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How could you, K Brosas?
By Cristina DC Pastor On Saturday July 19, I watched my first Filipino showbiz concert in America. Although the Apo, the Eraserheads, Sharon Cuneta and other big names from the Philippines have performed in the Tri-State in the past, I have never gone to any of their shows because — I don’t know — maybe […]
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The bamboo and a B.O.N.G.G.A. campaign for climate awareness in the Philippines
After powerful typhoon Haiyan slammed the Philippines in November, Iowa student Vanessa Fixmer-Oraiz thought she would like to raise awareness about the changing climate in the birthplace of her mother. At the center of her campaign is the bamboo, this eco-friendly tree common in Asia and known for its value to biodiversity. The bamboo is […]
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Asian American festival highlights Filipino films
Asian CineVision and the 37th Asian American International Film Festival are proud to present a collection of diverse Filipino films concentrating on identity, history, and arts in the Philippines and Filipino diaspora communities. The Filipino and Filipino American selection for this year’s festival features “Transit,” “How to Disappear Completely,” “Pretty Rosebud,” “The Cotabato Sessions,” “Delano […]
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Pennsylvania teen Alexa Kirby wins Miss Philippines Quest-USA
By Cristina DC Pastor An 18-year-old high school graduate from Pennsylvania who would love to have dinner with Demi Lovato, given a chance to dine with an inspiring celebrity, was crowned Miss Philippines Quest-USA on July 12 at a beauty-and-talent pageant held at Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Alexa Kirby, who, by serendipity, was also Candidate […]
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New St. John’s president Conrado Gempesaw described as ‘humble, down-to-earth’
On July 1, Conrado Gempesaw, Ph.D. became the 17th president of St. John’s University in Queens, the first lay person to hold the position in this Catholic university in Queens. He succeeds Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., who became interim president after a 2013 corruption scandal led to the resignation of long-time president Rev. Donald […]
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LeBron James has made the journey; now he wants to go home
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. Speaking about “Changing America,” the landscape on sports figures has been changing, thanks to top stars’ decisions sparked by their respective termination contracts outside their official hometowns and residences. LeBron James, until lately, one of the superheroes of the Miami Heat that won two championships in four years (led by […]
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‘Surreal, scary,’ says Jose Antonio Vargas on being arrested by border patrol
By Cristina DC Pastor Several dozen Filipinos braved the July 15 downpour to gather at Union Square and voice their support for detained undocumented journalist Jose Antonio Vargas. The activist and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist was released on the same day by U.S. Border Patrol agents who held him at the McAllen-Miller International Airport in Texas […]
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I hope this country will finally call Jose Antonio Vargas what he is: an American
By Laurel Fantauzzo On July 15, the storyteller Jose Antonio Vargas was detained at the McAllen, Texas airport for not having a valid entry visa in his Philippine passport for the United States. Last year, Jose visited my nonfiction writing class at the University of Iowa to talk about his journey to a Pulitzer Prize. […]
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Women’s center offers to pay filing fees for DACA eligibles; Filipinos report high approval rates
By Cristina DC Pastor Disheartened by the low rate of applications, officials and advocates are urging undocumented youth to apply for the federal program Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. They said an $18 million grant from the city will bankroll resources for legal assistance including payment of the $465 filing fee. Of about half a […]