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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. […]
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Philippine Embassy has shown ‘professionalism, kindness,’ asserts ANCOP USA
The faith-based organization, Answering the Cry of the Poor — or ANCOP USA – praised the Philippine Embassy for its “professionalism, concern and kindness.” Through its Executive Director, Roger Santos, a TOFA-NY 2014 awardee for Community Service, ANCOP USA said, “Since 2012, (we have) had close working relationships on various Philippine-related projects with the Philippine […]
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Another forlorn wedding anniversary awaits a ‘desaparecido’ and the husband who keeps fighting to find her
By Julia Carreon-Lagoc March 28, 1977 was not a day that stood out among the rest of the days in March ’77 in the Philippines. In Iloilo, it was a humdrum, typical day of weeks, months, and years, especially at the Fort San Pedro stockade. The day of days here was when a detainee would […]
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Philippine Embassy addresses allegations of ‘rudeness,’ ‘palakasan’
By Emil T. Fernandez Minister and Consul General We wish to take this opportunity to respond to your article last February 20 regarding complaints against the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. It is unfortunate that some people have aired their sentiments through social media and certain members of the local press, rather than file a […]
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The massacre of SAF 44: ‘Makes me cry with anger to see politicians make a circus out of it’
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. Our homeland is in mourning. What emerges as reality is the price of peace. We are talking about the massacre of the 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF), an elite unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP). They who lost their lives in the line of duty in […]
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Visiting the 9/11 museum and trying to make sense of what happened on that fateful day
By John Sapida I was a young child, around 9 years old, when the September 11 attacks happened. I do not remember much about my personal reaction, or if I had any, but I knew that amidst the emotions and confusion around me, this was something out of the ordinary. Recently, I decided to pay […]