For Kids' Sake

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Giving up a successful business to engage fulltime in volunteer civic action is a giant step for anyone. That's what Vicky Vergara Wieneke did when she set up Kabisig ng Kalahi, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that started as a feeding program for malnourished children in Batangas and has since expanded as a full-fledged nutrition and livelihood program in various provinces. Kabisig's projects has the support of both the Philippine government and private corporations. PF contributing writer Gia R. Mendoza gives a first-hand report on Kabisig and her sorority sister, Vicky VW.

Collecting trading cards of sports heroes is arguably a rite of passage of young people interested in sports. But for FilAm collector Mark John Sanchez, who teaches Asian American Studies at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, trading cards of 20th century Filipino and FilAm sports personalities are a valuable source of history and nostalgia. He gives us a glimpse of his collection and the historical information it provides.

If you're searching for a meaningful book for children in the first- to fourth grade, here's a highly recommended one: Philip Vera Cruz by Karen Su, a fitting introduction to the Filipino working class hero who was a leading light in the US labor movement.

Canny Assignations

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It's almost Valentine's Day so let's talk about lust. 

Oscar Peñaranda, beloved teacher of many, poet/author and master raconteur, recounts his young, wild days as an Alaskero (Filipino cannery worker), when dark nights, stinky corners, and hordes of mosquitoes did not stop lonely hearts from having intimate parties for two. "Lust Among the Ruins" is LOL funny. And poignant. A salve for pandemic Valentine blues.

Another kind of love, this one for the fave candy of one's childhood. PF Correspondent Rey E. de la Cruz reignites his love for White Rabbit, the candy created in Shanghai, and finds kindred spirits almost everywhere. ["Down the 'White Rabbit' Hole"]

When our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco started the series of notable and famous/infamous Fil-Ams, she thought it would just take a few chapters. But names kept cropping up as friends and readers sent in their suggestions, so now "Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous" is already Part 15 (with more coming in our future issues; watch out for them).

Since February is Black History Month, it's a good time to commemorate Pvt. David Fagan, a Black American soldier sent to the Philippines to fight the Filipino rebels at the onset of the Filipino-American War of 1898-1902. Fagan chose to defect to the Philippine forces and fight the Americans. Read Again Rene G. Ontal's timeless retelling of "A Black Man's Burden."

And for more stories about romances and heartbreaks, join us for our webinar on February 16. See below for details.

Our Stories This Week

Lust Among The Ruins By Oscar Peñaranda

Down The ‘White Rabbit’ Hole By Rey E. de la Cruz

Fil-Ams Among The Remarkable And Famous, Part 15 By Mona Lisa Yuchengco

Read Again: A Black Man’s Burden By Rene G. Ontal

The Happy Home Cook: Boneless Bangus Donburi By Rene Astudillo

Video of the Week: Team Kidlat in Marawi and Tagoloan

In The Know

Europe's Army of Filipino Domestic Workers
https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/modern-slavery-europe-s-army-of-filipino-domestic-workers-a-93346a29-3899-470c-9221-4cf7000295aa

Indigenous Filipino Fabrics Are Making a Comeback
https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/design/philippine-indigenous-fabrics-are-making-a-comeback-a00225-20171017-lfrm?fbclid=IwAR36DHhb2DRBcGcM7CZL7xxrrUYluH7aYsNEPIiFMy7SDFLOGtHz5F1KkBk

Journey Frontman Arnel Pineda on the Band’s New Record, Dreams of a Steve Perry Reunion
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/arnel-pineda-interview-journey-album-steve-perry-1117594/?fbclid=IwAR0fmFaKIdQVOywspJYRc5vylOOZA6JCDocVoCUsTVYpSauhDWjSJEpp6rs

The Original Chefs From Bad Saint Open the Fil-Am Fast Food Counter of Their Dreams
https://dc.eater.com/2021/1/27/22250817/pogiboy-opening-past-bad-saint-chefs-jollibee-inspired-tom-cunanan-the-block-dc?fbclid=IwAR3x1vkKluOcLfSrLfvWfjhMF0e-QPHscpivWbo9AknWt4bimJwE926Fjws

