December 20, 2023

Have a Joyous Holiday Season!

December 20, 2023/ Staff

The Positively Filipino team -- Lisa, Rene, Gemma and Raymond -- wishes all of you, our constant readers, a joyous holiday season. May the coming year be safe, healthy and peaceful for everyone.

Happy Holidays from Positively Filipino! (L-R) Raymond Virata, Gemma Nemenzo, Mona Lisa Yuchengco and Rene Ciria-Cruz

Our special thanks to our contributing writers whose stories have made PF a worthy chronicler of the Filipino diaspora. And to Titchie Carandang who not only wrote consequential articles but is also now helping us with our social media outreach, our gratitude.

This year, PF was also awarded a California State Grant to help inform the public, especially Fil-Ams, about the realities of anti-Asian hate, hate crimes and support services for victims. For this, we have Gail Kong as adviser and we thank her for her guidance.

As is our wont at yearend, we tally our readership numbers and come up with this list of the Most-Read Stories of 2023. We say that they're also Must Read stories.

But beyond the numbers, Read Again these stories from this year's collection that you might have missed but you're sure to enjoy. They're a merry mix of thrills, nostalgia and historic heft.

A septuagenarian's daring feat:
Paragliding, Sky Jumping And Dying Over San Francisco by Bella Bonner

Remembering Lahaina before the fire:
Tears For Lahaina by Odette Foronda

Behind the walls of girls' convent schools:
Girls’ School Confidential by Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz

A beautiful flower farm in Benguet:
A Matriarch’s Legacy Flowers In The Mountains by Ian Layugan

A harrowing escape from a war zone, an OFW nightmare:
Escape From Sudan by Lawrence Espinosa

An all-female Fil-Am rock band of the '60s makes a comeback:
Fanny And Their Ongoing Legacy In Redefining Rock by Lauren Lola

An eloquent testimony on success and social inequity:
Why My Success Is Philippine Society’s Failure by Leo Jaminola

A Filipino Sesame Street muppet:
A Muppet For All Reasons by Anthony Maddela

January 18, 2023

Across Miss Universe

January 18, 2023/ Staff

Miss Universe 2022 R’Bonney Gabriel (Photo by Gerald Herbert/AP)

You would think that after having had four Miss Universe winners (in 1969, 1973, 2015 and 2018, making the Philippines the fourth winningest country), Filipinos would be blasé or, at the very least, mellow about the 71st Miss Universe pageant held last weekend in New Orleans. But the celebration that accompanied the Fil-Am Miss USA R'Bonney Gabriel's win was loud (in the arena) and zealous. Filipinos worldwide feel proud and validated, as we are, even if the country she represents is not the Philippines. To know more about R'Bonney, whose unique name came from her father, Remigio Bonzon Gabriel's nickname R'Bon, read our "Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous, Part 41" and the "In The Know" section below.

Mahjong, that seductive, addictive table game many Chinese and Filipinos swear allegiance to, is the subject of a fascinating story by Honolulu-based writer Nanette L. Ruhter as she recalls her growing up among her elders' close-knit mahjong community. Just in time for Chinese New Year (Year of the Rabbit) on Sunday, January 22.

We're already on our 41st list of Fil-Ams Among the Famous and Remarkable and there's no end in sight. Who made it this time? Check it out.

A story that will make you Smile: PF Correspondent John Silva posted this short but heartwarming report about this electrician who loves to read literature.

The Filipinos and Chinese have a centuries-long history that has resulted in the blurring of ethnic lines. Read Again Michael Gonzalez's "Porcelain and Pansit: The Philippine Chinese."

Former student leader/activist Jaime FlorCruz comes full circle as the current Philippine ambassador to China. Read Again his narrative of his very interesting life in "Forty Years in China: From Stranded Activist to International Journalist."

Speaking of Chinese New Year, here again is the recipe for Chinese Peanut Cookies from PF Correspondent and cookbook author Elizabeth Ann Quirino.

