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With humor and heart, Consul General Senen Mangalile says goodbye, praises the ‘energy of the community’
By Romulo Aromin, Jr., MD With only two weeks to prepare and against the backdrop of a heatwave, the world football games, and the long July 4th weekend with the U.S. celebrating 250 years of independence, some 150 northeast Filams in the Tri-state gathered to send off Consul General Senen Mangalile as he assumes the position of Ambassador […]
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Remigio Cabacar, the last surviving WW II veteran: A life lived in courage, sacrifice, and the value of freedom
By Cristina DC Pastor For nearly a century, he was a witness to history–from the hardships of war to the blessings of peace, from raising a family to becoming a great-grandfather. Today, at 98 years old and approaching his 99th birthday, Remigio “Rey” Cabacar, the last surviving World War II Filipino-American veteran in the Washington, […]
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The long (Pride) March: A commitment and a responsibility
By Elton Lugay Gov. Kathy Hochul’s white Converse were already showing the strain by the time me and my friends reached Greenwich Village, the back of her right sneaker folded down as she powered through block after block of the NYC Pride March. It was a small detail amid the rainbow spectacle, but for me […]
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Jeweler Reagan John Rada turns birthday celebration into quake relief for GenSan
By Elton Lugay When Filipino American jeweler Reagan John Rada heard about the powerful earthquake that struck General Santos City in the Southern Philippines, he knew his upcoming birthday celebration in New York could not remain just a party. Instead, he pledged to turn it into a fundraiser for families affected by the disaster in […]
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Little Manila Park turns idle lot into a community garden
Under sunny skies, community leaders, residents, performers, and supporters gathered on June 13 to celebrate the grand opening of Little Manila Park, a volunteer-built greenspace that transformed an idle forested block beside the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway into a welcoming public oasis for the neighborhood. The opening marked the culmination of years of planning, fundraising, and volunteerism […]
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Beauty queen Maria Victoria Ginter’s quiet, low-key campaign for breast cancer awareness
By Cristina DC Pastor Maria Victoria Ginter was in her teens when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her mother discovered a lump in her breast and underwent surgery, but the disease had already progressed. After years of treatment, including chemotherapy, the cancer reached Stage 4. “She was only 45 years old when she […]
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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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Paddles, politics and the pulse of New York: DCG Adrian Cruz bids farewell
By Cristina DC Pastor After years immersed in the dizzying rhythm of New York City, Mr. Adrian Elmer Cruz is now preparing for a new diplomatic chapter by moving to the Philippine Embassy in Vientiane, Laos where he will hold the twin titles Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General. But before leaving one of […]