SAN DIEGO, California - A group of Filipino-American students became the target of Zoombombers while they were holding a virtual meeting using Zoom technology amid the pandemic.
The San Diego State University’s Andres Bonifacio Samahan Club was holding a candidate meeting to elect its officers when a group of Zoombombers crashed the meeting and unleashed profanities and racial slurs.
“We sit silent not only to prevent any reaction but out some mix of shock, anger, confusion, and maybe most of all fear, fear that we were being violated and degraded in our homes and I hope no one else experiences that," said Julian Natividad.
In an Instagram message to fellow students, Natividad said many of the students were traumatized by the experience.
Last month, The Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council began tracking hate crimes and incidents against Asian Americans in California, and in the first week since its launch, some 1,100 cases have been reported.
With this virtual attack, AB Samahan said it will take a stand.
"We will press on, AB Samahan will not be let down because we will not be put down. We will no longer be the silent majority," it said.
With the “Zoombombing” phenomenon on the rise, Zoom has encouraged users to take extra security steps when meeting. In the meantime, SDSU has also issued a statement standing in solidarity with the AB Samahan Club.
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RICHMOND, British Columbia - While other kids are busy asking for gifts this Christmas, 5-year old Estella Bañez is doing something else.
She’s selling handmade earrings, necklaces and bracelets to help a local charity.
“I like OMB, it stands for Oh My Bling,” said Bañez.
Bañez worked on her beads after school in the past months and made 300 pairs of earrings, 40 bracelets and 50 necklaces for sale.
They were showcased at a recent fashion show and launch party where proceeds go to the Richmond Christmas Fund that help local families in need.
“Toys, gift cards, baskets… it’s really tough when everybody seems to be happy during holidays with families and a lot of them don't have support or financial means to do so,” said Kaye Bañez, Estella's mom.
The kindergartener started the project last year in honor of her lola who passed away.
She donated $200 then and wanted to give bigger this year.
Friends and family came to support the project.
"It’s important to give back whenever we can," said Chantal Wu.
Many of them were inspired by the little girl who wanted to bring cheer to the community.
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LOS ANGELES - It’s beginning to look at lot like Christmas in downtown Los Angeles where Grand Park kicked off its Second Annual Winter Glow celebration, featuring lights and interactive art installations throughout the 6-acre public space.
The star of this year's holiday display is a 6-foot-9 inch Philippine Christmas lantern or parol designed by local Filipino-American artists Lakandiwa De Leon of Kidlat Woodworks and Alfie Ebejo known in the community as “Alfienumeric”.
“It’s a little scary because you have to produce something that rises to level of everything else here because you’ve got a lot of amazing sculptures here but I think we were trying to focus on something that was just us, that we felt comfortable with, that we were expressing who we were,” said De Leon.
"You're making a parol but can you pay homage to Los Angeles so we’re like we gotta represent the diverse communities of Los Angeles but also make it fundamentally Pinoy like how do you do that? The process was very fun," added Ebojo.
While people can enjoy art installations that represent various cultures, they’re also treated to international music, including Filipino songs, curated by Joel Quizon.
“I’m really grateful to do that and pull from my experience as a Filipino immigrant so it’s not just Filipino music but it kind of represents the theme of life and aspects of light and the healing aspect," said Quizon.
Winter Glow at Grand Park is free and open to the public. The lights will turn on nightly from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. when the park closes every night until Christmas Day.
On January 31st, the park will kick off 2020 with its annual New Year’s Eve countdown celebration.
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SANTA CLARITA, California – Filipinos were among the thousands of residents affected by the wind-driven Tick Fire that broke out close to neighborhoods here.
ABS-CBN News learned that among structures completely destroyed was the home of a Filipino-American family of 4.
The brother of Ryan Pallos of Santa Clarita said that he and his family are shaken up after watching their two-story home completely burn down on television.
