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Philip Vera Cruz, the Manong Generation and quest for the American Dream
By Allen Gaborro Probably only a small fraction of Filipino Americans know who Philip Vera Cruz was. Once upon a time, during the late 1950s to the 1970s, Vera Cruz was a pivotal and pathfinding labor representative of the California farmworkers as well as a committed, empathic, and kindred soul to their plight. Craig Scharlin […]
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Punyeta! Filipina-owned clothing line uses sexist Tagalog words
A Filipina-owned clothing line that aims to “celebrate, own, and reclaim” Filipina identity was founded in Toronto in 2019. “Historically sexist and derogatory terms,” such as Maldita, Maarte, Lakwatsera, Ambisyosa, are front and center of the Pinay Collection of shirts, bags and accessories. Founder Jovie Galit said Pinay Collection is about taking back words that […]
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Medel Paguirigan, RN: Amid the pandemic, a baritone is born
By Cristina DC Pastor For nearly four decades, Medel Paguirigan diligently forged a career as a New York City nurse until his retirement in 2022. As he rose the ranks from hemodialysis nurse at Brookdale Hospital in the late 1980s to his final role as Corporate Senior Director in Nursing Education at New York Health […]
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Short film drama written by an Igorota wins festival awards
“Eva’s Gabriel,” a short film drama starring Joyce Lao, an Igorota from the Ibaloi tribe in Baguio, received multiple awards in the film festival circuit this year. The film also written by Joyce, won four awards: Best Acting Ensemble at the New York International Film Awards; Best Male Director, Best Drama Short and Best Short […]
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Cozy mystery novel set against the backdrop of Filipino Christmas
By Lynn Topel The “-ber” months have arrived, and that’s Filipino-speak for the beginning of the Christmas season. FilAm cozy mystery writer, Mia P. Manansala, cleverly works the Filipino love for Christmas in her latest book offering called Blackmail and Bibingka where her lead, Lila Macapagal deals with the return of the prodigal cousin, Ronnie, […]
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Mayor Eric Adams makes historic attendance at TOFA
By Rasmin Diaz & Cristina DC Pastor There was unmistakable excitement as the honorees shuffled in, the piano played, and the mayor strode to his seat. It’s a historic first for any sitting New York City mayor to attend a Filipino event. On September 16, The Town Hall was luminous with New York City dignitaries […]
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Why Asian Americans are seen as a monolith in health services
By Sunita Sohrabji Asian Americans are regarded as one large monolith by the U.S. health care system, say health care experts. And currently, there is no attempt to disaggregate data for AAPI sub-ethnicities, leaving out information that is critical to resolving health care disparities. Moreover, less than 1 percent of National Institutes of Health funding […]
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How a Filipina journalist fell out of love with UK’s royal family
By Stella Gonzales LONDON — Like many Filipinos, I was enamored with the UK’s royal family. I distinctly remember sitting in front of the TV in our apartment in Manila to watch the fairy tale wedding of Prince Charles and Diana on July 29, 1981. We had no classes that day because our college […]
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KDP activists publish website documenting the anti-Marcos resistance of ‘70s-‘80s
Former members of Katipunan ng mga Demokratikong Pilipino (KDP), have launched a website dedicated to documenting the work of the national activist organization of Filipinos in the U.S. that brought together progressive and militant elements of the community in the 1970s and 1980s. Published by KDP Legacy, a non-profit organization based in San Francisco, KDPLegacy.org “tells […]