Fil-Am Cop Killed in San Diego Shooting

Officer Jonathan “JD” De Guzman (Source: NBCSanDiego)

A gunfight in San Diego on Thursday, July 28 between police and at least one gunman claimed the life of a Filipino American veteran police officer, Jonathan “JD” De Guzman, while leaving his partner and one suspect hospitalized, reports Inquirer.net.

PH Factory Space Boom Seen in Next 5 Years

The long dormant industrial side of the country's real estate sector could finally be on the rise after years of lagging behind. "For the next 5 years, we're seeing a lot of interest in the industrial or manufacturing sector [for real estate], specifically from China, Taiwan, and Japan who are very, very eager to open up facilities in the Philippines," said Jettson Yu, founder of real estate services firm Prime Philippines, reports Rappler.

1 in 3 Filipino Kids Malnourished, Stunted -- Study

Poor nutrition remains a major problem in the Philippines with 3.4 million children found to be stunted and over 300,000 underweight – all under 5 years old. A study released by the Inter-Agency Regional Analyst Network (RAN) and the Action Against Hunger (ACF) said these figures are alarming, given the growing economy of the Philippines, reports Rappler.

Filipino Nurse Bent on Finishing Greek Spartathlon

Rolando Espina, Jr. (Source: ABS-CBN News)

What started out as a way to combat hypertension and lose weight has taken a Filipino nurse based in Dublin, Ireland, from weekend marathons into Ironman events and now the world’s most grueling ultra-marathon. Rolando Espina, Jr. will to make history when he vies in the247-km Spartathlon from Athens to Sparta in Greece from Sept. 30 to Oct. 1 for the first time, reports Inquirer.net.

Demand for Capital Goods Raises PH Imports to Highest Level

Philippine imports climbed to their highest level in almost two decades, followed by a surge in demand of capital goods that signaled strength in domestic activity in the second quarter. Imports climbed 39.3 percent in May, the biggest annual gain for any month since 1994. Electronics, the top import item, rose 44.5 percent from a year earlier to USD1.67 billion, reports EconoTimes.com..

Philippine Navy Acquires Third Hamilton-Class Cutter to Patrol West Philippine Sea

USCG's Boutwell was turned over to the Philippine Navy (Source: USCG)

At a formal turnover ceremony at the Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California in the morning of July 21, 2016, the US Coast Guard's 48-year old Boutwell high-endurance cutter officially became the BRP Andres Bonifacio. Rear Admiral Joseph M. Vojvodich of the US Coast Guard signed the transfer document to Rear Admiral Bayani R. Gaerlan, commander of the Philippine Fleet. Forty Philippine Navy officials and personnel arrived a few days earlier to take over the vessel and be trained by the USCG. The BRP Andres Bonifacio will start its journey to the Philippines in October, to join its sister ships, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz, in guarding Philippine waters. 

The Philippine flag now flies at the stern of BRP Andres Bonifacio in Alameda, California (Photo by Gemma Nemenzo)

Filipina Badminton Player Now on US Olympic Team

Paula Lynn Obanana

Included in the 2016 US Olympic Team's roster of world-class athletes is Paula Lynn Obanana, 31, from Dumaguete. Obanana, who started playing badminton at the age of 10, was once a member of the Philippine national team. She competed in various competitions including the Southeast Asian Games, reports ABS-CBN News.

California OKs Textbook Changes to Include Filipinos' Role in WWII

California’s board of education approved the inclusion of Filipinos’ role in World War II in the Philippines in the revised history curriculum framework for the state’s schools.  The green light from the State Board of Education (SBE) came two months after the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) unanimously approved the recommendations of the Bataan Legacy Historical Society (BLHS), reports Inquirer.net.