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Embassy officer Ivan Gonzales: A desire to transform the Philippine economy
By Wendell Gaa Believe it or not, contributing to the economic development of the Philippines was an aspiration Ivan Gonzales had since he was 4 years old. Today, he is making that dream a solid reality working for the Economic Section of the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. The son of writer P.J. Gonzales […]
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Acting Solicitor General Noel Francisco, son of a Filipino doctor, described as ‘disciplined’ and an ‘outstanding musician’
By Cristina DC Pastor If all goes well in the confirmation hearings, the next Solicitor General of the United States is a prominent Filipino American lawyer who was a clerk of the late conservative firebrand, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Noel John Francisco of Oswego, New York, is reported to be Donald Trump’s choice […]
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Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr.: Pope, Obama ‘not bothered’ by Duterte cursing; ‘We can’t kick out China’
By Cristina DC Pastor The government of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte wants to keep major powers as friends and is looking to embrace both superpower rivals the U.S. and China as allies. Foreign Secretary Perfect Yasay Jr. made this declaration in a packed town hall meeting on September 21 where he discussed the government’s “independent foreign […]
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Political organizer Joe Montano, 47; Tim Kaine remembers his ‘tireless work ethic’
The Filipino American community, together with the state of Virginia, mourned the passing of political leader Joe Montano who died July 25 in his home in Falls Church. He was at 47. Born in Norfolk, Montano is survived by his parents, Lori and Jose Montano, his sister Amy Lopez and brother Ben. In a statement, […]
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Reflecting on a post-Aquino Philippines: Issues of poverty, private armies, corruption confront new president
Weeks before Filipinos go to the polls, diplomats, business executives, and analysts gathered at a Johns Hopkins campus to reflect on the administration of President Benigno Aquino III and examine the challenges confronting his successor. Motoo Konishi, former World Bank Country Director for the Philippines emphasized the importance of addressing corruption and improving governance, protecting […]
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Cesar Conda’s winding journey from intern to leading GOP policy wonk
By Cristina DC Pastor In college and already a proud Republican, Cesar Conda had the ‘privilege’ of being the motorcade driver to then President Ronald Reagan during the G-8 Economic Summit in Williamsburg. More than three decades later and now a well-regarded political conservative, he would recount this episode of how he came up close […]
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‘No one-size-fits-all solution to global terror,’ says U.S. diplomat to the UN Michelle Sison
By Cristina DC Pastor Ambassador Michele Sison, who is the U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said defeating terrorism and its “poisonous ideologies” requires an action plan that will address the conditions that feed radicalization. The U.S., she said, supports a proposal that each member country develop its own action plan against terrorism […]
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Opening remarks of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario at the 2nd PHL-U.S. Two-plus-Two Ministerial Dialogue
The 2nd Philippine-US 2 plus 2 Ministerial Consultations convened as we mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the United States. We reviewed the progress we have made since our first ministerial meeting, and welcomed the renewed focus on the area of maritime security and maritime domain awareness. At our […]
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Overcoming the Shame of Being Bullied
By Jason Tengco Filipino American History Month this October represents a unique opportunity to look back and reflect on the many struggles and victories of the Filipino American community as a whole, and the brave individuals within it. While Filipino Americans, and other Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), have made tremendous progress over the […]