One of the biggest Filipino festivals in the entire USA, the Fil-Am Friendship Day Festival is an annual celebration which began in 1971 to both promote and unify the Philippine culture in the Hampton Roads area and beyond. Friendship Day features vendors, showcase, live performances, cultural celebrations, and sports events that embody the Filipino culture. [...]
Archive for June, 2010
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This Month
June 30th, 2010 by Fil-Am Ako
There was a lot going on in June that I wasn’t able to cover due to personal issues. This post is a look back at this month as a lot happened in the Filipino-American community. President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino’s Inauguration Love him or hate him, Noynoy Aquino is officially the commander in chief of the Philippines. [...]
Super Fresh Entertainment News Exclusive Interview with Umamiya
June 23rd, 2010 by Fil-Am Ako
Here’s an exclusive interview with the Pan-Asian girl group, Umamiya from Tawain’s Super Fresh Entertainment News. Super Fresh Entertainment News’ Anita Chang gives you and exclusive behind-the-scenes interview with Umamiya and music producer Timo Chen, on location from their recent music video shoot. Back in May, Umamiya released their debut single Hot Sour Spicy Sweet, now [...]
Dante Basco in Flipped?
June 22nd, 2010 by Fil-Am Ako
So I actually paid to see the Karate Kid remake this past week (no comment), I was surprised and entertained by the preview for the upcoming film Flipped. The film is about two eighth graders who start to have feelings for each other despite being total opposites. After viewing the trailer to the film adaption of [...]
Terminated for Speaking Tagalog
June 22nd, 2010 by Fil-Am Ako
In Canada, it was because of a spoon and fork, now in the states, Filipinos are receiving unfair treatment at work for being Filipino. For four Filipina-American ex-staffers of a Baltimore City hospital, their termination still comes as a shock. In a recent reports, Corina Capunitan-Yap, Anna Rowena Rosales, Jazziel Granada and Natano were fired [...]
Three-Tables or More Legal Business Mahjong, the Resort Hotel does not need to do Gambling
June 22nd, 2010 by
by Daniel Escurel Occeño With Three-Tables or more Legal Business Mahjong, the resort hotel does not need to do gambling. It can be in the Sports Entertainment Industry instead of the Gaming Industry. PAGCOR and private resorts can set up tournaments similar to the NCAA Final Four in college basketball where they have to qualify [...]
Tatay’s Day
June 21st, 2010 by Fil-Am Ako
This is a belated Father’s Day post due to the fact that I was busy spending time with my dad. In the U.S., Asian father’s are usually perceived as strict, uncaring, and cold hearted people. This usually applies to Americans who don’t understand our culture or what is accepted as a proper upbringing for Asians. [...]
Baybayin Ukyabít, New Filipino Card Game
June 19th, 2010 by Fil-Am Ako
Fil-Am Ako friend, Norman de los Santos describes Baybayin Ukyabít as a radical Filipino alphasyllabary card game, where you learn to use Baybayin script characters to build simple two-syllable Tagalog words. Ukyabít is a revolutionary new and fun approach to word puzzle card games and language learning. ukyabít – a Filipino (Tagalog) word that means; scramble, [...]
Philippine Historical Figure: Gregorio del Pilar, “The Boy General” & Battle of Tirad Pass
June 19th, 2010 by Fil-Am Ako
Fil-Am Ako contributing editor, Kristine suggested Gregorio del Pilar for this segment after reading one of F. Sionil Jose books, where one of his main characters died at the Battle of Tirad Pass. I thought this would be a great opportunity to feature the “Boy General,” especially after last week’s celebration of Philippine Independence Day. Gregorio [...]
Another Filipina Arrested for Fraud in the U.S.
June 19th, 2010 by Fil-Am Ako
So there are new reports on another Filipina arrested for fraudulant activity in the states. Last summer, there were reports of 42 people accused in a California Medicaid scam that swindled the state out of nearly $4.6 million. The scam was despicable due to the fact that the victims were disabled patients and it was orchestrated by [...]
The Cooking Priest
June 18th, 2010 by Fil-Am Ako
For all you food buffs out there, I’m sure all of you know about Fr. Leo Patalinghug, the Fil-Am cooking priest. I just recently found out about Grace Before Meals, which is centered on one fundamental concept: the simple act of creating and sharing a meal can strengthen all kinds of relationships. Born in the [...]
Meet Erick Esteban, Fil-Am Actor and Comedian
June 10th, 2010 by Fil-Am Ako
I was very proud and honored to have interviewed Fil-Am actor and comedian, Erick Esteban, who is also a fellow Pinoy from Chicago. For those of you who don’t already know, Erick Esteban is the man behind the very popular character Minny Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao’s shortest biggest fan. In this interview, Erick Esteban discussed his [...]
SINGGALOT: Honoring Filipinos in America, from Colonial Subjects to Citizens
June 10th, 2010 by Fil-Am Ako
Singgalot: The Ties That Bind explores the challenges and issues that confronted Filipinos in America. Singgalot captures the inspiring struggle of Filipino American This past week, I was able to visit the exhibit in Schaumburg, Illinois and came out with a newfound sense of passion in Filipino history in America. Unfortunately, I wasn’t allowed to bring [...]
San Francisco: Filipiniana @Union Square Philippine Independence Day Celebration
June 9th, 2010 by Fil-Am Ako
Saturday June 12th is Philippine Independence Day, how will you celebrate? The San Francisco Filipino community in association with West Bay Pilipino Multi-Service and the Filipino Veterans Living Heritage Project present: Filipiniana at Union Square Philippine Independence Day Celebration. The afternoon event will start with an opening reception and unveiling of the Dewey Monument Plaque at 1:30 [...]
Coming Soon: Minny Pacquiao Cartoon
June 9th, 2010 by Fil-Am Ako
A Minny Pacquiao cartoon show, say what?! After hearing no news on the Fil-Am animated show The Nutshack, it was great to hear that Manny Pacquiao’s shortest biggest fan was getting his own cartoon show. For those who don’t know who Minny Pacquiao is, now is your chance to get up to speed. In a [...]