NEW JERSEY -- Christine C. Soriano, a seemingly shy but smiling 18-year old New Jersey-born dalagang Pilipina (Filipina maiden) romped away with the number one Filipino and Filipino-American beauty title Diwa ng Kalayaan in a spectacular four-hour pageant conducted by the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) as one of the main features of the commemoration of the 112th Anniversary of Philippine Independence.

NEW YORK CITY - Four leading public officials called upon immigrant and communities of color to fully participate in the upcoming Census 2010. At a joint press conference organized by New York Community Media Alliance, in partnership with New York Immigration Coalition, NYC Census 2010 office and CUNY TV, held at CUNY Graduate School of Journalism on Friday, March 19, the officials reminded New York’s diverse ethnic and community media and advocacy groups present that not participating in the Census 2010 will keep many members of their communities invisible at all levels of government and rob them of political power and their share in development funds.