FILAM-Mayl-2024

Issue 75, May 2024

Pacita Abad

Pacita Abad

A MoMA PS1 retrospective

Engr. Danilo Pagsambugan

Engr. Danilo Pagsambugan

The Oculus was a dream and a feat

Lita Abele Scholarship to support minority women

Letter from the Editor

A summer of discontent infects America ’ s campuses

It is confusing to take in the convulsions sweeping over the college campuses of the United States ignited by the paroxysm of violence sparked by the Hamas attacks in Israel on October 7.

The easiest and laziest instinct is to compare it to 1968, a year when American troops were hammered by the Tet offensive in Vietnam, a time when two iconic leaders in the U.S. were assassinated and race riots pummeled the nation.

Martin Luther King was slain in April by a gunman in Memphis, and Robert F. Kennedy was gunned down in June after winning the California Democratic primary. Burn, baby, burn was the mantra that year.

Today, no U.S. soldiers are on the ground in Gaza. But the passions of the fighting there have still caromed like a pinball around the nation.

Partly because of Vietnam, the United States has inherited a robust tradition of powerful dissent in its schools. It is the reason why no one begrudges students their right to protest what they passionately see as a grievous injustice.

In 1968, the war in Vietnam became deeply unpopular, especially since more than 50,000 American boys came home in body bags.

Muhammad Ali gave up his heavyweight boxing title for his refusal to be drafted to fight in the war. He was loudly vilified, but his status as a conscientious objector became golden.

While there is a healthy tradition of protest and dissent present in our schools, that has

Founding Editor

Cristina DC Pastor

Managing Editor

Rene Pastor Address P.O. Box 8071

New York, NY 10116

By Rene Pastor

been sullied by the ugliness of racism from those whose anti-Semitic rantings have spread.

The demonstrations have also been infected by the seeming participation of professional agitators who are neither students but mainly provocateurs.

Cool heads will be sorely needed by everyone concerned and a commitment necessary from the people who are part of the process.

There is also a silly demand which should be struck down because it is unlikely to be granted by the school authorities in the first place. The shrill ask of getting companies to divest from Israel cannot be granted by any stretch. The protesters can demand that schools denounce the excessive violence perpetrated by Israel but divestment is a bridge too far.

The negotiations must stay in the realm of the possible, not a fantasy that is just out of reach.

There is a need to rein in the aggressive instincts of Israel’s government and to remind others that peace and humanity should be the better nature of our behavior. Hopefully, that will always be the case going forward.

Oversight

· We identified Mary Joy Garcia-Dia as an alumni of NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. She is an alumna.

· Loida Nicolas Lewis’s caption should read: ‘Music and theater are two of my favorite things. Bobby Lopez is blazing trails in these fields, and making us all proud of him and his wife Kristen. Keep on making beautiful music and inspiring others to follow in your footsteps! Photos courtesy of Carissa Villacorta’

· In the Letter from the Editor, Mary Joy Garcia-Dia’s name is misspelled as Diaz.

Contributing Writers

Tricia J. Capistrano

Joel David

Wendell Gaa

Allen Gaborro

Maricar CP Hampton

The FilAm is a publication of A&V Editorial

Angelito Cabigao

Ludy AstraquilloOngkeko

Lindy Rosales

Vicky Potenciano-Vitug

Pro-Palestine protest at Columbia University. Photo by Lindy Rosales

Hope to see you again, Filipino Food Month

Filipino Restaurant Week in New York City is still in limbo but Filipino food was back in the spotlight through the Filipino Food Month.

The Filipino Food Month launched on April 1 as a “celebration showcasing the rich and diverse culinary heritage of the Philippines,” according to organizers, the Filipino Food Movement. Throughout April, the movement encouraged diners to experience the vibrant flavors and cultural traditions of Filipino cuisine.

Filipino Food Month was established in 2018 through Philippine Presidential Proclamation 469. It aims to spotlight the unique fusion of flavors, cooking techniques, and ingredients that make Filipino cuisine genuinely remarkable. The series of events featured activities and programs designed to engage, educate, and delight food enthusiasts.

The event was in partnership with the Philippine consulates in San Francisco, New York, the Philippine Embassy in Bern, Switzerland, the Department of Trade and Investment Center in Silicon Valley (PTIC) and the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Top: Dale Talde, Leah Cohen

Bottom: Diana Manalang, Nicole Ponseca

workshops. They shared techniques and secrets behind the cuisine. The series also included the participation of a Filipino chef in London.

The Filipino Food Month also had its events in New York, San Francisco and Las Vegas and unveiled a series of activities, including:

• Kulinarya Live. Expert chefs -- Melissa Miranda of Musang in Seattle, Domingo Domingo of Millesens in Bern, Switzerland, Augee Francisco of Kabisera West in New York City, and Cat Carlucci of the Istorya popup in Las Vegas -prepared traditional and expanded Filipino dishes through cooking

• Passport Program. For diners in select cities in Northern California, Las Vegas, Nevada, and the East Coast, a restaurant passport program was introduced. Participating diners got the chance to win a roundtrip ticket to the Philippines and more prizes courtesy of the PTIC, DOT and Philippine Airlines. #lovethephilippines

• Eat Filipino Food. Diners snapped a picture, posted it on social media, and tagged the #filipinofoodmovement #letsgofilipino #kainna

• Merienda at the Platform by the James Beard Foundation. There was a Filipino merienda in New York City featuring chefs Dale Talde, Leah Cohen, Woldy Reyes, LJ Almendras, and entrepreneur Diana Manalang, hosted and curated by FFM Board Director Nicole Ponseca.

• Dinner at Bahay Buko. This is a collaboration of more than a dozen chefs and restaurateurs and the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Nevada which culminated in dinner at The Assembly at The Uncommons in Las Vegas on April 29. The movement is also building a global directory of all Filipino food

trucks, pop-ups, bars, cafes and restaurants.

"Let's come together to savor the flavors, embrace the culture, and celebrate the diversity of our Filipino cuisine during this exciting month-long event," said PJ Quesada, founder and Chairperson Emeritus of the Filipino Food Movement.

The Filipino Food Movement is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that preserves, promotes, and progresses Filipino cuisine. It was established in 2014 to create broad awareness, appreciation, and enhanced investment in Filipino culinary arts, and is an all-volunteer organization.

Kalye’s version of Kamayan. Photo: Kalye NYC

Sine Filipino Film Festival is launched in Toronto

It took seven years before Michael Masangkay agreed with Agnes Miranda, his co-founder of Sine Institute to launch the first Filipino film festival also known as Sine Film Fest or SFF in Toronto.

