Self-care in each sip: Pinay-founded Droplet enters the wellness industry with functional beverages
FIVE years ago, Celeste Perez launched Well Fed, a design studio that has celebrity restaurateurs and hospitality groups among its clientele. The downsides of a bustling business for Perez, however, were heart palpitations, being unable to sleep at night, and developing poor eating habits. The effects of burnout caught up to her as it eventually…
Duterte honors COVID-19 frontliners
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, August 31, paid tribute to Filipino front-line workers fighting against the novel coronavirus pandemic as the country commemorated National Heroes’ Day. “Today, we honor not only the valor of our forebears who fought for our mother land’s freedom, but also the heroism of those who risked their lives, fighting…
Known as a mother figure, 62-year-old Filipina dies of COVID-19 in Southern California
Fondly called “Mama Teng,” Maria Teresa Banson was revered as a mother figure to students and colleagues. Before migrating to Southern California in April 2005, she taught computer science and other subjects at St. Paul University, Iloilo City, Philippines. “Mama extended her motherly figure to her students at St Paul. She would guide and inspire…
Census, COVID-19 testing pop-up event comes to Historic Filipinotown
With less than 30 days until the 2020 census response deadline, an upcoming event in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown neighborhood is part of the final push to have community members counted in the decennial enumeration. A drive-thru/walk-up census event will be held on Saturday, September 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at LA Downtown…
Mutual fund basics
“Don’t look for the needle in the haystack. Just buy the haystack.” —John C. Bogle Founder, Vanguard YEARS ago, I was searching for something to place a small amount of money that can yield a little growth if left alone for some time. A bank certificate of deposit, perhaps, I thought. But the yield was…
CA begins final push for 2020 census responses
COMMUNITIES across California are still urged to fill out their 2020 U.S. Census forms as the deadline approaches at the end of September. The decennial count, which can be done by phone, online or mail, enumerates where individuals live as of April 1. “Fundamentally, our message is clear: time is running out to make an impact on…
Metro Manila placed under GCQ until end of September
METRO Manila will remain under general community quarantine (GCQ) for the entire month of September, President Rodrigo Duterte announced Monday, August 31. The provinces of Bulacan and Batangas, as well as the cities of Tacloban and Bacolod, will also be under GCQ until Sept. 30. Iligan City will be under the stricter modified enhanced community…
[OPINION] Part II: Ethnic studies builds stronger ties among communities
In a previous essay, I wrote that the passage of AB 1460 and its signing into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom provided a measure of protection against certain forms of censorship, such as the statewide ban in Arizona schools against ethnic studies classes. There are actually more nuanced forms of censorship in California’s public…
Ahead of Labor Day weekend, LA County officials warn against large gatherings
AMID the public’s frustration over lockdown measures, Los Angeles County officials are advising the public against Labor Day weekend celebrations outside of the home in order to avoid another increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the county has recorded 242,521 positive cases and 5,829 deaths as of Tuesday, Aug….
[OPINION] Law and order president? The chaos and violence Trump wants you to be fearful and hateful of is happening now under his watch
DOOMSDAY in America is what President Donald Trump has been scaring people about in his campaign. He warns that if his opponent, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, wins in November, then people will not be safe with all the chaos, violence, and killing happening in the country. He claims only he can fix this and…
Duterte appoints Cascolan as new PNP chief
PHILIPPINE Interior Secretary Eduardo Año announced on Tuesday, September 1, that Lt. Gen. Camilo Pancratius Cascolan has been appointed as the new chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) by President Rodrigo Duterte. “Lt. Gen. Cascolan is the new Chief PNP, PRRD signed the paper of appointment,” he told the Philippine News Agency. “That’s the…
Part of Route 35 in Daly City, California to be named after Filipina American activist Alice Bulos
The route known as Skyline Boulevard will bear the name of community leader and activist Alice Pena Bulos A portion of California State Highway 35 in Daly City will be named after the late Filipina American activist and community leader Alice Pena Bulos, according to a resolution passed in the state Legislature on Friday, August…
Fil-Am R&B artist H.E.R. wins ‘Video for Good’ award at the 2020 MTV VMAs
Black Filipina American R&B artist H.E.R. won the Video For Good award for her song “I Can’t Breathe” at the MTV Video Music Awards 2020 on Sunday, August 30. “I Can’t Breathe” is a song highlighting the recent police killings of unarmed Black individuals, such as Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, and the ongoing protests…
Fil-Am Republicans energized as Trump makes pitch for second term
