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Guess who came to Explore the islands
By Cristina DC Pastor “The Philippines is not like a city like New York, it is like a jungle.” Whoa! Direct from the mouth of a third-grader! Students from Success Academy on the Upper West Side shared their impression of the Philippines when they checked out Explore Islands Philippines on May 10 at the Grand […]
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Chancellor Richard Carranza: ‘Students don’t want schools to look like prisons.’
By Rene Pastor Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza believes all NYC students should have access to the public school system, especially those who do not enjoy the benefit of wealth and private tutoring. “Integration is the law of the land,” said Carranza, the son of a Mexican sheet metal worker and a hairdresser. “As Chancellor of […]
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A night of folk dance and classical music, but first a virtual dive
What to do at Explore Islands Philippines in Grand Central Terminal? New Yorkers and tourists alike will stop in their tracks at the sight of blue waters of the Philippines, chocolate hills of Bohol, green terraces of the Mountain Provinces on a gigantic LED screen in the Vanderbilt Hall. From Wednesday, May 9 through Saturday […]
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Pinoy superheroes make their debut at ComicCon Asia
By Wendell Gaa Filipino comic book superheroes inspired by local legends were unveiled at the recent ComicCon Asia held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Writer Allison Aviado and senior artist Jerome Jagonia, both of Epik Studios, created the superhero Bernardo Carpio, who is essentially the Filipino version of the Greek mythological hero […]
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Historic ‘firsts’ as PIDCI finds hospitable welcome in South Jersey
By Lindy Rosales A lot of ‘firsts’ were noted in PIDCI’s nearly 30-year history of organizing the Philippine Independence Day Parade. One, it is the first time the organization is having an Honorary Grand Marshal to lead the parade. It is also the first time the Grand Marshal Ball was held in South Jersey, a […]
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Corporate nurse Cora Reyes: A community girl at heart
By Cristina DC Pastor For corporate nurse Corazon Reyes, 73, what ails traders, bankers and finance professionals can be a lot of things. Stress can be a health risk just like headaches and colds and the occasional accident on the job. Cora is a staff nurse at JP Morgan Chase & Co., a position she […]
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The ‘shame piece’
By Cristina DC Pastor Also known as the “last piece of anything.” In Philippine culture, it is usually the last piece of food left on a plate. Filipinos are reluctant to touch that piece for fear they would be seen as ‘matakaw’ (greedy) or ‘gutom na gutom’ (overly hungry). Hence, that last slice of Bibingka […]
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You’re a Big Star now, Sisig
By Cristina DC Pastor It’s time. Adobo’s star has dimmed, although its influential place in the culinary mainstream is assured. Non-Filipinos now recognize Adobo and order it with authority like they had grandmothers who cooked it for them. You’re the New Star now, Sisig. We have waited and wondered when you will emerge in the […]
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Avengers: The infinite wait to 2019
By Rene Pastor “Bitin” was my reaction to “Avengers: Infinity War,” Marvel Studios’ latest franchise hit. A cliffhanger. Given the Hollywood formula these days where franchise movies are done over several years, why would the Avengers be any different? That tactic of squeezing these movies for all their worth commercially is par for the course. […]