The Bluewater Maribago Resort and Hotel: Filipino Heartwarming Service is the Staying Power
Marivir R. Montebon Marivir R. Montebon

The Bluewater Maribago Resort and Hotel: Filipino Heartwarming Service is the Staying Power

Thirty-five-year-old Domiko Ugarte, scion of the prominent Alegrado family in Cebu, walks the talk - that his family’s employees are the ‘it’ in their expanding Bluewater Maribago Hotel and Resort in Mactan island.  “It’s really the employees that make the place. Our edge is Filipino service. We take pride in that,” Ugarte said in our conversation.

Read More
FilAm community catwalks in NYC for cancer warriors
Marivir R. Montebon Marivir R. Montebon

FilAm community catwalks in NYC for cancer warriors

FilAms do the catwalk in New York to raise funds for cancer warriors through the nonprofit FilAm Cancer Care, featuring the MUSA creations of fashion designer Carl Andrada. The FACC Walk for a Cause raised $1000 for 10 beneficiaries under the artistic direction of Buboi Asuncion.

Read More
Transformational, Triumphant: Del Carmen's 'Storm Across My Cherished Bamboo Bridge' 
Marivir R. Montebon Marivir R. Montebon

Transformational, Triumphant: Del Carmen's 'Storm Across My Cherished Bamboo Bridge' 

So gently written, the novel 'Storm across my cherished bamboo bridge' (Austin MacCauley Publishers, 2022, 215 pages) is unputtable down as it emerges victorious against the harrowing brutality of murder, betrayal, and survival.

It's author Gene del Carmen's debut as a novelist. And oh my, I was touched by its transformational and relational value as a narrative of an immigrant family.

Read More
Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros film – returns in full bloom in NY
Marivir R. Montebon Marivir R. Montebon

Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros film – returns in full bloom in NY

Years after the MoMA and Film Society of Lincoln Center chose Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros/The Flowering of Maximo Oliveros as its opening night presentation for the annual New Directors/New Films exhibition, Auraeus Solito's Pagdadalaga will make a rare return appearance in a New York theater on Friday, December 9, at 7:30PM. The film showing is free with proof of vaccination required.

Read More
Catholic St Francis of Assisi Church welcomes immigrants in distress
Marivir R. Montebon Marivir R. Montebon

Catholic St Francis of Assisi Church welcomes immigrants in distress

Although American politicians are quick to politicize immigration issues, the Franciscan friars have remained true to its vocation to take care of the needy. They took the initiative to solicit for jackets, strollers, clothes, and food for the immigrants.

I had an inspiring conversation with Fr. Julian Jagudilla, OFM, about this. He is the director of the Migrant Center at Church of St. Francis of Assisi Church.

Jagudilla sympathized with popular sentiment against ‘crossing the borders’ and jumping the immigration process. But as part of the church, how can you close your doors from the neediest and most vulnerable people when they are right at your doorstep? he asked.

Read More
Awesome at 10: A look at the FilAm communities thru a digital lens
Marivir R. Montebon Marivir R. Montebon

Awesome at 10: A look at the FilAm communities thru a digital lens

Awesome at 10 is a curated collection of stories and essays about the Filipino American communities. It is all about surviving and thriving of FilAm immigrants and new generations. It speaks of our struggles and inspiration and fun. Makes for a good gift, actually. So please get your copy for history’s keeping and as a way to sustain OSM!’s awesome life as a local news and multimedia platform. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Read More