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Human trafficking charges filed vs newspaper publisher’s family
By Cristina DC Pastor Two couples from New York, including a newspaper publisher, are being sued for human trafficking by a woman who filed charges of forced labor and false imprisonment against them. Rosenda Millabangco Gonzaga sued Joy and Chris McCarthy and Linda and Bert Pelayo, in Manhattan Federal Court, according to a report in […]
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Newtown trying ‘very hard’ to move on: resident
By Cristina DC Pastor Newtown in Connecticut is in a “lot of pain” right now, declared Mari Wassmann-McIlrath, 29, a long-time resident. Mari, who works as a medical assistant in neighboring Danbury town, has been living in Newtown since she was adopted from the Philippines at age 3. In this quiet little corner of New […]
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Guns and deaths in idyllic Connecticut
By Rene Meily People come to Connecticut to find nature, a piece of land and serenity. It is a nice mix of the small town and country lifestyle, with Manhattan an hour or an hour and a half away. It is less crowded and people are generally more relaxed. All that changed on Friday, December […]
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A light in a dark place
By Pamela K. Santos Since news broke yesterday afternoon about the senseless killing in an elementary school of Newtown, Connecticut, I haven’t been able to stay away from some form of media outlet. What else could I do for the two hours before my son arrived safe and sound from his school bus? Among the […]
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Consulate verifying if Connecticut shooting has FilAm casualty
The Philippine Consulate in New York is checking if the victims in the shooting incident in Connecticut included Filipino Americans. This was revealed by Ambassador Jose Cuisia in a press statement. Cuisia said he was informed by Consul General Mario De Leon that there are around seven Filipino American families registered with the Filipino American […]
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Rene Ballenas faces felony charges: Manhattan DA
By Cristina DC Pastor Community leader Rene Ballenas is facing felony charges of burglary in the second degree and grand larceny in the third degree, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. Felony charges are, by comparison to misdemeanors and violations, more serious. “Burglary in the second degree” is a C felony that carries a […]
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Hearing for Rene Ballenas’ grand larceny charges slated for Dec. 6
By Cristina DC Pastor A second hearing in the grand larceny and burglary case against Rene Ballenas is set for Dec 6 at 9:30 a.m. at the Manhattan Criminal Court at 100 Center Street, according to lawyer Oscar Michelen. “This is the second hearing already,” he told The FilAm. The first was on October 5 […]
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Friends of Rene Ballenas ‘shocked’ over burglary charges
Close friends of Rene Ballenas were stunned over allegations the community leader was arrested for stealing $7,000 worth of goods from a cancer charity organization in Manhattan. “Beyond shocked,” said a friend who campaigned for Ballenas when he ran for the presidency of the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc., which organizes the annual Philippine Day […]
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A third party eyed in Queens murder-suicide
By Elton Lugay A third party is believed to have triggered the August 30 murder-suicide involving a “happy” Filipino couple in Sunnyside, Queens According to reports quoting the NYPD, 41-year-old Amis Cale jumped off the No. 7 train tracks at the 40th Street Station nearly two hours after killing his wife, Jennifer, 37. He allegedly […]