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…
Q&A with Chase’s Eileen Viray Alcones, San Leandro Community Manager
1. What led you to the role of the new San Leandro Community Manager at Chase? I have always had two different passions when it came to my career. Being in finance for over 20 years, I’ve always been motivated to be an expert in the fundamentals of financial success. My other passion has been…
Pechanga Resort Casino Wishes Everyone a Prosperous Year of the Tiger!
Come celebrate the Lunar New Year with $100,000 EasyPlay, Cash Drawings at Pechanga AS 2022, the Year of the Tiger, approaches, Pechanga Resort Casino welcomes everyone to join in the celebration of the festival with a series of promotions and giveaways this February. Lunar New Year $100K EasyPlay & Cash Drawing Pechanga Resort Casino celebrates…
VP Harris swears in members of President’s Commission on AANHPIs
UNITED States President Kamala Harris and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra on Thursday, Feb. 3 swore in 23 members, including 3 Filipina American community leaders, of President Joe Biden’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs). They were joined by U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai, who serves as Commission…
It’s day 6 of COVID and a rapid antigen test comes back positive – stay home, say virologists
By Rae Ellen Bichell WHAT does it mean if a person’s rapid antigen test result comes back positive after five days of isolation due to COVID-19? According to the experts, that person is most likely still carrying a viral load high enough to infect others. “Anytime you’re positive by one of these rapid at-home COVID…
New York City Mayor says COVID-19 cases down, vaccinations up
NEW York City Mayor Eric Adams announced early this week some good news in the city’s fight against COVID-19. The mayor said that these multiple milestones include a massive decrease in COVID-19 cases, a landmark milestone met in vaccination rates, and free at-home delivery options of COVID-19 treatments. COVID-19 cases are down over 80 percent…