Fil-Am Francisco Martin enters 'American Idol' top 7

Francisco Martin has earned his ticket into the top 7 of “American Idol.”

Host Ryan Seacrest revealed the results of the nationwide votes in America on Sunday (Monday in Manila).

Aside from the Filipino-American singer, also advancing to the next round are Arthur Gunn, Dillon James, Jonny West, Julia Gargano, Louis Knight and Just Sam.

After learning the good news, all seven had to perform two more songs while at home: a Disney song, and another one dedicated to their mothers. 



For Martin’s first performance, he did his own version of “You’ll Be in My Heart” from the movie “Tarzan,” and admitted to judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry that he enjoyed himself while filming it. 

Dubbing it as the “transformation of Francisco,” Richie noted how he saw the 19-year-old singer actually smiling at himself while performing.

“In other words, when you’re doing that, that was just giving us the confidence and the enjoyment. And by the way, we as an audience, we love to see that kind of emotion,” he said.

Perry, for her part, could not help but favorably compare Martin to a fellow contestant, saying what he did was “really amazing.”

“I agree with Lionel, you looked relaxed. All that self-doubt has been really stripped away. What you gave us at the end is kind of what I wanted from Louis Knight. This is a competition. Let’s get real. There’s only one Idol and you were spot-on with your performance and then at the end, you let us have it with the talent of your voice. Good for you. You are a good bet,” she said.

Meanwhile, Bryan said Martin’s first performance showed that he’s not just "the king of the jungle but you felt like king of ‘American Idol’ in my opinion.”



For his second song, Martin chose to dedicate a heartfelt performance of Leon Bridges’ “River” to his mom.

Perry thought Martin was already incredible with the Disney song, but he grew even more when he did his second performance.

“This set of Mother’s Day songs is really separating the pack. It’s showing who deserves that top position and you are making it difficult for all these other contestants because that performance was so, so full and beautiful and real. It was so heartfelt what you just did,” she said.

For Bryan, Martin’s version was actually better than the original and he wouldn’t think twice of spending his money on it the moment he heard the young singer’s first note.

Meanwhile, Richie reiterated how he loves that Martin’s confidence is now front and center.

“You’re no longer in your head. It’s all about your delivery now. We were checking your pulse [during auditions], remember that? Congratulations because you have a career and that is what’s most important and we saw it happen here on ‘American Idol,’” he said.

Voting for the next round began midway through Sunday’s episode and it will end on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

For those in America, there are three ways to vote for Martin and that’s through the American Idol app, or by dropping by the American Idol website, or through texting “12” to “21523.”

The top 5 vote-getters will be revealed next week and will advance to the next round.

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Filipino-Americans 'fired up' as Tagalog added to Nevada ballot

LAS VEGAS - Manny Pacquiao, roast pig dinners and prayer services: Activists are using every tool possible to get the booming Filipino-American community in Las Vegas to the polls for Saturday's Democratic nomination vote.

Overlooked in the past, Filipinos have rapidly become the western desert state's largest Asian-American community -- almost 200,000 by some estimates, in a state of 3 million people -- forcing candidates to take notice.

For the first time, the Tagalog language will be used on voting cards along with English and Spanish at the Democratic caucuses.

"We're proud that they are recognizing us," said Margie Gonzales, a Filipina community leader. "It means a lot -- it means recognition."

Gonzales, who chairs the county's Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) commission, has also begun training politicians to speak a few Tagalog words.

"When you start knocking on doors, it helps if you greet a Filipino family opening the door in Tagalog," she said. "That's a way to make that person smile -- you feel welcome."

Feeling welcome is key for a minority community in which immigration and xenophobia are major concerns. Like Latinos, Filipino-Americans tend to vote Democrat.

"When Trump talks about not bringing in relatives and things like that, that same thing applies to Asians," said Tick Segerblom, a commissioner for Clark County, where Las Vegas is located. "So Trump has really been a boon as far as organizing Asians."

But traditionally, Filipino-Americans have not voted in large numbers.

To counter that, Gonzales and her fellow activists introduced a tradition commonly found during election campaigns back in the Philippines -- the Kamayan, a large communal feast.

These typically see politicians mingle at long tables covered in banana leaves, with a whole roast pig on the menu.

'SQUEAK OF A MOUSE'

The feasts hosted in Las Vegas by Gonzales so far have not endorsed specific candidates. A grand Kamayan is planned once the Democratic Party settles on a nominee -- but that has not stopped those in the race from reaching out.

