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Jose Antonio Vargas gets an O visa: No longer undocumented
By Cristina DC Pastor On December 30, 2024, the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana, Mexico issued the famously ‘undocumented’ Jose Antonio Vargas a (d)(3) Waiver O Visa, a purely discretionary visa usually given to individuals “balancing social and humanitarian considerations,” according USCIS.gov website. “My O visa was approved…after 31 years, four months and 28 days of […]
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Women. Immigration. Media.
By Cristina DC Pastor These are the core components that comprise the not-for-profit organization WICCAFE or the Women’s Immigration and Communications Café, a conversation and media platform for women immigrants founded by journalist Marivir Montebon. “There are cookies to bake and stories to tell by immigrant women on a media platform, not just in kitchens […]
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Apicha CEO Therese Rodriguez publishes book of poetry, finds writing ‘empowering’
By Marivir Montebon The launch of the poetry book “Parañaque to New York City: Fifty Poems” flowed splendidly on the evening of October 24 in downtown Manhattan, a full circle moment for author Therese Rodriguez, a civil rights champion and CEO of Apicha Community Health Center. Steadfast in her activism for public health and human […]
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Domestic violence journalists seek new ways to end the cycle
By Selen Ozturk Journalists nationwide are fighting domestic violence by focusing on solutions for survivors before the cycle turns deadly. Every year, over 10 million people in the U.S. experience domestic violence, amounting to nearly 20 people physically abused by a partner every minute. Over a third of U.S. women (35.6%) and over a quarter of men […]
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Fiesta In America 2024: When cultures come together to celebrate
By Angelito Cabigao Out of the 10,000 giveaway pieces that IKEA provided to Fiesta in America attendees, one special piece stood out at their booth: a unique poster that captured the spirit of this Philippine-inspired indoor expo. This artwork, designed with iconic Filipino emblems like the Jose Rizal monument, the Jeepney, the Banaue Rice Terraces, […]
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Andy Kim: ‘I never intended to be a politician, but President Trump won…’
By Cristina DC Pastor I first met Andy Kim in December when members of the FilAm media were invited to his Meet-and-Greet in Summit, New Jersey. I saw a refreshing persona. A politician who did not have an inflated ego, did not peddle lies, and was not full of antics like some senators and congressmen […]
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It’s about recognizing your talents and having the audacity to share it
By Vanette Colmenares In a few days, I will be going back home. Where is home? Home is where the heart is, and I have the best of both. Home is Cebu the land of my birth, cradled my beginnings, embraced my kin, and witnessed my youth. The place where I forged bonds, exchanged vows, […]
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Joseph Francia: ‘Television is alive and well’
By Cristina DC Pastor Joseph Francia looks back on his career and glimpses a television executive whose more than three decades’ work in broadcast media was shaped by significant events and crises. In 1990, he was a young project manager for ABS-CBN Foundation who rushed to the scene of the earthquake in Baguio to lead […]
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GoFundMe and the Filipino crowdfunding culture
By Cristina DC Pastor When my husband suffered a stroke in the early morning of June 29, the idea of fundraising never crossed my mind. I was in a state of nonchalance, thinking that since he had insurance, everything would be taken care of by his provider. Until the social worker in the hospital informed […]