John Lloyd says son Elias gives meaning to his life
AWARD-WINNING actor John Lloyd Cruz, who has confirmed that he and Bea Alonzo will star in a forthcoming film, has a new outlook in life, courtesy of his son Elias. In an article in PEP.ph, Cruz revealed that it is his son who gives him the motivation to wake up and go to work. “My…
Newsom includes support measures for AAPI community in California Comeback Plan
CALIFORNIA Gov. Gavin Newsom will include Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) support services in his California Comeback Plan following the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes over the past year. The $100 billion plan will allocate $5 million for research, conducting hate prevention activities, and approving grants at the UCLA Asian American Studies Center. Meanwhile,…
PH reaches 3-M mark in COVID-19 vaccination drive
MORE than three million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the Philippines, according to an official. National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on Tuesday, May 18, said that the country has utilized a total of 3,114,847 doses since March 1. Meanwhile, NTF Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer and…
California to lift mask mandate on June 15
Photo by Pam Menegakis on Unsplash Nurses’ union denounces CDC, state guidance Despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announcement last week that face masks are no longer necessary for fully vaccinated individuals, California says it will not lift its mask mandate until June 15, the state’s targeted re-opening date. After the CDC’s…
39 million families to receive monthly child tax credit payments starting July 15
AROUND 39 million families across the United States will receive the first monthly payment of the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) from the American Rescue Plan on July 15. The credit, which will cover 88% of children, will be sent as monthly payments without any further action required by the families, the Internal Revenue Service and…
Workshop led by Fil-Am martial artist Diana Lee Inosanto equips community members with self-defense tips
FROM using a cane as a self-defense weapon to how to escape while in a headlock — these are some of the tips community members learned during a recent workshop in Carson, California. The “Defend Our Elders” event at Carson Park featured a live demonstration from Filipina American martial artist Diana Lee Inosanto (“The Mandalorian”)…
What does approval of the Pfizer vaccine for teens and preteens mean for my child?
By Carmen Heredia Rodriguez/Kaiser Health News Q: THE federal government approved the Pfizer vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds. What does this mean for my child? Extending the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to preteens and young adolescents adds nearly 17 million more Americans to the pool of those eligible to be immunized against COVID-19,…
Duterte: PH vessels to continue patrolling WPS
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has assured the public that the country will not abandon its claims in the West Philippine Sea. In a statement read by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Duterte maintained that his position in the West Philippine Sea will not waver. “Our principal position and stand on the West Philippine Sea remains. I…
[COLUMN] A Filipino man’s American Dream saved his life through the first ‘COVID to COVID’ double lung transplant in the US
KABABAYANS who chose to uproot themselves from the Motherland share one aspiration: to give ourselves and our family life opportunities that have increasingly become scarce in the Philippines. This is especially true, not just in job and career opportunities, but more so in the quality of life the United States has been offering us and…
Documentary highlighting Fil-Am nurses launches Kickstarter campaign
A Kickstarter campaign has been launched to support a documentary that explores the history and humanity of Filipino nurses in the United States risking their lives on the frontlines of a global health crisis. “Nurse Unseen,” directed and produced by Filipina American filmmaker Michele Josue, dives into why troves of Filipino nurses left the Philippines…
[COLUMN] On honoring APA Heritage Month
By Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes WHETHER one identifies as Asian Pacific American, Asian American Pacific Islander, some subset of those categories or, like me, all of the above, May is a month where we celebrate the national contributions of a diverse group representing over fifty ethnic minority peoples and the fastest-growing minority demographic in…
[COLUMN] Here are 4 ways to get out of debt
ARE you seriously in debt and don’t know what to do about your situation? Are you afraid that unless you do something about it, thing will just continue to get worse every day? When people are going through financial difficulty and are unable to pay their bills, their first reaction is often to ignore their…
[COLUMN] Begin the beguine with Vigan
WHEN, and not if, this blasted pandemic finally leaves without a trace, what are your plans? Here’s a thought. How about playing tourist in your own native land? Get out of the city and really look with fresh eyes at the countryside. Let it not be said that aliens and other strangers saw something worthwhile…
Re:Her launches grant program to support women-owned restaurants in LA, sponsored by Doordash
