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Goodnight, Irene
By Lindy Rosales Makeup and hair stylist Irene Zapanta passed away on July 20 after a long bout with cancer. More than a beautician, she was, to people who knew her, a woman of “class and elegance,” a trusted confidante, a friend to everyone. ‘Everyone’ meant the prominent community personalities whose hair she had fashioned, […]
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Cielo Franklin: A Tagalog teacher in Perth
By Vicky Potenciano-Vitug Japan, where she met her future husband, will always occupy an endearing spot in Cielo Franklin’s heart. But it was in Australia where she discovered she could be anything she wanted to be. A computer programmer, she founded the Tagalog School of Perth in 2013, the first cultural school of its kind […]
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Free vaccinations for NYC’s older adults through mobile vans
The New York City Department for the Aging has announced that select reopened senior centers will host mobile vaccine vans through August as part of the City’s ongoing efforts to reach the estimated 25% of older New Yorkers who remain unvaccinated. Vaccinations at mobile sites are free for all New Yorkers over the age of 12, […]
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Reuniting with the grandkids after the long lockdown: A Lola’s indescribable joy
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, PhD It all seemed eerie. When March 2020 arrived, so many changes happened around us. In many households, rooms were transformed into office spaces. Regular school terms were set aside and children were educated electronically. Everyone was talking about ‘vaccination’ – when to get it, where, how long to wait, and […]
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Pop star Olivia Rodrigo rallies 20M fans to get their jabs
FilAm actress, singer and songwriter Olivia Rodrigo is using her voice to speak to young Americans about the importance of getting vaccinated against COVID-19. At a press briefing on July 14, Rodrigo, a Filipino American multiplatinum recording artist, faced White House journalists before she was to meet President Biden and his chief medical advisor Dr. […]
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Creating change, improving lives through philanthropy
By Loida Nicolas Lewis In 2019, Maria Torres-Springer became one of the first highest-ranking Filipino Americans in philanthropy. She is vice president for U.S. Programs at Ford Foundation. The Foundation website provided a brief history: “The Ford Foundation was established in 1936, with an initial gift of $25,000 from Edsel Ford, whose father, Henry, founded […]
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‘Black Widow:’ An enjoyable spy family drama
By Wendell Gaa Having stayed away from cinema houses since the start of the pandemic early last year, I recently joined my office colleagues to see the premiere screening of “Black Widow” at a movie theater here in Ankara, Turkey where I am currently assigned with the Philippine Embassy. “Black Widow” turned out to be […]
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Amid the pandemic, a couple pledges to love and be loved
By Cristina DC Pastor At a time when most people were keeping their distance and divining a future amid a global pandemic, Jan Andrada didn’t realize she was about to restart her life. Jan, the treasurer of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations of New York, wed U.S. Navy veteran John Lane of Arlington, […]
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9 leaders selected to serve as FYLPRO Tayo fellows
Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) is excited to announce its second cohort of nine talented young leaders to the FYLPRO Tayo Fellowship Program. The FYLPRO Tayo Fellowship Program aims to equip young Filipino American leaders with the skills and strategies to support the Filipino and Filipino American community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fellows will provide […]