US Embassy cancels visa interviews through May 31, 2020
THE U.S. Embassy in Manila announced that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is canceling all immigrant and nonimmigrant visa interviews scheduled through May 31, 2020. They hope to resume…
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8 Pinoys make Gold House 2020 list of 100 most impactful APIs
In its yearly roundup of the 100 most impactful Asian and Pacific Islanders (APIs), the nonprofit organization Gold House named eight Filipinos and Filipino Americans who have made significant contributions…
Fil-Am Francisco Martin makes it to ‘American Idol’ Top 11
FILIPINO American singer Francisco Martin on Sunday, May 3, made it to the Top 11 of “American Idol” Season 18, earning a spot after his rendition of James Arthur’s “Falling…
Meals over video chat, self-care rituals: Fil-Am moms share how they’ll spend Mother’s Day at home
THIS Sunday, May 10 marks Mother’s Day — another major holiday that families will have to celebrate while sheltering in place and social distancing. While treating mom to a dine-in…
Post COVID travel
WITH our children based abroad, we always look forward to the annual trip to the U.S. for the Christmas holidays. But this year, we plan to stay home. For one…
PH government’s shutdown of ABS-CBN: Déjà vu of martial law’s chilling effect on a free, independent press
IN THE TIME when the global community is attacked by the coronavirus pandemic — an invisible enemy that has killed more than 251,580 people and infected over 3,584,174 — we…
This National Nurses Week, remember the Filipino and Fil-Am nurses providing care and risking their lives daily
by Momar G. Visaya and Christina M. Oriel In honor of the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the World Health Organization declared 2020 as the “International Year of the Nurse…
Philippine gov’t orders ABS-CBN shutdown
THE Philippines’ largest broadcast network stopped its operations on Tuesday, May 5 to comply with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)’s cease and desist order due to the expiration of its…
Pope Francis promotes Cardinal Tagle to rank of cardinal-bishop
FILIPINO Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has been promoted by Pope Francis to the rank of cardinal-bishop, the highest position within the Church’s College of Cardinals. The Catholic Church on Friday,…
International flights into PH suspended until May 8
All international flights to and from the Philippines will remain suspended until May 8, following the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. However,…
Fil-Am retail businesses in California weigh reopening under ‘new normal’
As California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a plan this week to begin loosening some restrictions, Filipino American business owners whose retail stores have been closed for the past two months…
New LAUSD school year to begin Aug. 18, no timeline when campuses will reopen
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) announced on Sunday, May 3 that it is targeting a mid-August start for the 2020-2021 academic year, but it is unsure when campuses…
Fil-Am Snapchat co-founder donates $5 million to fund more ‘Angeleno Cards’ for low-income residents
The Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles will now be able to distribute more Angeleno Cards to struggling families thanks to a $5 million donation from Filipino American tech entrepreneur Bobby…
Equipped with only a surgical mask on the front lines, Filipina nurse dies at Hollywood area hospital
For the past 16 years, Celia Lardizabal Marcos was a telemetry charge nurse at a Hollywood area hospital — the same hospital where she died of complications related to the…
Historic Filipinotown group activates nationwide care program for working families
A LOCAL Filipino American organization in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown has launched a new nationwide program to provide working families with supplies and other resources during the coronavirus pandemic. The…
‘This virus doesn’t take the weekends off’: Newsom officially shuts down Orange County beaches
After crowds of people packed beaches across Orange County during last weekend’s heatwave, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday, April 30 shutdown beaches across the Orange County coastline, prompting ire from…
LA becomes first US city to offer free COVID-19 testing to residents
In a major development in Los Angeles’ response to the coronavirus pandemic, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that free testing at city-run sites would be available to all residents, even to…
Proclamation suspending issuance of visas
NOONG Lunes ng gabi, si President Trump ay nag-tweet na siya ay pansamantalang magsususpinde ng immigration sa U.S. Kinabukasan, o noong Abril 22, 2020, ang Presidente ay nag-isyu ng proclamation…
Seniors don’t have to file tax returns to get stimulus check
YOU probably wonder if you will receive stimulus checks. Me too. Here’s a simplified piece on the Economic Impact Payments for seniors. Please read Q&A Questions and Answers on prior…
Recovering all wages due in a furlough, layoff or termination at work
Q: Because of the Stay-at-Home order in California, my employer has sent me home on a “work furlough” without pay. It has been more than a month and I still…
Maximizing recovery in personal injury cases
Dear Attorney Tan, I was driving home and was at a complete stop when another driver rear ended my car. I was not feeling well after the accident, as my…
Court rules Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home order does not infringe on the constitutional rights of residents
WHAT is happening in Michigan is a microcosm of what is happening in our country, and perhaps, around the world, in this global war against the coronavirus pandemic. As of…
Client relieved she chose Chapter 7 instead of consolidation of $60K credit cards
THE client is 50 and has two grandchildren living with her who are teenagers still in high school. She is married but separated. She is not divorced from her husband….
On God’s silence
I’M praying that you continue to be strong in faith amid this pandemic. Like you, I often ask God to make his will and presence known, to put an end…
Family law issues during the COVID-19 pandemic
THE COVID-19 Pandemic has changed our lives almost overnight. Not only has it changed our lives in terms of our daily routine, jobs, lifestyle, but also our relationship with our…
Working seniors in Luzon allowed to go out during quarantine
Working senior citizens in Luzon will not be placed on house arrest during the enforcement of the general community quarantine, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious…
East West Players announces virtual gala plus weekly streaming programming, featuring Fil-Am talent AJ Rafael, Isa Briones, Dante Basco and more
EAST West Players (EWP), the nation’s longest-running professional theater of color and the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, announces that its 54th Annual Visionary Awards Dinner &…
My life, writing in pandemic times
As one famous author said: “The ability to spin cocoons of language out of nothing.” It redefines news, the way it is reported, published and read. I MEASURE my life…