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Finding spiritual solace by the Western Wall, Israel’s most sacred site
By Wendell Gaa As a high school student in the summer of 1993, I took my first trip to Europe, and it was in Rome, Italy where I had a chance to meet then-Philippine Ambassador to Israel, the late Amante Manzano. A very humble diplomat with a genial demeanor, Ambassador Manzano encouraged me to visit […]
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Pianist Rowena Arrieta returns to concert stage Sept. 20th
After a long hiatus, Rowena Arrieta is going back on stage for a comeback concert on September 20 at 8 p.m. at the Merkin Concert Hall on West 67th Street, according to Philippine Pearl LLC. The award-winning pianist, noted by The New York Times for her “fevered, demonic intensity” on the keyboard, is said to […]
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The mainstream press will not tell the immigrants’ stories: Ippies Awards speakers
Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas called on the mainstream media to tell more of the stories of the country’s immigrant population. At the same time, he urged anew The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and other newspapers to drop the use of the word “illegal” in their reporting of immigrants who […]
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Consider yourself charmed as Pinoys with British accent conquer ‘Oliver!’
By Elton Lugay Ten Filipino American actors give life to the restaging of “Oliver!,” the musical reinterpretation of Charles Dickens’s classic novel about an orphan with frisky hands. Eleven-year-old Bonale Zohn Fambrini plays the lead role of Oliver, a young pickpocket, in this National Asian Artists Project’s (NAAP) production featuring an all-Asian cast. “Oliver!” is […]
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Maj. Gen. Tony Taguba: An officer and a gentleman of a certain age
By Cristina DC Pastor The last we heard of Army Major General Antonio ‘Tony’ Taguba was at the height of the Abu Ghraib torture scandal in 2004. He was the pride of the Filipino American community then. A Philippine-born general entrusted with a huge, patriotic responsibility to investigate alleged military abuses at Abu Ghraib prison. […]
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Filipinos love their Madison Avenue parade!
By Elton Lugay Year after year, the June Philippine Independence Day Parade on Madison Avenue exudes an air of anticipation, excitement and spectacle. This year is no different. There’s Miss World Megan Young leading the celebrity herd, a mix of personalities representing showbiz, sports and government: Black Eyed Peas’ vocalist apl.de.ap, Judge Lorna Schofield, Senator […]
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Is FilAm unity attainable? Weigh in, be heard at UniPro’s May 31 summit
The Pilipino American Unity for Progress is holding its 4th annual conference on May 31 on the same weekend as the Philippine Independence Day Parade. “Summit 2014: Your Move” initiates the delegates’ chance to take control and act on where their passions lie, UniPro said in a press statement. “We want to challenge our attendees […]
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Ramon Gil is creating a comic book anthology by Filipino illustrators
Advertising man Ramon Gil gave up his dream to be a comic book creator 20 years ago, but in mid-life has decided to give his first love another shot. Gathering local FilAm artists like Rudy Nebres (DC/Marvel), and Len Peralta (“Geek-a-week”) as well as Philippine-based illustrators like Ryan Orosco (“Darna”), Lui Antonio (“Red Sonja”), Gilbert […]
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Maya Angelou tells her florist: ‘Oh, I love Filipinos.’
By Cristina DC Pastor There was never a tangled Christmas tree light in the many years – since 1998 – that florist Dennis Josue had been decorating the Harlem home of Maya Angelou. But one time was embarrassingly memorable. Dennis of Fantasia Floral Design on the Upper East Side, was called back to Angelou’s house. […]