Girl, 12, leads fundraising for coral rehab in Camiguin
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1126886?fbclid=IwAR2P75j0Mn1FrXYDUBtALMxUfjJYjnGNCUTwUMkZZPBzPM8vgU-hcovdwZw

Seattle mural to depict Filipino and Fil-Am history
https://usa.inquirer.net/63055/seattle-mural-to-depict-filipino-and-fil-am-history?fbclid=IwAR3XhNuXT5LOOozCyr5vJdmn51yhKjv0auQt7AsP5BnTs_LZrpdowPdByYM

There Are Places We Remember

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A bright spot in San Francisco's theater world took place recently with the limited run of "The Chinese Lady," starring Filipino American stage actor Rinabeth Apostol in the starring role. The play is a true but hardly known story about the first Chinese woman to be brought to the US as exhibit A for Americans to behold the exoticism of the Orient. PF contributor Elaine Elinson gives us not only a recap of the play but also introduces us to the acting prowess of Rinabeth, which, she says, is nothing short of "astonishing." ("Rinabeth Apostol Shines in 'The Chinese Lady'")

There are places -- and people -- we'll remember all our lives (though some have changed), and for veteran broadcast journalist Lloyd LaCuesta, who recently went on his own magical mystery tour of Liverpool, where the Beatles were born and bred, he loved them all. ("A Magical Tour of the Beatles' Hometown")

Likewise, traveling to London and Paris, recently PF contributor Voltaire Gungab chronicles some of his encounters with interesting Filipino expats in Pinoyspotting.

Our Happy Home Cook recipe this week is another one from Beth Romualdez from her cookbook, Cooking Lessons. This time it's her version of the classic favorite, Binagoongang Baboy. 

Just in: Fil-Am chess Grand Master Wesley So has just become the first world champion in Fischer Random Chess, beating the world's number one, GM Magnus Carlsen. [https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/in-brief/wesley-so-becomes-chess-world-champion] This is a good time to Read Again the very personal account of traveling with Wesley written by his adopted mom, Lotis Key: https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/a-traveling-fool 

If you want to be updated on the Filipino diaspora but don't have the time to go through various publications, check out Positively Filipino's In Brief section for a quick rundown on important news happening in Filipino communities worldwide. 

And for stories you may have missed, here are our In The Know links this week:

Young Filipinos are in the midst of a mental health crisis
https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/349884/young-filipinos-are-in-the-midst-of-a-mental-health-crisis/?fbclid=IwAR3TftWwsyzo-wtthxsCjK5QULg_aJj6O17ZdTF6TD9a5hIPZ0HqhZTWma0

51 Old Colorized Photos Reveal The Fascinating Filipino Life Between 1900 – 1960
https://filipiknow.net/old-colorized-photos-philippines/?fbclid=IwAR1iXA9G-AGzDlcjotd1ziSHbuLcsLrggiimLG57hEf4QJ6AyRHURPz3y_0

There are Filipinos in Alaska – they’re called Alaskeros, and they’ve been there for more than 200 years
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/society/article/3008815/there-are-filipinos-alaska-theyre-called-alaskeros-and-theyve?fbclid=IwAR2iwBCCJS8Z1HwXJwGtUobCY8FM4z2eui3R80bDQEq8QFq3A3XCpg1NlFM

This Lady Bought Rice Through an App; The Farmers Wrote Her Back
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/farmers-write-letter-of-thanks-a00293-20191029?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20191029-fbnp-long-reads%2Ffarmers-write-letter-of-thanks-a00293-20191029-fbfirst&fbclid=IwAR2MFv9TDDd2dgqk3r5t385juf3I014ARuzut25CuADq5E9eu6OqnIkXf-8

The ghosts of New Manila's Millionaire's Row, the spirits of 42 Broadway Avenue
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/11/01/19/the-spirits-of-42-broadway-avenue?fbclid=IwAR1B8bl42rHFw1jgFbDY9CyZ_Wsw91TH00C9hTgVd7JICxMgfUyIz1DnSv4

For Video of the Week, ABS-CBN News ran a feature on World Champion Filipino gymnast Carlos Yulo.

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino