-
WHERE I LIVE: Why Ledy Almadin left Jersey City in favor of quiet, suburban Summit
By Cristina DC Pastor With motherly apprehension, Ledy Almadin uprooted her family from Jersey City, where she lived for 26 years, and moved deeper into suburbia in the city of Summit. An accountant at the white-glove EisnerAmper accounting firm in Manhattan, Ledy’s decision may appear to be motivated by economics. But with two pretty teen […]
-
Sounds of Manila’s debut album available at April 27 OPM concert
The April 27 Original Philippine Music concert featuring Cecile Azarcon and the Sounds of Manila band serves as a launch pad for SOM’s debut album, “Sounds of Manila Sings Cecile Azarcon.” The album, a tribute to the legendary composer Azarcon, includes timeless love songs, such as “Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin,” “Even If,” “How Did […]
-
Medical technologist Joji Rafael is crowned Mrs. Kalayaan
A medical technologist from Long Island, Josephine “Joji” Vilar Rafael, was recently crowned 2014 Mrs. Kalayaan in a Pageant and Gala held at Double Tree by Hilton in Newark, New Jersey. Joji is married to Nonoy Rafael; they have three children: Justin, Jermyn, and Jacqueline. Mrs. Kalayaan is a popularity contest for married or formerly […]
-
Roz Li calls for scientific approach to restoring Bohol’s historic churches
At least seven historic churches in Bohol were damaged by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in October, and a task force estimated it would take up to $4.5 million per church to repair the ruins and return the churches back to parishioners. “The Philippine government has made a commitment to restore and reconstruct the historically significant […]
-
WHERE I LIVE: Why would Sharon Adarlo want to live in Newark?
By Cristina DC Pastor Because she and her husband found a really cool brick house downtown, a short walk to Prudential Center and Lincoln Park. Their home is just outside the predominantly Portuguese Ironbound district with plenty of bars and restaurants offering large servings of grilled meats and salted ‘balcalhau’ fish. “It’s a pretty safe […]
-
WHERE I LIVE: Charina Nadura shares a long and funky road with the hipsters of Williamsburg
By Cristina DC Pastor Sometimes, we live in neighborhoods that do not give us the feel of home. Many reasons. It could be one that is heavily populated by one ethnic group or maybe it has an overconcentration of nail salons and not a lot of grocery stores. Other times, we know, once we see […]
-
Dogs saved from death, but who will save the inmates who care for them? An Easter reflection
By Aurelio Palmos Around 5 p.m. Monday after Easter, we watched news on local TV showing female inmates training dogs taken from shelters to become service dogs. Some of these dogs are now working with autistic children. A short segment showed a black Labrador following orders from a young autistic girl, indicating proof of positive […]
-
Boston belongs to my heart
By Daniel de la Rosa On a bright spring morning with the lingering hint of winter still in the air, Patriots Day would dawn bright and very early in Boston. It is a day of celebration in a city that reminds me of an old European burgh with winding streets snaking around its center. The […]
-
Irma Bajar honored with Stonewall award for her LGBT activism
By Cristina DC Pastor In the summer of 2011, a young man put a gun to Irma Bajar’s head as she was walking to her home in Brooklyn. The man seemed angry and shouted slurs at her gender after he grabbed her phone. Irma went home shaken, but did not report the incident to the […]