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From undocumented to entrepreneur: The healing of Reagan John Rada
By Loida Nicolas Lewis The life story of Reagan John Rada fits a line in the comma poems of Jose Garcia Villa: “peaks, and, precipices, my, proud, geography”. Born in Panganiban, Camarines Norte to Romeo and Milagros Rada, he was the youngest of seven children — six boys and one girl. His parents adopted an […]
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NYPA’s Gil Quiniones: A recognized leader in the battle vs climate change
By Cristina DC Pastor One of the chief advocates of New York State’s conversion to electric vehicles (EV) is Gil Quiniones, an Iowa-born engineering graduate from the Philippines. As president and CEO of the New York Power Authority (NYPA), the largest state-owned electric utility in the country, Quiniones is leading the battle against climate change […]
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Customers sad but not worried about PAL filing for bankruptcy
Philippine Airlines frequent fliers were shocked by the news, and just gave a shrug. Said Manhattan accountant Je Olaguera, “They’ll bounce back.” Melissa Alviar, a Guest Experience Representative for Madison Square Garden, said: “The Philippine government won’t allow losing a flag carrier.” Brand loyalty is probably one of the reasons for PAL’s staying power even […]
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Maria Banatao: The woman behind the man
By Loida Nicolas Lewis When I texted Maria Banatao that I would like to talk to her in the morning at 11 a.m. New York time – which is 8 a.m. Los Angeles time — she told me that she would prefer to do it three hours later. Why? Because she would be going to […]
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New mobile app Sendwave: Fast, no-fees, easy way to send money home
Last year, Filipinos living and working in the United States sent over $11 billion to their loved ones and charitable causes in the Philippines. To ensure that they are able to continue providing support to their motherland, Sendwave is making it cheaper, quicker, and easier to send money by eliminating remittance fees and waiting time. […]
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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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PNB, N.J. real estate firm ink home loan partnership
Philippine National Bank (PNB) has partnered with New Jersey-based Alexander Anderson Real Estate Group (AAREG) to beef up its marketing efforts to help push Philippine properties to Filipino Americans in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area. “We are making it easier for them to obtain a good investment while they are still in the U.S. We […]
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Struggling Astoria residents face job loss, sense of uncertainty coming out of pandemic
Eve lost her babysitting job when the family of her 4-year-old ward packed for good and moved to California in the middle of the pandemic. She is one of several thousands of Filipinos who call Astoria home. A nanny for more than 10 years, Eve – with no health insurance and other employment benefits — […]
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Fearless Filipinas and what success means to them: new book
In honor of women’s history month, new book, Fearless Filipinas: 12 Women Who Dared to Be Different, shares the stories of modern Pinay heroes in the Philippines and around the world. Filipino history has a pantheon of great Filipina leaders, such as Gabriela Silang and Melchora Aquino. In addition to these historical heroes, there are […]