A Story from Our Man in Beijing

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A little known episode in Philippine pre-colonial history is the visit of the delegation of the Sultan of Sulu to the Chinese Imperial Court in 1417. Led by Sultan Paduka Batara (pronounced as Pahala in Chinese), who reportedly brought with him a large entourage of wives, aides and soldiers numbering more than 300, the visit affirmed the significant trade and cultural relations between the two Asian trade routes. The Chinese Emperor Yongle hosted the Sultan for a month, after which the latter began his journey home to his kingdom. By an unfortunate twist of fate, the Sultan fell ill and died in Dezhou in Shandong Province, and was buried there. His tomb and that of his consort and two sons remain to this day; in fact, as our story this week shows, the site has been expanded and enhanced.

The backstory to our story is just as interesting. The writer, Jaime FlorCruz, first visited the Dezhou burial site of the Sultan of Sulu in the early '80s, when, as a curious student in exile from martial law in the Philippines, he surreptitiously worked his way to the area which was off-limits to foreigners then. Now he is Philippine ambassador to China, able to travel by bullet train to the city where many generations of the Sultan's progeny still live. [Read "Sultan of Sulu" which also includes links to more detailed stories of the Sultan of Sulu's fateful journey.]

September is a month of sad commemoration and none sadder than the horrific terrorist attack that felled the two World Trade Center towers in New York City. It has been 22 years and two days since 9/11/2001 but our memories of that day remain fresh and vivid, no matter how far away we were from Ground Zero and Washington DC, the other epicenter of the attack. One of those who had a very close call and lived to tell the story is Major General Antonio Taguba. Read Again his personal experience of that horrendous day when he was a mere 2 minutes and 75 feet from being pulverized by American Airlines Flight 77 which plowed into the Pentagon that morning : https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/my-close-call-on-911

We continue our Act Against Hate series with this story [https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/act-against-hate/fil-am-couple-to-press-on-with-case-against-hate-attack-suspects-another-family-of-victims-agrees-to-plea-deal-with-their-attacker] and Hate Watch, a compilation of links to related stories from various states. 

Jacob Maentz, a former Peace Corps volunteer now a Cebu resident, chronicles the lives of Filipino Indigenous peoples in a book of photography that he recently launched.

A new book is always a cause for celebration and FilAm author Noel Alumit's latest is no exception. Cecilia Manguerra Brainard writes about the author and his work.

PF Correspondent Myles A. Garcia continues his Internet sleuthing and comes up with the obscure but definitely fascinating story of a Manila party boy named Juan Torena who became a bit player in the Hollywood orbit in the mid-20th century. 

And ICYMI, we're hiring:

Part-Time Social Media Consultant- Anti-Asian Hate Project

Positively Filipino, the premier digital native magazine celebrating the story of the global Filipino community is seeking a social media consultant for 12 months for public education about anti-Asian hate.  The project is part of a California statewide project to raise public awareness when incidents and crimes occur, how to report, services available to victims and their families and what the public can do to address the problem.

The new position of social media consultant will work closely with Positively Filipino editors and journalists to identify content, create and post messages on Instagram and FaceBook and tweets on Twitter “X”. 

This is a unique opportunity to work in collaboration with some of the most experienced journalists, scholars and activists in the Filipino community to raise awareness of the impact of this dangerous trend and how it is affecting Filipino Americans.

Planned level of engagement 4 to 8 posts per month for 12 months.  Compensation:  $500 mo.

Qualifications:  Facility with Instagram, FaceBook and Twitter “X” preferred.  Experience paid or volunteer with related nonprofit or advocacy organizations.  Interest in or experience in journalism a plus.  Some college helpful. The applicant must be US-based.

Please send your resume with a cover letter, links to sample Instagram, FaceBook and Twitter “X” postings and a writing sample to: filipinos@positivelyfilipino.com.

Funding provided by the State of California.

Anti-Asian Hate Watch

Elderly Asian couple held at gunpoint in another Seattle home robbery
https://nextshark.com/elderly-asian-couple-gunpoint-seattle-home-robbery

‘I hate Asians’: Man arrested for anti-Asian attacks in Portland’s Slabtown district
https://nextshark.com/portland-slabtown-anti-asian-attacks-arrest

API Equity Budget in Jeopardy as California Faces $20 Billion Deficit
https://ethnicmediaservices.org/stop-the-hate/api-equity-budget-in-jeopardy-as-california-faces-20-billion-deficit/

Killer convicted of murdering elderly Asian man in Oakland
https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/killer-convicted-of-murdering-elderly-asian-man-in-oakland/

AAPIs in Indiana Fear Being Targets 6 Months After Knife Attack on Chinese American Student
https://ethnicmediaservices.org/news-exchange/how-a-hate-crime-in-indiana-became-a-rallying-cry-for-asian-americans/

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Staff