Category: Immigration
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Photography Exhibit: Reconciling Absence and Affection in the Filipino Diaspora
by Jantzen Loza Artist Statement “Ako Ay May Lobo” (translated, I have a balloon) is a Filipino children’s folk song about a child who chooses a balloon over a meal, only for the balloon to pop, leaving them with neither. In a homonymous poem written by my older brother, Franz, he uses this title as…
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Why the Philippines Is the Best Place to Retire
By Willie Jose This is welcome news for foreign retirees worldwide, especially Filipino expatriates who have spent many years abroad. They now have an even stronger reason to return home and enjoy their retirement in the country, as the Philippines has been named the Best Retirement Destination for 2026 in the Expatriate Group’s Retirement Abroad…
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How Filipino Nurses Transformed U.S. Healthcare
Registered nurse, advocate, and writer Rachel Nance sits down with Madelyn Yu, former president of the Philippine Nurses Association of America, to uncover the decades-long history of Filipino nurses in the United States. From the COVID-19 frontline, where Filipino American nurses risked their lives to care for patients, to the generations of nurses whose sacrifice,…
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Rooted in Community, Connected Through Our Stories
Celebrating Filipino American History Month Across Chicago and the Midwest An archive can inspire a performance. A performance can open a conversation between generations. A family story can become a learning resource. These connections are at the heart of the community work I am grateful to share with so many of you. This October, the…
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Bakit Amerika?
ni Jimmy Reyes “Kahit anong sobra, masama. Pagka kumain ka nang sobra, maiimpatso ka. Pagka-natulog ka nang sobra, mamamasin ka.” Isa lang ito sa maraming salawikain ng erpat ko na natanim sa isipan ko. Marahil meron nang nakapansin na bihira kong banggitin ang erpat ko, si Patnubay Jones (anak). Marahil, maiisip ng iba na malayo…
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Uncommon Memory
by Gabriel “Jay” Catanus Recently, Garden City Covenant Church had the privilege of welcoming Dr. Melba Maggay, a well-known scholar, writer, and Christian activist from the Philippines. Given that Garden City is a primarily Filipino American congregation that draws from Christian faith in its work for mercy and justice, this was a real treat for…
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Money Remittance is a Lifeline of Support
By Willie Jose Wherever we are in the world—in the US, Canada, Australia, or Middle East countries—far from our families back home, they are always in our thoughts. We remain deeply rooted in their lives, and whatever comfort or success we experience abroad, we naturally want to share those blessings with the loved ones we…
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A Legacy of Resistance: Filipino Americans, Martial Law, and the Fight for Democracy
By Grace Fitzgerald As we approach the 54th anniversary of President Ferdinand Marcos’ proclamation of martial law over the Philippines, we must remember the hostile political state that drove hundreds of thousands of Filipinos to seek sanctuary in the United States, and we should recognize the courageous, innovative FilAm activists who persistently fought against the…
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Covering News during Martial Law Years
By Willie Jose Working in a newspaper during those early years of martial law in the 70s was not so hard or fearsome; all the papers had to do was publish “positive stories” about the workings of government and the country —and follow Malacañang’s directives. Those martial law years were the heyday for press releases,…