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For U.S.-, Russia-trained Rowena Arrieta, teaching piano to young kids is ‘paying it forward’
By Ricky Rillera More than two decades ago, Rowena Arrieta, the Philippines’ only Soviet-mentored concert pianist conquered New York with an exceptional performance at the Lincoln Center. Although it was her debut recital and her first at this huge stage, her performance was given critical acclaim. The New York Times writes she had this ‘fevered, […]
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Filmmaker Michael Manese goes raw, edgy in adult flick ‘Maxine’
Up-and-coming filmmaker Michael Manese’s short film, “Maxine,” is having a series of theatrical runs in New York and New Jersey. “Maxine” is a mature, adult-themed, experimental film about a man reminiscing about an old flame as he prepares to leave behind his beloved New York City when he loses his job. The film is experimental […]
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2 violin prodigies navigate a future in classical music in NYC and California
By Elizabeth Lolarga Teenage violinists Bradley Bascon and Jeline Oliva will not find themselves in situations wherein the slight bruise on their necks will be misconstrued as anything more than the result of intense practice. If it is in their mothers’ powers, neither will they find themselves scratching out the story of their days on […]
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At Jersey City picnic, FilAms’ last fling before the end of summer
By Cristina DC Pastor Imagine a Filipino party with trays upon trays of food, where the women are busy cutting, serving, tossing, fanning, and stirring the food, while the men are gathered around a fire pit. Transport this scene to Jersey City, a community with a large Filipino American population of more than 15K, and […]
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FilAms remember Joan Rivers’s wit, bawdy humor, and share pictures
Was it Joan Rivers who, while hosting the Emmy Awards, reportedly blurted: “We’re going to a commercial break, so you have time to feed your dog, or wash your dog, or if you’re Filipino, eat your dog”? It was a remark so offensive then it prompted a public rebuke from the National Federation of Filipino […]
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Maria Ressa to host TOFA-NY as De Blasio calls FilAms ‘invaluable’ to city
By Cristina DC Pastor Journalist and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa will host the fourth The Outstanding Filipino Americans in New York (TOFA-NY), as Mayor Bill de Blasio offered his congratulations to the annual event celebrating Filipino American History Month. TOFA-NY is an independent search for exemplary FilAms in the New York metropolitan area. Voting is […]
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Down memory lane at ‘Love on 5th Avenue’ Sept. 12
Talented Toms River, New Jersey singer Jared Martin will join balladeer Raymond Lauchengco in an intimate, one-night concert at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center on September 12. Love on 5th Avenue is a musical stroll down memory lane featuring some of the most romantic love songs of past decades featuring Original Pilipino Music, […]
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‘Carnal Orient’ filming its response to offensive ‘Asian Girlz’ video
A year ago, the blatantly racist and sexist music video “Asian Girlz” popped up on YouTube. The song has since been removed from the Internet, but a group of California women, led by actress Camille Mana, will not let the song go quietly down in infamy. Their response to “Asian Girls” is “Carnal Orient,” a […]
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Jersey dad creates ‘Phil the Fil-Am’ cartoon to help teach his kids Tagalog
A South Jersey father of four who wants his children to learn Philippine culture is creating a language-focused animation inspired by “Dora the Explorer.” David Asis is doing a pilot of “Phil the Fil-Am” in the hope of teaching his children – son Michael, who is 4 years old, and triplet daughters Gabriella, Kayla and […]