Michelle De Pacina
2,238 articles
‘I’ve gone far beyond the reef’: Auli‘i Cravalho on growing with ‘Moana’
Auli‘i Cravalho was 14 when she was first cast as Disney’s “Moana.” It was a role that not only launched her career but also gave voice to a generation of Pacific Islanders. Now 24, Cravalho has…
‘Moana 2’: How the Pacific Islander princess grows, evolves in culture in highly anticipated sequel
We all know the ocean has chosen her, but how far could Moana really go? From sailing across the forbidden seas and overcoming coconut pirates and a treasure-obsessed crab to restoring the heart of…
‘Hello, Love, Again’: Kathryn Bernardo returns to her rom-com roots in sequel made for OFWs
“Hello, Love, Again,” might just be what Philippine cinema’s “Box Office Queen” Kathryn Bernardo is saying to herself as she steps back into romantic comedy. After surprising fans with her darkly…
Cast of Netflix’s ‘Hellbound’ talks Season 2 with NextShark
Despite bringing to life the intensity of Netflix’s “Hellbound” Season 2’s storyline — filled with dark themes, existential questions and relentless action — the cast and director of the Netflix…
K-pop idol publicly apologizes to fans after gaining weight
Jang Ye Eun, best known as J in K-pop girl group STAYC, recently apologized to fans after facing criticism over her weight gain, acknowledging that she had started working out and dieting. “To be…
Stephanie Hsu navigates modern dating in Peacock rom-com series ‘Laid’
In the upcoming Peacock series “Laid,” Oscar-nominated “Everything Everywhere All at Once” star Stephanie Hsu stars as Ruby, a woman confronted with a bizarre dilemma: her former lovers are…
Gavin Newsom endorses Evan Low in race for Silicon Valley House seat
California Governor Gavin Newsom has endorsed state Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Cupertino) in his competitive House race against former San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo just weeks before Election Day.…
Man found guilty of murdering 2 Vietnamese at Las Vegas hotel
On Tuesday, a jury in Las Vegas found a 37-year-old man guilty of breaking into a hotel room at Circus Circus on the Las Vegas Strip and robbing and fatally stabbing two Vietnamese tour leaders, Sang…
Ford CEO reveals he drives a Chinese-made EV: ‘I don’t want to give it up’
Ford CEO Jim Farley revealed he drives a $30,000 Xiaomi SU7 electric vehicle, a Chinese-made sedan unavailable in the U.S. due to tariffs and safety regulation issues. “I don’t like talking about the…
Popular Japanese mochi shop to open first US location in SoCal
Warabimochi Kamakura, a popular Japanese mochi shop, will open its first U.S. location at The Shops at Santa Anita in Arcadia, California, on Oct. 31. The shop is known for warabimochi made from…
Naomi Osaka shares postpartum body image struggles
Naomi Osaka recently shared her journey with post-birth body image struggles in a heartfelt Instagram post. Along with several selfies showing off her exposed midriff, the 27-year-old Japanese tennis…
Duterte could be charged with crimes against humanity, according to Philippine lawmakers
During a recent Senate inquiry in the Philippines, former President Rodrigo Duterte spoke under oath for the first time since leaving office in 2022, making brash remarks regarding his controversial…
Michigan school board’s emails criticized for stereotyping Asian Americans
Emails from the board president of the Troy School District in Northern Michigan have sparked criticism for what some say are stereotypical and inaccurate descriptions of Asian American families. In…
Subscribers ditch LA Times after its owner nixes Harris endorsement
Outrage sparked among readers and staff of the Los Angeles Times, with thousands of readers canceling subscriptions, three editorial board members resigning and nearly 200 staff members signing a…
Meet Japan’s ‘Instant Ramen King’ who’s consumed ramen every day for 30 years
Sokusekisai Oyama, Japan’s “Instant Ramen King,” has dedicated over 30 years to his passion for instant noodles, consuming at least one serving daily and totaling over 10,000 cups. A former…
How a 20-year-old Singaporean man stole over $230 million in crypto
Malone Lam, a 20-year-old Singaporean man who was previously arrested by the FBI over a conspiracy to steal and launder money, appeared in court on Oct. 23, with both prosecution and defense…
Tropical storm Trami hits Vietnam after killing over 100 in the Philippines
Tropical Storm Trami made landfall in Vietnam on Sunday, after causing severe flooding in the Philippines. The storm, described as the deadliest storm to hit the Southeast Asian country so far this…
Man sentenced to prison for robbery on ‘easy target’ Asian woman
An East Bay man was sentenced to two years in federal prison on Thursday after pleading guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in Northern California. What happened: Freddie Lee Davis…
Andrew Yang advocates against voting for third-party candidate in November
