Hungry for more ‘Bitter Melon,’ ‘ULAM: Main Dish’ at the Asian American International Film Festival
A NUMBER of Filipino and Filipino American films made it to the 41st Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF41), presented by Asian CineVision. As the first and longest running Asian interest film festival in the country, AAIFF41 screened13 narrative features, 10 documentary features, and 57 short films, representing over 14 countries. “Bitter Melon” and “ULAM: Main…
Funeral, public viewing set for Trinidad family members killed in car crash
Mary Rose Ballocanag, the only surviving member of the Trinidad family in the fatal car crash in Delaware last July 6, buried her husband Audie and their four daughters Kaitlyn, 20; Danna, 17; and 13-year-old twins Allison and Melissa this weekend. The public visitation was held on Friday, August 10 from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00…
‘Crazy Rich Asians’ lead stars, director promote film in Bay Area
“CRAZY Rich Asians,” a movie based on the first in a trilogy of books written by best-selling author Kevin Kwan, is opening on August 15 in US movie theaters. Lead stars Constance Wu (of “Fresh Off The Boat” fame) and Henry Golding and director Jon Chu, who have been busy promoting the movie on a…
New policy memorandum: Unlawful presence for F, J, and M nonimmigrants
USCIS recently announced a change in policy in how the agency calculates unlawful presence for F-1, J-1, and M-1 nonimmigrants and their dependents (F-2, J-2, and M-2 nonimmigrants). According to USCIS, these changes are “designed to reduce the number of nonimmigrants who overstay their periods of admission and clarify how USCIS implements the unlawful presence…
‘Public charge’ refusal voids provisional waiver
I HAVE previously written about provisional waivers, where certain people are not eligible to adjust status (be interviewed for a green card in the U.S.) and must depart the U.S. to be processed for an immigrant visa at the U.S. Embassy. These people could include: • K-1 fiancées who did not marry the petitioner, but…
Genital herpes and tea
WHAT is genital herpes? Genital Herpes is an infection caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV). Type 1 HSV causes oral herpes, involving the lips and mouth. Oral herpes could manifest as cold sores or fever blisters. Type 1 HSV can also cause genital herpes but most cases of genital herpes are caused by type 2…
Malacanang ‘cool’ on Mocha’s federalism video
FOLLOWING the viral federalism video of Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO)’s Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson with Drew Olivar, officials were quick to comment on the said video. In a report from The Manila Times, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said that President Rodrigo Duterte was ‘cool’ with the said video. Roque noted that the…
Arroyo to hasten Cha-Cha
House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Tuesday, August 7, sought the urgent amendment of the 1987 Constitution as she called for the House of Representatives and the Senate to convene into a Constitutional Assembly (ConAss). In a report from The Manila Times, Arroyo filed House Resolution No. 2056 that pushes for the two chambers to…
National ID system gets mixed reactions from citizens, sectors
The national ID system garnered mixed reactions from the general public after President Rodrigo Duterte signed its implementation into law on Monday, August 6, at Malacanang. The law, otherwise known as the Republic Act of 11055 includes the establishment of the Philippine ID system (PhilSys), a centralized database that contains all the necessary and vital…
Manny Mogato & Mariel Padilla: Getting to Know the Filipino 2018 Pulitzer Prize Winners
When Manuel Mogato won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting earlier this year, he became the first Philippine-based journalist to do so after 75 years when Carlos P. Romulo won it way back in 1942. Mogato worked with his colleagues Clare Baldwin and Andrew R.C. Marshall and won the Pulitzer Prize (International Reporting) for their…
Kris Aquino bares experience filming her role as Princess Intan and being a global Filipina ‘icon’
The Philippines’ “Queen of All Media” Kris Aquino was in Los Angeles this week to attend the red carpet premiere of “Crazy Rich Asians,” in which she plays Princess Intan. Before the premiere on Tuesday, August 7 at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood — which would be first time she saw the final film…
How first-time actor Henry Golding became Nick Young
WITH “Crazy Rich Asians” predicted to become a hit with audiences and at box offices in the U.S. and abroad, male lead Henry Golding is on his way to becoming one of the biggest stars of 2018. In the film, Golding plays Nick Young — Singapore’s most eligible bachelor and heir of one of the country’s…
Census could overlook millions of Californians in 2020 count, new report says
Proposed citizenship question could affect overall count in certain geographic 2020 is shaping up to be one of the most crucial years in the history of American democracy. Coming up in the next year and a half, Americans will be participating in two important events: the presidential election and the census survey. There are more or…
Mendocino Complex Fire in California is now the largest in modern state history
California fires have again been making ground, less than a year after a record breaking fire burnt through parts of Southern California’s coast. As of Tuesday morning, August 7, the Mendocino Complex Fire covered over 290,000 acres in Northern California’s Mendocino and Lake counties, making it the largest fire in California’s modern history. Made…
Can I obtain a divorce if my spouse refuse to sign?
