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Advocates urge end to child marriages of girls as young as 14 in N.Y., N.J.
By Cristina DC Pastor Unknown to many in New York and New Jersey, there are child brides walking amongst us, young American girls marrying at age 12 or 14. There is a law that allows it, and advocates are now urging legislators to repeal that law. Human Rights Watch explained that while the marital age […]
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For child star Frenie Acoba, it’s hello 2017, goodbye ‘Matilda’
Fifteen-year-old singer-actress Frenie Acoba ushered in the new year by saying goodbye to “Matilda the Musical” and the role of Lavender she has played for more than three years. “I am beyond grateful for being a part of this wonderful show,” Frenie wrote on her Facebook page. The musical, based on Roald Dahl’s story of […]
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Sari-Sari Storybooks publisher Christina Newhard creates books using Philippine regional languages
By Cristina DC Pastor Melo, a shy boy from a tiny village in Batanes, goes fishing with his uncle. A flying fish pulls him to a magical city at the bottom of the ocean. There, the sea creatures are always busy and have no time to talk to him. Suddenly, there is a loud explosion. […]
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Cyber threat targets FilAm boy in Queens; father raises questions
By Cristina DC Pastor On his Google.doc homework, a 12-year-old Filipino student in PS102Q in Elmhurst received the following message: “Hey go to sleep so I can go to your house and kill you…” Shaken, the boy shared the message with his teachers and parents. In the days that followed, he has been unresponsive in […]
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I joined a medical mission, was called ‘doktora’ by a grateful patient
By Cristina DC Pastor As a reporter, I’ve always wondered what happens at Filipino American medical missions. I’ve sometimes heard doctors and nurses talk about being very busy because they are traveling to Ilocos or Samar as part of a “medical mission.” The cynical part of me thinks it’s an excuse for a tax-break junket, […]
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Generation Balikbayan: Bringing young Filipinos back home for social change
For decades, the Philippines has been exporting its people; 10 percent of the entire Filipino population now lives abroad. But could the tide be turning? This November, Kaya Collaborative will begin its search for 20 young Filipino diaspora leaders to join its 4th annual Summer Fellowship in the Philippines. Kaya Collaborative (Kaya Co.) was launched […]
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Filipino Americans: Be aware, active, present in politics
By Alicia Soller As a Filipina American born in an apolitical Florida suburb, I was not raised to be politically involved. Surrounded by predominantly white peers, I did not find my second-generation Asian American identity wholly represented in the southeast. It also didn’t help that my parents had a natural distrust of politicians having come […]
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Male nursing student: ‘Proud to be just like my mother’
By Christian Catiis Recently, a good friend of mine interested in pursuing nursing as a major asked me to describe what it is like to be a male nursing student. As I begin my final year of my Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program, I reflect on the past four years and the lessons learned […]
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New UniPro leaders vow to carry on legacy of collaboration, advocacy
The Pilipino American Unity for Progress, Inc. (UniPro) has announced that Stephanie Chrispin has been named president and Alyssa Esteban vice president of its New York City chapter. As members of the Executive Board, Chrispin and Esteban will oversee the organization’s programming and operations in New York and New Jersey. A four-year veteran of UniPro, […]