Not All Doom and Gloom

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We start our Easter Week with mourning. An exemplary Filipino public servant, Jose Santiago "Chito" Sta. Romana, the current Philippine ambassador to China (previously a well-known student activist, exile and ABC News Bureau Chief in China), passed away unexpectedly in an island off Shanghai, leaving family, friends and colleagues shocked and in deep grief. [Here's Rappler's obit: https://www.rappler.com/nation/philippine-diplomat-chito-sta-romana-dies/?fbclid=IwAR0WcPcqhoA8bM3T8BqG6OgWKyOfVYDGxDWLCosxbB8ga6AMZ7nHWxB07AM] 

But it's not all doom and gloom. If you want comedy, ridiculousness and incredulousness all at once, check out our Election News links below to get a full taste of the Grand Philippine Circus, aka Elections 2022. You gotta read it to believe it!

There's also reason for amazement. In the current election climate, a new, never-before-seen-in-such-scale organizing strategy is sweeping many areas of the country: murals -- giant artworks painted on public walls and fences, proclaiming support for a specific candidate. Mural creation is a large-group activity, thus a great tool for motivating, inspiring and consolidating the troops (of supporters). Contributor Bella Bonner takes us behind the scenes to one such project in West Fairview, Quezon City.

And always, a reason to stand up and be counted. Regular contributing writer and former COMELEC head honcho Andres D. Bautista exhorts overseas Filipino voters, all 1.7 million of us, to VOTE. Philippine embassies and consulates have mailed out the ballots but if you haven't received yours, contact them. If you're in the San Francisco Bay Area, make sure your name is here: https://pcgsanfrancisco.org/certified-list-of-overseas-voters-clov-2022/

If you haven't received your ballot, check your name here: List of Voters with No or Incomplete Address. If you'd had a change of address and haven't informed the Consulate, check here: List of Returned Postal Voting Packets. Email the Consulate immediately if your name is on the two lists above: ovs@pcgsanfrancisco.org. You can also go personally to Consulate on May 9 to vote.

Our lineup this week also includes a sentimental journey to the sites that forged Filipino American connections in WWII by Carol Esguerra Colborn [Read: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/war-and-remembrance-in-the-philippines] 

And the interesting story of Johnny Valdes, the man who built Johnny Air Cargo, written by first-time PF contributor Glenna Aquino. [Read: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/how-johnny-became-johnny-air-cargo]

Enjoy the wild ride towards a new Philippine future.

[Recipe of the Week] The Happy Home Cook: Airfried Vegetarian Crispy Pork Belly

[Video of the Week] Awit ng Pagasa

Philippine Elections 2022

Youtube Channels ‘Hijacking’ News Genre to Influence Philippine Polls
https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/youtube-channels-hijacking-news-genre-disinformation-influence-2022-philippine-elections/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3mWaOvTWtVY2FfEx1z6Lpw5dRM73Dqe5tJg98d4JaTvPeQaLMc0f7k5Z8#Echobox=1649996525-4

[ANALYSIS] Ping Lacson’s premature endgame
https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/newsstand-ping-lacson-premature-endgame-2022-elections/?fbclid=IwAR0RMtZxW-FVjdBYWA0KwopzoWIQtOYYsc22TRgqwUEOZIdUjVCgTIF869o

[OPINION] What have these guys been sniffing?
https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-lacson-moreno-gonzales-press-conference-what-have-these-guys-been-sniffing/?fbclid=IwAR0nrP4MBE0nT8vrQ8uz4qoSqx6VgdU5qYzkhwGNVecQ93MRuKT1JB7hg78 

Filipinos flood Twitter with ‘Leni Withdraw’ memes after lagging candidates gang up on Robredo
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/filipinos-flood-twitter-leni-withdraw-051106771.html 

How the Philippines’ brutal history is being whitewashed for voters
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/04/12/philippines-marcos-memory-election/

The Philippines Toppled One Marcos. Now His Son May Become President.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/13/world/asia/philippines-marcos-president-election.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuomT1JKd6J17Vw1cRCfTTMQmqxCdw_PIxftm3iWka3DJDm8ZiPsSGYyMvE7WZKMkf9sy2zWDXN5HPaRqQfVoxehEelR3RhKprpaChNEIJyg-tYO0WCU2w5fJF_gewAPdU1OYeq151aHt-FWPKiSxCvmIzyV3Jw5uppBmaVmv3CEXwqzAQfp_joMtwf0rDph4TDgFYCKA7OL6SEkrYKXwZRne6QM8UuxbWyiC3oLPruJdL3gBTA7OX3h94m0j6d5DON5xPK73LxYoe8qWkqxGQyUzb9_vX8ttMtCSw7Z6srfNqgiOzN61wpg1FKZXvLDEugWqJW7Fvj6yEs9r8CKZOCGjNSo&smid=em-share

Ties that bind: 17 years ago, Leni trudged Masbate to help rural folk
https://www.rappler.com/nation/elections/17-years-ago-leni-robredo-trudged-masbate-help-rural-folk-elections-2022/?fbclid=IwAR3BJkVPvoH8RDuwTGgZuXOdWt2rjrk7x5PSi8MlHSOJqrbCJHq9e9dl09E#l1yqz8l40abgor9vn9mf

Networked propaganda: How the Marcoses are using social media to reclaim Malacañang
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/investigative/245290-marcos-networked-propaganda-social-media/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwAR3W6LGxu0zS8ZlRGNWmdSs_zPSaLTz30EZI52FdFEArdxCLXLyLQ_mui18