AMID the scaled-down Republican National Convention, a group of supporters from across the country, dubbed “Filipino Americans for Trump,” met virtually to discuss why they’re continuing to support the president and what their priorities are to get out the vote until November 3. “This is no ordinary election. This is a decision that we have…
A year into Paula del Mundo’s mysterious disappearance, her family is desperate for answers
A Filipino American transgender nursing assistant has been missing for almost a year, and while her family is terribly desperate about the slow process of the search, they remain hopeful that they will be able to be reunited with her someday. Paula del Mundo, 59, went missing on September 14, 2019 at the Dallas Fort…
Fil-Am nonprofit SIPA partners with housing firm to develop new headquarters, residential building in Historic Filipinotown
The project is expected to be completed by early 2022 A new chapter for a long-standing organization in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown is underway. Nonprofit organization Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) on Thursday, Aug. 27 announced it began rebuilding its new headquarters in the neighborhood that will incorporate affordable housing units. The project, named…
Philippine Airlines named among safest airlines for travelers during COVID-19
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has been named among the world’s top 10 safest airlines during the current coronavirus pandemic, according to a newly released database that looks at COVID-19 traveler health and safety protocols. Of the over 150 airlines evaluated by Safe Travel Barometer, PAL was listed as the ninth safest for both travelers as of…
Over 60 groups urge UN Human Rights Council to launch probe into EJKs, rights violations in PH
OVER 60 human rights groups are calling on the United Nations Human Rights Council to establish an independent international investigation into the extrajudicial killings and other rights violations in the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte. In a letter addressed to the UN body on Thursday, August 27, 62 human rights and civil society groups expressed their…
Locsin recommends ending ties with Chinese firms in SCS reclamation
PHILIPPINE Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. on Friday, August 28, said local contracts with any Chinese companies involved in island-building activities in the West Philippine Sea should be terminated following the United States’ move to blacklist firms that took part in the militarization activities in the disputed waters. “If I find that any of…
Less travel, more investments
By Martin Santiago PENDING home sales, which measure signed contracts to purchase existing homes, increased 5.9% in August compared with July, according to the National Association of Realtors. The usual summer slowdown in the housing market is not happening this year. Buyers continue to show strong demand, spurred by the new stay-at-home world of the coronavirus and…
LAUSD board votes to include ethnic studies classes in K-12 curriculum
Joining the CSU, the LAUSD will now implement an ethnic studies requirement for its students STUDENTS in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) would now have to take an ethnic studies course as a graduation requirement, according to a new resolution passed on Tuesday, Aug. 25. The resolution is an expansion of existing ethnic…
Pemberton counsel seeks early release
An urgent motion seeking the immediate release of U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton has been filed before Judge Roline Ginez-Jabalde of the Olongapo City Regional Trial Court Branch 74. According to Lawyer Rowena Garcia-Flores, Pemberton should have been released from prison on July 31 after serving more than half of his 10-year sentence…
Filing bankruptcy if your income has been affected by COVID-19
WHEN the virus makes your income disappear overnight, it can be very frightening to realize that you can’t go very long without it because your bills don’t stop just because your income did. No one ever wants to file bankruptcy. But if you are one of the millions laid off and don’t even know whether…
The presence of evil in the world
IS Satan real? In other words, does he exist and still influence our thoughts and actions? This is a fundamental question that often comes to our minds. Well, I’m sure we can answer this question by merely looking at the evil things going on around us and in the world. Among them are corruption, greed,…
[OPINION] Amid racial injustice in the era of Trump, our generation can still fulfill the promise of America
“We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal” “I HAVE A DREAM that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal,” civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr….
Complaining of employer’s illegal conduct is protected activity
DR. Jan Weber worked for 5 years as a psychiatrist for the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, a public hospital in Santa Clara County. He was assigned at the hospital’s child and adolescent psychiatry department. During his employment, Dr. Weber complained to his supervisors about substandard patient care and unsafe work conditions, including the following:…
9 dos during IRS audits
YES, I know, audits are serious stuff. But they do funny stuff to people like you when you are under audit, under stress. I have seen clients pretend to be cool when they are actually scared. My advice is for you to act naturally; otherwise, the auditor may think that the return is also a…