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For FVR, Philippine economy, tension with Taiwan no laughing matter
By Cristina DC Pastor “Feel free to quote me. My name is Manny Pacquiao.” This throw-away line by former President Fidel Ramos kept Consulate officials, staff and guests in stitches during a June 14 visit to New York to promote his latest book and film. It was one running gag after another as the former […]
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Here lies the disco-driven life of Imelda Marcos
By Cristina DC Pastor If you have to watch David Byrne’s “Here Lies Love,” be prepared to suspend disbelief. This disco musical is part fiction and part history, and if some details appear like figments of the writer’s mind, they probably are. Much of the urban legend revolving around Imelda Marcos is so delightfully woven […]
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Did bullying from the pulpit hurt the Catholic Vote?
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. If the homeland’s May 13th Election Day statistics were to be pursued, there should be very little wonder or none at all, about the existence of what was referred to as the Catholic Vote. Evidently, as the results started to pour in just after a few vote canvassing days, it […]
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Rolando Lavarro urges June 11 run-off vote: ‘Elections not yet over.’
By Cristina DC Pastor Jersey City Councilman-at-Large Rolando Lavarro is in number-crunching mode as he looks toward the June 11 run-off. With about 40,000 voters who cast their ballots in the May 14 municipal elections, the run-off is likely to see a one-third decline resulting in about 26,500 votes. He has to get 50 percent […]
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Grace Poe and the social stigma of Philippine adoptions
By Cristina DC Pastor Along with assuming the role of legislator, newly-minted Senator Grace Poe appears to have one other abiding obligation: to change Filipinos’ attitude towards adopted children. At least that’s what I’d like to see. Grace is the adopted daughter of screen royalty Fernando Poe Jr. and Susan Roces. This novice politician won […]
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Asian communities irked over mayoral candidates’ snub
Christine Quinn was a no-show. So were Bill Thompson and John Catsimatidis. Sal Albanese, Bill de Blasio, and Erick Salgado were at the forum, and so was John Liu, but he came 30 minutes late. Welcome to the Mayoral Candidates Forum organized by a coalition of about 50 Asian American organizations where the empty seats […]
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Manglapus, Gillego and the struggles from exile of a N.Y.-born anti-Marcos movement
Fighting from a Distance: How Filipino Exiles Helped Topple a Dictator By Jose V. Fuentecilla University of Illinois Press 2013 By Cristina DC Pastor It is a book that triggers memories – some good and some not so bracing. That is how the book “Fighting from a Distance: How Filipino Exiles helped Topple a Dictator” […]
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Official poll results are out; second-generation FilAms amused, indifferent, hopeful
Administration candidate Francis Escudero topped the Senate race in the U.S. with 9,464 votes followed by: Alan Peter Cayetano, 9,174 Grace Poe, 9,029 Loren Legarda, 8,696 Aquilino Pimentel III 8,448 Bam Aquino, 8,267 Juan Edgardo Angara, 7,735 Richard Gordon, 7,291 Ramon Magsaysay Jr., 7,187 Riza Hontiveros, 6,983 Antonio Trillanes, 6,521 Juan Miguel Zubiri, 4,908 Ten […]
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What I did on election day
By Paulynn P. Sicam I voted early, with no hassles. The polling place is a public school five minutes’ walk from my house. I was back home in 20 minutes. On my way home, I met my ‘kasambahay’ and her husband who were going to cast their own votes. When they got back after over […]