Allow us this brief interruption of your Holy Week meditation or panata.

If you're a returning resident (aka green card holder) to the US and you're stopped at your port of entry, here's valuable guidance on your rights (yes, you do have rights) and what you can do to ensure those rights are respected. San Francisco-based immigration lawyer Lourdes Santos Tancinco lists down what can happen and how you can protect your status. "Your green card is your legal proof of U.S. residency, and you should not be pressured into relinquishing it. If questioned, detained, or pressured to sign documents, stand your ground, assert your rights, and seek legal advice," she states.

"West Covina Councilman Ollie Cantos Can’t Do What?" Read PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela's profile of this dynamic, accomplished FilAm public servant who didn't allow his disability (blind since birth) to stop him from reaching the heights (including a visit to the White House Oval Office) as a civil rights fighter in government. Read on and be inspired.

Confused about what's happening in the US government right now? Rappler executive editor Marites Vitug talks to our own PF editor Rene Ciria Cruz to unpack the perplexing mayhem that is the current administration, in our Video of the Week.

Finally, we pay tribute to two of the Philippines' most beloved icons: Superstar Nora Aunor, who passed a few hours ago, and Pilita Corrales, Asia's Queen of Songs, who died last week. A million thanks to both of you for the joy your immense talents and your music brought to our lives. Check out our In The Know section below for tributes to Nora and Pilita. And Read Again: "The Timeless Nora Aunor" by PF contributing writer and film critic Mauro Feria Tumbocon, Jr.

We wish you all a peaceful and joyous Easter.

In The Know

Nora Aunor, Superstar and national artist, dead at 71
https://entertainment.inquirer.net/606014/nora-aunor-superstar-and-national-artist-dead-at-71?

A tribute to Pilita
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lL5MIHGHo0

Exclusive: Fake accounts drove praise of Duterte and now target Philippine election
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/fake-accounts-drove-praise-duterte-now-target-philippine-election-2025-04-11/

Trump’s Tariffs Will Pummel Asia. But One Country Sees Opportunity.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/09/business/trump-tariffs-philippines.html

Dismantling a dynasty: Vico Sotto is redefining local leadership
https://pcij.org/2025/04/07/dismantle-political-dynasty-vico-sotto-redefines-local-leadership

Persistence Is Key: How The Agnew Sisters Overcame Injury and Doubt To Play Together At The Division I Level
https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2025/4/8/athletics-persistence-is-key-how-the-agnews-overcame-injury-and-doubt-to-play-together-at-the-division-i-level.

How does deportation work, and how much does it cost? We break it down.
https://www.npr.org/2025/04/07/nx-s1-5308051/deportation-timeline-cost?

Once upon a time, in the good old days when the rule of law was respected and immigrants were welcome to the US, green card holders (aka permanent residents) shared the same rights and benefits with naturalized US citizens, except for the right to vote.

Today, green card holders can be stopped at ports of entry and deported, just like international students with valid US visas and other legitimate visa holders. If you're worried that, despite your green card, you might not be allowed back, here's valuable guidance from immigration lawyer Lourdes Santos Tancinco. Note of interest: there's a difference between "arriving alien" and "returning resident." Remember that not all green card holders are in danger of being denied entry. But if you are, you still have rights.

April is National Autism Acceptance Month and two FilAm behavioral analysts from Jacksonville, FL -- Irene Batario (Tita Irene) and Redner Salonga (Kuya Red) -- mark the occasion with a picture book, "Bayani and the ABCs of Me," the first children's book on autism for Filipinos. PF contributing writer Claire Mercado-Obias interviews the two on the making of this landmark book.

Grilling is as Filipino as sinigang and different regions of the Philippines have their own way of grilling food. The town of Bayambang in Pangasinan takes the practice several steps higher with its own term -- inkalot -- and by setting the Guinness World Record of the longest barbecue grill in 2014. Writer Resty Odon celebrates his town's grilling tradition and gives us a lesson on grilling lexicon in this essay which won third prize in the 2023 Doreen Gamboa Fernandez Food Writing Award.

PF Correspondent and intrepid world traveler Rey de la Cruz marks the island nation of Malta as the 125th country he has visited. And of course he meets Filipinos there. Read his Pinoyspotting account this week.

For our Partner post this week, Washington D.C.-based writer/activist Jon Melegrito gives an account of the 2025 Bataan Memorial Death March, now on its 36th year, in White Sands, New Mexico. Today, April 9, marks the 82nd anniversary of the Bataan Death March.

[Video of the Week] South China Sea: Escalating tensions between China and the Philippines

In The Know

Kanlaon Volcano goes on explosive eruption; remains on alert level 3
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2050842/kanlaon-volcano-goes-on-explosive-eruption-remains-on-alert-no-3

Filipinos make history on Broadway: Lea Salonga among 7 on world stage
https://usa.inquirer.net/169480/filipinos-make-history-on-broadway-lea-salonga-among-7-on-world-stage?

Cordillera’s cultural norms push back against political dynasties
https://pcij.org/2025/03/28/cordillera-indigenous-governance-pushes-back-against-political-dynasties/?

Lea Salonga and Her Trans Son Nic Chien Redefine Family, Identity, and Acceptance
https://asianjournal.com/features/lea-salonga-and-her-trans-son-nic-chien-redefine-family-identity-and-acceptance/?