Romance scams in 2021: Fraudsters to the left of you, fakers to the right
LOVE happens year-round, not only on Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately, romance scams are the same. So, along with sharing (or not) some chocolate, make Valentine’s Day a time to share with people you care about some ways to spot and avoid romance scams. Because, according to a new FTC report, people sent $547 million to online…
Historic wins for two Filipino films at 2022 Sundance film festival
SAN FRANCISCO – In a historic first for the Philippine film industry, two Filipino film entries received praise and won awards at the recently concluded 2022 Sundance Film Festival, the largest independent film festival in the United States. Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank Ferrer congratulated the filmmakers behind Filipino movies “Leonor Will…
The Newark Museum of Art to host first ever museum retrospective highlighting Filipino American artist Carlos Villa
New Jersey’s largest museum to show five decades of groundbreaking works exploring global art history, immigration and the art of identity THE Newark Museum of Art is set to present Carlos Villa: Worlds In Collision, from February 17 – May 8, 2022. The exhibition brings together 35 rarely seen works by Carlos Villa, a central figure in…
NJ lifts mask mandate effective March 7
Governor to extend the statewide public health emergency NOTING the significant decline of statewide COVID-19 metrics, Governor Phil Murphy early this week announced that masks and facial coverings will no longer be mandated for students, staff, or visitors in schools and childcare centers effective March 7, 2022. “We can responsibly take this step given the…
[COLUMN] Love found on Friendster ends up fulfilling a dream this Sunday, Feb. 13 on Citizen Pinoy
THIS week’s episode of Citizen Pinoy has love at the center of it all, as we introduce viewers to Wendel, a lonely and depressed person until he met Allen on Friendster, a social networking site, and they became boyfriend and girlfriend. What started as simple chats and jokes, ended up in something serious. Both Wendel…
[EVENT] William So concert rescheduled to September, Vietnamese Night New Year celebration concert canceled
ROHNERT PARK – New Year is here, and Good Fortune is here! The $100,000 Year of the Tiger Cash Giveaway will be held on Friday, February 25 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. There will be twenty-five (25) winners of $1,000 in cash at each drawing. One additional winner at 9 p.m. wins $50,000 cash….
Keeping the art of Rondalla alive: Celebrating NEA National Heritage Fellow Tagumpay De Leon
Filipino performer and educator Tagumpay De Leon was recently recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts as a National Heritage Fellow. Affectionately known as “Uncle Pi,” De Leon is a performer and instructor known as one of the greatest living ambassadors of the Filipino instrumental art known as rondalla, an ensemble of stringed instruments…
California to end indoor mask mandate on Feb. 15
LA County to keep masking in place THE state of California will end the statewide indoor mask mandate on Feb. 15 and ease more coronavirus related restrictions. Officials on Monday, Feb. 7 announced that next week, the order to require Californians to cover their faces in indoor public settings will be lifted. The mandate took…
NFL hosts COVID-19 vaccination clinic ahead of Super Bowl in LA
AHEAD of Los Angeles’ hosting of the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 13, the NFL is partnering with the county’s Department of Public Health to host a COVID-19 vaccination clinic. The clinic will be held from February 10-12 at the LA Convention Center, where the Super Bowl Experience is taking place. Individuals who receive any…
[COLUMN] Election season heats up in the Philippines: Who will succeed Rodrigo Duterte?
