Select Stories & Publications
The uncertainty of being a Filipino student in the U.S. during the pandemic
(Published in CNN)
For international students, the dream of pursuing their education in America became a nightmare during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pasko Na Naman: Finding the Filipino Community in New York
(Published in CNN)
The culture of “Filipino time” is a curious one for me. On one hand, we run on our own time frame, usually arriving late to concerts, dinners, or meetings. But as soon as the last days of August fade into the beginning of the ber-months, Filipinos are the first to welcome the Christmas spirit. By September 1st, malls start playing Christmas music, friends call upon Jose Mari Chan as “the one to guide us,” and Metro Manila is illuminated by the steady glow of traffic competing to outshine the parols.
Photo by d3sign (Getty Images)
Migrant organisations slam immigration fee increase policy
(Published in NE Londoner)
Migrant organisations have attacked recent immigration fee increases as hurtful and discriminatory.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a public sector wage increase policy last month financed in part by increasing visa application fees and immigration health surcharges.
Photo from Getty Images
Nick’s 5K run EVERY day in July to raise funds for suicide awareness after losing his father
(Published in SW Londoner)
A young man has raised almost £7,000 for suicide awareness and prevention by running 5 kilometres daily in July in memory of his father.
Nick Hennigan, 23, from Aberdeen, hopes his fundraising efforts will help reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and spark conversations around mental health after he lost his father, Chris, to suicide on December 26, 2020.
Celebrating the Coronation almost 7,000 miles away in 38-degree heat in the Philippines
(Published in SW Londoner)
Almost 7,000 miles away from London, Filipinos celebrated King Charles III’s Coronation with music and festivities.
The Deeper Problem of Deepfakes
(Published in TheSocialTalks)
A few days ago, a video featuring Bruce Willis in a commercial made headlines, not because the actor retired from acting but because his image was a deepfake. After the video emerged online, media outlets reported that Willis had sold his image to a deepfake company. However, a few days later, a representative for the actor refuted the story. As advanced as the concept of a deepfake may be, it can be incredibly harmful, especially for spreading disinformation.
Photo by Ulet Ifansasti (Getty Images)
Mary Jane Veloso and the Story of Filipino Workers
(Published in TheSocialTalks)
For over ten years, Mary Jane Veloso has sat on death row in Indonesia for a drug charge she did not commit. Since then, her fate remains uncertain, yet her story of the "eleventh-hour miracle" and her plight as a migrant worker have captivated readers worldwide.
Photo from Hot Ones YouTube
The Enduring Legacy of Hot Ones
(Published in TheSocialTalks)
The recipe to make the hottest interview show actually involves ten bottles of hot sauce. Hot Ones started as a weird niche show on YouTube but has reached cultural status beyond the Internet. It was spoofed on Saturday Night Live, became an Emmy-nominated hit with 19 seasons, and now has a cult following on the Internet.
Unpacking Lessons from the Balikbayan Box
(Published in Journal d'Ambroisie)
In Tagalog, balik means “to return,” and bayan means “country.” Together, those two words form balikbayan, which translates to “return to the country.” To non-Filipinos, the balikbayan box looks like a meager cardboard box packed with canned goods, candy, and clothing. The box is wrapped with cling foil to ensure safe delivery back to the motherland.
Scenes from Your Pandemic
(Published in New York Magazine)
We recently asked New York readers to share scenes from their daily lives during the coronavirus pandemic for a new series we hope will help all of us see beyond our limited perspectives amid this unprecedented and often isolating experience.
Detours from home: Taking the (bike) road less traveled
Learning how to navigate the epicenter of COVID-19 on a bike
(Published in Rappler)
Whether you live in Metro Manila or are based in New York City, commuting is a topic everyone brings up at least twice during a conversation. Much like New York subways and Manila traffic during rush hour, everything came to a screeching halt in mid-March, when quarantine and work from home rules were enforced to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Curtain Rises for Young Filipino Actress in New York
(Published in The Philippine Daily Inquirer)
When Cristina Sebastian first came to New York to pursue acting, everyone encouraged her to try out for “Miss Saigon” on Broadway. It was a double-edged compliment. “I had to ask, ‘Are you just saying that because I’m Asian?’” she said.
[…] “I’m fortunate to be living in a time where there’s color-blind casting,” Sebastian said. “This means I get cast not by my ethnicity or my skin color but by my ability as a performer.”