Democratic candidate Tulsi Gabbard, who is Hawaiian, has made inroads, as have Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren.

"This is an overlooked and often ignored community and I feel like Elizabeth Warren celebrates our existence and doesn't use us as props," said Filipina campaign volunteer Ninna Diaz, 27.

The community is "definitely taking notice," she added. 

More recently, Gonzales has conducted Tagalog language caucus training for campaigns including that of Bernie Sanders.

"The mere fact that a lot of politicians are calling me and other Filipino-American leaders, it shows you that we are becoming important," she said.

"They are paying attention to us, because they know now that we vote."

She added: "Our voice used to be like the squeak of a mouse... But we are getting fired up now."

In a sign of the group's growing visibility, Segerblom and others are leading a campaign to rename a stretch of eastern Las Vegas, which is home to many community restaurants and stores, Little Filipinotown.

But Gonzales turned to one of the most visible icons of all -- global boxing superstar and Philippine Sen. Manny Pacquiao, who was in Las Vegas for a fight in 2014.

"We were able to get to his suite -- he posed with us, holding our banner," said Gonzales, who now uses the image to boost voter registration drives.

"It gets the Filipinos excited -- in fact, even non-Filipinos!"

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Fil-Am allegedly abused by Pinoy priest sues LA Archdiocese

LOS ANGELES – A 34 year-old Filipina has sued the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in what is believed to be the first civil suit against the country's largest Catholic diocese since California passed a law last month that extends the statute of limitations for child abuse survivors.

Aimee Galicia-Torres said she was only 8 years old when a Filipino priest who was also a family friend molested her at an aunt’s house. The sexual abuse went on for four years.

According to the suit, the LA's Archdiocese was negligent in the hiring and supervision of Galicia-Torres’ alleged abuser - Father Honesto Bismonte - and that there could have been a cover-up when church leaders knew about his actions.

Galicia Torres said that by speaking up, she felt a sense of hope she hasn’t felt in a long time.

“I felt like a huge weight was lifted off me. Finally, my voice was being heard. I want him, my abuser, to know I’m the one doing this to him. I want to take back my power that I lost when he abused me,” she said.

Ordained in the Philippines in 1954, Bismonte came to California in 1981 and served in churches in Los Angeles, Gardena and Pomona. 

In 2002, Bismonte was removed from the ministry after being arrested and charged with molesting two young girls more than 50 times.

He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and ended up serving two years of informal probation.

According to the updated 2018 Archdiocese Report to the People of God that lists priests who had been publicly accused of sexual abuse, the 90-year old Bismonte has been retired with no faculties to minister.

While the lawsuit does not specify any dollar amount, this Filipina wants answers.

“Why was he allowed to transfer from the Philippines knowing that he had some sort of relationship with some underage kid? I want to know how he was transferred from the Philippines to the United States, how many people knew about it and how and if this could’ve been prevented,” she said.

The California’s Child Victims Act extends the statute of limitations allowing more sexual abuse survivors to come forward with lawsuits.

In a statement, the Archdiocese of LA said it was not yet aware of the lawsuit filed against them, however they reiterated they took appropriate actions against Bismonte after his 2002 molestation case. The Archdiocese also stressed that Bismonte remains out of the ministry and is now living privately in an assisted living facility. 

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Fil-Am family loses home to Tick Fire in California

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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Fil-Am dies while trying to save dog in Chicago

A Filipino-American man tragically lost his life in an effort to save his dog in Chicago.

Michael Fernandez, 29, jumped into the Lincoln Park Lagoon on Saturday night after seeing his dog struggling to stay afloat.

According to reports, after seeing Fernandez jump in, his girlfriend also dove into the lagoon in an effort to rescue him. However, both the dog and the girlfriend resurfaced while Fernandez was nowhere to be found.

After a 19-hour search, 10 divers were able to pull out his body from the water. Reports state that murky water from the lagoon made it difficult to locate him.

Fernandez was a limo driver and a bodybuilder. A GoFundMe page has been created to help his family and friends raise funds for a memorial.

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Fil-Am teen alleged victim of hate crime in California; 3 suspects charged

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.

Read more on Balitang America.

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New generation of Fil-Ams rediscovering roots in Pinoy-owned superstore

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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Pinay shares experience in California quake

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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Fil-Am hit by drunk driver in New Jersey dies, is laid to rest

WESTFIELD, New Jersey - A Filipino-American who died 2 days after a drunk driver hit his car was laid to rest in New Jersey on Monday.

