Recent reports about the rise in the number of assaults on Asian Americans, particularly the elderly, in 47 states is seriously concerning. It's not just happening here in the US; some countries in Europe have also had incidents. And if you think that only Chinese are affected (owing to the previous administration's anti-Chinese rhetoric regarding the virus), think again. A Filipino, Noel Quintana, was slashed in the face while in a New York subway a few weeks ago and required almost 100 stitches. Just yesterday, an elderly Filipina was punched in the face in San Diego. These are not isolated cases. Time and again, Fil-Ams have been victimized by racist tirades during this pandemic. The twin scourges of hatred and ignorance do not after all distinguish among Asians; to them we all look alike.

So be careful out there. If you want to be updated on the situation, check out the Stop AAPI Hate web site (stopaapihate.org). And make sure you yourself do not do the hating.

If you missed our webinar last night on Philippine-American "Relations"-- Romance and Heartbreak Among Filipino and American Celebrities in Washington, D.C., 1898-1946, here's the link to the recording: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/webinar-video-philippine-american-relations-romance-and-heartbreak-among-filipino-and-american-celebrities-in-nbspwashington-dc-1898-1946

Our issue this week introduces the FilAms who won their races in the 2020 elections, and it's a record number. ["Empowerment: Fil-Am Winners in the 2020 Elections"]. We also feature Kanlungan, a web site that honors Fil-Am covid frontliners who gave up their lives so others can live ["Kanlungan Honors Unsung Health Care Heroes"]. International travel during this pandemic is not for the faint-hearted as our First Person story describes ["Journal of a Pandemic Traveler"]. Finally, our Partner post brings good news to H1-B visa applicants.

For those harsh winter blues, how's about treating your love ones to Triple Chocolate Champorado, a repost of Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo's own recipe.

For our Video of the Week, here's a feature on Baybayin, the ancient Filipino writing that's being revived.

Our Stories This Week

[Webinar Video] Philippine-American “Relations”-- Romance And Heartbreak Among Filipino And American Celebrities In Washington, D.C., 1898-1946

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

Kanlungan Honors Unsung Health Care Heroes By Cherie M. Querol Moreno

Journal Of A Pandemic Traveler By Bella Bonner

[PARTNER] H1B Visa Registration To Start On March 9, 2021 By Lourdes Santos Tancinco

Triple Chocolate Champorado By Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo

Video of the Week: Baybayin

In The Know

Ube: The Filipino Tuber That’s Taking Over the World
http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20210203-ube-the-filipino-tuber-taking-over-the-world?ocid=ww.social.link.facebook&referer=https%3A%2F%2Fl.facebook.com%2F

How South Korea's 'CLOY' can help Filipinos create a better future
https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/How-South-Korea-s-CLOY-can-help-Filipinos-create-a-better-future?fbclid=IwAR35Ma0AZ-PdXtoD_79p2Wwa4MpF1HKo7Iv46iBzG1lVdKiy40ZdgZ2JxOY

Meet the artist/activist behind UP’s much talked about barricade
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/art/01/29/21/meet-the-artist-slash-activist-behind-ups-much-talked-about-barricade?fbclid=IwAR2GfTKkt-KQIbV1goIMfiVahZDGxv1v6RuQAOlq2pwEJ7KTELmQndltK_s

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?ref=article_featured&fbclid=IwAR1lX6JzXN01IZzeVTU3s4mVdKP7qtMkHfKP5oFnKThvO_8vqm-eIN1TNxE

We know how it is to walk on eggshells when we have to talk about politics and religion with our families and friends. It's a lot easier to take the cop-out route -- not to bring up anything controversial when we gather with people we love. But in the past two months, ever since we saw the gruesome video of George Floyd dying in the hands of the police and witnessed the emergence of Black Lives Matter and nationwide anti-racist protests, we have been forced to reckon with anti-Black attitudes in our midst, be it in us or in our circles. Add to this the alarming increase of pandemic-induced racist rants directed at Asians, including Filipinos, and we know that it's time to have a conversation about racism. But how do we do it without breaking filial bonds?

Last week we posted the written versions and the audio recording of Positively Filipino's first webinar on the historical roots of the Filipino colonial mind and of white supremacy in the US. Both provide an abbreviated but very timely education on how we were "programmed" to look at white as the superior race, and how White supremacy was legalized and embedded in US history -- the better for us to understand how we feel and why we should care.

In case you missed the lectures, here are the links:

https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-colonial-legacy-of-racism-among-filipinos

https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/white-supremacy-and-black-oppression-in-law-and-society

Last Monday, our second webinar focused more pointedly on "A Difficult Conversation," which tackled the prevailing racist attitudes among Filipinos and how to start a constructive conversation with our families about the issue. Our panelists, Professors Evelyn Ibatan Rodriguez of the University of San Francisco and Anthony Ocampo of Cal Poly Pomona, provided enlightening and valuable insights on the topic.

Next week, Thursday, July 23, join us with immigrant activist Jose Antonio Vargas and immigration attorney Lourdes Tancinco for our third webinar: Immigrants in the Time of Racial Unrest, Pandemic, and Trump