THE Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday, August 13, logged 57 new cases of the novel coronavirus among Filipinos abroad, bringing the total number of infections to 9,873. It also recorded one new fatality, raising the death toll to 722. Meanwhile, the number of recovered overseas Filipinos has reached 5,821 as the DFA…
Malacañang said competing for tourists was what drove a newspaper from Thailand to brand the Philippines as the “Land of COVID-19.” According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, the Philippines and Thailand are “fierce” competitors in the tourism sector, with the latter struggling to attract tourists due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. “There’s also no way…
FILIPINO hip-hop dance crew UPeepz on Wednesday, August 12 wowed “World of Dance” judges as they competed in the semi-final round of the American dance competition. UPeepz’s 11 members showcased Filipino culture on the international stage by incorporating several local influences in their performance. They wore costumes that featured local weaves that remind of royalty from…
THE Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles this week released an advisory detailing which foreign nationals can travel to the Philippines as the pandemic continues. “The entry to the Philippines of a foreign national is still dependent on the specific circumstances of each foreign national as determined by the Bureau of Immigration,” it noted. Below is the…
By: Martin Santiago THE resilience of the housing market continues as mortgage rates hit another all-time low, giving potential buyers more purchasing power and strengthening demand. We expect rates to stay low and continue to propel the purchase market forward. However, the main barrier to rising demand remains the lack of inventory, especially for entry-level…
DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Wednesday, August 12, reiterated his confidence over the National Capital Region (NCR) returning to general community quarantine (GCQ) once the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) enforced on the area and nearby provinces ends on August 18. “My statement has a caveat. If trends continue that the new cases decrease, because…
AWARD-WINNING actress Maricel Soriano revealed in a recent interview with The Philippine Star that she is happy to help her younger co-stars and fellow actors who seek her opinion. “It’s a good feeling when they ask for (my opinion about or seek my) help in approaching (let’s say) this (scene),” she was quoted as saying…
“COOKING” N95 masks N95 respirator mask has been the standard personal protective equipment (PPE) for COVID-19. Since this face covering is frequently in short supply and a bit pricey, sterilizing it for re-use is in demand. Some wash it with peroxide, others expose it to UV-C light, some even microwave it. A recent study from…
IN A previous article, I wrote that on July 29, 2020, a federal court judge issued a nationwide injunction prohibiting USCIS from enforcing, applying, implementing, or treating as effective, President Trump’s new public charge rules as long as there is a national health emergency caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. On the same day, the judge…
HAS President Donald Trump been fantasizing about becoming a dictator like his idol Russia’s Vladimir Putin and his favorite presidents-for-life China’s Xi Jingping and North Korea’s Kim Jung Un? In History News Network, author John C. Waugh, wrote an article with the eyebrow-raising title, “Trump – A Wannabe Dictator in Training.” “In a view shared by many,…
By Emily Guerin and Gabriel Dunatov | KPCC/LAist For decades, salespeople at a remote resort in the Mojave Desert have allegedly used high pressure sales tactics to sell land to thousands of people throughout California, including many in Filipino, Chinese and Latino communities. Now, the California Department of Business Oversight has accused the company of…
Two years into Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s term, Filipina American filmmaker Ramona Diaz set out to make a documentary about the crackdown on illegal drugs that has drawn international attention. However, the strongman’s war on drugs has become the focus of many films, which led Diaz — whose previous work includes “Motherland,” “Don’t Stop Believin’:…
IN the inclusive rider era of Hollywood, it’s almost become a pedestrian party line to pledge support for diversity but the actual outturns thus far of that proclamation still leaves more to the imagination. But the world of animation — a space governed by entertainment bigwigs, Disney, Pixar and Dreamworks — is a space where…
The foreign spouses and dependents of Filipino citizens will need visas to enter the Philippines, the country’s Bureau of Immigration recently announced. The new requirement took effect on August 9. “Foreign spouses of Filipinos must now secure entry visas from our Consulates abroad before traveling to the Philippines. Otherwise, they will be denied entry by…
The Philippine government has run out of funds to help those directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic in the country, President Rodrigo Duterte admitted on Monday, August 10. This comes after medical front-liners have called on the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until the end of the month. However, the president said the government would…
FIVE more Filipinos injured during last week’s explosion in Beirut, Lebanon have been identified by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), bringing the tally to 47. “We are still thankful that the injuries sustained by our kababayans (countrymen) are not life-threatening. We also thank our Embassy personnel for taking prompt action,” said Undersecretary Sarah…
Victoria S. Clamor is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine licensed to practice in California. A majority of her patients at Trinity Medical Clinic in Ontario are on health care programs, such as Medicaid, the need-based health insurance program for low-income people, and Medicare. Understanding that funding for these public health care services uses…
by Rachel Bluth California lawmakers are barreling toward an end-of-month deadline to pass or kill bills amid the biggest public health crisis the state has faced in a century. Yet even in a year consumed by sickness, they’re considering significant — sometimes controversial — health policy measures that aren’t directly related to COVID-19. Much of…
Small business owners in Los Angeles’ 13th council district can apply for a grant program starting this week. Led by Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell and the city’s Economic and Workforce Development Department, $1 million of discretionary funding has been allocated to help small businesses pay bills while the safer at home orders continue to be in…
“… Oh, to go back to the comforts of the past, pre- pandemic, To breathe freely, sans the mask… Back to the touchy feely hum of life Never again will I take it for granted …” —MAM OH 2020!!! I wish I saw you coming. But could we have taken evasive action? Could we have…
YES, BIDEN-HARRIS 2020! “I have the great honor to announce that I’ve picked @KamalaHarris — a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants — as my running mate,” former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, announced on Twitter on Tuesday, August 11. This personally excited me…
Harris becomes the first Black woman and Asian American person on a major party ticket SEVERAL Filipino American elected officials and community leaders on Tuesday, August 11 reacted to the selection of California Senator Kamala Harris as former Vice President Joe Biden’s running mate. “Fierce, endlessly-talented, values-based, and Oakland-born, [Kamala] will not back down as…
The United States is urging its citizens to reconsider traveling to the Philippines due to the coronavirus pandemic. The appeal came after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a level 3 Travel Health Notice for the country. “Reconsider travel to the Philippines due to COVID-19. Additionally, exercise increased caution in the Philippines…
All passengers traveling on Philippine Airlines will be required to wear face shields, on top of the mandatory face masks, starting August 15. The new measure is in compliance with the latest guidelines that the Philippine Department of Transportation set for the public transport sector. “Passengers are required to wear masks and face shields during…
In light of this year’s COVID-19 pandemic and movements addressing racial injustice in the United States, The Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) in Seattle, Washington has announced the theme of this year’s Fil-Am History Month to be “The History of Filipino American Activism.” This October will be a reflection on how the Fil-Am community…
SUSANA Reyes was recently elected to serve as vice president of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)’s board of commissioners. “This is a tremendous honor and responsibility and a boost for [Asian American and Pacific Islander] representation,” Reyes wrote in a Facebook post. Reyes, a 32-year veteran of the city, became the…