[Video of the Week] Sinulog Grand Parade 2023

In The Know

Who is R’Bonney Gabriel, Miss Universe 2022?

https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/pageants/things-to-know-rbonney-gabriel-miss-universe-2022/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow&fbclid=IwAR1tgBcbSYtVHa-hUvGTXR9kY20XEHSYCx8KIm2A57rLtdbdbiTQNKUc09A

Eng Bee Tin and Ma Mon Luk: How Chinese Cuisine Integrated Itself Within Filipino Cuisine & Culture

https://www.chinoy.tv/eng-bee-tin-and-ma-mon-luk-how-chinese-cuisine-integrated-itself-within-filipino-cuisine-culture/?fbclid=IwAR3MZfePE9kCR3et0QNZi9j0J98rI964ooElyu-246mTTpplwKOAVr0u9t4

Who foots the bill for Marcos’ Davos trip?

https://verafiles.org/articles/who-foots-the-bill-for-marcos-davos-trip?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR1_QCAKx3YLT6shTM0--ihtSpbMkRsOc1CDxgWPo5yiVO7ikYB3dewLwow#Echobox=1673619646

As a Filipino American, Dungeness Crab Was Part of My OG San Francisco Childhood

https://www.kqed.org/arts/13923127/dungeness-crab-fishing-filipino-american-treasure-island-san-francisco

‘Here Lies Love,’ an Imelda Marcos Disco Musical, Will Play Broadway

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/theater/here-lies-love-broadway.html?smid=tw-nytimesarts&smtyp=cur&fbclid=IwAR0IIAy1n1CDm2bYNrF6qPGI3OZafYn5OdsZKk7Q-y_jU5DB4FhZ-I-4VPY

Movie stars and anti-Filipino race riots: The secret history of San Francisco’s Macintosh Studios

https://www.sfgate.com/sfhistory/article/A-luxury-San-Francisco-suitmaker-that-inspired-a-16133069.php?fbclid=IwAR2ukalKvD2TtXoPTbcle0_j75tutPOcJ-jo1HsPpfIo8y3I2tMmnv6yCUc

Remembering Carmen Guerrero Nakpil’s cultural battle with Gina Lollobrigida

https://verafiles.org/articles/remembering-carmen-guerrero-nakpils-cultural-battle-with-gina-lollobrigida?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR2QzGkuitxMvDUB4yFmaO3X57vwKSxfGup_dZroGeFp0N6zyLi-KR__X_w#Echobox=1673940469

October 12, 2022

Timeline of Our Life in America

October 12, 2022/ Staff

Positively Filipino's FilAm History timeline is the most comprehensive available. With this issue, we have added updates (in red) that hopefully keeps up with the constantly increasing number of milestones the community has chalked up to firmly establish its presence in the US. But timelines are always a work-in-progress, so please alert us if there are items missed or to be added.

Meanwhile, FilAm achievers continue to create history as they excel in their respective fields. Making the list in PF's "Fil Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous, Part 39" compiled by our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco, are a sportswriter/ESPN host, Miss USA 2022 and a U.S. Ambassador.

Tarmo Peltokoski, a 22-year-old Filipino-Finnish conductor is the current sensation among orchestra fans in Europe. Cultural writer Pablo A. Tariman profiles this amazing classical music star.

October 7 marks the 100th day of the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. How has he fared so far? PF's Manila-based analyst Ernesto M. Hilario writes a report card.

Here's a story that brings us back decades, to WWII and one man's harrowing experience in Fort Santiago. PF contributor Harvey Barkin has the written account of Enrique Fernandez, a Nueva Ecija tradesman, as shared by his son, Manny Fernandez.

Our Video of the Week features FilAm Ben Scharlin digging up the fascinating story of a little known revolutionary/babaylan named Papa Isio in Negros Occidental, the heart of the Philippine sugar trade.

TOMORROW! REGISTER HERE!