Angsty August

The death of a highly esteemed environmentalist and philanthropist coupled with the possible release of a triple life sentenced criminal made for an unsettled August week in the Philippines.

Many mourned the passing of Gina Lopez, the nemesis of miners and other ecological criminals. Veteran journalist Paulynn P. Sicam paid tribute to this complicated and committed earth warrior in “Gina Lopez: Rich Girl, Kind Heart, Woman Warrior.”

August won't end without commemorating the assassination of another outstanding Filipino, Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr., and our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco shares with us her speech for the occasion, delivered at the Philippine Consulate in San Francisco (“Ninoy Changed My Life”).

And speaking of that earth-shaking assassination, one of those who were prominently mentioned in the investigations that followed was the late Arthur Custodio, then an Air Force colonel, who brought in the late Rolando Galman to take part in the crime of the century. Our Canada-based contributor Albert J. Lesaca writes about his infamous high school classmate in “Memories Are Made of This – My Friend, Arthur Custodio.”

Ahh, Coron. When things go awry, we imagine ourselves in this slice of Palawan paradise, although as PF contributor Willie Vergara writes in “Coron, Once Is Not Enough,” paradise could be too optimistic a word. 

For our Happy Home Cook, here's a Read Again recipe from our resident foodie Elizabeth Ann Quirino, that has been part of my meal menu for quite a while now (read: easy and delicious): Pesang Salmon aka Filipino fish stew.

Our In The Know links that you shouldn't miss:

The Uncounted Dead of Duterte's Drug War
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2019/08/philippines-dead-rodrigo-duterte-drug-war/595978/?fbclid=IwAR3L29HpKIJsFNqNhdDx67NM4Pu9q3cP1sQjPBPm2evhz7yybooA1R5Zvp4

This impressive collection of Philippine religious imagery finally sees the light of day
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/art/05/01/19/the-intramuros-collection-of-religious-imagery-finally-sees-the-light-of-day?fbclid=IwAR19xhrUxYpHB6wiP5GnRw4kZ-Ozd_giGp_Fvi9ZJtNvqx0dcaHZTYHO4jc

‘Brutalist’ martial law museum to rise in UP Diliman 
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2019/08/25/1946123/brutalist-martial-law-museum-rise-diliman?fbclid=IwAR0_0hwM4TdbCVUCHEbjl9kEGIlyWerTj0iHC84MPGDF1g9WFWz3WnGGPNU

My Grandfather, A Killer 
https://www.npr.org/2019/08/18/749810572/my-grandfather-a-killer?te=1&nl=california-today&emc=edit_ca_20190820?campaign_id=49&instance_id=11769&segment_id=16314&user_id=a6813a01d20d50942afadad6c6f1e549&regi_id=47563992

For Video of the Week, GMA Public Affairs’ I-Witness features a documentary on the estuaries of Manila.

Where Are You Going in 2018 (Literally)?

So here we are once again -- another year over, and what an emotionally taxing year it has been.

Now we get to start again and we send our wishes for a more peaceful and meaningful 2018 for everyone.

Will this coming year be filled with travel for you? Here's a reality check for one of the most desired destinations in our motherland -- Coron in Palawan. PF contributor Bella Bonner visited the place for the first time and shares her astute observations of what awaits you in one of the most talked about places in anyone's bucket list.

In another part of the world, Joe Santos posts his encounters with Filipinos of various kinds during his cruise earlier this year. 

And for a delicious New Year's meal, Elizabeth Ann Quirino once again puts together a menu consisting of Spanish-style Cocido, which is a complete meal in itself, and Coconut Leche Flan.

As for our In The Know links, we always try to give you a variety of stories for your reading pleasure:

Women of Manila ‘killing field’ count on power of silence
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/949345/war-on-drugs-drug-killings-extrajudicial-killings#ixzz52TTjA1gP

Decolonizing With Betel Nuts
https://medium.com/@margostebbing/decolonizing-with-beetle-nuts-3785731297fc

5 famous personalities around the world who have nothing but praise for Filipino nannies
https://www.facebook.com/FilipinoTimes/videos/1278772492230043/

What's wrong with this statue of a comfort woman?
https://www.rappler.com/nation/192301-comfort-woman-statue-roxas-boulevard-manila-issues

For Video of the Week, we wind up the year with renowned shadow dance group El Gamma Penumbra's rendition of Pentatonix's “Mary, Did You Know?”