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New book: The love story between Gen. Douglas MacArthur and vaudeville actress Isabel Rosario Cooper
“Empire’s Mistress, Starring Isabel Rosario Cooper” tells the life of a Filipina actress and her five-year romance with a venerated war hero. The author, Vernadette Vicuña Gonzalez, follows the mestiza beauty from the Philippines to Washington, D.C. to Hollywood, where she died penniless. Cooper is depicted not as a tragic heroine, but as someone caught […]
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Bulosan Center conference slated for May 28-29; accepting proposals till April 15th
The Bulosan Center for Filipinx Studies, UC Berkeley PASS, and UC Davis Bridge are excited to announce the second research conference, set for May 28-29, 2021. Held virtually, this conference continues the first conference’s conversations and dialogues around Filipino Studies’ legacy and scholar activism. Students, community organizers, professionals, and community members are invited to submit […]
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Diplomat’s book dedicated to Filipinos who care about their heritage
By Loida Nicolas Lewis Ambassador Virgilio A. Reyes Jr. retired from the Philippine diplomatic corps at the mandatory age of 65, in 2014, after 35 years of service. But luckily for us living in these troubled times, he released his book, “A Memory of Time” before the year 2020 ended. In the words of Gemma […]
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Cecilia Aragon writes a memoir about fear and flying
The daughter of a Chilean father and a Filipina mother, Cecilia Rodriguez Aragon has published a memoir about being the first Latina pilot on the U.S. Aerobatic Team. “Flying Free: My Victory over Fear” is the story of how Cecilia broke free from expectations and rose above her own limits by combining math and logic with […]
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A Special Immigrant’s journey to America
By Lia Ocampo Lia Ocampo worked at the U.S. Embassy in Manila for 18 years, starting out as a Human Resources Clerk, at the U.S. Department of State and departing in 2012 as a Human Resources Specialist at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She is known as a Special Immigrant, a title reserved for […]
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On the 12th day of Christmas my true love sent to me… a coffee table book of Hollywood
By Cristina DC Pastor Imagine curling up by the Christmas tree with a cup of cocoa and browsing thousands of uncommon photos of Hollywood celebrities: Robin Williams’ eyes welling with tears from laughing so hard. Olivia Colman appearing “unroyal” with a funny face. Or Ian McKellen wickedly breaking into song. Entertainment journalist Ruben Nepales snapped […]
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Scientist and daughter’s ‘love letter’ on climate change
An environmental scientist and her 10-year-old daughter have written a book about climate change through the eyes of two kid whales who are about to lose their homes. “Sparky and Benny’s Big Home Mystery” is a personal story for children, parents and educators to understand what climate change is all about, said authors Janice Lao-Noche […]
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Ret. Ambassador Virgilio Reyes Jr.: PHL diplomats are mostly ‘kind’ people
By Cristina DC Pastor Former Philippine Ambassador to Italy Virgilio Reyes Jr. said Filipino diplomats are mostly “kind” people and if there are “cruel” ones, they would be the exception. The FilAm sought comments from Reyes, who served in the foreign service for 35 years, on the case of Ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro. She […]
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The ‘aswangs’ of Portland: Fantasy novel not political satire
When Marcella Leones relocates her family of aswang vampires from the Philippines to Portland, Oregon, she raises her grandchildren under strict rules so humans will not expose them. Her only wish is to give them a peaceful life, far away from the hunters and the Filipino government that attempted to exterminate them. Before she dies, […]