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NOVEMBER 7 - 13, 2025
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Philippines declares national state of calamity DATELINE USA Nancy Pelosi to retire after Typhoon Tino batters Visayas and Mindanao FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
after historic 20-term career in US Congress
Nancy Pelosi, the first woman elected Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and the longest-serving House leader in American history, announced she will not seek reelection, ending a 38-year career that reshaped Congress and U.S. politics.
by AJPress
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday, November 6 declared a state of national calamity as the Philippines reels from the devastation caused by Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi), which carved a destructive path across the Visayas and parts of Mindanao, killing scores and displacing hundreds of thousands. The proclamation, approved on November 6,
2025, empowers national and local governments to speed up relief operations, stabilize prices of basic goods, and access emergency funds. It also comes as a new system, Typhoon Fung-Wong (local name Uwan), forms east of the country, threatening to prolong a season of hardship for millions of Filipinos. A storm of punishing strength According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
Stronger Philippines, US military ties pushed by Michael Punongbayan
SAN FRANCISCO — Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi announced on Thursday, November 6, 2025 that she will not seek reelection to the U.S. Congress, concluding an extraordinary 38-year career that transformed American politics and redefined leadership in Washington. The 85-year-old Democrat will complete her current term representing California’s 11th Congressional District, which covers most of San Francisco, before stepping down in January 2027. ‘With a grateful heart, we have made hisu PAGE 4
Philstar.com
FAA to reduce flights at 40 major airports as shutdown deepens WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will temporarily reduce flight operations by up to 10 percent at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports as the government shutdown stretches into its fifth week, marking one of the most visible impacts yet on the country’s transportation system. The FAA described the move as a temporary safety measure to relieve strain on air traffic controllers and safety staff, many of whom have been working unpaid since federal funding expired. The phased reduction will begin with about 4 percent fewer flights before increasing to 10 percent if the shutdown continues through midNovember. Adjusting volume to protect safety Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the decision was based on staffing assessments at critical control centers. “We are adjusting u PAGE 4
(PAGASA), Typhoon Tino made landfall over southern Cebu on November 3 with maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts reaching 205 kph, equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane. Its central pressure of 950 hectopascalssignaled a rapidly intensifying system that lingered for more than 36 hours over the central islands. The slow-moving storm dumped more than 400 millimeters of rain in 24 hours across Cebu, Neu PAGE 2
MONCADA BELEN. The colorful entry of Tarlac town Moncada to the 18th Belenismo sa Tarlac is one of the standouts during a presentation on Wednesday, November 5. Tarlac Heritage Foundation co-founders and Belenismo organizers Isabel Cojuangco-Suntay and Dr. Isa Suntay have opened the pre-judging of 52 giant belen (Nativity scene) participants in five categories (Community, Church, Monumental, Grand Non-Municipal and Grand Municipal). PNA photo by Avito Dalan
Filipino veterans still fighting for full recognition decades after WWII
MANILA — Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. are looking forward to even stronger military relations with the United States following their meeting with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Department of War. The two officials separately received Gen. Dan Caine at Camp Aguinaldo on Wednesday, providing another opportunity to discuss various matters of mutual concern. Teodoro earlier had engagements with U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Malaysia, underscoring the sustained momentum of key leader engagements and the enduring Philippines–U.S. defense alliance. Caine extended his condolences to the bereaved families of the six Philippine Air Force pilots and crew members who perished in the Super Huey helicopter crash in Agusan del Sur last Nov. 4. He likewise expressed solidarity with those affected by the recent typhoon and reiterated the United States’ readiness to assist the Philippines in ongoing humanitarian and disaster response efforts. u PAGE 2
News Feature
The Filipino Veterans Recognition & Education Project (FilVetREP) celebrates a decade of advocacy by Jon Melegrito and Bing Cardenas Branigin Inquirer.net
McLEAN, Va. — Decades after they fought for the United States during World War II, Filipino veterans continue to fight to have their rightful status and benefits restored by the U.S. government. Building on these valiant efforts, the Fil-
ipino Veterans Recognition & Education Project (FilVetREP) took up the cudgels for them 10 years ago by urging Congress to fulfill the promise made by President Franklin Roosevelt to the Filipino soldiers who u PAGE 4
Philippines forms national Fil-Am Maria Torres-Springer joins Socialism vs communism: What s all-women transition team Zohran Mamdani’s win reveals about sports tourism body to boost NYC’ Filipino American leader Maria Torres-Springer global hosting ambitions joins Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s all-women a changing political vocabulary NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani
by AJPress MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has signed Administrative Order No. 38 on October 29, 2025, establishing the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee (NST-IAC) to align government efforts in developing and promoting sports tourism. The committee is tasked with coordinating national initiatives that will position the Philippines as a premier desti-
nation for international sporting events, marking a pivotal move that links athletic excellence with the country’s visitor economy. Turning sports into an economic driver The creation of the NST-IAC underscores the government’s plan to elevate sports as both a cultural asset and an engine of economic growth. By combining athletic development with tourism promotion, the Marcos administration aims to tap into u PAGE 3
Photo courtesy of Campaign Press Pool
transition team, an experienced lineup of former New York City officials guiding the next admin
Zohran Mamdani’s historic win as New York City’s first Muslim and democratic socialist mayor revives debate on socialism’s meaning and how it oversee the incoming mayor’s by AJPress hand-over. differs from communism’s past experiments NEW YORK — Filipino-AmerTorres-Springer joins Lina
ican public servant Maria Torres-Springer, New York City’s former First Deputy Mayor, has been named one of four co-chairs on the all-women transition team of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. The group, announced November 5, 2025, brings together veteran administrators from previous city and federal roles to
Khan, former chair of the Federal Trade Commission; Grace Bonilla, president and CEO of the United Way of New York City and former Human Resources Administration commissioner; and Melanie Hartzog, former deputy mayor for Health and Human Services and city budget u PAGE 4
by AJPress A new conversation in America’s largest city When Zohran Mamdani was elected New York City’s first Muslim mayor on November 4, 2025, his victory did more than mark a milestone in represen-
tation, it reignited a national conversation about ideas once considered too radical for mainstream politics. Calling himself a democratic socialist, Mamdani brought to the forefront a word long misunderstood in the Ameru PAGE 3