Report: 83 Filipino registered nurses in the US have died of COVID-19
OVER 80 registered nurses of Filipino descent have died from the coronavirus, making up 26.4% of total RN fatalities in the United States since the beginning of the pandemic, according to a new report. The National Nurses United on Thursday, March 18 released an update to its September 2020 “Sins of Omissions” report, finding that…
CA’s My Turn COVID-19 vaccine scheduling system now available in Tagalog
CALIFORNIA’S COVID-19 vaccine scheduling tool My Turn is now available in 12 languages, including Tagalog. MyTurn.ca.gov — a website that allows the state’s residents to schedule appointments and be notified when they’re eligible — has been updated to include five new languages in an effort to be accessible to more residents, the California Department of…
DOT Statement on Holy Week
The Holy Week has always been a strategic opportunity for growth in the tourism sector. However, given the recent surge in COVID cases, our goals for the sector will have to yield to public health concerns. This will hopefully pave the way to a safer and more resilient resumption of tourism activities in the future….
‘Words have consequences’: Biden, Harris meet with Asian American leaders, denounce violence following Atlanta attacks
UNITED States President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with Asian American leaders in Atlanta on Friday, March 19, three days after eight people, including six Asian women, were fatally shot at three spas in the area. “Racism is real in America and it has always been. Xenophobia is real in America, and…
PH Consulate in LA: Fil-Ams advised to ‘exercise vigilance’ amid anti-Asian violence
FILIPINOS and Filipino Americans should ‘exercise vigilance’ amid the reported attacks against Asian Americans, the Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles advised. The Consulate General issued an advisory on March 15 expressing its “concern over the upsurge of reported incidents of aggression towards Asian Americans in various parts of the United States.” The day after…
[OPINION] Dear Filipinos in America: It is time to have a serious talk with the family about racism and the spread of the virus of hate
BREAKING NEWS about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) being massacred and assaulted because of their racial identity has dominated the headlines in recent weeks. Many of them are of Filipino descent. Here are some cases as the Asian Journal reported: In Georgia: Eight people, including six women of Asian descent, were mercilessly shot by…
[OPINION] A challenge and an opportunity against hate, misogyny & gun violence
The fatal shootings in Atlanta, Georgia of six women of Asian descent at businesses known to employ Asian workers are frightful and terrifying. It marks an escalation in the level of violence associated with the spike in anti-Asian aggressions during this pandemic. How can a minority group that was touted as a “model minority” turn…
House passes two immigration bills, sets pathway to citizenship for undocumented youth
THE U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday, March 18 overwhelmingly passed a pair of immigration bills designed to overhaul the American immigration system, including creating a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children. Commonly known as DREAMers, these undocumented immigrants would earn permanent resident status that would lead to naturalization,…
PH grants EUA to Russia’s Sputnik V vax
THE Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an emergency use authorization (EAU) for Gamaleya Research Institute’s Sputnik V. “After a rigorous and thorough review, the FDA is granting EUA to the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine,” FDA Director General Eric Domingo said Friday, March 19. “It is decided that all conditions for an EUA…
[COLUMN] The ‘Hero Pay’: LA enacts $5 hourly hazard pay for grocery & pharmacy employees
IT has been over year since California declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, many employees have stopped coming to their workplaces and have worked from home instead. However, those who were considered “frontline” workers do not have the option of working at home. Considered “essential” to the functioning of…
[COLUMN] On dealing with suffering
“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” (John 20: 24) IT’S hard to suffer—to face the unknown, to lose someone you love, or to think of the worst illness in one’s self or the people dear…
[COLUMN] Social media and US visa applicants
“Visa applicants to the U.S. should be aware that they are required to submit any information about social media accounts they are using and those that they have used in the past 5 years under U.S. Department of State (DOS) policy.” SA panahon ngayon ng pandemic at dahil sa madaming lockdown order sa buong mundo,…
[COLUMN] Q&A for third round of stimulus payments
HERE are simplified Questions & Answers about the freshly minted third round of stimulus payments under the new American Rescue Plan Act of March 2021. 1. How much is the third Economic Impact Payment? $1,400 for individuals, $2,800 for married couples plus $1,400 for each dependent. You will get a payment for all your dependents…
[COLUMN] I filed my own divorce but I can’t finish it
MANY people try to file and open their own divorce case without an attorney in an effort to save on legal fees. Often, the self-represented divorce litigant would seek the assistance of the court facilitator’s office in preparing the papers to open their own divorce case. However once the divorce case is opened, many self-represented…
Authentic Buddha Dharma that is Irrefutable and Scientifically Incontrovertible
Originally reported by Jiang Qing in U.S. Headline News – “Lifting the Pestle onto the Platform,” a test for verifying Buddhist practitioners’ realization power, has overturned a thousand-year-old belief that those who had left footprints in rocks were Holy Gurus. The fact is no one ever witnessed in person the foot impressions actually being made…
PH builds food-export momentum at Biofach 2021
The Philippine participation at the recently concluded Biofach saw promising numbers in terms of buyers met, inquiries garnered, and negotiated sales accumulated CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan is optimistic about the increase in sales and appreciation as Biofach continues to feature its exhibitors until September 2021 At the recently concluded Biofach 2021, the Philippine delegation…
[COLUMN] Do not guarantee business loans
FIRST of all, let’s have a moment of silence in prayer for those who were killed in the massage parlors in Georgia two days ago: Delaina Ashley Yaun, Xiajie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Soon C. Park, Hyun J. Grant, Sucha Kim, Yong A. Yue, and Paul Andre Michels. Six of the eight victims were Asian women….