Michael Sot, 20, was making sure his friends got home safe only to be hit head on by a drunk driver last Dec. 2.

The driver, 22-year-old David Lamar, crossed over the double center line and crashed into Sot’s car. The accident also injured 7 others.

Lamar survived and was charged with vehicular homicide, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.

"I want the other guy to know how he affected everyone and I want him to know how good of a kid he took out in the world. I have other fraternity brothers still in the hospital right now, unconscious, and I want him to see that too," said Sot’s best friend, Giancarlo Santo.

For many of Sot’s friends, he was not only a former star football player and an outstanding student, he was someone who put others first.

"He might be gone now, but like now, pieces of him live in every one of us and I think we just need to do our best job to carry out what things Mike would have done to people if he was here, because it’s the only way he could live on now,” Santo said. 

More than $73,000 dollars has been raised at this time through a GoFundMe page to help the Sot family and other victims of the car crash.

Another GoFundMe page called TCNJ Car Accident Recovery Fund has raised more than $120,000. The money raised will be given to each family affected by the crash.

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Fil-Am college student dies of injuries from car accident

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. 

Read more on Balitang America.

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Relatives mourn death of Fil-Am teen killed in Southern California shooting

THOUSAND OAKS, California - Shock and sadness loomed over the Housley family as their kin, Alaina, was identified among the 12 victims in the Borderline Bar and Grill massacre earlier this week.

The 18-year-old Filipino American recently moved to the area to study in Pepperdine University, the same school where her parents met.

"Words can’t describe our grief over losing our daughter, Alaina," Alaina's father, Arick Housley, said in a statement.

"She was everything we could hope for in a child: kind, smart, beautiful and respectful," he said.

Housley also described his daughter as "a mock trial lover" who enjoyed public debates.

"She would have enjoyed the public debate that is certain to happen after this tragedy, but she would have insisted that it be respectful with an eye toward solving these senseless shootings," Housley said.

"It’s time for leadership in our country to step up," he said.

The family found out about the teen's death in the middle of the night, after a day of searching and hoping, Alaina's maternal grandfather, Ernesto Punzalan, told ABS-CBN News.

"We were hoping she just went somewhere because of the incident but unfortunately it turns out she was one of the victims," Punzalan said.

"Her dad and her mom were there for 4 years and we never had any case like this. This is really a shocking incident," he said.

Punzalan said he last saw his granddaughter in April at her high school graduation and was supposed to meet her during her recital before Christmas.

"It's very unfortunate. She played piano and violin," he said.

"She’s a nice girl, she’s academically extraordinary, she’s involved in all school activities, and athletics also academic and class activities extra curricular activities," he said.

"She has been a very good girl and I hope she will rest in peace," he said.

Pepperdine University held a prayer service for Alaina, Thursday afternoon.

The 18-year old and 11 others were killed by a lone gunman who stormed a crowded bar, Wednesday evening.

Authorities are still looking into the motive of the mass shooting incident.

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'One of my favorite things about myself is being half-Filipino': Darren Criss and his roots

The Filipino runs in his blood. 

Born to a mother from Cebu who loves music and performing, Darren Criss has lived a life dedicated to the spotlight, swaying to the rhythms that would eventually earn him an Emmy -- the first Filipino-American to do so. 

His "drive" to become a star, he attributed to his mom who, along with his "sneak attack musician" (a person who has musical talent but refuses to play instruments, he explained) dad, made sure that he grew up surrounded by singing and dancing. 

This upbringing meant that pursuing a career in Hollywood was inevitable; in fact, he is still best known for his role in the award-winning musical series "Glee." 

Now, Criss holds the distinction of becoming the first actor with Pinoy roots to win an Emmy -- perhaps the highest honor in TV. 

He won for his role in "The Assassination of Gianni Versace" as Andrew Cunanan, the half-Filipino serial killer notorious for murdering five men, including famous fashion designer Gianni Versace, in 1997. 

In an interview back when was promoting the drama, he revealed that he celebrated getting the part with a trip to his favorite Filipino restaurant in Los Angeles -- an example of just how proud Criss is of his connection to the Philippines. 

However, this association faced scrutiny last March, when he was perceived to have renounced his Pinoy roots. 

Speaking with Vulture, he said that it would "be unfair" to have identify himself as Asian-American, likening it to "reaching for the minority card on a college application." 

