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Bullied for ‘being different,’ young FilAm is now an aspiring journalist
By Rhea Panela I am a first-generation Filipino-American, who is entering my fourth and final year at the University of Washington in Seattle. Following my passion for storytelling, I veered away from the pre-nursing route my parents had envisioned for me and applied to the small but competitive major of journalism. I also picked up […]
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Inspired by the Philippines’ past, NYC school children create art for the present
By Cristina DC Pastor A paper mâché laptop, repurposed costume jewelry, a bicycle in mixed media. These are some of the everyday objects created by New York City school children, inspired by an exhibit on the Philippines’ colonial past, “Philippine Gold: Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms.” “To help us understand how Filipinos from a long time […]
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NextDayBetter’s pneumonia awareness: Helping the homeland one meaningful action at a time
Pneumonia is the leading cause of childhood death in the Philippines. There is a vaccine to prevent the disease, but at about $45 per child, the price charged to the government by pharmaceutical company Pfizer, this price may become unsustainable in the future. NextDayBetter, a storytelling platform for diaspora communities, has joined Doctors Without Borders’s […]
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NYC installs free pads, tampons dispensers in Queens, Bronx public schools: ‘Unprecedented, impactful’
The New York City Department of Education has announced the launch of a groundbreaking initiative to outfit public school restrooms with dispensers of free feminine hygiene products. The unprecedented program was an initiative of Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras-Copeland alongside Congresswoman Grace Meng and Education Chair Daniel Dromm in an effort to reduce health risks, increase access […]
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15-year-old investigates strength of biodiesel fuel, wins top award in science fair
By Julia Carreon-Lagoc Fifteen-year old Danika Dingus, daughter of a FilAm doctor, romped away with the top prize in the Science Fair of the John Paul II Catholic School in Okatie, South Carolina on February 19. “Feel the Burn,” the title of her experiment, succinctly answered in step-by-step procedure this question: How does the triglyceride […]
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A grandfather’s letter to his 13-year-old ‘apo’
Former advertising executive Tony Joaquin of Sacramento, Calif., welcomes his grandson Julian Ismael Joaquin’s transition into adolescence. As he ushers him into this new phase leading into adulthood, Tony is also reminding him to always be respectful of women. A man has a choice, and Tony’s wish is for all young men to be “gentlemen” […]
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College Awareness Day: ‘Preparation can begin as early as Pre-K’
By NYC Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña Preparing for college can be stressful for both parents and students. As the first person in my family to go to college, I felt the same anxiety and I know how many of you feel. However, as education professionals, we are committed to working collaboratively to improve student achievement […]
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The FilAm’s 10 most-read stories in 2015: From Lea Salonga to Stella Abrera
Filipino Americans love a feel-good story. Stories of regular folks who inspire, uplift, and to a certain degree, empower. That is why the profiles of entrepreneur Mita Quiogue, finance executive Elizabeth ‘Ninez’ Arreglado, and the dance theater acclaim achieved by Stella Abrera were among this year’s collection of stories that were appreciated most by the […]
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8-year-old Leila Cicco sings ‘Evil Like Me,’ delights audience
By Cristina DC Pastor She could have done a Princess Elsa, but instead sweet-faced, 8-year-old Leila Cicco channeled Kristin Chenoweth’s playful witch in “Evil Like Me” during a Christmas concert in Rahway, New Jersey and held the audience spellbound. The song-and-dance number was not easy to do, and Chenoweth’s excellent performance in the Disney Channel’s […]