US Census count cut short to Oct. 15 after Supreme Court ruling
In the latest debacle over the decennial enumeration, the U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to halt all census counting efforts on Thursday, October 15, two weeks before the deadline. The high court on Tuesday, October 13 approved the administration’s request to suspend a lower court’s order that extended the census’ deadline to…
Northern California Fil-Am father in desperate need of Filipino stem cell donor
People of color, including Filipinos, are less likely to find a stem cell match in national registry ALAMEDA, CA — In a year marred by crises of varying proportions, everything feels a little bit precarious. Political divisions layered over a global health crisis and the quick erosion of socioeconomic normalities continue to shake the public…
Philippine-based social enterprise Rags2Riches, which turns overstock fabrics into fashion accessories, launches North America online shop
STARTING this month, products from social enterprise Rags2Riches will be available to the North American market with its first self-branded store outside of the Philippines. R2R is a 13-year-old fashion and design house that creates eco-ethical fashion and home accessories out of upcycled and overstock fabrics. Behind every accessory is a Filipina/o artisan with a…
[OPINION] Racial sensitivity training is not un-American propaganda. It builds community.
“Being a black person in this world doesn’t kill you, but being a black person in America clearly can.” — Mustapha Okango, Nairobi-based anthropologist In September, President Trump through Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought issued a ban on federal funding for “spending related to any training on ‘critical race theory,’ ‘white…
‘Filipinos Feed the Frontlines’ campaign comes to LA’s Historic Filipinotown
GOING eight months into the pandemic, the bayanihan spirit of the Filipino American community is unwavering, as individuals continue to extend generosity to support frontline workers and families in need. The “Filipinos Feed the Frontlines” campaign on Thursday, October 8 began its first distribution of 100 meals from Fil-Am restaurant Sari Sari Store to residents…
‘This is what we needed this year’: Fil-Am Laker fans react to the team’s 17th championship title
LOS ANGELES — When it became clear that the Los Angeles Lakers would clinch their 17th NBA Championship, Josemaria Esteban began to cry tears of joy. The 38-year-old registered nurse in Northridge is a lifelong fan of the Lakers and, in particular, an admirer of the late great Kobe Bryant. “I was beyond excited when…
Study: Over half of young women in PH experience online harassment
SEVEN in 10 girls and young women living in the Philippines have experienced online harassment on social media, according to a recent study by girls’ rights organization Plan International (PI). Released on Sunday, October 11, in celebration of the International Day of the Girl, the research, entitled “Free to be online? Girls’ and young women’s…
COVID-19 can survive for 28 days on certain surfaces — research
THE novel coronavirus can survive on certain surfaces, such as banknotes, phone screens and stainless steel for 28 days, a study by Australia’s national science agency found Monday, October 12. Researchers at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) discovered that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was “extremely robust” on surfaces like stainless…
LA Public Health advises individuals to quarantine, get tested if exposed to large gatherings
AS Los Angeles residents celebrated the Lakers’ victory and took part in large protests over the weekend, Los Angeles County health officials released new guidelines to remind that the threat of the coronavirus still looms. “If you were in a crowd with non-household members, especially if people weren’t wearing face coverings and were shouting, chanting,…
Chicken Inasal at home with Manila Inasal’s Salu-Salo Box
Filipinos love chicken, just look at all the restaurants and fast food places around the country selling fried or grilled chicken and you’ll see the big picture. Inasal is one of the more popular ways of grilling meat and are no longer just a Bacolod thing as inasal outlets have sprouted nationwide. Who could resist…
Velasco is new PH House Speaker, Cayetano resigns
The Philippine House of Representatives on Tuesday, October 13, ratified the election of Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco as the new speaker, unseating Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano. In a plenary session inside the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City, a total of 186 House members voted to ratify Velasco’s election in a bid to…
Angels among us (Part 2 of 4)
“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.” — From Frank Capra’s film It’s a Wonderful Life” (Continued from last week …) The belief in the presence and power of angels to intervene is strong in popular conservative culture. In a remarkable 1999 Hallmark film, “A Season for Miracles,” an angel plays a…
[OPINION] DECISIONS 2020 : Comparing Trump, Biden health care plans (Part 2)
HEALTH CARE, more than ever, especially in the age of the coronavirus pandemic, remains to be the among the top concerns of the American people as we head to the polls to vote. In Part 1, I wrote about President Donald Trump’s “America First Health Care Plan,” which just laid out the three pillars of…
National Filipino American Lawyers Association launches voter protection program to help voters in CA, AZ & NV
The National Filipino American Lawyers Association unveiled its first-ever Voter Protection Program (VoPro), a national non-partisan effort designed to protect the vote and rights of voters for the upcoming 2020 general election. The program is comprised of over 30 NFALA attorneys from the group’s various affiliates across the nation. They will be available to answer…
