IT seems that the rumors of KC Concepcion and Apl.de.Ap having a romantic liaison will not die down. Speculations of something brewing between the two were fueled when people saw the rapper in the comments section of a live video featuring KC and Judy Ann Santos where the latter was teaching Sharon Cuneta’s eldest daughter…
A Filipino American man was stenciling “Black Lives Matter” in chalk outside his San Francisco home last week when a white couple confronted him and accused him of defacing private property. A video of the June 9 encounter, which has reached over 19.6 million views on Twitter, shows a couple asking James Juanillo, 50, if…
Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment-based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is…
MALACAÑANG on Wednesday, June 17, said President Rodrigo Duterte will be waiting for the vetting process to be finished before deciding whether to sign or veto the anti-terrorism bill. “When he spoke about the anti-terror bill, he was saying, ‘I’m waiting for Senator Lacson to finalize his commas and periods before I sign the bill’,”…
THE United States on Tuesday, June 16, expressed concern over Rappler executive editor and chief executive officer Maria Ressa and writer Reynaldo Santos Jr. being convicted of cyber libel by a Manila court. “The United States is concerned by the trial court’s verdict against journalists Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos and calls for resolution of…
BUSINESS tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. on Tuesday, June 16, passed away at the age of 85. The chairman and chief executive officer of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) died of pneumonia and heart failure before 11 p.m. at the St. Luke’s Medical Center. “San Miguel announces the passing of its chairman and chief executive officer,…
Many Filipinos in the United States are looking at the possibility of traveling back to the Philippines even while the world is going through a pandemic. However, the tourism sector stakeholders are asking them not to travel back in the next three to four months, if possible. “I wouldn’t really recommend it for now, nakita…
ON June 12, 1998, Filipinos the world over commemorated the first centennial of Philippine independence, based on the establishment of the Philippine Republic by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo on June 12, 1898 from the balcony of his home in Kawit, Cavite. To generate proper observance in America of the centennial, I accepted a pro bono appointment…
“WE need to start a conversation.” For the past few weeks, this has been the party line among Filipino Americans who recognize the deeply rooted racism embedded into the community. Now, they’re having that conversation. On Saturday, June 13, FilAm Arts hosted a “FilipinX For Black Lives” livestream on Facebook, during which prominent Filipino American…
Fedelina Lugasan, a former domestic worker who spent 65 years enslaved by a Filipino family, died on Thursday, June 11 in Long Beach, California. She was 83. Fondly known as Nanay Fedelina, Lugasan was hospitalized earlier in the week for respiratory problems associated with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, according to the…
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has decided to extend the general community quarantine on Metro Manila until June 30, according to presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. Aside from Metro Manila, several areas in Luzon including Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Santiago City in Cagayan Valley (Region 2); Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Tarlac, Olongapo City in Central Luzon (Regoin 3);…
By Sunita Sohrabji/Ethnic Media Services SAN FRANCISCO — The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the plight of U.S. seniors, who have been disproportionately infected and killed by the disease. Eight out of 10 COVID deaths in the U.S. are seniors, aged 65 or older, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. Up to…
PHILIPPINE Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday, June 16, said the Department of Justice (DOJ) is on track to submit its report on the anti-terrorism bill to the Office of the President, after it has finished reviewing the proposed measure. “As scheduled, we finished our brainstorming session yesterday (Monday), examining and inter-relating with one another…
IN the middle of Pride Month, the United States Supreme Court on Monday, June 15 ruled that a landmark federal civil rights law that protects workers from discrimination applies to gay and transgender workers. Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch was instrumental to the 6-3 favorable ruling of Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, the original…
Malacañang on Tuesday, June 16, said Rappler executive editor and chief executive officer Maria Ressa, and writer Reynaldo Santos Jr. can apply for probation over their cyber libel conviction to avoid jail time. “I caution Maria Ressa and Mr. Santos. Their penalty is subject to probation. Walang kulong ‘yan (there’s no prison time there). If…
