Makati, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) has identified top tourism proposals from 15 local government units (LGUs) poised to receive a combined amount of 180 Million pesos in tourism projects as part of the agency’s flagship program, the Tourism Champions Challenge (TCC). The TCC is a transformative tool dedicated to promoting nationwide tourism…
Manila, Philippines—Two months before year-end, the Department of Tourism (DOT) breached its target of training 100,000 frontline tourism workers on the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE), Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco announced. Undertaken by the Office of Industry Manpower Development (OIMD), the FBSE program is one of the centerpiece programs of the Department which…
LOS ANGELES — Art Hearts Fashion will kick off Los Angeles Fashion Week (LAFW) next week from Oct. 19 to Oct. 22, 2023 in downtown Los Angeles at the iconic Majestic Downtown (650 S Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014) as the company celebrates its 10-year anniversary of putting on the most iconic, diverse, inclusive and creative fashion shows…
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…
THIS is not the first time Asian Journal has featured Filipino American author Victoria Grageda-Smith, and her literary works. Back in 2016, when her novella, “Faith Healer” (Brain Mill Press, 2016), had just won an award and was launched at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) Conference at the L.A. Convention Center and…
LOS ANGELES – The Philippine Ballet Theatre, the pre-eminent ballet company in the Philippines under the aegis of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, is set to perform “Music in Motion” at Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA on Saturday, October 21. The 26-member company will present a stunning program that weaves classical ballet…
New law makes junk fees illegal in California A lot of attention has recently been focused on so-called “junk fees,” hidden fees that often take consumers by surprise in the final stages of a transaction. A new law from the California Legislature, which was recently signed by Governor Gavin Newsom have now made such “junk…
GLENDALE, CA — The Filipino American community of Glendale made history as the city council approved a resolution to enter into a sister city agreement with Santa Rosa, Laguna. At a special city council meeting of October 10, Edith M. Fuentes, past president of the Filipino American Business Association of Glendale (FABAG-GLAC) made a presentation…
Greetings! I am blessed and happy to be back from leading a Holy Land pilgrimage. I am happy because my group and I arrived home safely after nearly being caught in the middle of the Israeli-Gaza war. We left Israel for Dubai a few days before the initial Hamas attack. However, like everyone else, I…
What is the difference between a divorce and an annulment? Many people think these concepts are the same and interchangeable. There are many differences between the two concepts. A divorce ends a valid existing marriage. In a nullity, a determination is made about the validity of the marriage itself. When a marriage is annulled, it…
Greater Los Angeles Heart & Stroke Walk to be held on Oct. 22 LOS ANGELES – Terrianne Butac was at her grandfather’s funeral in Honolulu in July when she collapsed. Family members recognized that she was in cardiac arrest and immediately administered CPR and AED, actions that saved her life. Precious Guan was 28 years…
SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor London N. Breed announced on Friday, October 6 that the City of San Francisco has already eclipsed its committed fundraising goal of $20,0000,000 to host the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC. The city will continue to work to raise more funds beyond this goal in preparation for the week-long conference that will…
IN the thriving landscape of specialty coffee, Filipino entrepreneurs are carving out their space, blending tradition with innovation. With a rich heritage of coffee cultivation, the Philippines hopes to reemerge on the global coffee map. Consul General Senen Mangalile, emphasizing the pivotal roles of unwavering quality and a steady supply chain, underscores the essential steps…
The second annual Lumpia Fest took the Upper West Side by storm on Sunday, October 9, as food enthusiasts and competitive eaters gathered to celebrate this iconic Filipino dish. The highlight of the festival was an intense lumpia-eating contest, where participants vied for the coveted $1,000 prize. Last year’s champion, Wayne Algenio, returned with determination…
PATRICK was petitioned for a green card by his aunt as a cook for her restaurant. Interestingly, not many people are aware that family members can petition other family members for an employment-based green card, provided it is a real job and the employer is earning enough to pay the worker’s salary. After establishing that…
San Francisco – It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Joyce Juan Manalo, a cherished member of our community, who peacefully left this world on July 17, 2023. While the community mourns the loss of her physical presence, they also celebrate the remarkable life and enduring legacy she has left behind….
LAS Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman issued a proclamation dedicating October as Filipino American History Month in the city, which is home to a sizable Fil-Am population. At City Hall on Tuesday, October 10, Goodman read the proclamation, dated Oct. 1, during a ceremony attended by prominent Fil-Am community leaders who have contributed to the fabric…
Members of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) from New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, North American cities and the Asia-Pacific Region will converge in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 13-14, 2023 to celebrate another barrier-breaking accomplishment in the history of BCBP USA: the National Anniversary Celebration or NAC 1 USA at…
SCAMMERS are using social media to go after your money and personal information. And it’s working: since 2021, people have reported losing $2.7 billion to scams that started on social media — way more than with any other contact method. Scammers like social media because they can pretend to be someone they’re not. They can hack your…
PHILIPPINE Consulate General in San Francisco officials attended the Bataan Legacy Historical Society’s 6th Conference on World War II in the Philippines on September 23, 2023 at McLaren Conference Center of the University of San Francisco. Deputy Consul General Raquel R. Solano, Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil, and Vice Consul Adrian Baccay, represented the consulate at the…
SACRAMENTO – On Tuesday, October 10, Governor Gavin Newsom announced multiple new efforts to address homelessness and provided an update on the state’s work to deliver more than 1,200 small homes to communities throughout California. Tuesday’s announcements advance the Administration’s multipronged and multi-billion dollar approach, using every tool available, to address the needs of individuals experiencing…
SAN Diego County Fire and Medical Care Services join forces to deliver healthcare to patients after they are discharged from Sharp Grossmont Hospital in rural communities. The Rural Health Discharge Program provides a County Fire/CAL FIRE Paramedic Captain paired with a Public Health Nurse to provide care for patients returning home after hospitalization, with the…
Residents invited to learn about new customer experience strategy and help shape the city’s digital future SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego wants to hear from community members about its plan to improve the digital customer experience. Over the next six weeks, staff from the City’s Performance & Analytics Department will attend various…
City is seeking public input on new effort to provide more mobility options SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego’s new draft Mobility Master Plan is completed and available for public review and feedback. The Mobility Master Plan is a comprehensive transportation planning effort to create a balanced, equitable and sustainable mobility system for the city. It will help…
Impact program funds available to Communities of Concern and San Diego Promise Zone neighborhoods SAN DIEGO – This week the City of San Diego launched a new opportunity for local artists and organizations to create change-making projects that reflect local communities through Impact, a funding program for artists and nonprofit organizations. Impact aims to address…
BETWEEN 300 to 400 physicians in the United States kill themselves each year, or about one a day. The rate of suicide is highest among anesthesiologists, general practitioners, psychiatrists, and surgeons, a rate higher compared to the rate in other professions, and double that of the suicide rate in the general population. The unrealistic self-expectation…
Age isn’t everything when it comes to human health and ability, yet it often dominates conversations about these to the detriment of older adults. In a Friday, Oct. 6 EMS briefing, aging experts discussed why ageism — discrimination on the basis of older age — prevails in the way we view older adults, and how to overcome…
IT’S no trick! Take advantage of an October treat during National Dog Adoption Month. The San Diego County Department of Animal Services is waiving dog adoption fees throughout October to help find loving homes for dogs who have been in the shelter for more than 14 days. Shelters in the County are nearly full of…
In a closely contested election, Arman David emerged as the newly elected president of the Philippine Independence Day Council Inc. (PIDCI) on Sunday, Oct. 7, clinching victory by a mere one-vote margin. David’s success is a testament to the widespread support he garnered within the PIDCI community. Expressing his gratitude, David stated, “Through God’s divine intervention…
With its rich marine life, vibrant coral reefs, and continued commitment to conserving and promoting its aquatic ecosystems, the Philippines was hailed as the Best Dive Destination in Asia Pacific at the Travel Weekly Asia (TWA) Readers’ Choice Awards held last 03 October 2023 at Conrad Centennial, Singapore. Hosted by Northstar Travel Group, the awards…
