By Sen. Kamala Harris and Assemblymember Rob Bonta We are in a crisis — one that requires unifying leadership. But that’s not what we are getting from the president of the United States. The staggering death toll and human suffering haven’t changed Donald Trump’s lack of empathy and tendency to strike out at those who…
Filipinos are urged to mass report a geotag that identifies the Philippines as “Province of China” and “North Philippines, Province of China” on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram. The geotag, which appeared over the weekend, has since drawn flak from Filipino netizens and public officials alike. “Our heroes did not sacrifice their lives only…
TWENTY-FOUR more overseas Filipinos have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections to 2,455 worldwide. The latest report from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, May 20 also announced four new deaths: two in Europe and two in the Middle East/Africa coverage area….
By Martin Santiago THE chairman of the Federal Reserve on Sunday said the central bank has not exhausted its power to help the economy get through the coronavirus pandemic. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said, “There’s a lot more we can do. We’re not out of ammunition by a long shot. There’s really no limit to…
IN our column last week, we briefly mentioned a new hyperinflammatory toxic shock syndrome discovered among children after getting COVID-19 infection, first reported in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2020. The clinical presentation could be confused with Kawasaki Disease. This new distinct entity, which luckily is rare, has been termed MIS-C Syndrome. It seems…
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…
The Philippines House Committee on Legislative Franchises has set a hearing on ABS-CBN’s franchise bills for next week. The announcement for the Tuesday, May 26 deliberations comes after House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said that the House of Representatives would forego the provisional franchise for the network giant to prioritize the bills for a 25-year…
NOW entering two months into stay-at-home orders, individuals across the country have found ways to fill their “free time,” whether through baking, sewing masks, or completing puzzles. Another method has been diving into a good book as a means to escape the outside world. Book purchases grew 777% in the first half of April, compared to…
FILIPINO American singer Francisco Martin on Monday, May 18, ended his “American Idol” journey as part of the 18th season’s top five. Just Sam, the only girl left in the competition, was crowned the winner, while Nepali immigrant Arthur Gunn finished as the runner-up. In the last episode, each contestant were tasked to perform two…
Undocumented immigrants in California this week can start applying for up to $1,000 per household in disaster relief under the state’s coronavirus emergency assistance plan. Governor Gavin Newsom last month announced the Disaster Relief Assistance for Immigrants, a $125-million coronavirus disaster relief fund that would provide a one-time disbursement for undocumented adults who are unable…
by Carmen Heredia Rodriguez IT was evident that the fever, nausea and loss of appetite Vlastimil Gajdoš felt on his wedding day was not a mere case of cold feet. Gajdoš, 65, fell ill in Honolulu in March after arriving with his bride-to-be from the Czech Republic. He and Sylva Di Sandro, 58, intended to…
TWENTY-SIX new cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, have been reported among Filipinos abroad. The latest report from the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, May 19 brings the total number of infections to 2,431 Filipinos across 46 countries and regions. “Based on the latest figures, Europe and the Middle…
The dramatic change in the governor’s COVID-19 approach signals wider reopens by the first week of June As cities and counties in California grow more anxious to reopen local economies, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a drastic relaxation of public health criteria to reopen the state in a move that could allow most counties to reopen…
WHAT should America do when Donald Trump, the president of the United States, undermines and violates the guidelines of the very health agencies and regulators of the American government especially during a time of medical emergency? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advisory last month saying that hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria/anti-lupus drug, has…
With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing individuals to be more plugged in digitally, it has also opened up a broader discussion about the inequity of internet access. Los Angeles County has launched a new WiFi locator tool to help residents access the internet during the pandemic. According to American Community Survey Data for the county, about…
THE coronavirus has put a lot of strain on people’s ability to pay their debts. With a lot of employees getting laid off in massive numbers, they are staying at home to keep themselves and their families safe. In the meantime, however, the bills still continue and without any income, it is becoming increasingly difficult…
My wife and I have been attending Holy Mass on our laptop for more than two months now because of the coronavirus pandemic. Both of us being in our 80s, our children have advised us to avoid unnecessarily going out of the house. The fantastic advantage is that we have had the rare opportunity to…
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday, May 19, announced that the Philippine House of Representatives is foregoing the provisional franchise for media giant ABS-CBN to instead deliberate on the bills for a 25-year franchise. This announcement came after the lower chamber recalled its approval on the second reading of House Bill No. 6732, which…
TWO Philippine senators recently suggested that economic managers should direct American businesses leaving China to consider the country for their relocation plans. According to Senator Imee Marcos, recent news that the United States businesses was transferring a number of its China-based factories to Indonesia confirms a growing economic trend favoring Southeast Asian countries as alternative…
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines recently announced that it will be assisting stranded American citizens in the country by mounting two separate flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco this week. The “user-pay” flight leaving for LA is scheduled on May 21 with two domestic sweeper flights — one from Cebu and one from Davao, according…
The Philippines’ major airlines have all announced that their flights are canceled for the rest of May, in compliance with the government’s new quarantine guidelines. Budget airlines AirAsia Philippines and Cebu Pacific said all domestic and international flights are canceled from May 16 until May 31. “All Cebu Pacific and Cebgo domestic and international flights…
FILIPINO American stand-up comedian Jo Koy announced that his latest Netflix special will take place in the Philippines. “I’m so excited to announce that my 3rd @netflix special ‘In His Elements’ premieres June 12. We brought Netflix to the Philippines! Let’s go!!” he revealed in a Twitter post on Thursday, May 14. The 48-year-old comedian’s…
On Monday, May 11, the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) in Los Angeles was conducting its fourth virtual town hall meeting on the video-conferencing software Zoom — something they’ve been doing since safer-at-home measures were put in place in LA County. The meeting covered COVID-19 resources and community updates with community members and staffers in their…
As the country continues to be rocked by the coronavirus pandemic, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is making sure that vulnerable Americans avoid the numerous COVID-19-related scams that are making their way through various communities. It’s not that there is an uptick in scams but that many of the most prevalent scams that are preying…
By SUNITA SOHRABJI/EMS SAN FRANCISCO — Asian Americans account for 52 percent of the deaths from COVID-19 in San Francisco, according to a new research brief released May 11 by the Asian American Research Center for Health (ARCH) at the University of California San Francisco’s School of Medicine. San Francisco has 1,754 confirmed COVID-19 infections…
LOS ANGELES County officials on Thursday, May 14 urged the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and greater county residents to stay united and report hate crimes as the reopening process continues. Anti-Asian racism and discrimination, based on the myth that Asians are more likely to have or infect people with COVID-19, have been…
LOS ANGELES Mayor Eric Garcetti this week issued an order requiring Angelenos to wear face coverings outside their homes. The order will help the fight against COVID-19, as restrictions are gradually eased to allow more people to return to work and outdoor recreation. “We all have to recognize that we’re not moving beyond COVID-19 — we’re…
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration on Friday, May 15, said typhoon Ambo has weakened into a severe tropical storm as it moves northwest at 20 kilometers per hour. Ambo now has maximum winds of 110 km/h from the previous 125 km/h as well as gustiness of up to 150 km/h from the…
