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TOFA goes national; 16 individuals, led by Miss Universe, conferred honors
By Lindy Rosales As in previous years, it was a chilly fall evening when people started making their way to Carnegie Hall dressed in their formal Filipiniana best. This year, the rains came down hard to usher in The Outstanding Filipino Americans (TOFA) awards night celebrated in honor of Filipino American History Month. This year’s […]
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Parole visas for veterans families explained
The Philippine Consulate hosted on August 27 a town hall forum on Parole Visas for Filipino World War II veterans and their Families, which sought to explain how they can avail of the parole visa program. This Veteran Family Parole Visa program was first announced in the White House report “Modernizing and Streamlining our Legal […]
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Asian seniors in NYC among the poorest in the country: report
Asian Americans are the fastest growing segment of the senior population in New York City, now representing 16 percent of all seniors ages 50 years and older. Yet programs and resources available to Asian seniors have failed to keep pace with this growth. When it comes to New York City’s social service funding for […]
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Banker Brendan Flores is NaFFAA’s first millennial chairman
By Cristina DC Pastor The National Federation of Filipino American Associations is on the cusp of a generational shift. At least in terms of leadership. The umbrella organization recently elected Brendan Flores, a banker from Jacksonville, Florida, as its first millennial national chairman. At 31, his age is nearly half those of many of NaFFAA’s […]
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FALA-NY Pres. Connie Montoya: ‘FilAm lawyers talented, bold, with healthy egos’
By Cristina DC Pastor “You’re a woman, you’re not white, you’ll get into debt.” Concepcion ‘Connie’ Montoya heard her father’s words, listened to his arguments, and in the end went the other way: She flung herself obstinately into law school. Today, she is a partner at a national law firm Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, and […]
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Green cards by waiver for thousands who are ‘out-of-status’
By Atty. Rio Guerrero A landmark change has been achieved in U.S. immigration law for thousands of “TNT” Filipinos and other foreign nationals. Recent expansion of the Stateside Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver Program – known as the I-601A Waiver Program – is finally a reality. For years, we have represented clients who are “out-of-status” and […]
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‘The Pleasure of Being Served:’ The undocumented immigrant’s dilemma
By Cristina DC Pastor Time and again, one hears the archetypal narrative about the undocumented immigrant who is torn between principle and pragmatism. Michael Manese’s “The Pleasure of Being Served” is one such story. The 15-minute short film tells how undocumented housemaid Rosa must choose between continuing to work for her rakish boss and leaving. […]
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FilAms among Carnegie Corporation’s inspiring immigrants
At least 6 Filipinos made the esteemed Carnegie Corporation of New York’s The Pride of America, immigrants who have made “notable contributions to the progress of our society.” They are Executive Chef of the White House Cristeta Comerford, photographer Cheryl Diaz Meyer, Seton Hall University President A. Gabriel Esteban, fashion designer Josie Natori, CEO of […]
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How far would you go to get a U.S. visa? A raucous look at our coming-to-America stories
By Lenn Almadin Thornhill The shock seemed to unfold in slow motion. We watched as actor Sid Lucero unclipped the lapel microphone, tossed it on the green table in Bryant Park, and walked out, leaving reporters of the Filipino American Press Club in New York City looking at each other. Until someone said, “Call JP!” […]