IT’S the season of the Filipino lolas. Disney UK recently released its Christmas video featuring a grandmother (lola) and the Filipino parol, tugging the hearts of Filipinos in the diaspora. Then a couple of weeks ago, “Blue’s Clues & You!” introduced Josh’s lola, along with yet another Filipino classic, the bibingka. But before these grandmas…
MORE than 277,000 Filipinos have returned to the Philippines since the country’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) began COVID-related repatriation efforts in February. A total of 277,320 Filipinos abroad have been repatriated by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) since it began its COVID-related repatriation efforts in February. Of the figure, 86,413 (31.16%) are…
THE Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been granted the authority to allow emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, December 1, signed Executive Order No. 121 allowing FDA Director General Eric Domingo to issue Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for vaccines or treatments deemed safe and effective against the…
COVID-19 affects only the lungs As of today, the COVID-19 pandemic has victimized almost 64 million people and had killed nearly 1.5 million around the globe. The heart is one of the organs affected by COVID-19 infection, besides the lungs. Actually, as the disease progresses, multiple-organ damages could occur, especially among the seniors with other…
MINORS should stay inside their homes during the holiday season as they are also at risk for contracting the coronavirus, the Philippine Department of Health advised on Wednesday, December 2. “Our position has not changed. As much as possible, we discourage that because the risk is still there,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III maintained. He…
FOR the merry month of December, internationally known boxing champ and Philippine senator Manny Pacquiao heads the list of prominent celebrities who will be celebrating their birthdays this month. The eight-division world champion boxing legend turns 42 on December 17. Known by his monicker “PacMan,” Senator Pacquiao added to his list of accomplishments when he…
Newsom hints at another statewide stay-at-home order AS California’s COVID-19 rates continue to soar, cities across the Bay Area are implementing new measures to hinder the spread of the virus. Most of the state has been placed in the most-restrictive tier, meaning they must follow a limited stay-at-home order as introduced by the state last…
THE December 2020 priority dates continue to provide great news for workers in the EB-3 (skilled/professional) and “other worker” (unskilled workers like caregivers). The priority dates for all countries (except India and China) are CURRENT! This includes the Philippines! This means visas are available, regardless of the person’s priority date. If a person is being…
Pinay rapper Ruby Ibarra among guest performances ON December 12, Kollaboration will be virtually celebrating its 20-year anniversary of inspiring and promoting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) creative community in media and entertainment. The show will be full of star studded shoutouts, guest appearances, and incredible performances. The show will feature special guest…
Filipino American author Jason Tanamor will discuss his new #ownvoices novel, “Vampires of Portlandia,” with fellow Filipino author, Grace Talusan, in a Zoom In-Conversation on Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. PDT. The event is free and will be sponsored by Annie Bloom’s Books in Portland, Oregon. “Vampires of Portlandia” is about a family…
FOREIGN spouses and children of Filipino citizens are only allowed to enter the Philippines if the Filipino citizen or balikbayan is traveling with them, the Philippine Bureau of Immigration clarified on Tuesday, December 1. “The intent of the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) resolution was to enable foreigners to reunite with their families in the Philippines,”…
METRO Manila will remain under general community quarantine (GCQ) for the entire month of December. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, November 30 approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) to extend the capital region’s GCQ status. Aside from Metro Manila, seven other areas will be under GCQ until…
Over 11,700 infections SIXTEEN more Filipinos around the world have contracted the coronavirus, bringing the official tally to 11,708 individuals, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Tuesday, December 1. The department also recorded 42 new recoveries, pushing the total number of recovered and discharged patients to 7,539. The death toll remained at…
AMID rising hate crimes and other forms of discrimination experienced by communities like Asian American and Pacific Islanders, Los Angeles County has marked this week as the inaugural ‘United Against Hate Week.’ From November 30 to December 6, the LA vs Hate initiative is encouraging and supporting county residents to unite against, report and resist…
December begins with 7K new cases, officials prepare for a forthcoming surge from Thanksgiving travel, large gatherings IN an effort to curb the spike in coronavirus cases and deaths, Los Angeles County issued a strict stay-at-home order that took effect on Monday, Nov. 30. The order, which was announced on Friday, will remain in effect until…
COVID-19 outbreaks have affected restaurants throughout Los Angeles County, from a Panda Express in Sun Valley to the University of California’s Bruin Cafe. If you live in Los Angeles, you can access health department reports about these outbreaks online. But in most of the country, diners are left in the dark about which restaurants have…
THE United States has authorized a second vaccine against the coronavirus for emergency use, with shipments starting to arrive this week. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday, December 18, granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) to Moderna Inc’s COVID-19 vaccine a day after the agency’s advisory panel endorsed it as safe and effective….
