Search continues for Chula Vista Fil-Am mom missing for almost 2 months
THE search for the missing Filipina American mother of three in Chula Vista, California continues, nearly two months after her sudden disappearance. A group of people looking for May “Maya” Millete on Tuesday, February 23, put up a billboard on Main Street between Hilltop Drive and 3rd Avenue in Chula Vista to raise more awareness…
Vaccinations to open to teachers, law enforcement, food workers on February 27
THE County of San Diego an-nounced on Wednesday, Febru-ary 24 that COVID-19 vaccina-tions will open Saturday, Feb. 27, to people who work in emergen-cy services, child care and edu-cation, and food and agriculture (including grocery stores).Currently, health care person-nel, long-term care facility staff and residents, and those who are 65 years and older are eligible…
DOLE clarifies plan to exchange PH nurses for COVID-19 vaccines
Filipino health care workers are not “commodities” that can be traded in exchange for COVID-19 vaccines, an official from the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) clarified. DOLE public information head Rolly Francia on Wednesday, February 24, said that the agency wanted to ensure that the Filipino health care workers who will be deployed…
Duterte undecided on VFA abrogation, seeks public opinion
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte is turning to the public as he remains undecided on what to do with the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). In a public address aired Wednesday night, February 24, he admitted that he doesn’t know whether to renew or abrogate the agreement with the United States, adding that he wants to hear…
California Community Colleges Chancellor Oakley urges students to apply for financial aid before March 2 deadline
CALIFORNIA Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley sounded an alarm for students to apply for financial aid ahead of the Cal Grant March 2 deadline to get the most aid possible.Applications are down significantly compared to last year, and with the effects of COVID-19 impacting students’ income, more students are facing financial barriers that could…
[RECIPE] Chicken Macaroni
THE American touch to the Filipino celebratory noodles is this Chicken Macaroni salad. Its richness comes from the dressing, the combination of mayonnaise, condensed milk, and cheddar cheese. Raisins and pineapple not only add color but also contribute sweet and tangy flavors. Ingredients: 1 pack PAGASA Elbow Macaroni ¼ lb skinless chicken; cut into strips…
9 books by Fil-Am authors to put on your 2021 reading list
Looking for your next quarantine read? Here is a roundup of several books — from fiction to food — by Filipino/a American authors that hit shelves in the new year or are slated to be released later in 2021. “The Revolution According to Raymundo Mata” by Gina Apostol (Jan. 2021, Soho Press) Award-winning writer Gina…
Backlash ensues after PH offers nurses in exchange for COVID vaccines from UK, Germany
THE Philippine Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is under fire after one of its officials said that the agency is open to lifting the cap on the deployment of Filipino health care workers in exchange for COVID-19 vaccines from the United Kingdom and Germany. International Labor Affairs Bureau (ILAB) director Alice Visperas on Monday,…
De Blasio warns against Asian hate incidents in NYC
“Let’s be clear, if you’re even thinking about committing a hate crime, if you dare to raise your hand against a member of our Asian communities, you will suffer the consequences. We have the strongest efforts in this country to fight hate crimes. The NYPD is focused like never before on finding anyone who commits a…
Steven Raga announces bid for New York City Council seat
2 other Fil-Ams running as well THREE Filipino Americans are attempting to break the glass ceiling in New York City politics, running for city council posts in the upcoming June primary elections. Steven Raga is running for District 26 (Queens), Deirdre Levy for District 35 (Brooklyn), and Marni Halasa for District 3 (Manhattan). Raga announced…
NYC’s target: 5 million fully vaccinated by June
Mayor Bill de Blasio wants about five million New Yorkers to be fully vaccinated by June. “We are on track – I’ve been asked this, and I want to affirm. We can reach five million vaccinations. We can reach five million New Yorkers fully vaccinated by June,” de Blasio said on Wednesday, Feb. 23. “So…
SF moves to Phase 1B of COVID-19 vaccinations, expands eligibility to educators, child care, emergency services, food and agriculture workers
Vaccine supply remains limited, but more San Franciscans and workers are now eligible to make appointments for vaccination as they become available SAN FRANCISCO — On Wednesday, February 24, San Francisco moved into Phase 1B, of the State’s COVID-19 vaccination prioritization plan. This move to Phase 1B expands vaccine eligibility to people who live or…
Gov. Newsom signs relief package with stimulus checks, small business aid
NEARLY a year into the coronavirus pandemic, California Governor Gavin Newsom this week signed a $7.6 billion relief package that will give one-time payments to over 5 million low-income residents and grants for small businesses. Newsom on Tuesday, February 23 signed several bills that will fast-track relief to Californians, including one that will give $600…
