This Month, We Remember

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When the First Quarter Storm erupted in the Philippines in January 1970, everyone who was living there knew that it would be an extraordinary, historic decade -- both in the good and bad sense. Unrest was widespread as manifested by increasingly large and frequent demonstrations against the government. Students, workers and peasants worked together to demand social justice and structural reforms. Many joined the revolutionary underground, providing a life force to the New People's Army. 

The buzzwords were plenty: Maoism, imperialism, bureaucrat capitalism, fascism, "Makibaka Huwag Matakot," "Marcos Papet Diktador Tuta" were the more popular ones. There were attempts at arms smuggling and bombings which culminated in history-changing events: the Plaza Miranda bombing of the Liberal Party miting de avance in 1971, the subsequent suspension of the writ of habeas corpus (a new term and concept we had to learn), and the declaration of martial law the year after.

Fifty years later, which is this month, martial law continues to inflame emotions and incite debates. Each Filipino remembers it in one's own way, each memory valid if recalled honestly. For the privileged who benefited from it, those were good times; for the victims of its atrocities, their stories must be retold as history lessons. For most of the population, it was a slow burn towards anger; after all, despite the dictatorial decrees and military heavy-handedness, it was still possible to live a simple, under-the-radar existence. Until it wasn't.

It took 14 years before "tama na, sobra na" was on most people's lips, but that's another story.

This month we remember. And do our part in making sure that no one will forget. 

Aside from our collection of stories, Positively Filipino is also sponsoring the two-week FREE showing of the acclaimed movie by Ramona Diaz, "Imelda." Watch it here: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/ramona-diazs-imelda-2003

We also invite San Francisco Bay Area folks to watch a new and important documentary film, "11,103" on Saturday, September 17. See details below.

FREE! To RSVP please visit: https://bit.ly/11103BayAreaPremiere

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Staff

Once In A Lifetime

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The Filipina actor Cherie Gil was a once-in-a-lifetime talent that graced Philippine movies and television for almost five decades. She belonged to showbiz royalty with her parents Eddie Mesa and Rosemarie Gil, her brothers Michael de Mesa and Mark Gil, and a big bunch of nephews and nieces who are likewise making their mark in the entertainment industry. Cherie's demise announced on August 5 led to a deluge of tributes, one of them from her friend, PF contributor Pablo Tariman. ["Cherie Gil, A Beautiful Soul"]

Five years ago, a distinguished Filipino was flying to New York via Vancouver when he suffered a heart attack. When the airline crew called for a physician among the passengers, a Filipino doctor and his wife, also a doctor, rushed to resuscitate him, but it was too late. The distinguished gentleman was Washington SyCip, 96 years old, an icon in the business community. The doctor who tried to save him was Blas Bermudez who wrote about the heartbreaking experience on his Facebook post, which we are reposting here. ["Last Flight Home"]

Filipinos of a certain age crooned and swooned to The Association's big hits like "Never My Love," "Cherish," "Windy," and "Along Comes Mary." What we didn't know then was that a Filipino-Hawaiian was a big part of that cherished pop group and in fact became the group's leader in 1984. Larry Ramos was a Bridge Generation Fil-Am worth extolling and Peter Jamero, another Bridge Generation stalwart, does so. ["Along Comes Larry"]

 If you haven't yet, go and watch Easter Sunday, the movie starring a delightful cast of Filipino Americans led by Jo Koy. One of them is Rodney To, who plays Tito Arthur. PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela profiles this real-life professor of dramatic arts at the University of Southern California. ["Rodney To is More Than Just Jo Koy's Uncle in Easter Sunday"]

Hometowns was one of our popular series that collected personal nostalgia stories about places in the Philippines that defined one's character and memories. Here's one of those narratives about the tiny island of Cuyo, where writer Noni Mendoza grew up and continues to yearn for. ["My Island in the Sun"]

[Read It Again]

The yo-yo is not a Filipino invention but a Filipino, Pedro Edralin Flores, got the first commercial trademark for the toy in the US: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/pedro-and-the-yo-yo-man-and-myth

The beauty of indigenous Filipino tattoos is on full display in this story:

http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/mark-of-four-waves

{Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Marinated Baby Back Ribs 

[Video of the Week] Little Girl Does T’boli Dance

[Partner] Sinehan sa Konsulado 2022 - As part of the Sinehan sa Konsulado 2022, Positively Filipino presents a special screening of Mona Lisa Yuchengco’s MARILOU DIAZ-ABAYA: FILMMAKER ON A VOYAGE. The film will be available VOD (video-on-demand) for FREE from 12 noon August 19 to 12 noon August 25 PST on this access link: https://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/marilou-diaz-abaya-filmmaker-on-a-voyage

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Staff