Political commentaries and social opinion top the reading choice of Fil-Ams, followed by the (usual) great love for entertainment.
By Marivir R. Montebon
New York – For 2018, readers of the Fil-Am community have sharply become keen with local issues and Philippine politics. In fact, readership on our coverage on the Duterte administration and social issues have overtaken the all-time top preference of Filipinos on entertainment. With heightened political and social tension, this could mean that Filipinos have become more politically concerned.
Top 10. Occupying the 10th slot are two stories. One on the special report on PIDCI which was written by Cristina DC Pastor and Marivir Montebon for their respective online magazines, and the other is on a memorial for a matriarch, the late Alberta Calibo, in the Philippines.
The special report on PIDCI, a four-part series, opened a can of worms before the Fil-Am community, citing lessons on transparency and accountability needed to maintain trust and robust support for the biggest Philippine Independence Day parade and cultural fair outside the Philippines.
https://justcliqit.com/special-report-the-anatomy-of-missing-pidci-funds/
Top 9.
The documentary film on the life of slain Filipina mail order bride was highly read and watched on OSM! and on YouTube. New York-based Ann Constantino Beck played the role of Cathy Bonesa, whose death in Korea, remains a mystery as of this time. The film “Murdered Cathy Bonesa” is a constant reminder of the risks of mail order marriages.
https://justcliqit.com/mail-order-bride-risks/
Ann Constantino Beck as ‘Cathy Bonesa’, a murdered mail order bride.
Top 8.
Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo came to New York and interviewed artist-blogger Mona Lunot Kuker for her TV show in the Philippines. Mona, a contributor for OSM!, discussed her life as a labor union leader before she came to New York. If a country’s vice president interviews you, you would naturally go viral.
https://justcliqit.com/vice-president-leni-robredo-mona-kuker/
Mona with Vice President Robredo
Top 7.
Promoting business and tourism in the Philippines was the agenda for this program. But because the trade exhibition was to be held in the Grand Central, a major landmark and high traffic in NYC, readers were highly anticipatory.
https://justcliqit.com/the-best-of-the-philippines-goes-to-grand-central-in-spring-2018-expo/
A successful exhibition brings it on for the next year.
Top 6.
It took a Supreme Court order to compel the PIDCI leadership to hand in finance reports to petitioners from the community, Juliet Payabyab and Nieva Quezon Burdick.
https://justcliqit.com/supreme-court-judge-jaffe-orders-pidci-to-hand-over-finance-documents-asap/
Top 5.
Carlo Ceballos, 2nd placer of the 1st FilAm History Month Essay Writing Contest, ranks 5th as the most read article for 2018. His essay is simple and honest narrative of a millennial trying to make sense of the isolation and need to reconnect that’s conflicting a Filipino American.
Carlo Ceballos (2nd from right) with the other winning essayists.
Top 4
Teachers and artists make for a viral story in April. The UNIFFIED Cooperative just installed its pioneering set of officers in Maryland while a medical doctor makes waves as an artist in her solo exhibit at the Philippine Center.
https://justcliqit.com/uniffied-teachers-tumandok-exhibit/
Dr. Minda Cabrera, artist, with Marivir Montebon. The backdrop is her over-sized charcoal and pencil portrait of an Ati woman in the island of Panay. Her exhibit Tumandok (March 23 to April 6, 2018) pays homage to the preservation of indigenous peoples in Panay.
Top 3.
Cultural extravaganza at its best, Salida, which took place in the summer. This article showcased the dance drama spearheaded by AFTA.
https://justcliqit.com/leyte-dande-theater-for-afta-salida/
Top 2.
Filipino-Lebanese Elie Rapada becomes Tam for Miss Saigon. The young actor who lives in Elizabeth, New Jersey, became an endearing sensation.
https://justcliqit.com/meet-miss-saigons-new-tam-elie-rapada-i-love-to-act/
With the entire cast of Miss Saigon, Elie takes a bow.
Top 1.
There was an uproar when Philippine Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno was impeached in the spring of 2018. Legal luminaries, law students, youth leaders, and Fil-Ams have spoken to protect due process and human rights. This being our top story is a relief that more and more Filipinos are beginning to be politically woke.
https://justcliqit.com/sereno-ouster-no-due-process/
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno
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