Filipino avant-garde designer Rocky Gathercole, known for dressing Hollywood stars, dies unexpectedly
ROCKY Gathercole, a celebrated Filipino avant-garde designer who dressed Hollywood celebrities from Lady Gaga to Jennifer Lopez, died unexpectedly at the age of 54. Gathercole was found unconscious at his Quezon City home on Wednesday, March 3, ABS-CBN News reported. A cause of death has not been revealed as of this writing. In a 2016…
GoFundMe launches #StopAsianHate initiative to benefit community organizations
WITH the rise in violence against Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), GoFundMe this week launched the #StopAsianHate initiative, a centralized hub of fundraisers that will benefit the community. The GoFundMe page features verified fundraisers from across the country that will benefit victims of violence, organizations that provide resources for those affected and increased protection in…
Mission to Mars: Fil-Am NASA engineers play key roles in Perseverance rover landing
AFTER a seven-month-long journey, NASA’s Perseverance rover made its historic landing on Mars in mid-February, ushering in a new era of exploration and study on the red planet. Perseverance is touted as the “most advanced astrobiology laboratory ever sent to another world.” The mission was launched on July 30, 2020 from Cape Canaveral Space Force…
Filipino artists Trevor Jimenez, Paul Abadilla among crew for Golden Globe winner ‘Soul’
PIXAR’s “Soul” brought home Golden Globe awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score at the 78th annual ceremony on Sunday, February 28. Directed by Pete Docter and co-directed by Kemp Powers, “Soul” is the first film from the animation studio to feature a Black protagonist (Jamie Foxx), as well as highlight a predominantly…
What Biden’s US Citizenship Act of 2021 will do for family immigration
WHEN Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Rep. Linda Sanchez of California first introduced the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 in Congress on Feb. 18, the general consensus among immigration activists was mixed. Some criticized the bill — which largely calls for reviews and not immediate repeals of the immigration policies of former…
PH starts COVID-19 vaccine rollout
AFTER being delayed for weeks, the Philippines has finally kicked-off its vaccination drive against COVID-19 this week. The first dose of Sinovac Biotech’s “CoronaVac” vaccine from China was administered to University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital Director Gerardo Legaspi on Monday, March 1, making him the first person in the country to officially receive the…
‘Dedicated to her work’: Pinay nurse dies of COVID-19 in SoCal
A Filipina mother of two sons from Whittier, California has died from COVID-19 after working on the frontlines as a licensed vocational nurse. Rowena “Wendy” Miguel, 53, died on January 10, three weeks after testing positive for COVID-19. She was employed at Kindred Hospital in La Mirada, California for nearly five years, and worked a…
After House approval, US Senate prepares to take up $1.9 trillion bill later this week
AMERICANS may be closer to receiving the long-awaited first COVID-19 stimulus checks of the new administration as the U.S. Senate moves forward on making a decision on President Joe Biden’s sweeping COVID-19 bill, which includes $1,400 direct payments to most American taxpayers. The House of Representatives passed the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package — dubbed…
California’s $6.6 billion school re-opening plan prioritizes low-income, special needs children
MEMBERS of the California state Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled a $6.6 billion school re-opening plan, which aims to get children in grades kindergarten through 6th back to classrooms by March 15, and older children by mid next month. The plan prioritizes students who would benefit the most from in-person instruction kids from low-income…
Grocery workers in LA County to receive ‘hero pay’
THE Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed an urgency and temporary ordinance on Tuesday, February 23 that requires larger grocery retail and drug retail stores located in the unincorporated areas of the county to pay their employees no less than $5-per-hour hazard pay in addition to the employee’s base wage. The new temporary “Hero Pay” Ordinance…
Duterte to end VFA if US nukes found in PH
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte is threatening to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) anew if he finds “hard information” that the United States has stored nuclear weapons in the country. “I am warning you that if I get hold of a hard information that nuclear armaments are here brought by you, I will immediately ask…
[OPINION] Spring forward: Vaccine supply for every adult in the US by end of May
SPRING comes early with great news that brings us closer to our collective aspiration to defeat COVID-19, so we can go back toward “normalcy” and rebuild our lives and our nation. President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday, March 2 that the United States will have the vaccine supply we need to cover ALL adults in…
[OPINION] A shot in the arm against COVID-19
After one of the most challenging years of our lives, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel—the COVID-19 vaccines are here, and my administration is working to ensure that no community is left behind. The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. They are our best hope to end the pandemic. Getting a COVID-19…
[OPINION] To vax or not to vax
The vaccines are finally here! And they are excellent at preventing symptoms from COVID-19, including those severe and life-threatening cases that require hospitalization. I am grateful for having received my two doses since the vaccine is still in short supply. Friends in our circle who have received it are happy. But others have expressed hesitancy,…
