YAMAN (treasure) is an upcoming large-scale social, commerce, and cultural marketplace in New York City that will spotlight Philippine artisans, creators, and visionaries on October 31 to November 2, 2025. This is spearheaded by Jerry Sibal and Edwin Josue of the Friends of the Philippines Society USA Inc. (FRIENDSPHUSA).

The Filipino American Press Club of New York strongly condemned the killing of working journalists in Gaza. In a recent press statement, the FAPCNY said, “We condemn in the strongest possible terms the savage killing of five journalists in the Israeli strike on Gaza’s Nasser Medical Complex.”

The FilAm Press Club statement said, “We stand in unwavering solidarity with these fallen journalists and their families. Journalists are not combatants. They are truth-bearers. To deliberately target or recklessly endanger them is to commit a crime against democracy and the global community’s right to know, …and a direct challenge to the values enshrined in the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.”

Philippine Consul General in New York Senen Mangalile formally introduced new officials of the PCGNY and Trade and Tourism attaches to the Filipino American media on August 15, 2025. 

Consul Anna Marie Mae Guerra takes charge of the Cultural Affairs and Public Diplomacy while Vice Consul Peter dela Fuente handles the Assistance to Nationals office. Social Security System has a new director in the person of Rigor Pantolinao.

At New Hope Technical Institute in Rwanda, a quiet revolution is underway. Since 1999, NHTI has offered more than just education—it's been a lifeline for over 1,150 students, especially young women, who face extreme poverty and limited opportunities. Testimonials of students have been awe-inspiring.

Apicha CEO Therese Rodriguez said that no one is turned down from their services despite federal budget cuts. We continue to serve, and no one is turned down, she assured.

To solve this budgetary problem, Apicha is negotiating with the local and state governments to provide funds for their constituents, Rodriguez said.

NYS Assemblymember Steven Raga said that his office has notably sensed a “big fear” in the community in Queens. “On an average day, we have constituents and neighbors who are being disappeared in court on 26th Federal Plaza. How can we help them? That’s a thing (we do) but we cannot post these live on social media. But that’s an everyday thing, the trauma that they are facing right now.”

On Saturday August 9, 2025, Apicha Community Health Center will be celebrating National Health Center Week (NHCW) 2025 with a Community Health Fair at Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights, Queens. 

This special occasion will feature a health and resource fair and cultural performances. Avail of free blood pressure and Body Mass Index (BMI) Screenings for obesity, oral dental screenings, free help in enrolling for health insurance, Food Assistance (SNAP), and Medicaid, and free backpacks and books for the kids.

In its hyper localized sense, multilateralism or multi-stakeholder approach is seen in the recently concluded parallel event when the Women’s Federation for World Peace International UN Relations Office and a Philippine university signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on July 23, 2025, for a joint project called “Mainstreaming Permaculture Education for Climate Action.”

This event, held at the New Yorker Hotel, aimed to address the issues on food security, environmental regeneration and action, youth and women empowerment, and economic development all in one.

Mark your date in October, Filipinos in the US. The multi-awarded Philippine Ballet Theatre brings to the US “Sarimanok” ballet in New York City on October 4, 2025.

A Slovakian schoolteacher has found a way to help students face problems of depression and anxiety which may have reached epidemic proportions globally in this day and age by sending them to leadership trainings and exposure trips.

Walking into the peace forest of South Korea’s Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) felt like entering the poster-perfect scene of ‘Crash Landing on You,’ the Korean drama that I avidly watched. It’s my walk of a lifetime, seeing and feeling for myself my joyous heart - peace is possible if we all decide it to be so.

This is how collaboration (among nonprofit organizations and government offices) looks like - an artistic creation of messaging for women’s empowerment by the youth.

Filipinos in the Big Apple successfully celebrated the 127th Philippine Independence Day on June 1, 2025 on Madison Avenue and Madison Park with a visibly larger participation in the post-pandemic celebrations.

There were 145 contingents in the parade on Madison Avenue and and estimated 100,000 participants and spectators.

The PAFCOM Parade and Festival begins with a Holy Mass at 10AM at the Lincoln Park and followed by a cultural parade at 11:30AM. “We will have a much longer route inside the park than the ones being traditionally done on the streets, thus there would be more fun and opportunity to watch the performers,” said PAFCOM chairperson Joyce Castillo.

PAFCOM, now on its 35 years of existence as the biggest Filipino organization in NJ, debuts the parade inside the park instead of the city streets to create a more compact and longer route for spectators and marchers.

Filipinos in New York welcome Pope Leo XIV, hopes run high for him to lead by “evangelizing, building bridges, including everyone.”

Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago on September 14, 1955. Much of his pastoral and ministerial work was spent in Peru, starting in 2015 upon the appointment of Pope Francis. Here’s his biography.

This is the second part of Michael Obenieta’s essay series on Philippine National Artist Nora Aunor who passed away on April 16, 2025.

Obenieta is a celebrated writer from Cebu and self-confessed big fan of Aunor (Nora Cabaltera Villamayor in real life).

In this essay, Obenieta itemizes the illustrious body of work of La Aunor in the performing arts locally and internationally.

We are republishing the essay of renowned poet and writer Michael Obenieta about Philippine National Artist Nora Aunor who passed away on April 16, 2025.

Obenieta is a celebrated writer from Cebu and self-confessed big fan of Aunor (Nora Cabaltera Villamayor in real life).

In this essay, he mentions La Aunor as having trailblazed in producing her epic movie Banaue, earning her the respect as a ‘proto-feminist’ in Philippine movies.

The Filipino American organization Philippine American Friendship Community (PAFCOM), a leading Filipino American organization based in New Jersey, concluded its community news writing workshop to enhance its capability to document and publish its own events.

Perhaps, the greatest take-away the attendees had would be the 5 Wives (what, when, where, why, and who) and 1 Husband (how) in data-gathering and writing.

Filipino-American journalists Rene Pastor and his wife Cristina DC Pastor released their book Living in China 2019-2023: A COVID Diary.