Fil-Am actor Jon Jon Briones stars in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix drama, ‘Ratched’
The new horror show from Hollywood powerhouse Ryan Murphy follows the origins of the iconic screen villain Nurse Ratched As Hollywood and the entertainment industry embark on the long-awaited journey toward inclusion and diversity, there’s one Filipino American who continues to lead the way for the culture. Stage and screen actor Jon Jon Briones will…
4 Filipinos dead, 31 injured in Beirut blast
FOUR Filipinos have died in the massive explosion in Beirut, Lebanon this week, while 31 were injured, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday, August 7 said. “We are saddened by the latest turn of developments. The higher figure comes as our Embassy personnel work to ascertain the condition of the Filipinos in…
27th Annual Pistahan Parade and Festival goes virtual
SAN FRANCISCO — The Filipino American Arts Exposition (FAAE) invites the community to virtually join San Francisco’s 27th Annual Pistahan Parade and Festival. Traditionally held at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco each August with over 80,000 attendees in person, Pistahan has represented the largest celebration of Filipinos in the U.S. This year, Pistahan has…
Census Bureau to end counting efforts a month earlier on September 30
The United States Census Bureau will be ending all of its 2020 counting efforts — including door-knocking, and online, mail, and phone responses — on September 30, a full month earlier than it had previously planned. The sudden deadline change, according to bureau director Steven Dillingham, was to “accelerate the completion of data collection and…
All registered voters in Nevada to receive mail ballots
IN an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus as the November election draws closer, Nevada is the latest state to approve a plan to send absentee ballots to all active registered voters. Governor Steve Sisolak on Monday, August 3 signed Assembly Bill 4, which covers conducting elections “adversely affected by certain emergencies or…
Ramon S. Ang: Today’s Ideal Filipino Leader
Nowadays, the Philippines, much like every other country in the world, is facing a very challenging and difficult time. Filipinos’ day-to-day lives have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in many ways: the loss of some family members, jobs and income, mobility, and even homes because of travel restrictions. Because of such challenges, there is…
Twilight Glory: Honoring Heroes And Veterans
The Philippines has many heroes—living and dead, recognized and unsung—who helped shape the country’s destiny and honoring them is the least the nation can do for them. This is the essence that publisher and author Melandrew T. Velasco wanted to underscore when he wrote Twilight Glory: A Tribute to Filipino Heroes and Veterans with Philippine…
Philippines now COVID-19 hotspot in Southeast Asia
WITH a total of 119,460 cases of the novel coronavirus, the Philippines surpassed Indonesia’s 118,753 and became the country with the highest number of infections among member nations of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN). The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday, August 6, recorded 3,561 additional COVID-19 cases, with the majority of them…
‘Modest spike’ seen in COVID-19 cases among overseas Filipinos
THE PHILIPPINE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday, August 6, recorded 65 additional cases of the novel coronavirus among Filipinos abroad, bringing the total number of infections to 9,692. “Figures today show a modest spike in the total number of COVID-19 cases among Filipino nationals abroad with 65 new confirmed cases in Asia and…
Virginia’s new Poet Laureate is a Filipina immigrant from Baguio City
LUISA A. Igloria, an award-winning and prolific Filipina American poet and author, has a new title: Poet Laureate of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Originally from Baguio City, Igloria currently teaches at Old Dominion University’s MFA Creative Writing Program and has written several books of poetry. She was informed in early May that her name was on…
Official: ‘Discrepancies’ in state’s lab system may have resulted in undercount of COVID-19 cases
As California saw a drop in COVID-19 numbers earlier this week, a top health official suggested that discrepancies in the state’s electronic data system may have resulted in undercounts of cases. California Health and Humans Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said on Tuesday, August 4 that “some discrepancies” have been discovered in the state system…
Fines needed to force mask compliance, says SMC Supervisor Canepa
Emergency ordinance passes at Board of Supervisors meeting August 4 REDWOOD CITY – An emergency ordinance proposed by San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa to impose fines for individuals and businesses that violate the state’s COVID-19 health orders, including not wearing face masks in high risk settings, was unanimously passed by the county Board at…
Arroyo defends Duterte from critics
FORMER President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday, August 4, came to the defense of President Rodrigo Duterte following the public backlash he received over the government’s supposed inefficiency in handling the novel coronavirus pandemic. In her Facebook post, Arroyo called Duterte’s critics “Monday morning quarterbacks,” a term used for people who criticize something and offer alternative…
