A Lot Like Christmas

Fourteen more days before Christmas and Filipinos worldwide are gearing up for Simbang Gabi, the annual tradition of dawn masses starting December 16 that, of course,  includes food afterwards (traditionally bibingka, puto bumbong, salabat and tsokolate -- all served fresh and hot -- in churchyards). While the weather in the northern hemisphere is not friendly to outdoor activities, that doesn't stop Filipino communities from replicating these traditions indoors. PF contributing writer BJ Gonzalvo relates how his Pacific Northwest community prepares in a big way for Simbang Gabi in "Getting Ready for Simbang Gabi, Even Before the 'Ber' Months."

"Every writer draws on one's own past for material, and at such a young age, Bayani's history was already an armory of dramatic ammunition...", thus author/essayist Rafaelito Sy profiles Jason Bayani, a FilAm poet who has already published three anthologies. Read "Jason Bayani's Fire Within" for a compelling introduction.

As filmmaker Lauren Greenfield's documentary ‘The Kingmaker’ winds its way to theaters in the US, former-student-activist- now-a-professor Patricio N. Abinales tells us how the ghosts of traumas past came haunting back as he watched the film. ["Why The Kingmaker Sparks Memories of Terror and Defiance"]

If you're in the midst of Christmas meal planning, here's a unique dessert recipe for Warm Ensaymada Flan with Dulce de Leche Cream, as perfected by San Francisco-based foodie, Voltaire Gungab.  

Our In the Know links, ICYMI. 

Crony capital: How Duterte embraced the oligarchs
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Cover-Story/Crony-capital-How-Duterte-embraced-the-oligarchs

Arnis, Philippines martial art that evokes Magellan's nemesis
https://news.yahoo.com/arnis-philippines-martial-art-evokes-magellans-nemesis-024509649.html?soc_src=hl-viewer&soc_trk=fb

Gwendolyn Pascua - Cordilleran physicist working as a mission controller for astronauts in Europe
https://www.wowcordillera.com/2017/03/gwendolyn-pascua-cordilleran-physicist.html?fbclid=IwAR21axIbU4NCxU2PreTFgrqtF-ElqD3ZRCcvST3eCXGb4bnVgz9jxm9pb80

Tech For Good: A Plant Breeder’s Journey
https://www.forbes.com/sites/bayer/2019/11/27/tech-for-good-a-plant-breeders-journey/?fbclid=IwAR2pQaktuHtQSHacDqmQL-mq0yaTVCscwZPWMOrgPAYE9sZpdGju84Dseoo#3ab9d9ce6402

For video of the week, we feature the University of Santo Tomas flashmob ushering in the Christmas season at the Philippines oldest university.

Old Soldiers' Bittersweet Celebration

Veterans Day (last Monday) in the US is a bittersweet event for Filipino veterans of WWII. While they share in the celebration, they are also reminded of the unjust Rescission Act of 1946 which stripped them of the post-war benefits promised them by the US government for fighting alongside US forces. In time for this year's commemoration, the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP) released a brief documentary, "Duty to Country -- Remembering Our Veterans and Families" as the first phase of their education efforts to tell the story of Filipino WWII veterans. Watch the video on their site and share it with everyone you know. 

Another film that's making waves is "The Kingmaker," a full-length documentary by Lauren Greenfield on Imelda Marcos, whose legendary and continuing outrageousness is on full display. Author/publisher and regular PF contributor Cecilia Manguerra Brainard writes the review. ("The Kingmaker' Shows the Fragility of Democracy")

A Finn who teaches Filipino? Meet novelist/teacher Riitta Vartti who does that and more: not only does she speak Filipino fluently and teaches the language to Finns, she has also put together a Finnish-Filipino/Tagalog-Finnish dictionary. Chicagoland-based contributor Christian Gabriel Pareja writes the profile. ("A Finn Who Teaches Filipino")

For those cold nights, here's a perfect comfort food: Creamy Beef Macaroni Soup by Rene Astudillo.

