Two Women

/

Our webinar tonight, "We Are NOT the Virus," is a much needed conversation about the increase in verbal and physical assaults against Asian Americans, particularly the elderly, since the pandemic started. While not all of these can be considered hate crimes legally (apparently there is a higher legal threshold for a hate crime, which will also be discussed tonight), Asians including Filipino Americans know that in these days of careless rhetoric, one doesn't have to dig deep to find race in any aggressive act. Find out what you can do to protect yourself. Sign up to join.

For those who missed last week's fascinating webinar "An Open Door: Holocaust Haven in the Philippines", here's the recording, which includes the movie trailer. 

In this issue, we shine a light on the remarkable Fil-Ams appointed to significant positions in the Biden administration, four of which are women. 

Likewise, PF Correspondent Criselda Yabes, reporting from Manila, gives us an update on recent case victories of two women who the Philippine president condemn as thorns on his side: Vice President Leni Robredo and detained Senator Leila de Lima. 

From Germany, Filipino German filmmaker Divina Kuan marks her presence in the indie film category with her short film, "The Manicurists."

Happy Women's History Month to all the Filipino women who are making history.

We Know What It Takes

/

Thirty five years ago this week, the uprising that came to be known as the EDSA People Power Revolt happened in the Philippines. The memories and the hopes have dimmed now, commemorations have dwindled to almost zero. 

EDSA '86 was the confluence of decades-long efforts by various sectors of Philippine society to end the Marcos dictatorship, and on this goal alone, it succeeded without the widespread bloodshed that normally accompanies similar uprisings.

EDSA '86, however, was hardly a revolution, as the initial euphoria labelled it. The People Power Revolt did not change the power structure of the country, it merely changed -- or in a lot of cases, restored -- the people who would hold that power. 

For whatever woes and disappointments EDSA '86 later spawned, it was still, on its own, a truly historic moment in our homeland's history, one that we should always be proud of. Now that the world is watching Myanmar go through its own people power revolt, we Filipinos can sympathize and cheer them on. Yes, we've been there; we know what it takes. 

On March 3, Positively Filipino will hold its second webinar in 2021, "An Open Door: The Philippines as Refuge for Jews Fleeing Nazism" and we hope you will join us in celebrating another reason to be proud -- the decision of then Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon to welcome to our country Jews who were fleeing Nazism in Europe. The flyer below shows how to register for this free Zoom event. 

Our Stories This Week

Cesar Climaco: The Life And Times Of A Democracy Icon By Eduardo C. Tadem

[New Webinar] An Open Door: The Philippines As A Refuge For Jews Fleeing Nazism

[Opinion] Lent And Rush Limbaugh By Andres D. Bautista

[Opinion] Take Part In The American Project (A Postscript To Black History Month) By Thelma King Estrada

More Fil-Am Winners In The 2020 Elections By Mona Lisa Yuchengco

[PARTNER] Repeal The Rescission Act Of 1946 By Jon Melegrito 

The Happy Home Cook: Vegan Tinola By Chef Richgail Enriquez

Video of the Week: Memorare Manila - 2021

In The Know

Pinoy engineer in Perseverance journey credits Baguio schooling for science roots
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/19/21/pinoy-engineer-in-perseverance-journey-credits-baguio-schooling-for-science-roots?fbclid=IwAR2PvIsGk91-2ug77_QEMMFWWW8hq_KpQluPSx8fNw9Mf8ARSdJuI3rxbjM

IN PHOTOS: Intramuros museum Casa Manila gets a stunning makeover
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/02/18/21/in-photos-in-time-for-its-reopening-intramuros-museum-casa-manila-gets-a-stunning-makeover?fbclid=IwAR0TuC7-Mu43mjghYfayQeKS2Jmbed6lucvXipfgxVVpYSnob75ZVsj8GzQ

‘It tasted like my childhood’: How a new generation is bringing Filipino flavours to Toronto
https://www.thestar.com/life/food_wine/2021/02/18/it-tasted-like-my-childhood-how-a-new-generation-is-bringing-filipino-flavours-to-toronto.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=Life&utm_content=filipinofoodtoronto&fbclid=IwAR35IsDZLQ0wuJgjtgqvcXMqZvc9gu98fKzLwnQUqzY8KBHB51Ap7gOshPQ

IKEA PH taps Filipino artisans for custom-made textile products
https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/02/16/21/ikea-philippines-rags2riches-sewing?fbclid=IwAR1Iv2e_JyXbb8wGhdEcXJOiFAvVNV4XQ2Eg-Lvd0JMpn9ajqyWPgAx-mLk

These 6 Filipinx Recipes Turn Pantry Staples Into a Cozy Winter Menu
https://www.bonappetit.com/gallery/melissa-miranda-filipinx-pantry-recipes?fbclid=IwAR2f4ysQ-qHrne9dGjRS-KPAnDEwkLjLb3S6aDC97uc2S5q4z5D9YA-uJeE

/ /
, , , , , , , , , , ,

Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino

In the Company of Heroes

/

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: