UP Alumna Wins 2nd Place in Swedish Forskar Researchers Grand Prix

Sophia Raine Hernandez

Sophia Raine C. Hernandez, a Ph.D. student at the Umeå University in Sweden and working with the Bushell Lab at the Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden, won second prize in the final heat of the Forskar Grand Prix (Researchers’ Grand Prix) held on November 25 in Stockholm. The title of her winning presentation is “Tackling Malaria by Looking at the Biology of Parasites” (See UP.Edu.PH for story).

Samar Village Is Runner-Up in UN Top Villages 2021

The village of Tenani in Paranas, Samar, known for its extreme riverboat ride, has been listed as one of the runners-up in the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) Best Tourism Villages for 2021 (See Philippine News Agency for story).

Filipino Priest Gets Dutch Human Rights Award for Helping Families of EJK Victims

Fr. Flaviano Villanueva (left)

Fr. Flaviano Villanueva of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), received this year's Human Rights Tulip award from the Dutch ministry of Foreign Affairs  in recognition of his work as co-founder of PAGHILOM program which supports families of victims of extrajudicial killings, according to the Embassy of the Netherlands in the Philippines (See MSN.com for story). 

Biden Nominates Fil-Am for Top Budget Post

Nani Coloretti

President Biden has nominated Filipina American Nani Coloretti to be the deputy director at the Office of Management and Budget, potentially making her the highest ranking Asian and Pacific Islander American in his administration (See INQUIRER.net for story).

Filming Begins for Canadian TV Comedy Series in English and Tagalog

Isabel Kanaan

An all-new satirical sketch comedy series Abroad, in English and Tagalog, is in production and set to air in spring next year on Omni television. Co-created by and starring Filipina comedian Isabel Kanaan (Second Jen, Air Farce NYE, This Hour Has 22 Minutes), the 12-part, 30-minute per episode series is based on Kanaan’s experience as an immigrant, depicted with her comedic perspective (See INQUIRER.net for story).

Film on Indipinos to Be Screened Dec. 17

A new documentary film “Honor Thy Mother,” which tells the untold stories of the Indipinos, descendants of native Indians and Filipino immigrants who lived and worked as strawberry pickers in Bainbridge Island, Washington, will be screened on Dec. 17, at 5:30 p.m., PST U.S./Canada (See INQUIRER.net for story).

Suspect in Vicious Stabbing of Elderly Filipino Nabbed in Texas

El Cajon, California stabbing suspect Israel Valdivia (Source: Runnels City Jail)

Police in Texas arrested the suspect in the vicious Nov. 3 stabbing of a 71-year-old Filipino man at an El Cajon trolley stop. Israel Ezekiel Valdivia, 24, was arrested Tuesday, Nov. 23 in a central Texas town after police say he stole a vehicle and led them on a high-speed chase (See INQUIRER.net for story).

Filipina Tapped As Photographer for Nobel Peace Prize Winners

Hannah Reyes Morales (Source: PhilStar.com)

Filipino photojournalist Hannah Reyes Morales has been tapped as one of the photographers for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. Alongside Russia's Nanna Heitmann, she will showcase a photography exhibition in Oslo, Norway to highlight this year's Nobel Peace Prize winners (See Philstar for story).