Adobomination

If there's one dish that Filipinos can agree to disagree about, it's adobo. Each region, each family, each person has individual ways of cooking this most Filipino of dishes (no matter its origins) and each one thinks that their way is the best. It's no wonder then that the announced plan of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to "standardize" the cooking technique for adobo and other popular Filipino dishes landed like a volcanic eruption, uniting Filipino chefs and foodies in the Philippines with their counterparts abroad in condemning the move. PF Correspondent Rene M. Astudillo collated the best reactions in "Much Ado About Adobo." 

And since we're already on the subject (and probably already craving the taste), here are reposts of four different adobo recipes for the Happy Home Cook:

The Happy Home Cook: Amboy Adobo By Chef Alvin Cailan

The Happy Home Cook: Adobong Dilaw By Lyn B. Gamboa

The Happy Home Cook: Adobong Malutong (Adobo Flakes)

The Happy Home Cook: Adobong Baka (Braised Beef In Vinegar)

Also featured in this week's issue are two performance artists -- one focused on dance, film and the written word; the other in music fusion. Though very different from each other, the two share the passion for their art and their Filipino roots. SAMMAY, the artist originally known as Samantha Peñaflor Dizon is profiled by Lisa Suguitan Melnick while Fil-Canadian bassist/composer Chris Trinidad is introduced by Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr. 

Two prominent Filipinas who have earned their places in Philippine history died on the same day this week. We pay homage to Nini Quezon Avancena and Celia Diaz Laurel, both of whom enriched our culture with their style, grace and advocacies. Here are Rappler's tributes to the two: 

https://www.rappler.com/nation/zeneida-nini-quezon-avancena-dies

https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/theater/theater-actress-celia-diaz-laurel-dies

Video of the Week: Digital Nomads

In The Know

The Philippines’ secret weapon against Chinese incursions
https://www.economist.com/asia/2021/07/10/the-philippines-secret-weapon-against-chinese-incursions?fbclid=IwAR2V4kZGMVV2EqkonpEysmANGsOdYMLTomNh82WhkcEe2gTAK-fN6NN_uy0 

The Mindanao Death March
https://www.metrocdo.com/2021/04/04/the-mindanao-death-march/?fbclid=IwAR2YrqgjYUnyfGEPGGSMjqTXLoq2f_PBs6-66a6CQDqwgYDY5Pe5ztlIT5k

‘…Manila Would Do’: Marking the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Manila
https://www.ong.ohio.gov/stories/2020/mar/20200303-37th-manila.html?fbclid=IwAR2C7wzj1qXIzf21g8V7XqZap1TU0NB8fqw8lvR4EpT9N4C6nVRzNPnneZ0

You don’t have to be a Philippine expat to appreciate the unique joys of Jollibee
https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2021/07/05/jollibee-restaurant-review/?fbclid=IwAR0cEvmFkkxFM5QG6KQJUKb3eaelD5rKR-Dp6PlVhJIQpsnpUW0xQAIM61k

[OPINION] The guilt of being born and raised Filipino, but having English as your first language
https://www.rappler.com/voices/rappler-blogs/opinion-guilt-being-born-raised-filipino-english-first-language?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR1N5SMVKP1NuadRUN4PYK1mxhelwbFTl_yazeNyMx06kpNuTrdTp9DxSdI#Echobox=1624714628

Lou Diamond Phillips Has Worked His Whole Life to Play a Filipino-American Character

https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/a36676635/lou-diamond-phillips-interview-playing-filipino-american-characters/?fbclid=IwAR2-bG_phFBpZfNdzsiXP6ENFDrImtsJLVv2xWPWryjERmUZQYgzAqeGtFU

Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino

Two Noteworthy Filipinas, Two Different Paths

Two noteworthy Filipinas, two very different paths.

Fil-Am Juslyn Manalo caps her distinguished career in government and nonprofits with the coveted position of mayor of Daly City, California, home to the biggest concentration of Filipinos in the San Francisco Bay Area. PF Correspondent Cherie Querol-Moreno introduces us to Manalo and collates some advice for her from her "sister predecessors" -- Filipino women who have become mayors of various cities in northern California.

On a totally different track, PF Correspondent Myles A. Garcia hears Nat King Cole's classic rendition of "Stardust" and waxes nostalgic with memories of his childhood in San Juan and a woman he knew then as Ginny. To his surprise, Ginny eventually became well-known within certain circles as Viring de Asis, the leading seller of antiques in Metro Manila. "Ginny, the Jukebox and Nat" is a step back in time with the beloved song setting the mood.

Back to the present, our Philippine-based correspondent, Rene M. Astudillo gives us a primer on understanding the current Filipino slang and memes. A useful guide when you are in our motherland and encountering millenials. 

Our In The Know compilation for this week:

Toyo Eatery bags coveted award from Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2018—a first for Filipino dining
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/288785/toyo-eatery-bags-coveted-award-asias-50-best-restaurants-2018-first-filipino-dining/

Filipino Food Finds a Place in the American Mainstream
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/12/dining/filipino-cooking.html

Uber to Exit the Southeast Asian and Philippines Markets
https://techpilipinas.com/uber-exit-southeast-asian-philippines-markets/

The last and definitive op-ed to shut down the Bruno Mars cultural appropriation nonsense
https://thegrio.com/2018/03/12/bruno-mars-cultural-appropriation/

Aileen Suzara Is Flipping the Script About 'Unhealthy' Filipino Food
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/aileen-suzara

Disney's A Wrinkle in Time's Deric McCabe Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avBk0nRGRsM

Our Happy Home Cook recipe is for that addicting munchies: Adobong Malutong or Crispy Adobo Flakes.

For our Video of the Week, here's the popular infomercial that won the top prize for its director, Lyle Sacris, in the 2018 Kidlat Awards. Full disclosure: Lyle is my nephew so please indulge my auntie pride here. 

Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino