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….
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…
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…
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….
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…
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. …
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…
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…
LOS ANGELES — Tawa Services Inc. (TSI), the largest Asian store chain in the United States, has recently opened its 61st 99 Ranch Market store branch in Torrance, California. A grand opening ceremony was held on Saturday, December 9 for the branch located at 19100 Harborgate Way in Torrance. TSI chairman Jonson Chen, in an interview…
The overarching message of Advent is one of hope. However, hope can only emerge through the commitment and willingness of individuals to change their ways, to undergo a deeper conversion of the heart that enables them to embrace generosity, love, and forgiveness. Therefore, a significant theme of Advent is the conversion of hearts. This conversion…
Camile Almada worked as a caregiver for elderly clients assigned to her by her employer, Heaven Heights. However, Ms. Almada was treated and paid as an independent contractor, which meant that she was not paid overtime or given the other benefits and protections guaranteed to employees under California law. When she complained to Heaven Heights,…
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. …
A person who obtains his/her green card via marriage to a U.S. citizen spouse, and who is married for less than 2 years has conditional permanent resident status. A conditional permanent resident has a green card that is valid for 2 years. In order to continue to have permanent resident status after 2 years, the…
by Julie Appleby KFF Health News A hospital system in Georgia. Two medical groups in San Diego. Another in Louisville, Kentucky, and nearly one-third of Nebraska hospitals. Across the country, health care providers are refusing to accept some Medicare Advantage plans — even as the coverage offered by commercial insurers increasingly displaces the traditional government…
by Susan Jaffe KFF Health News Angela M. Du Bois, a retired software tester in Durham, North Carolina, wasn’t looking to replace her UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan. She wasn’t concerned as the Dec. 7 deadline approached for choosing another of the privately run health insurance alternatives to original Medicare. But then something caught her attention:…
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department says it will not investigate as a hate crime the sucker-punching of an elderly Asian American man who was taking a walk in Calabasas, California with his infant grand-daughter in a stroller. “There is no evidence that this is a hate crime,” Detective Sgt. Brandon Painter of the Malibu/Lost…
by Selen Ozturk Ethnic Media Services As humankind grows increasingly urban, planting trees and parks — far from merely beautifying cities — increasingly becomes a matter of life and death. At a Friday, Dec.ember 1 Ethnic Media Services briefing, Los Angeles Forestry officials and urban greening experts discussed the city as a case study of…
by Susan Jaffe KFF Health News After an unprecedented crackdown on misleading advertising claims by insurers selling private Medicare Advantage and drug plans, the Biden administration hopes to unleash a special weapon to make sure companies follow the new rules: you. Officials at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are encouraging seniors and other…
Third annual contest invites city’s K-12 students to submit essays about how they would make San Diego a better place as mayor SAN DIEGO – Mayor Todd Gloria announced the launch of his third annual “Mayor for a Day” contest for City of San Diego K-12 students. The winner will get to shadow Mayor Todd Gloria…
Far South/Border North grant program brings jobs and public awareness campaigns to San Diego, Imperial counties SAN DIEGO – This month, residents in San Diego and Imperial Counties will begin seeing 60 artists and cultural practitioners in their neighborhoods, creating projects that aim to engage and bring awareness to urgent issues shaping our region. Recently,…
Carbon Disclosure Project bestowed the honor to only 119 cities worldwide SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego recently received global recognition for its ongoing climate action and sustainability efforts. The nonprofit Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) reviewed input from 939 cities across the world this year, and granted A-list status to 119, including San…
THE County approved the environmental review documents for Alpine Community Park on Wednesday, December 6, clearing the way toward hiring a contractor to begin phase one of Alpine’s first county-managed Park. The Board of Supervisors also approved a four-way crossing to support pedestrian and bicyclist safety near the park’s entrance. The Board’s actions bring the…
Did you know that Pan de Manila, renowned for baking the nation’s favorite pandesal, has a restaurant cafe? As the Paskong Pilipino season unfolds, Merienda by Pan de Manila extends a warm welcome to families seeking not just a meal but an experience that encapsulates the nostalgic essence of a true Pinoy Christmas. Made for…
The approved legislation will move forward 100 changes to the Planning Code to improve the small business permitting process and help fill commercial vacancies faster SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor London N. Breed’s latest round of small business reforms was approved by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, December 5. The legislation, which was co-sponsored by Supervisors…
MANILA – The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has elected Consul Enunina “Nina” Mangio as the new president of the country’s most prominent business organization. Mangio, owner of several large businesses including the SamgyeopMasarap chain of restaurants, was unanimously elected by the incoming 20-member board of directors of the PCCI during its annual…
LEADING U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel returns to Kabayan Bistro at Little Manila along Roosevelt Avenue in Woodside, New York, to answer more questions from our Kapamilya. When Aurora became a U.S. citizen, she petitioned her two sons, who were already over 21 years old. She wants to know how long they must…
Dubnation and basketball fans in the Bay Area were treated with a night of Pinoy culture in the first Filipino Heritage Night of the Golden State Warriors of the 2023-2024 NBA Season, held at Chase Center in San Francisco on November 18, 2023. The Filipino Heritage Night featured performances by martial arts group Global Arnis…
THE controversy about the increased risk of brain cancer and other health concerns among avid users of cellular phone is upon us once again. The internet is flooded with claims and counterclaims, and some misinformation. In this column in May 2000, we wrote about the reported “possible” adverse health effects of the frequent and prolonged…
Before earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration, Filipino-American illustrator Amira Humes had illustrated her mom’s sinigang recipe for a project, resulting in the artwork being featured in a Filipino grocery store in Nevada and online. The mural, a collaboration with Knorr, prominently features the tamarind soup mix product as Amira wanted to connect…
Los Angeles — The Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles joyfully announces the annual Simbang Gabi celebration – a cherished Filipino tradition that brings together our vibrant community in anticipation of the Christmas season. This year’s Simbang Gabi promises to be spiritually enriching, emphasizing the theme: “Jesus, The Greatest Gift of All, Truly…
