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CBS reporter Hazel Sanchez: Learning resilience from her 5-year-old daughter
By Cristina DC Pastor The brown girl on the nightly news is very pretty. She reports in a clear, pleasant voice. Wonder who she is? I’ve heard this comment from a couple of friends describing Hazel Sanchez, general assignment reporter for WCBS-TV, before they knew her name. Hazel, 46, introduced herself to the community at […]
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Parents of the Year Menchu and Judith Sanchez: They don’t believe in spanking kids
By Cristina DC Pastor For registered nurse Menchu Sanchez, being recognized by the White House for her heroism during the 2012 Hurricane Sandy may be a lifetime achievement. Being named, with husband Judith, Parents of the Year is an equally stunning honor. “We’re very happy,” she said of the recognition conferred on them by the […]
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Conde Nast music executive Ron Ubaldo: It began with an electric guitar
By Cristina DC Pastor When he was 13 years old, Ronald Ubaldo received an electric guitar as his confirmation gift. Today he is Director of Artist & Music Industry Relations for media titan Condé Nast. What he did with that Metallic Blue Fender Stratocaster must have been beyond incredible. “They picked up on clues from […]
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Toward the end, a hopeful outlook for the PHL (Part 2)
By Joel David When contemporary filmmaker Lawrence Fajardo, who has been specializing in the multicharacter film narratives that Bernal pioneered in, opted to return to his theater roots, he picked out a play, Herlyn Gail Alegre’s “Imbisibol,” and cast Bernardo in a role intended for a straight actor. Realizing that the BB’s strengths lay in […]
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Farewell Farewell, Bernardo Bernardo (Part 1)
By Joel David Rapid Pinoy pop-culture quiz: name another media celebrity with a double name. Aside from the usual nickname or fancy given name (Jonjon, Zsazsa, or, for political controversy, Bongbong), only a sufficiently elderly local observer might be able to remember Justo. And unlike Bernardo Bernardo, Panfilo C. Justo opted to use a pseudonym […]
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Embassy officer Ivan Gonzales: A desire to transform the Philippine economy
By Wendell Gaa Believe it or not, contributing to the economic development of the Philippines was an aspiration Ivan Gonzales had since he was 4 years old. Today, he is making that dream a solid reality working for the Economic Section of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. The son of writer P.J. Gonzales of […]
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Licelle Cobrador opts for law practice in NYC over raucous Philippine politics
By Cristina DC Pastor In 2009, Licelle Cobrador found herself at a crossroads: Should she return to New York to pursue a legal career or should she stay in the Philippines to become mayor of Dao, Capiz and challenge the entrenched dynasty? Nine years seemed so far removed, but Licelle likes to look back at […]
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NYC is nearly 40% foreign-born highest in over a century: MOIA report
NYC’s Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) issued its first-ever annual report, and states that for the first time in over a century “nearly 40 percent of our residents are foreign born.” “New York City is proud to be the ultimate city of immigrants,” said Acting Commissioner Bitta Mostofi in the 37-page report. The report […]
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‘It’s not a curse,’ declare parents of progeria siblings
By Cristina DC Pastor Siblings Jeshaiah and Nezha Agbayani are like any other children. They love music and play with other kids their age. Unlike most kids, however, they get stared at and attract unwelcome attention because of a genetic disorder called progeria. Jeshaiah, who is 10, looks like a 70-year-old. He is an honor […]