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Amatorio, Lavarro running for reelection on November 7
Two prominent Democratic Party politicians in New Jersey are up for reelection this November 7. Arvin Amatorio of Bergenfield and Rolando Lavarro Jr. of Jersey City are seeking votes that would return them to their respective council seats. Both of them currently hold the title of Council President. “If reelected, members of the council can […]
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Radical, pioneering creatives in this year’s TOFA (Part 3)
Rocky Gathercole’s inspiring story places him in two extreme points in life: From homeless kid to celebrity designer. His collections have hit the runways of New York and Los Angeles, and the likes of Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Ariana Grande have worn his luxurious gowns. He left home as he was coming of age […]
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This year’s TOFA honorees: Profiles in excellence (Part 2)
Assemblymember Rob Bonta was elected to the California State Assembly’s 18th District in 2012, where he represents the cities of Oakland, Alameda, and San Leandro as the first and only Filipino American legislator in the 165-year history of California. It was his parents who instilled in him at a very young age the concepts of […]
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Ayala entices FilAms to buy Philippine property
By Cristina DC Pastor Retired Ambassador Marciano Paynor dealt with the elephant in the room. “We are sometimes painted as yellow,” he said in opening remarks at a meet-and-greet tendered by Ayala Corporation, where he now works as a consultant for External and Government Relations. The company should not be seen as a die hard […]
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Nomination of PHL ambassador ‘step in the right direction,’ says top diplomat
By Cristina DC Pastor The nomination of Jose Manuel ‘Babe’ Romualdez as Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. “will help” normalize relations between the two countries, said Consul General in New York Tess Dizon-De Vega. “It’s a step in the right direction,” she said in an August 14 press conference with the FilAm media led by […]
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Tourism OIC Zeny Pallugna leaving post, cites double-digit growth in U.S. market
By Cristina DC Pastor After three years, Officer in Charge Zeny Pallugna of the Philippine Department of Tourism’s (PDOT) New York office will be returning to Manila. Zeny ends her tour of duty on August 21. She is expected in Manila by September 11, leaving her a couple of weeks to say goodbye to relatives […]
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‘Sulong’ summit sounds call to build a U.S. Filipino youth movement
Youth and students across the Tri-State gathered in Jersey City’s City Council Chambers July 29 for the first-ever Sulong! Filipino Youth Leadership Summit. Participants ranged from young children to high school and college students to professionals. They came from schools all over the East Coast such as Binghamton University, New Jersey City University, and Hunter […]
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U.S. congressmen listen to horror stories of Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘killing zones’
By Rene Pastor The U.S. Congress opened on July 20 an investigation on extrajudicial killings (EJK) in the Philippines, with revelations some police officers were “being paid to kill” drug suspects. “There is an economy of murder” in the Philippines. Matthew Wells, a senior crisis advisor of Amnesty International (AI), gave this description during a […]
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Low voter turnout predicted in NYC elections as community media ponder tough questions for candidates
By Cristina DC Pastor A politician convicted eight years ago of slashing his girlfriend’s face with a broken glass is making a comeback. In New York City where the politics is often colorful and quirky, Hiram Monserrate’s return still grabs attention. At the July 13 panel discussion “Covering the NYC elections,” it was disclosed the […]