Fil-Am books to read during summer 2020
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…
Fil-Am Francisco Martin finishes on ‘American Idol’ Top 5
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…
Undocumented immigrants in CA can now apply for relief
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…
Tourists, beware: Foreign visitors’ travel health pandemics
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….
Over 2,400 Filipinos worldwide test positive for coronavirus
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,…
Newsom eases public health criteria allowing counties to reopen within ‘weeks, not months’
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,…
Donald Trump may be the most dangerous president ever of our time. Don’t follow his lead for your safety.
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…
LA County’s new WiFi locator tool helps residents get internet access
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…
Start thinking of bankruptcy now as a possible option later
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…
Imagine a pandemic lockdown with no TV, smartphone or Facebook
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,…
PH House drops ABS-CBN’s provisional franchise, to proceed with deliberations on bills for 25-year license
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…
Senators Marcos, Lacson urge PH to lure US businesses
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…
PAL schedules 2 flights to LA, SF for stranded US citizens
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….
PH airlines extend flight suspensions to May 31
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…
Jo Koy to debut new Netflix special in the PH
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…
White supremacists hack Fil-Am community virtual town hall meeting, use Nazi salute
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…
FTC warns of COVID-19 scams, provides tips to avoid fraudsters
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…
Asian Americans Have Disproportionately High Mortality Rate From Covid-19 In California
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…
LA County urges AAPI community to stay united and report hate crimes during reopening process
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…
LA makes face coverings mandatory in public
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…
Typhoon Ambo weakens into severe tropical storm
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…
Supreme Court set to tackle ABS-CBN cases
The Philippine Supreme Court will start tackling the cases of media giant ABS-CBN on May 19, according to a new report. Members of the high court will decide if it…
How to tell if demand for taxes is from the IRS or from scammers
THE IRS will never: • Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, gift card or wire transfer. The IRS does not…
Birth of US citizens abroad
KUNG ang magulang na U.S. citizen (USC) ay magkaroon ng anak na isinilang sa ibang bansa o sa labas ng U.S., ang kapanganakan ay dapat iulat sa lalong madaling panahon…
Removing the conditions of your permanent residence without your petitioning spouse’s participation
A PERSON, who obtains his/her green card via marriage to a U.S. citizen spouse and is married for less than two years, has conditional permanent resident status. A conditional permanent…
West Ranch High School juniors create, donate face shields to community’s essential workers
With the extensions of shelter-in-place orders and the collective apprehension for the dangerously unforeseeable future, the coronavirus pandemic continues to ominously rage on like a slow burn of normal life….
Termination after medical leave may be disability discrimination
“California law prohibits discrimination based on disability or medical condition. The employer has a duty to provide reasonable accommodation to disabled employees to enable them to work despite their disability.”…
Prayer and spirituality as ‘essential’
ONE of the American spiritual writers in the 20th century who contributed to the depth of spirituality of many Christians was a monk named Thomas Merton. In his book, “A…