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Elaine Ficarra discovers the land of her mother
By Cristina DC Pastor In July this year, Pennsylvania-born Elaine Ficarra joined three other youngsters on a trip to the Philippines. She traveled with Bronx teen Feih Hidalgo, IT student Calvin Santiago from New Hampshire, and Alexandra Brown, a Filipina who lives in Australia. There is a common thread tying Elaine, a 17-year-old singer and […]
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Joshua Ang Price: An Asian in Arkansas
Joshua’s mother Teresita Acervo Ang grew up in Roxas City, Capiz and attended Philippine Women’s University in Manila, where she studied nursing. The Philippines was then under President Marcos’ martial law. While working at Makati Medical Center, Teresita saw tanks and soldiers patrolling the streets. A 9 p.m. curfew was strictly enforced, and there were […]
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Manila teens invited to train at prestigious NYC ballet school
By April Deocariza Two Filipino students who performed on stage with Stella Abrera and her fellow American Ballet Theatre colleagues are now in New York City receiving the training experience of a lifetime. Steps Dance Studio scholars Elwince Magbitang and Raye Vince Pelegrin, both 16 years old, received invitations to study for one year at […]
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Debate on admissions to Specialized High Schools: FilAms share views
By Reese Villazor New York City has some of the best public high schools in the United States. Among these are the eight specialized high schools, which include Brooklyn Tech, Bronx Science, and Stuyvesant. Gaining admission to these schools is earned only through the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) which is a very competitive […]
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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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50 years ago, and I still remember
By Bella Santos Owens I remember vividly, it was a sunny morning and I was playing on the veranda of our house in Marilao, Bulacan. I was sitting on this low table while playing with my doll. I remember his cheap cologne and scratchy stubble on me like it was just yesterday. Our male helper, […]
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On Global Filipinos: Mabuhay, Johanne Jabines!
By Loida Nicolas Lewis For the third time in its 38-year history, a Filipino, Johanne Jazmin Tan Jabines, was declared champion in the world’s largest public speaking competition held in London last May. She is a 20-year-old University of the Philippines 4th year business administration and accountancy student who won the English-Speaking Union – International […]
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Teaching my son to curse
By Tricia J. Capistrano “Mama, can you please look at this and let me know if they’re correct?” I read the words in pencil written by my 10-year-old son, Emil, on crumpled notebook paper. dumb – walang imik mean – ibig sabihin stupid – hangal I was surprised and then heartbroken. Emil did tell me […]
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FYBA youth bring home 3 basketball championships from the Philippines
Recently, a delegation of approximately 100 parents, players and siblings from the Filipino Youth Basketball Association of Washington DC (FYBA) made the 8,555-mile trip to Manila to participate in the 2nd Annual Laguna International Basketball Classic hosted by Tumakbo Philippines. FYBA’s four Select Teams —11u, 14u, 16u, and 20u — joined about 60 local Filipino […]