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‘Very happy and proud,’ says grandpa of Nutcracker’s Charlotte Nebres
By Cristina DC Pastor Charlotte Nebres, the 11-year-old ballerina who plays the young heroine Marie in “The Nutcracker,” comes from a Filipino family in Bacnotan, La Union, whose elders were priests, educators, and doctors. Charlotte is the middle daughter of U.S.-born Joe Nebres, whose family is from the Philippines, and Danielle Nebres who is from […]
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Charlotte Nebres and the FilAm ballet dancers who came before her
By Cristina DC Pastor In the ballet world, they say ‘being black’ is a big thing, a cause for celebration. When Misty Copeland became the first female black principal dancer for a major company like the American Ballet Theatre, it was a joyous, historic moment. In ballet where white dancers — “lily white,” according to […]
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Denise Kara: Big voice, big dreams
By Cristina DC Pastor Denise Kara Almario, like Shirley Temple before her decades ago, started singing when she was 2 years old. When her family realized she had this nascent singing talent coming out of her voice, Kara’s parents did what Shirley Temple’s parents had done: They encouraged her to continue singing and enrolled her […]
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Camille de la Cruz, a rising star in Jersey
Camille de la Cruz loves to perform even when she was kid. It started in summer theater and ballet performances. At age 9, Camille de la Cruz was admitted to the Rockit Academy program in Red Bank, New Jersey. At Rockit, she was able to sing with legends the likes of Eddie Brigatti, Ricky Byrd, […]
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‘Talambuhay’ exhibit celebrates Linggo ng Samahan
From September 28th to October 5, an art exhibit and discussion exploring issues, such as immigration and displacement, were presented in celebration of Linggo Ng Samahan (Week of Community). The activities were organized by Anakbayan New York (ABNY) and the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON) and held at the Living Artist Gallery Space in […]
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The shining example of Greta Thunberg
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. As a 15-year-old, Greta Thunberg was this awkward, eccentric girl known to protest all by herself before the steps of the Swedish Parliament calling attention to her government’s lack of action on climate change. What a difference a year makes! Today, Greta Thunberg leads a global army of teenage environmental […]
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Ryan Ang, 16: New Jersey’s youngest basketball trainer
By Cristina DC Pastor For many kids learning to play hoops, they just go out to play. By themselves or with other kids. That is where they learn the crossover dribble or the step-back jump shot. Remember the classic film “Hoosiers” where kids in Indiana practice their shots in the backyards of their farms? Now, […]
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Young global artist holds first solo exhibit in ‘Meeting Rosie’
Ysabel Simon will have her first solo art exhibit entitled “Meeting Rosie” at the Philippine Center on Fifth Avenue, from September 2 to 20. The exhibition will feature her collection of works, including a new series of oil painting portraits and lithographs. The new series was done under the guidance of two prominent American artists: […]
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Inspiring youngsters to take a stand vs the climate crisis
This summer, a film screening and photo exhibit were organized in Queens to draw the attention of migrant Filipinos and Filipino Americans to the complex issue of global climate crisis. The project, called Tandaan Ang Ating Ugnayan/ Remember Y(our) Connection, was founded by community artist Cecilia Lim. Her objective: to inspire NYC-based Filipinos to get […]