California Lawmaker Bonta Pushes for More Aid for Victims of Hate Crimes

California State Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-18th District)

Responding to the rising cases of violence and hate crimes, particularly against Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) like him, the first Filipino American to serve in the California, State Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-18th District), filed a bill to provide more support for hate crime victims (See Inquirer.net for story).

Vigil Calls for Justice in Fil-Am's Death at the Hands of Police

Angelo Quinto

Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe apologized and promised full transparency and police reforms during a candlelight vigil on Wednesday, March11, as the community and the Quinto family mourned the death of Angelo Quinto at the hands of Antioch police officers (See Inquirer.net for story)..

USCIS Reverts to Pre-Trump Citizenship Test

The 2008 version of the U.S. naturalization civics test will return effective March 1, 2021, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced. This action complies with President Biden’s Executive Order on Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems, directing a comprehensive review of the naturalization process to eliminate barriers and make the process more accessible to all eligible individuals (See story in Inquirer.net).

Fil-Am, 74, Killed in Apparently Random Attack in Arizona

Another Asian American, a Filipino man, was attacked in Phoenix for no apparent reason on Feb. 16. He was on his usual morning walk. Juanito Falcon, 74, died of his injuries two days later on Feb. 18. (See Inquirer.net)

4.5 Million Filipinos Jobless in 2020

Some 4.5 million Filipinos were jobless last year for an average unemployment rate of 10.3 percent, the highest in 15 years, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Monday (See Inquirer.net for story).

Fil-Am's Debut Song Tops Charts

Olivia Rodrigo (Source: AsAm News)

The 18-year-old Filipino American teen pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo achieved a major win at the end of last month when her debut song, “Driver’s License,” topped the Billboard Global 200 charts for the fifth week in a row (See AsAm News for story).

Chess Wiz Wesley So Now Officially a US Citizen

Wesley So (Source: Rappler)

The faint hope of luring Filipino chess prodigy Wesley So back to the Philippines has just been snuffed out.  The world No. 9, chess wiz born in Bacoor, Cavite, officially became a US citizen on February 26, the US Chess Federation announced (See Rappler for story).

Pope Francis to Mark 500 Years of PH Christianity with Mass

Pope Francis (Source: CNA)

Pope Francis will offer Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on March 14 to mark 500 years of Catholic faith in the Philippines (See Catholic News Agency for story).