Two Filipinos attacked in NYC as community leaders stage #FilipinosRiseUp rally
TWO Filipinos in New York City were added to the growing list of community members who have been victims of brutal, unprovoked attacks. Both incidents happened in midtown Manhattan a few blocks from each other. On Sunday, March 27, a 73-year-old Filipino was reported to have been assaulted by a homeless individual while on his…
[COLUMN] Atty. Gurfinkel answers more immigration questions and concerns in part 2 of episode featuring the SoCal Pinoys
ON a previous episode of Citizen Pinoy, leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel met with members of SoCal Pinoys, where they talked about the group’s goals and accomplishments, and answered their immigration questions and concerns. In this second installment of this community episode, Atty. Gurfinkel answers more immigration questions from the members of SoCal…
Meet the long-time Filipina professor who’s taking social justice education beyond academia
Dr. Robyn Rodriguez, who has more than two decades of experience as a professor at UC Davis, is taking her expertise into the world of entrepreneurship The world of academia can be a wonderful place to hone all aspects of social justice: developing theory, interpreting history, and developing solutions for historically disenfranchised communities. Most importantly,…
Fil-Am Nani Coloretti makes history in Biden’s administration
Nani Coloretti is now the highest ranking Filipino American in the Biden Administration as the U.S. Senate voted Tuesday, March 29 to confirm her nomination as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget. “Nani will bring strong leadership experience and the ability to inspire the next generation of Filipino American leaders in Hawaii and across…
FDA allows second COVID boosters for 50 and older
ELIGIBLE adults can start getting a second booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine following the United States Food and Drug Administration’s authorization this week. The FDA on Tuesday, March 29 announced that it is expanding emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to allow adults 50 and older to get another booster…
The Cleaning Lady’s Elodie Yung on how playing someone who struggles is a privilege
THE new Fox series “The Cleaning Lady” wrapped up its successful first season and now fans are waiting for the good news. The series ended its last episode with a major cliffhanger, one that would definitely set the tone if it gets picked up for Season 2. The show’s diverse cast is ably led by…
[COLUMN] Unhealthy drinks
WATER is vital to life. Without water, there won’t be life as we know it on earth. Our body is 50-75 percent water, averaging around 57 to 65 percent. Infants are 75-78 percent water, dropping to 65 percent by age one year. And the value of water is even more evident during this COVID-19 pandemic….
[COLUMN] Lea Salonga: ‘Some artists take time to ripen’
MULTI-awarded theater performer Lea Salonga will be a judge, along with singer-songwriter Michael Buble, in a new all-digital international singing competition called “Sing For The Stars” which is presented by Kumu. The social entertainment app’s competition will bring together 15 performers to be part of the show, according to an article in the Philippine Star….
PCGSF presents ‘Remember Bataan: 80th anniversary of the Fall of Bataan’
SAN FRANCISCO – In commemoration of the Battle of Bataan, the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, in partnership with the Filipino American Arts Exposition, Bataan Legacy Historical Society and Philippine Scouts Heritage Society present a special exhibition – Remember Bataan: 80th Anniversary of the Fall of Bataan. The exhibition at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine…
Graton Resort & Casino is first US property to unveil new Kascada® Dual Screen gaming experience
ROHNERT PARK – Graton Resort & Casino unveiled the Light & Wonder™’s new Kascada Dual Screen slot cabinet on March 15, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. The advanced-tech games are first to market for Graton Resort & Casino. “The Kascada Dual Screen is an innovative new way to play at Graton Resort & Casino,” said Greg…
Fil-Am filmmaker Ida Del Mundo’s new project ‘Never Forget’ explores historical revisionism amid a contentious Philippine election
The new short film, which is currently in production, boasts a majority Filipino cast and crew IN the Golden Age of Asian American cinema and entertainment where the hunger for diverse stories is far from sated, the influx of filmmakers of color telling personal stories is certainly at an all-time high. One such filmmaker, the…
BA.2 COVID variant now accounts for more than one third of new infections, says CDC
By Sunita Sohrabji / Ethnic Media Services THE BA.2 variant of Omicron now accounts for 35 percent of new COVID infections in the U.S., and more than 50 percent in New York and New England. But experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that cases overall will be less severe. “As we’re learning from…
Eligible LA County residents 50 and older can receive second booster shot
LOS Angeles County will start administering second booster doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to eligible adults following the United States Food and Drug Administration’s authorization this week. Individuals 50 years and older will be eligible for another booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines at least four months after they received their…
