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TOFA honorees are ‘heroes among us’
By Cristina DC Pastor Greatness and gratefulness came together one soggy Saturday in October when 16 individuals were honored The Outstanding Filipinos in America (TOFA) in celebration of Filipino American History Month. “A thriving community of Filipino Americans adds to the quality of life here in New York State and across our nation,” said Gov. […]
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10 questions for TOFA founder Elton Lugay
There are skeptics and doubters, just as there are likers and adorers. TOFA is never lacking in any of them. Yet, through its bumpy yet engrossing eight-year run, The Outstanding Filipinos in America remains in place, expanding its reach as an important search platform for the best and the brightest FilAms. Elton Lugay who founded […]
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Ex-PIDCI President Fe Martinez denies allegations of mishandling of funds, missing cash
By Cristina DC Pastor & Marivir R. Montebon On October 6, the day of the PIDCI elections, we ran into Fe Martinez, the four-term president of PIDCI inside the Dahon Wellness polling center in Queens. We asked if we could do an interview with her, possibly after she has cast her ballot. To our surprise, […]
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Consulate calls for ‘clean, transparent’ PIDCI elections; urges naming 2 independent individuals to assist in process
By Cristina DC Pastor A little more than a week before the PIDCI elections on October 6, Consul General Claro Cristóbal has requested the controversial organization to include two independent individuals to its Election Committee and the Membership Committee to ensure a “clean and transparent” election. The proposal to include two individuals came from Lara […]
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That thing called ‘space’
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. Just weeks after this year’s spring term had concluded, topped by commencement trimmings, a FilAm mother of five, contacted me, saying between sobs: Her oldest child had just moved out of their Los Angeles home because she needed “space.” Lilly — affectionately called “Nanay,” by her household — requested me […]
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Quiapo
Quiapo is the historic core of the City of Manila dating to Spanish colonial times in the 18th through 20th centuries. Originally, the residential quarters of the Manila elite, what used to be grand mansions are now decaying homes of low-income families. The area is also evolving due to an influx of Muslims from the […]
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SPECIAL REPORT: Community awaits response from the Philippine Consulate (Conclusion)
By Cristina DC Pastor & Marivir Montebon As we were poring over several reams of financial documents, ledgers and minutes of board meetings – over several weeks — we came across numerous items that raised some red flags. One of them is an item in the ledger showing a former Grand Marshal making a contribution […]
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SPECIAL REPORT: Too many pay-to-cash disbursements (3rd in a series)
By Marivir R. Montebon & Cristina DC Pastor The 2013-2015 general ledgers contain items that are blatantly questionable, according to financial professionals who reviewed them. Some of these are: 1. In 2013, a staggering expenditure of unspecified materials and supplies worth $36,665.44 was reported; In 2014, unspecified materials and supplies reached $44,529.41; In 2015, it […]
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SPECIAL REPORT: Where’s the money, PIDCI? (2nd in a series)
By Marivir R. Montebon & Cristina DC Pastor Despite its accountability and transparency issues, PIDCI has continued to make it appear to potential sponsors who advertise in the souvenir program that their donations would be tax-exempt. In May 2018, a month before the 120th Philippine Independence Day celebration, its advertising form carried a note that […]