Fil-Ams You Should Know

Aside from Mother's Day, the big celebration in the US in May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM). Why May? Because the first Japanese immigrant to the US arrived on May 7, 1843 and the transcontinental railroad was completed by mostly Chinese immigrants on May 10, 1869. Filipino Americans have their own month to celebrate - October, since it is believed that the first Filipinos to reach American soil got here on that month. Nonetheless, we celebrate in solidarity with our fellow Asians because any occasion to honor the contributions of immigrants to this giant melting pot of a country is cause for celebration.

Get to know some famous -- and infamous -- Filipino Americans in the compilation spearheaded by our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco, the first of which is in this issue. ["Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous"]

Likewise, in our continuing salute to mothers this month, Lisa shares with us her tribute to her late mother, Paz Sycip Yuchengco. ["A Final Goodnight"]

Cultural writer Walter Ang introduces Cynthia Salaysay, a Filipino American author, whose first book Private Lessons, a young adult (YA) novel, is coming out this month. ["Cynthia Salaysay's Healing Heart"]

Some deaths are heavier than others as Manila-based PF Correspondent Criselda Yabes illustrates in her tribute to her good friend (and ours too), former secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Fulgencio Factoran Jr. ["Jun Factoran, A Friend Forever"]

Here's a timely Read Again that will make you feel good: Liana Romulo's account of her esteemed lolo's amazing feat. https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/2013/7/when-lolos-debating-team-vanquished-america

For the Happy Home Cook, let's dig up another comfort food from our archive: Binagoongang Baboy from Beth Romualdez. http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/the-happy-home-cook-binagoongang-baboy

Here are links to stories from other publications: 

Pandemic slashes remittance lifeline as overseas Filipino workers lose jobs
https://www.bworldonline.com/pandemic-slashes-remittance-lifeline-as-overseas-filipino-workers-lose-jobs/?fbclid=IwAR2ZbbTPIYw0LpqUFsh8vzsLSGFEUl7K1VkEaNvRy3tdxcMCianXJBPqeao

Five things to remember during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and beyond
https://www.adn.com/opinions/2019/05/24/five-things-to-remember-during-asian-american-and-pacific-islander-heritage-month-and-beyond/?fbclid=IwAR2jZorBTiALQj6TTSuWoG8_8vvAIJqqZvwIHsZbsW7FnytFlftX4kPea6M

In the Claws of a Police State
https://thebaffler.com/latest/in-the-claws-of-a-police-state-flores-fantauzzo?fbclid=IwAR07Jk2QrkXK74CLdhFltQGC2o08EG829-Uq2Qya-59Q3fZQnw-7LLdDVN0

“Similar to Times of War”: The Staggering Toll of COVID-19 on Filipino Health Care Workers
https://www.propublica.org/article/similar-to-times-of-war-the-staggering-toll-of-covid-19-on-filipino-health-care-workers?utm_source=pardot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=majorinvestigations&utm_content=feature

Celebrity IOU: Michael Bublé fulfills grandfather's dying wish with home for his caretaker Minette
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-8287151/Celebrity-IOU-Michael-Bubl-fulfills-grandfathers-dying-wish-home-caretaker-Minette.html?fbclid=IwAR19mlzdhKtFDgjwFXybGLCl7hbynMdswyUZfA0SjGQZKjjZoMoPrHPYY0s#i-5912dad24a9fa0a6 

What Manila Looked Like The Year You Were Born
https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/lifestyle/old-manila-vintage-photos-a00297-20200501-lfrm3?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20200431-fbnp-culture-old-manila-vintage-photos-a00297-20200501-lfrm3-fbfirst&fbclid=IwAR3rDBH9HefUzse2Da5tbFqoe3AffarjJtkamXXsbO_w30FQ2bCgmdCA6H0 

For our Video of the Week, witness veteran journalist Howie Severino's documentation of his bout with Covid-19. 

To Sing in Barcelona

Take a breather from your Christmas preparations and enjoy our stories this week.

