FBI Searching for Filipino Bank Robber in California

The FBI and police in Orange County are trying to locate a bank robber they describe as a Filipino that held up two banks, one in Huntington Beach and another in Irvine, on Monday.

According to police, the unidentified bank robber, they dubbed as “the stare down bandit” first attempted to rob a US Bank in Huntington Beach but was unsuccessful before moving on and holding up a Bank of America in Irvine, where he received cash and fled on foot.
“During both robberies the robber presented a demand note and made an oral demand for cash,” said Laura Eimiller, an FBI spokeswoman.

Authorities describe the man as an Asian male, possibly of Filipino descent or biracial; with a dark complexion, 5’4”, 145 lbs., thin build, 45 to 60 years in age, with decaying teeth.

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Death of Privacy: 'Your cell phone Big Brother's best friend'

Personal data being gathered on the worldwide web means bigger profits for the private sector and is also being shared with the police, argues Steve Rambam, founder and CEO of Pallorium Inc., an international online investigative service.

­At a time when electronic gadgets and hi-tech innovations dominate our lives, violating privacy and mining people's personal data is easier than ever. The damage that this 24-hour surveillance could do to society and its freedoms is overwhelming.

Video of T-28 plane crash at Martinsburg, West Virginia air show

The pilot of a post-World War II plane died on Saturday after crashing into a runway and bursting into flames in Martinsburg, West Virginia, the second deadly air show crash in 24 hours.

The West Virginia Air National Guard said that no spectators were injured and that the crash site was far away from anyone at the show.

The fixed-wing, single-engine T-28 plane is registered to John Mangan of Concord, North Carolina, and was built in 1958, according to a Federal Aviation Administration registry. The crash occurred a day after a stunt pilot crashed at a Nevada air show on Friday, killing himself and eight others.

Illegal Immigrants Struggle to Survive in US

An undocumented Filipino who arrived in the US in 2007 said it was a struggle to survive.

“Wala akong gaanong kakilala tapos, pangalawa, sa situation mo di mo alam mga dapat mong puntahan saka hindi mo alam anong pwede mong pasukan,” said the Pinoy worker.

Through perseverance, he found a job as a caregiver, and has since worked full-time. He disputes the growing sentiment that undocumented immigrants like him take jobs away from Americans.

There are 14 million Americans who are looking for jobs, which are becoming harder to find amid the gloomy US economic climate. There are also 12 million undocumented immigrants in the US.

“Yung mga trabaho na yan na binabanggit nila hindi naman yan yung papasukan nila,” he said.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, who conducted a town hall meeting on jobs in San Jose, also disagrees that undocumented immigrants take away opportunities from Americans.

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Historic Filipinotown in LA Marks 9th Anniversary

Photo credit: filamartists.com

Headed by its Neighborhood Council, the successful festival aimed to strengthen the Filipino community.
“Our goal as a group of the Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Council is to make the area safe for residents, attract businesses, and to make this a tourist destination in the map of the city of LA,” said Cecilia Ramos, president of the Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Council.

The celebration kicked-off with a 5K run participated by over 500 runners. It was led by A Runner’s Circle, the Pinoy-owned L.A.’s best running specialty store.

“As a fellow Filipino, I guess it’s my duty to help the event, make sure it stays here, make sure every year we have our own Filipinotown 5k,” said Joe Matias, owner of A Runner’s Circle.

Continue reading at ABS-CBN News