[COLUMN] Update on embassy interviews
MOST people, with family members or employees stranded overseas waiting for their immigrant visa interviews, will find some ray of hope with the news and updates coming from the Department of State’s (DOS) Visa Office. Charlie Oppenheim, the Visa Office Numerical Control Division Chief, and the person in charge of setting the priority dates on…
‘It’s about time’: Filipino spot Tambayan opens in 128-year-old Reading Terminal Market
Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market is one of America’s largest and oldest public markets. It began operation in a National Historic Landmark building back in 1893 and has become one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations along with the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Like a typical public market, it offers a wide and varied…
US plans to tighten travel restrictions over Omicron; NYC advises residents to mask up
THE United States is going to require all air travelers entering the country to show a negative COVID-19 test performed within one day of departure in an attempt to slow the spread of the new Omicron coronavirus variant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the new one-day testing requirement would apply…
‘Man@ng is Deity’ presented at SF’s ODC Theater, Dec. 3-5
KULARTS, the premier presenter of contemporary and tribal Pilipinx arts in the United States, is proud to present the film premiere of SF Legacy Artist Awardee, Alleluia Panis’s “Man@ng is Deity,” a multimedia event with dance film screening and performance inspired by the lives of the ‘manong’ generation — the first wave of cheap imported…
[COLUMN] Edu confirms relationship with Cherry Pie
ACTOR, TV host and politician Edu Manzano confirmed that he is in a relationship with actress Cherry Pie PIcache. Prior to the admission, there was a lot of speculation from netizens and showbiz insiders when photos surfaced of the two while on a recent trip to the U.S. In an article in Inquirer.net, Edu confirmed…
Metro Box Cargo celebrates eight years, holds Thanksgiving party
METRO Box Cargo recently held a Thanksgiving celebration at its headquarters in Union City as it also celebrated its eighth year in the freight forwarding business. Established in 2013, Metro Box Cargo has quickly become one of the most reliable companies that the Filipino American community goes to when it comes to shipping their padalas…
Hadestown continues to wow audiences on Broadway
THE Broadway production of Hadestown took the stage of the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th Street) on Thursday, September 2, and became the first musical to play the Rialto in more than 18 months. Hadestown, the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best New Musical, was written by celebrated singer-songwriter and Tony Award winner Anaïs Mitchell and developed with…
PH Consulate in SF, ALLICE team up for webinar on intimate partner violence
SAN FRANCISCO – As part of its mandate to advance the welfare and well-being of overseas Filipinos in the United States, the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco partnered with the Alliance for Community Empowerment (ALLICE) for online training on intimate partner violence (IPV) on November 19. More than 40 participants from the Consulate and…
‘It is OK to ask for help. It is not a weakness’: Addressing the holiday blues and persevering the second Christmas in the age of COVID
LAST year, Charlene Fernandez had a Christmas she would rather just forget. A fourth-year animal science student at Cal Poly Pomona, Fernandez, 23, spent Christmas Day alone in her dimly-lit studio apartment sat in front of her computer. Zoom was open on the screen which featured a couple dozen family members on it. She was…
PH suspends testing, quarantine protocols for travelers from certain countries
THE Philippines has temporarily suspended its lenient testing and quarantine protocols for countries or territories classified as “green” starting on November 29, according to Malacañang. Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Sunday, Nov. 28, announced that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) approved the temporary suspension…
Fil-Am student dies during amateur boxing match in Las Vegas
A FILIPINO American college student died from injuries shortly after an amateur charity boxing match in Las Vegas last week. Nathan Valencia, a 20-year-old student of University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), passed away on Tuesday, November 23, after participating in Kappa Sigma fraternity’s off-campus ‘Kappa Sigma Fight Night’ on Nov. 19. According to 8…
[EVENT] Gawad Kalinga USA to celebrate hope through music with ‘riSING Together’ concert
THE impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is felt all over the world, but the challenges that come with it are even more daunting for those who belong to the poorest sectors of the community. In the Philippines, a weakened economy and the fear of contracting a viral disease add to the burden of the less…
Filipino American actor/director Angelo Reyes: A rising star of the indie film scene
By Nicole Muj THE industry is taking notice of Filipino-Italian American actor/director Angelo Reyes, who is currently taking his short “21st & Colonial” out on the festival circuit. The film, which he wrote, directed and stars in, was screened recently at the San Diego Filipino International Film Festival and names an official selection of the Asian…
#1 Vietnamese Film “Dad I’m Sorry” Lives Up To Hype, Perfectly Portrays Asian Generational Family Dynamics, Strong Contender For 2022 Oscars
It is clear to me why “Bố Già (Dad, I’m Sorry)” became the #1 box office hit of all time in Vietnam and the first Vietnamese film to break $1 million in the US box office, as well as Vietnam’s official entry for the 2022 Oscars. The story, plot twists and turns and endearing characters…
[COLUMN] Will I have to pay spousal support if I file for divorce?
THE purpose of spousal support is not defined by the legislature in that its purpose varies according to the facts and circumstances of each case. The facts and circumstances of a particular case may be such which call for no spousal support, or for support for a very limited period of time, with the purpose…
[COLUMN] Whatever happened to happily ever after?
(Excerpted from the conclusion of a 3-part article) … There is news of suicide that hits you harder because you personally know the person who took his own life. By all accounts, he has led a good life but unknown to all, was going through overwhelming personal struggles, quietly wallowing in darkness and despair never…
SFIO officially signs $100-M agreement with Omnicor Industrial Estate & Realty Center to develop a resort condotel in Batangas, Philippines
THE memorandum of agreement will see Omnicor Industrial Estate & Realty Center, Inc., a subsidiary of Filipino publicly listed company AbaCore Capital Holdings, contributing land by the bay of Batangas for SFIO to develop into a resort-like condotel property. The announcement of the project has been made official by offering further details to the public….
PH to allow entry of fully vaxxed foreigners from certain countries starting December 1
FULLY-VACCINATED travelers who don’t need a visa to enter the Philippines can now enter the country starting December 1, according to Malacañang. Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles on Friday, November 26, announced that the latest guidelines were approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) in…
What to know about COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5 through 11
Why children should get vaccinated now and other FAQs Every person in the country 5 years old and older is now eligible to get vaccinated for COVID-19. Parents and caregivers face decisions about protecting their children from COVID-19 and have questions about vaccines. Read on for answers to questions that families have about making a…
Beating holiday blues in COVID era
By Mark Hedin / Ethnic Media Services LA County offers mental health aid, urges trying it We all want to be at our best with family and friends over the holiday season. But almost two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, with so many loved ones lost and multiple other challenges before us, our mental health…
DOJ: Possible Apollo Quiboloy extradition may have to wait while PH reviews pending case
THE possible extradition of Filipino televangelist Apollo Quiboloy back to the United States may be deferred as a local court reviews a pending case against him, according to the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ). “Maaring mangyari diyan ay hindi muna itutuloy ang extradition hanggang hindi natatapos ang criminal prosecution dito sa Pilipinas kasi meron kasing…
[OPINION] Should Duterte’s ally Apollo Quiboloy, megachurch the Kingdom of Jesus Christ and media empire SMNI lose privilege of operating in the PH, globally?
“PASTOR” Apollo Quiboloy — President Rodrigo Duterte’s longtime friend and “spiritual adviser” who calls himself “Owner of the Universe” and “Appointed Son of God” — along with some U.S. based administrators of his mega-church Kingdom of Jesus Christ, has been indicted by U.S. courts on November 18, 2021 for sex trafficking operation that was supported…
[EVENT] Simbang Gabi masses slated from Dec. 15 to 23
IN the Catholic Christendom, it’s that time of the year again to express the rich Filipino tradition of attending a nine-day novena of masses at dawn known as Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo (Spanish Mass of the Rooster) because Philippine masses are held at 4 a.m. from Dec. 15 to Dec. 23. In the…
[COLUMN] Termination during approved medical leave may be illegal
Is employee’s travel an abuse of medical leave? Q: I HAD surgery and my employer approved the doctor-prescribed 6 weeks of medical leave. While on leave, I travelled to the Philippines to stay with family members who could assist me while I recovered. When I came back to the U.S. I received several messages from…
[COLUMN] Removing the conditions of your permanent residence without your petitioning spouse’s participation
A person who obtains his/her green card via marriage to a US citizen spouse, and who is married for less than 2 years has conditional permanent resident status. A conditional permanent resident has a green card that is valid for 2 years. In order to continue to have permanent resident status after 2 years, the…
[COLUMN] Will I have to pay spousal support if I file for divorce?
THE purpose of spousal support is not defined by the legislature in that its purpose varies according to the facts and circumstances of each case. The facts and circumstances of a particular case may be such which call for no spousal support, or for support for a very limited period of time, with the purpose…
[COLUMN] Reflecting on a grateful heart
Nick Ortner of The Tapping Solution writes this story: “A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which read, ‘I am blind, please help.’ There were only a few coins in the hat – spare change from folks as they hurried past….