He said it was time. Out of a total population of 35 million, there are one million Filipinos in the Canadian Diaspora, 300,000 of them living in Metropolitan Toronto.

Thus, on April 11 to 14, 2024, SFF launched its First Film Festival in Toronto known as the center of filmmaking in Canada. Several film festivals, like the well-known Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF began in 1976), Canadian International Documentary Festival, Toronto Jewish Film Festival, Female Eye Film Festival among others, are held every year.

However, for Michael and Agnes, the SFF will not be only one event. It took seven years for Michael to envision a sustainable Sine Film Institute where all aspects of TV and filmmaking are taught to aspiring students through workshops and masterclasses.

The four-day SFF covered the techniques of writing, acting, directing, producing, cinematography, editing, as well as the business side of filmmaking. The masterclasses included teaching the techniques of acting in voice-over, in film and on stage.

Assisting the SFF was the Toronto Film School, led by Craig McKay, who said “The workshop today (on film post-production) was about understanding the craft of editing in a precise way in what we are trying to achieve when we are editing.”

Michael says, “Sine Institute aims to educate the talent pool of Filipino Canadians in all aspects of filmmaking because it is an expanding industry with the vibrant demand for movies and documentaries by Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, Amazon.com, etc.”

Agnes who founded the World Financial Services and a pioneer among Filipinos in Canada, wanted to help Filipinos interested in filmmaking. She has been a Toronto resident since 1966.

Agnes and the entire team were able to get additional funding from the Canada Film Festival, TD Bank, SONY, and several insurance firms. They were also supported by both the City of Toronto and Ontario Creates.

The 10 movies shown during the SFF were Blue Room; Hello, Love, Goodbye; Spider-man RAF Volume 1; Firefly; Where Is The Lie; Topakk; Your Mother’s Son and GomBurZa. They are all produced in the Philippines. Islands by Martin Edralin and Kahel by Filbert Wong are Filipino Canadian productions.

The seven short films are Ivory Turtle; PrimeTime Mother; Paco; Sinigang; Kalinga; To Those We Left Behind; Cycle.

The audience of Firefly laughed and cried with the motherless Tonton brilliantly portrayed by child actor Eugene Mikaela Aleta who is on a search for the island of fireflies. Firefly is now available on Amazon Prime. GomBurZa, the award-winning film in the Philippines, is the bio-pic of the three Filipino priests, Mariano Gomez, Jose Burgos and Jacinto Zamora, who were sentenced to death by garrote for their “crime” of

inciting the Cavite uprising during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines in the 1800’s. The audience learned a portion of Philippine history after watching GomBurZa. Carlo Mendoza, awardee as cinematographer in the Philippine equivalent of the Oscar’s, entertained questions from the audience. GomBurZa is available through Netflix.

Officers of the Sine Institute, responsible for the success of the First Sine Film Fest include co-founders Agnes Miranda (chair) and Michael Masangkay (president), Rosary Escano (vice president), with members Rhia Alcantara, BK Jimenez, Ed Joaquin, Loretta Levinson, Danny Orbillo, Francis Rementilla and Kim Villafuerte. Thus, is born the Filipino film festival in Canada. In the USA, the San Diego Filipino Film Festival was co-founded by Benito and Emma Bautista and also Dr. Ben Camacho. There's also a Filipino film festival in San Francisco -- the longest existing Filipino film festival in the U.S., at 30 years -- founded by Dr. Mauro Tumbocon. May their tribe increase.

Entrepreneur Lita Abele honored for her $10K endowment scholarship to Rowan College

Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) hosted a ceremony that celebrated the establishment of the Lita Marcelo Abele (LMA) Women’s Institute for Business Studies at the college. The event took place on March 6, at the Rastelli Business and Corporate Center, located on the college’s Gloucester campus.

The Women’s Institute for Business Studies was named after Abele, an American of Filipino descent, and president and CEO of US Lumber, Inc., a multi-million dollar building material distributor based in Woodbury Heights, Gloucester County.

“It’s always been my dream to help students and to help women who are starting a small business,” said Abele, who is also a member of the college’s Board of Trustees. “It is important to me to give them an opportunity to compete with others because I did not have that opportunity when I was in college. Now that I have a little something, I want to share that with women, especially minority and nontraditional students.”

Abele was born in the Philippines and became a teacher as an adult. Her wages were minimal and that made it a struggle to support her family, which consisted of herself and two children. Rather than wallow in the muck of poverty, she set an intention that eventually came to fruition.

“I always dream[ed] to [go] to the United States, because it is a land of opportunity,” she revealed. How she made it to the U.S. – and the initial harrowing experiences she endured once she got here – are eye-opening. You can learn a lot more about those adventures by reading her book “A Journey to Now.”

Abele established a $10,000 endowment to support minority women scholars. The Rowan College Foundation matched her endowment with a $10,000 donation of its own.

The intent of the Institute is to develop leadership skills, foster empowerment, and provide professional growth for women and minority women students at RCSJ whose goals are to enter and advance their careers in the field of business. The Institute is part of RCSJ’s Division of Business Studies.

“The overall goal of this Institute is to directly connect our students who are currently enrolled with women and minority women in the field,” said Bren-

dan Rickards, provost/vice president for Academic Services, RCSJ.

“By connecting our students with individuals who are successful in business … we can then allow those partnerships between the students, our faculty and

staff, and our external business partners to thrive so that our students can develop into the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.

The event was well-attended and included a special appearance from Consul General Senen Mangalile.

“I was invited to witness the inauguration of the Lita Marcelo Abele Women’s Institute for Business [Studies] so that immediately made it a priority on my calendar,” said Mangalile. The consul general took note that the ceremony coincided with the commemoration of Women’s History Month in March and International Women’s Day, which is celebrated on March 8.

“The most important thing that the LMA Women’s Institute will do is open the horizons of the students and all the participants in it to the many possibilities available to them to succeed in business and to give them the confidence to look for partners that will help shape their future,” he said. “It’s about empowering women to make them ready and successful in business.”

Abele, a philanthropist, has received high-profile recognition for her business savvy and acumen and has won numerous awards including: one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the United States in the category of Building and Emerging Leaders, in 2009; one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women Globally, in 2017; SJ Magazine’s 2017 Women of Excellence Inspiration Award; the National Association of Women Business Owners South Jersey Woman Business Owner of the Year.

