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Why corruption persists: Young FilAms look to history, entrenched political elites
By Cristina DC Pastor As the Philippines confronts renewed scrutiny over allegations of corruption, particularly involving government spending and flood-control projects, a group of young Filipino Americans are asking a difficult question: Why does corruption persist in the Philippines? For these young observers, the answer cannot be reduced to individual politicians or a single administration. […]
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An Ivy League inspiration: A community library finds a home in Mindanao
By Elaine Joy Edaya Degale Before the Library, there was Merienda. I founded Operation Merienda in 2020 while completing my graduate work at Teachers College, Columbia University. My academic work examined philanthropy through the frameworks of human rights and peace education. I was interested in how philanthropic projects could provide resources to communities without treating […]
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Feeling hopeful at Radburn school’s Philippines Culture Day
By Marissa Bañez “Happy Culture Day!!!” Students at Radburn Elementary School, a public school in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, echoed that greeting while marveling at Filipino artifacts and other items during their Philippines Culture Day. They put on bamboo conical hats and Filipino clothing, and decorated a cardboard jeepney. They ate Filipino food – pancit, […]
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AFTA’s Balik‑Turo at 33: How FilAm teachers built a quiet movement of diaspora-driven learning
By Ricky Rillera On a humid August morning in Manila, a group of teachers gathered inside a classroom at the Philippine Normal University. Some have traveled from remote provinces; others have flown from New York, New Jersey, and California. At the front stood a Filipino American educator who has spent decades teaching in the United […]
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A Filipino community center can be both a blessing and a burden
By Ricky Rillera For decades, Filipino Americans in the New York–New Jersey region have dreamed of a permanent home — a place where our stories can be told, our elders can gather, our youth can lead, and our culture can breathe without apology. That dream has flickered, brightened, dimmed, and revived again through generations of […]
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Marissa Alcantara: When FilAm students forget their culture, there’s Tagalog to help them remember
By Maricar CP Hampton For today’s students, culture and tradition can sometimes feel distant or lost. Filipino Tagalog teacher Marissa Alcantara said she makes sure she integrates language, heritage, and interactive activities to connect Filipino American students with their roots. “I try to bridge the gap by using the Filipino language and promote the culture […]
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2 brothers, 1 shared purpose: To bring Filipino stories to the Upper East Side’s Scouting community
On Manhattan’s Upper East Side, two brothers in Scouting are reshaping what an Eagle project can look like. Through their service, Lucas and Leonardo G. del Rosario have brought Philippine indigenous culture and literature into a neighborhood where Filipino and Asian Pacific stories are rarely taught, seen, or celebrated. Lucas, 19, and a Presidential Merit […]
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Sa panahon ng Taglamig, magpabakuna laban sa RSV, COVID-19 at trangkaso
Ni Dr. Michelle Morse Gumaganap na Komisyoner ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan ng Lungsod ng New York Maaaring maging hamon ang manatiling malusog sa taglagas at taglamig. Dahil sa magkakaibang impormasyon mula sa pederal na pamahalaan ngayong taon, maraming magulang ang nalilito: “Dapat ba na mabakunahan ako o ang aking anak para sa trangkaso, COVID-19, at […]
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School the World brings its education model to the Philippines
School the World, a nonprofit with 16 years of impact in Central America, has announced the expansion of its program to the Philippines. With more than 165,000 classrooms still needed in the Philippines and rural dropout rates remaining high, School the World is bringing its “comprehensive model” — which integrates school infrastructure, teacher training, and […]