We Know What It Takes

Thirty five years ago this week, the uprising that came to be known as the EDSA People Power Revolt happened in the Philippines. The memories and the hopes have dimmed now, commemorations have dwindled to almost zero. 

EDSA '86 was the confluence of decades-long efforts by various sectors of Philippine society to end the Marcos dictatorship, and on this goal alone, it succeeded without the widespread bloodshed that normally accompanies similar uprisings.

EDSA '86, however, was hardly a revolution, as the initial euphoria labelled it. The People Power Revolt did not change the power structure of the country, it merely changed -- or in a lot of cases, restored -- the people who would hold that power. 

For whatever woes and disappointments EDSA '86 later spawned, it was still, on its own, a truly historic moment in our homeland's history, one that we should always be proud of. Now that the world is watching Myanmar go through its own people power revolt, we Filipinos can sympathize and cheer them on. Yes, we've been there; we know what it takes. 

On March 3, Positively Filipino will hold its second webinar in 2021, "An Open Door: The Philippines as Refuge for Jews Fleeing Nazism" and we hope you will join us in celebrating another reason to be proud -- the decision of then Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon to welcome to our country Jews who were fleeing Nazism in Europe. The flyer below shows how to register for this free Zoom event. 

Our Stories This Week

Cesar Climaco: The Life And Times Of A Democracy Icon By Eduardo C. Tadem

[New Webinar] An Open Door: The Philippines As A Refuge For Jews Fleeing Nazism

[Opinion] Lent And Rush Limbaugh By Andres D. Bautista

[Opinion] Take Part In The American Project (A Postscript To Black History Month) By Thelma King Estrada

More Fil-Am Winners In The 2020 Elections By Mona Lisa Yuchengco

[PARTNER] Repeal The Rescission Act Of 1946 By Jon Melegrito 

The Happy Home Cook: Vegan Tinola By Chef Richgail Enriquez

Video of the Week: Memorare Manila - 2021

In The Know

Pinoy engineer in Perseverance journey credits Baguio schooling for science roots
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/19/21/pinoy-engineer-in-perseverance-journey-credits-baguio-schooling-for-science-roots?fbclid=IwAR2PvIsGk91-2ug77_QEMMFWWW8hq_KpQluPSx8fNw9Mf8ARSdJuI3rxbjM

IN PHOTOS: Intramuros museum Casa Manila gets a stunning makeover
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/02/18/21/in-photos-in-time-for-its-reopening-intramuros-museum-casa-manila-gets-a-stunning-makeover?fbclid=IwAR0TuC7-Mu43mjghYfayQeKS2Jmbed6lucvXipfgxVVpYSnob75ZVsj8GzQ

‘It tasted like my childhood’: How a new generation is bringing Filipino flavours to Toronto
https://www.thestar.com/life/food_wine/2021/02/18/it-tasted-like-my-childhood-how-a-new-generation-is-bringing-filipino-flavours-to-toronto.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=Life&utm_content=filipinofoodtoronto&fbclid=IwAR35IsDZLQ0wuJgjtgqvcXMqZvc9gu98fKzLwnQUqzY8KBHB51Ap7gOshPQ

IKEA PH taps Filipino artisans for custom-made textile products
https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/02/16/21/ikea-philippines-rags2riches-sewing?fbclid=IwAR1Iv2e_JyXbb8wGhdEcXJOiFAvVNV4XQ2Eg-Lvd0JMpn9ajqyWPgAx-mLk

These 6 Filipinx Recipes Turn Pantry Staples Into a Cozy Winter Menu
https://www.bonappetit.com/gallery/melissa-miranda-filipinx-pantry-recipes?fbclid=IwAR2f4ysQ-qHrne9dGjRS-KPAnDEwkLjLb3S6aDC97uc2S5q4z5D9YA-uJeE

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They Who Heal Us

At the beginning of 2020, our world was still what we had known it to be. Our daily routines were simple: work; play; love; travel; enjoy.  

Two weeks into the year, the Philippines suffered its first major tragedy, but it was localized. Taal Volcano erupted, spewing tons and tons of ashes that turned some parts of Batangas and Cavite gray, forcing large-scale evacuations and rendering farms and orchards dead. 

And then Covid-19 happened towards the end of January and, just like that, the world as we knew it was completely upended. Within a few weeks, lockdowns would be imposed in almost all countries, businesses destroyed, international travel banned, and mass deaths became the norm.

We're now on the 8th month of the pandemic and the end is nowhere in sight. In the Philippines, 80 health care groups representing 80,000 doctors and a million nurses have petitioned the government for a "timeout" to recalibrate its strategy (or the lack of it) in fighting the virus because the entire health care system is now in danger of complete collapse, its frontliners exhausted to their human limits.