He did clarify this by writing on Twitter: "One of my favorite things about myself is that I'm half Filipino. PERIOD."

"I happen to not look like it, but that face is not what I like. I like the fact that most people don't know it's an ace up my sleeve, an ace I'm very proud of, regardless of what I look like." 

That love for his Pinoy side shone through when he helped raise funds for survivors of super typhoon Yolanda in 2013. 

Recently, he also took the time out to send his love for those affected by typhoon Ompong. 

"Stay safe. My thoughts are with you. There’s only so much we could do for this side except send love and as many good vibes I can. Look out for each other out there," he said.

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Woman apologizes after racist rant against Pinay goes viral

A woman from Beaverton, Oregon has apologized after her racist rant against a Filipina in Portland was posted on Facebook and viewed millions of times.

Filipina Selina Cairel of Vancouver, Washington posted the video to her Facebook page on September 12, showing Sierra Measelle and her friend at a parking lot.

The September 11 incident began when Measelle insinuated that Cairel could not drive because she’s Asian, followed by more insults.

In her post, Cairel said, “I want to make sure she gets seen and her racist, ignorant behavior is exposed.”

The video was viewed more than 2.5 million times, and netizens soon identified her.

Measelle, who is reportedly of Native American descent, apologized in an Instagram post for her “ignorant and hateful comments,” and said she plans to turn “this negative situation into a positive learning experience.”

Cairel said she will eventually forgive Measelle.

Meanwhile, in a later post, Cairel who is half-Filipino and half-English posted a photo of her passport with laughing emoji saying, “I promise I'm legal guys."

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Fil-Am valedictorian’s speech cut off while tackling sexual assault

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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2 Fil-Ams teen missing in California

Authorities are searching for a pair of missing Filipino-American teenagers and are asking the public’s help to find them.

Jann Derrick, 19, was last seen at his parent’s San Lorenzo home on October 22.

The 5’8” tall and 110 pounds teen exited the Montgomery Street Bart-Muni Station in San Francisco that afternoon, according to data from his clipper card used for public transportation.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Alameda County Sheriff at 510-667-7721.

In a separate case, 15-year old Ambra del Mundo of Concord, California has been missing since October 25th.

The girl is 5 feet tall and weighs 100 pounds.

Anyone with information about her is asked to call the Concord Police Department at (925) 671-3333.

Read more on Balitang America

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Canyon fire affects SoCal residents, businesses

ANAHEIM, California - The hills along the 91 freeway in the Anaheim Hills area now look like a barren, burnt wasteland as the massive Canyon 2 fire continues to burn in Southern California.

Now on its third day, the blaze has scorched 8,000 acres and is at 45 percent containment as of Wednesday morning, according to authorities.

Cooler overnight temperatures and the return of the marine layer has helped the over 1,600 firefighters from all over California fight the blaze, which has destroyed 15 structures, damaged 12 and has injured three people.

Orange County fire officials say most evacuation orders have been lifted and all residents should be able to return to their homes by late Wednesday.

The effects of the fire can be felt by residents all over Orange County, including Filipino-American business owners just down the hill from the fire line.

“Malapit po ang bahay namin sa Disneyland, sa Katella and Brookhurst, pagdating ko po sa bahay kagabi, nakita ko po 'yung maraming ashfall at leaves na marami,” said Norma Seriano.

“'Yung ibang mga customer nandito sila, kumain sa amin, sila ninenerbiyos, nanginginig, dahil sila mismo ang nasunugan ng bahay,” she said.

Roman Calica, another business owner, encountered one customer whose house was at risk of being engulfed by the blaze.

“One of my customers said that the fire was just behind their house, so they are really scared and panicking,” said Calica.

“Basta 'yung mga important documents lang na kailangan natin, kailangan naka-safety 'yun para in case na may sunog, madali natin makukuha at maililigtas," he said.

Schools in the immediate area of the fire remain closed due to possible fire danger and the extremely poor air quality.

The fire was first reported Monday morning near the 91 Freeway and Coal Canyon. The 241 toll road connecting the 91 freeway to the 261 remains closed. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Full containment is expected by Saturday.

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Pinay hospitalized due to dust storm in Arizona

PHOENIX, Arizona – Metropolitan Phoenix was hit by dust storm and thunderstorm over the weekend causing damages to properties and putting many lives in danger.

With zero visibility on the road during a sandstorm, Giselle Sloan’s car was hit by another vehicle despite taking precautions.

