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Filipino UN staffers who perished in the line of duty honored
Three Philippine UN Staff Members who lost their lives while in the line of duty were among those honored by the United Nations Secretary-General during the Annual Memorial Service held virtually at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on May 6. The three UN staff members honored were Joanna Abaya, who served at the […]
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Artist duo to lead sign-making workshop vs xenophobia at Queens Museum
In partnership with the organizers of No Longer Invisible, the Queens Museum is displaying a collectively hand-painted banner, signs, and video documentation created for the multi-racial, multi-faith vigil and community gathering in response to the recent and ongoing attacks against Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. The exhibit will run from May 15 to June 13. […]
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Expanding roles for FilAms: From mess stewards to doctors (Part 2)
By Andre Sobocinski Like Admiral Connie Mariano’s father, Bienvenido Dona enlisted in the Navy as a mess steward. At 27, the Northern Mindanao native was older than most recruits in-processing at the Naval Base Sangley Point, Cavite, P.I. in 1955. Dona was among the rare few able to break from the steward rating—going from steward […]
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The Filipino pioneers of Navy medicine (Part 1)
By Andre Sobocinski Filipino Americans have long played vital roles in the U.S. Navy and have helped to shape Navy Medicine through their numerous contributions as leaders, healthcare providers, medical administrators, and scientists. The story of Filipinos in the Navy began in wake of the Spanish-American War after Spain ceded the Philippine Islands (P.I.) to […]
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When the Japanese ruled the Philippines
By Allen Gaborro The memory of World War II and the Japanese occupation of the Philippines is hardwired into the collective Filipino consciousness. Filipinos of that generation, including Lourdes J. Astraquillo Ongkeko, preserve precious memories of that time. Ongkeko has resided in the United States for many years. But this has not darkened her wartime […]
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Immigrant New Yorkers contributed nearly a quarter to NYC’s GDP: MOIA report
The NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) has released its fourth Annual Report, “State of Our Immigrant City.” Major new findings include: · The poverty rate among immigrant New Yorkers is higher than for New Yorkers born in the United States. Further, the poverty rate for undocumented immigrants is 29.2 percent, higher than the 27.1 percent […]
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Gina Ortiz Jones awaits confirmation as under secretary of the Air Force
The Biden administration has nominated Gina Ortiz Jones to serve as under secretary of the Air Force, the White House announced on April 27. If she is confirmed in the U.S. Senate, Jones becomes the first out lesbian to hold the position and the highest ranking Filipino American in the Biden government. Her nomination was […]
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2020 Census: Population increased 7.4% to 331.4 M
The U.S. Census Bureau announced on April 26 that the 2020 Census shows the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2020, was 331,449,281. The U.S. resident population represents the total number of people living in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The resident population increased by 22,703,743 or 7.4% from […]
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‘Their race was their face’
By Rasmin Diaz “When I was slashed on a train I cried for help and nobody helped me so I was a victim twice — by the person who slashed my face and the people who just watched me.” So spoke Noel Quintana in the public service announcement by The Outstanding Filipinos in America (TOFA) […]