Maniolas

Philippine Consul-General in San Francisco Henry Bensurto Jr. (extreme left) came with son Matthew (extreme right) and other Filipino children witness the Golden State Warriors demolish the Phoenix Suns in a tightly fought game 133-120. INQUIRER/Jun Nucum OAKLAND, California – Diehard Filipino American fans of the Golden State Warriors once again whooped it up at another successful Filipino Heritage Night held at Oracle arena here recently where the Warriors whipped the spunky Phoenix Suns 133-120, thanks to Klay Thompson’s 30-point output. A tailgate party with Filipino food trucks began early afternoon before the game, keeping Filipino basketball fans occupied with the variety of dishes were offered — from sisig, Filipino barbecue, donuts and even fusions of Mexican burrito and Filipino silog varieties, among others. Main feature of the tailgate was a photo booth where early birds could have their pictures taken with the two most valuable player trophies of top Warrior player Steph Curry. Bantay Bata Foundation kids directed by Noriel Advincula (extreme right) sing the national anthem. INQUIRER/Jun Nucum San Francisco entertainment commissioner Al Perez was ecstatic for the 9th annual Golden State Warriors Filipino Heritage Night. “When we started it was only one heritage night per season, but it became so popular and always sold out it that, starting a couple of years ago, became two heritage nights per season,” Perez recounted. “This particular night’s tickets were sold out even before they started promoting it. And that’s good because it is encouraging the Filipino community to come out Read More …

Members and Unite Here Local 8 Staff ready to celebrate the victory of the passage of Initiative 124. INQUIRER/Cindy Domingo SEATTLE – At the Westin Hotel here the atmosphere was somber on Election Night as Democratic Party supporters eventually came to grips with Donald Trump’s victory. But in a small hospitality room on the first floor, a clutch of women Filipino hotel workers from Local 8 Unite Here were all smiles at news that their Initiative-124, titled “Seattle Protects Women,” was passing with 77 percent voter approval. The multiracial crowd of Latinas, Asian Americans, African Americans and whites broke into screams of joy and applause. lora Tabalbag, housekeeper at Westin Hotel and Eunice How, organizer at Unite Here Local 8 worked as a team to get Westin Hotel workers to vote yes on Initiative 124. INQUIRER/Cindy Domingo For Filipina Flora Tabalbag, a Westin Hotel employee for 30 years, this was the first time she voted in an election, and it was because Initiative-124 was on the ballot. Although the conditions she faces at work as a union member are fairly good, Flora was happy because they would be even better as a result of the initiative’s passing. For the voiceless Another Filipina housekeeper who works at the Doubletree Hotel, Alicia Espejo, stated, “This is for everybody who is not able to speak out.” The initiative’s provisions will apply to all hotel workers of hotels of a certain size whether represented by a union or not. Eunice How, local Unite Here Read More …

Filipino Americans holding a voter registration drive in Las Vegas. INQUIRER FILE LOS ANGELES – Filipino American voters are leaning left this election, with more than half favoring Democrat Hillary Clinton over Republican Donald Trump, according to a new survey. The survey by the National Asian American Survey (NAAS) released Oct. 5 also shows 41% of Filipino Americans identifying as Democrats. New voter trends, patterns of civic engagement, as well as political concerns of Asian Americans are being revealed by the survey, including telling data about the Filipino American community’s political leanings. The telephone poll was conducted from August to September of this year, and surveyed about 1,694 registered voters in 11 different Asian languages, with the data weighed by ethnicity, gender, and age. A total of 201 Filipino Americans participated, the third largest origin after Chinese and Asian Indians surveyed. “Asian American Voices in 2016 Election” was a nonpartisan, scientific effort to poll registered Asian American and Pacific Islander voters on issues of civic engagement, according to Karthick Ramakrishnan, who directed the survey. Partnering with community organizations like APIAVote, the survey’s goal was to address the “pressing need for Asian American voter outreach, especially with the continued lack of contact by political parties and candidates,” Ramakrishnan explained. More Asian eligible voters Since 2000, the number of AAPI eligible voters has grown by more than 1.2 million in each presidential cycle, the survey reported. It also found that a majority of Asian Americans (2-to-1 average) self-identifies as Democrat (about 41%), Read More …

  LOS ANGELES — A diverse array of intergenerational and trans-intercontinental talents will perform at the newly renovated Greek Theater on Sunday, Oct. 23 in one of the biggest events marking Filipino American History Month. The show will be hosted by the Filipino American History Month Los Angeles (FAHMLA) Coalition and presented by Frontier Communications. Ticket sales begin Sept. 27 and start at $15. The event will take place from 4 p.m.-10 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 23 at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. “We make up one of the fastest growing Asian American groups in the United States,” said Joel Jacinto, appointee of Mayor Eric Garcetti and the first Filipino American Commissioner for the City of L.A. Department of Public Works. “It’s important for the rest of L.A. to know who we are, and I think there is no better way to do that than through this exciting event for attendees of all ages.” Filipino music legend Gary V will headline the evening, and for the first time his son Gab Valenciano will join him onstage. Dance-pop artist Jocelyn Enriquez, R&B group Kai and others, who helped start the Filipino American music movement during the 1990s, will reunite after more than 15 years. And for the millennial crowd, YouTube sensation AJ Rafael and The Voice Season 9 artist Tim Atlas are among those who are expected to perform. Actor Nico Santos from NBC’s new sitcom “Superstore” will help host the show, and culinary masterminds including Kristine de la Cruz Read More …

Joseph Aloysius exhibits his Calado collection at the Philippine Center, Fifth Avenue, New York. INQUIRER.net/Carol Tanjutco NEW YORK CITY – Fashion designer Joseph Aloysius’ Calado collection can viewed at his solo exhibit at the Philippine Center, Fifth Avenue, in celebration of Filipino-American History Month. Trade Representative Katrina Banzon assisted Consul General Mario De Leon in cutting the pina-jusi ribbon that formally opened the show on Oct. 3. It will run until Oct. 8, 2016. Consul-General Mario Lopez De Leon noted, “As more and more kababayans are gaining prominence in the international fashion stage, we are happy that another kababayan is poised to makes waves (and weaves) in New York to increase the visibility of the Philippines in the American society through fashion.” Philantropist Loida Nicolas Lewis’ choice is a nostalgic slip-on dress finely crafted with delicate beads that add shimmer perfect for a day to night event, for an executive on the move. INQUIRER.net/Carol Tanjutco Preparing to launch his brand to the world, Aloysius wowed the select Filipino American and foreign guests at his exhibit and fashion show last month during the 2016 New York Fashion Week. His 15-piece meticulously hand-embroidered Calado lace and pineapple fabric gave a new dimension to the traditional Filipiniana look, combining classic elegance and flirtatious femininity, an overall glamorous version of modern Filipina attire.   From the Joseph Aloysius Collection. INQUIRER.net/Carol Tanjutco Joseph Aloysius thanked his partners, the Philippine Consulate General, Philippine Trade and Investment Center NY, Philippine Department of Tourism NY, his sponsors Philippine Read More …