Standing Up to a Heavy-Hand

This is the worst of times; but it could also the best of times. President Trump disallows the entry of refugees from seven "terrorist" countries. Fortunately, people around the world would have none of it. They showed humanity’s best values of compassion and solidarity by staging firestorms of protests worldwide.

The vagueness of the order led to chaos in ports of entry that victimized even legitimate visa holders. An incident at LAX airport on the day of Trump's inauguration leads us to question whether immigration officials had already been given instructions to stop and question non-U.S. citizens even before the executive order was made public.

Meanwhile, many Filipinos are joining The Resistance as Positively Filipino Correspondent Cherie Querol-Moreno reports in "Marching for Justice Around the World."

On a calmer note, Correspondent Rey de la Cruz profiles Leonardo Cunanan, an artist-musician now based in Canada. Correspondent Anthony Maddela catches up with Stella Abrera, principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre.

Our Happy Home Cook recipe: Beef Chayote Soup from new Correspondent Rene Astudillo.

For our Video of the Week, Mikey Bustos presents the different reactions Filipino pageant fans exhibit during the Miss Universe contest.

Here are our In The Know links for this week:

From the New York Times: Duterte’s Free Birth-Control Order Is Latest Skirmish With Catholic Church

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/27/world/asia/philippines-free-contraception-duterte.html?emc=edit_tnt_20170127&nlid=57507146&tntemail0=y&_r=1

From The Asia Foundation, Steven Rood reflects on his 17 Years As Country Representative In The Philippines

http://asiafoundation.org/2017/01/18/reflecting-17-years-country-representative-philippines/

From Yahoo, Philippines invasive plant could fuel the country's kitchens

https://www.yahoo.com/news/philippines-invasive-plant-could-fuel-114459236.html?.tsrc=fauxdal

Gung Hei Fat Choy 2017!

Chinese people all over the world will welcome the New Year on January 28 with general merriment, family gatherings, firecrackers, feasts and lucky money red envelops for children. We join the estimated 1.5 million ethnic Chinese in the Philippines in ushering in the Year of the Rooster with a lot of hope for the home that we share.

In this issue Michael Gonzalez revisits the myriad Chinese influences on Filipino culture with “Porcelain and Pansit.” Our peoples’ long history together etched these cultural markings, and it also explains why nearly a quarter of all Filipinos have some Chinese ancestry. Enjoy Michael’s piece with “Chinese Peanut Cookies for the Lunar New Year of the Rooster,” courtesy of The Happy Home Cook. 

This issue also has Rey De La Cruz's “Art for Love's Sake,” which features artist Angelito de Leon David.  

Our Video of the Week is “Filipinas” by Trio Los Panchos. This Spanish group visited the Philippines in 1958 and recorded the album "Siete Notas de Amor," which features Filipino folksongs. 

Days of Reckoning

In two days, the United States will transition peacefully to a new administration, practically 360 degrees different from the outgoing one.

It's not quite clear how the new one  will set in motion its announced denial of climate change as a real and serious issue, a stand that defies about 95 percent of science. However the politics of it will play out, Fil-Am journalist Dorian Merina categorically warns us, "Attention Filipinos: Climate Change Is Here. Now." Wherever we are, he states, we will be affected, the impact intense unless we each do our part in working to reverse it. A timely warning, this piece is.

Another reality-based admonition comes from Manila-based contributor Cathy Sanchez Babao, who contends that now is "A Time for Kindness." With this initial volley into the #kindnessrevolution, we ask readers to send us their personal experiences with kindness -- as giver, receiver or witness. Write us at kindness@positivelyfilipino.com and we'll post your stories.

San Francisco Bay Area-based artist France Viana profiles another artist, Johanna Poethig, who identifies herself as American-Filipino (she spent her childhood in the Philippines with her American missionary parents). Poethig's works are eloquent statements of her Filipino background and passions.

For those who are preparing for Chinese New Year on January 28, here's what to do with that always welcome gift of tikoy (gooey rice cake), from Correspondent and food expert Elizabeth Ann Quirino.

For Video of the Week, we feature the Kahayag Dance Company, which won the 2015 World Cultural Dance Festival.