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September 11: A couple’s story of survival and purpose
September 11th remains a deeply painful and unforgettable day for life partners Jerry Sibal and Edwin Josue. Twenty-four years after the World Trade Center attacks, they are “grateful that God spared our lives,” and that what they have now is “our second chance.” Weeks before that fateful day, Jerry’s client, Verizon, hired his company to […]
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Joyce Castillo: From Ilocos to Wall Street and into the heart of the Filipino community
By Cristina DC Pastor When Joyce Alano Castillo and her husband Arnold moved to Woodbridge, New Jersey in 1997, the world was in mourning. As they unloaded boxes into their new home, the radio carried the shocking news: Princess Diana had died in a car accident. Their sons were very young. One was entering high […]
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YAMAN: Sharing Philippine treasures with the world (An interview with Jerry Sibal and Edwin Josue of FRIENDSPHUSA)
By Cristina DC Pastor For eight years, Friends of the Philippines Society USA Inc. (FRIENDSPHUSA) has staged cultural and community-driven projects highlighting the richness of Philippine heritage. From the Explore Islands Philippines mounted at Grand Central Terminal, to concerts for world-renowned pianist Raul Sunico, and the Art for Humanity exhibit at the Photoville Photojournalism exhibit […]
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Bidding bullshit
By Mary Lou Cunanan Let’s stop pretending this is normal. Sarah Discaya and her husband have turned government bidding into a personal slot machine—rigged so they always hit the jackpot. With nine construction firms under their control, they’ve cornered ₱30 billion worth of DPWH projects, most of them flood-control contracts that never seem to deliver. […]
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Rev. Msgr. Oscar A. Aquino, 88
The Filipino community of New York and New Jersey mourns the passing of the beloved Msgr. Oscar Aquino on September 1 due to a lingering illness. We are republishing below this piece written about him when he was awarded the People’s Ball Empowerment Award in 2023 by Fiesta In America. The statement “Jack of all […]
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43 years ago the Philippine Center performs its first-ever FilAm matrimony
By Cristina DC Pastor Darlene Dilangalen and Jesus “Bong” Borromeo first met in 1975 on a flight from Davao City to Manila. At the time, she was still a junior nursing student. In 1980, she left her hometown in Cotabato for New Jersey as a new nurse graduate to work at St. Joseph’s Hospital (now […]
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Press Club statement on killing of journalists in Gaza
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Sofronio Vasquez’s next stop: L.A.
“This concert represents something really meaningful – it’s Sofronio’s opportunity to share his artistry with Los Angeles in a way that honors both his incredible journey and the community that supports him,” said GodZella International’s Zelle Ochoco-DeVilbiss, who is co-producing “The Voice Winner: Sofronio Vasquez Live in Los Angeles” on October 11 at the Pasadena Civic […]
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Carmela Icamina crowned first-ever Ginang Filipinas New Jersey
In a night filled with elegance and heartfelt family stories, the pioneering Ginang Filipinas New Jersey pageant crowned its first-ever grand winner, Carmela ‘Ella’ Icamina. The competition, like many traditional beauty contests, highlighted the strength, creativity, and journeys of women—many of them mothers—who continue to thrive while balancing the demands of immigrant life in the […]