A few months ago in San Francisco, FilAms were gifted with the unexpected sight of 15 bus shelters adorned with comics-like posters reminiscent of the art of famous artist Larry Alcala. Drawn by FilAm artist Rina Ayuyang, the poster series entitled Finding Filipino celebrates the lives, events and legacies of the city's vibrant FilAm community. San Francisco writer/multimedia artist Wilfred Galila talks to Rina about the commissioned project in "Finding Filipino in San Francisco's Bus Stops."

A magical mystery tour -- that's what Toronto-based writer/photographer Odette Foronda regales us with as she shares her pictures and stories of her one-day visit with the Tuareg tribe who lives at the edge of the Moroccan Sahara. A constant traveler, Odette has 11 books of her pictures and stories to her name.

A Filipino tenor, Arthur Espiritu, has taken the Viennese opera world by storm as he performed the title role of Verdi's Don Carlo. According to PF contributing writer Pablo A. Tariman, opening night drew standing ovations and unanimous acclaim for Espiritu by Vienna's biggest media outlets. No mean feat in a city where opera resides as part of the air the people breathe.

Our series on Bridge Generation personalities as profiled by BG historian Peter Jamero continues, this time featuring Joey Tabaco, New York City-born and bred whose career in the US weather service involved "flying into typhoons and hurricanes all over the world."

Though the triumph was short-lived, the national joy that the Filipinas Women's Football Team brought when it scored the first-ever Filipino ball in world-stage soccer was immeasurable. Now it's time to take stock, as businessman/columnist Juan Miguel Luz writes. Lessons learned, lessons to be learned as the country builds on the World Cup experience, points to one long-hoped-for opportunity: a sports development program for Filipino youth. Surely the hundreds of billions of pesos budgeted annually for "confidential funds" for the Philippine president and vice president can spare several millions for this worthy sports project, don't you think?

[Cook It Again] The Happy Home Cook: Vegan Filipino Spaghetti By Chef Richgail Enriquez Diez

[Video of the Week] Uncle Roger Makes Adobo

In The Know

US issues environmental warning about Chinese company’s reclamation projects in Manila Bay

https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/philippine/reclamation-projects-08022023145054.html?fbclid=IwAR34nOChAtb_-QTkYRxbuXjwkaYJBlC2u21u6rCUacePvOmzNj8Z973_c38

KISSAH AND DAWAT: ‘Waktu Bungang-Kahuy,’ the Fruit Season of Sulu

https://www.mindanews.com/mindaviews/2023/07/kissah-and-dawat-waktu-bungang-kahuy-the-fruit-season-of-sulu/

[OPINION] The Women’s World Cup and understanding Filipino-America

https://www.rappler.com/voices/ispeak/opinion-womens-world-cup-understanding-filipino-america-sarina-bolden/?fbclid=IwAR0O8_BtTJhUZ9t_XHi53rG4H1Aym_NS-Izvj0OZ_kjRraeVdNp4Y20KC2Y

Seattle poet Troy Osaki writes for a Filipino homecoming

https://crosscut.com/culture/2023/07/seattle-poet-troy-osaki-writes-filipino-homecoming?fbclid=IwAR1COx1dVFKZxAwTdz6ZbqShFjxBoxxKt6ziXt2Y0lj5ZwqUKqvfVQsYktQ

The Decathlete-Turned-Grifter Who Conned L.A.

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/scam-los-angeles-david-bunevacz-grift-1234792390/

Deliciously Dangerous: Starbread Bakery's Addictive Filipino Sweet Rolls Near San Jose

https://hoodline.com/2023/08/deliciously-dangerous-starbread-bakery-s-addictive-filipino-sweet-rolls-near-san-jose/?utm=newsbreak

In California yesterday morning, we woke up to thrilling news: the unexpected 1-0 victory of the Philippines' Women's National Football Team at the FIFA World Cup in New Zealand. The win was doubly sweet: a historic first by a Philippine team in soccer, an underrated sport in a basketball-crazy country; and it was against the favored home team. For FilAms, some icing on the cake -- 18 out of the 23 players are FilAm; and the winning goal was by Sarina Bolden, a San Francisco Bay Area native.

[Read about the team's victory in the In The Know links below, and Read Again PF Correspondent Criselda Yabes' pre-World Cup story.]

Another FilAm excitement is taking place in Broadway, where the musical Here Lies Love has opened to resounding acclaim. All performers are FilAms, a historic first in itself. PF Correspondent Virgilio A. Reyes, Jr. went to the show and looked beyond the considerable hype to write this honest appraisal of the immersive experience.

A certified heroine and a daughter's determination to tell her mother's story. This is what PF Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino's newly released book, Every Ounce of Courage, is about. Our editor Gemma Nemenzo writes the review.

He would have been 95 this year. We remember Dolphy, the beloved entertainment king who ruled the Philippines' comedy world for decades. July is the month of his birth and death (2012) so we are posting Bibeth Orteza's story on the making of his biography, which came out in Filipinas magazine in 2008.

There's a new Filipino restaurant in Oslo, Norway and writer Jennifer Fergesen, thinks it could be the best Filipino restaurant in Europe. High praise indeed from someone who has eaten and written about Filipino food in many countries. Kain Neo-Filipino Bistro, ran by brothers Daniel and Dominic Vergara, offers brave and innovative versions of Filipino flavors, something only Michelin-trained chefs will attempt.