Lita Marcelo Abele is president and CEO of US Lumber, Inc. Photos: RCSJ

Seated from left: Dr. Brendan Rickards, provost/vice president of Academic Services; Lita Marcelo Abele; Mike Girone, Rowan College Foundation chair; Dr. Fred Keating, RCSJ president. Standing directly behind Abele is Consul General in New York Senen Mangalile, and Dr. Patricia Claghorn, RCSJ Business Studies dean.

Steven Raga’s not done yet

By Cristina DC Pastor

After two years serving as New York State Assembly member for New York City’s District 30, Steven Raga has announced he was seeking reelection. There’s still work to be accomplished, he said, and he would like to keep going.

“You can’t do all the work you have to do in one year, two years,” Raga told a gathering of about 50 supporters at his April 13 fundraiser at the Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture in midtown Manhattan. The event raised about $10K from people who attended and those who could not come but pledged their support.

Raga said there’s unfinished business that needs to be addressed, such as housing, free transportation and meals for seniors; funding for non-profit organizations; investments to benefit the Asian American community; and assistance to public schools.

“It takes about a few terms to get up,” he said. “Six years, three twoyear terms (maybe).” He added, “I’d like to do things with schools.”

For now, he said he’d be happy to serve two more years in Albany. In the last two years, he has crisscrossed his district, covering the neighborhoods of Woodside, Elmhurst, Maspeth, Middle Village, Jackson Heights, and Astoria. He noted how just a few years ago, the presence of Asian Americans in state legislature was scarce, and remembers just lone politician Ron Kim making a breakthrough in 2016.

He believes the tide is turning. The legislature now has nine Asian Americans, including himself, in the State Assembly. Raga's distinction as the lone Southeast Asian representative underscores the need for broader representation, encompassing not just the Filipino community but also the growing Thai, Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations.

“We have to uplift their voices as well,” he said.

Raga said he just became a member of the Assembly’s Aging Committee. “I just got added to the Aging Committee so I am in those discussions,” he said.

“We have a lot of great things we’re doing for all of New Yorkers,” he declared.

He shared an anecdote of how he was visiting the Jackson Heights-Elmhurst Senior Center and a group of 10 Filipinos recognized him and ran up to him asking for selfies and inviting him to their events. Such incidents, he told reporters, are always a pleasant surprise for him: meeting Filipinos for the first time and making meaningful connections.

He said the 1.6 million federal grant awarded to the New York chapter of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations is one of his accomplishments for the FilAm community.

Although the grant to fund a proposed Philippine community center

In her full throated endorsement, philanthropist and CEO Loida Nicolas Lewis, pointed out that Raga has been a community organizer all his life and has “given his life” for the community.

has been approved largely through the effort of N.Y. Representative Grace Meng, it would not be enough to immediately launch the center, he said.

“($1.6 million) is just capital funding,” explained Raga. “To improve the space you need more than that, more for improvements, maybe an elevator. We need more programmatic funds so we can hire staff, a few full time staffers…so we can get the work done and move the community forward.”

Raga said it was through his effort that the Assembly has passed resolutions recognizing Filipino American History Month in New York State in October, and Philippine Independence Day in June. He said a resolution honoring Filipino World War II veterans is currently being drafted.

“I think that’s part of the reason he has not married,” she said to chuckling laughter from the audience.

As the first Filipino elected to the Assembly, Raga said his journey is not just about personal achievement but about uplifting his district and advocating for the rights and representation of its residents.

Asked about his reelection chances, Raga said he is navigating the complex landscape of politics, but he remains “cautiously optimistic” about the future.

The Saturday fundraiser was organized by Dr. Romulo Aromin Jr., Edwin Josue, Tess Dela Cruz, Dr. Angie Cruz, Kelvin Dickinson, Francis Triviño-Dickinson and Loida Nicolas Lewis as co-chairs. Food was provided by Tradisyon and piano entertainment by Bobby Ramiro.

Raga with fundraising co-chairs Edwin Josue and Loida Nicolas Lewis. The FilAm photo

‘You can’t do all the work you have to do in one year, two years.’ Photo by Tess Dela Cruz

Life on the road for travel nurse Mariles Rallos Mushet

There’s a breed of nurses who jumps from hospital to hospital, state to state, get better pay but no benefits, and are happy over their constantly changing workplaces.

They are called “travel nurses,” and there are about 1.7 million of them in the U.S.

Mariles Rallos Mushet is a travel nurse from New Jersey who has moved to Nyack, New York; to Lubbock, Texas; to Greenville, North Carolina and is now living in New Bern, NC. She began working as a travel nurse in 2021 when her then N.J. employer was recruiting for the job with a tempting salary and she was experiencing burnout “due to the stress of the pandemic.”

“I took the leap of faith,” she said when interviewed by The FilAm. “I am the breadwinner for my family in the Philippines and I was self-supporting my graduate studies.”

The job, indeed, pays well. Plus, it allows her to take breaks between assignments to “rest and recharge.” It allows her to support her family in the Philippines and complete her Master of Science in Nursing at William Paterson University in 2023. A contract usually runs for 13 weeks but can be extended.

“Contracts can vary significantly based on several factors, including the travel nursing agency, the healthcare facility, location, duration of the assignment, and the specific needs of the facility,” said Mushet from Minglanilla, Cebu who is married to an American of Scottish German roots. They have an 11-year-old son.

Travel nursing can be a “rewarding and fulfilling” career choice that allows the individual to meet new people and engage in diverse activities during assignments. Mushet said “it has taught me the sense of flexibility, to step out of my comfort zone, adapt to new environments, and overcome obstacles.” As a person, she acknowledged being the type who “enjoys new challenges, opportunities for growth, and the excitement of exploring different places.”

There are 1,733,502 travel nurses in the U.S., according to 2021 research data

By Cristina DC Pastor

from career site Zippia.com. This was out of an estimated 4 million registered nurses, about 632,000 licensed practical or vocational nurses, and 258,000 nurse practitioners based on 2022 labor data.

Zippia also states that:

-84.1% of all traveling nurses are women

-The average traveling nurse age is 43 years old

-The most common ethnicity of traveling nurses is White (65.8%), followed by Black or African American (11.9%), Asian (8.9%) and Hispanic or Latino (8.7%)

-9% of all traveling nurses are LGBT Mushet, 38, said being a travel nurse comes with its own set of drawbacks, such as having to “adapt quickly to new work environments, team dynamics, and patient populations and getting only three days of orientation.” New RN hires are allowed at least four to six weeks of orientation, she said.

