Young Love and Vengeful Murders

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A sweet experience of teenage love in a lively neighborhood did not anticipate the unspeakable tragedy that would befall that community and the nation. 

An American husband resolved his long-denied personal pain through the communal mourning enabled by his  Filipina wife's close-knit clan.

A metaphorical "call to arms" for the forthcoming Philippine elections from someone who knows what it takes.

These and a tribute to our modern-day heroes -- Filipino health care workers in the Covid frontlines who gave up their lives so others will live -- mark the beginning of our Year of the Tiger offerings this week.

Here's more: a relevant Read Again now that the Tallano hoax is getting some air time in the Philippines as it relates to the alleged Marcos gold. Myles A. Garcia's "Philippine Hoaxes: of Cabbages and Kings, Grifters and Trolls" is a wild ride through some mind-boggling claims that no one in his right mind should take seriously. (But apparently some people do!).

Our Video of the Week features a tribute to Stella Abrera, the first Filipina prima ballerina of the renowned American Ballet Theater (PF has featured her twice.) She retired in June 2020 when the Covid pandemic was at its height, so her farewell dance performance in "Giselle" had to be cancelled.

Top the week off with Elizabeth Ann Quirino's recipe for Chinese Peanut Cookies. We posted this to celebrate the Year of the Rooster 2017 but it works just as well for the Year of the Tiger 2022.

In The Know (Philippine Election Edition)

Hindsight No. 3: A False Nostalgia
https://penmanila.ph/2022/01/31/hindsight-no-3-a-false-nostalgia/?fbclid=IwAR0BQE0Wx-Q7X-PaVoTE1XAczlIzW3R73n4BvB5bhcj-Sf-IS82hW5Jz5sw 

Boy Abunda takes on Lacson, Marcos and Robredo
https://verafiles.org/articles/boy-abunda-takes-lacson-marcos-and-robredo

Marcos Sr. on Marcos Jr.
https://opinion.inquirer.net/149062/marcos-sr-on-marcos-jr?fbclid=IwAR3asRZyiiUzeXeH8_mELmmCdB5duDuI_SgisxlFdC2xrz1yGZWbsVgTSCw

Philippines' presidential bet Marcos shuns talk of past atrocities
https://news.yahoo.com/philippines-presidential-bet-marcos-shuns-070101576.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=ma

[OPINION] What if Ka Leody had been invited to the Soho interview?
https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-what-if-ka-leody-invited-soho-interview/?fbclid=IwAR0vSeNqRRqZM8f9Uaarvsktw2uiN7JPkQQhqVpKj-TJBtmfGDAFKM361nc

Sui Generis
http://us4.forward-to-friend.com/forward/show?u=81b6ec9d9be6b6261a822deb0&id=3b03af597c

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino

Cooking for the Holidays

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We're approaching holiday season here and with the pandemic receding (hopefully for good), what better way to prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas than to check out recipes from the bounties of new cookbooks from Filipino chefs in various countries. Positively Filipino will be hosting a virtual gathering of cookbook authors on Tuesday, November 9 (Wednesday November 10 in the Philippines). Below are the details. To register: 

For those who missed -- or want to listen again -- to last week's webinar on the USS Telesforo Trinidad campaign, here's the link to the recording.

"Instagrammable" Cafes 

It's not only K-drama that is trending in the Philippines; 2D cafes patterned after South Korea's famous Greem Cafe is sprouting in Philippines cities. Baguio-based PF Correspondent Rene M. Astudillo brings us there.

Reading Centers to Stir Up Filipino Children's Appetite for Learning

With more than a decade of experience running a volunteer reading center for disadvantaged kids, medical technologist Ana Maria Bacudio opens a second one for Mangyan children in Baco, Mindoro. With partial funding from a California-based nonprofit, the project includes a mobile library.

An "Upsetting" Story

We've gotten many book reviews but this one is a stand-out for its raw honesty. Manila-based author George Deoso shows us what good fiction reads like.

For the Happy Home Cook

A recipe using the Cordilleran smoked meat called etag need not faze home cooks thousands of miles away from those mountain communities. Any smoked meat from the supermarket will do.

Video of the Week

Filipino Heritage Night at the Houston Rockets stadium got especially thrilling as two exceptional Fil-Am ball players — Jalen Green of (team) and Jordan Clarkson of (team) face off. 

