When Leah Lupao Amadiz represented New York in the Ginang Filipinas National pageant, she was not simply stepping into the spotlight. She was carrying with her the proud legacy of her Igorot roots, upheld through her involvement with BIBAK NY, an organization dedicated to preserving the culture of the Cordillera region. BIBAK—an acronym for Abra, […]
By Sarah Gassel Rose Rubio was on the way to the Metropolitan Museum of Art when she was stopped by a familiar sight. Spilling out onto West 43rd Street, a stylish, growing crowd stood outside a wooden double-door entrance. For New York Fashion Week, this wasn’t an uncommon occurrence. Instead, it was a commonality between […]
By Ferlie Andong I attended New York Fashion Week for the first time, and came in with zero expectations. It was a little early when I arrived so I caught parts of the rehearsal for Darren Apolonio’s Spring Summer 2026 show at the Flatiron District in Manhattan and wondered what I was about to witness. […]
By Wendell Gaa The year 2025 marks the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, one of the most pivotal air battles not only during the Second World War, but in the history of Western civilization. It was in this military conflict when Nazi Germany under its dictator Adolf Hitler had by 1940 overrun much […]
October 2 Casino Night from Charm City 22nd Eastern Regional Conference of the Philippine Nurses Association of America Live Casino & Hotel 7002 Arundel Mills Circle Suite 7777 Hanover, MD October 2 to October 30 Fall 2025 Adult Conversational Filipino, Beginner 1 with instructor Bing Magtoto Deadline for enrollment is Monday, September 29 For more […]
By Cristina DC Pastor When Joyce Alano Castillo and her husband Arnold moved to Woodbridge, New Jersey in 1997, the world was in mourning. As they unloaded boxes into their new home, the radio carried the shocking news: Princess Diana had died in a car accident. Their sons were very young. One was entering high […]
By Cristina DC Pastor For eight years, Friends of the Philippines Society USA Inc. (FRIENDSPHUSA) has staged cultural and community-driven projects highlighting the richness of Philippine heritage. From the Explore Islands Philippines mounted at Grand Central Terminal, to concerts for world-renowned pianist Raul Sunico, and the Art for Humanity exhibit at the Photoville Photojournalism exhibit […]
By Cristina DC Pastor Darlene Dilangalen and Jesus “Bong” Borromeo first met in 1975 on a flight from Davao City to Manila. At the time, she was still a junior nursing student. In 1980, she left her hometown in Cotabato for New Jersey as a new nurse graduate to work at St. Joseph’s Hospital (now […]
In a night filled with elegance and heartfelt family stories, the pioneering Ginang Filipinas New Jersey pageant crowned its first-ever grand winner, Carmela ‘Ella’ Icamina. The competition, like many traditional beauty contests, highlighted the strength, creativity, and journeys of women—many of them mothers—who continue to thrive while balancing the demands of immigrant life in the […]