In a Newsweek opinion piece, Andrew Yang explained his decision to start the Forward Party in 2021 while advising against voting for a third-party presidential candidate in the upcoming election. The…
Seattle Little Saigon restaurant faces 9th break-in in 4 years
Phnom Penh Noodle House, a family-owned restaurant in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (CID), experienced its ninth break-in in four years, causing significant damage and losses. Owner Dawn…
Jewelry thefts in North Texas target Southeast Asian victims during Diwali season
Police are investigating a series of jewelry thefts specifically targeting Southeast Asian victims in Frisco, Texas. One incident involved a 55-year-old woman who was approached outside her home by…
Harvard dean unhappy with impact of SCOTUS ruling on admissions
Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana expressed disappointment over the university’s inability to consider race in admissions, stating, “I believe that the College benefits from the full diversity of…
Colorado’s top court weighs whether zoo elephants can be recognized as ‘persons’
The Colorado Supreme Court is considering whether five elephants at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo can be recognized as “persons” under the law, allowing them to pursue legal action for their release. The…
Sikh community rallies around family of Walmart teen worker found dead in bakery oven
The Sikh community in Halifax, Canada, is supporting the family of Gursimran Kaur, a 19-year-old Walmart employee who was tragically found dead in the store’s walk-in bakery oven on Oct. 19. What…
Joe, Clara Tsai make history as first Asian American owners to win WNBA championship
Joe and Clara Tsai became the first Asian American owners to win a WNBA championship after their team, the New York Liberty, defeated the Minnesota Lynx 67-62 in Game 5 of the finals on Sunday. The…
Olivia Munn proudly shares post-mastectomy scars in new ad campaign
Actress Olivia Munn is proudly embracing her post-mastectomy body as a breast cancer survivor, starring in Skims’ latest bra campaign in partnership with Susan G. Komen for Breast Cancer Awareness…
Ken Jeong honored with Hollywood Walk of Fame star
On Wednesday, Ken Jeong was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, celebrating his achievements as an actor and comedian. “In addition to the fans, this [award] is dedicated to that one…
Jimmy O. Yang, Ronny Chieng unravel a criminal web in Hulu’s upcoming ‘Interior Chinatown’
Jimmy O. Yang and Ronny Chieng star in Hulu’s upcoming original series, “Interior Chinatown,” a comedy, crime fiction drama by creator and showrunner Charles Yu and executive producer Taika Waititi.…
Diwali becomes official state holiday in Pennsylvania
On Monday, Gov. Josh Shapiro officially recognized Diwali as a state holiday in Pennsylvania by signing Senate Bill 402 into law during a celebration hosted by the Governor’s Advisory Commission on…
Culinary debate: Is Jollibee or Mesa a truer representation of Filipino culture?
A TikTok user, who goes by @Bittersweetblood, sparked a debate on social media after expressing their frustration with the frequent recommendation of Jollibee as the embodiment of Filipino culture,…
OC supervisor pleads guilty to taking $550K in bribes from COVID relief funds
Andrew Do, a supervisor on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, has agreed to plead guilty to a felony federal charge after admitting to accepting over $550,000 in bribes, beginning in 2020. These…
Meet the Vietnamese American political newcomer fighting for Virginia’s Senate seat
The U.S. Senate race in Virginia features Republican challenger Hung Cao, a political newcomer and retired Navy Captain, facing incumbent Democrat Tim Kaine. During their only debate at Norfolk State…
Sandra Oh joins star-studded docu-theater production ‘The Midlife Monologues’
Sandra Oh is among the notable stars participating in “The Midlife Monologues,” a docu-theater project by Constance Zimmer and Abby Epstein, inspired by the episodic play “The Vagina Monologues.”…
Who is the catfisher that tricked a woman into an 8-year relationship in Netflix’s ‘Sweet Bobby’?
Warning: spoilers ahead Netflix’s new documentary “Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare” explores the true story of Kirat Assi, a London radio presenter who was deceived into an eight-year online…
Japanese police chief bows to wrongfully convicted man who spent 45 years on death row
Shizuoka Prefectural Police chief Takayoshi Tsuda bowed deeply before Iwao Hakamada, an 88-year-old former boxer, to apologize in-person for the decades of wrongful imprisonment he endured due to…
Punjabi wave superstar makes history as 1st South Asian artist to grace Billboard cover
Punjabi superstar Diljit Dosanjh has made history as the first South Asian artist to grace the cover of Billboard Magazine, featuring in the debut print edition of Billboard Canada set for release in…