Fil-Am nurse practitioner part of Cal State LA’s community care program
In time of COVID-19, Cal State LA’s Chin Institute places nurses in at-risk communities On her first shift in the field in her new job, Cal State LA nursing graduate Sarah Francisco found herself swept up in the COVID-19 crisis, helping vaccinate patients in South Los Angeles as the virus surged toward a catastrophic peak….
UPDATE: All Filipino citizens allowed to enter PH, foreigners barred starting March 22
All Filipino citizens are allowed to return to the Philippines, but foreign nationals are still temporarily barred starting March 22. This update comes after the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF COVID-19) issued a Memorandum Circular on Friday, March 19 to further clarify the temporary suspension of travel into the Philippines. Filipino citizens, whether a…
‘Unfortunately it is very American’: House committee holds hearing on rise of anti-Asian crimes, discrimination
SEVERAL prominent Asian American lawmakers and activists testified before a House Judiciary subcommittee on Thursday, March 18, two days after a horrific Atlanta-area shooting that left eight individuals, including six Asian women, dead and as nearly 3,800 anti-Asian hate incidents have been reported since the beginning of the pandemic. Thursday’s hearing, which was held before…
Filipino, Fil-Am celebrities call to #StopAsianHate in the US
FILIPINO American celebrities have joined in calling for an end to the hate and violence being directed at various Asian communities in the United States. The hashtag #StopAsianHate has trended on Twitter following a series of attacks in Atlanta that killed eight people, including six of whom were Asians. Rapper Ruby Ibarra condemned the shootings,…
Fil-Am Community of Nevada mourns after targeted shootings of Asian women in Georgia
by Gloria T. Caoile THE Filipino American Community of Nevada (National Federation of Filipino American Associations – Nevada) is mourning after eight people were murdered at three spas in Georgia on Tuesday, March 16. The shootings targeted AAPI women and mark an escalation of the anti-Asian racism that has been growing in the United States…
Covered CA, community leaders and health plans highlight key American Rescue Plan provisions and lay out a roadmap to lower premiums and help millions get covered
SACRAMENTO — Covered California released new data and announced new partnerships to highlight how the American Rescue Plan can benefit 25 million Americans, including 3 million in California. “The new and expanded financial help provided by the American Rescue Plan is a very big deal for millions of Americans,” said Peter V. Lee, executive director of…
All Nevadans 16 and over will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccine on April 5
NEVADA Governor Steve Sisolak this week announced two major updates on the state’s COVID-19 vaccination timeline, with more residents having access to the vaccine within weeks. On March 22, vaccination opportunities will be available to all Nevadans aged 16 and older with underlying health conditions, as laid out in the State’s COVID-19 Vaccination Playbook. Vaccination opportunities for this group of Nevadans will be…
Jollibee seeks global expansion in 2021
THE pandemic is not stopping Filipino fast-food chain Jollibee from reaching its goal of opening 450 restaurants around the world in 2021. Jollibee CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong said he is looking toward global expansion while looking for acquisitions that could be funded with the company’s P57.5 billion ($1.2 billion) in cash and short-term investments. “There are…
PH rights situation report ‘malicious’ – Andanar
PHILIPPINE Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar has rejected the findings of international watchdog Investigate PH on the country’s human rights situation, calling them “malicious.” “We strongly disagree with the malicious report by Investigate PH on the human rights situation, and the policies and programs of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and his administration,” he…
Mayor Gloria reflects on first 100 days of progress
Touts efforts to address COVID-19, homelessness, among other issues WITH Saturday, March 20 marking his 100th day in office, Mayor Todd Gloria reflected on the major steps taken to improve the lives of San Diego residents in every neighborhood through his efforts to create a more equitable city government that tackles major issues head on. Some…
Rizal Park And Paco Park Adjust Visiting Hours, Remain Open For Physical Exercise
To support the efforts of local government in curbing the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila, the National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) is adjusting visiting hours to Rizal Park and Paco Park. Starting Friday, March 19, 2021 and effective until further notice, both parks will limit operating hours from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00…