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‘My son is not the bride!’ Film explores interracial, gay couple’s ‘pamanhikan’
The short film entitled, “Pamanhikan,” is a story of an interracial, gay couple’s parents’ first meeting over brunch to discuss their wedding. ‘Pamanhikan’ is the Philippine tradition where the parents of the bride and the groom meet formally to acknowledge their approval of the marriage. Writer-director Angelo Santos called this film a “witty and touching […]
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Jersey dad creates ‘Phil the Fil-Am’ cartoon to help teach his kids Tagalog
A South Jersey father of four who wants his children to learn Philippine culture is creating a language-focused animation inspired by “Dora the Explorer.” David Asis is doing a pilot of “Phil the Fil-Am” in the hope of teaching his children – son Michael, who is 4 years old, and triplet daughters Gabriella, Kayla and […]
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Prayers, donations pour in for children of Jersey City couple killed in tornado
By Cristina DC Pastor Americans and Filipinos alike are opening their hearts, and wallets, to three children who lost their parents July 24 when a tornado swept through a campsite in Cheriton, Virginia. The tornado hit a tree that toppled on the tent of sleeping Jersey City couple killing Lord Balatbat and his wife Lolibeth […]
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My father and me: Still far away
By Rene Pastor I was about 3 or 4 years old. My dad was driving this top-down Impala in the middle of Manila. We passed by this bridge with steel girders over the Pasig river, which did not give off a foul odor then. I held my hands up as the wind whipped through my […]
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Mithi Aquino becomes the Ambassador’s wife
By Cristina DC Pastor “Why me?” Mithi Aquino, 36, would ask then-Ambassador to Manila Harry K. Tomas, 57, every time she is wracked by doubts. “Why not?” he replied in his usual curt manner characteristic of long-time diplomats. Three years after the Jolo beauty and the American diplomat from New York met, they got married […]
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Couple urge those who stereotype Filipino-Western relationships: ‘Don’t judge’
This article was written in reaction to A. Mabini’s provocative essay “The Pilipina’s infatuation with the White Man,” which was published in the December 2011 issue. Authors, John Nicholson and Choi Mercado, have chosen to write their response by sharing with The FilAm readers their personal account of their own Filipino-Western relationship. John, 40, is […]
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A marriage in transit
By Cristina DC Pastor We paid the haulers then locked up the house for good. My neighbor Mike, who was washing his car by his driveway, waved. We met halfway to hug. “You guys have been great neighbors,” he said with a wry smile like he was really sad to see us go. He waved […]
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Why I got married on Valentine’s Day
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. Once in every 12 months, there is a day that tugs at a great many hearts. There are virtual reminders weeks before it becomes part of the prevailing picture. Media and commercial interests zero in on Valentine’s Day. The meaning? To purchase expensive presents? To play up to romantic notions? […]
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‘Forever Families:’ What happens when adoption does not work out?
By Lorial Crowder On November 27th, an Ohio couple returned their 9-year old adopted son to Butler County Children’s Services with claims he was “displaying aggressive behavior and earlier threatened the family with a knife.” The boy was adopted and raised from infancy, according to reports. The couple was indicted on “misdemeanor counts of nonsupport” […]