Networked Propaganda: How the Marcoses are rewriting history
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/investigative/245402-networked-propaganda-marcoses-rewriting-history/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwAR3wGgA-dkNfl4Zhezg_EuuRU8NGVBGLvnolcXcxNn1tm9HDckuwSRkS5WE

Networked propaganda: False narratives from the Marcos arsenal
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/investigative/245540-networked-propaganda-false-narratives-from-the-marcos-arsenal/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social&fbclid=IwAR244VmzBQ8adan_AvWqa4NNSXzUxoSwlu7FnV2eYnzgvkl3AILpKpT6D5Y

Citizen engagement against the surveys
https://opinion.inquirer.net/152120/citizen-engagement-against-the-surveys?fbclid=IwAR0vaTxCjCW0CtlBv05x2k5F6tsQWuCHl3DfcUibnQ2w12y6m0jcnQEEPi8#ixzz7Qfmzcryi

The twists and turns of the presidential election
https://opinion.inquirer.net/152085/the-twists-and-turns-of-the-presidential-election 

[OPINION] Thoughts on the saying ‘The best man for the job is a woman’
https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/opinion-best-man-for-job-is-woman/?fbclid=IwAR2VzjfMC31Xci7fFUZEa5yfmu7V4wF2O3Gh1RSLcH5ayM6wEFiyWOiAG50

In The Know

Lost History: How Czech Fighters Defended Bataan During World War 2
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/czech-fighters-defended-bataan-world-war-2-a00289-20200903-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20220419-fbnp-long-reads-czech-fighters-defended-bataan-world-war-2-a00289-20200903-lfrm-fbold&fbclid=IwAR38Z5ZNrSzZvIC8wxs_0qDSbUnUP4V-eTYnpdrsfPYw61QCEuuI7f4EbY0

Read the Philippines' Most Banned Books in This 'Secret' Digital Archive
https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/books-and-art/read-the-world-s-most-banned-books-in-this-secret-digital-archive-a2746-20220418?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20220418-fbnp-culture-read-the-world-s-most-banned-books-in-this-secret-digital-archive-a2746-20220418-fbold&fbclid=IwAR36eZa4LFLW3jJ5SODo2QWumF2eduIdJyXi-DpGuXSoE0QONQibvf8oA0Y

The "Women of Impact" 2022 List: Filipinas Who Have Made Their Mark
https://www.tatlerasia.com/power-purpose/others/the-women-of-impact-2022-list-filipinas-who-have-made-their-mark 

What brought about the Filipino’s love affair with rice, according to a food historian
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/food-drink/features/04/07/22/a-filipino-food-historian-on-why-we-eat-what-we-eat?fbclid=IwAR1tof19EE2A1EVqHb7chtUN-fxhHHjkZoxyoJRXez5TinxNNxwUpfo8uhQ

Slater Young set the record straight on who really built this PHP30-billion Cebu bridge, and people are loving it
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/slater-young-set-record-straight-073758169.html

This Filipino Circumnavigated the World for P240,000 and No Visas

https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/filipino-circumnavigated-world-regin-reyno-a00293-20200312-lfrm2?utm_source=Facebook-EsquireMoney&utm_medium=Siteshare&utm_campaign=20220406-fbnp-long-reads-filipino-circumnavigated-world-regin-reyno-a00293-20200312-lfrm2-fbold&fbclid=IwAR2BJ8w8ivt0NS-giydnnEbckKUn2pn1vc9YP18yc9QSwkdGTGu5FkPOFbQ

Pioneering Filipina Filmmakers
https://www.goldenglobes.com/articles/pioneering-filipina-filmmakers?fbclid=iwar3mjp4zu8tjymaehvodklul4o3ezq8_gqyj6ef1pe_tljjndait31bzun8

Artworks by PH children with autism showcased in NY | TFC News New York, USA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3R07fgMVCM

Star Turns

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Many Filipinos -- men and women both -- have already made quite a splash in the entertainment world that another feat, such as Mary Rivera's role as the lola in "Spider-man: No Way Home" is no longer headline material. Her appearance in the highest grossing movie of 2021 was brief but was nonetheless a cause for celebration especially among her fellow Ilonggos, as contributing writer Vic Salas reports. 

But did you know that in the elite world of opera, in distinguished stages in the US and Europe, Evelyn Mandac, a Filipina soprano reigned as the brightest star? No other Filipino singer has surpassed her achievements in the classical music realm, as her voice student Chiara Cox writes.

In our native land, a woman is inspiring an unexpected tsunami of volunteerism and creative campaigning nationwide. A middle-class community in Quezon City did its part by declaring a day of pampering for their kasambahays, drivers, gardeners and other service workers. Bella Bonner has this heartwarming story.

How are the odds stacking up for the seekers of public office at this point in the political circus? The surveys notwithstanding, the situation is still fluid and no one can assume victory yet, not even the frontrunner. Political observer Ernesto Hilario explains.

This being International Women's Month, here's a fitting tribute to some outstanding Filipino women from their loving children. Watch again our webinar held last May which brought out some insightful items that we wouldn't have known otherwise. The participants are: Aika Robredo talking about her mother, the possible future President Leni Robredo; Nina Daza-Puyat on her mother, the original superchef Nora Daza; Melissa Ugarte on her mother, model/beauty queen/revolutionary Maita Gomez; and TJ Manotoc on his mom, activist/civic leader and former Miss International Aurora Pijuan. Powerful Filipinas who prove that, indeed, "women hold up half the sky." http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/webinar-video-loving-kids-talk-about-their-famous-mothers

Cook It Again: The Happy Home Cook: Escabeche (Sweet and Sour Fish)

Video of the Week: Dancers for Leni

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino