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My heart aches for my beloved Baltimore
By Bella Santos Owens After having a great weekend with my family celebrating our children’s birthdays who are young adults and half African Americans, I am very sad watching Baltimore City being destroyed. Baltimore City had been my home and my work location ever since I came to this country in the 1980s. Our kids […]
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The tragedy of Mary Jane Veloso: History repeats itself in a terrible way
Today, April 27, at 6 p.m., Bayan USA is calling on concerned Filipinos in the New York area to join a candlelight vigil outside the Indonesian Consulate on 5 East 68th Street, between 5th and Madison avenues. It would be a matter of hours before Mary Jane Veloso’s execution on April 28. To those who […]
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‘We know we’re not dealing with angels:’ Miriam Coronel-Ferrer
By Cristina DC Pastor There are 11 steps toward the creation of an autonomous Bangsamoro region by 2016. So far, the Philippine government is only at Step 4, which is the certification of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as an urgent piece of legislation. But something happened that is preventing it from moving forward […]
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FILAMSPEAK: ‘It’s time for a woman president’
The wait is over, and the April 12 announcement did not surprise; it did did not disappoint either. Many people, including Filipino Americans, have been speculating on Hillary Clinton’s moves. It’s the ‘when’ and the ‘how’ that’s keeping the suspense up. Through email, Twitter, and a video message, the former first lady and former Secretary […]
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How Bernadette Ellorin battled brain cancer with courageous activism
By Cristina DC Pastor When I first met Bernadette Ellorin, she was wearing a colorful scarf knotted Caribbean-style around her head. Seeing the admiring look on my eye, she revealed matter-of-factly: “I have cancer.” That bold declaration has stayed with me for a long time. Years later, I am reconnecting with this remarkable woman, hoping […]
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Low-income New Yorkers urged to file taxes; may qualify for credits of up to $8K
City officials reminded New Yorkers to file their taxes and to utilize the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) at free tax preparation sites at locations across the city. The EITC is the largest direct poverty reduction program in the nation, allowing working families to receive as much as $8,923 when filing their taxes, Council Speaker […]
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Consul General confirms Amal Clooney’s UN petition, first PHL government official to do so
By Cristina DC Pastor Something unfamiliar happened during a press briefing of Consul General Mario de Leon Jr. with members of the Filipino American Press Club of New York. He was asked about an alleged petition filed by human rights lawyer Amal Clooney before the UN calling for the release from detention of former President […]
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Coalition urges bigger discretionary funding for fast-growing Asian community
The 15% & Growing Coalition gathered community members, local leaders, and advocates on March 5 at City Hall to demand equitable funding for the Asian Pacific American (APA) community. Despite the growth, the APA community does not receive sufficient resources, the coalition said in a statement. “In FY 2015, APA organizations received only 2.9 percent […]
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4 days in February in NYC: From paranoia to euphoria
By Cristina DC Pastor In 1986, or 29 years ago, the Philippines was on the cusp of something historic. What it was no one knew. What was apparent was that dictator Ferdinand remained in power, but opposition leader Cory Aquino was ascendant and very popular. The February 7 snap elections turned out to be critical. […]