Filipino Graduates Summa Cum Laude at Yale

Dion Stephan Ong

Dion Stephan Ong, 21, a Filipino Chinese student graduated summa cum laude with a perfect GPA (grade point average) of 4.00 at the prestigious Ivy League school Yale University in the US on May 20 (See Manila Bulletin for story). 

From Domestic Worker to Nurse, Filipina, 62, Becomes a Lawyer

Rosula Calacala (Source: Manila Bulletin | Facebook)

Rosula Calacala, 62, passed the Philippine Bar exam in one take. She was a domestic worker who became a nurse and is now a lawyer (See Breaking News Philippines).

Filipina Graduates Magna Cum Laude at US Coast Guard Academy

Victoria Gil Echavez Regalado (center) (Source: Coastguard.ph)

Victoria Gil Echavez Regalado, a young Filipina from Iligan City, Northern Mindanao, became the first Filipina to earn a degree in a specialized field from the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) in New London, Connecticut. She graduated magna cum laude in naval architecture and marine engineering on May 22 (See Inquirer.net for story).

6 Filipino Viands Among 'Best of Pork Dishes' in '24 World's List of Taste Atlas

(Source: Rappler)

It’s time to pig out and celebrate, because six Filipino dishes have made it on Taste Atlas’ 50 Best Pork Dishes in the World list for 2024 (See Rappler for story).

Fil-Am Gymnast from UCLA Qualifies for Olympics

Emma Malabuyo (Source: Facebook)

Filipino American gymnast Emma Malabuyo will represent the Philippines at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. The star from UCLA qualified after taking a silver medal in the all-around competition at the Asian Gymnastics Championships Friday (See AsAmNews for story),

Maria Ressa to Harvard Grads: 'World Is on Fire. Welcome to the Battle'

Maria Ressa (Source: Rappler | Harvard | Youtube)

Speaking to graduates of the world’s most prestigious university on Thursday morning, May 23, in Cambridge, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa acknowledged the “battle-tested” Class of 2024 of Harvard University for having survived a pandemic and for seeing on their screens the horrors of war (See Rappler for story).

Black Filipina Is Crowned Miss Universe Philippines

Chelsea Manalo (Source: Empire TV Philippines | Youtube)

Filipino American Chelsea Manalo became the first Black woman to be crowned Miss Universe Philippines. Born to a Filipino mother and African American father, the 24-year-old’s win was celebrated on social media as helping to “shatter” traditional beauty ideals long held in the country (See CNN for story)..

Olivia Rodrigo's 'Sour' Is Most Streamed Album on Spotify

Olivia Rodrigo (Source: AsAmNews)

Fil-Am Olivia Rodrigo’s “Sour” is now the most streamed album by a female artist in Spotify history. According to Digital Music News, the album has amassed 12.32 billion Spotify streams since it was released nearly three years ago (See AsAmNews for story).