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PHL ambassador defends extravagant Trump Hotel, promises ‘meaningful’ Independence Day
By Rene Pastor What do Kuwait, Bahrain, and the Philippines have in common? Aside from human rights, all three countries have decided to celebrate their national days at Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. It’s the second time for Kuwait, only once for Bahrain, and the first time for the Philippines. All three countries are […]
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Cora Reyes honored on Nurses Week by Gov. Cuomo
By Cristina DC Pastor Gov. Andrew Cuomo has issued a proclamation making May 6-12, 2018 as Nurses Week and honoring New York State’s nurses who are the “leading advocates of public health.” The proclamation certificate was awarded to Cora Reyes, a staff nurse at JPMorgan Chase for 36 years, on May 9. Cuomo’s Manhattan Regional […]
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Chancellor Richard Carranza: ‘Students don’t want schools to look like prisons.’
By Rene Pastor Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza believes all NYC students should have access to the public school system, especially those who do not enjoy the benefit of wealth and private tutoring. “Integration is the law of the land,” said Carranza, the son of a Mexican sheet metal worker and a hairdresser. “As Chancellor of […]
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It’s not fun when billboards are vandalized: Tourism Attaché Susan del Mundo
By Cristina DC Pastor It’s “very sad,” said new Tourism Attaché to New York Susan del Mundo, that people would vandalize Philippine tourism billboards. “Sad because effort ito ng mga Pilipino,” she told members of the FilAm media in a press conference. “We would like to promote our country to have a very good image. […]
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Duterte is 1st Asian leader to face charges at ICC; ‘inner circle’ also liable
By Rene Pastor President Rodrigo Duterte is the first Asian leader to face possible charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC), according to international lawyer Ruben Carranza. He said officials in Duterte’s inner circle may also face charges for the murders committed under his brutal drug war. Carranza, the senior staff […]
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Ambassador Mario de Leon Jr.: In retirement, a life of contradictions
By Cristina DC Pastor At Starbucks on Fifth Avenue where we met for this interview, the barista called out, “Mario!” I smiled at Ambassador Mario de Leon Jr. – formerly Consul General in New York – as he got his chai tea, teased him about his now untitled life. Truth is, he confessed, as we […]
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NYC nannies, caregivers are mostly women of color; number of Asians growing
“Lifting up Paid Care Work: Year One of New York City’s Paid Care Division” was issued this month by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs. The report examines the conditions of the city’s more than 202,000 domestic workers — home care aides, house cleaners, and nannies – also known as ‘paid care workers.’ […]
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Embassy officer Ivan Gonzales: A desire to transform the Philippine economy
By Wendell Gaa Believe it or not, contributing to the economic development of the Philippines was an aspiration Ivan Gonzales had since he was 4 years old. Today, he is making that dream a solid reality working for the Economic Section of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. The son of writer P.J. Gonzales of […]
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NYC is nearly 40% foreign-born highest in over a century: MOIA report
NYC’s Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) issued its first-ever annual report, and states that for the first time in over a century “nearly 40 percent of our residents are foreign born.” “New York City is proud to be the ultimate city of immigrants,” said Acting Commissioner Bitta Mostofi in the 37-page report. The report […]