Fil-Am community comes out in support of HiFi businesses targeted in burglary
LOS ANGELES — The local Filipino American community is coming together in support of Historic Filipinotown businesses that were hit during a recent smash and grab burgulary. A GoFundMe page with a $25,000 goal has been set up by community members for the affected businesses, including beloved restaurant Dollar Hits. “We want to help them…
LA county invests big in free virtual mental health therapy for K-12 students
by Molly Castle Work KFF Health News LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County public schools are rolling out an ambitious effort to offer free mental health services to their 1.3 million K-12 students, a key test of California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s sweeping, $4.7 billion program to address a youth mental health crisis. Spearheaded by the…
Rift over when to use N95s puts health workers at risk again
by Amy Maxmen KFF Health News Three years after more than 3,600 health workers died of COVID-19, occupational safety experts warn that those on the front lines may once again be at risk if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention takes its committee’s advice on infection control guidelines in health care settings, including hospitals,…
Storms are on the way. Are Californians prepared?
If your memories of last winter’s dozen “atmospheric rivers” have faded, Mother Nature is preparing a soaking wet reminder, with parts of the West Coast possibly looking at a month’s worth of rain by midweek and another close on its heels around Christmastime. The storms are part of the periodic El Niño weather pattern that…
[COLUMN] What to do if you find out that you are not the biological father of the child after you have signed the voluntary declaration of parentage (VDOP)
The famous Michael Jackson song from 1982 called “Billy Jean” lays out the typical parentage situation where a mother accuses a man as being (“the one”) the biological father of her child and demands that he steps up to the responsibility of fatherhood or at the least pay child support. In that song, Michael Jackson…
[COLUMN] $14M jury award for woman fired for taking leave to care for ill husband
A recent jury verdict in Los Angeles Superior Court provides a strong reminder employment laws in California provide strong protections for workers who must go on a leave of absence to take care of a sick family member. The jury awarded Berta Sosa, a former Banking Center Manager for Comerica Bank, just under $14.17 million,…
[COLUMN] On finding Christ and proclaiming Him anew to all people
“Who are you?” “What are you?” “Are you the Prophet?” “Who are you so we can give an answer to those who sent us?” These are the inquiries posed by priests and Levites to John the Baptist in this Sunday’s Gospel for the Third Sunday of Advent. They are attempting to ascertain if John is…
Exclusive dinner series celebrates Las Vegas business icons
Las Vegas – In an unprecedented celebration of visionary leadership, an exclusive and intimate evening beckoned the distinguished C-suite executives of Las Vegas. The inaugural event of the quarterly dinner series, “Business Icons of Las Vegas,” was an extraordinary gathering honoring the influential architects of the city’s business landscape. Guests were treated to an exceptional…
LA county invests big in free virtual mental health therapy for K-12 students
by Molly Castle Work KFF Health News LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County public schools are rolling out an ambitious effort to offer free mental health services to their 1.3 million K-12 students, a key test of California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s sweeping, $4.7 billion program to address a youth mental health crisis. Spearheaded by the…
Make stray pets dreams come true for the holidays
COUNTY of San Diego Animal Services is extending its fee-waived adoptions through December. On Saturday, Dec. 9, 30 animals got to sing there’s “Snow Place Like Home Fur the Holidays” after special adoption events at both the South and North shelters. “We want to give everyone the joy of spending their holidays with a new…
San Diego City Council adopts Complete Streets Policy
Goal is to make streets safe, attractive and accessible SAN DIEGO – The San Diego City Council has adopted the city’s first-ever Complete Streets Policy, which reflects and guides the city’s commitment to provide a safe, comfortable and accessible transit circulation system that meets the mobility needs of everyone. This policy is intended to provide…
Have a happy and sustainable holiday season
THE holiday-and-gift seasons are back! Giving them and receiving them help put the happy in the holiday season. But remember to consider sustainability this year as you make your gift-giving plans. That is, finding ways to meet our needs and be generous and happy today while still protecting our resources for the generations to come….
