Fil-Ams You Should Know

Aside from Mother's Day, the big celebration in the US in May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM). Why May? Because the first Japanese immigrant to the US arrived on May 7, 1843 and the transcontinental railroad was completed by mostly Chinese immigrants on May 10, 1869. Filipino Americans have their own month to celebrate - October, since it is believed that the first Filipinos to reach American soil got here on that month. Nonetheless, we celebrate in solidarity with our fellow Asians because any occasion to honor the contributions of immigrants to this giant melting pot of a country is cause for celebration.

Get to know some famous -- and infamous -- Filipino Americans in the compilation spearheaded by our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco, the first of which is in this issue. ["Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous"]

Likewise, in our continuing salute to mothers this month, Lisa shares with us her tribute to her late mother, Paz Sycip Yuchengco. ["A Final Goodnight"]

Cultural writer Walter Ang introduces Cynthia Salaysay, a Filipino American author, whose first book Private Lessons, a young adult (YA) novel, is coming out this month. ["Cynthia Salaysay's Healing Heart"]

Some deaths are heavier than others as Manila-based PF Correspondent Criselda Yabes illustrates in her tribute to her good friend (and ours too), former secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Fulgencio Factoran Jr. ["Jun Factoran, A Friend Forever"]

Here's a timely Read Again that will make you feel good: Liana Romulo's account of her esteemed lolo's amazing feat. https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/2013/7/when-lolos-debating-team-vanquished-america

For the Happy Home Cook, let's dig up another comfort food from our archive: Binagoongang Baboy from Beth Romualdez. http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-happy-home-cook-binagoongang-baboy

Here are links to stories from other publications: 

Pandemic slashes remittance lifeline as overseas Filipino workers lose jobs
https://www.bworldonline.com/pandemic-slashes-remittance-lifeline-as-overseas-filipino-workers-lose-jobs/?fbclid=IwAR2ZbbTPIYw0LpqUFsh8vzsLSGFEUl7K1VkEaNvRy3tdxcMCianXJBPqeao

Five things to remember during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and beyond
https://www.adn.com/opinions/2019/05/24/five-things-to-remember-during-asian-american-and-pacific-islander-heritage-month-and-beyond/?fbclid=IwAR2jZorBTiALQj6TTSuWoG8_8vvAIJqqZvwIHsZbsW7FnytFlftX4kPea6M

In the Claws of a Police State
https://thebaffler.com/latest/in-the-claws-of-a-police-state-flores-fantauzzo?fbclid=IwAR07Jk2QrkXK74CLdhFltQGC2o08EG829-Uq2Qya-59Q3fZQnw-7LLdDVN0

“Similar to Times of War”: The Staggering Toll of COVID-19 on Filipino Health Care Workers
https://www.propublica.org/article/similar-to-times-of-war-the-staggering-toll-of-covid-19-on-filipino-health-care-workers?utm_source=pardot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=majorinvestigations&utm_content=feature

Celebrity IOU: Michael Bublé fulfills grandfather's dying wish with home for his caretaker Minette
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-8287151/Celebrity-IOU-Michael-Bubl-fulfills-grandfathers-dying-wish-home-caretaker-Minette.html?fbclid=IwAR19mlzdhKtFDgjwFXybGLCl7hbynMdswyUZfA0SjGQZKjjZoMoPrHPYY0s#i-5912dad24a9fa0a6 

What Manila Looked Like The Year You Were Born
https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/lifestyle/old-manila-vintage-photos-a00297-20200501-lfrm3?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20200431-fbnp-culture-old-manila-vintage-photos-a00297-20200501-lfrm3-fbfirst&fbclid=IwAR3rDBH9HefUzse2Da5tbFqoe3AffarjJtkamXXsbO_w30FQ2bCgmdCA6H0 

For our Video of the Week, witness veteran journalist Howie Severino's documentation of his bout with Covid-19. 

Manilamen Down Under

While over 300,000 Filipinos now reside in Australia, the history of Filipinos in the continent dates back to the mid- to late 19th century when "Manilamen" were recruited as pearl divers for the pearling industry. These Manilamen settled and married Aboriginal women in the Torres Strait area where their descendants still live. Sydney-based academic Dr. Deborah Ruiz Wall, who did an extensive oral history project of the descendants of Manilamen, writes this interesting, little-known story on "The Link Between Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and the Philippines," a Positively Filipino exclusive. 

Author/editor Cecilia Manguerra Brainard reviews The Betrayed, a recently published novel by Paris-based Filipino writer Reine Arcache Melvin and proclaims it as "one of the best Filipino novels I have read in a long time." ("Passion in the Time of Revolution")

For Filipinos in the US currently unsure about how to deal with the ICE during this government shutdown, here's some valuable advice from San Francisco immigration lawyer Lourdes Tancinco, who contributes our Partner Post this week. ("Effect of Shutdown on Immigration Related Programs and Applications")

 As a young man in New York, PF Correspondent Myles Garcia bought a "Salvador Dali print." For the next 44 years, he wondered whether the artwork was authentic or if he was conned. Finally, he decided to take action and consulted an auctioneer. Read about the strange, amusing odyssey of a Salvador Dali sketch in "Hello Dali: Salvador, Venus and Me."

For the Happy Home Cook, here's a recipe for Mami, a popular cold-weather treat, from Le Cordon Bleu alumna G. B. Korten.

For this week’s In The Know links:

Philippine bid to jail nine-year-olds is 'a great child violation', Unicef says
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/13/philippine-bid-to-jail-nine-year-olds-is-a-great-child-violation-unicef-says?fbclid=IwAR2LhWe0cBxZ6ccF41mthU1wvB73Fk1u2x_PVQ-cRcUpGGNbeNWGC1OWCZc

On Global Filipinos: Sheila Marcelo is 1st FilAm woman CEO on Wall Street
https://thefilam.net/archives/29145?fbclid=IwAR0AC7eDON1uaBFGIuRSqPuoKTRZOKxf4lMR054nYiKfucBkGf8Ubi5le50

Rhapsody in C: Ryan Cayabyab
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/profiles/ryan-cayabyab-national-artist-profile-a1523-20190117-lfrm3?fbclid=IwAR28ZsAXFkv_dF02I4aOZIhAmXK31Svz3tZBOhCrXLLurbpCMgY9w0_YFGQ

Vincent Rodriguez III Is a Gay Actor Playing a Straight Heartthrob
https://www.advocate.com/television/2019/1/08/vincent-rodriguez-gay-actor-playing-straight-heartthrob?fbclid=IwAR2YYdgtvtdrXydc7ZIxbqHHwMkluOqUUYWV4avB1GhkdQ__X5sggCSVgg4

Pixar artist creates short film starring Filipino-American leads
http://cnnphilippines.com/entertainment/2019/01/14/Pixar-artist-short-film-Filipino-American-characters-Float.html#

For Video of the Week, we feature multi-award winning actor Darren Criss, singing “Proud of your Boy” from the Disney musical “Aladdin.”

Timeless Star of the Silver Screen

To fans of Filipino movies, Eddie Garcia is a towering institution, unmatched in the breadth and depth of his talent, his experience and in the variety of roles he has played in the 70 years he has been in the industry as actor and director. Author/poet and movie critic Marra PL. Lanot catches up with this quintessential actor and shares his views with us in "What Makes Eddie Run?'

A landmark victory that should be celebrated and pursued, not ignored. That's the maritime case that the Philippines filed against China before the International Court of Arbitration, a complex process that veteran journalist Marites Danguilan Vitug meticulously chronicles in her new book, Rock Solid: How the Philippines Won Its Maritime Case Against China. The book is reviewed for us by Dr. Patricio N. Abinales in "High Noon in the West Philippine Sea."

Bookending our lineup this week is "Lucky Charm," an essay by millennial writer Maia Boncan.

Starting with the above piece, we'd like to encourage our young readers to share their thoughts/views and their writing, for a series that we have tagged, "Our Turn."

If you're craving comfort food this cold season, how about trying out our Happy Home Cook recipe this week from PF Correspondent Rene Astudillo: Dinengdeng with Fried Bangus. 

And our links for stories you may have missed reading:

Where 518 Inmates Sleep in Space for 170, and Gangs Hold It Together
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/07/world/asia/philippines-manila-jail-overcrowding.html?fbclid=IwAR3xMdQXvsf3WhfVkDI_SJST2H3NWtdK1v9bqN85ONyiMn9cQN5uymxK1xs

Meet the Filipina Engineer Who Struggled in Math But Now Works at NASA 
https://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/newsfeatures-peopleparties/76495/josephine-santiago-bond-filipina-engineer-nasa-a833-20190106-lfrm?ref=home_feed_1%3Futm_source&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20190106-fbnp-newsfeatures-josephine-santiago-bond-filipina-engineer-nasa-a833-20190106-lfrm%3Fref&fbclid=IwAR0S6jjWV9oQ3oUOCviw04_mAvtvy1GjpvwJRghlK4zNL9kzkP6ELXVLOOg

“Stay a While Longer, Doc”
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/specials/content/40/stay-a-while-longer-doc/?fbclid=IwAR13clgfoZCLsr_gZwWE3UW0ry3wW8wZ9MGtYazawdyLJOGgaMIOaWWnMiA

New Saliva-based Test Detects Malaria Before Symptoms Appear
http://news.ufl.edu/articles/2019/01/new-saliva-based-test-detects-malaria-before-symptoms-appear.php?fbclid=IwAR23dLuSPkYuKejtuJmxUjnnrJw1H1RYD9478XGHTz6K3RxsBKB0UVdMmrI

Darren Criss Wins at Golden Globes
https://deadline.com/2019/01/golden-globes-darren-criss-the-assassination-of-gianni-versace-ryan-murphy-filipino-american-1202530126/

For Video of the Week, Grammy-nominated recording artist H.E.R. (aka Gabi Wilson) was interviewed on the Late, Late Show with James Corden, where she acknowledged her Filipino heritage.