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New Jersey activists condemn Maute attacks, Duterte’s martial law response
“We condemn the attacks on the people of Marawi. We also condemn President Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao.” With this statement, Ren Clacer, chairperson of GABRIELA New Jersey, added her voice to the May 26 community vigil in solidarity with the people of Marawi. Clacer and about 30 other left-leaning activists gathered at […]
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When the woman is much older: Brigitte Macron and Dionesia Pacquiao
By Cristina DC Pastor In my search for the Filipino Brigitte Macron, I circled back to Dionesia Dapidran Pacquiao. Except for the huge age gap these women have with their significant others, I find nothing else they have in common, except, notably, the public’s obsession with their relationship with much younger men. Brigitte is the […]
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Question that irked Justice Sec. Vitaliano Aguirre: Will De Lima be murdered in jail?
By Cristina DC Pastor Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre stated there have been a total of 7,080 drug-related deaths since Rodrigo Duterte became president in July 1, 2016. In a report before members of the Filipino American community on April 18, Aguirre presented the following figures: 7,080: total number of people killed in War on Drugs […]
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FilAms open their wallets for Kirsten Gillibrand fundraiser
By Cristina DC Pastor New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand attended a political fundraiser April 2, thanked Filipino Americans for their support, and spoke in support of people who are “rising up” against Donald Trump’s “hate-filled rhetoric.” The fundraiser was held at the Manhattan residence of CEO Loida Nicolas-Lewis, a long-time supporter of the Democratic Party […]
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‘I Am Pinoy’ producer declines to state fate of show host
By Cristina DC Pastor “It’s nothing personal.” With these words, “I Am Pinoy Proud Ako” (IAPPA) producer Rena Avendula declined comment on the departure of Ethel Cantor Constantino as the show’s host and co-founder. When reached by The FilAm, she stressed the two-year-old show – which features entertainment and politics — will continue to air […]
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Dinner for Vicky Garchitorena not a fundraiser to overthrow Duterte: guests
About 30 people, including personal friends, attended a dinner reception for civil society leader Vicky Garchitorena at the Central Park residence of Loida Nicolas-Lewis. Garchitorena, former president of the Philippine Development Foundation (PhilDev), and Nicolas-Lewis are long-time friends and known supporters of Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas in the 2016 election. “It was a […]
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Juliet Payabyab journeys down NYC district politics, learns what ails her neighborhood
By Cristina DC Pastor All politics is local. This political aphorism, believed to have originated from former Speaker Tip O’Neill, is making Juliet Payabyab very involved and very busy. Juliet, a long-time leader in the Filipino American community, has been immersing herself in her local district in Astoria, Queens bringing good old-fashioned beating-down-the-pavement attitude. “I’m […]
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Maria Torres-Springer creating excitement among FilAms looking for greater representation in government
By Cristina DC Pastor The high-profile Housing Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer is stoking excitement in the community that would like to see more Filipino Americans seek higher political office. How about a Filipina in the mayor’s office someday? “As Mayor de Blasio once asked me, why are Filipinos so talented? I replied it’s really only our […]
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Cyrus Montesa of Queens now a securities attorney in Manila
By Wendell Gaa ‘The FilAm’ is beginning a series on U.S.-born Filipino Americans who now live and work in the Philippines. Some have never been to the country of their parents and are visiting for the first time. Others are returning after they left as children — all of them making a new life for […]