The family took pictures of the raging flames in a nearby canyon shortly before they evacuated early Thursday evening.
By early Friday morning, they saw flames engulfing their home on TV.
Several Filipino families are said to live in the same neighborhood as the Pallos family and despite the dire situation, only a couple of the houses reportedly caught fire.
Evacuation centers have opened up, freeways have been shut down, and train services halted as firefighters rushed to save lives and homes.
By Friday morning, firefighters made some progress overnight but worry that the winds, which have fanned the flames, will pick up during the day.
Air quality has also suffered in the region as a result of the fire, and residents in the region have been advised to stay indoors.
The cause of the fire is still unknown.
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After four months of competing in the hit show “So You Think You Can Dance,” Las Vegas-based Filipino-American Bailey “Bailrok” Muñoz has finally come home.
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LAS VEGAS, Nevada – The driver of the car that slammed into a minivan that killed a Filipina girl and her grandmother in 2016 has been sentenced to life in prison.
Cheyenne Wyllie of Springville, California ran a stop sign before hitting the Espinosa family’s minivan in Tulare County, killing 69-year-old Angelita Espinosa and her 10-year old granddaughter Jamie. It also left George Espinosa, the girl's father, severely injured.
“Well, she was crying. But for me, to be remorseful you have to acknowledge that you did something wrong. I hope she learns to realize that what she did is really devastating and hopefully learn from it," said Charlotte, George's widow who also survived the crash.
The Espinosa family were on their way home from a trip to Yosemite National Park when the incident happened.
“We are trying to get by every day. It’s still hard to wake up every day without your mom, your daughter,” said Charlotte.
Investigation had found that Wyllie was driving under the influence, with a .21-percent blood alcohol content.
Charlotte said her husband had to stop working because he still has to go through a number of surgeries.
“The effects of what she did to my husband will be [for a] lifetime…we’ll be spending for his medicines, he is disabled right now, the loss of income for both of us is too much,” she added.
The last three years has been a nightmare for her and her family going back and forth to the hospital as well as to court. But she said her faith in the US justice system has been fully restored.
“I believe, in what we went through, it has strengthened my faith in the justice system. Nobody can elude justice. I’m so thankful for the DA (District Attorney) in Tulare [that] processed our case as a crime and not just as an accident because drunk driving is indeed a crime and is a preventable crime. It can be life-altering, it can be life-ending for some just like what happened to us,” she said.
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NEW YORK – Thousands gathered at the National September 11 Memorial Plaza here to remember victims of the 9/11 terror attacks 18 years ago.
Twenty Filipinos were among the nearly 3,000 people who perished in the coordinated terror attacks by the Al Qaeda group, then led by Osama din Laden.
The bell rung to mark the exact times of when the planes hit the World Trade Center and when the twin towers fell.
The planes hit the North Tower at 8:46 a.m. and the South Tower at 9:03 a.m. The South Tower collapsed at 9:59 a.m. -- 56 minutes after impact-- while the North Tower collapsed at 10:28 a.m. --- an hour and 42 minutes after impact.
As in years past, the names of all the victims were called, among them Filipino cousins Maria Theresa Santillan and Judy Hazel Santillan Fernandez. Both died at 27 years old.
"Parang kahapon lang nangyari, itong 18 years masyadong mabilis, it hurts," said Judy’s father Expedito Santillan.
(It seems like only yesterday, 18 years went by so fast. It hurts.)
Maria Theresa was working in human resources at the Cantor Fitzgerald on Tower 1 when the attack happened. Her cousin and co-worker Judy was not even supposed to be there at that time.
"I think she’s off but it just so happen she went to the building and then it happened," said Maria Theresa’s mother Ester Concepcion Santillan.
To keep the memories alive for the thousands of lives lost and the countless heroes of the 9/11 terror attacks, New York has started a new tradition: the September 11th Remembrance Day.
