Indoor masking to be lifted at LA County schools
STARTING March 12, indoor masking at Los Angeles County schools will no longer be required. Despite the lifting of the mandate, the state and county are continuing to recommend indoor masking for students, teachers, and staff, regardless of vaccination status, until transmission is lower. School districts in LA County can continue to require masking at…
The CDC’s new guidelines on COVID risk and masking send confounding signals
WHEN the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month unveiled updated COVID-19 guidelines that relaxed masking recommendations, some people no doubt sighed in relief and thought it was about time. People have become increasingly comfortable being out shopping, attending live events, or meeting up with friends at restaurants. And many are ready to cast…
Getting to know Fil-Am Robert Alonzo, The Batman’s stunt coordinator and 2nd unit director
WITH nearly 30 years of stunt design experience, Filipino American Robert Alonzo is adding this week’s box-office hit The Batman into his extensive international resume. He has accumulated over 200 credits in television, commercials, music videos, and film and his broad work in front of and behind the camera includes training the likes of Dwayne Johnson, Tom…
[COLUMN] Immigration questions of the Fil-Am South Bay Community take centerstage in this Sunday’s special episode of Citizen Pinoy
“CITIZEN Pinoy” features a new episode, where the show’s host, leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, reaches out to various Filipino American community organizations across the U.S. and gets to know more about them. On the premiere of Citizen Pinoy’s community outreach, Atty. Gurfinkel meets the Fil-Am South Bay Community of San Jose, California,…
[COLUMN] Ruffa Gutierrez set to graduate in July 2022
THEY say it’s never too late to pursue your dreams, especially when it comes to your education. And this is exactly what former Miss World 2nd Princess Ruffa Gutierrez is doing these days. In an article in PEP.ph, the actress/TV host shared that she will be graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication…
NYC lifts most COVID-19 restrictions
NEW York City has suspended some COVID restrictions beginning Monday, March 7, including vaccination requirements for businesses and school mask mandate. “It’s time to open our city and get the economy back operating,” Mayor Eric Adams said. “The overall restriction is being removed. This is about giving people the flexibility that is needed to continue…
Asia Pacific Fashion Week kicks off in Los Angeles, then goes to Las Vegas this summer
APFW strives to create public awareness about sustainability issues and to cast a focus on ‘eco fashion’ PREPARE for two Saturdays of dazzling runway events, entertainment, and fashion expo in August 2022, when Asia Pacific Fashion Week (APFW) visits two legendary cities: Los Angeles and Las Vegas. APFW is a global platform for fast-rising designers…
Hundreds of Fil-Ams attend Bergenfield rally for Robredo
FILIPINO American community leader and philanthropist Loida Nicolas Lewis reiterated her urgent plea to the hundreds of Filipinos who attended the Pink Caravan rally to support the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem. “Call your relatives, your neighbors. Let them know why they should think hard and vote for Leni Robredo,” she said. “And if ever they are offered…
It’s a family affair as pop duo Dingdong, Jessa embark on ‘Revelation: The US Tour’
AFTER two years of waiting, TFC Events is staging its first live in-person concert, “Revelation: The U.S. Tour,” featuring the Original Prince of Pop Dingdong Avanzado and the Phenomenal Diva Jessa Zaragoza with their daughter Jayda, the newest music wonder. The concert tour promises to be an unforgettable experience for all music lovers who will…
Marcelito Pomoy excited to barnstorm 14 states for his US concert tour
Marcelito Pomoy’s happy demeanor and positive outlook in life belie the pain and hardship he had to go through to be where he is today. Barnstorming across the United States until April for a series of shows, Pomoy sat down in a chat with the Asian Journal to promote his concerts and share his inspiring…
[COLUMN] Once upon a time series: Abigail’s story
“Will you marry me?” she asked him. 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…
LA County continues to recommend masks indoors despite mandate end
DAYS after Los Angeles County dropped the indoor mask mandate, health officials are continuing to urge residents to wear masks in certain public settings, regardless of vaccination status. An advisory on Monday, March 7 from the LA County Department of Public Health urges masks to be worn in indoor public settings, especially if residents live…