Cayetano: House to prioritize COVID-19 response over death penalty bill
HOUSE Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday, August 5, assured that addressing the novel coronavirus pandemic in the country is the priority of the House of Representatives. According to him, while discussions on the reimposition of the death penalty is allowed, the COVID-19 pandemic would take precedence in the chamber. Cayetano listed the proposed Bayanihan…
[COLUMN] COVID-19 misconceptions
MASKS and distancing do not work While there were limited data early this year about the effectiveness of personal hygiene, frequent handwashing, and wearing a mask and social distancing when in public to avoid getting infected with the COVID-19 infection, today, 7 months later, after the pandemic started in Wuhan, China, evidence-based data have confirmed…
Richard Gutierrez added to cast of FPJ’s ‘Ang Probinsiyano’
TV and movie action star Richard Gutierrez has been identified as the “Richard G” referred to in teasers for the resumption of the popular ABS-CBN series FPJ’s “Ang Probinsiyano” which now airs in the Kapamilya Channel. This was revealed by my good friend Ricky Lo in a recent Funfare column in The Philippine Star. Richard…
Federal court bans USCIS’s new public charge rule
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. There is also great news, because USCIS announced it will abide by this…
No more parties in LA: County Public Health to issue ‘legally binding’ order to ban large parties during pandemic
Existing recommendations include avoiding contact and interaction with folks outside their households If you were planning on hosting a house party sometime soon, it might be a good idea to cancel it now; if not for the volume of data proving large gatherings increase the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission, do it to avoid getting fined…
DFA: 2 Filipinos dead, 8 injured in Beirut blast
TWO Filipinos were among the people killed in a massive explosion in Lebanon’s capital Beirut, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday, August 5. “Our hearts go out to the Lebanese people. And I hope material and medical help as well. DFA will try to extend as much help as it can out…
[OPINION] ‘We’re doing very well’: Trump continues to sugarcoat widespread infection, economy reopening as COVID-19 death toll tops 158K in US
COVID-19 in the United States has killed over 158,000 and has infected more than 4.8 million, claiming the lives of at least 1,000 Americans each day in a widespread outbreak throughout the nation, from the densely populated cities to the rural areas. These are real people who died because of the coronavirus pandemic, with real…
How the COVID-19 response worsened the state of public education
Education experts and leaders discuss the drawbacks of the U.S. response to COVID-19 and how best to provide for underserved students Public education advocates for years have been promoting the reality that the future of the United States hinges on today’s kids receiving quality and affordable education. But when the COVID-19 pandemic is here to…
USCIS to increase fee to apply for naturalization by $500
The cost to become a naturalized United States citizen will increase by over $500, effective October 2, according to a rule change recently published in the Federal Register. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will raise the application fee to become a naturalized citizen from $640 to $1,170, the final rule on Friday,…
Palace: PH economy will not be able to withstand ‘prolonged’ MECQ
THE Philippine economy will not be able to withstand a prolonged modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in Mega Manila, Malacañang said on Tuesday, August 4. “Tatapatin ko po kayo, hindi na po kaya ng ekonomiya ang mas matagalan pang lockdown (I will be blunt, the economy cannot withstand a longer lockdown),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque…
10 overseas Filipinos test positive for COVID-19
TEN overseas Filipinos have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of infected individuals to 9,607, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Tuesday, August 4. “On day one of modified ECQ in Manila and other parts of Luzon, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among Filipinos abroad passes the 9,600 mark…
57 deaths, 1,901 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in LA County
FIFTY-SEVEN new deaths and 1,901 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on Friday, August 7. The State has determined under reporting of COVID-19 cases due to technology issues with the electronic laboratory system (ELR). Public Health learned of new issues with the State ELR feed…
New AFP chief wants anti-terror law to regulate social media
Newly-appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay wants to regulate social media use through the recently signed Anti-Terrorism Law. According to him, terrorists are reportedly using social media to radicalize and recruit younger members. “We’ll be providing some inputs on countering violent extremism and likewise, maybe regulating, even regulating social…