The city’s new law requires all public schools to observe a moment of silence every September 11 to remind the younger generation that in America’s darkest day, people showed courage, sacrifice, support and love.
"I’m very appreciative. We should never forget, these are 3,000 innocent people that lost their lives that day and then and to have New York recognize that is very important to my family – If they could establish this in other states that would be great," said Judy’s brother, Richard Fernandez.
Over 6,000 others were injured and at least $10 billion in infrastructure and property were damaged. In the attacks. Many more died of 911 related cancer and respiratory diseases in the aftermath of the attacks.
On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist hijacked four passenger airlines --- two of which crashed into the North and South towers of the World Trade Center --- which led to the towers’ collapse.
The third plane hit the Pentagon in Virginia and the fourth crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Before heading to the Pentagon for a ceremony, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump commemorated the 9/11 terror attacks with a moment of silence at the White House South Lawn.
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PHOENIX, Arizona — The latest scoop in central Phoenix is the grand opening of Scooptopia, and those with a sweet tooth were in dessert heaven.
There are many desserts here, but their most popular one is the Filipino frozen treat halo-halo.
Halo-halo is usually a mixture of crushed ice, evaporated milk, ube, sweetened beans, coconut jelly, and flan, with a topping of ice cream.
But Scooptopia owners Paul and Gina Halum have added some special ingredients to their bestseller.
“I made a buko pandan with almond jelly and I mixed that with cream and that’s what makes it special,” said Gina.
Scooptopia serves 23 ice cream flavors, and each is locally handcrafted.
“Whatever age you are, you’re eating ice cream. And we’re here in Arizona, [it’s a] hundred degrees outside, why not [eat ice cream],” said restaurant manager Dianne Biznes.
Scooptopia also serves shaved ice and boba tea, and its owners plan to add more Filipino desserts for customers.
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Authorities have charged three suspects in an alleged attack on a Filipino-American teen from San Bruno, California in a reported hate crime.
The unidentified 17-year old who is half Filipino, half African-American was reportedly visiting a 15-year old girl at her family's home last August 22, 2019.
The girl's biological father Luisandro Suares, her mother Haydee Arguello and stepfather Wilfredo Amaya arrived and found the teen boy in her bedroom.
They then allegedly physically assaulted him for about 30 minutes and threatened him with a deadly weapon.
The victim told authorities that the suspects yelled at him using racial slurs.
The three suspects have been booked into the San Mateo County Jail and have been charged with felony hate crime, kidnapping and assault with deadly weapon and criminal threats.
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CLIFTON, New Jersey – A Filipino-owned store considered as the oldest and largest in the east coast is expanding business and has been providing job opportunities to a new generation of employees called the iGen, also known as the GenZ.
What started out as a small store in a garage in the 1970s grew into a storefront with more than 372 square meters of space in Jersey City years later.
Now, this Philippine grocery store has quadrupled into a 1,500-sqm superstore known as “Filstop” here.
The Santos family is the proud owner of Filstop that offers Filipino food and products. The store became even more famous when it was featured twice on Bizarre Foods America by host Andrew Zimmern.
Erwin Santos is among the next generation of the Santos family taking the reins in running their one-stop shop.
His latest spin is bringing in a new generation of workers, those born between 1995 and 2012.
While this generation comprises digital natives who grew up in the digital age of iPhones and iPads, Santos, also an iGen, said working at the superstore temporarily takes him away from the digital world to rediscover the analog world and his Filipino roots.
“I found this job through social media and I take pride in the culture and the community and that's why I currently work here,” said Aaron Carr of West Orange, New Jersey.
From stocking groceries and cutting chicken meat to descaling and cleaning fish, young Fil-Am employees are learning all kinds of skills.
For Japanese-American Jacob Leonard, working at Filstop is a summer job that beats flipping burgers or folding clothes at retail stores.
“I really like the fact that everyone here’s kinda young and energized. I’m getting ready for college. I’m going to my first year in college,” he said.
