Former Fil-Am US Solicitor General on Trump’s list of potential Supreme Court nominees
FILIPINO American Noel Francisco, the former U.S. Solicitor General, was among the 20 people named in President Donald Trump’s list of possible Supreme Court additions this week. Trump released the list, which also includes Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Ted Cruz of Texas, and Josh Hawley of Missouri, in the event there is a vacancy…
Filipina immigrant appointed director of Nevada’s Office for New Americans
When Charina de Asis arrived from the Philippines to Las Vegas nearly a decade ago, she had questions about how to navigate the workforce and access essential services in her new home. “When immigrants with a different background and skill set come, they wonder how to translate that to the United States economy,” de Asis…
PH drug war killings worsened during COVID-19 lockdown — HRW
THE number of killings caused by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign worsened during the COVID-19 lockdown, New York-based Human Rights Watch said Wednesday, September 9. The international watchdog found that 155 people were killed by the police from April to July 2020, which is 50% higher than the 103 deaths from December 2019 to…
SilverSummit Healthplan donates 15,000 face masks and hand sanitizers to the Clark County School District
Las Vegas (September 2, 2020) – In an effort to keep teachers and staff protected during the COVID-19 pandemic, SilverSummit Healthplan recently donated a combined 15,000 face masks and hand sanitizers to the Clark County School District (CCSD). While the district has opted for distance learning for its students, all teachers and staff are required…
Bureau of Corrections signs Pemberton release order
THE Phiippine Bureau of Corrections (BOC) on Thursday, September 10, approved U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton’s release order from detention. The order was signed by BuCor chief Gerald Bantag. After Pemberton is released, he will be transferred to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for deportation. “Surrender can happen today if the BI is…
[OPINION] AAPI working families deserve better than Trump’s dangerous rhetoric, failing economy
By Grace Vergara-Mactal, SEIU and Gloria Caoile, APALA Kung flu. Chinese virus. These aren’t hurtful taunts from schoolchildren overheard on the playground. They’re the words of the sitting President of the United States of America — and they have fanned the flames of bigotry against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders throughout the course of the…
Breaking down systemic white supremacy and the rise of the alt-right
Former FBI special agent discusses the United States’ checkered past with white supremacy and the ways far-right views on race have infiltrated law enforcement THE ethnic and racial makeup of the United States has, in the last few decades, become more diverse. The increase in demographic diversity is partly due to immigration influxes, like the…
Nostalgia for sale: How So Sarap NYC is blazing a trail through Filipino street food
THERE are some food items that automatically trigger nostalgic trips down memory lane for many, and that holds true for Filipinos who have lived abroad for a while now who have an earnest yearning to travel back home. Case in point: the long lines at Kabisera on Allen St. on Labor Day Weekend, where a…
Filipino restaurateurs in New Jersey remain hopeful as indoor dining with some restrictions resumes
Restaurants in New Jersey has allowed indoor dining beginning last Friday, September 4. On Wednesday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that he is lifting the six-month ban and will allow indoor dining at restaurants at a limited capacity starting Sept. 30. “Reopening responsibly will help us restore one of our state’s key industries while…
Wildfires continue to scorch Northern California region
Bay Area residents wake up to ‘orange’ sky BAY Area residents woke up to sunset-like conditions on Wednesday, September 9 as smoke clouds and a thick marine layer combined to prevent the sun’s rays from fighting through the dense atmospheric blanket. The orange-colored sky surprised many Northern California residents, and could be observed in cities…
DFA notes an increase in cases of overseas Filipinos recovering from COVID-19
THE Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday, September 9, observed a rise in the number of overseas Filipinos who have recovered from the novel coronavirus as it recorded 49 new recoveries. “Figures today show another increase in the number of Filipinos abroad who have recovered from COVID-19, with 49 new recoveries in Asia…
Panelo: COVID-19 should not hinder gov’t projects
CHIEF Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Wednesday, September 9, said the novel coronavirus pandemic should not stop the government from implementing its projects as he defended the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Manila Bay ‘white sand’ project. He reiterated that a budget has been specifically allotted for it, even before the global…
[OBITUARY] Engr. Lauro Macabagdal Tecson (January 13, 1954 – Sept. 2, 2020)
Lauro Macabagdal Tecson Born January 13, 1954 • Died Sept. 2, 2020 Beloved Husband and Father, Great Brother, Civil Engineer, A Church Choir Singer Survived by Family Members: Fely G. Tecson, Wife Jonathan, son and wife Jayne Grandaughter Camila Gabrielle and niece Madeline Galla Brothers Andy and Vicente, sister Carmelita Memorial Service and Viewing at…
[OBITUARY] Noli Zosa (November 20, 1939 – August 28, 2020)
On August 28, 2020, our beloved Noli Zosa, M.D., loving husband of Nena and father of Gigi (Tim), Noli Jr., and Noel (Cathy), grandfather of Marissa, Andrew, Alex, and Lino, joined our Creator at the age of 80. Noli was born on November 20, 1939 in Cebu City, Philippines to Dr. Cipriano and Perla Zosa….