In Spain, 34 kids aged eight to 18, all born and raised there of Filipino parents, comprise Coro Kudyapi, a choir whose repertoire is deeply rooted in the culture of the Philippines. In PF contributor Agatha Verdadero's telling, the choir has sang alongside the world-famous UP Madrigal Singers and is already a fixture in Barcelona's annual  Raval Stolstada Fiesta de Carnaval. ("In Spain, Coro Kudyapi Finds Roots and Home in Music")

If you've watched any of the Cirque du Soleil's acrobatic shows, know that behind those death-defying acts is a crew of riggers that control the wires and cables that enable performers' movements in the air. In "Amaluna," the chief rigger is FilAm Emille Morales who has been with Cirque du Soleil for eight years. Morales gives us an idea of what it takes to make circus acts safe in PF contributor Harvey I. Barkin's story. ("Pinoy Rigger Keeps Acrobats, Trapeze Artists Safe at Cirque du Soleil's 'Amaluna'')

And here are some unique gift suggestions to please yourself and/or your love ones this Christmas or any time of the year ("10 Unique Gifts for All Seasons"). Our Happy Home Cook recipe is for a traditional Caviteño soup dish for either your Christmas or New Year media noche from Chef Ige Ramos: Calandracas soup. 

Catch up with some important news (like a possible Filipino pope?) through our In The Know links:

In Tagle, Pope strengthens his Vatican hand and sets up possible successor
https://cruxnow.com/news-analysis/2019/12/in-tagle-pope-strengthens-his-vatican-hand-and-sets-up-possible-successor/?fbclid=IwAR1pihiZ-vw7eV9t15EiGH6MJNFiYgr5zCCVnBfV0HBC2_Os2zcCBYlM-I0

Vico Sotto's politics: Open to compromise but never to corruption
https://www.rappler.com/nation/246856-vico-sotto-politics-open-compromise-never-corruption?fbclid=IwAR05oqGWOzMPqQOqSuiglLyWbJdOjXcDTlFNezdezL3J21WdBl6qub6Rgk0

Why Many OFWs Remain Poor Despite Working Abroad For Years
https://www.pinoy-ofw.com/news/36198-why-many-ofws-remain-poor-despite-working-abroad-for-years.html?fbclid=IwAR3iPQFKVbILHi4h1ibafNjvPytbhIjR6RQ7MrP1H3L1UqT43fPZiXk6kj4

Kulelat!
https://medium.com/@lenystrobel/kulelat-15e4e1a60b53

In Video of the Week, Seattle chef Marcus Samuelsson visits Filipino restaurant Archipelago and infuses Filipino flavors into dry-aged steak.

All Rise for Inspiring Filipino Women

We join the world in celebrating International Women's Day this Friday by featuring Filipino women, each very different from the others but equally deserving of accolades and respect.

First, Whang Od, the oldest living -- and most famous -- mambabatok or tribal tattoo artist. Living in a tiny village called Buscalan in Kalinga, she has singlehandedly drawn tourists by the hundreds eager to get her tattoo imprint. First-time contributor (who is also my daughter) Maia Almendral Esteves shares her first-hand experience with the 102-year-old lady. 

And then there's Conchita "Ching" Baltazar whose loyal and exemplary service to both her employer and the community of OFWs in Hong Kong earned her the accolade "Bagong Bayani." This story from The Sun Hong Kong is written by its editor, Daisy CL Mandap.

In the US, an impressive number of Fil-Am women have been elected and/or appointed to plum public positions in their respective cities and counties. PF Correspondent Cherie M. Querol Moreno introduces this "Rising Wave of Fil-Am Women Political Pioneers."

And if you're into the tattoo mode, here's an interesting Read Again from Mel Orpilla, "Mark of Four Waves," which puts a historical context to indigenous Philippine tattoos.

In time for Lent, here's a Read Again recipe for the Happy Home Cook: Vegan Longganisa from our favorite vegan chef, RichGail Enriquez.

In case you missed them, our links to interesting stories so you'll be In The Know:

'Do you ever think about me?': the children sex tourists leave behind
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/mar/02/children-sex-tourists-leave-behind-fathers-visited-philippines?utm_medium=sundayedition.20190303.smartflab.421.2&utm_source=email&utm_content=article&utm_campaign=10-for-today---4.0-styling

Meet the Chinese Patriots of the Philippines
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/chinese-filipino-revolutionaries-heroes-a2212-20190206-lfrm?ref=taboola_related&fbclid=IwAR0bI8JZ1JWnfKgrZYDyRl7JnHiYQNo6a57mL4VwftEjZdbKE-duOj6WNao

A Walk to Remember: U.P. Organizes Commune Tour
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1089763/a-walk-to-remember-up-organizes-commune-tour?fbclid=IwAR282fuoBfZig5QwtYwaBaHjB7Vk_GrXGi9OfMtzXhJm_VJOAcswP9nxblo&utm_expid=.XqNwTug2W6nwDVUSgFJXed.1

Inspiring Loyalty, and Serving Chickenjoy at Jollibee
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/14/dining/jollibee-review.html

Our Video of the Week: another encounter between millennials and martial law victims.