Follow the Caroming Ball

Billiards. The game that is revered by a large number of Filipinos and has triggered thousands of missed classes by high school and college students is given due reverence by PF Correspondent Myles Garcia's story on "Filipino Wizards of the Pool Table." Read about Efren Reyes, the world champion, who has put the Philippines on the billiards world map, along with Django Bustamante, Dennis Orcullo and others who have carved out a niche in the country's billiards hall of fame.

June is Pride Month and our Philippine-based correspondent Rene Astudillo looks at the status of the Filipino LGBT movement and the realities it has to confront. In "Pride and Prejudice in the Filipino LGBT Community," there are reasons for both fear and hope.

Today marks the 158th anniversary of the birth of our National Hero, Jose Rizal. Here are some Read Agains to remind us why, 123 years after his death by musketry, his life still commands interest:

Jose Rizal, The Oracle by Mona Lisa Yuchengco

Jose Rizal and His Dueling German Friends by Penelope V. Flores

Rizal’s Cook Remembers a Good Man by John Silva

Jose Rizal, Martial Arts Warrior by Rene J. Navarro

And for the Happy Home Cook, here's a repeat posting of Elizabeth Ann Quirino's Sabaw ng Munggo Guisado, said to be Jose Rizal's favorite dish: The Happy Home Cook: Sabaw ng Munggo Guisado

In case you missed reading them, here are links to interesting stories:

Filipina finds freedom after living as family slave in US for decades
https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/06/12/19/filipina-finds-freedom-after-living-as-family-slave-in-us-for-decades?fbclid=IwAR0aPgIHWHWu452LUkKLRmPtay2gQOu7fftpKFZ6T99NC7QsegU3M_XGdZ8

'You know you're Filipino when …': Winnipeggers share an insider's look at their culture
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/you-know-you-re-filipino-when-video-heritage-month-1.5169205?fbclid=IwAR223UUI09SDeOA1GrpKBnTK3a7TcdBfVII0gNQnMCFQRY9EfxHv0b9QdII

The Most Prominent Families in Manila
https://www.townandcountry.ph/people/heritage/most-prominent-families-in-manila-a1590-20190614-lfrm7?utm_source=Facebook-TC&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20190615-fbnp-people-most-prominent-families-in-manila-a1590-20190614-lfrm7-fbfirst&fbclid=IwAR0myaulY5dib2cnXekN_1wk1ElRdK9yzDnF_dgIOtzF_OOec4jlhqhdrPc

Tito Al’s Success Story: It Started with Chicharron
http://www.manilamail.us/?p=8340&fbclid=IwAR1vY83DJ0zqznK5PiUonJLvx2j7yiVFYoFJw3lj3rvzGlNQayVXOqPTNPg

The Long and Tumultuous History of the Humble Banana Ketchup
https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/lifestyle/the-history-behind-the-invention-of-banana-ketchup-a1729-20180622-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20190527-fbnp-culture-the-history-behind-the-invention-of-banana-ketchup-a1729-20180622-lfrm-fbold&fbclid=IwAR2zHOPb4dKCQGP-EYU4NiHf7JVoGQTLs_NXYohzoYTkRb2qi7cz61Xlm38

For Video of the Week, Lea Salonga sings “A Whole New World” with Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s Vince Rodriguez.

Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino