Written by Edil Cuepo Every year, the Fourth of July takes me back to the time I got my green card. For immigrants like me, becoming a permanent resident in the US is a major life event. It is as significant as getting engaged and married or having a baby. I get emotional when I look back on all the challenges I had to overcome in pursuit of permanent residency. A green card meant freedom in the US. America...
Written by Edil Cuepo In the wake of my sister’s nursing pinning ceremony at the New York City College of Technology and the upcoming Philippine Independence Day Parade on June 7, there is no better time to write about the many Filipino women who choose to become nurses and the history of Filipino nurses in the US. I once attended a show by Jo Koy, a famous Filipino-American comedian, at Town Hall on West 43rd Street. There were hundreds...
Written by Edil Cuepo Did you take part in one of Cinco de Mayo’s festivities last week? If you aren’t Mexican, you probably think Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s independence day. (I totally had it wrong all this time.) According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, Cinco de Mayo is actually in remembrance of the surprising victory of the 4,000 outnumbered Mexicans over the undefeated French troops at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 — it was like David against Goliath....
Written by Edil Cuepo “I take a measure of pride that out of the chaos I was able to bring a sense of meaning to my life and create a future. Yes David, you were right. Our people have survived and kept history alive for over 5,000 years. So have I! I have lost much, but I have never lost my personal integrity and morality. My early lessons have guided me well. I used to wonder if I would...