[COLUMN] Can I obtain a divorce if my spouse refuses 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…
Pandemic stress, gangs, and utter fear fueled a rise in teen shootings
by Liz Szabo, Kaiser Health News Diego never imagined he’d carry a gun. Not as a child, when shots were fired outside his Chicago-area home. Not at age 12, when one of his friends was gunned down. Diego’s mind changed at 14, when he and his friends were getting ready to walk to midnight Mass…
Damaging storms and power outages: California prepares for more severe weather
by Antonio Ray Harvey, Ethnic Media Services A Filipino American woman was killed in front of her two children by her partner in Daly City, California on Monday, March 6. Frances Kendra Lucero, 27, was shot and killed by her partner, Romier Narag, also 27, in front of her two children, aged 3 and 4….
California sues Huntington Beach for violating state housing laws
The beachside city has reportedly refused to build more affordable housing per state housing requirements CALIFORNIA Attorney General Rob Bonta announced he was suing the City of Huntington Beach for violating state laws that require it to approve more affordable housing and 13,000 new homes over the next eight years. Along with Governor Gavin Newsom…
UPAAGLA announces its entertainment lineup for its gala, awards night
THE UPAAGLA Gala and Awards Night returns this year to the Omni Hotel on March 18, 2023. Sure to be an evening of entertainment, this year’s Gala will be headlined by the multi-talented television actors and models Alexis and Jojo Riguerra. Alexis will also be joined by Christian Ylagan as the hosts for the evening. Attendees…
Suspects in anti-Asian Queens attack arrested; charged with assault as a hate crime
Victims reportedly called ‘Ugly Asian!’ by one of the assailants New York police arrested on Monday, March 6 two suspects wanted for an alleged racially motivated attack on a Filipino-American woman and her son in Queens. Police identified the suspects as Natalie Plaza, 18, and Elijah Fernandez, 21, who insulted, punched, and kicked Cecilia Lai…
Are we done with masks? Three experts review the latest findings
A new study finds masks do little to prevent the spread of viruses like the flu and Covid, and that hand washing and vaccines offer more protection. An international network of health researchers reviewed 78 randomized controlled studies and concluded that wearing masks has little or no effect on spreading the flu, COVID, or other…
Biden administration urged to take more aggressive steps to relieve medical debt
by Noam N. Levey Kaiser Health News Dozens of advocates for patients and consumers, citing widespread harm caused by medical debt, are pushing the Biden administration to take more aggressive steps to protect Americans from medical bills and debt collectors. In letters to the IRS and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the groups call for…
Coalition takes Biden to task for falling short on voting rights
A coalition of more than 100 civil rights and advocacy organizations is accusing the Biden administration of falling short on its “visionary” commitment to step up voter registration and that the failure to shore up voting rights is disproportionately hurting non-white voters. In an early March letter to President Biden and 10 federal agencies, the…
Department of Tourism Secretary Frasco meets with Central Europe tourism players, vows prioritization of tourism under Marcos Administration
BERLIN, Germany – Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco met with major tourism stakeholders in central Europe to explore market opportunities in a bid to increase visitor arrivals from the region. Some twenty tourism movers and players from Central Europe offered their invaluable insights and suggestions on topics ranging from connectivity, training, and…
MICECON 2023 lauded for successful run in Davao
Top MICE professionals and key government officials praised the successful execution of MICECON 2023 in Davao City held last March 1-3, 2023. The event was organized by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines and the Davao Organizing Committee composed of private and public sector representatives from the host city. Among the attendees was Vice President…
Fil-Am athlete Anton del Rosario expands 7’s Football League’s reach outside PH
Seven-a-side football’s global popularity (also called 7’s Soccer in other locations) is taking off and at the helm of this emerging and innovative variation of football is Filipino American entrepreneur Anton del Rosario, himself a world-class legend of the sport. Del Rosario, who himself founded the first 7’s Football League in the Philippines in 2018,…
Miss Universe R’Bonney Gabriel pays courtesy call on NY Consul General
MISS UNIVERSE PAYS A COURTESY CALL ON THE CONSUL GENERAL. The first ever Fil-Am Miss Universe, Ms. R’Bonney Gabriel, met with Consul General Senen T. Mangalile on Monday, 06 March 2023 at the Philippine Center. During the meeting, the reigning Miss Universe spoke of her pride in her Filipino roots and her desire to hone…
PCCI officers call on ConGen Ferrer in SF
SAN FRANCISCO – Officers of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) called on Consul General Neil Ferrer and discussed ways to strengthen economic ties between the Philippines and the U.S., especially California. The meeting was attended by Deputy Consul General Raquel R. Solano, Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona, Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil, Trade Commissioner in Silicon…
FIIRE holds conference for US delegation in Manila
FILIPINOS in Institutional Real Estate (FIIRE) held a 5-day conference in the Philippines for a delegation coming from the United States in mid-February. FIIRE initially planned an inaugural event in the Philippines to commemorate the beginning of the Manila Chapter in February 2020, eventually pivoting to a virtual launch due to COVID-19. The recent conference…
UPAAA all set to give Oblation awards
The 2023 Grand Reunion and Convention (GRC) of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America (UPAAA) is fast approaching. This year marks the 22nd biennial gathering of UP Alumni from across the country. Highlighting this event is giving Oblation Awards to outstanding UP alumni living or working in the United States for their exceptional…
ABS-CBN Entertainment expands digital offerings
Southeast Asia’s number one YouTube channel in media and entertainment ‘YouTubeverse’ offers new international content on Kapamilya Online Live, ‘Made for YouTube’ and Superview LOS ANGELES – With over 42.7 million subscribers, ABS-CBN Entertainment has become the number one YouTube channel in the media and entertainment category in Southeast Asia. It continues to delight its growing number of subscribers…
[COLUMN] Success story: Aged-out daughter obtains immigrant visa through CSPA, on Citizen Pinoy this Sunday
MARIVIC, a U.S. citizen, filed a petition for her daughter, Alyssa, in May 2019. However, in January 2021, after filing all paperwork and fees, Marivic was notified by the U.S. Embassy that her daughter’s interview was cancelled since the latter aged-out when she turned 21 in August 2019. Marivic was desperate and wanted to explore…
Meet Fil-Am Zoe Jensen: Broadway’s latest queen is living the dream
LANA Zoe Jensen is having the time of her life. The Filipino-American performer officially made her Broadway debut in late 2022 as a principal cast of Six, a British musical that tells the story of the six wives of King Henry VIII, but with a contemporary twist. Jensen plays the role of Katherine Howard, the…
US-China tensions bring on fresh wave of AAPI xenophobia
AAPI community leaders are concerned that the tense U.S.-China relationship, which has become more fraught in recent weeks over accusations of Chinese spying, has spurred on a fresh wave of xenophobia as high-ranking Asian American politicians become the targets of Republican attacks. Rep. Judy Chu, the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress, is accused…
What’s your next job search move?
SAY you’re looking for a job. You’ve found some you’re qualified for on a well-known employment website and you apply to a bunch of them. If you get a message saying “You’re hired! We just want some more info from you,” what’s your next move? If you said, “Check out the company and the job…
Tourism chief to lead biggest Philippine delegation to ITB Berlin 2023
Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco will be leading the biggest Philippine delegation to date at the prestigious Internationale Tourismus-Börse (ITB) which is held annually in March at the Messe Berlin, Germany. A combined group of 27 co-exhibitors from the public and private sector consisting of 43 delegates will be attending the March…