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Military wife warns of ‘tensions’ as communist leaders assume power in the Duterte administration
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. Twenty-four hours after the May 9th national elections, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte appeared on the scene as he sealed victory with the ballot count that placed him more than five (5) million votes ahead of his closest rival who had already conceded defeat to the Mindanao-based presidential candidate. As […]
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FilAms identifying more as Democrats: survey
The Filipino American Democratic Club of New York responded to poll results that show a record 30-point gain of FilAms who identify as Democrats since the last presidential election in 2012. “Now more than ever, Filipino Americans are identifying with the Democratic Party’s vision of equality and opportunity for all Americans, regardless of where they […]
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Memorial Day: A time to remember heroes of war, heroes of peace
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. For countless decades now, Memorial Day in this great nation has zeroed in on remembering all the women and men who lost their lives in battle. Thus, the populace has observed celebrations and similar commemorations that focused on the women and men of the military, they who responded to various […]
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The odds of an OFW nurse as Philippine First Lady? FilAm nurses weigh in
By Cristina DC Pastor The question of who should be First Lady to Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte rakes up a lot of historic ‘firsts.’ It will be the first time a politician will be taking office as president separated from his wife. It is likely to be the first time he will be publicly seen […]
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How pop culture, social media played a role in Halalan 2016
By Joel David When it comes to popular culture trends, the Philippines appears to be mimicking its former colonizer, the US, in some ways, and leading it in other ways, usually by resisting or overturning the trends the latter sets. The recently concluded presidential election provides fertile ground to study these older possibilities as well […]
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Reflecting on a post-Aquino Philippines: Issues of poverty, private armies, corruption confront new president
Weeks before Filipinos go to the polls, diplomats, business executives, and analysts gathered at a Johns Hopkins campus to reflect on the administration of President Benigno Aquino III and examine the challenges confronting his successor. Motoo Konishi, former World Bank Country Director for the Philippines emphasized the importance of addressing corruption and improving governance, protecting […]
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‘Halo-halo’ politics: The Democrats’ messy and delicious path to a political revolution
By Aries Dela Cruz My favorite Filipino dessert is ‘halo-halo.’ It has some basic foundational ingredients. Ice, condensed milk, and various kinds of jellies, beans, and fruits. Sometimes it has ice cream and the ice cream flavor changes it, and it never tastes the same each time you try it. Anthony Bourdain said, “It makes […]
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Low voter turnout a disappointment, reports consulate in N.Y.
By Cristina DC Pastor “Para sa aking mga apo.” (This is for my grandchildren) These words were written on the inside flap of a ballot envelop received by the Philippine Consulate. Although this ballot appears to be filled with “fervor,” Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. expressed disappointment over the low voting turnout in the […]
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FilAms hail Hillary victory: ‘She’s always been attentive to our community’
Filipino Americans for Hillary celebrated Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s win in the New York Primary Election on April 19 at the Sheraton Hotel. “Today you proved once again, there’s no place like home,” said the former Secretary of State to the cheering crowd. “The race for the Democratic nomination is in the homestretch and […]