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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 […]
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Move to impeach Aquino over DAP, a legal or moral issue?
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. Impeachment talks abound lately, not solely confined on these shores, likewise, from our ancestral home. The process has been bruited about during the last few days because of the Philippine Supreme Court’s decision on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). Arguments invoke a constitutional option: “Article XI, Section 1: Public Office […]
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Romantic, historic Istanbul
By Wendell Gaa Romantic, exotic and historic are fitting words to describe Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city and one that has played a part in some of the world’s greatest civilizations. The two most iconic civilizations of this great city which come to my mind are easily the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Before paying a recent […]
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In filing for DACA renewals, timing is important
By Cristina A. Godinez, Esq. Timing is of the essence with regard to the renewal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), with expirations projected to begin by September. DACA grantees must check their I-797 DACA Approval Notices and their Employment Authorization Document (EAD cards) immediately to ascertain when they should file their renewal […]
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Filipino TNTs say they’re no less courageous than Jose Antonio Vargas
Cristina DC Pastor Two Filipinos who watched “Documented” on CNN saw themselves as being similar yet vastly different from its storyteller, Jose Antonio Vargas. Like Vargas, both are living in the country with expired travel documents, and are currently out of status. Unlike Vargas, they remain safely hidden in the shadows protected by the support […]