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COVID did not stop the FilAms’ largest parade
By Lindy Rosales Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer came early at 11:18 a.m. for the parade that was to start at 12 noon. He came to shake hands with Filipino American leaders…and to apologize. “I’m sorry I can’t come march with you today, it’s my 50th college reunion. But I did want to come here […]
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‘Aladdin’ actor Don Darryl Rivera gives Iago a daring makeover
Don Darryl Rivera is a self-professed “Disney nerd.” A glimpse inside his Mickey Mouse- and Aladdin-lamp-decorated office is big giveaway. When he learned he earned the role as Iago in the Broadway musical Aladdin, it was quite an emotional experience. “I distinctly remember my hands going numb as a I got the call from the […]
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Stella Abrera named acting artistic director of American Ballet Theatre’s JKO School
Stella Abrera, former Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre, has been named Acting Artistic Director of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. The appointment, effective August 22, was announced by Kevin McKenzie, Artistic Director of American Ballet Theatre. Abrera has served as Artistic Director of Kaatsbaan Cultural Park in Tivoli, New York since June 2020, […]
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On Global Filipinos: Tenor Martin Bakari: Opera’s Fil-African American voice
By Loida Nicolas Lewis What a surprise to discover Martin Bakari, a Filipino-African American operatic tenor whose mother was born in Naga City, Camarines Sur and whose father is from Zanzibar, Tanzania. Bakari recently performed as the tenor soloist at Carnegie Hall in the well-attended “Carmina Burana” concert of the Cecilia Chorus of New York. “Praised by […]
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‘Malditas:’ 2 cousins lean on each other when an uncle passed away
In her short film “Malditas,” Filipina-Puerto Rican filmmaker Bree Nieves documents how her Catholic Filipino community grappled with grief after the death of her Uncle Vince. The director centers the film around herself and her cousin Giselle coming to terms with their new reality in the conservative Florida county where they were raised. Through heartbreak and celebration, […]
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‘Top Gun: Maverick:’ Exciting aerial action adventure
By Wendell Gaa “Top Gun: Maverick” is truly one of the most entertaining and stimulating action dramas which Hollywood has produced in years, and also now one of my personal favorite movies starring the always charismatic and seemingly ageless Tom Cruise. I have cherished memories of my very first viewing of the original “Top Gun” […]
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Comedian Rich Kiamco finds ‘freedom in laughter’
FilAm standup comic Rich Kiamco is one of eight LGBTQ individuals whose stories were put on spotlight in the ABC’s special series “Our America: Who I’m meant to be.” He joins a fire chief in Fresno who is a woman, an out gay Muslim, a biracial personal chef and others who share the challenges of […]
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Jesusa Sonora is gone; long live Susan Roces
By Joel David Susan Roces’s recent passing made me realize at first how she could have been a star in Philippine politics as well, as the best First Lady and First Mother we never had. I’d voted for her late husband, actor-producer and National Artist Fernando Poe Jr., and later for her daughter, Grace Poe, […]
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‘Everything everywhere:’ Comedy, action, sci-fi all at once
By Wendell Gaa “Everything Everywhere All At Once” is the most original and clever film I have seen for this year yet, and another “Asian-centric” piece to be proud of. As much as I loved and enjoyed this season’s other exciting blockbuster “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” (and Marvel’s darkest movie yet), “Everything […]