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New year, new name, new gender marker
By Cristina DC Pastor The new year signals a fresh start to some: New house, new job, new life goals. To Chelle Lhuillier, a transgender advocate, January 2019 is when her new name and new gender marker will become official. “Time to put that old ‘me’ in a treasure vault — safe and protected. Here […]
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Lawyer Elizabeth Cueva on sexual harassment and why it’s important to report
By Cristina DC Pastor In the late 1990s, way before the #MeToo Movement, lawyer Elizabeth Cueva worked for the City University of New York’s Office of Compliance and Diversity. As the director assigned in Kingsborough Community College-CUNY, she led a panel that investigated all sorts of sex-related incidents in the college involving students, faculty, college […]
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SPECIAL REPORT: Community awaits response from the Philippine Consulate (Conclusion)
By Cristina DC Pastor & Marivir Montebon As we were poring over several reams of financial documents, ledgers and minutes of board meetings – over several weeks — we came across numerous items that raised some red flags. One of them is an item in the ledger showing a former Grand Marshal making a contribution […]
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SPECIAL REPORT: Too many pay-to-cash disbursements (3rd in a series)
By Marivir R. Montebon & Cristina DC Pastor The 2013-2015 general ledgers contain items that are blatantly questionable, according to financial professionals who reviewed them. Some of these are: 1. In 2013, a staggering expenditure of unspecified materials and supplies worth $36,665.44 was reported; In 2014, unspecified materials and supplies reached $44,529.41; In 2015, it […]
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SPECIAL REPORT: Where’s the money, PIDCI? (2nd in a series)
By Marivir R. Montebon & Cristina DC Pastor Despite its accountability and transparency issues, PIDCI has continued to make it appear to potential sponsors who advertise in the souvenir program that their donations would be tax-exempt. In May 2018, a month before the 120th Philippine Independence Day celebration, its advertising form carried a note that […]
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Court rules in favor of PIDCI; case of missing funds still unresolved
By Cristina DC Pastor The Supreme Court of the State of New York dismissed on May 29 the case against PIDCI, a decision that was received with muted rejoicing by officers of the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. during their recent community meeting. While the decision of Justice Barbara Jaffe appeared to be a victory […]
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Licelle Cobrador opts for law practice in NYC over raucous Philippine politics
By Cristina DC Pastor In 2009, Licelle Cobrador found herself at a crossroads: Should she return to New York to pursue a legal career or should she stay in the Philippines to become mayor of Dao, Capiz and challenge the entrenched dynasty? Nine years seemed so far removed, but Licelle likes to look back at […]
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The life, the legacy, and the woman behind Reginald F. Lewis
One of the greatest love stories that has fascinated Filipino Americans is that of immigration lawyer Loida Nicolas Lewis and the legendary Reginald F. Lewis, who would become the richest African-American man in the 1980s. The two met on a blind date some 20 years earlier. Loida was then an up-and-coming lawyer who had just […]
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13-year-old Riley Villazor carries cheeky placard at Women’s March
By Cristina Dc Pastor Riley Villazor, a 7th grade student at East Side Middle School on 91st Street, found herself engulfed by a sea of protesting women who marched on January 20 over issues such as violence against women, immigration, and wage gap. She was with her mother Rose Villazor, a law professor, and her […]