A & V Editorial

 

Greetings from The FilAm, the only print newspaper serving Filipino Americans in the New York metropolitan area.

 

My name is Cristina DC Pastor, founding editor. Before becoming a print publication, The FilAm began in 2011 as an online news site. From the beginning, my goal was simple: I did not want The FilAm to look and sound like many Filipino community publications that mainly lift and recycle news from newspapers in Manila. Instead, I imagined a platform that tells the stories of ordinary Filipinos in New York and New Jersey, the everyday individuals whose struggles and triumphs reflect their immigrant experience. They are the regular Filipinos who came to the United States seeking a better life and a brighter future for their families. Their stories are inspiring, sometimes complex, and deeply human.

 

The response was astounding. Readers connected with the stories, saw themselves reflected in them, and soon began sharing their own journeys with us. The overwhelming reception to our website, www.TheFilAm.net, sparked suggestions that The FilAm should publish a print edition, because our stories carried the depth, warmth, and emotional resonance of stories many would like to read.

 

On March 15, 2018, on our seventh year, The FilAm released its first print issue. Our inaugural front cover featured Jeffrey Cirio, the first Filipino principal dancer of American Ballet Theatre. On the back cover was Sheena Ocot, an emerging artist from Newark, New Jersey, and a descendant of the Higaonon tribe of Misamis Oriental in the southern Philippines. Jeffrey appeared shirtless in a powerful portrait, while Sheena was photographed against a graffiti wall.  Through these images, I wanted to challenge stereotypes and show that Filipinos are more than the narrow roles often associated with us — beauty queens, nannies, nurses, boxers, or corrupt politicians. Our community contains many other colors, talents, and identities.

 

Over the years, The FilAm has established itself as an independent, reputable and engaging publication, committed to meaningful storytelling rather than fleeting sensationalism. Some of our milestones include:

·                  2013: Interviewed by Voice of America for our coverage of Typhoon Haiyan relief efforts in New York City.

·                  2014: Featured in an interactive exhibit at The Newseum as one of the “100 most influential ethnic media in the United States from colonial times to today,” curated by the Smithsonian Institution.

·                  2014: Launched an investigative reporting project that produced eight long-form series, with reporters compensated for their work.

·                  Hosted two interns studying journalism and media studies.

·                  Received multiple Plaridel Awards recognizing excellence in Filipino American journalism.

 

Our challenge

In the early years, printing costs were manageable. My husband and I funded the newspaper through our personal savings. Over time, however, printing expenses have risen sharply, making it increasingly difficult to sustain the publication. Tariffs on newsprint and metal plates are choking our budget. Advertising and subscription revenue have not yet reached the levels needed to fully support the paper.