Santos said Filstop is a place where people can put away their smartphones and other gadgets and focus on eating, shopping and spending time with loved ones.
“I think it’s just seeing people relaxing, conversing and talking about back home or here, I think that’s been the thing that's made me the happiest,” Santos said.
For those who can’t physically make it to Filstop, they can also order online thru Filstop.com.
Filstop’s superstore officially opens on August 22.
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A 21-year old Filipino was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at Elizabethtown College campus in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
According to authorities, Alexis John Dolotina, who was on campus through an international work travel program, is being accused of sexually assaulting a woman in one of the school buildings.
No students were reportedly involved in the incident.
Dolotina has been taken into custody with bail set at $500,000.
He is charged with rape, sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and similar charges.
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Hundreds of Filipinos are living in Ridgecrest, California, one of the areas hardest hit by the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck on Thursday.
The latest census figures show 475 Filipinos live in the area and among them is Krista Tizon's family, which owns the Bahay Kubo Filipino restaurant and the Orient Outlet grocery.
"It’s a pretty close community as well. We see a lot of them, most of them are customers. Because it’s a small town, we all know each other, pretty much friends on social media so we’re able to check up on each other there and letting each other know the updates," said Tizon.
Living close to a naval base, Tizon said she didn’t realize at first that it was an earthquake.
"We have a lot of earthquakes but I don’t believe I’ve ever had this. Usually a lot of us don’t think much of earthquakes because they do a lot of testing nearby, the military does a lot of testing nearby. When it first happened, a lot of us actually just thought it was the base and kept going until we realized it was an earthquake," she said.
Tizon was about to open up shop at the restaurant when the earthquake struck.
"I was actually at the restaurant. We were about to open when it happened so we were trying to tell everyone in the kitchen get out as soon as possible, and all the power went out so we just turned everything off safely and headed to the store. So many broken bottles but luckily everyone was ok. Normally, there would’ve been more people there," she said.
Tizon said the store would be closed for the next few days. Aside from cleared out shelves and broken bottles, she said there seems to be no structural damage.
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TORONTO—Canada’s immigration minister announced new pilot programs and other enhancements to work permit applications for caregivers.
Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said the Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker, which will open for applications on Tuesday, June 18, are new pilot caregiver programs that would replace existing pilots that are soon expiring.
Each will have a maximum of 2,750 principal applicants per year, plus their immediate family.
Under the new programs, caregivers will only receive a work permit if they have a job offer in Canada and meet standard criteria for economic immigration programs. Once they gain the required 2 years of Canadian work experience, they can apply for permanent residency.
“We want people who are coming to work as caregivers in Canada to have a pathway to permanent residency. This is not a temporary foreign worker program,” Hussen said.
Other benefits under the new pilots are open work permits and study permits for the caregivers’ immediate family, the elimination of the Labor Market Impact Assessment, and the issuance of caregiver-specific work permits rather than employer-specific.
“One of the best things we’ve done is to empower those caregivers to be able to leave their employers by giving them a more flexible work permit. That’s a big change,” he said.
In addition to the new pilots, the government has also extended the Interim Pathway for Caregivers, which will re-open on July 8 and accept applications for 3 months. Still, advocates are lobbying for more considerations in favor of the many caregivers in limbo by removing or reducing the language and educational requirements.
While the new programs offer solutions to common hurdles that caregivers face in Canada, many are still uncertain they will meet the eligibility requirements. With the community’s continued support, they remain hopeful to gain landed status in the country they served for years.
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A Filipino was injured in a drive-by shooting in San Francisco, California last Saturday, March 23.
Andy Teodoro was reportedly walking to meet some friends for dinner in the Fillmore District when he was hit in a drive-by shooting, according to Mikkel Aragon, also a Filipino and a friend of Teodoro's.
A relative of Aragon forwarded to Balitang America a text message from Mikkel saying they heard 12-15 continuous gunshots. One of their friends said Teodoro called him to tell him he was shot. Then they ran to his exact location.