[OPINION] If we want Leni Robredo’s ‘Gobyernong Tapat’ to succeed, we need to vote for Kiko Pangilinan as her vice president
THE Philippine election is less than six weeks away. The momentum has been shifting to the Leni-Kiko campaign as evidenced by the jam-packed political rallies in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the growing number of endorsements that Vice President Leni Robredo gets from former government officials, military leaders, universities and colleges, businesses and business analysts, nongovernment…
Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce of Greater LA celebrates gala cruise
ATTORNEY GENERAL ROB BONTA MEETS WITH FIL-AM CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The Fil Am Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles held its Horizon 2022 Gala Cruise aboard FantaSea One Yacht in Marina Del Rey with guest of honor Attorney General Rob Bonta, joined by Consul General Ed Badajos, Public Works Commissioner Jessica Caloza, Sierra Madre…
[COLUMN] Part II: Elaine, The Rock
Stories have the power and influence to touch the heart that a cut and dried essay or a report does not have. Somehow the lessons and insights we learn from stories have a longer shelf life. They stick. Along the way, I have met many whose stories seem like the stuff of fiction. Other stories…
[OPINION] Masking up helps, but getting vaccinated critical to keeping kids safe
Whether or not kids should wear masks in school remains a heated topic with strong opinions on both sides. Adding to this conversation is the state’s latest masking guidance, which went into effect on March 12. Schools are no longer required to enforce a mask mandate and instead are maintaining masking as a strong recommendation…
[OPINION] Filipinos’ fight vs corruption: What happens when a presidential candidate seems to be part of the problem and not the solution?
CORRUPTION has been the chronic illness that has plagued the Philippines for a long time, and in each and every election cycle, we hear candidates for president vow to end corruption and yet the problem has persisted and the prognosis did not look good. In fact, corruption has become systemic, and its toxicity has been…
‘The Philippines is Open!’: Tourism officials, travel advisors optimistic about tourist arrivals
AFTER more than two years since the March 2020 lockdown due to the pandemic, travel professionals are optimistic that with the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions around the world, more people will be traveling in the coming months. At the New York Travel and Adventure Show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center over the weekend, prospective…
[COLUMN] Erich Gonzales marries businessman
KAPAMILYA star Erich Gonzales is now married to businessman Mateo Lorenzo, according to various news reports. The lead star of TV series like “Maria La Del Barrio,” “Katorse,” “Be My Lady,” “Blood Sisters” and “La Vida Lena” reportedly tied the knot with Lorenzo at the St. James the Great Parish in Alabang, Muntinlupa. Their marriage…
[COLUMN] God’s luminous and un-consuming love
I STILL think of last Sunday’s (March 20) Old Testament Reading on God’s presence through a burning bush. It’s a powerful image of God’s luminous presence, love, mercy, and wisdom. It burns continually; it cannot be consumed. As human beings, we cannot fully comprehend him. Yet, like Moses, we approach him with fear and reverence….
Tagalog bystander trainings aim to reduce hate incidents in Fil-Am community
TO help put an end to the proliferation of anti-Asian hate and harassment, the Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Los Angeles (Advancing Justice-Los Angeles), in partnership with Hollaback!, is holding a series of virtual trainings entitled “Bystander Intervention To Stop Anti-Asian/American and Xenophobic Harassment.” Starting with the first training last March 23 which was carried out using…
[COLUMN] Filipino organization SoCal Pinoys takes centerstage on this Sunday’s special episode of Citizen Pinoy
LEADING U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel hosts the almost 50,000-strong SoCal Pinoys of Southern California. Its founder and leader, Charles Chamorro, talks about the group’s mission and accomplishments. Atty. Gurfinkel also answers immigration questions from members of SoCal Pinoys, like “Is there a way for a crewman to legalize his status?,” “Can a woman…
PCGSF celebrates Women’s Month with trailblazing Fil-Am women health leaders in US northwest
SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco celebrated National Women’s Month in the Philippines and Women’s History Month in the United States with an online roundtable discussion that featured some of the trailblazing Filipino American women health leaders in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Entitled “Women in Health: Leading Our Communities Out of…
[COLUMN] Permanent residence for crewmen
A common issue for which persons have consulted with me is whether any avenues towards permanent residence exist for a person who entered as a “crewman.” Under INA Section 245(c)(1), a person who enters the US as a “crewman” is generally barred from adjusting his status to permanent residence. Analysis of this issue must begin…