Salonga, Steve Lacy, and Erik Spoelstra FROM media to sports, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) continue to make an impact across all global industries. Just in time for Asian Pacific American History Month, the AAPI advocacy and fundraiser group Gold House released its 2023 A100 List, a coveted catalog…

Loida Nicolas Lewis spills the tea in her book ‘Why Should Guys Have All the Fun’

By Abigail Zelenski Loida Nicolas Lewis made some revelations in her memoir ‘Why Should Guys Have All the Fun’ and in an intimate chit-chat with some local media in New York, she teased and spilled a few stories she has not shared in public before. A multi-hyphenate in the Filipino American community, Lewis is a…

Raleigh Fil-Am surgeon dies

Godofredo Ng, 85 GODOFREDO T. Ng, MD, FACS, a popular general surgeon, medical leader and missionary to the Philippines who has resided in Raleigh, North Carolina since 1967 died from a ruptured cerebral aneurysm on April 17, 2023. He was 85. Dr. Ng was a 1962 medical graduate of the University of the Philippines and…

Seizing the opportunity: A Fil-Am puppeteer makes her Broadway debut in Life of Pi

Nikki Calonge never imagined herself performing on Broadway, but last week, she made her debut as part of the cast of “Life of Pi.” Despite never having dreamed of this opportunity, she worked hard, auditioned, and now, has reached an achievement many aspiring actors could only wish for. “I thought I always wanted to be…

Keeping stories of Filipino World War II veterans alive in White Sands

UNDER the banner of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP), 25 Filipinos Americans from across the U.S., including a living World War II veteran, were among the more than 5,000 participants who converged in White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico on March 19 for the Bataan Memorial Death March (BMDM). Six Filipino…

‘Mighty Flower: How Cannabis Saved My Son’: Dr. Anabelle Manalo-Morgan looks back at her journey from basketball to science and how it helped save her son

IN 2016, Dr. Annabelle Manalo-Morgan gave birth to her son, Macario. At just two days old, Macario began suffering from severe seizures that required neurosurgery, which ultimately removed 38% of his brain. Doctors predicted a future of limited speech, movement, and uncertainty for Macario, and the medications required for his recovery left him in a…

Fil-Am athlete runs 340 miles from LA to Vegas

Former American Ninja Warrior, Wipeout finalist and rare disease warrior Pamela Price ran 340 grueling miles from the Santa Monica Pier to the Las Vegas sign with Team Unlimited Women for The Speed Project relay race. Pamela is mixed Filipina American and ran alongside Korean American, Rosa Kwak (Winner of Ventura Marathon) and Chloe Ang…

Las Vegas Fil-Am medical leader Candari has died

Dr. Cesar D. Candari, MD, a well-known Las Vegas Filipino-American Diplomate in pathology, medical leader, humanitarian, author, newspaper columnist of Philippine Times, passed away on March 14, 2023 from pancreatic cancer. He was 89 years old. Dr. Candari was a member of prestigious FEU Class ’61, which broke the record with an amazing feat of…

Birthday Celebrations at Santana Row

Leny Dy Sarmiento recently celebrated her 80th birthday with family and friends last February 19 at a party held at Maggiano’s LIttle Italy Restaurant in Santana Row in San Jose, CA. Photo above left shows (from left) Maryann Basig, Mellie Roberts, celebrant Leny Sarmiento, Tess Gregorio and Cleo Manuel at the get-together. Photo above right shows Tess…

Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel pays courtesy call on NY Consul General

MISS UNIVERSE PAYS A COURTESY CALL ON THE CONSUL GENERAL. The first ever Fil-Am Miss Universe, Ms. R’Bonney Gabriel, met with Consul General Senen T. Mangalile on Monday, 06 March 2023 at the Philippine Center. During the meeting, the reigning Miss Universe spoke of her pride in her Filipino roots and her desire to hone…