Our In The Know links this week:

The new US Chess Champion is now ranked no. 2 in the world and opponents fear he’s still getting better.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/the-new-us-chess-champion-is-now-ranked-no-2-in-the-world-and-opponents-fear-hes-still-getting-better/2017/06/05/640f4c6a-49fd-11e7-a186-60c031eab644_story.html?fbclid=IwAR00lS3p8LaunbW70A2zdeQdUXYNcQWNbOh3pRx_lEu45dw-j61jOtf2t74#comments

A Silicon Valley Venture Capitalist (VC) and his 5 advices for Start-ups
https://jqnomics.com/2461/a-silicon-valley-venture-capitalist-vc-and-his-5-advices-for-start-ups/?fbclid=IwAR1jbGdJfnDDGKK-B-HN3ssWcFCaGIZZCLuwIE0GAoq94uZtQnGBm_Cdyec

Seattle’s keeper of Filipino American history is an 87-year-old volunteer, and replacing her may prove difficult
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattles-keeper-of-filipino-american-history-is-an-87-year-old-volunteer-and-replacing-her-may-prove-difficult/?fbclid=IwAR115Jfd_OkuYkUp7Ns4LlXHWr6NnOctwVTjTaoLLrh3VGapbuclnUWn7ic

#MakingFilipinxAmericanHistory: 14 Filipinas in Tech
https://medium.com/women-of-silicon-valley/makingfilipinxamericanhistory-13-filipinas-in-tech-58bcd8ed9fd9

For video of the week, Youtube’s Top10 World channel lists the top 10 most beautiful cities in the Philippines.

Manila-Beijing Non-Reciprocal Admiration Society

Following President Duterte's recent trip to China (his 6th since he took office) to meet with President Xi Jinping (their 8th), veteran journalist Marites Danguilan Vitug gives us a summary of what these frequent meet-ups have gained for the Philippines. Hint: it's a lopsided picture. “Analysis: Duterte’s Pivot Mainly Benefits China”

As the 382nd anniversary of the martyrdom of the first Filipino saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz, approaches, PF contributor BJ Gonzalvo points out the saint's image beside such well-known saints as Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, Elizabeth Seton and San Juan Diego at the Trinity Dome Mosaic of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C., the largest Catholic Church in the United States. “San Lorenzo Ruiz In America”

Hundreds of Maryknollers from all over the world returned to their Alma Mater (now renamed Miriam College) to celebrate their alumni homecoming and honor the milestone graduates, such as the college class of 1974 (Sapphire anniversary), to which PF Correspondent Cherie Querol Moreno belongs. School jubilees are always joyous occasions as this one attests. “How Maryknoll-Miriam College Empowered Alums”

Lest we forget, martial law in the Philippines was declared 47 years ago on a sunny Saturday, September 23, 1972, although the official Proclamation 1081 was dated September 21, thus allowing the military to arrest prominent anti-Marcos dissidents before the public knew about it. Here are some memory triggers. Read Again:

Activist Nathan Gilbert Quimpo's hair-raising account of a military raid at their house
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/martial-law-stories-raid

FilAm activist Jeanette Gandionco Lazam's close call at the Manila International Airport
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/who-is-marshall-law

Circus Band vocalist Ceres Jacinto's amusing account of their command performance 
http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/martial-law-stories-the-torture-of-playing-for-miss-universe-1974

Our In the Know links this week:

The millennials behind Isko Moreno
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/239045-millennials-behind-isko-moreno?utm_source=Rappler+Subscribers&utm_campaign=f314e07555-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_09_03_05_48_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d18b1557b8-f314e07555-96223989&mc_cid=f314e07555&mc_eid=0c0639d4af

City of the Dead
https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2017/03/world/city-of-the-dead/?fbclid=IwAR1GCSYz0CZA2EU99PvcCIWjooIIYrhha0ZHxa5icln5E1jQ3iCzVobzjhs

An ingenious Filipino artist creates mosaics with dead leaves and garlic peels
https://qz.com/quartzy/1698682/filipino-artist-pando-maglipon-creates-art-from-dead-leaves/?fbclid=IwAR22GhiBRKopHpMGO4LZdCiRKyrQpTLB-I9svSqdPlY6eJqTJbrr_049IxE

Venice Film Review: ‘The Kingmaker’
https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/the-kingmaker-review-imelda-marcos-1203313788/

7 Rustan's Milestones That Changed the Country's Retail Industry
https://www.townandcountry.ph/people/heritage/7-rustan-s-milestones-that-might-have-changed-the-country-s-retail-industry-entirely-a00184-20171004-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-TC&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20190910-fbnp-people-7-rustan-s-milestones-that-might-have-changed-the-country-s-retail-industry-entirely-a00184-20171004-lfrm-fbold&fbclid=IwAR24tNbRFNAh_cJ2PjETsBnUrjmVOO8yDYC5NGSvedKaLiKH0ZL_cd4vEGw

In this week’s Happy Home Cook, we feature a Chef Richgail Enriquez’s vegan alternative to ginataang kuhol (snails in coconut milk): Oyster Mushroom Escargot.

And for our video of the week, KQED presents a video on the Philippine Coral Reef Twilight Zone.