AS California proceeds with its stages of reopening, Los Angeles County remains the hardest-hit area in the state as it surpassed the 75,000 mark of confirmed coronavirus cases on Tuesday, June 17. County officials announced 1,337 additional cases of COVID-19 and 33 new deaths, bringing the total to 75,084 positive cases and 2,959 deaths. This…
THE Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles resumed consular services this week with new health and safety guidelines. The consulate is only enforcing appointment or mail-based services for the time being and will reduce its hours to 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The public is required to wear a mask when entering the building. The…
Stella Abrera, the first Filipino American principal dancer of the American Ballet Theatre, has retired after 24 years with the classical ballet company. Under coronavirus-free circumstances, 42-year-old Abrera’s farewell performance would have been the title role of “Giselle” at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York on June 13. “I always thought my heart would…
THE name of veteran journalist and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa evokes both pride and fury among Filipinos in the world, depending on which lens they are wearing as they look at what’s happening in the Philippines, especially during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte. Maria Ressa is a multi-awarded Filipino American journalist and author who co-founded…
THE Apple TV+ original series “Dickinson,” starring 23-year-old Hailee Steinfeld, recently garnered a Peabody Award for Entertainment. The series, of which Steinfeld also serves as executive producer, is a historical comedy-drama that revisits the world of famous American poet Emily Dickinson. It also explores the poet’s romantic feelings for best friend Sue Gilbert (Ella Hunt)….
Rappler executive editor and chief executive officer Maria Ressa and writer Reynaldo Santos Jr. on Monday, June 15, were convicted of cyber libel by a Manila court. Ressa and Santos, a former researcher at the news site, were found guilty of violating Section 4(c)(4) of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, or cyber libel, sentencing…
“I have witnessed with great concern the disturbing social unrest in your nation in these past days, following the tragic death of Mr. George Floyd. We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life. At the same time,…
ANG mga lawful permanent resident (LPR) o green card holders na nasa ibang bansa at hindi makapag-biyahe pabalik ng U.S. dahil sa COVID-19 pandemic ay kailangang maging handang magpakita ng mga dokumento sa Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) Officers tungkol sa kanilang ties sa U.S. Kailangan din silang magpakita ng ebidensiya na wala silang intensyong…
For a lot of people, the moment that shifted the current incarnation of the fight against police brutality was when people across the world en masse gathered in the name of George Floyd. Since the massive Black Lives Matter protest in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 6, the movement’s momentum has only increased, calling for…
JUST in time for Philippine Independence Day, iconic Filipino-founded streetwear brand Illest has come out with a Philippine-proud collection in collaboration with Filipino American comedian Jo Koy. Released on Friday, June 12, the collection was part of an exclusive merchandise partnership with Jo Koy whose latest Netflix special “Jo Koy: In His Elements” premiered the…
Amidst a pandemic and nationwide protests, recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program take on added uncertainty as they anxiously await a decision that may determine whether they can continue to stay in the U.S. for the foreseeable future. Created in 2012 under then-president Barack Obama, DACA provided deportation protection for roughly…
A Filipina American in Southern California was verbally harassed and subjected to a racist tirade this week by a woman while working out at a public park. In a viral video posted on social media on Wednesday, June 10, the victim, who is only identified as Sherry, is seen using the steps at Wilson Park…
NEARLY three months since the coronavirus upended daily life and forced strict measures to be enacted, Los Angeles County moved forward with the third phase of easing restrictions on Friday, June 12. Under the modified health order, gyms, fitness facilities, hotels, lodging, short-term rentals, museums, galleries, zoos, aquariums, day camps, RV parks, campgrounds, outdoor recreation…
Starting in the fall of 2020, UCLA will now offer Pilipino Studies as a minor under the Asian American Studies Department (AASD), a major move for the historically diverse university. Announced on April 29, the Pilipino Studies Minor Program is open to undergraduates, who may contact the AASD Student Affairs Officer to declare the minor,…
“THIS country was founded on protest — it is called the American Revolution,” former President Barack Obama said during an online roundtable event with his former attorney general Eric H. Holder Jr. and activists from Minneapolis, voicing his support for George Floyd peaceful protesters and calling for police reform. “Every step of progress in this…