Also, maintaining multiple state licenses and certifications can be “cumbersome and costly.” She is fortunate to have NJ, NY and NC nursing licenses. Texas was able to issue her a temporary nursing license which was good for six months and later renewed.

“While we often receive higher pay rates, travel nurses may not always have access to the same benefits as permanent staff, such as retirement plans, paid time off, or job stability,” she shared. “Our travel contracts could be terminated abruptly while in effect, sometimes we experience an unforeseen reduction in pay, and a number of companies do not provide sick leave, meaning that any absences due to illness will result in a deduction from our salary.”

The emotional cost is something she grapples with as a nomadic nurse.

“Having a school-age son, working out of state can be difficult,” she said. “I am blessed to have a very supportive husband that takes care of my son while I am on assignments. I make sure I have time to communicate with them through FaceTime, and I fly home once a month to see my family.”

Her favorite assignment, thus far has been in a Level I trauma hospital in Greenville, NC where she became a part

of the central staff nursing float pool that covered different areas in the hospital, such as critical care, progressive care, telemetry, and inpatient rehab.

“These diverse and complex clinical experiences honed me to be a better bedside nurse, plus no shift cancellations guaranteed,” she said.

Mushet said she tried staying in one hospital for five years after graduating from the University of Cebu College of Nursing, Banilad Campus in 2007 and working as a critical and cardiac care nurse. In May of 2023, she completed her Master of Science in Nursing at William Paterson University and passed her National Board certifications as an Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care.

The journey may be fraught with the familiar challenges but overall, Mushet said she enjoys life on the road.

“The journey has been great,” she said. “And let me tell you. Working alongside my fellow Filipino nurses in all the hospitals I traveled to. They have been amazing to work with.”

Postcard from North Carolina

Pacita Abad retrospective at MoMA PS1 till Sept 2

MoMA PS1 presents the first major retrospective dedicated to artist Pacita Abad (b. Philippines, 1946–2004), organized by the Walker Art Center.

On view from April 4 through September 2, 2024, “Pacita Abad” spans the artist’s 32-year career and features over 50 works, most of which have never been on public view, drawn from private and public collections across Asia, Europe, and the United States. The presentation includes vibrant paintings, works on paper, and Trapuntos—the painted, stitched, and stuffed canvases she began making in the 1980s and for which the artist is best known. While engaged with artistic and political dialogues during her life, the depth, range, and inventiveness of her work is only now coming to prominence. Commemorating the extensive contributions of an innovative yet under-recognized figure, “Pacita Abad” celebrates the artist’s multifaceted visual, material, and conceptual concerns that push forward salient conversations today around globalization, power, and resilience.

In 1970, Abad migrated to the United States to escape political persecution in the Philippines, after she led a student demonstration against the authoritarian Ferdinand Marcos regime (1972–86). Driven by this experience, she centered political refugees and those who were oppressed in her work.

“I have always believed that an artist has a special obligation to remind society of its social responsibility,” she said.

In 1977, Abad enrolled in the Art Students League in New York for a year to study anatomy, still life, and figurative painting. Although she became a US citizen in 1994, she lived an itinerant lifestyle in various countries—including Bangladesh, Yemen, Sudan, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia—where she encountered local makers across the globe who furnished her with a wealth of ideas, techniques, and materials to draw upon when creating her Trapuntos.

Her works were designed to be portable, and she often used textiles, demonstrating her appreciation for the female and non-Western labor associated with the craft, which has been historically undervalued. The exhibition highlights

Pacita Abad

the significance of her immigrant experience and the development of her practice celebrating nonWestern art forms.

The works in the exhibition are organized in loosely chronological order with overlapping themes that span decades. On display are powerful 1970s Social Realist works, which depict people escaping persecution and poverty.

In the Immigrant Experience series (1983–95) of mixed media trapunto paintings, she depicted diasporic communities from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, reflecting her conviction that artists have a “special obligation to remind society of its social responsibility.”

Also on view are works inspired by Indigenous masking traditions, including Masks from Six Continents (1990–93), installed for the first time in 30 years. Abad’s engagement with patterned abstraction was inspired by jazz and blues music, and her works capture the unique spontaneity of the musical styles, showcasing her energetic interplay between figuration and abstraction as well as her engagement with people, places, and critical issues of her time.

“Pacita Abad” is organized by the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis. The exhibition is curated by Victoria Sung, Phyllis C. Wattis Senior Curator at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive and former Associate Curator, Visual Arts, Walker Art Center, with Matthew Villar

MoMA PS1's presentation is organized by Ruba Katrib, curator and director of Curatorial Affairs, MoMA PS1, with Sheldon Gooch, curatorial assistant, MoMA PS1.

Pacita Abad embarks on a major North American tour to several prominent institutions, beginning at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis followed by presentations at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), MoMA PS1, and concluding at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

JACKSON HEIGHTS

Miranda, curatorial fellow, Visual Arts, Walker Art Center.

Exhibit showcases the ‘depth, range and inventiveness’ of her work.

Engr. Danilo Pagsambugan: The Oculus was a dream and a feat

By Cristina DC Pastor

I detected the glint of pride in Danilo Pagsambugan’s eyes as we walked toward the Oculus coming from the Westfield World Trade Center.

“You were part of this?” I asked when we reached the sprawling all-white lobby framed by ribbed ceiling.

“I was the chief of quality assurance and quality control,” said Pagsambugan, who currently works with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey assigned at the World Trade Construction Center as a civil engineer and ISO 9000 Quality Management Specialist.

“You mean, along with the construction teams and consultants, you’re the person who made sure the Oculus worked fine with no glitches?” Danny nodded with an assured smile like he was trying to convince his guest, ‘Hey, I too have a hard time believing this.’

There is a reason why some (like this writer) may have their doubts. In the Filipino American community of New York, Danny is better known as a beauty pageant impresario not so much as a seasoned civil engineer who was part of a global team that brought to life the design of a bird in flight by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. The Oculus is this impressive, eye-catching building, a tourist must-visit, that seemed to erase the sad and traumatic memory of what was once Ground Zero.

Danny said he sometimes pinches himself to believe how an engineering graduate of Araullo University in Cabanatuan City -- now known as PHINMA Araullo University -- became part of New York lore and history. “Me? From some provincial school?” he would tell friends, laughing.

He talked about his journey to New York City by way of Texas arriving in

the USA in 1987, a ‘provinciano’ from Nueva Ecija who brought with him simple hopes for the American Dream. He was fourth in a brood of 11 (eight boys and three girls) and wanted to help his parents to at least send his younger brothers and sisters to school.

