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Filmmaker Desireena Almoradie on queer parenting and the joy of letting a child become himself
By Cristina DC Pastor “He has very deep emotions,” says mom Desireena Almoradie. “Today he was upset because his best friend was getting close to another friend. There were some tears. He handles complex emotions very well; he just doesn’t always have the words for them yet. It’s very interesting to see.” Desireena was describing […]
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Comedian Rex Navarrete is coming to N.J. for the Independence Day weekend
The Studio Ligaya, a Filipino American cultural venue and community hub in Metuchen, New Jersey, will present Laugh with Ligaya, a three-show stand-up comedy event headlined by Rex Navarrete on June 12 and 13, 2026. This show series is created to celebrate Philippine Independence Day and bring together the East Coast FilAm community. The event […]
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KILIG.NYC brings Filipino comfort food to Independence Day parade
Kilig.NYC will make its public debut at the Philippine Independence Day Parade in New York City on Sunday, June 7. Co-founded by marketing and communications executive Bong Arquiza and certified public accountant Janina Gesmundo, Kilig.NYC is on a mission to do exactly what its tagline says: bring back the joy of eating…the Filipino way. […]
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A Times Square prelude for the Philippine Independence Day celebration
By Cristina DC Pastor For the first time in the history of New York’s Philippine Independence Day event, the iconic Times Square will serve as the opening venue on the June 6 eve of the Madison Avenue parade. The famous Red Steps, one of Times Square’s most recognizable landmarks, will be the centerpiece of the […]
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2 FilAm organizations in N.Y. State receive grants from CACF Development Fund
The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) has announced the 33 community-based organizations across New York State that will receive its 2026-27 AAPI Community Development Fund. Two of them are Filipino organizations: Kalayaan 1521 Council, Inc. and the Dreamweaver Heritage Collective, Inc. The 2026-27 AAPI Community Development Fund awardee cohort is the largest […]
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Paddles, politics and the pulse of New York: DCG Adrian Cruz bids farewell
By Cristina DC Pastor After years immersed in the dizzying rhythm of New York City, Mr. Adrian Elmer Cruz is now preparing for a new diplomatic chapter by moving to the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane, Laos where he will hold the twin titles Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General. But before leaving one of […]
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Bridging the political divide in U.S. immigration through Transformative Journalism Part 4
By Marivir Montebon This concludes the 4-part dissertation series of Dr. Marivir Montebon which examines the role of Transformative Journalism in immigration reporting. “We welcome the stranger, yes. But we must have a sound immigration system,” said the head of the church-based legal immigration assistance center who batted for empathy for people migrating to the […]
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Journalists more concerned about the truth than the policy impact of their reports Part 3
By Marivir Montebon This 3rd of 4 parts dissertation by Dr. Marivir Montebon examines how bridging the political divide of U.S. immigration is possible through Transformative Journalism. Participant journalists covering immigration adhere to truth and accuracy as the prime ethic of their profession. They are not quite concerned with the policy impact their stories may […]
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Historic Santacruzan, Manaoag centennial mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral draws Filipino faithful
By Elton Lugay St. Patrick’s Cathedral held the first-ever Santacruzan on May 24 while also celebrating the 100th anniversary of Our Lady of Manaoag as thousands of Filipinos packed the church on the eve of Memorial Day. Organized by the Filipino Catholic Apostolate of New York (FILCA), the event drew members of the Filipino community […]