KIDS Philippines, Inc. provides educational opportunities for disadvantaged children
“This is the most opportune time where we are needed to fill up the huge barrenness that affects the lives of millions of less privileged children. Our assistance is judiciously on call. Let us not allow poverty to be wide-reaching while appallingly impacting our children’s lifelong struggles. Pulling them out of their abysmal situation through…
Celebrating the rich flavors of the Philippines at Filipino Restaurant Week 2018
FRONT AND CENTER Filipino Restaurant Week (#FRW2018), that annual, much-awaited foodie event among fans of Filipino cuisine, has grown so much after its inception back in 2015 when 13 Filipino restaurants across the boroughs of New York as well as Jersey City offered fixed priced lunches and dinners. This was in reaction to the then…
Filipina students graduate Summa Cum Laude from Wharton, NYU
A couple of students from the Philippines graduated Summa Cum Laude from their respective universities this week. Twenty one year-old Lara Andrea Montales graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Economics Major in Finance and Business Analytics from Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, listed as Forbes’ 2017 Best Business School…
A conversation with Sen. Cortez Masto on her priorities in Washington and the importance of voting
It’s nearly been two years since Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) was elected into office, making history as the first woman elected to represent Nevada and the first Latina in the Senate. Back in 2016, Cortez Masto — who previously served two terms as the state’s attorney general — told the Asian Journal that “it’s…
ICE deports student for not attending classes
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently issued a press release that they had a student removed/deported, when they found out that he was not attending class, as is required with a student visa. That student was enrolled in college as a nonimmigrant F-1 international student in an academic and cultural program. As an F-1…
Criminal convictions and immigration law
WHAT makes a non-citizen deportable? An alien or non-citizen, including a lawful permanent resident (“green card” holder) is deportable for having a conviction relating to controlled substances. Title 8 U.S.C. Section 1227(a)(2)(B)(i) states: “Any alien who at any time after admission has been convicted of a violation of . . . any law or regulation…
Ambassador Romualdez visits Bay Area, witnesses ‘Spark’ consular events
PHILIPPINE Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez made a brief visit to the Bay Area on Tuesday, May 22 to witness the opening of the Spark447 Workspace, the launch of the Spark*Connect*Empower and Spark447 websites, and attend a reception in his honor at the Philippine Center Building in San Francisco. Ambassador Romualdez had…
Labor rights legend Larry Itliong inducted into hall of fame
Decades after his accomplishments in the labor movement were largely ignored by history books, the Filipino leader behind the West Coast agriculture labor movement Larry Itliong as been formally recognized as one of history’s most pivotal figures in labor activism. On Thursday, May 17, the Labor’s International Hall of Fame honored the legacy and memory…
Passive smoking: More deadly
What is passive smoking? Secondhand smoke is the fume that one involuntarily inhales after someone who smokes exhales it (called mainstream smoke), or the fume that goes directly to the atmosphere from the burning tobacco (cigarette, pipe or cigar) called side stream smoke. When non-smokers breathe in these smokes or fumes from other people’s cigarettes,…
UST suspends all campus frats, sororities for next school year
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) has suspended its recognition of all fraternities and sororities and similar organizations in the institution for the next academic year, eight months after law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III died from apparent hazing. UST’s school paper, The Varsitarian, tweeted a copy of the memorandum on Tuesday night, May 22, that…
The State of Asian American Representation in Film and TV
From ‘Fresh Off The Boat’, to ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ and beyond: The State of Asian American Representation in Film and TV WHEN the first trailer for the upcoming summer flick “Crazy Rich Asians” dropped on April 23, 2018, Twitter’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community went bananas. Based off the 2013 novel by Kevin Kwan,…
Palace: PH renews ties with US in Hawaii meeting
The Philippines is not abandoning its traditional alliance with the United States, Malacañang said on Monday, May 21. Leading the Filipino delegation was Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who met U.S. Admiral Harry Harris Jr., chief of the U.S. Pacific Command (Pacom), in Honolulu, Hawaii on Friday, May 18. Malacañang said the meeting between Philippine officials and…
Sotto vows to be a ‘more vocal’ Senate chief
Senator Vicente Sotto III became the 29th Senate President on Monday, May 21, after Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III stepped down. Sotto serves as the second Senate president of the 17th Congress, after 15 majority bloc senators last week agreed to move for the change of Senate leadership. Pimentel, who resigned on early Monday…
Angels among us (Part 4)
(Last of 4 parts) (Continued from last week …) “All God’s angels come to us disguised.”–James Russell Lowell AN angel is an invisible presence that must be acknowledged to become ever stronger. God sends angels to keep watch over human beings and help them in every human challenge. There is, however, the element of free…
Alvarez: Justices can’t be impeached over Sereno decision
According to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, the eight Supreme Court justices who voted to grant the quo warranto petition to invalidate the 2012 appointment of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno cannot be impeached. “I don’t think so, in exercise of kasiseparation of powers ehthey acted within their powers as provided for by the Constitution,” Alvarez said. Alvarez…
PH gov’t concerned over Chinese bomber planes in South China Sea
The Philippines has “serious concern” over the Chinese bomber planes that landed on an island along the disputed South China Sea, said the country’s presidential spokesman. He added that the Philippines’ foreign ministry had taken “appropriate diplomatic action” but did not give specifics. The statements come after the Chinese air force landed long-range bombers on…
Supreme Court says employers can now force arbitration
A 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision reached Monday, May 21 made it so that businesses can now forbid their workers from banding together in class action lawsuits, and instead require individual arbitration. This comes despite roughly 25 million American workers not having union protections. Justice Neil Gorsuch, in writing for the conservative majority, said…
Children’s hospitals look to voters for financial aid
California’s children’s hospitals say they’re struggling to keep up with advances in medical care and a growing demand for their services, and they’re asking taxpayers to help — again. The California Children’s Hospital Association wants voters to pass a $1.5 billion bond measure to upgrade infrastructure and equipment at the state’s 13 children’s hospitals. It…
Bill to protect identities of immigrants and crime victims in court proceedings passes Assembly
Measure would create a standard process for applying for “Doe status” SACRAMENTO — Legislation authored by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) to protect the identities of immigrants and crime victims in California courts passed the Assembly Monday, May 21. Assembly Bill 2185 would create a standardized process for receiving anonymous status in court proceedings and…
When am I considered separated from my spouse in a divorce case?
THE date of separation is one of the most important facts to determine in a divorce case because it defines when the community interest ends and when separate property interest commences in a marriage. All property acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in the State of California is community property (Family…
Delinquent tax debt could mean revocation of your passport
IN February 2018, the IRS will start certification of individuals with delinquent tax debt to the State Department. How will the IRS certification impacts you? • Upon receipt of certification. The State Department will either deny application or revoke current passport or both. • You are overseas. Limited validity passport for direct return to the…
Southern California Edison celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
WITH May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), Southern California Edison (SCE) held its annual celebration on Friday, May 11 in Garden Grove, California, wherein the company highlighted the contributions of the APA community and business partners. In 1978, former President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution designating an annual week-long celebration, and in…
Asian American advocates want stronger voter turnouts in their communities
With a population of over 21 million, Asian Americans are growing faster than any other ethnic racial group in the United States. In California alone, the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) population size is over 6.5 million — increasing at a 52 percent growth rate. Yet, when it comes to voter turnout, experts think much…