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Jeremy Rafal: A life transformed by family tragedy…and TV cartoons
As a young boy growing up in the Philippines Jeremy Rafal had few links to the wider world – until his dad bought a TV and he discovered cartoons. With no mobiles, home computers, Internet or social media, in a place with little in live entertainment and where even telephones were rare this was something […]
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Risa Puno’s art installation celebrates the Halo-Halo
By Claire Mercado-Obias Summer in New York City means time outdoors. If you are in lower Manhattan’s Brookfield Place, step out to the Waterfront Terrace and head to the colorful picnic tables. Perhaps the colors will remind you of manatamis na saba, kaong, gulaman, leche flan, and ube, thekey ingredients of Halo-Halo (mix-mix), the shaved ice dessert […]
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New York City closes Roosevelt Hotel arrival center for migrants
By Lindy Rosales The Roosevelt Hotel, which served as the official processing center for asylum seekers, has closed its doors on July 2, with Mayor Eric Adams declaring that “New York City…will always be, a city of immigrants.” Located on 45th Street in midtown Manhattan, the former hotel opened on May 19, 2023 as the […]
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On Global Filipinos: Little Manila Park signage unveiled in Queens
By Loida Nicolas Lewis Whenever Architect Noel Gamboa and his wife Dori wanted to “satisfy their craving” for authentic Filipino food, they would drive to Roosevelt Avenue, in Woodside, Queens from their home in Forest Hills. They often passed by a long fenced vacant lot while searching for parking space. For decades, it was unsightly, […]
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The day I learned my husband had Lewy Body Dementia
By Bella Owens Lewy Body Dementia has been on the news lately because of the famous people suffering from it. Four years ago, our son got married at a destination beach wedding in Southern Maryland. Southern Maryland has a small-town vacation vibe, with scenic waterways and tall trees canopying the narrow, two-way roads. We stayed […]
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Sol & Mary Ann Kapunan: Husband-and-wife tandem behind Albany’s Kalayaan 1521
By Cristina DC Pastor June 2021 was an auspicious time for a celebration, at least in Albany. Two reasons were brought up: One, travel restrictions caused by the pandemic had been lifted. Two, the labor issue involving Albany nurses reached an impasse and subsequently led to a contract signing. Hence, on June 26, 2021 Albany’s […]
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On same-sex marriage: Reflections on interview with Renee Salud and Ricky Reyes
By Elton Lugay I recently watched the video interview of Toni Gonzaga with stylists Renee Salud and Ricky Reyes, where they discussed same-sex marriage in the Philippines. I want to share my thoughts on this important issue with kindness, respect, and a broader perspective. First, it’s important to acknowledge that both fashion designer Salud and […]
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Sofronio Vasquez headlines Town Hall concert July 19th
Sofronio Vasquez, winner of The Voice will headline two key shows in New York on July 19 and Los Angeles on October 11. He is the first Filipino, and first Asian, to walk away with the title in NBC’s reality TV singing competition. Vasquez stopped tracks and made history. He performed in two Philippine Independence […]
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Understanding gender-based violence in LGBTQ+ relationships
By Womankind Common Myths About gender-based violence (GBV) in LGBTQ+ Relationships Myth #1: Domestic violence and intimate partner violence mostly occur in heterosexual relationships. Fact: LGBTQ+ communities experience the same or higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault compared to heterosexual communities. Some stats: Gender-based violence affects all communities regardless of sexual orientation or […]