Fil-Am Rob Bonta Confirmed as California Attorney General

California’s new attorney general Rob Bonta (Source: Inquirer.net)

California’s legislature on Thursday confirmed the state’s first Filipino American attorney general. Rob Bonta, 49, a progressive Democrat, will be the state’s top law enforcer at a time of fierce contention over racial justice and police reform (See Inquirer.net for story).

Cebuana Is 1st Filipino to Be Elected to the Yukon Legislature

Yvonne Clarke (Source: facebook)

Yvonne Clarke was elected Member of the Legislative Assembly for Porter Creek Centre in the election held April 11 and is the first person of Filipino descent to be elected in the Yukon (See Inquirer.net for story).

Community Pantries Provide Reprieve from Covid Hardships

A week after the initiative began as a humble cart with free vegetables and canned goods, over 300 similar donation-driven efforts have popped up across the Philippines (See Washington Post for story).

Body of Filipino Seaman Positive for Covid Washes Ashore in Vanuatu

The body of a Filipino seaman, which later tested positive for Covid-19, washed ashore on a beach April 11 in the Pacific country of Vanuatu (See RNZ for story).

PH Coast Guard Officer Gets Highest Honor for Saving 62 Lives

Philippine Coast Guard personnel rescue passengers from MV Siargao Princess on November 7, 2019. (Source: ANCX)

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officer Ensign Ralph O. Barajan received the highest honor from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for his bravery, leadership, and determination in ensuring the safety of 62 lives onboard the sinking of M/V Siargao Princess in Sibunga, Cebu in November 2019 (See ABS-CBN News for story).

PH Seizes $24.8M Worth of Giant Clam Shells in Raid

Philippine authorities said Saturday they have seized some 200 tonnes of illegally harvested giant clam shells worth nearly $25 million in one of the biggest known operations of its kind in the country (See International Business Times for story)..

PH Biz Groups to China: Stop Acting Like a Colonizer

Organizations such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Makati Business Club expressed support for the government in demanding the departure of Chinese vessels from the Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef (See Esquiremag.PH for story).

Canada to Give Temporary Workers More Paths to Permanent Status

Temporary workers and international graduates who are currently in Canada will be granted permanent status, Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said Wednesday (See Inquirer.net for story).