VIA Times – June 2018 Issue Vital News, Vibrant VIews for Asian Americans in Chicago & Midwest

By: Victoria Smith   Last month, I wrote this column from my native country, the Philippines. I had attended a college reunion, and read, sold, and signed my books at my Manila debut book launch. Today, I am incredibly still ...

By: Lou Maningas Cabalona   “Lovely, samahan mo si J-rick sa banyo” (“Lovely, come with J-Rick to the bathroom”), I recall my mom saying. J-Rick is my youngest sibling born 8 years after me and accompanying him to the bathroom ...

By: Melody Dizon   If you are like me, hearing the word suicide, is like being given a tranquilizer that paralyzes my body to think what actually went through the person’s mind right before they throw the towel in. I ...

Ernie Lapid, Picnic Chairperson Lourdes Mon, Overall Chair The community that plays together, stays together”. Amidst the sweltering hot day, the PIWC group danced and played games — musical chair, hip hip hooray, statue dance, throwing eggs game, etc.

By: Mayra Salazar   What kind of questions do you and your friends ask about Social Security? When do my benefits arrive? What are Social Security work credits, and do they have anything to do with the way my benefits ...

By: Nancy Abiera   “God is love and those who abide in God has His love.” I participated in the wedding celebration of our Tita “Gorgeous” Veronica Leighton and Tito “Irog” Joe Mauricio last May 31, 2018 celebrating their love ...

By: James DC   A passenger train is creeping along, slowly. Finally, it creaks to a halt. A passenger sees a conductor walking by outside. “What’s going on?” she yells out the window. “Cow on the track!” replies the conductor. Ten ...

By: Elsie Sy-Niebar   *June 12 this year marks 120th years of Philippine Independence Day! *Yes, Kababayans (fellow Filipinos), we have a new Consul General in Chicago! * Kimberly M. Foxx, first African American woman Cook County State Attorney holds ...

“The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.” -Ann Wigmore JADA Spices has quickly become UCLA’s #1 spice of choice! The spices have been available to students, ...

By: Joe Mauricio   Who would have thought it possible??? North Korea will abandon its nuclear program in exchange for comprehensive security guarantees—it wants to look ahead and achieve a fundamental change in relations. That sounds very promising and a ...