Tough Ladies

Before anything else, we would like to congratulate our colleague in the journalistic profession, Maria Ressa, the embattled but undaunted CEO and editor in chief of Rappler, for the string of international awards and accolades she has been receiving. The latest one, just announced yesterday, comes from Time magazine whose year-end issue includes Ressa on the cover as one of "The Guardians" of press freedom. In this era of fake news, unbridled trolling and political intimidation, Positively Filipino stands alongside those who courageously fight for truth, honesty and the rule of law.

A welcome break from the frenzy of the season is first-time contributor Pia Guballa's feature on some movie stars of yesteryear. "The Muses of LVN Pictures" spotlights Caridad Sanchez, Marita Zobel and Luz Valdez who "grew up" under the wing of the formidable Doña Sisang de Leon, the grand matriarch of the movie studio.

In Chicagoland, a Filipino singer named Ester Hana, has been making waves, as attested to by PF Correspondent Rey E. de la Cruz in "A Cebuana Songbird in the Windy City." 

In keeping with the holiday spirit, Read Again Elizabeth Ann Quirino's "Lulu's Fifty-Peso Christmas Gift," her tribute to her mom, Lulu Reyes Besa who was awarded the US Medal of Freedom in 1947 as one of the heroines of WWII.  

Here are some of the stories from other publications that you may have missed:

Time Person of the Year, Maria Ressa: She Reported From War Zones. But Covering Philippine President Duterte Might Be Her Most Dangerous Job Yet
http://time.com/5475492/maria-ressa-rappler-person-of-the-year-2018/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-share-article&utm_content=20181211&fbclid=IwAR00b5bvenymv1aT3LRaNCpyu2h7O-I1cDCz_aSu2Gk5KbueRSX6QtCw8Ko

Vallejo-Raised Singer H.E.R. Snags 5 Grammy Nominations
https://www.kqed.org/arts/13846668/vallejo-raised-h-e-r-snags-5-grammy-nominations?fbclid=IwAR2xgaCXoXpQm6vmaanfWgcu43MI5orZX2EtAvJuFMSbrHsF_5shasBmMHI

This Tribe Saved My Family and US Soldiers Decades Ago – Miles and Points Made It Possible to Say Thank You
https://millionmilesecrets.com/inspiration/this-tribe-saved-my-family-and-us-soldiers-decades-ago-miles-and-points-made-it-possible-to-say-thank-you/?fbclid=IwAR3SwZ4kGDqwXJsbBZ0DcyqHKd5-Xt4DbsbGYMoN_rpa02tWadKv6yR7H3U

Rolando Peña: portrait of a rock scientist as a rare gem
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/12/10/18/rolando-pea-portrait-of-a-rock-scientist-as-a-rare-gem?fbclid=IwAR1FAnuN-9yOYpmGUq0iP0kfxumoSCYAAtKsFJC-KJl3nwGdoFvAZyukyU0

Before we indulge the annual food gorging that is Christmas, take time for a lean, healthy recipe from PF Correspondent Rene M. Astudillo, Chilled BroCauli Salad.

 “Forgive Us Our Signs” makes a comeback for its 12th edition. More funny Pinoy signs and memes.

For Video of the Week, the BBC News Service features Nanie Guanlao, who opened  the Reading Club 2000, a community library with no rules, open 24 hours a day and children can bring home the books if they wanted to.