July 19, 2023

Achievers

July 19, 2023/ Staff

A Filipina race car driver, a Filipino author published by a mainstream US publisher, 15 outstanding Filipino Americans representing various fields chosen for an immersive journey to their parents' homeland.

Talk about achievers and achievements!

Bianca Bustamante, Nathan Go and the 10th batch of cohorts of the Filipino Young Leaders Program (FYLPRO) represent a new generation of movers and shakers who do not hesitate to break barriers and glass ceilings that, even just a few decades ago, had stymied the previous generations from claiming their full potential.

Yet, to the older generation the young owe their strength and their opportunities. On the shoulders of their elders, who did the ground-breaking and back-breaking work, they are able to stand tall and soar.

The torch has been passed, yes. Long live those who lit the fire.

Stories This Week

Woman In The Fast Lane by Anthony Maddela

Driving Mrs. Cory by Lisa Suguitan Melnick

FYLPRO: Delegates Of Hope by Mona Lisa Yuchengco

Buffeted But Unbowed In Brittany by Criselda Yabes

Read Agains

Going Home by Lotis Key

Beyond Belief by Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz

[Make It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Buko-Pandan Gelatin (Young Coconut-Pandan Gelatin)

[Video of the Week] Here Lie Love Trailer

In The Know

Filipino leaders have grand vision for their S.F. cultural district. Is it possible?
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/soma-pilipinas-18171118.php?sid=53bb0669fdd5ac0b52000049&ss=A&st_rid=5be30fe8-563d-4e90-9752-af9f0a3c12ee&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=briefing&utm_campaign=sfc_baybriefing_am

From filmmaking to the World Cup – Reina’s mind-blowing script
https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/womens/womensworldcup/australia-new-zealand2023/articles/reina-bonta-interview-filmmaker-footballers-philippines-womens-world-cup-2023?fbclid=IwAR2wNmjAFsQ75OAlZn1R60z1PYdpD7x6w0YMWmUWWW_7TEKiyghCEQiLKDg

Averie Bishop ends her Miss Texas tenure with scathing piece calling out Texas politicians
https://nextshark.com/miss-texas-averie-bishop-activism

Olivia Rodrigo Becomes Youngest Artist to Debut Three No. 1 Hits on Songs Chart
https://variety.com/2023/music/news/olivia-rodrigo-youngest-number-one-debut-vampire-1235665717/

This year's Gerber Baby is a military kid from a first generation family
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/2023-gerber-baby-military-kid-first-generation-family-rcna93887?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_aa&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR3Phvs5nG_SIggAA1BVZyv3qqUr06u3nqzurynb2QiUGGsIrAjYB42hwdA&_branch_match_id=1121133821907759179&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXz0tKzkstL9ZLLCjQy8nMy9Yvt8hMNMivcMpzSrJPS0rOyUyx9Sx3DDIOyCgrNs1zjw%2F2TE93dDR0CouqLDMuLAwtMjArNc4rrCotqsxLMgrMDHV3L%2FYscsyKdDIxyihPcQQAnZOqBWkAAAA%3D

How this 10-year-old chess prodigy became PH’s first female National Master
https://www.rappler.com/sports/child-chess-prodigy-first-female-philippine-national-master/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3h4UjTlelPHOR3ptsSmWotW16BXt-ANNKCUoagzu4QeLRPYIE_wFf9lR4

Lodi, awit, omsim: The nuances of Filipino AI language training
https://www.rappler.com/technology/features/dost-itanong-project-filipino-ai-language-training/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwAR3jDbXzXeJvR2VyB_7CFL_Yt-aVNm95JzYj5xuPU1rGeW_Dw68uuCddWvc

July 04, 2023

We Are Acting Against Hate

July 04, 2023/ Staff

Hate crimes in California in 2022 was at an all-time high, with a jump of 20% from 2021. [https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/Hate%20Crime%20In%20CA%202022f.pdf]

While overall, anti-Asian hate crimes/incidents have gone down in number following the easing of the pandemic and its accompanying anti-Asian rhetoric, it is still alarming that there were almost 10,000 reported cases between 2020 and 2021 alone. [https://archive.vn/qO57S] These stats illustrate that Asians are easily vulnerable to attacks; a single spark of hate can still ignite a prairie fire.

It's not a time then for complacency. Or to even entertain (the premature and mistaken) relief that the tensions are over. As the recent beating of 75-year old Filipino American Amadeo Quintara in his own garage in Las Vegas by a white man shows, [see Corin Lujan's "Against Hate and Loathing in Las Vegas], hate is a living, breathing organism that will always be a threat, no matter how much we wish it away.

With this issue, Positively Filipino begins a partnership with the State of California and its agencies, the California State Library, the Department of Social Services and the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate campaign. Through a state grant, PF will take an active role in providing historical and current information about anti-Asian hate crimes, assist in the documentation of incidents, and disseminate strategies on prevention and de-escalation. Our Act Against Hate section in the magazine and social media will be a valuable community resource for everyone who supports the struggle against hate, racism, discrimination and violence against Asians.

