Our Places in the World

/

Filipinos are known for finding places in many corners of the globe to make their home. Necessity often spurs them to do so. In “Landscapes of Diaspora,” we feature the works of Janine Barrera, a young artist who paints as a “global citizen with a Filipino aesthetic” and one who is grateful for the new home she has found for herself.

Meanwhile, former career diplomat Virgilio A Reyes revisits one of his temporary homes in search of footprints of a French ancestor. “A ‘French Leave’ in Paris on a Eurailpass” is Part 2 of his series on returning to Europe 50 years after he was an exchange student on the continent in 1972.

Some compatriots are able to find success in the old sod and generously try to better our common home. One such Filipino was the late business leader-philanthropist Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco. Positively Filipino Publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco tells of her family’s loving commemoration of her late father’s 100th February birthday. His loved ones recalled his “A Legacy of Compassion,” which was rooted in his conviction that an enterprise should aim for a “social return on investment,” or use private investment for the public good. Fittingly, The AY Foundation continues to render assistance to employees of the Yuchengco Group of Companies and their children, as well as to the most vulnerable in Philippine society, through scholarships and health care and skills development programs. Ambassador Yuchengco’s philosophy in action makes sure that his legacy of compassion will last well beyond the 100 years he spent in this world.

And more of the noteworthy Fil-Ams in our 43rd edition of the remarkable and famous.

Read Agains: 

Romances In History by Ambeth R. Ocampo

Second Springs by Cathy S. Babao

A Year Of God’s Sweet Time by Corito Fiel

Cook It Again: The Happy Home Cook: Scampi And Crab Pasta by Bernie Cervantes

[Video of the Week] Can Filipinos be Superstitious and Scientific? 

Breaking the Tabo’s Sapphire Sandalo talks about the background oof some of our superstitions and their acceptance into the mainstream.

Tonic for Post-Election PTSD

/

Fourteen years after he won the Man Asian Literary Prize for his book Ilustrado, Filipino author Miguel Syjuco has come out with a new one: I Was the President's Mistress!!, hailed by Salman Rushdie as a "brilliant black comedy" and by David Mitchell as "A super-typhoon of a novel." This wild satirical romp into the (imagined) inner sanctum of the rich and powerful might just be the tonic to lingering PTSDs from the recent elections. University of Hawaii professor Patricio N. Abinales gives us a peek.

In the hands of a capable writer, a story about a day, an event, a historical moment can be compelling reading. In the hands of a master, a writer of National Artist caliber as Jose "Pete" Lacaba, Jr. surely is, it becomes literature, history and magic all at once. Lacaba's reportage on the First Quarter Storm of 1970 (collected into a timeless book, Days of Disquiet, Nights of Rage) remains unsurpassed among the historical accounts of that restless era. Here, in his recollection of the late, lamented movie director Lino Brocka's last day on earth (he was killed in an auto accident in 1991), Lacaba does it again: tells a story in words and it comes out more vivid than actual photos. In this age of Instagram, that's a monumental feat.

As Father's Day approaches, lawyer Paul-Philippe Reyes writes in awe of his granddad, the late journalist/editor/Press Secretary Rex Reyes who quite literally died while typing a story.

The month of June is rich in celebrations so here are some stories that you can Read Again to mark this month's passage. (We'll have more next week.)

A daughter commemorates her father who was a manong: https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/2013/6/the-ardor-of-my-father

Our publisher's father was a titan in the true sense of the word: https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/my-dad-a-daring-dreamer

On Jose Rizal's 161st birthday, we are still amazed by his myriad talents:

https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/jose-rizal-martial-arts-warrior 

https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/rizals-kiss

Recipe of the Week: The Happy Home Cook: Sinigang na Paella

Video of the Week: O Bayan Ko

In The Know

More Filipinos trust news but many avoid it – Digital News Report 2022

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1610916/embargo-more-filipinos-trust-news-but-many-avoid-it-digital-news-report-2022?fbclid=IwAR3deR-zOUX4Y4S7mAyn5qR4qOKPhs2fB5jp8EBFZ6T8j_ODFDNmHOcKo0I

Sacramento Filipino-American activists breathe new life into half-century struggle after Marcos Jr’s election

https://www.capradio.org/articles/2022/06/12/sacramento-filipino-american-activists-breathe-new-life-into-half-century-struggle-after-marcos-jrs-election/?fbclid=IwAR08RPhcE4-EdnKZ82ULvdTtlGdRNK92ACVJqmj9mlYONE6YUm2IuTJvCuE

The Museum Was Built So No One Would Forget. Now It’s Falling Apart.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/07/world/asia/philippines-martial-law-marcos-museum.html?referringSource=articleShare

