Ella Jay Basco Makes Star-Turn in 'Birds of Prey'

Ella Jay Basco (left) with Margot Robbie in “Birds of Prey”

Meet Ella Jay Basco, the precocious 13-year-old out to steal your heart in the film “Birds of Prey” that’s going to focus on Harley Quinn, the character played by Margot Robbie in the 2018 film “Suicide Squad.” Ella Jay’s dad is the eldest among the Basco Brothers (See Inquirer.net for story).

Filipina-Jewish Teacher Eyes Brooklyn, NY Council Seat

Deidre Levy

Filipino American special education teacher Deirdre Levy is running in the April 28 special election for the position of council member for District 35 or Central Brooklyn, an area that encompasses parts of DUMBO, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant (See Inquirer.net for story).

Scrapping of Security Pact Hampers US-PH Operations--Top US Navy Brass

The move by the Philippines to end a security pact that allowed U.S. forces to train in the country potentially “challenged” future American operations with Filipino forces, Adm. Philip S. Davidson, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on Thursday (See Yahoo News for story).

Old Dominion University to Honor Filipina Poet

Luisa Igloria

Poet Luisa Igloria, who teaches on the faculty of the MFA Creative Writing Program at Old Dominion University, will be honored at the spring Provost's Spotlight on March 18 from 3:30 to at the University Theatre. (See ODU.Edu for story).

PH Foreign Sec. Warns VFA Scrapping Will Aid Aggression in South China Sea

Philippine foreign secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

Philippine foreign secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. warned that abrogating the Visiting Forces Agreement security accord with Washington would undermine his country’s security and foster aggression in the disputed South China Sea (See Yahoo News for story).

FBI Raids Quiboloy Church in LA for Alleged Human Trafficking

Apollo Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ church in Los Angeles A Philippine religious group denied allegations by raiding FBI agents that it was involved in a scheme to trick followers into becoming fundraisers and arrange sham marriages to keep them in the U.S. (See Yahoo News for story).

PH Basketball Court's Giant Mural Honors Kobe Bryant

Kobe and Gianna Bryant Tribute in Manila (Photo by Ezra Acayan)

A famed basketball court in Metro Manila, Philippines, is honoring the lives and legacies of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna with a mural. Artists and local residents this week painted the public court located at The Tenement housing complex in the city of Taguig (See Yahoo News for story).

Hidilyn Diaz wins 3 golds in Weightlifting World Cup

Hidilyn Diaz (Source GMA News)

Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz conquered the Weightlifting World Cup in Rome, Italy after smashing the competition in the women's 55kg category (See GMA News for Story).