His first job in the U.S. was as a civil inspector for a construction company. “I did all kinds of inspection for two years,” he said.

While that may have been okay even if it was a little bit boring, he was also looking for a job that was “more sustainable.” He found a job as a general contractor for New York City Transit Authority where he was able to use his Quality Management specialization. He became well rounded and landed him the QMS title with heavy con-

struction background and oversaw the operations of all government agencies in NYC. It was tedious work, and he found out, “Americans don’t want to do documentation work.” Danny had found his niche.

In 2009 after giving a presentation on quality management system in Denver, he met a senior official from the Port Authority who offered him a job. He liked this new role. “I only

‘Me? From some provincial school?’ The FilAm Photo

At his office on the 22nd floor of the World Trade Center in Downtown Manhattan. The FilAm Photo

worked seven hours a day. I’m not stressed, and I only wore one hat,” he told The FilAm in an interview. “In the old job, I wore a lot of hats.”

Hecontinues to report to the Port Authority as a QMS with responsibilities over audits, training, control of materials, purchasing, inspection and other aspects of his position. His office sits on the 22nd floor of the jutting-into-the sky WTC building on Liberty Plaza overlooking the solemn Liberty Park.

Danny, on a lazy, summer day, has this habit of walking around the block after a light lunch at Eataly. He reports to his office three times a week and the remaining two days works from his Jersey City home. The hybrid arrangement that began because of COVID-19 seems to suit him well.

| He became the ‘father’

“I’m the most achiever among my siblings,” he said, not a boast but a statement of fact.

When his dad died in 1989, Danny became the “father.”

“Tatay ang naging role ko sa kanila. I took over the responsibilities over six of my siblings. I sent them all to school. We have a big study table and each of them had a chair. Before they could sleep I had to see their assignment was done. Or I won’t allow them to sleep,” he shared.

He ruled like his strict father, a research assistant who worked for the Cabanatuan City Mayor’s office. It was his father who urged Danny to study engineering, which he resented then, but greatly appreciated now. His mother, a nurturing housewife, nearly gave up because having 11 children became too much to handle.

When his parents died, Danny “lost the appetite” for travel. He used to travel every year with close friends. “Iba pala yung driving force ng nanay or tatay.”

He and his late wife Naomi are blessed with one daughter. Gracielle Ann, married to a law enforcement officer, has two children Mia and Xavier. These days, Danny devotes his attention to his two grandchildren, making sure to spend quality time while they are still young and not too easily distracted by social media.

At the turnover of the Oculus on March 16, 2016. Courtesy of Danilo Pagsambugan.

He has stayed away from the pageant circle, he said. He felt he had spent too much on it in early 2000 when his friends would seek him out for financial support or finding the right mix of “beauty and brains” to elevate and promote in events like

PIDCI or PAFCOM.

“I stayed away from the community in 2015 when my good friend Elma Santander died,” he said lost in his reflection. “She’s a good friend. She understood me totally. We traveled a lot.”

| The Oculus beckoned

He said the Oculus project landed on his lap in late 2010 after he was employed with Tutor Perini, a San Francisco-based contractor known for its massive and strategic construction projects.

“I joined Tutor Perini in 2008 to 2010. That’s how I came to know the people here at Port Authority, who offered me a job.

”A lot of people didn’t know the construction of the Oculus started at 600 feet below,” he said.

As chief of quality control, he said he was guided by drawings signed by a team of engineers. He had inspectors building the fabricating steel in Roberedo & San Giorgio, Italy. “Every day, we had a meeting at 6:00 in the morning…for the steel alone,” he said.

He said no photos were allowed by Santiago Calatrava while they were on site. “We tagged along during the final presentation,” he said.

Widowed for nearly 10 years now and leading a cushy yet quiet life, Danny said he feels blessed with “a good family, a good job, and good luxuries in life.”

“What else can I complain? I have everything in my life.”

The Oculus. Photo: officialworldtradecenter.com

Calendar of Events

| May 1

PNANY fundraiser concert

The Laurie Beechman Theatre

West Bank Café

407 West 42nd Street NYC

| May 5

Bowl with Alakdan, by the Reformed Guardians International Alakdan New York Inc.

Bowlero Queens

69-10 34th Avenue

Queens NYC

| May 5

2nd Asian Street Food and Music

Festival @ Harvard Square

Harvard Square on Church Street

Cambridge, MA

For inquiries, visit Harvard Square Philippine American Alliance website www.hspaa.org

| May 11

Sounds of Manila 15th Anniversary with The Dreamboats and Johnny Pandora Breslin PAC

Felician University

262 S. Main Street

Lodi, New Jersey

Contact Amor Yu: 818-818-4301

| May 11

Prayer Summit by the Divine Power Ministry International St. Thomas AME Zion Church 54 West Street Haverstraw, N.Y.

| May 16

Little Manila Queens Bayanihan Arts exhibit Museum of Modern Art PS1 2225 Jackson Avenue Long Island City NYC

| May 18

11th Annual Philippine Graduation

Philippine Center 556 Fifth Avenue NYC

| May 19

Philippines Fest street fair 5th Avenue between 10th Street and 11th Street Park Slope Brooklyn NYC

| May 30

Reception for Harvard’s Philippine Collection (over 8,000 ethnographic and photographic materials)

Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology

Harvard University

| June 2

126th Philippine Independence Parade

Madison Avenue NYC

| June 3 to August 2

Summer 2024 IMPACT! FilipinoAmerican National Internship Program

Participants come to Washington, D.C. to gain a firsthand look at the American government and political system, engage civically, and reflect on the role they, as future leaders, might play in strengthening Philippine-U.S. relations Visit: www.usasiainstitute.org

| June 8

Philippine Independence

Celebration on Staten Island

Sacred Heart School

350 Castleton Avenue

Staten Island NYC

Email: info@Picosi.org

| June 9

Rockland Art Walk

The Shops at Nanuet 5101 Fashion Drive Nanuet, N.Y.

| June 21

Women & Media (WAM) Café with guests Anne del Castillo, Cielo Buenaventura and Anne Branigin

Philippine Center Kalayaan Hall 556 5th Avenue, NYC

| June 29

Filipino Day Grand Parade –Kalayaan Day in Albany Washington Park Albany N.Y.

| July 2 to 30

Adult Conversational Filipino, Beginner 2 with Noel Pangilinan Prerequisite: Must have completed Beginner 1 or consult with School Director

