There Are Places We Remember

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.

Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino

Current Realities, Past Glories

Current realities and past glories - so goes our issue for this week.

First off, poet/cultural activist Tony Robles reports on the recent talk of Jose Antonio Vargas, the FilAm community's foremost immigration activist, in Asheville, North Carolina. ("'I don't want to have hope. I want to be a Hope.'")

Then we have three brief profiles of FilAm history trailblazers, unsung heroes of the community who should be rightfully honored. Cecil Bonzo, who started the farmers' markets movement, is given tribute by Stockton, CA community leader Elena Buensalido Mangahas. Arlene Lagrimas Dark, Forbidden City "showgirl" and Salvatore Baldomar, Filipino-Italian seafarer, are introduced by fellow Bridge Generation champion, Peter Jamero. ("Filipino American Trailblazers")

LA-based PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela writes about ReWeave LA, an entrepreneurial enterprise of Fil-Chinese Debbie Ouyang that creates quilts, throws, etc. from recycled fabric. ("ReWeave LA: Recycling Fabric Samples Away from Landfills")

For the Happy Home Cook, another vegan recipe (Vegan Laing) from Richgail Enriquez.

Our In the Know links for your reading pleasure: 

This Philippine Library Keeps 30,000 Ancient Books Worth Billions
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/heritage-library-keeps-ancient-books-worth-billions-a00293-20190528-lfrm?fbclid=IwAR3ta3MffV-rgKL0jdXUiDEY93lRU9Xan2H0xkXckV5OIVnlDy_KKeWnqYI

Why are There So Many Filipino Nurses In California?
https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2019/09/30/why-are-there-so-many-filipino-nurses-in-california/ideas/essay/?fbclid=IwAR3rkmx30Wujev97hmWp0PIe6X32N_XNvq7T2_I_2qo8mU3wxbT2Fvpulow

The Uniter: Rudy Corpuz Jr. Reflects On 25 Years Of Community Building & Youth Empowerment Through United Playaz
https://sanfran.com/united-playaz-rudy-corpuz-jr-october-cover-story?fbclid=IwAR2k6zBxXTMYVRhQBlPpOiBTT6gu-uHi7u_VYl2w6WQgZaE4nJigV6HJ92E

8 World Cities That Could Be Underwater as Oceans Rise [Ed note: Manila is one of them.]
https://www.ecowatch.com/cities-vulnerable-sea-level-rise-2610208792.html?xrs=RebelMouse_fb&ts=1538753678&fbclid=IwAR3S1sRtpeA-8-NBBVIEiRly3ZkpT8FRwRzxiNGgLKcB0SsBu4-hf7P_Geo

Spoon Over Fork
https://www.tastecooking.com/spoon-over-fork/?ref=PRHCE30927C7B1D&linkid=PRHCE30927C7B1D&cdi=382BD9807FDB49AFE0534FD66B0A5889&template_id=14339&aid=randohouseinc36030-20&utm_campaign=taste&utm_source=Crown&utm_medium=Email&cid=101930&mid=1643240115

Eulogy for a Gadfly (Remembering Carlos Celdran)
https://www.esquiremag.ph/politics/opinion/carlos-celdran-eulogy-a00226-20191009?fbclid=IwAR0PIYYvlGXo3z2vLtqHsJ1YrBuvA8LgSuigsHaOIT7iIk_tA22oGvGL3Lw

Our Video of the Week is the outstanding winning performance of Filipino gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo at the recent World Artistic Gymnastics Championship, the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to do so. 

Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino