Critical Myth Theory

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One of the very first books I bought when my children and I immigrated to the US more than 30 years ago is Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. Loewen. I knew that they were in for American history from a certain point of view so it was important to prepare for some counter-mythmaking. The book was too complex for my little kids to appreciate at that time but its presence in our bookshelf was a constant and symbolic reminder that stories/lessons (particularly historical ones) passed on as "facts" should be examined before they are believed. 

I just reread Loewen's chapter on "The Truth About the First Thanksgiving" because, well, it's Thanksgiving. This "feel-good" holiday is not as pure and innocent (and celebratory) as has been drummed into American schoolchildren through generations. There was another side to the story and it was dark and diabolical, involving, among other things, the slaughter of Native Americans. This ugly side has been exposed by other historians, not just Loewen. 

Historical myth-making or revisionism is not limited to long-ago events; some evil souls are even trying to rewrite contemporary history -- events that many still living can easily remember and expose as lies. (I'm looking at you, martial-law-as-golden-age liars.)

"The antidote to feel-good history is not feel-bad history but honest and inclusive history," Loewen says. It means "...allowing students to learn both the 'good' and the 'bad' side...." 

It is in this same spirit that we encourage you to read "The Conservation President's Troubling Legacy," our lead story this week about President Theodore Roosevelt whose monumental legacy is the protection of millions of acres of land that we visit and appreciate to this day. Roosevelt, however, was also a hard-core imperialist who considered Filipinos as an inferior specie. First-time PF contributor Mikko Jimenez, a conservation biologist and academic, de-mystifies the 26th US president.

There's nothing mystifying about our Living Legends series which hails the very real achievements of some Filipino Americans. Part 2 of Mona Lisa Yuchengco's compilation features Historians and Archivists, the Academe and the Arts. 

Sisig, that crispy, savory pork sensation that has surpassed adobo and lumpia as the Filipino dish of choice, has an interesting -- and accidental -- beginning, as chef and food historian Claude Tayag relates. And to top his delectable story, Claude is sharing his own recipe for this Pampangueño delicacy, for the Happy Home Cook.

Our Video of the Week is a short video documentary on the disappearing art of making Asin Tibuok in Bohol, one of the rarest salt in the world.

Read Again:

We commemorate the 147th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio on November 30:
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/andres-bonifacio-the-other-national-hero

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino

Press Freedom Is Under Siege

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As part of the global media community, we stand with our colleagues in condemning and resisting all attempts by the Duterte administration to muzzle the freedom of the press, a sacred principle enshrined in the Philippine Constitution.  

We note with increasing alarm the various ways such muzzling has taken form -- from harassment, threats, and the filing of unjust cases, to closure of media outlets and outright murder of journalists. We are not willing to ignore or let pass the "death by a thousand cuts" directed at the press by a regime that has no concept of accountability and whose understanding of democracy is tenuous and self-serving. 

In her article in the Atlantic about Monday's conviction of Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos of the crime of cyber-libel, Sheila Coronel, veteran journalist and dean of the Columbia University School of Journalism, says it best: "This is how democracy dies in the 21st century: in a musty courtroom, with a judge invoking Mandela. There are no power grabs in the dead of night, no tanks rolling down the streets, no uniformed officers taking over TV stations. Just the steady drip, drip, drip of the erosion of democratic norms, the corruption of institutions, and the cowardly compromises of decision makers in courts and congresses."

[Read Sheila Coronel's full article here: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/06/maria-ressa-rappler-philippines-democracy/613102/?fbclid=IwAR3wJ69TjZvBqvP6TdNQ0Rp7pJEgIUNzJb7IKfxMg_YpNqiWBWzFgB3hJl8]

We at Positively Filipino give our full support to Maria Ressa, Reynaldo Santos and other real journalists in upholding press freedom by continuing the fight against the legal and actual terrorism foisted on Philippine media. Along with the closure of  ABS-CBN broadcasting network and the pending Anti-Terrorism Law that imperils constitutional rights of political critics, it is clear that the Duterte administration does not respect press freedom and other civil liberties and no longer pretends that there is such a thing as democracy in the country. 

This Week's Stories:

Filipinos For Black Lives By Richard “D-cal” Dacalos

On The Asian Cop Who Did Nothing As George Floyd Lay Dying By Benjamin Pimentel

Fil-Ams Among The Remarkable And Famous, Part 6 By Mona Lisa Yuchengco

Ramon De Ocampo Narrates It All For You By Walter Ang

Read Again: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/jose-rizal-martial-arts-warrior

The Happy Home Cook: Beer Boneless Bangus Belly by Rene Astudillo 

Video of the Week: The Philippine Department of Tourism’s tribute to 10 million Filipino workers around the world: Noypi Ka Nga Astig!

In The Know

This Is How Democracy Dies
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/06/maria-ressa-rappler-philippines-democracy/613102/?fbclid=IwAR11rQrkKVjLYk5L1k2NxKjWJF_y0JcJ8JVS4tujTLM65tkTfEgabX4ZTBE

Maria Ressa: The celebrated Philippine news boss enraging Duterte
https://news.yahoo.com/maria-ressa-celebrated-philippine-news-014051537.html

Filipino American Activists Honor History, Take to the Streets in Solidarity With Black Lives Matter Movement
https://www.kqed.org/news/11823900/filipino-american-activists-remember-history-and-take-to-the-streets-in-solidarity-with-black-lives-matter-movement?fbclid=IwAR09UX_i04Ur3hOmqltIXZhUvf7c-Aqp73aJI1C0t6QzT4iSFI-q4in7L6o

The Philippine Gov't Banned Rallies, So Protestors Threw a 'Party' on Independence Day Instead
https://www.vice.com/en_asia/article/935ada/philippine-government-independence-day-rallies-protests?utm_campaign=sharebutton&fbclid=IwAR1zBhWUfH2FpL6uKbH_Laf0GRJXqxXWl3iDTxGLyH7FcVs0uC7Ric6x_Gw

Meet the Filipino offering 200 free meals a day to Dubai’s jobless migrants during coronavirus shutdown
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3088480/meet-filipina-offering-200-free-meals-day-dubais-jobless?fbclid=IwAR1IKTynta2UOzJ_IGeZvgAKZ2Xo2VBSUVigHNxLQkIfMNrV3lRI_LGA6ts

Lost Footnotes in History: Why Texas Was Once Called New Philippines
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/new-philippines-a00304-20200614?fbclid=IwAR0e6YcNmTxAJbb_R8eadX0CIHsyjq9HCcj89_AyDet-UcoAzCvdTnVCARc

Beyond Einstein: A young Pinoy physicist shines light on black holes, dark energy
https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/06/07/20/beyond-einstein-a-young-pinoy-physicist-shines-light-on-black-holes-dark-energy?fbclid=IwAR0daBfA7RvSMswbYXNO0QsmTdcGcvZ5ZlDE6AVvNifZH4aQNZWHoQjCIuo