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Hiroshima: 81 years later
By Wendell Gaa This month of August marks the 81st Anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan by American military forces which would ultimately lead to the end of the Second World War in 1945. It is the first of only two times in the history of humankind that nuclear power was unleashed by […]
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Community leaders, elected officials call for release of Raul Raagas detained by ICE in N.J.
Community organizations, labor advocates, and elected officials are calling for the immediate release of Filipino immigrant Raul Raagas, a 63-year-old Jersey City resident who is being held at the Elizabeth Detention Center after his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Raagas was detained on July 24 after he was stopped while driving to […]
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Dramatis personae: The characters in our community
By Ricky Rillera Communities are built on shared goals, collective memory, and the quiet labor of people who show up. Yet beneath the surface of every meeting, event, or initiative lies a cast of personalities who animate the civic stage. They are not villains or heroes — simply recurring archetypes whose quirks shape the rhythm […]
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A descendant’s pride: How Jiji Shapiro keeps the legacy of Marcela Agoncillo alive
By Cristina DC Pastor “Look, they’re wearing clothes!” Jiji Shapiro’s young son nudged his brother as they were browsing the family album. Based on what her U.S.-born sons have read on the Internet, they had thought then that Filipinos lived on trees and wore nothing. On hearing the well-worn gossip, a shocked Ma. Jerona – […]
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Kayumanggi Chorale marks 35 years of music, heritage, and charity with Oct 11th concert
By Cristina DC Pastor For 35 years, the Kayumanggi Chorale Inc. (KCI) has used music not only to entertain, but also to preserve Filipino heritage, bring communities together and help those in need. The New York-New Jersey-based Filipino American choral group will celebrate its milestone anniversary with a “Himig Pamana, A Musical Heritage” concert that […]
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Teachers group to honor top educators at the 2026 G.A.L.I.N.G. Awards
On September 5, 2026, the International Association of Multicultural & Filipino American Educators (IAM FAME INC.) Florida Chapter will host the prestigious G.A.L.I.N.G. Educators Awards. Standing for “Global Achievers Leading Innovation Nurturing Growth,” the G.A.L.I.N.G. Awards celebrate exceptional educators who have made significant impact in their classrooms, communities, and the global education landscape. The gala […]
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New data captures how economic insecurity, safety fears are impacting AAPIs
The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) has unveiled the State of AAPIs, a new research series that provides an unprecedented, detailed look at the lived experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) nationally and in major metros. AAPI communities are among the fastest growing and most diverse groups in the U.S., over 25 million strong and encompassing […]
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Historical parallels: insurgencies, political dynasties, and corruption scandals Part 2
By Cesar Polvorosa Jr. Encomienda Legacy Spanish colonialism implanted deeply unequal class structures across both the Philippines and Latin America. Through systems resembling encomiendas or feudal arrangements, land, wealth, and political power became concentrated in the hands of narrow elites. Over generations, this produced entrenched political dynasties, oligarchic control, regional strongmen, and persistent inequality. Political […]
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Finding the Philippines in Mexico Part 1
By Cesar Polvorosa Jr. Standing on the sun-warmed shore of the Yucatán Peninsula during my son’s wedding, watching Caribbean waves roll gently onto the Mexican coast, I was struck by an unexpected sense of familiarity. It felt like the comforting embrace of home. The feeling went beyond the tropical sway of coconut palms and the […]