[COLUMN] Acres of diamonds
“Your diamonds are not in far distant mountains or in yonder seas; they are in your own backyard, if you but dig for them.” – Russell H. Conwell, Acres of Diamonds A FARMER in Africa heard glowing stories of other farmers who have become rich by discovering diamond mines in the continent. Filled with excitement…
[COLUMN] California court’s power to make divorce orders when one spouse does not live in state
THIS is a common question among people contemplating divorce in California when the other spouse does not live in the state. The California Courts has the power to grant a divorce, annulment, or legal separation if either party is domiciled in the state. Domicile is where a person lives and intends to remain. However, there…
KZ Tandingan sings Disney’s first Filipino-language song for ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’
FILIPINA singer KZ Tandingan will sing Disney’s first Filipino song for its upcoming animated film “Raya and the Last Dragon.” Tandingan — dubbed “Asia’s Soul Supreme” — will be “lending her voice” for “Gabay,” which was described as a song about trust, strength, and unity, Disney Philippines revealed on Tuesday, March 2. “Asia’s Soul Supreme…
Back to school? Parents, educators still hesitant about in-person learning until COVID cases drop, more vaccines
LAUSD to allow some on-campus activities in March THE Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is slated to welcome back certain on-campus activities by the first week of March, but some parents and educators have several demands before the nation’s second-largest school district returns to in-person instruction. The district will begin its partial reopening next…
As LA County vaccine eligibility expands, Filipinos prepare for return to ‘normal life’
Starting March 1, workers in food service, education and childcare and emergency services will be eligible for vaccine in LA County WHILE the coronavirus vaccine is currently only available to health care workers and residents over 65 years old in Los Angeles County, starting on March 1, vaccine eligibility will expand to include three major…
PH Embassy: Fil-Ams advised to exercise ‘utmost caution’ amid hate, attacks vs Asians
THE Philippine Embassy in Washington is urging Filipinos in the United States to exercise “utmost caution” following the recent string of attacks on Asian Americans. In its statement released on Thursday, February 26, the embassy noted “with concern the rise in attacks on Asian Americans,” particularly elderly individuals, in various parts of the country. “Filipinos…
‘Yellow Rose,’ ‘Lingua Franca,’ ‘A Thousand Cuts’ among films eligible for Oscars
THREE Filipina American filmmakers are one step closer to making it to the Oscars. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday, February 25, revealed the 366 films eligible for the best picture Oscar at the 93rd Academy Awards, set to air on April 25 live on ABC. Among the films included in…
[OPINION] Being Asian American in the time of coronavirus racism, hate speech and hate crimes
THE majority of folks who experience racism are African Americans. But the pandemic has seen an upturn in incidents of racism, hate speech and hate crimes against Asians largely from the coronavirus’ association with Asia, particularly China, where the virus is said to have originated. Many of these incidents, especially hate speech and related behavior,…
[OPINION] Part II: New development in the US war against COVID-19 brings hope and relief to our Filipino nurses fighting on the frontlines
THIS week hit a sobering milestone. President Joe Biden marked 500,000 American deaths with a moment of silence at sunset last Monday, February 22, the National Public Radio reported. He also ordered flags on all federal buildings lowered to half-staff for five days. But we have reasons to be optimistic about the United States’ war…
[COLUMN] Biden revokes Trump’s immigration ban!
ON February 24, 2021, Pres. Biden revoked Trump’s immigration ban for immigrant visa applicants, which was scheduled to expire March 31, 2021. What this means is that, subject to COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing, embassies should now start scheduling people for their immigrant visa interviews immediately. (The ban is still in effect for non-immigrants, such…
[COLUMN] Employee harassed by customer at work: Is employer liable?
Jennifer Christian worked at Umpqua Bank as a Universal Associate. In late 2013, a male customer asked her to open a checking account. While this initial interaction was unremarkable, the customer soon began visiting the bank to drop off “small notes” for her, stating that Ms. Christian was “the most beautiful girl he’[d] seen” and…
[COLUMN] Clean green energy ETFs (Part 4 of 4)
THIS is the fourth of four articles on clean energy. Invesco Solar (TAN): • Invesco Solar ETF offers exposure to global technology and utilities stocks that can benefit from demand for solar as an alternative energy. • Investors benefit from the diversification and liquidity to U.S., European and Chinese companies in one product. • The…
[COLUMN] Child support and naturalization
ANG green card holder ay maaaring mag-file ng N400 Application for Naturalization kung siya ay may 5 taon nang green card holder (3 taon kung ang green card ay nakuha dahil sa kasal sa U.S. citizen at sila ay nagsasama pa din). Ang aplikante para sa naturalization ay kailangang magpakita na sa statutory period na…
[COLUMN] When an unpaid credit card debt becomes a lawsuit
HAVE your credit card debts become so large that you can’t even afford the minimum payments? Or perhaps you’re already behind and your accounts have been turned over to collections? What do you do to get out of this financial mess? If you are in this situation, maybe you’ve wondered about what the legal repercussions…