In The Know (Standard Edition)

How the music of Filipino youth continues to rock the regime
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-11-01/how-filipino-rock-transcends-the-white-norm?utm_id=41070&sfmc_id=472786

Nearly 3 decades-old FACINE is the longest-running Fil-Am film festival
https://thefilam.net/archives/34932?fbclid=IwAR1vCM46aYRfSl_ttjTuGVGtm16jgfa_w_b-fNaJJj4cyT7KBR1ottWyMrU 

In major ocean polluter Philippines, group turns plastic waste into planks
https://news.yahoo.com/major-ocean-polluter-philippines-group-043219267.html 

The last of the asinderos: a look at Bohol’s heritage “unbroken” salt
https://mb.com.ph/2021/10/24/the-last-of-the-asinderos-a-look-at-bohols-heritage-unbroken-salt/?fbclid=IwAR2FL5sKI0Mbh5pjRGB1zvegmJCGVESNbyy_rzKSiLsNGp0F6QqzBbU1yEc

A new Tate Gallery installation tells a story of martial law corruption through jewelry
https://cnnphilippines.com/life/Culture/art/2021/10/15/pio-abad-frances-wadsworth-jones-martial-law-jewelry.html?fbcd&fbclid=IwAR1MrGtXDnUZCO4ri-IRURm3yXCb-pWrgZFphtNKbwOQipYskKruQqUDBVU

Flavors of Beijing: Filipino cuisine finds a home in the Chinese capital
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-10-29/Filipino-cuisine-finds-a-home-in-the-Chinese-capital-14KFTaUWlNu/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2z9TLgZfFbUVdnmBa950KZnj5GQOw6l7nppk_GgYjApWUYOg4mgHn410A

Remembering the Thrill of Reading ‘True Philippine Ghost Stories’
https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxdewn/true-philippine-ghost-stories-book-series-nostalgia?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Lit%20Hub%20Daily%3A%20October%2028%2C%202021&utm_term=lithub_master_list&fbclid=IwAR3YwyjwX3e6jIxwtUncwUvGXXPWqY5BbYAC0pDILO_F1FxGyoFpwK6PHGU

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino

Dreaming of "Normal"

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In "normal" times --meaning the world as we knew it before Covid struck -- this month of August would have been vacation month in the western hemisphere, when tourists spread out to see places beyond their personal borders. Not anymore. For the fully vaccinated who have the capability to travel abroad during these risky times, destinations are now more targeted, the pandemic numbers checked regularly to determine the viability of visits. 

But still we dream of getting out of our comfort zones in exotic places offering unusual adventures. One of our stories this week is "In the Lapp of Luxury" by first-time contributor Alpha Puey who spent one memorable  winter wonderland vacation in Santa Claus land. This is essentially a Christmas story but who doesn't welcome a whiff of Christmas in August? Besides, for those interested in going on this adventure, it might take months to make arrangements, so read up and make plans.

And for those who prefer a staycation, here's an inspiring show to follow: G-Diaries featuring newlyweds Ernie Lopez and Michelle Arville focusing on people helping others. PF Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino elucidates on this feel-good program that honors the legacy of Ernie's late elder sister, the well-known environmentalist Gina Lopez.

PF Publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco who compiles the Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous series made a list of all the names she has included in the compilation and was amazed that the total was already 359. Still counting, as we see some newly discovered Fil-Ams in Part 24.

For a summer treat, how about a Make Again recipe for No-Churn Ube Ice Cream, shared to us by Lulelyn Andres from Budapest. 

For Video of the Week, we commemorate the 40th day anniversary of the passing of President Benigno S. Aquino III with a tribute from his sister Pinky.

In The Know

Tagalog Is the Third Most Widely Spoken Language in Three U.S. States
https://www.esquiremag.ph/politics/news/tagalog-us-language-a00225-20210802?fbclid=IwAR0XcS0OJGmXdj_JCYOhZWV5M5ygWhpDi962ViFzJ7j10u1EYZ5hY4GpAAc

An Olympic romance: The love story of Hidilyn Diaz and her coach Julius Naranjo
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/07/28/21/an-olympic-romance-the-love-story-of-hidilyn-diaz-and-her-coach-julius-naranjo

20 Filipino Architectural Marvels That Have Stood The Test Of Time
https://ph.asiatatler.com/life/20-iconic-filipino-architecture-that-have-stood-the-tests-of-time

Venice Competition Philippines Title ‘On The Job’ Sets HBO GO Premiere in Asia, Reveals Trailer
https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/on-the-job-erik-matti-hbo-philippines-venice-1235029127/