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Chinese group to host discussion on Congressional Gold Medal for Filipino veterans
Issues relevant to Filipino Americans will be featured in the upcoming 43rd annual National Convention of the Organization of Chinese Americans – Asian Pacific American Advocates (OCA-APAA), at the Westin Jersey City Newport in Jersey City, from July 21-24. “OCA is a leading organization that advocates for Asian American and Pacific Islanders, and I urge […]
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Ban alcohol ads on NYC trains and buses, urge advocates, residents
More than 50 community advocates, faith leaders, public health practitioners, and young people joined together at City Hall on June 29 to call for the removal of alcohol advertising from NYC public transit. This event – organized by the Building Alcohol Ad-Free Transit (BAAFT) campaign – kicked off a series of activities that BAAFT and […]
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PHL upgraded to Tier 1 with increased trafficking conviction, prosecution
The Philippines was upgraded to Tier 1 of the U.S. State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report of 2016 released on June 30. Ambassador Jose Cuisia, Jr., who led the advocacy work for the Philippines’ anti-trafficking in persons campaign in the U.S. and who officially steps down today as the country’s top envoy to the […]
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Brexit’s possible impact on the Filipino community in the UK: A view from a former Consul General in London
By Mario Lopez de Leon Jr. Consul General in New York SPECIAL TO ‘THE FILAM’ The result of the referendum on the exit of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union, or Brexit, has been described as historic, shocking, stunning and jolting. The resounding vote for Brexit over Remain last June 24 has been […]
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Who are the superdelegates and what makes them ‘super’?
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. The news reports tell it all: The Democratic campaign tightens; superdelegates hold the key. The role of the superdelegate has been underscored, and still remains to be underscored as it has never been that significant since the 1980s, identified as the “birth of the superdelegate.” The emergence of at least […]
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Leni Robredo invited to speak at NaFFAA conference in August
The U.S. presidential elections, civic engagement, climate change, arts and culture, entrepreneurial leadership, financial literacy, women and youth empowerment are among the issues Filipino Americans will address when they gather in Philadelphia for NaFFAA’s 12th National Empowerment Conference on August 4-7, 2016. Among those invited to give a keynote speech is Philippine Vice President-Elect Leni […]
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Transgender Rep. Geraldine Roman: ‘I had to deal with insults, people calling me names, saying I was immoral’
By Cristina DC Pastor The first transgender member of the Philippine Congress said she won for speaking her “truth,” and for fighting insults about her sexual orientation and allegations of “immorality.” Congresswoman-elect Geraldine Roman of Bataan also said she found it “quite paradoxical” that in the U.S., which is a strong advocate for gender rights […]
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Senator says family reunification long overdue, offers to assist veterans’ kin apply for parole
New York Senator Charles Schumer announced on June 9 that the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will allow certain Filipino World War II veteran family members who are beneficiaries of approved family-based immigrant visa petitions an opportunity to seek a discretionary grant of parole, on a case-by-case basis. According […]
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Remembering People Power at EDSA after 30 years
By Lindy Rosales At the recent commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, officials and students of the College of Mount Saint Vincent — where Cory Aquino is an esteemed alumna — and guests sang the “Lupang Hinirang” with fervor. Goosebumps ran down my spine because as I looked around the […]