Beauty's Secret

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She was a legendary beauty during her time (mid-20th century Philippines), her name always uttered with both reverence and speculation. Susan Magalona never  joined beauty contests, never inserted herself in national conversations. On the contrary, she was reclusive, therefore mysterious, which added to her mystique. It was only in later years that stories of segments of her life emerged: her sad first marriage, its annulment, her second marriage to another rich scion, her move to the US. PF Correspondent Virgilio Reyes, Jr., distilled the tales that swirled around Susan Magalona and shares the story with us.

Why was Philippine Independence Day changed from July 4 to June 12? Gemma Nemenzo explains in her column.

"Utang na Loob: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" is the latest of PF's webinar series that aired last week. Moderated by Fil-Am journalist Leezel Tanglao, whose personal story illustrating this very Filipino cultural value led to a podcast series, the webinar featured the expertise of Fil-Am psychologist/authors EJR David and Kevin Nadal. Leezel puts context to the dissection here. If you want to listen to the actual webinar, the link is in her story. 

PF publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco continues her long-running series on Fil-Ams Among the Remarkable and Famous. It's a fitting statement on how much the community has flourished in the US that she hasn't ran out of people to include in her list.

A shout-out to residents and visitors to the City of Angels: there's a new Filipino restaurant in town with the clever name of Spoon & Pork. Its Adobo Belly Nigiri ($8) is deemed Michelin-worthy and is definitely worth the drive to either of its two branches, in the Sawtelle and Silverlake districts. PF Correspondent Anthony Maddela takes us there. 

For the Happy Home Cook, Spoon & Pork's Gising-gising recipe is a winner. 

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Staff

Give Thanks, Check Reality

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With the pandemic and other circumstances in the US and the world swirling around us, catching our attention and sometimes increasing our stress levels, the Thanksgiving holiday allows us to pause, search for and embrace our quiet, and take stock of where our lives are heading. It's also a good time for gratitude because no matter how much our lives have been gobsmacked by tragedy and grief this year, there are also reasons to be thankful and hopeful. I say this not as a kumbaya statement but as a reality check, an acceptance of the principle of yin/yang, which states that (simplifying here) that every dark has its bright side.

To keep you company in your moments of reflection (ideally after a gratifying Thanksgiving meal with --and limited to-- the people in your household), here are some notable articles we have published that you might want to Read Again. 

Our Stories This Week

Manila Hotel: The Golden Years By Lou Gopal 

Second Springs By Cathy S. Babao 

Which Comes First, The Chicken, Or The Scruples? By Albert J. Lesaca 

Feeding My Filipino By Lotis Key 

No Turkey For Thanksgiving By Gemma Nemenzo 

The Happy Home Cook: Paksiw Na Lechon (Roast Pork In Homemade Liver Sauce And Vinegar)

Video of the Week: Jose Mari Chan and McDonald’s George Yang

McDonald’s Philippines Chairman and Founder George Yang and legendary Filipino singer Jose Mari Chan star in the McDonald’s commercial which came out during Grandparents’ Day last year. 

In The Know

Covid-19 is taking a devastating toll on Filipino American nurses
https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/24/health/filipino-nurse-deaths/index.html

City pens official apology to Filipino community for 1930 race riots 
https://pajaronian.com/city-pens-official-apology-to-filipino-community-for-1930-race-riots/?fbclid=IwAR1Kxj8bMlph0t5THF_tLwVR9Mesy8WZP18TEI2IzpyrqU6VKu0y0bHpOPA 

When love is not enough
https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2020/11/asia/hong-kong-filipino-helpers-dst/?fbclid=IwAR28Ta29T7d9MXxGYqkouj5wqmJez3XCCnziejFd2q7lXPBpeEOC0LrgDzk

Fil-Am state lawmaker seeks help for Democrats in Georgia runoffs 
https://usa.inquirer.net/60486/fil-am-state-lawmaker-seeks-help-for-democrats-in-georgia-runoffs

Philippines' richest chip in for COVID-19 vaccines
https://www.rappler.com/business/tycoons-philippines-chip-in-covid-19-vaccines?fbclid=IwAR2UrazfFSKVoFn8aJeprFAlOvj2CQTw3P4LNwZLDImN-Z18wOrQOMZCftY