The US is not doing any better. The country is on top of the list in covid infections in the entire world and every day, records are broken for new cases. Toiling at the forefront, side by side with the doctors and other health care workers are the 150,000-strong Filipino nurses scattered in most states but mainly in California and New York, where they make up about 20 percent of the labor force caring for coronavirus patients. Do a Google search and you'll see many reports on how Fil-Am nurses have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Watch our Video of the Week -- a CBS news report by Fil-Am journalist Elaine Quijano on precisely this topic. 

Our story this week on Zenei Cortez, the president of the California Nurses Association and co-president of National Nurses United, the US' largest nurses' union, is both a call to action and a tribute to these heroes of the moment, many of whom are our kababayans. PF Correspondent Cherie Querol Moreno reports.

Writer and long-time activist Bonifacio P. Ilagan gives us a capsule post-mortem on the real state of the nation, following President Duterte's address last July 27. 

And, if you haven't yet, register for Positively Filipino's webinar on "Immigrants in the Time of Racial Unrest, the Pandemic and Trump" featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Jose Antonio Vargas and veteran immigration lawyer Lourdes Tancinco. The webinar happens on Monday August 10, 6pm PST/ 9pm EST (Tuesday 9 am Manila time). Here's the link: bit.ly/ImmigrantsRacialUnrest.

Stories This Week

A Compassionate Healer And Fierce Fighter For Fellow RNs By Cherie M. Querol Moreno

The State Of The Nation In A Day By Bonifacio P. Ilagan

Master Watercolorist Josė Honorato Lozano—The Sequel By Myles A. Garcia

Architect With A Personal Touch By Rafaelito Sy 

Read Again:
Murder Most Foul By Alex Fabros, Jr. 

The Happy Home Cook: Instant Pot Beef Caldereta By Elizabeth Ann Quirino

Video of the Week: Asian Americans report increased discrimination, even as some work on the front lines of pandemic

[PARTNER] Watch It Again: Philippine International Aid’s Giving Hope to the Children 2020 Online Fundraiser

In the Know

Philippine capital returning to lockdown as virus surges
https://news.yahoo.com/philippine-capital-returning-lockdown-virus-055713263.html

Meet the Bay Area rapper working on a COVID vaccine
https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/Bay-Area-rapper-COVID-vaccine-Ruby-Ibarra-15450383.php?fbclid=IwAR1A8QZEyXedtt9yNbRqhh3zl_08lP16KKVnxNbotvvZp_YOYMEZ6UoWpMU

Why Filipinx Americans Should Be In Solidarity With Black Lives Matter: Lessons From American History
https://www.facebook.com/notes/filipino-american-national-historical-society-fanhs/why-filipinx-americans-should-be-in-solidarity-with-black-lives-matter-lessons-f/10158420594771602/

On Adobo and Anxiety
https://www.southernfoodways.org/on-adobo-and-anxiety/

Amy Schumer just shared her Emmy nomination with her nanny who is from the Philippines
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/07/30/20/amy-schumer-just-shared-her-emmy-nomination-with-her-nanny-who-is-from-the-philippines?fbclid=IwAR112EuPUsXXD2R31DL-KcyItX07l6euegi5MUvMAF1Rd-alBgsNFV2nktk

Victory at Sea

The biggest news as we were preparing this issue was the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration’s decision to uphold all aspects of the Philippine case vs. China over territorial rights to the South China Sea, aka the West Philippine Sea. China, as expected, rejected the decision. So what happens now? To be able to understand this complex issue, Positively Filipino had published stories that hopefully led to a better understanding of how this conflict has affected the lives of Filipinos in the area.  Here are some of the stories worth reading again:

“The Philippines and China: Conflict or Cooperation” by China expert Chito Sta. Romana explains the historical roots of the conflict;

“Legal Warfare Between the Philippines and China” also by Chito Sta. Romana, discusses the realities of negotiating with China;

“South China Sea Row -- A Waiting Game” by veteran journalist Criselda Yabes gives insight on the human aspects of the conflict;

Meanwhile, contributor Patricio Abinales provides an insightful look into the linguistic impact of President Rodrigo Duterte's emergence on the national scene. "Duterte: A Chico de Calle, But a Good One," is written by a Mindanawan, which gives it heft.

On the lighter side, first-time contributor Michael Magnaye takes us to Washington, DC where he partakes of a meal in the Filipino-owned restaurant called Bad Saint, a hot item on the capital's culinary scene.

Our Happy Home Cook recipe this week celebrates summer with our food expert Elizabeth Ann Quirino's Watermelon-Cucumber-Tomato Salad with Feta Cheese and Mirin Dressing.

For our Video of the Week, young Fil-Am R. V. Mendoza gives us a tutorial on Why Black Lives Matter for Filipinos.