“Zero visibility talaga. So I got my vehicle in high beam. And then as I was getting ready to pull over on the side. Grabe yung impact na di ko na nga alam. Basta, I think na unconscious ako for a while,” Sloan said.

Sloan said she was in pain but managed to get out of her car. She obtained multiple bruises on her head and legs and was admitted in the hospital with a fractured back bone.

“Nahirapan ako i-open, as soon as i-open ko ang door grabe yung dust. Instead na maliligo ka sa tubig. Dust na lahat. Nilagay niya ako sa kotse niya. I didn’t know what happened, basta nakita ko na lang may kotse. May pulis. Maya-maya may ambulance na,” she said.

Sloan is expected to recover with outpatient therapy services and has to wear a back brace for at least a month.

Meanwhile, another kababayan drove into the dust storm last weekend. Luckily, Jennifer Aquino had enough time to pull over to safety.

Aquino said receiving the Arizona Department of Transportation’s campaign to “Pull Aside, Stay Alive” via text message alerted her to be more careful and aware of her surroundings during extreme weather conditions.

“It is helpful and it should be followed to keep everybody alive,” she said.

Read more on Balitang America.

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Fil-Am woman named as one of Houston’s ’50 Most Influential’

HOUSTON, Texas – A Filipino-American woman was the only Filipino to make it to the list of Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women of 2016 by the Houston Woman Magazine.

Among those selected was Fil-Am Carla Kuaiwa, currently the director of hospital operations, community relations, community benefits and volunteer programs for Memorial Hermann Health System.


“You don’t think about awards when you do community service, and for me, it’s just really giving back to the community. And to be recognized for that is really such an honor,” said Kuaiwa.

In her role, Kuaiwa manages over 300 volunteers, ensuring patients and guests of the hospital are taken cared of and feel welcome.

“My success is not based on my position. It’s really based on how my loved ones see me. It’s not about the title that I hold. It’s how my kids see me as an inspiration,” she shared.

A festive afternoon tea party to honor and connect the “50 Women” has marked the annual celebration since it began. This year’s event, attended by more than 225 invited guests, was co-hosted by Houston Woman Magazine and Chevron.

Kuaiwa hopes to inspire other young women to follow their dreams as well.

“Do not let anybody or anything to get in your way. Stay true to your talent, stay true to your instincts, and stay true to the values that you hold,” she said.

Read more on Balitang America.

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Fil-Am actors Darren Criss, Vanessa Hudgens star in new projects

2017 is off to a good start for these Fil-Ams in entertainment.

An American Crime tragedy, a DC-universe superhero comedy, and a crowdfunded origin story of a beloved fandom character are some of the latest projects featuring talented Pinoys in Hollywood.

Yong Chavez talks to the Fil-Am actors on Showbiz Tonight.

Read more on Balitang America

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Fil-Am lawyers oppose, act upon Trump travel ban

NEW YORK - President Donald Trump’s executive order, which bans citizens from seven predominantly Muslim nations, has become an issue within the Filipino American community especially since Trump has mentioned the Philippines as a concern during his election campaign.

“I think it’s clear at this point that it’s highly unlikely that the travel ban will be expanded to include the Philippines,” said Fil-Am Atty. Rio Guerrero. “In all likelihood, they would probably wait to see how this all plays out before the court system and probably the Supreme Court, before they were to issue any new travel ban, or to try to expand the existing one obviously.”

The National Filipino American Lawyers Association, or NFALA, a three-year old organization with about 700 lawyer members across the United States, opposes the president’s executive order, which they say promotes hostility toward immigrants and refugees.

The organization has mobilized efforts to support the needs of affected individuals.

“We don’t want any groups being singled out. This is a country where we’ve always welcomed immigrants,” said Atty. Jhanice Domingo, President of NFALA. “We’re asking attorneys and people in the US to speak up and oppose this travel ban. We’re asking immigration attorneys to help out.”

Its local affiliate, the Filipino American Lawyers Association of New York, has been volunteering at different airports, disseminating information on their availability to those who may be affected by the travel ban.

Lawyers urge the community to remain vigilant not only on the issue of immigration, but on other issues as well.

They assure the community that they will advocate for citizens' rights.

“Lawyers will defend our country. We will defend the freedoms and the liberties of the people here in the United States, both the documented and the undocumented, fighting for the rights of individuals, and their families,” said Guerrero.

Read more on Balitang America.

source: news.abs-cbn.com