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The Solomonic wisdom of an immigration consultant
By Cristina Dc Pastor “TNTs are my clients,” declared Gonzalo ‘Jun’ Policarpio, an immigration consultant. “I try to solve their problems.” TNT or ‘tago ng tago’ — always hiding in Tagalog – are Filipino migrants on the run. They flit from state to state, job to job, perpetually fearful an innocuous traffic stop might bundle […]
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History of Filipino nurses in VA presented in Ren Capucao’s photo exhibit
By Christine Phelan KueterUniversity of Virginia Lots of parents urge their children toward careers in medicine, law or engineering. Reynaldo “Ren” Capucao’s family suggested those fields, along with one more, too: nursing. “Growing up Filipino, I noticed that other parents didn’t say that,” said Capucao, a University of Virginia graduate nursing student raised in Virginia […]
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Pompeo pal Brian Bulatao is confirmed Under Secretary in the State Department
Brian Bulatao, who was a guest of honor at the Philippine Independence Day celebration at Washington’s Kennedy Center, is the Under Secretary of State for Management. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May, making him the highest ranking Filipino American in the State Department. “My dad was an immigrant from the Philippines and […]
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Grace Talusan shares her immigrant story that began with a green station wagon
Boston-area resident Grace Talusan is in the spotlight this June as Stories from the Stage — the WORLD Channel series that features ordinary people telling extraordinary stories — airs a national 24-hour binge-a-thon of episodes this month. Talusan was born in the Philippines and raised in New England. A graduate of Tufts University and the […]
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‘Pusong Pinoy’ immigration talk show begins 15th season
“Pusong Pinoy sa Amerika” (Into the Hearts of the Filipinos in America) premiered its 15th season on June 9, and the GMA Pinoy TV show unveiled more informative segments for its loyal viewers. This season’s theme “Truth, Resilience, and Family Unity: Filipinos’ Resolve to Attain Family Reunification Amidst Tightening Immigration Policies” is prompted by the […]
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Jun Policarpio: Portrait of a whistleblower
By Cristina DC Pastor Society is generally distrustful of whistleblowers. Maybe because some are seen as motivated by monetary rewards or as persons who are not team players. Gonzalo ‘Jun’ Policarpio Jr. writes in his book how circumstances in his life turned him into a “whistleblower and a boat rocker,” and how he is proud […]
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What is the T Visa, and why did Filipinos get the most number in 2017?
T Visa Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons, is a form of modern-day slavery in which traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to compel individuals to provide labor or services, including commercial sex. Traffickers often take advantage of vulnerable individuals, including those lacking lawful immigration status. The T visa allows certain victims of […]
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Panic, anxiety over pending closure of USCIS office in Manila
By Cristina DC Pastor The decision of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to shutter its office in Manila on July 5 is causing ripples of panic among Filipinos who have pending applications to the U.S. Many are openly wondering whether their applications will be delayed indefinitely or whether they will need to follow […]
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Author shadows immigrant Filipino family from Manila to Texas
In a work that gives new meaning to immersion journalism, Jason DeParle, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and veteran New York Times reporter, has spent a remarkable three decades following an extended family of Filipino immigrants, from the slums of Manila to the suburbs of Houston. Through their multigenerational saga, he tells in his latest […]