FEBRUARY 8, 2022 marked the official campaign season in the Philippines leading up to the May 9 Election Day. As the candidates held kick-off rallies in different places of the country, all eyes are on the most important position that will potentially change the trajectory of the country, for the better or for the worse,…
[COLUMN] Part I: Angels among us
(First of 4 Parts) DO you believe in angels? I do. Most people do. The strong presence of angels in the various books of the Bible, especially during the birth of Jesus Christ attests to the role of angels in human history. The feast of the most famous Archangels, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, is celebrated…
[COLUMN] Filing bankruptcy again? Here’s what you need to know
IF you’ve ever had to file bankruptcy in the past for whatever reason, you probably told yourself that hopefully, you never have to do it again ever. But sometimes you never know where life takes you and if you ever find yourself in a financial bind where bankruptcy becomes necessary again, fear not. It is…
Island Pacific promotes Filipino street food at its first ever SuperBall: Fish Ball Eating Contest
WHILE Los Angeles awaits the 56th Super Bowl event, California-based Filipino Supermarket Chain Island Pacific promotes popular Filipino Street Food fish-ball by holding its first ever SuperBall: Fish Ball Eating Contest. For the love of street food and games, Island Pacific, in partnership with Mekeni and the SoCal Filipinos Community, will reward $1,000 in cash to…
World premiere of ‘Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia’ exhibition debuts at the California Science Center February 16
LOS ANGELES – The world premiere of “Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia” exhibition debuts at the California Science Center February 16, 2022. Through 120 original artifacts – half on tour outside Cambodia for the first time – and hands-on exhibits, guests will use the lens of science to explore the ancient empire of Angkor. Once considered the most extensive metropolis…
New Fil-Am show from ‘Yellow Rose’ producer, ABS-CBN tells multigenerational crime family drama
‘Concepcion’ will star ‘All Rise’ star Reggie Lee and take place in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown AS audiences continue to demand richer ethnic representation, a new drama series is seeking to make space within the criminal drama subgenre for the Filipino American community. First announced by Deadline on Thursday, Feb. 3, “Concepcion” is an upcoming…
Los Angeles minimum wage to increase to $16.04 an hour starting July
LOS Angeles Eric Garcetti announced that the minimum wage rate will increase from $15 to $16.04 per hour, effective on July 1, 2022. “We fought to raise the minimum wage because hard work should always be met with the dignity, respect, and opportunity that fair pay brings,” said Garcetti on Thursday, Feb. 3. “Our decision…
LA County ‘pick-up testing kit’ program expands to new sites
THE Los Angeles County Department of Health Services has expanded its “Pick-up Testing Kit” program with an additional 7,000 free COVID-19 testing kits available daily via 14 new county library sites in Los Angeles County. The “Pick-Up Testing Kit” program allows residents to pick up a PCR test kit, perform the test and return the…
LA County trends prove vaccinations prevent avoidable COVID deaths in health care facilities
Health leaders stress safety protocol on Super Bowl Sunday as the county discusses what it will take to ease mask mandate AS the omicron variant continues to plague communities across the country, the coronavirus numbers in Los Angeles County continue to prove the efficacy of vaccines and boosters in preventing deaths, particularly in high-risk workplaces….
[COLUMN] The heart of Catholic education
What makes education Catholic? It’s a worthy question that many of us—bishops, priests, and laypeople, especially Catholic school parents and students—should think about and answer. The question is not merely about delving into the reasons for sending children to Catholic school but rather understanding the foundation and the vision of faith-based education. Thomas H. Groome,…
[COLUMN] Employees entitled to penalty payments from employer for labor violations
Q: I recently resigned from work because I was tired of being shorted on overtime pay, not being given breaks half the time, being made to work before and after my shift with no pay, and not being reimbursed for using my personal vehicle and cellphone for work. Unfortunately, before being hired, we had to…
Comcast celebrates the 2022 Lunar New Year by curating Asian and Asian American entertainment collection including special guest editors Lisa Ling, Gold House
PHILADELPHIA – Lunar New Year is one of the most important festivals for millions around the world who return home to spend time with family, eat traditional foods, and share gifts with lots of red – a symbol of good luck and fortune for many Asian cultures. In celebration of the Year of the Tiger,…
Fely Quitevis-Bateman: Seizing opportunities and making sound investments
Fely Quitevis-Bateman has been in the real estate industry for almost five decades now, starting her career in Manila back in 1974. Through sheer handwork and determination, she was able to create a name for herself after moving to the United States. The Nevada-based businesswoman established Precious Properties and has been calling Pahrump home for…
[COLUMN] ‘No show’ red flag: All presidential candidates except Bongbong Marcos gave their ‘Panata Sa Bayan’ toward a clean, peaceful election in the KBP Presidential Forum
“PANATA SA BAYAN” (Vow to the People). Candidates applying to be the next president of the Philippines gave their solemn vow, signifying their commitment to a clean, honest, orderly and peaceful election on May 9, 2022. All of them showed up — except for Bongbong Marcos, who notified KBP that he would not be doing…
[COLUMN] Cost of Forming Nevada LLC
Initial costs $425: $75 for the Articles of Organization $200 for the State Business License $150 for the Initial List of Managers or Managing Members. Annual costs $350: $200 Renew business license $150 Annual list of managers & members. Other costs: City business license – depends on what City. Registered agent $0 to $125 per…
[OBITUARY] Legendary actor Val Castelo passes away at the age of 89
October 18, 1932 – January 20, 2022 Valentin Antonio Ballesteros Castelo passed away in peace and joined our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, January 20, 2022, in Henderson, Nevada. Born on October 18, 1932, in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, Val was the son of the Honorable Oscar Tombo Castelo, former Secretary of Justice…