That was an enlightening and heartwarming session with "Loving Kids Talk About Their Famous Mothers" yesterday, Positively Filipino's Mother's Day webinar. The four articulate panelists paid tribute to their mothers while revealing some pretty interesting insights and anecdotes about the persons behind the celebrity. If you missed the event or want to view it again, here's the link: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/webinar-video-loving-kids-talk-about-their-famous-mothers

Community pantries continue to sprout in the Philippines as the Filipino bayanihan spirit flourishes during the pandemic. In Baesa, Quezon City, the Sombillo family pooled their resources and generously shares with the less fortunate in the area. Toronto-based contributor Patria Cabatuando-Rivera shines the spotlight on them in "Bayanihan to the Rescue."

Veteran scriptwriter Marina Feleo-Gonzalez gets a comprehensive tribute from regular PF writer (and her former student) Virgilio A. Reyes Jr. in "Songs Her Father Taught Her."

And from a cooking event in the Bay Area, Miguel Carrion writes about Chef Rocky, the personal chef of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and her luscious french toast that she serves through her company, BriqueLA. Crave the treat in "Chef Rocky Rocks French Toast for The Rock."

The continuing violence against Asian Americans begs the question, if you see it happening, what can you do? Here's a must-watch video on the "5Ds of Bystander Intervention." I hope you take it to heart.

Stories of the Week

[Webinar Video] Loving Kids Talk About Their Famous Mothers

Bayanihan To The Rescue By Patria Cabatuando-Rivera

Songs Her Father Taught Her By Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr.

Chef Rocky Rocks French Toast For The Rock By Miguel Carrion

[Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Arroz A La Cubana By Elizabeth Ann Quirino

[Video of the Week] 5Ds of Bystander Intervention

In The Know

H.E.R, Olivia Rodrigo, Saweetie, Patrick Starrr Among Fil-Ams On Gold House’s Annual A100 List Of Impactful APIs
https://www.asianjournal.com/life-style/arts-culture/h-e-r-olivia-rodrigo-saweetie-patrick-starrr-among-fil-ams-on-gold-houses-annual-a100-list-of-impactful-apis/

Pandemic Pantries in the Streets? You Communist!
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/07/opinion/philippines-covid-pantries.html?campaign_id=39&emc=edit_ty_20210507&instance_id=30378&nl=opinion-today&regi_id=47563992&segment_id=57460&te=1&user_id=a6813a01d20d50942afadad6c6f1e549

WATCH: The Story Behind Spain's Infamous Zoo That Featured Philippine Animals... And Then Filipinos
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/filipino-human-zoo-madrid-spain-crystal-palace-a00293-20201006-lfrm?fbclid=IwAR1iVyeWIwEpuNQkw4ALD5nRppE_nXwcVJLhB0pI6XmNkIyA0BpsHrAafhA

How and why Johnny became Johnny Air Cargo
https://www.thediarist.ph/how-and-why-johnny-became-johnny-air-cargo/

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Quezon City Is a Stunning Example of the Importance of Restoration
https://www.spot.ph/things-to-do/the-latest-things-to-do/73673/las-casas-filipinas-de-acuzar-in-quezon-city-is-a-stunning-example-of-the-importance-of-restoration-a1125-20180508-lfrm?fbclid=IwAR0Mj_gg4hhUYGaldbo4276UEnjlXE8NvUtX-Z2K_083dk8hvayz53uAbJ0

Our webinar last week, "Our Climate, Ourselves," was both an enlightening expose on the nitty-gritty of plastics and toxic pollution of the earth's marine life and environment, and an inspiring call to action to fulfill our shared responsibility to take care of the planet and of each other. If you missed it or you want to see it again, you can watch it here.

Shared responsibility is also the motivation behind the sprouting of community pantries all over the Philippines, a phenomenon that was started by a young woman, Ana Patricia Non, who felt compelled to do something to help those struggling to survive the covid pandemic. "Give what you can, take what you need" should be a simple and basic human instinct but, in a divided society with trigger-happy (both verbal and physically violent) elements, the missive has been politicized and stigmatized. PF Correspondent Criselda Yabes brings us up-to-date in "Community Pantries -- A Silent Revolution?"

We have an array of fascinating stories this week: the evolution of the yo-yo (not invented by a Filipino, as commonly believed), the Filipino art of naming food, a review of the delightful book by a Fil-Am named Aimee Nezhukumatathil, and, to commemorate the 17th death anniversary of arguably the greatest Filipino writer Nick Joaquin, a repost of the memories of someone who knew him well, the poet/writer Marra PL. Lanot.