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Scientist Katherine Luzuriaga ‘very honored’ that Filipinos are proud of her (Part 1)
By Elton Lugay When Dr. Katherine Luzuriaga discovered a cure for an HIV-infected infant, Filipino Americans also discovered that rare and distinguished scientist within their community. Bacolod-born Luzuriaga, one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World, grew up in the Philippines. She came to the U.S. for college, attending the Massachusetts Institute […]
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A happy customer is always a loyal customer
Scott McAdoo of Roseburg, Oregon, has been using the same calling card company since 2005. He calls cell phones in Philippines and is what one might call an occasional caller. Since he has quite a lot of options for international calling services, it’s sort of a wonder why he’s been loyal to just one company […]
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Norway: From land of plunderers to global peace makers
By Wendell Gaa My first trip to the northern Scandinavian region of Europe gave me several pleasant surprises, and my family knew that a Nordic adventure just had to include a visit to Norway, a lifelong dream destination for us. Today it is a wealthy nation renowned for its high living standards, very well developed […]
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Time to ‘unfreeze’ the law and make Reproductive Health available to women
By Ludy Astraquillo Ongkeko, Ph.D. July 9 is the first day the Philippine Supreme Court will begin to hear oral arguments on Law 10354, also known as the Reproductive Health law. The High Tribunal, voting 10-5, issued a temporary restraining order on the implementation of the law. Recalling what has taken place since the RH […]
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Gay Pride celebrates demise of DOMA, growing acceptance for LGBTs
By Elton Lugay This year’s Gay Pride march on June 30 was especially meaningful. Days earlier, the Supreme Court has struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), paving the way for same-sex couples to tie the knot and for those in relationships to avail of federal benefits once exclusive to traditional couples. Boots Babushka […]
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Film exploring religion and politics during Martial Law screens at MoMA July 10-15
“Aparisyon,” the critically acclaimed Filipino drama starring Jodi Sta. Maria as a young nun, will have its New York premiere at The Museum of Modern Art on July 10-15, 2013. MoMA has described “Aparisyon” as “a stylistically and thematically unique film from the exciting Philippine cinema scene”, which will screen as the July selection for […]
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Bruno Mars concert: Standing ovation from start to finish
By Elton Lugay Imagine my excitement when my friend Tina Liu called to say she scored two VIP tickets to the Bruno Mars concert at the Prudential Center in New Jersey. So there we were, seated in the front orchestra, about 20 feet away from the stage. We arrived on time and thoroughly enjoyed British […]
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‘I march in Gay Pride so that some in Filipino community will not ignore, make fun of us’
By Noel Bordador Thirty years ago years when I first marched in New York City’s Pride parade, I just barely came out. I was 18, and it was a year of intense emotional and spiritual struggle. A gay Jesuit priest and a counselor at the Gay Switchboard of New York helped me come to terms […]
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Film festival showcases the New Filipino Cinema
Although overlooked by most film festivals, the movie industry of the Philippines has exploded like fireworks over Manila in recent years, lighting up the local cinema scene with some of the sexiest, most daring, and raw movies on the international stage. This year, the New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF), which screens June 28 to […]