Surprises

When Manila-based journalist Manny Mogato got the dawn phone call that announced his winning the 'Holy Grail' of journalism -- the Pulitzer Prize, he was shookt, as contributing writer Kelly B. Vergel de Dios describes his reaction. Only one other Filipino from the Philippines has won the coveted award -- Carlos P. Romulo -- and that was 76 years ago. (Four FilAms have won the Pulitzer: Alex Tizon, Jose Antonio Vargas, Byron Acohido and Cheryl Diaz Meyer.)

In Amsterdam, long-time resident Franklin M. Bobadilla got the surprise of his life when the priest in De Krijtberg Catholic Church asked during a sermon one Sunday: "Did you know that we have a Filipino saint in this church?" Find out why in "An Encounter of a Special Kind."

While the 46th anniversary of the proclamation of martial law in the Philippines has come and gone (September 21) we will be continuing our collection of martial law stories, so send in yours to martiallawstories@gmail.com.

This week we have two:

Fil-Am activist Jeanette Gandionco Lazam recalls her harrowing experience leaving the country after the declaration, in "Who Is Marshall Law?"

Our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco writes publicly for the first time about an extortion plot by a certain Commander David. Her piece, "My Thriller in Manila," is stuff for novels.

links to keep you In The Know:

How Manila has become a portrait of ugliness
https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/66882/how-manila-has-become-a-portrait-of-ugliness/

Utah Valley University President Welcomes Students Using 6 Languages in Crazy Impressive Video
https://nextshark.com/utah-valley-university-president-welcomes-students-using-6-languages-crazy-impressive-video/

Duterte critic arrested as 'darkness and evil' prevail in Philippines
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/25/duterte-critic-antonio-trillanes-iv-hits-out-at-darkness-and-evil-philippines

Schoolgirl, 12, honored for saving Philippine flag
https://globalnation.inquirer.net/10317/albay-girl-honored-for-saving-philippine-flag

For our Happy Home Cook, actress Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo's recipe for Thai Beef Lettuce Wrap. 

For Video of the Week, Balitang America covers the book launch of Jose Antonio Vargas.

46 Years Ago

Folks in New York and New Jersey will be the first in the US to watch the movie "Goyo: The Boy General" which has been creating waves in the Philippines. Starring Paulo Avelino and directed by Jerrold Tarog, also the director of the highly acclaimed "Heneral Luna," "Goyo" is hailed by some critics as even better than the earlier movie. PF Correspondent and cultural historian John Silva weighs in with his review. Details of East Coast showings are provided with the review.

With this issue, we begin our compilation of Martial Law Stories, as part of the growing effort to document what happened during that period. 

"Raid" by Nathan Gilbert Quimpo (excerpted from Subversive Lives: A Family Memoir of the Marcos Years) vividly recalls the heart-stopping fear many experienced when the dreaded knock in the middle of the night came.

"House Arrest" by Vin Lava relates the author's baffling house arrest which turned out to be a decoy so the safe house close by will be warned of the arrest of a top revolutionary.

"The 'Torture' of Playing for the 1974 Miss Universe" by Circus Band vocalist Ceres Jacinto gives us a glimpse of what a command performance for Imelda Marcos meant. 

And as a fitting bookend to this week's 46th anniversary of Proclamation 1081, Read Again Patricio Abinales' account of the adventures of his youth, "Note From the Underground."

This week's list of In The Know links:

To write his debut memoir, Jose Antonio Vargas went off the grid
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/write-his-debut-memoir-jose-antonio-vargas-went-grid-n905416

Philippine Miners Trapped in Typhoon: Drawn by Gold, Drowned in Mud
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/17/world/asia/philippines-landslide-typhoon-mangkhut.html

Philippine ex-general jailed over activists' abduction
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/philippine-ex-general-jailed-over-activists-abduction-091643588.html

Bank of America is asking customers to prove citizenship to access their own money https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/9/11/1794968/-Bank-of-America-is-asking-customers-to-prove-citizenship-to-access-their-own-money

'She can't see — that's why she can't drive': Asian-American woman films woman's racist tirade in parking lot
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/cant-see-thats-cant-drive-asian-american-woman-films-womans-racist-tirade-parking-lot-132547635.html

For our Happy Home Cook, another pulutan recipe that emanated from prison: Tahong Especial.

For our Video of the Week, Arnel Giban posted a video on the children who became victims in the Philippines' War on Drugs.

Basket Weaving and Home Cooking

Basket weaving in the Philippines is not just an art. It is also a means of subsistence of indigenous and rural Filipinos who sell their handwoven baskets and textiles for cash income to buy basic necessities. Former immigration lawyer turned basketry advocate Jill Stanton reports on her visit to basketry communities in the Cordilleras and Pala'wan.

A grieving daughter celebrates her late father's expertise in the kitchen and shares the recipe of his favorite quick dish. Titchie Carandang-Tiongson writes about her dad, well-known TV producer Tony Carandang in "Papa's Japanese Rice."

It has been 17 years since the cataclysmic event now immortalized as 9/11 but the magnitude of the terror remains fresh in many minds, especially those who had a close brush with death on that day. One of them is General Antonio Taguba who was in the Pentagon when the plane crashed and demolished the section he was in just a few minutes before. Read Again his account of "My Close Call on 9/11." 

As we continue to collect martial law stories and vignettes, here's another one of mine. Read Again "Creative Subversion." 

Our Happy Home Cook recipe is another one from Chef Marvin Gapultos who we featured last week. This time a complicated but surely delicious dish which will delight the Ilocanos -- Papaitan. 

Here are this week's links to stories you may have missed:

China Poised to Win Major Victory in Sea Dispute With Help of Philippine Resources Deal
https://www.wsj.com/articles/oil-and-gas-pact-poised-to-hand-china-a-victory-in-sea-dispute-1536571801?redirect=amp#click=https://t.co/iliNWX2Kc6

The Philippines' Human Rights Abuses
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2018-08-03/the-brutal-personal-costs-of-the-philippines-human-rights-abuses

Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho: 11 Year-old Boy Serves as Parent to Younger Brother
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKei-sZ0iOk

Our Video of the Week: GMA's Jessica Soho brings together young basketball talent Justine Remo and his idol, three-time NBA champion Stephen Curry in this exclusive video.

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Tell Us Your Martial Law Story

We are collecting personal stories of life under Martial Law (1972-1981) in the Philippines. If you were there, you would have at least one. Did you violate curfew? Were you arrested? Was anyone in your family a political detainee or was "salvaged?" Did martial law motivate you to leave the country?  Did you benefit from it? What is your most enduring memory of that period?

In 200-600 words, join us in documenting that important era in our homeland's history. Your story counts. And if you have pictures, that would be great.

Please send to martiallawstories@gmail.com.