Monthly Archives: March 2021
Bank of America Increases Commitment to Advance Racial Equality and Economic Opportunity...
Expansion will include actions to address racial justice and advocacy for people of Asian descent
CHARLOTTE – Bank of America today announced that it has increased its $1 billion, four-year commitment to advance racial equality and economic opportunity to $1.25 billion over five years. This effort further accelerates work already underway to address racial equality and opportunity through direct actions, investments and work to catalyze similar efforts across the private s...
GMA Pinoy TV, the Philippine Embassy in USA and FYLPRO Unite in #StopAsianHate Campaign
GMA Network, through its flagship international channel GMA Pinoy TV, the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO), and the Philippine Embassy in USA recently came together to host the “Here Now, Hear Now: Confronting anti-Asian Hate" virtual town hall event. This is in support of the #StopAsianHate campaign on condemning acts of racism and discrimination against Asian Americans. It was held last March 26 coinciding with the 231st anniversary of the Naturalization Act of 1790,...
As I See It – Bonta’s appointment as Attorney General is a welcome move, timely, e...
In the light of the recent hate crimes leveled against Asian-Americans, the appointment of Asian state lawmaker Rob Bonta as California’s Attorney General (AG) by Governor Gavin Newsom is a welcome move, very timely, and an excellent appointment! As an Asian-American and as a Californian, I applaud him for that! It’s not that he got his job because he is an Asian-American (well, partly yes due to the present situation) but because he is a dedicated and progressive leader who ...
“Filipino Time” Syndrome
Whenever I hear the notorious excuse or description “Filipino Time,” I feel a grave insult is hurled at my people, even if the generalization is usually uttered by my fellow Filipinos themselves. The defensive rationalization is usually accompanied by a snicker or laughter, a demeanor that trivializes the seriousness of the behavioral impropriety and rudeness.
To accept the insinuation that tardiness is a natural birth trait of the Filipino is to malign our people and irre...
PerryScope – Déjà vu all over again?
Last March 7, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that more than 200 vessels – believed to be manned by Chinese militia personnel – were observed moored in line formation at the Julian Felipe Reef within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf. However, the reef, which is also called Whitsun Reef, is within the Spratly islands in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) or South China Sea, which is within the nine-dash line that delineates China’s dis...
Street Talk – The blind men and the elephant and a Pacquiao presidency
I may have stirred a hornet’s nest with my last piece that naively asked the question: “Pacquiao for President...Why not?”
That elicited a lot of reactions, as expected, some in favor and others against the idea. All the comments are well-taken (except for one by a certain Luisito Catindig, who I virtually slapped down). However, I have no intentions of being Pacquiao’s apologist and would rather leave it to him or Aling Dionisia or Boboy to respond to the comments, pro or...
Asian Pacific American Leadership Action Fund Applauds Governor Newsom in Appointing Ass...
SACRAMENTO, CA - Governor Newsom made history by appointing Assemblymember Rob Bonta as the first Asian American and PacificIslander (AAPI) Attorney General in California. The Governor picked Assemblymember Bonta over a number of other outstanding and qualified candidates.
Assemblymember Bonta is an excellent choice and rose to the top given his experience as a legislator, criminal justice reformer, and hisgreat working relationship with Governor Newsom. Ed...
Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and San Francisco Mayor London B...
The three Bay Area Mayors filmed the PSA to affirm that hate crimes against the Asian community will not be tolerated and perpetrators will be held accountable
(San Francisco, CA), Today, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and San Francisco Mayor London Breed released a public service announcement in support of the Asian community which has been the target of violent hate crimes across the country, the state and the Bay Area.
The PSA was filmed in r...
Ultra-strict lockdown plan to curb high coronavirus infection rates
The government announced plans for a “circuit breaker” lockdown plan in the next two weeks as a desperate measure to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This, as the Philippines hit all-time highs in the number of new cases over the weekend, with 7,104 infections recorded on March 19 then with 7,999 infections on March 20.
The circuit breaker also known as fire-break lockdown is similar to the one imposed by Singapore, Germany, and Australia, among others. It call...
United forces vs. Duterte divided on who to welcome, reject
Following the same steps that drove Corazon Aquino to the Philippine presidency back in 1986, a group of “convenors” is plotting to unite all the forces opposed to the Duterte regime by uniting behind a single candidate to face whoever the President chooses to take his place in next year’s elections.
The group held their first meeting at the Makati Sports Club last March 17.
Calling themselves 1Sambayan, the group led by retired Supreme Court senior associate justice A...