Women Power

We join the celebration of Women's Month with stories by, about and for Filipino women, so keep reading us in the next few weeks as we honor those that hold up half the sky. Like artist Imelda Cajipe Endaya, as profiled by Serina Aidasani in "Presents from the Past." Her art is inspired by her passion for Philippine history and her exploration of what it means to be Filipina in today's world.

And then there's author F.H. Batacan whose book, Smaller and Smaller Circles, a whodunit set in Metro Manila's Payatas garbage dump, won the Palanca Memorial Award, the Philippine National Book Award and the Madrigal-Gonzales Best First Book Award. The murder mystery is considered the first Philippine crime novel. This must-read book, now international distributed, is reviewed by veteran journalist Ben Pimentel.

In "Looking for My Father in Cuyo Island," contributing writer Gia R. Mendoza revisits her family history as she returns to the island of her birth where her father was once the resident physician. It was an eye-opening, nostalgic journey for her and she shares the experience with us.

Our publisher, Mona Lisa Yuchengco, likewise shares her thoughts on the joys and the challenges of returning to our homeland, something which she does regularly but still looks forward to and savors. "Four Funerals and a Surgery" is something most balikbayans can relate to.

And here's something you might want to Read Again: Journalist Aurora Almendral's profile of Henry Motte Muñoz, a French-born Filipino whose crusade against corruption led him to set up a social enterprise called Bantay PH. Motte Muñoz was recently named by Forbes magazine as one of "30 Under 30" outstanding young people to watch out for. 

Our Happy Home Cook featured recipe this week is an easy one for dinner: Ginataang Tilapia from Rene Astudillo.

And our Video of the Week: from the Broadway hit "Hamilton," creator and lead actor Lin-Manuel Miranda introduces new Filipina cast member, Karla Puno Garcia, in this rap song "!0 Taglish Duel Commandments."