“ … You have changed my mourning into dancing, O Lord, and have girded me with joy, alleluia…” —Psalm 30 (Excerpted from the conclusion of a 3-part article) … There is news of suicide that hits you harder because you personally know the person who took his own life. By all accounts, he has led…
“My generation in Germany were always asking our parents and grandparents how Adolf Hitler could have happened in a democratic state—I think, now we all know it from firsthand [watching the United States]” -Hartmut Mueller, Germany SHORTLY after major media organizations called the elections for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris folks came out in jubilation, complete…
Kalayaan Incorporated, an established 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization has donated funds to the victims of one of the worse typhoons that have hit the main island of Luzon. The donation was made through the effort of Board member Redy Babasa-Thompson who made contact with Rotary Club of Meycauyan East District 3770 headed by James…
GOLpH Cup Foundation and Kahel GC have teamed up to host the 1st Annual Battle of the Alma Mater at Sierra Lakes Golf Club in Fontana, California on Saturday, December 5, 2020. This event will feature golfers from six distinguished schools including Ateneo, DLSU, UST, U.P., Colegio San Agustin and DLS-Zobel all vying for the Al…
ADVENT is very special to me because year after year, my birthday (December 1) is within the Advent season. This year, Advent lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas — from November 29 to December 24. The reflection of this year’s advent season has an even deeper meaning and significance to us as we…
FOR one day only, diners can get a taste of Apl.de.Ap’s adobo while giving back to the Philippines, which has been recently hit by three typhoons. The Black Eyed Peas member’s non-profit organization, the Apl.de.Ap Foundation International, is partnering with Los Angeles’ HiFi Kitchen to bring “Unbreakable: Adobo in Action” this Saturday, Dec. 5. The…
The respiratory risks of this unsettling time seem to multiply before our eyes. Coronavirus continues to spread and sicken thousands – yes, even teens.1 2 And this year’s wildfires caused extreme pollution.3 It’s important to remember, now more than ever, that vaping can weaken lung function. In fact a new study finds that vaping is…
FOR Christina Nester, the pandemic lull in Massachusetts lasted about three months through summer into early fall. In late June, St. Vincent Hospital had resumed elective surgeries, and the unit the 48-year-old nurse works on switched back from taking care of only COVID-19 patients to its pre-pandemic roster of patients recovering from gallbladder operations, mastectomies…
THE Philippines on Friday, November 27, will sign a tripartite agreement for two million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine against the novel coronavirus, according to the country’s vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. “This coming Friday, pipirma po tayo ng tripartite agreement na kung saan tayo po ay makakabili ng dalawang milyong doses ng bakuna mula sa…
THE United States ranked 18th and the Philippines 46th among 53 countries when it came to handling the novel coronavirus pandemic most effectively, according to a Bloomberg study released this week. In the report entitled ‘The Best and Worst Places to Be in the Coronavirus Era,’ published on Tuesday, Nov. 24, Bloomberg surveyed 53 economies…
FORMER Filipino citizens or “balikbayans” will be allowed to enter the Philippines visa-free starting December 7, Malacañang said on Friday, November 27. Their spouses and children, regardless of age, are permitted entry into the country without a visa requirement as well. According to Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Resolution…