Cardinal Tagle appointed to Vatican’s central bank
CARDINAL Luis Antonio Tagle, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, has been appointed by Pope Francis as a member of a powerful body that acts as the Vatican’s “central bank.” Tagle was appointed as a member of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), which acts as the equivalent…
Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto recognized by US as anti-corruption champion
PASIG City Mayor Victor “Vico” Sotto is one of the 12 individuals recognized by the United States Department of State as an international anti-corruption champion. The Biden administration launched the International Anticorruption Champions Award to recognize individuals who have worked to defend transparency, combat corruption, and ensure accountability in their own countries, U.S. Secretary of…
Utility scams are snow joke
WINTER often brings the blues, but when it brings Arctic blasts, burst pipes, power outages, and even icicles indoors, scammers aren’t far behind with weather-related scams. Scammers know severe weather may have shut off your electricity, heat, and water and might pose as your utility company. They might call to say that they’re sorry your…
SMC Libraries welcomes Fair Oaks Branch Library to its family of libraries; City of Redwood City to continue financial support
SAN MATEO — Beginning March 15, San Mateo County Libraries will assume operational responsibility for the Fair Oaks Branch Library — a move that will increase public service hours of operation and expansion of programs. The transfer follows approval of a new cost-sharing agreement between the San Mateo County Library Joint Powers Authority and the…
[COLUMN] People: Guinea pigs?
HUMOR is healthy, especially during a pandemic. We all need it, together with a positive attitude, in this world calamity that has afflicted almost 113 million people and claimed about 2.5 million lives around the globe. Perhaps I find some of the fake news on social media amusing because I am a physician – more…
[COLUMN] Duggan’s Serra Mortuary president Dan Duggan heads list of March birthday celebrants
DAN Duggan, the president of Duggan’s Serra Mortuary, heads the list of prominent personalities celebrating their birthdays in the month of March. Dan will celebrate his birthday on Saturday, March 27. Duggan’s Serra Mortuary is where many Filipino Americans honor and pay their last respects to their loved ones before leaving this world. It is…
[COLUMN] Biden’s new US Citizenship Act of 2021 – key highlights
ON February 18, 2021, Pres. Biden and the Democrats formally introduced the “U.S. Citizenship Act” of 2021. It is a massive bill, over 350 pages long, covering a variety of immigration issues, and reforms, including a pathway to U.S. citizenship for the approximate 11 million undocumented noncitizens in the U.S. I will not go through…
In the New Normal, LG Brings Clean Air Direct to Your Home
Spending almost all of your time at home is the new normal. Google’s COVID-19 Community Mobility Report, which tracks the frequency of visits to, and length of stay in various places, reveals that the amount of time people are spending at home has increased since February last year. With stay-at-home orders in place in many…
Puyat affirms support for Siquijor’s reopening
SAN JUAN, SIQUIJOR — Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat yesterday (24 February) traveled to Siquijor, as part of the ongoing efforts to assist in the safe reopening of tourist destinations in the new normal. Puyat emphasized the DOT’s thrust to strengthen domestic tourism this year, adding that the department will support Siquijor after…
Vallejo Fil-Am store owner in recovery after being shot multiple times during attempted robbery
A Filipino American small business owner and father of three in Vallejo, California is expected to recover and walk again after being shot multiple times during an attempted robbery earlier this month. Marc Quidit, 49, was discharged from the hospital and greeted at home with flowers and balloons as family members led a prayer on…
LA County food, education, emergency services workers eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in March
ESSENTIAL workers in food, education and emergency services will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in Los Angeles County starting March 1. Those who work in food and agriculture, education and childcare, and emergency services and as first responders can get vaccinated starting next week, the county Department of Public Health announced on Wednesday, February 24….
[OPINION] The lines between us
How upcoming redistricting will shape Asian American communities for the next decade by Sonni Waknin and Alex De Ocampo If there is one takeaway from the Presidential and Georgia Senate elections of 2020, it is the power of communities. Organizers all across the country, from the Navajo nation in Arizona to African American and Southeast…
[OPINION] Supreme Court ruling schools Trump: No president is above the law
DONALD TRUMP might have been “acquitted” by his power-hungry Republican minions in Congress twice after being impeached by the House of Representatives twice despite his abuse of power and obstruction of justice in 2020 and for inciting January 6 insurrection in the nation’s Capitol. But the Supreme Court handed down a ruling that reminded Donald…