Jollibee Loses $2.3 Billion in U.S. Gamble -- Bloomberg

Jollibee owner Tony Tan Caktiong

Jollibee Foods Corp. set out on an expansion in the U.S., spending $540 million buying Smashburger and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Co. Even as the two money-losing chains turn out to be a drag on earnings, the coronavirus outbreak is now threatening to hit its sales (See Bloomberg for story).

Duterte Declares State of Public Health Emergency Due to COVID-19

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a proclamation declaring a state of public health emergency due to the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) threat (See Inquirer.net for story).

Fil-Am Poet Named 2020 Carl Sandburg Writer-in-Residence

Tony Robles

FLAT ROCK, North Carolina — Filipino American writer Anthony “Tony” Robles was named the 2020 Carl Sandburg Writer-in- Residence of the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site (See Inquirer.net for story).

Fil-Am Pols Advance to Nov. Elections for Congress, State, Local Seats

Several Filipino Americans vying for seats on the federal, state and local levels will advance to the general election in November following the March 3rd primary (See Asian Journal for story).

Fil-Am Playwright Wins Weston-Ghostlight New Musical Award

Isabella Dawis

Filipino American Isabella Dawis has won the Weston-Ghostlight New Musical Award for her work on writing the book (theater term for script) and lyrics for “Half the Sky” (See Inquirer.net for story).

Trump to Tap Fil-Am Rear Admiral as Asst. Defense Secretary

Rear Admiral Victorino Mercado (Ret.)

President Donald Trump plans to nominate Rear Admiral  Victorino Mercado,, a retired Filipino American Navy veteran, as the assistant secretary for strategy, plans and capabilities for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the White House announced on Wednesday, February 26 (See Asian Journal for story).

Tim Tebow to Play for PH in World Baseball Classics

Tim Tebow

The World Baseball Classic announced on Wednesday that Mets minor league outfielder Tim Tebow will play for the Philippines in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers. Tebow, 32, was born in the Philippines on August 14, 1987 (See Yahoo News for story). 

Filipina Nurses Say Why They Back Sanders and 'Medicare For All'

Filipina American nurses

 For Filipina American registered nurse Mary Magtanong-Sigua, one of the hardest choices her patients face is whether to pay for their medical care or groceries. A registered nurse since 2004 working in Vallejo, California, she’s a proponent of Medicare For All and a supporter of Bernie Sanders for president (See story in Inquirer.net)