Fil-Am Bretman Rock Is First Openly Gay Man on Cover of Playboy

Bretman Rock

Filipino American social media influencer Bretman Rock is the first openly gay man to grace the digital cover of Playboy Magazine (See Inquirer.net for story).

Openly Queer Pageant Winner to Represent PH at Miss Universe in December

Beatrice Luigi Gomez

Beatrice Luigi Gomez is set to become the first openly queer candidate to represent the Philippines at the 2021 Miss Universe pageant in December. Gomez, who identifies as bisexual, was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2021 on Thursday, Sept. 30, Rappler reported.

Filipina Nabs an Emmy for Music Composition

Filipina composer Denise Santos won for “Outstanding Music Composition” at the 42ndAnnual News & Documentary Emmy Awards on Sept. 28 (See Inquirer.net for story).

France Gives Women's Rights Leader Irene Natividad Its Top Civilian Honor

France recently gave prominent Filipino American woman activist-leader Irene Natividad the Legion d’Honneur, its highest civilian honor for her “life-long commitment to broadening opportunities for women all over the world” (See Inquirer.net for story).

Filipina Is First Woman of Color to Lead US Air National Guard Chaplains

U.S. Air Force Colonel Leah Botona Boling

U.S. Air Force Colonel Leah Botona Boling, a Filipina American originally from Mati, Davao Oriental, on Sept. 12 became the first female person of color to serve as director of the Air National Guard Chaplain Corps at the Air National Guard Readiness Center, Maryland (See Inquirer.net for story).

Filipinos Among Asian Americans Least Likely to Major in STEM Fields

Filipino students are nearly 60% less likely to major in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields than other Asian American students, according to a State University of New York at Buffalo study.

Manila-Clark Train Project on Track for 2024 Opening

The Department of Transportation said over the weekend the multibillion-peso Manila-Clark commuter rail project is on track to be fully operational by 2024 and could create thousands of jobs (See Manila Standard for story).

Filipina Canadian Wins Parliament Seat, Makes History

Rechie Valdez

Filipino Canadian Rechie Valdez won the Mississauga-Streetsville, Ontario electoral riding, gaining a seat for the Liberal Party of Canada(LPC), and becoming the first Filipina and the second Filipino Canadian to become a Member of Parliament since 2004, when Rey Pagtakhan was incumbent (See Inquirer.net for story).