"It was complete mayhem. There was a dead body close by and fights were breaking out around us. I laid with Andy as we waited for help, reminding him that everything would be alright," Aragon said.
One person was killed and 4 others, besides Teodoro, were injured that night.
Teodoro is still in the ICU.
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A Filipino-American college student died from his injuries two days after a car driven by an impaired driver crashed into their vehicle.
What started out to be a fun Sunday night out for 20-year-old Filipino-American Michael Sot and his friends turned tragic.
Sot, a sophomore math major at the College of New Jersey, was the designated driver that night.
The impaired driver, 22-year-old David Lamar, crossed into the oncoming lane and struck Sot’s vehicle.
Lamar was charged with vehicular homicide, as well as seven counts of second-degree assault by auto in connection with the 2 a.m. crash near the college campus.
College officials said Sot had six passengers. Four of them are students who sustained injuries.
On Tuesday night, hundreds of students held a vigil honoring Sot, saying he always wanted to do things right and keep people around him safe. It was no surprise to them that he offered to be the designated driver on the night of the crash.
In the last three days alone, a GoFundMe account set-up by a campus fraternity for the Fil-Am victim and his passengers has raised over $100,000.
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The family of a Filipino-American soldier who died from injuries from an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Afghanistan paid tribute to his heroism.
Sergeant First Class Reymund Transfiguracion spent his last time with his parents and five brothers last Christmas.
The 36-year old highly-decorated Special Forces Green Beret died on August 12 from wounds he suffered after an IED blast while conducting a dismounted nighttime raid in Afghanistan.
His older brother Reydez spoke exclusively to Balitang America just two days after his brother’s body arrived back home in the island of Hawaii.
Reydez said they learned a little bit more about his humble, brave and heroic younger brother.
“According to the person who was close to him during that moment, he said to the wife and he said something to us that he saved a lot and we didn’t even know cause he’s so quiet he doesn’t tell us what he does. That’s why he got two purple hearts, we didn’t even know,” he said.
Scott Smith, a brother of one of Transfiguracion’s teammates who set up a GoFundMe page for the late soldier's wife and two young children, tells Balitang America a similar story.
He said he learned that Transfiguracion, who was on his fourth deployment, saved many people the night he was injured.
Reydez said he remembers one particular time that truly defines what kind of man his brother was.
“My truck broke down and I was the only truck up in the mountain. If you’ve ever been to Hawaii, I was stuck 12,000 feet up, about 5:30 in the evening. And I called him, and he was like I’m coming bro, don’t worry I got your back. And that’s just the way he is. He always finds a way. He never quits on you.”
Born in Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, Transfiguracion moved to the big island with his family in 2001. He will be laid to rest on September 7 at West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery.
Meanwhile, the Department of Defense said the incident is still under investigation.
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TORONTO – A 31-year-old nursing student is one of the 15 victims of the mass shooting in Toronto last July 22.
Danielle Kane, or “Dani,” was dining out with her boyfriend Jerry Pinksen to celebrate a birthday at 7Numbers restaurant on Danforth Avenue, when they heard shots fired.
Pinksen, who is an ER nurse himself, rushed outside to help when they heard a woman had been injured.
Little did he know that Kane followed.
According to Pinksen, Kane was shot just as she was coming outside to help. The bullet hit her spinal cord and punctured her stomach and diaphragm.
Kane’s cousin, Byron Abalos, said she is stable but still in critical condition.
“She’s still at the ICU at St. Mike’s Hospital. On Friday, she had her fourth surgery. She’s heavily sedated right now, in a lot of pain and it’s been tough. But every day she’s getting stronger and they’re hoping that sometime in the coming week, she’ll be able to talk,” said Abalos.
The gunman, 29-year-old Faisal Hussain, opened fire into several restaurants and businesses on the busy Toronto street.