Newly formed non-profit RE:Her announced a COVID-19 relief grant program, sponsored by DoorDash, to help women-owned restaurants in Los Angeles. This initiative builds on the organization’s January 2021 event called 10 Days RE:Her. RE:Her will distribute 15 cash grants of $10,000 each to female-identifying food and beverage entrepreneurs in LA County, which recipients can use to…
VP Kamala Harris to headline AAPI Unity Summit on May 19
Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris, the nation’s first Asian American and woman vice president, will deliver the keynote address for the first-ever virtual AAPI Unity Summit hosted by the AAPI Victory Alliance on Wednesday, May 19. The virtual summit will begin at 3 p.m. PST/ 6 p.m. EST. Joining former Secretary of…
PH candidate Rabiya Mateo ends Miss Universe journey in Top 21
MISS Universe Philippines Rabiya Mateo has concluded her pageant journey after finishing as a semifinalist at the competition’s Top 21. Mateo failed to enter the Top 10 of the 69th Miss Universe held on Sunday, May 16, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. In an Instagram live video hosted by…
Filipino parents, teens weigh in on whether or not to vaccinate their 12 to 15-year-olds
CA, LA County begin accepting vaccination appointments for kids in this age group THE U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday, May 10 announced that it amended its emergency use authorization for the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to include teens between the ages of 12 and 15, clearing the way for the 17 million people…
Daughter of Fil-Am senior attacked in NY starts AAP(IBelong) project
THE daughter of the elderly Filipina immigrant who was assaulted in New York has launched a project that encourages Asian Americans to share their personal stories of racism and belonging in the United States. “AAP(I belong) is a place to share stories and words of encouragement from those who have encountered anti-Asian hatred,” Elizabeth Kari…
CDC relaxes mask guidelines for fully vaccinated people
LA County still requires masks inside businesses AFTER a year of wearing masks, fully vaccinated individuals can forgo face coverings when outdoors or in most indoor settings, according to new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The relaxed measures were announced on Thursday, May 13, paving the way for safely resuming…
Asian American legislators say systemic change must happen to address anti-Asian hate
CALIFORNIA Attorney General Rob Bonta, Congresswoman Grace Meng, and Assemblymember Evan Low spoke about the need for Asian American politicians to create inclusive legislation to protect the Asian American community. The new attorney general announced a new Racial Justice Bureau will be created within the state’s Department of Justice to implement systemic changes within the…
Metro Manila, other areas to shift to GCQ with ‘heightened restrictions’ on May 15
THE Philippines’ National Capital Region (NCR) Plus will be under general community quarantine (GCQ) “with heightened restrictions” from May 15 to May 31. President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, May 13, downgraded the quarantine status of NCR Plus following the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). “President Rodrigo…
LA County battles hunger with Calfresh
AMONG the many problems made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic in Los Angeles County is a familiar one: hunger. For the county’s Board of Supervisors it’s a top priority. “No one in Los Angeles County should be experiencing the pangs of hunger,” First District Supervisor Hilda Solis said at a virtual town hall press conference…
Fil-Am star Olivia Rodrigo releases new song ‘Good 4 U’
FILIPINA American Disney star and singer Olivia Rodrigo has followed up her chart-topping singles with a new track from her upcoming debut album. Rodrigo on Friday, May 14, released “Good 4 U,” the third single off of her highly-anticipated album “Sour” out on May 21. In her Billboard cover story, the star of “The High…
[COLUMN] IRS top enforcement targets
WITH a bigger budget, IRS recently hired new personnel to increase their historic low audit rates. Here are 7 targets for IRS audits: 1. Non-filers IRS estimates that nonfilers represent $39 billion in lost revenue annually. To make even worse, nonfilers leave the tax system for good. The IRS has restarted its delinquent return investigation and…
[COLUMN] Is an unfair firing ‘wrongful termination’?
Q: I worked in a company for over 5 years. A client accused me of making a mistake in a big order. This was not true. But the new manager, who did not like me and wanted to bring in his best friend to do my job, used the client’s complaint as a reason to…
[COLUMN] Do I have to disclose my bitcoin to my spouse in my divorce case?
BITCOIN and other cryptocurrency has become popular lately as a new store of value. It is decentralized and not subject to regulation in any jurisdiction. It can be stored in a digital wallet or hard drive. Due to its lack of regulation, it is easy for one to assume that it is not necessary…
[COLUMN] Debtor with $70K credit cards but good income needs Chapter 13 relief
A DEBTOR who is 50 has accumulated credit card debt at the rate of $6,000 a year for the last 20 years. Now, he owes $70,000 of credit cards. He needs $2,400 a month of minimum credit card payments to keep all $70,000 current. His mortgage payment is $2,500 with a mortgage balance of $400,000….
[COLUMN] On friendship
FRIENDSHIP is one of our most precious values. It brings us joy, comfort, and hope. It sustains us and inspires us in our work and aspirations. Paulo Coelho says, “Friendship isn’t a big thing — it’s a million things.” Proverb 17:9 states, “A sweet friendship refreshes the soul.” Then many of us agree to the…