THERE seems to be a misconception in the general public that you can only obtain a divorce in California if your spouse will sign the divorce papers. I get this question a lot from our family law clients. The fact is that California is a no fault state and you do not need your spouse’s…
You have not filed your income tax returns for years?
YOU have not filed your income tax returns for the current year and previous years because: 1) you decided you are not required to file? 2) You are a victim of identity theft and therefore excused? 3) You know you will owe taxes and you will have to pay when you file, decided not to…
The bucket list: Let the music move you
(Eleventh of a series) “… And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music. —Ascribed to Friedrich Nietzsche CARE to dance? Most people have rhythm embedded in their DNA. Music moves them emotionally and physically. Music is a powerful gravity-defying force that can speak to…
Not just another rom-com: “Crazy Rich Asians” pushes Asian representation in Hollywood
“CRAZY Rich Asians,” which hits theaters nationwide on August 15, has already made history as the first major Hollywood film in 25 years to feature an all-Asian cast. In this issue of MDWK Magazine, the Asian Journal explores what “Crazy Rich Asians” means for succeeding Asian representation in Hollywood and sits down with author Kevin…
“Crazy Rich Asians” author Kevin Kwan on his extravagant world coming to screen and highlighting Filipino high society in trilogy
Since the novel “Crazy Rich Asians” was released in 2013, a lot has come toward author Kevin Kwan’s direction in the past five years. The best-selling satirical novel, which has sold over 1 million copies worldwide and has been translated in over 20 languages, spiraled into subsequent novels, “China Rich Girlfriend” (2015) and “Rich People…
Victory in Cambodia polls and need for unity gov’t, 4 premiers unite in Nepal, middle class Filipinos in US
(Part 1 of 2) We had a three-week gruelling journey for an 81-year-old through Southeast Asia (Cambodia), South Asia (Nepal), and the Middle East (Iran and Qatar), with about two-hour stop-overs in airports in Bangkok, Doha, and Ho Chi Minh (formerly Saigon). We were joined on the last leg by wife, Gina (former President of…
‘Collusion’ alert: Did Trump just admit his campaign sought Russia’s help to win the 2016 US presidential election?
DID PRESIDENT Donald Trump just hand Special Counsel Robert Mueller an admission that indeed, his campaign sought to get Russia’s help to get dirt on Hillary Clinton in order to win the 2016 U.S. presidential election. On Sunday, August 5, Trump tweeted: “Fake News reporting, a complete fabrication, that I am concerned about the meeting…
Lulu Group International to put up export operation in PH
Hypermarket operator LuLu Group International is planning to invest $1 million in the Philippines for its export venture of products such as fruits and vegetables, textiles, garments, furniture, and electronics. In a courtesy call on President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in Malacañang on Tuesday, Lulu Group International Chairman and Managing Director Yusuff Ali Musaliam Veettil Abdul Kader…
President Duterte confers Order of Sikatuna on outgoing Israel envoy
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, August 6, conferred the Order of Sikatuna on outgoing Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ephraim Ben Matityau during his farewell call at the Music Room of the Malacañan Palace. The Order of Sikatuna with the rank of Grand Cross (Datu), silver distinction, was conferred on the Israel envoy for…