Contact Venessa Manzano, School Director, at 774-257-4669 or info@ filschool-nynj.org

| July 15

Deadline: Applications for Miss Universe Philippines; represent your state

Email resume and 2 headshots to missphilippinesnorthamerica@ gmail.com; subject line; MPNA

| August 17

Fiesta in America: Health & Wellness

American Dream Mall 1 American Dream Way East Rutherford, N.J

| August 17

8th Kids Philippines Annual Charity Golf Tournament Pequot Golf Club 127 Wheeler Road Stonington, CT

Contact Cherry at 860-234-4607

| September 7

New York Fashion Week

Now casting for models

Contact Grace Steadfast at 304-6014368 or email Steadfast.fashion. design@gmail.com

| September 7

New York Fashion Week with AJ Platinum Productions Metropolitan Pavilion NYC For more info call 801-577-0193

| October 6

Fashion for Compassion Cancer Charity Gala by FACC Hyatt Regency 1800 President’s Street Reston, VA

Contact info@filamcancercare.org

| October 27

14th Annual TOFA (The Outstanding Filipino Awards) in Honolulu

Diddy’s looming downfall: Did Cassie’s lawsuit trigger it?

The lawsuit filed by his former girlfriend Filipino American model and R&B singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura -- could that have set off the messy state of affairs Sean “P. Diddy” Combs currently finds himself in?

Some in the Filipino community are wondering.

Cassie has alleged rape and abuse in a lawsuit filed against hip hop mogul Diddy in November 2023. She said in a statement, “Hopefully, this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs responsible for his depraved conduct." Diddy strongly denied the allegations at first, but quickly settled financially for an undisclosed amount with his former girlfriend of 10 years.

Cassie is reported to have a Filipino father Rodrick Ventura who worked as a firefighter. Her mother, Stacey, has mixed Mexican, African-American, and West Indian ethnicities, according to multiple sites.

After Cassie, at least five more individuals lodged their own lawsuits against Diddy, some of them people who have worked with him. They resonated sexual assault, sex trafficking and other forms of criminal activity.

- Rodney Jones – aka Lil Rod – accused Diddy of being involved in a shooting at a recording studio and sexual assault. The case was filed on March 4. He added there had been sex workers and underage girls in parties hosted by Diddy.

- Joie Dickerson-Neal claimed she was drugged and assaulted.

- Liza Gardner said she was assaulted when she was 16 years old.

- an unnamed woman said she was gang-raped and sex trafficked when she was 17.

The music industry was in shock on hearing the news that Diddy’s homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by Department of Homeland Security agents as part of an investigation on alleged sex trafficking. The seriousness of Diddy’s alleged misconduct is now being compared to Jeffrey Epstein’s.

Diddy is considered a groundbreaking pioneer in the rap music business, who founded his own Bad Boy records label in 1993. He is credited for having discovered Usher and Mary Blige, among many now-famous artists. Wikipedia states he has won three Grammy Awards and the Guinness World Record for Most Successful Rap Producer in 1997. His estimated net worth is reported to be $1 billion.

Combs defended himself from the allegations posting on Instagram. “Enough is enough. For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy. Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”

Law enforcement experts and analysts said it may take time for these cases to reach some kind of conclusion. – Cristina DC Pastor

There are at least five lawsuits against Combs. Cassie’s was dismissed after a quick settlement.

‘Aladdin’ celebrates 10th anniversary

Aladdin, already among the biggest hits in Broadway history, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary at the New Amsterdam Theatre, on March 20.

The hit production has played over 3,500 performances and welcomed nearly 6 million guests to the New Amsterdam Theatre. It ranks #15 on the list of all-time Broadway long runs and has appeared on the Top 10 list of highest-grossing Broadway shows virtually every week of its run.

In the decade since Aladdin opened, only the mega-hits The Lion King, Wicked and Hamilton have grossed more at the box office.

A special celebratory performance commemorating the anniversary was held on March 28. Director-choreographer Casey Nicholaw staged a slate of hidden Easter eggs and an epic surprise in the show’s signature production number “Friend Like Me.”

Globally, Aladdin has achieved reach and enduring popularity rare among Broadway musicals. There have been 11 productions on four continents showcasing the spectacle created by Nicholaw and his creative team, winners of a collective 24 career Tony Awards.

As of Aladdin’s milestone anniversary, Broadway audiences have been treated to several special effects:

• Aladdin and Jasmine have flown over 115 miles on the magic carpet while singing the Oscar-winning “A Whole New World”

• The Genie has set off more than 131,000 pyrotechnics in the “Friend Like Me” number

• 850 pounds of custom-mixed glitter have been used to create the Genie’s signature sparkle

Aladdin, the hit musical based on the Academy Award-winning animated film, opened on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on March 20, 2014 and quickly established itself as one of the biggest new blockbusters in recent years.

Hailed by The New York Times as “fabulous and extravagant,” the Broadway production has set 17 New

Amsterdam Theatre house records and spawned 11 productions on four continents. Worldwide it has welcomed nearly 20 million people and can be seen currently on Broadway, on tour across North America and the U.K. and Ireland, as well as in Japan and Spain, with a new production in Seoul, South Korea opening this fall.

The current cast of Aladdin stars Michael Maliakel making his Broadway debut in the title role, Michael James Scott as Genie, Sonya Balsara as Jasmine and Dennis Stowe as Jafar. The show also features Milo Alosi, Zach Bencal and Brad Weinstock as Aladdin’s sidekicks Kassim, Babkak and Omar, JC Montgomery as Sultan and Filipino American Don Darryl Rivera as Iago. Caleb Barnett, Jeremy Gaston and Wes Hart stand by for several principals.

Aladdin, adapted from the animated Disney film and centuries-old folktales including “One Thousand and One Nights,” is brought to fresh theatrical life in this bold new musical. Aladdin’s journey sweeps audiences into an exciting world of daring adventure, classic comedy and timeless romance. This new production features a full score, including the five cherished songs from the Academy Award-winning soundtrack and more written especially for the stage.

The animated film Aladdin was released by Disney in 1992 and was a critical and box office smash, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year.

The film won the Oscar for Best Original Score and introduced the hit song “A Whole New World,” which won the second of the film’s two Academy Awards as Best Original Song. The Peabo Bryson/Regina Belle recording of the tune soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. For more information, visit AladdinTheMusical.com.

Don Darryl Rivera as the lovable Iago. Rivera and Angelo Soriano are the two remaining Filipinos in the cast.

My name is Marissa and I’m a K-drama-holic!

