Unsettled and Unsettling

We live in unsettled and unsettling times. In both the Philippines and the US, we can almost feel the ground shifting at our feet as we deal with the pandemic and await the coming of the political maelstrom.

For those who lived in the Philippines and were attuned to the national mood in 1972, there is a feeling of deja vu, because around this time 48 years ago, the ground beneath our feet was likewise unsteady. A week later, martial law was declared and the country's historical arc bent towards authoritarianism.

Lest we forget those years under the Marcos regime (14 more years of it, from 1972) and to add to the collection of narratives of that era, here are our stories: 

Ex-political detainee Ernesto M. Hilario writes of his prison experience in "Never Again to Martial Law"

In my column, I recall my personal stories of visiting prison in "Visiting YRC"

Read Again:
Martial Law Stories: House Arrest

Martial Law Stories: The “Torture” of Playing for Miss Universe 1974

For those who missed PF's webinar on the Anti-Terror Law, here's the recording:

[Webinar] The Anti-Terrorism Law And How It Will Affect You

Our Stories This Week

Martial Law Stories: Never Again To Martial Law By Ernesto M. Hilario

Nothing Fragile About Rocker Joanna Glass By Anthony Maddela

All The Presidents’ Man, Eddie Serrano By Dr. Floriño Francisco

Meeting Pierce Brosnan And The Dalai Lama By Mona Lisa Yuchengco

Martial Law Stories: Visiting YRC By Gemma Nemenzo

The Happy Home Cook: Sandy’s Fried Rice By Chef Sandy Daza

Video of the week: AAPI Vote’s Breadth of Community

In The Know

Asian Americans’ political preferences have flipped from red to blue
https://theconversation.com/asian-americans-political-preferences-have-flipped-from-red-to-blue-145577?fbclid=IwAR1HIk45p6ym7OUfEtr8qEs1-X7k03g6pJPgvsSeIkub8wW2UeBM_V2vUZ0

For Filipino migrant workers, coronavirus dashes their ticket to a better life
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/coronavirus-unemployment-philippines-migrant-workers/2020/09/09/37972290-e688-11ea-bf44-0d31c85838a5_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_virusphil-846pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans

WATCH: Hollywood’s Yellow Rose trailer speaks of Filipino immigrant spirit 
https://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/watch-hollywoods-yellow-rose-trailer-speaks-of-filipino-immigrant-spirit/?fbclid=IwAR1XVFGtNXB11fhHaArNlDr_YDuTFDvlVZ1HXPxmWIC5JQ1VJNCKNdsEqnw

Plant Thieves Scour Forests to Satisfy Foliage-Starved Filipinos
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/plant-thieves-scour-forests-satisfy-230000920.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma 

Healers grapple with mental health issues in Fil-Am community
https://usa.inquirer.net/58409/healers-grapple-with-mental-health-issues-in-fil-am-community?fbclid=IwAR1HIk45p6ym7OUfEtr8qEs1-X7k03g6pJPgvsSeIkub8wW2UeBM_V2vUZ0

Immigrants in the Crosshairs

We continue to explore the complex and intertwined roots and manifestations of racism in our communities, and so we'd like to invite you once again to Positively Filipino's third webinar (rescheduled from last week). The focus is on "Immigration in the Time of the Pandemic, Racism and Trump" and will feature immigration activist/author and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Jose Antonio Vargas in conversation with veteran immigration lawyer Lourdes Tancinco. See flyer below for registration details.

If you had registered for the original date, you don't have to register again. Just watch out for your access link in your email inbox.

Meanwhile, life is still worth celebrating and our stories this week give us reason to be happy. A New Yorker shares his trepidation in going out for the first time after the city's lockdown was eased. And three women achievers -- a Filipina nurse in the United Kingdom who has become an award-winning poet, a Fil-Am-Finn skateboarder  in California who's angling for an Olympic gold, and an "adopted Filipina" chef who is championing Filipino cuisine in Buenos Aires -- make us culture-proud. 

Try out the recipe for Cavite Tamales, enjoy reading our curated In The Know links to stories that matter and watch our Video of the Week on "Unlearning Anti-Blackness in Filipino Culture."

Our Stories This Week

Coming Out Of Lockdown In The City That Never Slept By Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr.

Lizzie Skates The Light Fantastic By Anthony Maddela

Home Is Where Her Poetry Is By Joy Watford

Don’t Fry For Me, Argentina By Jennifer Fergesen

The Happy Home Cook: Cavite Tamales From Cantina Sunae By Chef Christina Sunae

Video of the Week:  How do we unlearn Anti-Blackness in Filipino Culture?

In The Know

4 years of Duterte: Grip secure, legacy in the balance, say pundits
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1312012/4-years-of-du30-grip-secure-legacy-in-the-balance-say-pundits?fbclid=IwAR3yVDBrbe9A48Eb9D3RpbkK-kGFyGYIa-Wbv3nm-BTuX8_Bf8ZkTwg7C58 

EXPLAINER: Comparing dangers in old law and anti-terror bill
https://rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/explainer-comparison-old-law-dangers-anti-terror-bill?utm_source=Rappler+PLUS&utm_campaign=0e54192479-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_07_26_11_34&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3d2e7cb0d7-0e54192479-96744697&mc_cid=0e54192479&mc_eid=5b1f08a2af

Our spirit can never be broken
https://star34.philstarlife.com/article/578539-our-spirit-can-never-be-broken?fbclid=IwAR2pqQgNc0n9c9Z-pKsmlv9PC6kBZhSed7MAz8B7CqEzD7CDK_UjOFZB2xM

In the Crosshairs of History: The Lopez Family
https://rappler.com/video/rappler-talk-video/interview-lopez-family-crosshairs-history-chita-taylor-berta-feliciano?fbclid=IwAR3vfqVt7Zf1hVM0gYawI_mcfkGqQkz6UVTwIquLxnu2RCEt4pGMYjtvTm8

Tribute: Jingle magazine founder and EIC Gilbert Guillermo passes away
https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/07/22/20/tribute-jingle-magazine-founder-and-eic-gilbert-guillermo-passes-away?fbclid=IwAR1HZqIdYeerAO5-mwPgf4U4EIgq-m42KO8Sva7FPU3RmyGHV11Lc8S3ilg

Pulitzer prize winning journalist Jessie Mangaliman dies at 63. Remembered as role model to many.
https://asamnews.com/2020/07/26/former-undocumented-immigrant-and-award-winning-american-citizen-jessie-mangaliman-dies-at-63/?fbclid=IwAR2-obCQuve1USn0etJ3pJHmJqQ899jBPpo61C2mdTl330o0dJC7Dg6N-8c

The heartbreaking story of father and son who died from coronavirus just 2 days apart -- COVID-19 Diaries
https://abc7news.com/society/covid-19-diaries-ca-father-and-son-die-just-2-days-apart/6331493/?fbclid=IwAR1_r88GZ7Qi6MWtJtBeWfnzPXREnjGQnXRy3e6MExmDjrgrZO301BIPx9E