Have you or someone you know experienced an instance when you felt targeted and afraid? Tell us about it at actagainsthate@positivelyfilipino.com. When did it happen? How did it happen? What did you do about it? It may not be something monumental -- murmured curses about your ethnicity, a deliberate bumping that threw you off-balance, being refused service, being sneered at during your daily walk -- all these little slights that we often just ignore, add up. And to keep silent gives the perpetrators the green-light to proclaim their bigotry.

So let us, as a community, raise our voices against hate in whatever form. Together we can stop, prevent, document, and de-escalate ethnic tensions while making sure that we ourselves are free of anger and prejudice.

This week, we also begin a series on Bridge Generation personalities, as profiled by historian/chronicler Peter Jamero in his monthly blog called Peter's Pinoy Patter. First up, Don Velez, 85, whose woodworking products are available on Etsy.

Stories This Week

Against Hate And Loathing In Las Vegas by Corin Ramos Lujan

The 'Woodjammer' by Peter Jamero

Badoc Island: Ilocos Norte’s Little Secret by Ian Layugan

Nina Daza Puyat’s Culinary Mission by Claire Mercado-Obias

[Recipe of the Week] The Happy Home Cook: Lumpiang Shanghai With Sweet And Sour Sauce byNina Daza Puyat

[Video of the Week] Bataan Death March Anniversary

Read Agains

A Reunion Of Strangers by Oscar Peñaranda

Remembering Leonard Ralph Casper by Cecilia Manguerra-Brainard

In The Know

An unlikely provocateur, Miss Texas, takes on the state’s GOP leaders
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/06/30/averie-bishop-miss-america-texas-platform-diversity/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2oJmngWsEVcX13CEL_VjQ7gk7q87csivTctzJxd3NaoPapkqXwZXhqM58

Why Baclaran Church was named ‘important cultural property’ in the Philippines
https://www.rappler.com/nation/history-why-baclaran-church-named-important-cultural-property-philippines/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwAR0dIjbKzCZPZFA7UmajG7m-1Zx0vBkaCqyjRwMsmToBRxH0qCA_UZGINCk

'I Am Fury': Filipino Photographer Captures Stunning Shot of Mayon Volcano Spilling Lava
https://www.esquiremag.ph/politics/news/filipino-photographer-edwin-martinez-mayon-volcano-lava-a00203-20230703?ref=article_featured

Why are Fireflies Vanishing in the Philippines?
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/why-are-fireflies-vanishing-in-the-philippines-a00293-20200923?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20230627-fbnp-long-reads-why-are-fireflies-vanishing-in-the-philippines-a00293-20200923-fbold&fbclid=IwAR1MwFXukfJ4rHXxqrNsFg9AckfTSXrgI6TWp1lPDU-9U1pGZbqmUFcSWns

'Paraluman' in Huling El Bimbo video met a sad end; actress who played her has a happier story
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/music/07/02/23/whatever-happened-to-the-girl-in-huling-el-bimbo-video?fbclid=IwAR2qLIuock7BFGaNVcqTf3wdHkoCEjgJrvAQeP95aNLVnsx6SrYQdweoyso

Kai Sotto all set for NBA Summer League as Magic roster, schedule revealed
https://www.rappler.com/sports/nba/kai-sotto-all-set-summer-league-orlando-magic-roster-schedule-2023/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR101n1pPbNsmqPrJ-lH_0H3hQQw2q56vC0ZLlLgWEGdL_sYasxQDT5Yt4c

June 14, 2023

Sesame Mucho

June 14, 2023/ Staff

In the early 1980s, Filipino children were introduced to two lovable muppets -- Pong Pagong and Kiko Matsing -- in the educational TV program, "Sesame." The two muppets were created by the Children's Television Workshop (CTW), producer of Sesame Street, in a partnership with the Philippine Sesame Street Project (PSSP). Under the partnership, CTW also trained key PSSP creative staff, including the puppeteers, in the Sesame Street model of educational TV -- curriculum-based segments, age-focused and fun.

"Sesame," the program, eventually became the famous "Batibot" and PSSP became the Philippine Children's Television Foundation (PCTVF), but the concept, format, and Pong Pagong and Kiko Matsing remained. The program aired five days a week for a remarkable 18 years, bringing forth an actual "Batibot generation" whose formative years were guided by the show, the same way generations of American children were reared on Sesame Street.

When the partnership between CTW and PCTVF expired in the 1990s, CTW claimed back Pong and Kiko, the muppets. Unfazed, PCTVF created locally made muppets for Batibot. Sesame Street's Filipino connection ended then.

Fast forward to 2023, and CTW, now known as the Sesame Workshop, recently introduced in Sesame Street, a Fil-Am muppet named TJ, mirroring a four-year old child living in Daly City. Conceptualized by Fil-Ams, TJ's creation followed the same rigorous attention to details that made Pong and Kiko so endearing to Filipino children. This week, we bring you the background story of TJ's creation, from PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela.

We are noting three significant events in this issue: Philippine Independence Day (June 12), Jose Rizal's birthday (June 19) and Father's Day (June 18). We hope you enjoy our lineup this week.