A Mindanaoan filmmaker tells martial law's 'forbidden memory'
https://cnnphilippines.com/life/entertainment/film/2016/11/22/teng-mangansakan.html?fbclid=IwAR2e645MY_QEgumVC2TzTw5Pbu_8-tTiBaYo3loAZDbrA_tjZ_i1tRQUpnY

65-year-old man plants 10,000 mangroves for 8 years to protect his house from the big waves during typhoon
https://kickerdaily.com/posts/2020/11/65-year-old-man-plants-10000-mangroves-for-8-years-to-protect-his-house-from-the-big-waves-during-typhoon/?fbclid=IwAR00DVsADdRVstLinOTLABN6C1YNcDFRsLtS2dcgnZM9-vFHOiP8b2rkuxE

Why is UP the Bastion of Student Activism?
https://www.reportr.world/news/why-has-up-become-synonymous-to-activism-history-has-the-answer-a4713-20201119?fbclid=IwAR3xgQ2wRelOk2OYUX7V37oeXmobUJxbT_Kp4pMZI9S30Lezz-ZhIvIncK8

Destinations

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A historic meeting between the ailing Manuel Luis Quezon and a similarly ailing (although not quite as serious yet at that time) Carlos Bulosan in 1943 is the subject of Titchie Carandang-Tiongson's story this week. "When Bulosan Met Quezon" is a poignant read peppered with a hint of class tensions.

There's more to Sarangani than Manny Pacquiao and travel writer/environmentalist Bernard Supetran introduces us to its natural, cultural and adventure attractions that allows this province carved out of South Cotabato to hold its own among the Philippines' must-see destinations.

And of course, when we talk about our homeland, there's usually something ludicrous to laugh about. This time it's the "stairway to heaven" in EDSA that PF Correspondent Rene M. Astudillo reports on. See for yourself why there's so much fuss about it.

After all the sumptuous holiday dishes we've been featuring, how about a vegan dessert this time. For our Happy Home Cook recipe, we feature Richgail Enriguez's Vegan Maja Blanca. 

Our In The Know links this time around:

Facebook kicks out Filipino Channel Online, Trending News Portal, 314 other accounts for spamming https://technology.inquirer.net/82584/facebook-bans-philippines-twinmark-media-enterprises?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR00sAxH7UeHIQkTIgz-juQdZVGnKPR4wx7k3K6bXUwi_zAsq6v4Z1W_PWk#Echobox=1547198732

NY-listed China online education firm to tap 100,000 English teachers from Philippines
https://www.philstar.com/business/2019/01/05/1882327/ny-listed-china-online-education-firm-tap-100000-english-teachers-philippines?fbclid=IwAR2v3FBddkGsuJQa6ByY_GRatP0VeRchwIc9LJD0Y-z1LlE2GO0266km1AI

Up close with Catriona Gray
https://usa.inquirer.net/18401/exclusive-up-close-with-catriona-gray?fbclid=IwAR0DYFu074ZCADecJR1KVN4sQlClfm8jTgR9A_PW-BBF6xYou3lpyJNZ5b8#ixzz5cEW5tA7m&utm_expid=.XqNwTug2W6nwDVUSgFJXed.1

When You’re Born In Canada, You Learn How To Be Filipino Through Food 
https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/al-donato/filipino-food-identity_a_23584183/?ncid=other_facebook_eucluwzme5k&utm_campaign=share_facebook&ec_carp=1469524042429100395&fbclid=IwAR3kw7fHTPEz1Quay6tDDxy-qnC92mBeHcPMbHxddve1-b7aw9VM5QESzIM&ec_carp=1469524042429100395

Susan & FPJ’s Movies in UNESCO’s Memory of the World
https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2019/01/03/1881743/susan-fpjs-movies-unescos-memory-world?fbclid=IwAR2B6Te9AkLKlkPS1rnU0OD0N0Iti-5GoZCb4ONN4pjdVlX4lySCGJITpCc

For Video of the Week, Inquirer Motoring Correspondent Ardie O. Lopez pays tribute to his grandfather, Irineo Odoy, who is the father of the U.P. Ikot Jeep.

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Gemma Nemenzo

Editor, Positively Filipino