In the Company of Heroes

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Today is the 142nd birthday of Manuel Luis Quezon, one of the most consequential of Philippine presidents, who presided during the Commonwealth period and is credited with setting the stage for the eventual independence of the Philippines from the US. In recent years, Quezon is remembered for a singular humanitarian act in 1939 that offered 10,000 visas for Jews fleeing from the Holocaust to seek refuge in Manila. Some 1,200 took up the offer, thus creating a Jewish community in Manila, known as the Manilaners. Read more about this in our story below.

Read Again: Stories about the Jewish rescue and its aftermath:

"Quezon Saved Jews from the Holocaust" by Ambeth R. Ocampo
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/quezon-saved-jews-from-the-holocaust

"Memories of Rescue in Manila" by Lyca Benitez-Brown
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/memories-of-refuge-in-manila?rq=jews

"A Rescue Hatched Over Poker, Bourbon and Cigars" by Esperanza Catubig
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/2013/4/a-rescue-hatched-over-poker-bourbon-and-cigars?rq=jews

In two days, we will be commemorating a contemporary Filipino hero, Benigno Aquino Jr., whose assassination on August 21, 1983 led to massive protests that eventually led to the downfall of the regime of Ferdinand Marcos. That fateful journey of Ninoy from his US exile to his landing at the Manila International Airport (which now bears his name) was documented in painful detail by his brother-in-law, Ken Kashiwahara, then ABC News correspondent, who traveled with him. We are reprinting here Ken's story from the New York Times on October 16, 1983.

Also in this issue, retired Ambassador Virgilio A. Reyes Jr. writes about Leonor Orosa-Goquingco, National Artist for dance, whose Filipinescas dance company displayed her innovative choreography of traditional Filipino dances.

Likewise, PF Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino profiles Johanna Mirpuri, social media influencer, food blogger and cookbook author. From Johanna's recently released "Simple Salads" cookbook comes our recipe for the Happy Home Cook this week, Summer Garden Caesar Panzanella Salad.

For our Video of the Week, here's a live performance of Fanny, the acclaimed and pioneering all-girl rock band of the early '70s, headlined by two Fil-Am sisters, June and Jean Millington.

A reminder to join us for our next Positively Filipino webinar: