As much as one might be prepared for the death of a dear friend or a close relative, we are never ready to receive such news. Over the weekend, I received a Viber message from a family friend that read, “Hi Eric, just to inform you that Rod (not his real name) passed away due…
THERE are no shortcuts in arriving at a decision to live a simple life. Sometimes, one has to go through a personal hell experiencing an inner fatigue and helplessness over the never-ending chase for the almighty dollar and quality of life in order to come to a conclusion that there has to be a better…
IF you have been fully vaccinated, you don’t have to wear a mask outdoors when you take a walk, go to the park, enjoy picnics and barbecues with family and friends, bike or eat outside at restaurants, as long you are not with a big crowd. This is what the Centers for Disease Control and…
GINA Ortiz Jones, a Filipina American Iraq War veteran who ran for U.S. Congress twice, will be President Joe Biden’s nominee for undersecretary of the Air Force. Jones, who is openly gay, is tapped to be the No. 2 in command in the military branch where she served as an intelligence officer during the “Don’t…
R&B singer-songwriter H.E.R. has earned her first Oscar for her song “Fight For You” from “Judas and the Black Messiah.” The 23-year-old artist, who is Black and Filipina, took home the Oscar for Best Original Song at the 93rd Academy Awards on Sunday, April 25. The song beat out fellow nominees “Husavik” from “Eurovision Song…
AAPI groups call on more community-centered policies WITH overwhelming bipartisan support, the United States Senate on Thursday, April 22 approved a hate crimes bill in response to the recent surge in violence and discrimination against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a 94-1 vote, the COVID-19 Hate Crimes…
A FILIPINO American group is urging the U.S. government to expedite the release of three million doses of the Moderna vaccine purchased by the Philippines. The Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO), a group of young Fil-Am professionals, on Thursday, April 22, launched the #ModernaVax2PH campaign, urging the community to join in adding pressure on U.S….
Fil-Am public servant previously served as deputy mayor for budget and innovation THE Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday, April 21 confirmed a Filipino American public servant to lead the city’s Bureau of Street Lighting. Miguel Sangalang is the new director of the bureau that oversees the maintenance and improvement of LA’s 220,000 street lighting…
THE board of directors of the Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture, also known as “FilAm Arts,” has named Giselle Töngi-Walters as the organization’s Executive Director — only its third-ever in its near quarter of a century history. FilAm Arts is a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles with a mission…
Opportunistic scammers are exploiting COVID to steal from you. IRS warns that dark web thieves are targeting tax preparers and taxpayers. These dirty criminals constantly mutate like the virus. These filthy scammers have been busy targeting economic stimulus payment. Here are some basic security guidance for individual taxpayers, business taxpayers and tax professionals. Protect personal…
OUR image of Jesus may often be the nice and sweet person who does not cause troubles in our lives. That’s far from the totality of Jesus that we hear in the Scriptures. He was not always nice and sweet. He didn’t keep quiet when he saw things in disorder. He didn’t always appease people….
Q: I WAS diagnosed with a spine compression fracture and severe depression. I want to request leave but want to keep my privacy at work. Do I need to tell my employer about my medical or psychological condition? A: No. The employee is not required to disclose the nature of the employee’s medical condition or…
THIS is one thing I hear from people all the time: “If you ask me, I really hate doing this, but I feel I have no choice.” Of course, no one ever wakes up one morning and decide to just file bankruptcy without seriously thinking it over. Usually, people spend a lot of time going…
Establishing parentage rights for Moms is a lot easier than establishing one for unmarried Dads. Moms can establish this by simply showing proof of her having given birth to the child. Family Code §7610. Establishing parentage rights, including custody and visitation rights, becomes more problematic with unmarried Dads because proving yourself as the biological father…
ARE income taxes owed to the IRS dischargeable in bankruptcy? What do you think? Of course, they are dischargeable. There are certain conditions that have to be met but they areindeed dischargeable. Are you kidding me, you ask? No kidding, they are dischargeable. Client is in his 50s. He migrated by himself first to America,…
A COMMUNITY pantry is definitely NOT the “Communist Party.” Some people with ill intentions are linking the grassroots initiative to “communism” and creating fear and doubt among people instead of hailing the community spirit among Filipinos, that even people in other countries are now talking about. As a Bloomberg report stated: “Dozens of makeshift stalls…
FILIPINA American Vilma Kari is on the path of recovery nearly a month after she was brutally attacked in New York City. In an interview with ABC7 New York, 65-year-old Kari talked about the incident that left her with serious injuries, including a fractured pelvis and forehead contusions. “It’s so surreal watching that incident and…
ON Tuesday, April 20, when the guilty verdict was called in the case of George Floyd’s murder by former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin, millions of Americans cheered for what many believed was a long-awaited serving of justice in cases involving police brutality against unarmed individuals. The jury in the highly publicized case found Chauvin guilty…
A new, walk-up mobile COVID-19 clinic launched this week to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to underserved communities in Los Angeles, presented by Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas in partnership with CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (CHA HPMC) and the Southern California Eye Institute (SCEI). The clinic provided free Pfizer vaccines to those who meet eligibility criteria per…
WITH the current rise of anti-Asian hate and discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic, over 30% of Asian adults say they have feared being threatened or physically attacked, according to a recent survey by nonpartisan think tank Pew Research Center. The research firm on Wednesday, April 21, released the study highlighting the negative experiences of U.S….
IT was an idea that became a reality just as the pandemic was hammering the world last year. This is the story of Mercado Vicente, a story about Filipinos coming together to help each other out. The premise was simple, and it began as a response to the rising anti-Asian sentiment early last year and…
IT’S official: California now has its first Filipino American attorney general. The state Legislature on Thursday, April 22 confirmed Assemblymember Rob Bonta as the next chief law enforcement officer, a month after he was nominated by Governor Gavin Newsom. The 48-year-old progressive Democrat received 29-6 votes in the Senate and 62-0 in the Assembly, where…
Plan would go into effect on May 1 BUSINESSES in the Las Vegas area are set to increase their capacity to 80% at the beginning of May. Starting May 1, establishments — such as restaurants, bars and gyms — can expand from 50% to 80% capacity, following the Clark County Commissioners’ approval of the mitigation…
Majority of countries on ‘Do Not Travel’ list THE United States is urging its citizens to “avoid all travel” to the Philippines due to the ongoing risk of COVID-19 transmission and other safety threats. The State Department on Tuesday, April 20, factoring in the assessment of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said…
CHEF Reina Montenegro is ready to continue her reign as the queen of vegan Filipino comfort food. Montenegro — a restaurateur who formerly operated three Nick’s locations in the San Francisco Peninsula — has opened a brick-and-mortar under her own brand, Chef Reina, along Visitacion Avenue in Brisbane, California. At the new storefront, which held…