Babalu, Bentot, Cachupoy: The History Behind the Comedians’ Names

https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/arts-and-entertainment/classic-pinoy-comedians-names-a4362-lfrm-a2364-20200601-src-spot-lfrm2?utm_source=Facebook-EsquireMoney&utm_medium=Siteshare&utm_campaign=20220609-fbnp-culture-classic-pinoy-comedians-names-a4362-lfrm-a2364-20200601-src-spot-lfrm2-fbold&fbclid=IwAR0WO2CKAE6fp2UqDVmE0Kt_ixTuUThanLfyX_5PEl_Vm8jvv9jYLm31jTc

The Meaning Behind The PH Government's Seals

https://www.tatlerasia.com/power-purpose/ideas-education/finding-the-meanings-behind-ph-seals?utm_campaign=PH_DIG_FULL20220612&utm_medium=email&utm_source=tatlerasia.com

Eric Bauza: The Fil-Canadian voice behind your favorite cartoon characters

https://www.rappler.com/nation/overseas-filipinos/eric-bauza-filipino-canadian-voice-behind-your-favorite-cartoon-characters/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR1Euxk3s2JCzoWK_kyu4cOVCIV0reEnyeJX5w8V-pg5i1IMqD3WW4V6PLI#Echobox=1654999497

A New Filipino American Play Asks: Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Lechon?

https://www.kqed.org/arts/13914750/inay-dalisay-world-famous-lechon-vegan-filipino-play-bindlestiff?fbclid=IwAR1XonljhdViKD-AFDsz5t7gSF7-XIbSiAaUde4I8a7cRXHLmFlp7Xpxd5s

Biennale Star Cian Dayrit Was One of Dozens of Artists Arrested in the Philippines for Supporting Farmers’ Rights

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/cian-dayrit-arrested-2129854

/ /
, , , ,

Staff

Comforting the Afflicted, Afflicting the Comfortable

/

When I was in journalism school at the University of the Philippines (UP) many decades ago, our professors -- all giants in the field -- imprinted into our consciousness two basic tenets that every decent journalist should take to heart: first, that an independent, unfettered press is vital to good government, and second, it is not the role of the press to comfort the comfortable. On the contrary, the role of the press is to make those in power uncomfortable, by being the guardian and the disseminator of truth and decency. Such principles were tested sorely during martial law, and they are again being tested now.

To paraphrase Oprah, the press is currently under siege, not just in the US but more so in the Philippines. Upholding press freedom has become a bruising challenge these days; its suppression has taken many forms -- from outright harassment, legal cases, trolling and imprisonment, even killing of journalists. The latest case is the revocation of the license to operate of Rappler, an online publication in Manila. With our In The Know links this week, we keep you updated on the issue:

Rappler Registration Revoked
https://www.rappler.com/nation/193687-rappler-registration-revoked

SEC revocation of Rappler’s registration explained
http://verafiles.org/articles/vera-files-fact-sheet-sec-revocation-rapplers-registration-e

Three things Duterte got wrong about Rappler
http://verafiles.org/articles/vera-files-fact-check-three-things-duterte-got-wrong-about-r

In time of slaughter and lies, Rappler is a beacon of hope
http://usa.inquirer.net/9322/time-slaughter-lies-rappler-beacon-hope

Of PDRs and 'foreign ownership' of PH media
https://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/176774-pdrs-media-ownership

Media, human rights groups slam SEC closure order vs. Rappler
http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/01/16/media-groups-on-SEC-closure-order-rappler.html

Our lineup for this week takes us to Vancouver, Canada as PF contributing writer Sandie Gillis chronicles the visit of National Artist BenCab and his drawing session with Filipino-Canadian artists who belong to the Dimasalang III artist collective in that area. 

It also takes us back in time to the construction of the railroad to Baguio in the early part of the 20th century by our American colonizers. Historian/academic Michael Gonzalez writes about the progress and folly of the ambitious project to provide the Americans in the Philippines an easy way to vacation in the land of pines.

PF publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco attended for the first time and writes about the annual event of Bantayog ng Mga Bayani in Quezon City. Bantayog is a memorial site for the gallant men and women who resisted martial law and last year, the Bantayog heroes included the late Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco, who turned out to be a secret supporter of some "subversive" activities against Marcos.

And in the same spirit of resistance, let's revisit what is now immortalized as the First Quarter Storm of 1970. Read Again journalist Jose "Pete" Lacaba's riveting account of that period, from his classic book Days of Disquiet, Nights of Rage. We posted it in two parts:

http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-first-quarter-storm-was-no-dinner-party-part-1

http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-first-quarter-storm-was-no-dinner-party-part-2

Our Happy Home Cook recipe for this week: Bangus Sisig by Chef Niel Salvatera of Kusina de Manila in Des Plaines, Illinois.

For our Video of the Week, TV Journalist TJ Manotoc opens up on a taboo topic in Philippines: Living with Depression.

/ /
, , , , , , ,

Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino