In the News

Political engagement is essential in any election year. The 21st century, however, presents new challenges. Millennials — hard-hit by the economic downturn — are increasingly pessimistic. How can this enormous demographic be roused to political engagement? And in an age where people get most of their information on the internet and initiate their social interactions online, how has the nature of political engagement changed?

LOS ANGELES — ”I don’t care if there is no customer or if the customer is a fly or a mosquito, you are not allowed to take a break to eat.”

This was one of the incidents with one of the defendants related by Gina Pablo-Grossman, one of the 11 plaintiffs in the successful lawsuit against the owners of L’Amande bakeries, as she and others met June 9 with the community and media here to celebrate their landmark legal victory.

MANILA, Philippines – A California District Court recently granted 11 trafficked overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) a default judgement of $15.2 million (P700 million) in damages and fees.

The workers were trafficked to the United States to serve as domestic servants and kitchen staff to high-end bakeries owned by defendants Analiza and Goncalo Moitinho de Almeida. They were subjected to abusive conditions, including 17-hour workdays and $3 (P138.23) per-hour wages.

The 11 Filipino workers in Los Angeles, who last month won a $15.3 million federal court judgment for the human trafficking and labor violations of their former employer, have obtained visas to stay in the United States with the help of a member of Congress.