[OPINION] The silent majority is silent no more, and the trapos are desperately trying to stop the Leni momentum
SURVEYS had been touted by the campaign of Bongbong Marcos as proof that the Filipino people are now solid in supporting the son of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos who was ousted by the 1986 People Power Revolution. This surely emboldened the Marcos family who hired Cambridge Analytica to “rebrand” the Marcos family, that they are,…
[OPINION] The Philippines, Ukraine and the Year of the Tiger
THIRTY SIX years ago, early in the new year of the tiger, the Filipino people deposed a hated dictator, Ferdinand Marcos, who had to flee for his life, like a coward, under cover of darkness. Aided by the U.S. Government, Marcos and his family fled to Hawaii, where he would spend the rest of his…
Olivia Rodrigo, Saweetie, H.E.R. shine at Billboard’s Women in Music event
IT was a night for the Pinays at Billboard’s Women in Music event on Wednesday, March 2 when pop music’s It Girl, Olivia Rodrigo, along with rapper Saweetie and multi-talented musician H.E.R. were honored with accolades. All three are among the biggest names in music right now — and all happen to be Filipina Americans…
[COLUMN] Personal injuries and your rights at work
Q: I WAS severely injured in a recent car accident while returning to work on an errand. I had to undergo multiple surgeries. I missed several weeks of work and will need more time off for treatments. I am afraid to tell my employer about my need for more time off because I might be…
[COLUMN] Can bankruptcy be avoided before it’s too late?
ARE your finances stressing you out? For a lot of people, financial concerns can be their number one cause of stress. We are living in difficult financial times and a lot of people are worried about how they can get by from month to month. But worrying doesn’t really solve anything. If you feel that…
[COLUMN] Renouncing the evil of war in Ukraine
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, causing the horrific destruction of human lives and the country, has stunned the world. The Holy Father calls it diabolical and urges us all to pray for the end of this aggression against Ukraine and peace in the world. On Ash Wednesday evening this past week, our parish responded to the…
[OPINION] President Joe Biden’s first year: The State of the Union is ’strong’
AMID the scare of more uncertainties about the future and the threat to international security, President Joe Biden on Tuesday, March 1, delivered his first State of the Union Address and told the American people: “The State of the Union is strong—because you, the American people, are strong.” This declaration is Biden’s way of acknowledging…
‘We need greater investment in our community’: Asian American women reflect on anti-Asian racism one year after Atlanta massacre
LAST year, when anti-Asian violence and hate spiked exponentially due to the coronavirus pandemic, the heartbroken Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community continued demanding justice for these senseless attacks, which primarily targeted women and the elderly. The frustrations and tragedy among the AAPI community crested on March 16, 2021 when a gunman drove to…
[COLUMN] Modifying down child and spousal support obligation after a divorce
Divorced parties are sometimes ordered to pay child support and spousal support in the divorce judgment. The support orders are generally based on the parties’ financial situation and custody arrangements at the time of the settlement or trial. However, what if your income decreases after the divorce or what if your spouse’s income increases after…
Indoor mask mandate lifted as LA County hits ‘low’ COVID activity
AS the two year anniversary of the coronavirus pandemic approaches, Los Angeles County hit a new milestone on Friday, March 4 and lifted its indoor mask mandate. The LA County Department of Public Health on Thursday, March 3, issued a modified health officer order after the county moved into medium or low risk for COVID-19,…
[OBITUARY] Remembering Maria Lourdes Ruiz Ballen
Maria Lourdes Ruiz Ballen passed on February 19, 2022. She died peacefully beside her husband Gary, free from pain, stress, anxiety, and with a smile on her face. She was born to Carlos Perey Ruiz and Epifania Nazario Ruiz on February 11, 1950. She comes from a family of ten siblings (Romy+, Quintos+, Titong+). She…
Lynda Johnson gains key supporters as candidate for Cerritos City council
Cerritos, CA — With her vast and glowing experiences as paralegal and field deputy of Los Angeles County’s two branches of services, Lynda Johnson may yet be the first Filipina American woman to break the glass ceiling as councilwoman of the City of Cerritos. Election day is April 12, 2022. Tangible signs are pointing to…
