Son of Capiz farmer wins $300K in U.S. scholarship

Aldrean Alogon (Source: Inquirer.net)

Aldrean Alogon, a farmer’s son in Capiz, Philippines, won one of only 11 prestigious Freeman Asian Scholarships awarded annually, and over $300,000, to attend Wesleyan University (See Inquirer.net for story).

Fil-Am Meteorologist Wins Emmy for Coverage of Ocean Pollution

Shanna Mendiola (Source: NBC 4 Southern California)

Filipina American Shanna Mendiola, the meteorologist for NBC4 Southern California’s weekday morning newscast “Today in LA,” took home an Emmy at the 71st Los Angeles Area Emmys for her coverage on plastic in the ocean (See Asian Journal for story). 

Fil-Am Mail Bomber Gets 20 Years

Cesar Sayoc

Cesar Sayoc, 57,  a Florida amateur body builder who admitted sending pipe bombs to prominent Democrats and CNN was sentenced to 20 years in prison Monday by a judge who concluded the bombs purposely were not designed to explode (See Inquirer.net for story)..

PH-Based Creator of Site Used By Mass Shooters Says It Should Be Shut

Vigil in El Paso (Photo by Herika Martinez/Getty Images)

The creator of 8Chan, which is being linked to recent white supremacist mass shootings, says the site should be shut down. Self-proclaimed “eugenicist” turned born-again Christian Fredrick Brennan, who lives in the Philippines told the New York Times, “It’s a complete negative to everybody except the users that are there. And you know what? It’s a negative to them, too. They just don’t realize it.” The site is currently being operated by an Army veteran named Jim Watkins and his son Ronald, who also live in the Philippines (See Los Angeles Magazine for story). 

Ryan Cayabyab Only Filipino Magsaysay Awardee This Year

Ryan Cayabyab (Photo by Joseph Pascual/CNN PH)

Composer, musician and National Artist Ryan Cayabyab is the only Filipino among the five awardees in the Ramon Magsaysay Awards this year, as announced on Friday at the De La Salle University-Rufino Campus in Taguig City (See bit.ly for story). 

PH Is Most Dangerous Country for Protectors of Environment

(Photo by Karl Malakunas/AFP/Getty Images)

The Philippines has replaced Brazil as the most murderous country in the world for people defending their land and environment, according to research that puts a spotlight on the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte (See story in The Guardian).

UST Singers Crowned 'Choir of the World Champions'

(Photo from UST Singers’ facebook page)

The UST Singers were crowned “Choir of the World Champions” at the Choir of the World Champion of Champions Online Voting Contest, besting 32 other choirs from all over the world. The Singers are the first choral group to win the much-coveted Luciano Pavarotti Grand Prize of the Choir of the World competition twice, first in 1995 and again in 2010 in the mixed (male and female) choir category (See story in The Varsitarian).

Photographers Raise Funds for Batanes Quake Victims

(Photo courtesy of Dominic De Sagon Asa/AFP)

A group of photographers launched an online fund drive called “Bayanihan para sa Batanes” to help the Ivatans affected by the two powerful earthquakes. To help the Ivatans recover, some Filipino photographers are now selling their photographs online through the Facebook page “Bayanihan Para sa Batanes” (See story in Philstar.com).