President Joe Biden on Monday, December 20 announced his intent to appoint three Filipino American leaders to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Amy Agbayani, Teresita Batayola and Luisa Blue are among the 23 community leaders who will be appointed to serve on the commission, the White House announced on Monday….
Contributed by Manny V. Ilagan SIMBANG Gabi, which literally means “evening or night Mass,” is a Filipino Christmas tradition. As a devotional practice in the tradition of the novena, it is a series of nine evening Masses usually celebrated during Advents from December 16-24, in preparation for Christmas Day. Simbang Gabi originated from the Missa…
THE city of Artesia, California now has its first Filipina American mayor. Melissa Ramoso ascended to the top post after the city council’s appointment during its meeting on Monday, December 13. Ramoso, a Fil-Am community leader working in state government, previously served as mayor pro tem. “It is incredible to think that there were people…
IT’S no doubt that the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebration is the most highly anticipated holiday season in recent history. The coronavirus pandemic upended the last holiday season, which largely consisted of Zoom parties, limited in-person gatherings, and generally truncated celebrations governed by the safety protocols at the time. But amid the beginnings of…
It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Epifanio ‘Jun’ Capistrano on Sunday, December 12th, 2021 at the age of 69. Jun will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 35 years, Marisa; and his children, Daryll, Charmaine, and Dale. He is the oldest of two brothers and two…
WE’RE in the fourth week of Advent, and it will be Christmas next week! Are you prepared? Prepared to welcome the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus? As I’ve said, the Advent liturgies have allowed us to see in greater depth the meaning of Christmas, the coming of Jesus, the Word-made flesh. For…
THIS is what I call a borderline Chapter 7 case with asset. Therefore, it is the better part of caution not to file Chapter 7 because the asset may be lost in Chapter 7, while Chapter 13 is safe enough because the Chapter 13 trustee, unlike the Chapter 7 trustee does not have the power…
IN 2016, Robert Fernandez, then 70 years old and disabled due to diabetes, was hired by Puente Hills Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Even though he had trouble walking and standing for long periods, his employer accommodated his disability. He excelled at his job and was a top producing assistant sales manager. In August 2018, the…
MANY parents who may have problems refinancing their house due to low income in retirement or due to low credit score sometimes resort to the idea of having their married child serve as a co-borrower to refinance their house As part of the refinancing process, the parents usually adds their adult children to the deed…
ARE you thinking of hiring a debt settlement company to help you solve your debt problems? Before you do, maybe you should read this article as it could save you a lot of money and frustration. One reason many consumers hire a debt settlement company is because their debt amounts have become simply unaffordable to…
LIKE many others in the food and hospitality industry, Filipino American Daniel Joseph Corpuz lost his job as the global pandemic began to wreak havoc last year. “Inisip ko kung ano ang puwede kong gawin, I can’t do nothing here at home,” the chocolatier and pastry chef told the Asian Journal. Corpuz played a lot…
By Manny Caballero DRIVEN by a common and united desire to help make VP Leni Robredo the next president of their native country, Fil-Ams from around the East Coast trooped to this city on Sunday, Dec. 12, and joined the much-anticipated Pink Caravan For Leni. Over 250 Pinoys rode in more than 100 cars decorated…
Many people believe the only way to bring a family member to the U.S. is through a family petition. Auntie Eva started as a caregiver when she first set foot on American soil. Through the years, she was able to put up her own six-bed facility, but desperately needed help. Eva’s niece, Russell, just finished…
ON December 13, 2021 the Department of State (DOS) published a temporary final rule (TFR) allowing consular officers the flexibility or discretion to waive the personal appearance (or interview) of certain repeat immigrant visa applicants: (a) who were previously approved for an immigrant visa in the same classification and on the same basis as their…
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO), the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. and the Ayala Foundation Inc. extend partnership for another three years through Dec. 31, 2025. On Dec. 6, 2021, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, President Louella Rose Cabalona, Ayala Foundation, Inc. (AFI) President Ruel Maranan and Senior…
NEW York Gov. Kathy Hochul defended her position to impose a new mask mandate in the state to curb a surge in new COVID cases and hospitalizations. “The objective is to protect the health of New Yorkers and protect the economy,” Gov. Hochul said. “It is a short term measure. Given that we are in…
U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) to introduce the bipartisan Streamlining EIDL Act to improve the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) application process for small businesses and combat programmatic fraud. The legislation will require the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide timely and helpful responses to small business…
The Asian Community Development Council’s first inaugural InspirAsian Gala was held on Friday, December 3rd at the Champagne Ballroom at the Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The event honored local Las Vegas Asian American Pacific Islander trailblazers who have been instrumental in leading our community. They include: 1. Angela Castro, RTC 2. Cheryl…
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO – Philippine Consul General in San Francisco Neil Frank Ferrer joined the Fil-Am Lions Club of San Francisco, the first Lions Club of Filipino ancestry in the United States, in their milestone 50th anniversary banquet and ball at the Elks Lodge in South San Francisco on November 19. In his remarks during the…
CONTRA Costa County officials and community advocates came together in a Zoom briefing to talk about the issues attached to tobacco retailers, vaping and e-cigarettes – specifically, the products’ proximity to schools and youth, as well as its well-heeled presence in underserved, minority communities. A panel of experts led the presentation and discussion with ethnic…
MISS India Harnaaz Sandhu, a Bollywood actress and model, was crowned as the 70th Miss Universe Pageant winner in rites held in Eilat, Israel on Sunday, December 12. She becomes the third contestant from India to win the title, following Sushmita Sen (1994) and Lara Dutta (2000). Along with Sandhu, South Africa’s Lalela Mswane and…
STARTING Wednesday, Dec. 15, California will require face masks and coverings while indoors following a sharp spike in coronavirus cases since Thanksgiving. While individual counties — like Los Angeles and Ventura — have their own mask mandates, the state is moving forward to ensure all Golden State counties comply with the effort to mitigate the…
JOHN Jay College of Criminal Justice Professor Kevin Nadal is known in the Filipino American community as an educator, psychology expert, community organizer, historian, and supporter of the arts, among many other things. The City University of New York recently named Dr. Nadal to the title of Distinguished Professor in recognition of his exceptional contributions…
THE Los Angeles County Department of Public Health this week announced it has reached a new milestone in its fight against the COVID-19 virus. As of December 9, 15 million doses (15,233,218) of COVID vaccines have been dispensed since the first dose was administered one year ago. In addition to administering vaccines at about 1,270 fixed…
By Manny V. Ilagan Golfers and sponsors, including guests and supporters of the ConGen’s Masters Cup Golf Tournament held on Monday, December 6 at the Los Coyotes Country Club, an exclusive for-members-only club in Buena Park, CA, are hailing the event as a major success, with many already looking forward for another event next year….
ON March 31, 1977, as a measles epidemic swept through Los Angeles, the county health department issued an ultimatum to the parents of the county’s 1.6 million schoolchildren: Get your kids vaccinated within a month or keep them home. The “no shots, no school” warning was a novel threat at the time. Since the 1920s…
