-
Studio Ligaya hosts FAHM celebration in Metuchen N.J. Oct 10th
The Studio Ligaya, home of Central New Jersey’s Filipino Cultural Center, will host Ligaya Fest 2026, its 3rd annual Filipino American History Celebration, on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 160 Durham Avenue in Metuchen, N.J. The festival runs from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., followed by a dance party and socials from 6 p.m. to […]
-
A Filipino American divorce: A Jersey wife reclaims her life
By Cristina DC Pastor From the beginning of her marriage 20 years ago, the red flags were there. She chose to ignore them because she was busy raising her five children and running a home-based food business. There was the constant put-downs, the hundreds of calls checking on her whereabouts, and the alarm clock thrown […]
-
Finding acceptance in a gay-friendly workplace
By Veana DC Pastor I work for an LGBTQ-friendly company in Pittsburgh. I have to say it took me a while to find a workplace where gay employees are treated with maturity, dignity, and respect. It’s a small food establishment where many of the employees – in both management and staff — are mostly gender-positive. […]
-
Michael Cinco at NYFW: Fashion as theater
The Dubai-based Filipino couturier unveiled his Spring/Summer 2027 collection at the Angel Orensanz Foundation where he presented handworked glamour and dramatic flourishes in a community-centered celebration. At Michael Cinco’s New York Fashion Week ramp show on September 12, fashion did not promise wearability. Instead it delivered spectacle, scale and transformation. He treated glamour as theater. […]
-
Jorge Ballos (aka Justin Girard): Building a New York home for independent filmmakers
By Cristina DC Pastor For Jorge Ballos – aka as Justin Girard — the SoHo International Film Festival (SIFF) which began as an intimate weekend event has grown into an international showcase now celebrating its 17th year. At its heart, he said SIFF was meant to give filmmakers a platform and an opportunity to […]
-
Emilia Kim explores Filipino food in her Texas kitchen
From her kitchen in Texas, food and culture creator Emilia Kim is traveling the world one table at a time. For the Philippine edition of her weekly series, Hosting the World, she prepared an ambitious Filipino fiesta featuring everything from colorful street food and celebration noodles to one of the country’s most beloved stews. Kim […]
-
Trans woman Cassey Arrobang from Albany crowned Ms. PAFCOM LGBTQ 2026
By Elton Lugay Every time Cassey Arrobang steps into the spotlight, she carries more than a microphone. She carries a story. “As a performer, my greatest goal is to tell a story through every performance,” Cassey, a transgender woman, singer, dancer and community leader from Albany, shared in an interview with this writer. “Whether it’s […]
-
From raising five sons to caring for newborns, ‘Tita Miles’ finds her calling
By Elton Lugay Before the feedings, the overnight shifts and the first-time parents looking for reassurance, Milagros dela Cruz Llamas begins with a simple belief: newborn care is not just about caring for a baby. It is also about helping a family find its footing. For more than two decades, Dela Cruz Llamas has worked […]
-
How corruption begins with a favor and erodes our community
By Ricky Rillera Corruption in our communities rarely begins with a suitcase of cash or a brazen embezzlement scheme. More often, it begins with something deceptively simple: a favor. A small request. A quiet exchange of influence. A leader who says, “Tulungan mo muna ako,” and a member who agrees because refusing feels impolite, disloyal, or […]