Fil-Am Named President of CSU Channel Islands Trustees

Richard Yao, Ph.D.

The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees has appointed Richard Yao, Ph.D., to serve as the fourth president of California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI). Yao, who identifies as a Chinese Filipino American, currently serves as interim president of CSUCI, a role he has held since January 2021 (See Asian Journal for story).

Digital Artist Depicts Madrigal Sisters in Disney's ‘Encanto’ as Filipinas

Encanto’s reimagined Madrigal sisters

Digital graphic artist Junrel Bardon, a 24-year-old artist from Negros Occidental, reimagined Filipino versions of the Madrigal sisters from the Disney film “Encanto” based on Filipino actresses Nadine Lustre and Maine Mendoza and Olympic weightlifting champion Hidilyn Diaz (See Yahoo News for story).

PH Congress Allows Full Foreign Ownership of Telco, Rail

The Philippine Congress approved a bill allowing full foreign ownership of telecommunications and railways services, opening up one of the world’s most restrictive economies (See Yahoo News/Bloomberg for story).

Filipina Wins Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition

Primrose Madayag Knazan

Filipina Canadian playwright Primrose Madayag Knazan is the winner of the 2021 Canadian Jewish Playwriting Competition. Madayag Knazan’s work, “Precipice,” was chosen by the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre together with the Harold Green Jewish Theatre, Segal Centre for the Arts, The Winnipeg Jewish Theatre and Neptune Theatre, a report of kulturacollective.com said.

Filipino, 73, Who Had Three Jobs, Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver in Hawaii

Agustin Dela Cruz

A 73-year-old Filipino who worked three jobs to support his family in Hawaii and the Philippines was killed by a hit-and-run driver as he biked for home on Saturday night, Feb. 29. Agustin Dela Cruz, of Lahaina, was riding his bicycle home after work Saturday night when he was struck from behind by a truck and killed (See INQUIRER.net for story).

Olivia Rodrigo Named ‘Billboard Woman of the Year’

Olivia Rodrigo

Filipino American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo was named Billboard’s Woman of the Year for 2022 following her explosive 2021 when she debuted with her record-breaking single “Driver’s License” and released her first album “Sour” (See Manila Standard for story).

Biden Names Fil-Am to Top Small Business Admin Regional Post

President Joe Biden has appointed Filipina American Geri Sanchez Aglipay as Small Business Administration regional administrator for the Great Lakes region. Aglipay, a second-generation American, will oversee SBA programs, offices and operations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin (See INQUIRER.net for story).

PH Pastor Apollo Quiboloy ‘Wanted’ by FBI for Sex Trafficking

Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is wanted by the FBI on allegations of “conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; conspiracy; (and) bulk cash smuggling.” The FBI issued “Wanted” posters for Quiboloy and suspected accomplices Teresita Tolibas Dandan and Helen Panilag (See Manila Standard for story).