By Marissa Bañez

Iugly cried, I laughed out loud, I fell madly in love, I desperately craved Korean fried chicken. All this was my daily experience while watching my first Korean drama, the incomparable Crash Landing on You. All the characters felt like friends that I missed after the show ended. So, I watched all 16 episodes again. Then again for about 50 million times after that.

CLOY is the number one rated most watched K-drama. I’m convinced I put them over the top.

And who can’t help but love the real-life drama where Hyun Bin and Son Ye-Jin, the two lead stars, end up married with an adorable kid and another on the way? Romcom at its best!

Hoping to recapture that same magic, I enthusiastically dove into the black hole that is Korean drama. First, I watched everything with Hyun Bin because, well…Hyun Bin. Then, everything with Son Ye-Jin. Then I watched shows with interesting storylines like Tomorrow, Move to Heaven, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Castaway Diva, and many others. I also delved into the historical fictions from the Joseon period (1392-1897), like The King’s Affection, Rookie Historian, Under the Queen’s Umbrella, and, again, many others.

Don’t get me wrong. Not all K-dramas are created equal. There are some that are nothing more than multi-episode commercials with their shameless pervasive product placements, others that started out strong but petered out with weak or nonsensical endings, and still others that weren’t to my taste. As someone who has put out “works of art” into the world as a children’s author, I won’t publicly denigrate those shows by identifying them. These are just my opinions and I respect that others may differ.

Now, I mentioned product placement. All the shows – except for the historical ones for obvious reasons – have them. Even CLOY (hence, my craving for oh-so-yummy Korean fried chicken). But the product placement in CLOY didn’t take away from the story. In fact, many of my friends didn’t even notice it and simply took it as “background” that provided some semblance of authenticity. The height of subliminal advertising, to be sure.

Speaking of advertising, because K-dramas are very popular in the Philippines and with Filipinos everywhere, Hyun Bin and Son Ye-Jin did commercials for Simple Smart Ako after CLOY became a worldwide phenomenon.

I once saw an interview with a K-drama actor who was asked for his opinion on why Filipinos love K-dramas. He said it was because K-dramas are, for the most part, innocent and

chaste. Despite that I find it equally humorous and embarrassing for the actors that some of the kissing on K-dramas are not only innocent and chaste but also unbelievably passionless, his response resonated with me. Frankly, I’m so tired of all the gratuitous and graphic sex and violence scenes that seem to pervade most shows. To be sure, there’s a lot of violence in many K-dramas, like in Vincenzo. But the lead in Vincenzo was a mafia consigliere and violence was his thing. If it’s germane to the storyline, then I’m fine with it. It’s the gratuitousness of sex and violence ubiquitous in many non-Kdramas that annoys me. I just don’t need or want that much verité in my cinéma.

Anyway, many, many K-dramas later, I’m now watching the recently-released Queen of Tears, written by the same person who wrote CLOY. High expectations abound and lots of comparisons made with CLOY on social media. While still worth watching, I don’t feel the same pull with QOT that I felt with CLOY. To

me, the characters are simply characters in a show, not “my friends.” Although I like QOT overall, I already know that I will probably not watch it again. Maybe it’s just because I’m no longer a K-drama virgin, but I have neither cried, laughed, nor fallen in love while watching QOT. On the upside, all that social media chatter about

QOT and CLOY made me buy some Korean fried chicken. So yummy!

Marissa Bañez is a contributing writer for The FilAm, a lawyer, author of ‘Hope and Fortune’ and ‘Hues and Harmony (How the Rainbow Butterfly Got Her Colors),’ and a self-proclaimed K-drama junkie

‘Queen of Tears’ is written by the same person who wrote ‘CLOY.’

‘Crash Landing on You’ lead stars Hyun Bin and Son Ye-Jin

Are you a nurse looking for a job?

NYC Health + Hospitals announced on March 19 a major recruitment campaign to help fill nurse positions and expand access to community-based primary care at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem, Woodhull, and Lincoln.

The recruitment campaign, Nurses4NYC, is intended to encourage more New Yorkers to apply for jobs as nurses at the health system. The campaign will be supported by social media advertising. Interested applicants learn more by visiting our Nurses4NYC website and apply there.

Currently, there are over 9,600 full- and part-time nurses in the NYC Health + Hospital system. The public health system has an array of benefits, including a pension. New nurses can take advantage of the Nurse Residency Program, nursing fellowships, tuition reimbursement, loan forgiveness, and scholarship programs through NYC Health + Hospitals.

“Nurses are at the heart of our mission to provide high quality health services and compassionate care for all New Yorkers, and I am proud of the thousands of nurses who come to our facilities every day to serve New Yorkers in need,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Senior Vice President, Chief Nursing Executive Natalia Cineas, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “Being a nurse for NYC Health + Hospitals is so

much more than just a job or a career, because our public health nurses play a critical role in serving the most vulnerable patients and communities.”

| Nurse Residency Program

The year-long residency program provides newly-hired, first-time nurses with on-the-job training that focuses on topics including ethics, decision making, clinical leadership, and the incorporation of research-based evidence into practice. The program also provides new nurses with support and mentorship proven to enhance nurse satisfaction, performance, and retention.

| Critical Care Nursing Fellowship

Debuting in 2024, NYC Health + Hospitals is launching the Critical Care Nursing Fellowship to provide high-quality care to critically ill patients. This new fellowship focuses on critical care within a selected range of specialties and includes simulation; didactic, on-site experiences; clinical rotations in emergency, post-anesthesia care unit and telemetry/stepdown units; and providing an interactive and personalized learning experience.

| Nursing Emergency Department Fellowship

This 22‐week Emergency Department Nursing Fellowship Program is for nurses with no prior emergency depart-

NYC is hiring

ment clinical experience. The Emergency Department Nursing Fellowship Program builds on foundational nursing skills to further enhance the knowledge and skills of fellows to ensure they are equipped to deliver safe patient care in a fast‐paced emergency department.

| NURSE Corps

For accepted applicants, NURSE Corps pays for 60 percent of unpaid nursing education debt over two years, with an option to extend to a third year for an additional 25 percent of the original balance. In exchange, applicants commit to two years at an eligible facility experiencing a critical shortage of nurses.

| National Health Services Corps (for Nurse Practitioners)

The National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program offers primary care medical, dental, and mental and behavioral health care providers, including Nurse Practitioners, the opportunity to have their student loans repaid in exchange for providing health care in eligible facilities with limited access to care.

| Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

The federal government provides student loan forgiveness through its Public Service Loan Forgiveness

PHL films shown at Queens World filmfest

The 13th Queens World Film Festival (QWFF) returned April 16th to 28th to the Museum of the Moving Image, Kaufman Astoria Studios for 11 days of 152 foreign films, two of them from the Philippines.