Pemberton to be deported from PH after release
THE Bureau of Immigration on Wednesday, September 9, announced that U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Joseph Scott Pemberton will be deported out of the country after his release from detention. “Merong existing deportation order against him (There is an existing deportation order against him),” said DOJ Undersecretary Markk Perete. “So he will be deported by the…
Sunshine Cruz and her three beautiful daughters
SEPTEMBER will always have a special significance in Sunshine Cruz’s heart. It was just two years ago that petition to annul her marriage to fellow actor Cesar Montano was granted (the couple separated around seven years ago). From a plain housewife, Sunshine, who belongs to the famous Cruz showbiz clan, was thrust into the role…
14 ways to good health
Amidst this killer pandemic of COVID-19, a positive frame of mind and a healthy attitude are good preventive weapons against SARS-CoV2 virus on top of good personal hygiene and behavior, wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, and doing social distancing. The data, as of 4:38 PM, CST, September 8, 2020: Global – Cases: deaths: 27,716.807, with…
Getting an abusive green card
DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: I married a U.S. citizen for love, hoping we would live “happily ever after.” Unfortunately, soon after marriage, he changed. He drank a lot, gambled, took drugs, called me names, said he would never petition me and would try to get me deported. He gets very angry when I laugh and speak…
Historic Filipinotown event encourages community to respond to 2020 Census, get tested for COVID-19
HISTORIC Filipinotown in Los Angeles has experienced a disproportionately high rate of COVID-19 infections, yet when it comes to responding to the 2020 Census, the neighborhood’s response rate remains low. To tackle the two issues at hand, a pop-up event was held at the LA Downtown Medical Center — a Fil-Am co-owned hospital along West…
Beware of the ‘one ring’ phone scam
For illegal robocallers, the goal isn’t always getting you to answer. Sometimes, it’s getting you to call back. Every so often, your phone may ring once and then stop. If that happens to you, and you do not recognize the number, do not return the call. You may be the target of a “one-ring” phone…
No plans to censor Netflix in PH – MTRCB
The content on Netflix and other video-on-demand (VOD) providers in the Philippines will not be censored, the country’s Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) said on Tuesday, September 8. “We were not censoring. I hope that you don’t see MTRCB as a censorship board… We’re asking the VOD providers (to) do self-regulation with…
DENR insists Manila Bay ‘white sand’ project safe
THE Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) maintained that the dolomites used to beautify the stretch of Manila Bay’s shore are safe following claims of its potential health hazard. “It is not listed by the Mines Safety and Health Association, Occupational Safety and Health Association or even in the International Agency for Research…
439 positive COVID-19 cases, 7 new deaths in LA County
LOS Angeles County recorded 7 new deaths and 439 positive cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, September 8. Tuesday’s latest reports bring the total county cases to 249,241 and 6,036 deaths. Of the fatalities, three were over the age of 80, one person was between the ages of 65 and 79, and three were between the…
Gender-neutral terms ‘Filipinx,’ ‘Pinxy’ added to online dictionary
DICTIONARY.com recently announced that it has updated thousands of its entries as well as 650 new terms related to race and ethnic identity. Of the new additions, five are related to the Philippines: “Filipina,” “Filipinx,” “Pinay,” “Pinoy,” and “Pinxy.” “Filipinx,” pronounced filipineks or filipinks, is a gender-neutral noun or adjective that relates to natives or…
When there’s no other choice but bankruptcy
THIS is one thing I hear from people all the time: “If you ask me, I really hate doing this, but I feel I have no choice.” Of course, no one ever wakes up one morning and decide to just file bankruptcy without seriously thinking it over. Usually, people spend a lot of time going…
The murder of innocents
“I am a woman’s advocate. I stand against abortion.” —Abby Johnson ABBY Johnson is a woman through whose eyes the 2019 movie about abortion from her book, “Unplanned” is based. She was a former worker for Planned Parenthood, the biggest and most vile abortion factory in the world responsible for millions of deaths of the…