Sequel to Fil-Am movie ‘Lumpia’ to premiere at Hawaii International Film Festival
The Hawaii International Film Festival has officially unveiled its 40th Anniversary lineup and among the roster of select films making its nationwide world premiere will be “Lumpia With A Vengeance.” The long-awaited action-comedy features former UFC fighter Mark Muñoz, April Absynth, Darion Basco, and Danny Trejo (Machete, From Dusk Til Dawn). The 40th Hawaii International…
The role of political parties in Asia and the global community and the possibilities of union between the two Koreas
Today marks the 20th Anniversary of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), which we founded and launched here in Manila on September 17-20, 2000, to serve as a forum for dialogue, understanding and cooperation on issues and challenges in Asia through the network of political parties. We earlier planned to hold our ICAPP…
Video-Streaming of “GUADALUPE” AT TICKET2ME.COM, OCTOBER 30-31, 2020
After a long wait due to the COVID19 PANDEMIC, “GUADALUPE” the Musical returns as a STREAMABLE VIDEO, taped live at the Meralco Theater in 2018, brought to the comfort of your living rooms and favorite devices starting at 9 AM October 30 for the Premier Showing until 11:30 AM on October 31, 2020, (all Philippine…
GUADALUPE: THE MUSICAL
Synopsis(Short Version) 1531. New Spain, the land that will one day be known as Mexico. Although it has already been 13 years since the Spanish conquest, some Aztecs still bristle under the yoke of colonial oppression. Amidst this unrest, a middle-aged native named JUAN DIEGO visits Archbishop JUAN DE ZUMÁRRAGA, claiming to have seen a…
How to avoid IRS audits
1. REPORT all income IRS receives copies of 1099s and W-2s from your work, bank, buyers – people who pay you. Failing to report a W-2 wage statement or1099 subcontract income is flirting with IRS scrutiny. 2. Check your occupation Your occupation must be consistent with your income and expenses. It does not make sense…
New law provides greater protection for your home against creditors
THIS has got to be the best news I have heard recently! Given the huge job losses and high unemployment rate that have left many unable to pay their debts, this may be the biggest change in the law that can help many people protect and keep the substantial equity they have in their family…
Long Beach woman, center of viral anti-Asian tirades, gets 47-day jail sentence for assaulting Pinay
A Long Beach woman who was captured in two viral anti-Asian videos this past summer will get her time in jail for attacking a Filipina American at a South Bay mall nearly a year ago. Lena Hernandez, a 54-year-old retired social worker, on Tuesday, October 6 pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery for attacking Kayceelyn…
‘Filipinos for Trump’ hold caravan to show support as president recovers from coronavirus
AS President Donald Trump spent last weekend at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center after contracting COVID-19, a group of loyal Filipino American supporters in Southern California came together for a caravan and rally to double down on their support for the president. Dubbed “Filipinos for Trump,” more than 300 Filipino Americans gathered on Sunday, October 4…
COVID-19 cases in PH on a downward trend – researchers
RESEARCHERS from the University of the Philippines have noted a decline in the number of new COVID-19 cases being logged in the country. “The number of cases in the Philippines has been decreasing, and currently at less around 2,500 new cases per day (based on case reports),” the UP OCTA Research team said in its…
Duterte calls Congress for special session on budget deliberations
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte called on Congress to conduct a special session next week to ensure the timely passage of the proposed P4.5-trillion budget for 2021, Malacañang said on Friday, October 9. “President Rodrigo Roa Duterte today, October 9, has called the Congress to a special session scheduled on October 13-16, 2020 to resume the congressional…
[OPINION] ‘Pinoys for Trump’ rally highlights the duality between virtue and reason
by Daniel Ynchausti After attending the ‘Pinoys for Trump’ Rally in Walnut, California last week, it is clear that many Filipino Americans who do support President Trump this upcoming election have trouble reading between the lines when faced with ethical reasoning in comparison to their own religious values and virtues. When asked about how President…
Family of missing Filipino man in Ontario, CA requesting public’s help in search
A Filipino American family in Ontario, California is desperately calling upon the public to help search for an older family member who has been missing since mid-September. The person missing is Mauricio “Jun” Acero, who was last seen on Sept. 16. Acero’s family has since filed a missing persons case with the Ontario Police Department….
Fil-Am basketball star Sage Tolentino receives offer from Auburn University
FILIPINO American Sage Tolentino announced that he was offered a spot in Auburn University’s basketball program. “I am humbled and honored to receive an offer from Coach Bruce Pearl and the entire Auburn family. All glory to God,” the 7-foot Hawaii-raised center wrote his Instagram account on Wednesday, October 7. The Auburn Tigers, the college…
God’s invitation
“I can do all things in him who strengthens me!” (Philippians 12:1) THESE words of St. Paul from the Second Reading this Sunday evoke the joy of Christian life. With the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can face and endure the challenges and pains of life….