Hussain then exchanged gunfire with police officers before fatally shooting himself in the head, according to a police source.
Following his shooting rampage, Hussain’s family released a statement saying he suffered from mental health problems for much of his life.
Police are investigating where he might have obtained his weapon.
While investigation is underway, Toronto is mourning and many are still shocked by the incident.
The #DaniStrong GoFundMe page has been receiving an outpour of support.
The crowdfunding was launched to help cover the costs of her recovery, to find new housing to accommodate her condition, and months if not years of rehabilitation and specialized care.
“People donate $5, people are donating $1,000 and so many people are sharing her story and leaving messages of support and that means so much to us, our family, her partner. It’s really giving us the strength and a purpose to keep going and making sure that we can give Danielle the fullest life possible and that she returns to her old self,” said Abalos.
Reese Fallon, 18, of Toronto, and Julianna Kozis, 10, of Markham both died while 13 others were wounded in the mass shooting.
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SANTA MARIA, California – Three Filipino women were killed after a two-vehicle crash late Friday on the intersection of Stowell and Blosser Roads here.
Through a relative, Balitang America has confirmed that those who lost their lives were Seattle-based Necitas Santa Maria and Texas-based Leonicelle Abaigar and her teenage daughter, Andrea.
The victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
Their cousin, Catleen Dionisio, who was driving the Cadillac Escalade, is recovering in the hospital.
Police reported that the unidentified driver of the Toyota vehicle that crashed into the Escalade was driving recklessly.
They also suspect drugs and or alcohol were factors in the collision.
The driver was brought to the hospital but police could not give an update on his condition.
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PETALUMA, California – A Filipina-American valedictorian said her speech was cut-off after she expressed critical views against the school for its handling of her alleged sexual assault on campus.
Last June 2, 17-year old Lulabel Seitz’s speech was cut off for going-off script. Crowd members then proceeded to rally for Seitz chanting: “Let her speak.”
Seitz later posted the full version of her speech on YouTube, describing the campus as a place where perpetrators of sexual assault were defended.
According to Seitz, she was assaulted on campus last fall and while the student was arrested, administrators did not suspend or expel the one responsible and instead encouraged her to drop the case.
In a statement, campus officials said they cannot respond due to privacy issues.
But one school official has said that Seitz’s assertions do not match the school’s perspective.
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AURORA, Illinois –A 45-year old native of Paete, Laguna is the first Filipino and first Asian US coin designer.
Paul Balan designed the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on the reverse of the newly released quarter. The 41st quarter is part of US Mint’s “America The Beautiful Quarters Program,” which was launched in 2010.
It is the first of the five unique 25-cent designs for 2018.
Balan said he has always been fascinated by the beauty of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan and was extremely happy when his design was selected.
“The soft stones were intricately carved by nature and that’s amazing. I was thrilled and honored. As a Filipino-American, that is my first circulated coin,” he said.
Balan’s designs have been selected for commemorative coins and congressional medals since 2010. Earlier this month, in Michigan, almost a thousand people witnessed the release of his newest work.
Balan stressed the importance of knowing where you came from and being a man of action.
“Inspiration ko ang family ko, at kung saan ako nanggaling, kung saan ako nagmula. ‘Yun ang nagpapalakas sa akin to continue to pursue my dreams. Hindi pwedeng nangangarap lang tayo. Kailangan may gawa. Kasi one day, all your efforts, all your hard work, will be crowned with success,” he said.
Balan urged young artists who aspire to be successful to just do their best despite criticism.
“Maraming hindi naniniwala sa akin, but the most important thing is gawin mo ‘yung the best mo. Trabahuhin mo kung saan ka magaling, pagbutihan mo, at mararating mo kung ano man ang gusto mong marating,” he said.
The US Mint will be producing a total of 433 million Pictured Rocks quarters. The program aims to celebrate a total of 56 national parks and other sites through 2021.
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