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Independence is not just a date on the calendar
By Ricky Rillera Every June 12, the Philippines raises its flag, sings its anthems, and commemorates the day in 1898 when General Emilio Aguinaldo declared independence from Spain in Kawit, Cavite. It was a bold proclamation—aspirational, defiant, and rooted in the belief that a people long denied dignity could finally claim their place among free […]
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WW II veteran Rudy Panaglima, 96
Filipino World War II veteran Rodolfo ‘Rudy’ Panaglima, one of only two surviving veterans in the Washington metropolitan area, died on June 12 at the Virginia Medical Center. He was 96. Panaglima was just 13 when he joined his father in a Filipino guerrilla unit that worked in secret with the U.S. Army during World […]
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A Times Square prelude for the Philippine Independence Day celebration
By Cristina DC Pastor For the first time in the history of New York’s Philippine Independence Day event, the iconic Times Square will serve as the opening venue on the June 6 eve of the Madison Avenue parade. The famous Red Steps, one of Times Square’s most recognizable landmarks, will be the centerpiece of the […]
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2 FilAm organizations in N.Y. State receive grants from CACF Development Fund
The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) has announced the 33 community-based organizations across New York State that will receive its 2026-27 AAPI Community Development Fund. Two of them are Filipino organizations: Kalayaan 1521 Council, Inc. and the Dreamweaver Heritage Collective, Inc. The 2026-27 AAPI Community Development Fund awardee cohort is the largest […]
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Filipino identity shared through ‘Lasa at Salaysay’ food tasting event
The Philippine Center’s Kalayaan Hall was transformed into a celebration of Filipino heritage and regional cuisine on April 27, 2026, through “Lasa at Salaysay: Taste Across Borders,” a signature event for Filipino Food Month. Held under the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship theme, “Connected by Taste: The Filipino Food in the Flavors of ASEAN,” the gathering […]
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R. Ghrist debuts historical fiction about a forgotten heroine in wartime Manila
I Am Joey by R. Ghrist is a historical novel inspired by the extraordinary true story of Josefina Guerrero, a young Filipina woman whose courage during World War II helped shape the resistance movement in Japanese-occupied Manila. Set during one of the darkest periods in Philippine history, the novel follows Josefina as her privileged life […]
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After 80 years, descendants receive belated honors for Filipino veterans the U.S. had forgotten
By Che de los Reyes-Ferrer All the veterans are gone now, but their families were at the Philippine Center on April 8, the eve of Araw ng Kagitingan, to honor the valor of Filipino soldiers in World War II and its echoes in modern heroism. Retired Philippine Navy pilot Rio Tingson Pacit accepted the Congressional […]
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Veterans families troop to New Mexico missile range in remembrance of Bataan Death March
By Jon Melegrito On March 21, 2026, families of Filipino veterans and supporters from the community joined about 5,000 participants to honor Filipino and American soldiers who endured Bataan Death March 84 years ago. They traveled from various locations across the United States ending up at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico to […]
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‘How Can You Forget Me:’ A moving tribute to the ‘manongs’ at the Smithsonian
By Loida Nicolas Lewis WASHINGTON, D.C. — The newly opened exhibition by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC) and on view at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History entitled “How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories”, is a must-see for Filipinos in the Diaspora, especially Filipinos in the United States. Opened in December […]