Effort to plan long-term vision of mid-city communities launches
Plan update will create opportunities for new homes, businesses and infrastructure in City Heights, Eastern Area, Kensington-Talmadge and Normal Heights SAN DIEGO – To plan for the long-term growth of the Mid-City communities, the City of San Diego has begun the process of updating the Mid-City Communities Plan. The Mid-City Communities Plan Update will comprehensively…
City of San Diego alerts local businesses to dangerous synthetic intoxicating hemp products
Letter directed to retailers warns of unlawful sales and enforcement action SAN DIEGO – In order to ensure compliance with the laws regulating the sale of cannabis, the City of San Diego sent an open letter to non-cannabis businesses classified as tobacco shops that sell intoxicating hemp-derived products. The letter was sent on Dec. 1, alerting the…
City of San Diego winter festivals offer joyous fun this holiday season
Parks and Recreation centers citywide offer free family events in December and January SAN DIEGO – With the holiday season in full swing, the City of San Diego is inviting kids and adults of all ages to enjoy winter holiday-themed events and activities. These Winter Festival celebrations are planned at multiple recreation centers and parks…
Consul General Ferrer meets with CAS official
PHILIPPINE Consul General to San Francisco Neil Frank R. Ferrer met with Dr. Terrence M. Gosliner, Senior Curator of the California Academy of Sciences on November 29, 2023 at the Romulo Hall, Philippine Center to revitalize the longstanding relationship between the Philippine Consulate General and the California Academy of Sciences. During the meeting, Dr. Gosliner…
Board of Supervisors adopt Mayor Breed’s legislation to waive fees for outdoor entertainment permits
The new legislation will waive permit fees to provide support for San Francisco nightlife and entertainment businesses using the City’s JAM permitting program SAN FRANCISCO – On Tuesday, December 12 the Board of Supervisors approved a package of entertainment permit modernization reforms sponsored by Mayor London N. Breed. The legislation will provide important relief to San Francisco nightlife…
Attorney General Rob Bonta comes to Daly City to swear in newly elected mayor
DALY CITY – The City Council of the City of Daly City held a Special Meeting on December 11, 2023 for the City Council Reorganization. As part of this Reorganization, Juslyn C. Manalo was selected Mayor for a one-year term and had the honor of being sworn in by the State of California’s Attorney General Rob…
San Francisco’s iconic cable car is dressed up for Christmas, Filipino-style
SAN FRANCISCO – It’s beginning to look like Pinoy Christmas with the launch of the first-ever Filipino Christmas-themed cable car in San Francisco. The San Francisco Municipal Railway (SF MUNI) rolled out its very first Filipino Christmas-themed cable car, with the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco joining the inaugural trip on November 29, 2023….
Atty. Gurfinkel answers immigration questions from Kapamilya in Queens, New York, on Citizen Pinoy
LEADING U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel dropped by “the house that fried chicken built” (Max’s Fried Chicken) in Queens, New York, for merienda, and had the chance to meet the staff and some of the customers, including a family who were having a reunion over lunch. Several of the customers were able to ask…
Showcasing Filipino talents Anne Yatco & Francis Te’s diverse journeys
TWO Filipino Americans, each with a unique path and distinct expertise, are united by their pursuit of the American dream as they made their mark at the recent New York Comic Con. One, a talented voice actor, and the other, a skilled graphic designer, highlight the diverse journeys and talents that have brought them to…
[COLUMN] Unhealthy drinks
WATER is vital to life. Without water, there won’t be life as we know it on earth. Our body is 50-75 percent water, averaging around 57 to 65 percent. Infants are 75-78 percent water, dropping to 65 percent by age one year. And the value of water is even more evident during this COVID-19 pandemic….
DOT breaches industry targets for 2023; Frasco bullish on country’s continued tourism transformation under Marcos administration in 2024
The Department of Tourism (DOT) expressed bullishness on the continual transformation of Philippine tourism under the Marcos administration in the succeeding years, as it successfully breached its year-end targets and achieved milestones for 2023. “In the face of unprecedented challenges, Philippine tourism has shown remarkable resilience. Since the beginning of the Marcos administration, we saw…
[COLUMN] 4 ways filing for divorce can benefit your immigration case
Couples get divorced for various reasons. California is a no fault state. The reasons why a couple is getting divorced are often irrelevant to the issues of the family law case. Divorce is often a difficult and negative experience for most families. However, getting divorce may have some unintended benefits in the immigration law arena. …
$5.5 million in stolen wages returned to residential caregivers
Settlement makes California’s largest residential care facility wage theft case LOS ANGELES – One hundred and forty-eight individuals who worked at Adat Shalom Board and Care for the Elderly in the San Fernando Valley recovered $5.5 million in wages stolen from them while they were working as caregivers. Through conversations with the workers, organizers with…
Who are America’s new ethnic voters?
At a Dec. 8 Ethnic Media Services briefing, experts discussed who these new ethnic voters are, what motivates them, and how their affiliations compare to their white counterparts. AAPI party preference “When it comes to candidates, voters’ party identification shapes their opinions on issues more than the other way around,” said Karthick Ramakrishnan, public policy…