QUEENS, NY - Steven Raga has landed a key leadership role in Albany, named Co-Chair of the People’s Budget, the powerful annual spending blueprint of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus. The People’s Budget lays out the Caucus’ priorities for the state budget, pushing for stronger investments in labor protections, affordable housing, healthcare, education, and economic justice issues that hit communities of color the hardest. As Co-Cha

NEW YORK - Oftentimes, the backstory is more painstaking and more thrilling than the luminous event itself. The resounding triumph of the YAMAN NYC Exhibition, held October 31 to November 2 at the Marriott Marquis, was no exception. With 25 pioneering trade and cultural exhibitors and artisans going home happy and earning more than they had expected organizers Edwin Josue and Jerry Sibal of the nonprofit Friends of the Philippines Society USA Inc.knew their vision had paid of

A 36-year-old woman was allegedly strangled to death by her own husband, a security guard, before her body was stuffed inside a garbage bag and hidden under their bed in Samal, Bataan. Police said the victim, known by the alias “Jenelyn,” was found already decomposing at around 6:00 p.m. Tuesday inside their home in Sitio Adamson, Barangay Gugo. The horrifying discovery was made after the victim’s sister went to check on her, worried because she had not been seen for three da

NEW YORK - K-pop girl group UNIS is gearing up for a major global milestone as it launches its first-ever North and South America tour, shining a well-deserved spotlight on Filipino members Gehlee and Elisia, whose rise continues to energize Fil-Am and Philippine fans around the world. Titled “2026 UNIS 1ST TOUR: Ever Last,” the tour kicks off in New York on January 28 and will bring the group to 15 cities across the Americas. Stops include Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Chi

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson disclosed that he is in possession of documents that could shed light on the purchase of a high-value house and lot in South Forbes allegedly linked to former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. According to Lacson, the property was acquired in April 2023, and records suggest that a controversial contractor, Curlee Discaya, may have acted as a “front” in the transaction. “I obtained copies of the deed of absolut

Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson on Wednesday reflected on what she described as the most meaningful chapter of her four-decade diplomatic career, highlighting the deep people-to-people ties and strengthened alliance between the United States and the Philippines during her more than three years in Manila. In her farewell message, Carlson said she prepared extensively before assuming her post, speaking with former U.S. ambassadors to the Philippines

The Laguna Regional Trial Court Branch 26 has issued warrants of arrest against businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and 17 others in connection with the long-running case involving the disappearance of several sabungeros , or cockfighting enthusiasts. The court ordered the arrest of the accused after ruling that the prosecution had presented prima facie evidence to support the charge of kidnapping with homicide, a non-bailable offense under Philippine law. Court records show that

NEW YORK CITY - More than 1,000 Filipino nurses are among nearly 15,000 private hospital nurses who walked out of their jobs this week in what unions describe as the largest private hospital strike in New York City history. The strike affects nurses from ten hospitals under three major healthcare systems Mount Sinai, Montefiore, and NewYork-Presbyterian after contract negotiations reached a deadlock. Nurses are demanding higher compensation, improved healthcare benefits, saf

QUEENS, New York - Nepali American community leader Somnath Ghimire has formally entered the race for the New York State Assembly, setting up a Democratic primary challenge against incumbent Steven Raga in Assembly District 30. Ghimire, a longtime Woodside resident, said his decision to seek public office is rooted in his years of community advocacy and civic engagement in Queens. His campaign platform highlights affordable housing, public education, worker protections, and

NEW YORK CITY - Filipino-American community organizations staged a protest outside the Philippine Consulate in New York City, demanding the immediate and safe release of Chantal Anicoche, a 25-year-old Filipina-American who is now confirmed to be in the custody of the Armed Forces of the Philippines 203rd Infantry Brigade. Anicoche was reported missing during military attacks in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro operations that reportedly killed three Mangyan children, injured

Public confidence in several key government institutions continues to erode, with the sharpest declines recorded in the Senate and the House of Representatives, based on the findings of the Pahayag 2025 End-of-the-Year Survey. While the survey notes that overall approval ratings across most government agencies remain technically “stable,” the data reveal a clear and sustained drop in public trust, particularly toward agencies associated with flooding, soaring consumer prices,

ALBAY, Philippines - Authorities have ordered the pre-emptive evacuation of residents within the six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) of Mayon Volcano after state volcanologists raised the volcano’s status to Alert Level 3, citing increased volcanic activity and the heightened risk of hazardous eruptions. Following the advisory from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Albay Governor Noel Rosal, together with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and

NEW YORK - Four years after its inauguration, Sentro Rizal New York stands as a lasting testament to the enduring spirit of Philippine culture, history, and identity in the United States. Established on 06 January 2022 as the 36th Sentro Rizal in the world, the center has emerged as a vital cultural landmark in Manhattan, dedicated to preserving and promoting the arts, language, and heritage of the Filipino people. Under the stewardship of the Philippine Consulate General in

NEW YORK - The Philippines is stepping up its digital transformation push, pitching major infrastructure projects, telecom reforms, and artificial intelligence readiness to U.S. tech leaders and investors during a high-level roundtable in New York. The Philippine Trade and Investment Center in New York (PTIC-NY), together with the Philippine Consulate General in New York, hosted the closed-door briefing with Henry Rhoel Aguda, head of the Department of Information and Communi

Six boxes of official documents from the office of former Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina “Cathy” Cabral are missing, according to her lawyer, amid the continuing controversy surrounding the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control scandal. Atty. Mae Divinagracia said Cabral allegedly took her own life after being unable to bear what she believed was her role as a scapegoat in the controversy involving allocable funds now considered equivalent t

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is exerting control over Venezuela’s future through an aggressive oil “quarantine,” sanctions enforcement, and maritime interdiction rather than direct military occupation, following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro and his wife. In separate appearances on This Week and Face the Nation, Rubio defended President Donald Trump’s assertion that the United States is effectively “running” Venezuela, saying Washington is using court-

The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu, led by Consul General Arman R. Talbo, commemorated the 129th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Dr. José P. Rizal with a solemn wreath and lei offering ceremony at the Philippine Consulate grounds. The Rizal Day activity was held in partnership with the Knights of Rizal under the leadership of Area Commander Jerry Felicitas, together with the Aloha Chapter, Hawaii Chapter, and Maysa Ohana Chapter. Members of the Filipino community an

Investigators from the Basud Municipal Police Station and the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Unit (PIDMU) have traced the origin of the body found dumped at the Pinagwarasan Bridge in Purok 1, Barangay Pinagwarasan, Basud, Camarines Norte, following information provided by a tricycle driver and a bus conductor who unknowingly transported the container where the victim was allegedly placed. According to police, the tricycle driver surfaced after seeing repor

A 12-year-old boy was killed after his right hand was blown off and he sustained severe injuries to his leg and thigh when an illegal firecracker exploded, while another child was injured in the same incident in Tondo, Manila on Sunday night. The tragic incident happened at around 8:30 p.m. at the corner of Lorenzo Street and Abad Santos Avenue, according to the Manila Police District (MPD). Authorities said the two children were playing in the area when they discovered a fir

A humanitarian relief mission led by AFTA President Rena Pedaria brought much-needed assistance to hundreds of disaster-affected residents in Barangay Cotcot, a barangay in Liloan town, Cebu, identified as ground zero in the aftermath of Typhoon Tino. The outreach was spearheaded by the Association of Fil-Am Teachers of America (AFTA) through its Kaisang Palad Project, providing relief to 100 families and more than 200 children affected by severe flooding. The initiative mobi