‘Heneral Luna’ Rides Again

Even while the political circus heats up in Manila, a refreshing development is capturing the imagination of our kababayans: “Heneral Luna,” the highly acclaimed movie by young director Jerrold Tarog, is getting people to know one of our most famous and colorful historical heroes and also generating discussions on Philippine history.

We have two reviews of the movie -- one by Thelma Estrada, who saw the film in San Francisco and and another by Renato L. Santos, who writes from Manila. Both provide food for thought and get us all excited to watch the film, which we hear, will be the Philippines' entry for the Oscars next year.

Another brush with history is Lilia V. Villanueva's account of how she moved back to Bacolod from New York to embark on the enviable task of rehabilitating the glory days of her family's ancestral home, Daku Balay, once the grandest in the city. Her story is an inspiring tale for those who are thinking of returning to the homeland and those who want to preserve the houses they grew up in.

Positively Filipino Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino features nurse/mother/marathon runner Anna Bretan in Watch Out World, This Is a Filipino.

It's October and Filipino American History Month once again. To commemorate the occasion, we will be posting various stories on our people's history in the US starting next week; but meanwhile, here's something to Read Again: "When Hilario Met Sally" by Alex Fabros.

For this week's Happy Home Cook, Richgail Enriquez provides a healthier alternative to fried rice with her low carb, low sugar version.

For our Video of the Week, NowThis' presents a feature on the Puzzle Cafe, which provides work for people with autism.

For Bay Area folks, The Third Filipino American International Book Festival happens this weekend at the San Francisco Public Library in the Civic Center. Our Partner post provides the details.