“Surrogate” is set in the Philippines, an excellent example of the depth and emotional resonance of Filipino filmmaking.

Synopsis: After eight years of marriage, a childless couple named Clark and Eileen meet a little girl who one day, comes knocking at their door claiming to be Clark's child. Despite the unexpected situation, the wife accepts the child and temporarily fosters her while figuring the next steps. Meanwhile, Clark investigates the child's history while Eileen begins to develop an odd and eerie relationship with the child.

This poignant narrative explores themes of family, identity, and unexpected connections.

“Prep” is a film about bodybuilding by Raymond Knudsen, an award-winning Filipino American filmmaker based in New York City. He founded Big Blue Pictures in 2020. His work includes acclaimed shorts like "Weapons and Their Names” and "Monkey Bar. His latest film, "Prep," received recognition at festivals such as Indie Memphis, Mammoth Lakes, and Bend, earning him the Florida Filmmaker Award in 2023.

The QWFF is a platform for storytelling and the power of cinema from around the world. To date, it has screened over 1,800 films representing 92 nations, including 281 films from filmmakers located in Queens. It has

Program to all qualifying public service employees. Your employment at NYC Health + Hospitals may allow you to take advantage of this program if you meet the program’s requirements.

| And Many Other Benefits

NYC Health + Hospitals offers an exceptional benefits package. New hires are eligible to select from a variety of medical plans such as: MetroPlus Gold, HIP HMO, and GHI-CBP. As an employee, you are also eligible to enroll in the pension plan under NYC Employee Retirement System (NYCERS). Employees are also offered discounts with vendors such as T-Mobile, Dell, Hertz, Edenred commuter benefits and more.

produced over 600 screening events serving over 80,000 audiences with exciting films and engaging talk backs designed to connect film lovers and filmmakers.

QWFF is committed to fostering a sense of community among filmmakers and providing a prominent platform for both emerging and established talent. It is made possible, in part, by a Queens Community Arts Grant as part of the Statewide Community Regrants program funded by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and managed by Flushing Town Hall; the New York State Council on the Arts, Statewide Community Regrants Program (formerly the Decentralization program) with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.

‘Surrogate’ or ‘Kampon’ by director King Palisoc is a drama and horror movie.

NYC Health + Hospitals is looking to recruit, retain and support a diverse and inclusive nursing workforce. Photo: Unsplash

Andrew Cabindol: Powerlifter, designer, beatboxer

By Cristina DC Pastor

If Andrew Cabindol were an image, he would be a three-dimensional hologram, juggling his most intense passions: powerlifting, creative design and music.

He recently announced he was participating in the first-ever FISU University World Championship Powerlifting competition to be held July 23-27, 2024 in Tartu, Estonia as a representative of Team USA. One peels the layers of his persona and finds that competitive sports is only one of his many abilities.

paigns and projects that deliver results.

“I recently competed in the Powerlifting America University Nationals in Reno, Nevada in the men’s 66kg weight class and earned second place and an unofficial FISU powerlifting world bench press record of 325 lbs, and a total of 1267 lbs. This qualified me to compete in Estonia,” he told The FilAm.

The 20-year-old’s journey embodies the fusion of artistry and athleticism. Born in Chicago, Illinois, to parents who are both computer engineers, Cabindol initially felt the weight of familial expectations pushing him towards technical fields. However, his trajectory veered dramatically as he discovered his passion for creative arts and sports.

As a “creative technologist,” he has been working with companies designing their logos and brands, doing photography and videos and working on corporate cam -

“I have been working with CEOs, PR specialists, and social media managers of leading agencies for over five years,” he said in his website www.andycabindol. com. “My work has won awards from valued corporations across the nation.”

Music, particularly a cappella singing, also holds a special place in Cabindol's array of interests. A member of NYU Vocollision, a premier a cappella group at New York University, he contributes as the vocal percussionist or beatboxer. This role came unexpectedly; Cabindol used to beatbox for fun with his cousin. On a whim, he auditioned for the group upon his arrival at NYU and was accepted. His talent for beatboxing has since been recognized with two "Outstanding Vocal Percussionist" awards in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella competitions.

Powerlifting, design work, and a cappella are no small feats for Cabindol. They require immense energy, focus, and

A ‘creative technologist,’ he designs brands and campaigns for companies.

Cabindol and his family on a yacht while vacationing in Dubai, UAE.

Cabindol is slated to compete with Team USA in a powerlifting championship in Estonia in July.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Cabindol

above all, sacrifice. Due to his dedication to these diverse disciplines, Cabindol has had to make significant lifestyle adjustments, notably forgoing many social activities.

“Parties and dining out became rare occasions,” he said. “They’re incompatible with the strict sleeping and eating regimen that powerlifting demands.”

Cabindol is currently a Bachelor of Fine Arts sophomore at NYU majoring in Interactive Media Arts. He was in the Dean’s List of the Tisch School of the Arts in 2023. Two years ago, he just graduated from Harry D. Jacobs High School Algonquin, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

Cabindol grew up in a home where Filipino traditions hold sway. With an older brother and a younger sister, family life is vibrant. Eating together as a family is important with yummy dishes like Sisig being his favorite.

His parents, both computer engineers who graduated in the Philippines, brought a technical influence into the home. This environment naturally nudged Cabindol toward a similar path. Initially, he pursued engineering but later found his true calling in a field that blends technology with creativity.

Cabindol’s parents, being first-generation immigrants from the Philippines, have never truly encouraged him to commit to a sport during his primary school years. After Cabindol competed in his first powerlifting competition in May 2022 -- unbeknownst to his parents -- and came back home with a medal, “They were just as shocked as much as they were worried,” he said. This unexpected success served as a turning point. Witnessing their son's passion and commitment to powerlifting transformed their worry into support.

“Gradually, they became my biggest fans,” he said.

They started by watching his competitions through online livestreams, a modern way for them to connect with his achievements. Their support didn't stop there; they also began sharing his competition videos with relatives, spreading the news of his success within the community.

Cabindol’s story highlights the journey of a family coming to understand and celebrate their son's dedication to a diverse set of interests and how he has excelled in many of them.

Visiting the UK.

Issue 75, May 2024

Assemblymember

Steven Raga

Two more years

Are you a K-dramaholic?

Andrew Cabindol Powerlifter, designer, beatboxer