A Silent Revolution

Our webinar last week, "Our Climate, Ourselves," was both an enlightening expose on the nitty-gritty of plastics and toxic pollution of the earth's marine life and environment, and an inspiring call to action to fulfill our shared responsibility to take care of the planet and of each other. If you missed it or you want to see it again, you can watch it here.

Shared responsibility is also the motivation behind the sprouting of community pantries all over the Philippines, a phenomenon that was started by a young woman, Ana Patricia Non, who felt compelled to do something to help those struggling to survive the covid pandemic. "Give what you can, take what you need" should be a simple and basic human instinct but, in a divided society with trigger-happy (both verbal and physically violent) elements, the missive has been politicized and stigmatized. PF Correspondent Criselda Yabes brings us up-to-date in "Community Pantries -- A Silent Revolution?"

We have an array of fascinating stories this week: the evolution of the yo-yo (not invented by a Filipino, as commonly believed), the Filipino art of naming food, a review of the delightful book by a Fil-Am named Aimee Nezhukumatathil, and, to commemorate the 17th death anniversary of arguably the greatest Filipino writer Nick Joaquin, a repost of the memories of someone who knew him well, the poet/writer Marra PL. Lanot. 

Our Stories This Week

[Webinar Video] Our Climate, Ourselves

Community Pantries – A Silent Revolution? By Criselda Yabes

Pedro And The Yo-Yo: Man And Myth By Myles A. Garcia

Using Beauty To Overpower Racism By Anthony Maddela

The Filipino Art Of Naming Food By Vicente Salas

Read Again: http://www.positivelyfilipino.com/magazine/remembering-nick

Video of the Week: Why Italy Loves Filipinos

In The Know

The Philippines’ drug war is putting more pregnant women behind bars. What happens to their children?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/04/06/women-jail-births-philippines-duterte/?fbclid=IwAR0uFE54V4q4S1qMwkUUfHwZwzXpB_W2eP6u5_udyu2LcZe-i_pU7Ex40GY

How Veganism Helped This Filipina Recipe Developer Reconnect With Home
https://www.livekindly.co/veganism-filipina-recipe-developer-reconnect-home/?fbclid=IwAR1yL76Bbp7iOg7GfvMRrUDhQBOOgQkZ0COwx5ydJlGJNrdjoQJYvca243w

Long Pushed to the Margins, Pacita Abad’s Art About the Immigrant Experience Gets Global Recognition
https://www.artnews.com/feature/pacita-abad-artist-tate-walker-art-center-exhibitions-1234589919/?fbclid=IwAR06aRYm5hKOq7iLKjN0hFtIEu3Va6Xp0aM-Jw1vzXlgjOOq2di-4RCUYB0

Enduring Legacies: The Bautista and Santos Ancestral Houses of Malolos
https://bluprint.onemega.com/bautista-santos-ancestral-houses-malolos/ 

Historian: 9 things to learn about Philippine culture from P-pop group Alamat
https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/arts-and-culture/2021/04/20/2092434/historian-9-things-learn-about-philippine-culture-p-pop-group-alamat

Fish In Our Time

Remember the dalagang bukid, the fish with red skin, that was a constant dish of our Philippine childhood? Intrepid food writer Jennifer Fergesen offers a paean to this popular aquatic staple with her award-winning piece, "Dalagang Bukid: Mountain Maiden of the Seas," which tells some interesting vignettes about the origin of its name.

From Manila, a groundbreaking art gallery is making waves not just in the Philippines but in Southeast Asia as well. PF contributor Rafaelito V. Sy tells us of the vision of the two women behind it, Isa Lorenzo and Rachel Rillo, in "Silverlens Galleries: Revolutionizing Philippine Art."

Toronto-based PF contributor Patria Cabatuando-Rivera regales us with her memories of growing up Filipino in the '50s with her personal essay, "Growing Up in La Loma, Listening to Lao Tzu."

For the Happy Home Cook, here's another vegan recipe from Richgail Enriquez: Kalamansi Coconut Risotto

In case you missed them, our In The Know links:

The Paradox of Rodrigo Duterte
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/02/philippines-rodrigo-duterte-china/606754/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share&fbclid=IwAR34CIx5p6Bv5ROnmDgPQuyBvQqsxbYIpcOCqOkR2O8YfoNZXRZtGkKbeU8

Adapting to Rising Seas, Schools Move to the Rafters and Cats Swim
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/22/world/asia/philippines-climate-change-batasan-tubigon.html?&te=1&nl=morning-briefing&emc=edit_nn_20200223&campaign_id=9&instance_id=16217&segment_id=21539&user_id=16d7575e10266dafe720f35699d1aecb&regi_id=96361930_nn_20200223

Coronavirus: Mass masked wedding in the Philippines
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-51604625/coronavirus-mass-masked-wedding-in-the-philippines?fbclid=IwAR33ALDMOdS0pLFvt_4PioinGO9xyxp_exdNq7foy2SVLr1lD_AtX2lOJd8

Blackapina: An Essay from Janet Stickmon
https://www.mixedlife.net/eveything/2020/2/12/blackapina-an-essay-from-janet-stickmon?fbclid=IwAR03SGb6SEytVbUQDlLza26r3w-mE1HFGU4vz9-EeK8gIpwEm9mYU7VW_ZM

Pilipino Idioms of Nineteen Kopong-kopong
https://pinoytransplant.com/2016/10/18/pilipino-idioms-of-nineteen-kopong-kopong/ 

For video of the week, defending press freedom at a Senate hearing is director Joel Lamangan who speaks for broadcaster ABS-CBN which is seeking to renew its media franchise.

Farewell to Lisa’s Dad

To us who didn't really know him personally, he was simply "Lisa's Dad," an appellation that we uttered with reverence because we are well aware that Lisa's dad is Alfonso Yuchengco, a giant presence in Philippine contemporary history.

Known to his friends as A.Y., Lisa's father was a businessman-industrialist whose business interests ranged from insurance (Grepalife, Malayan) to banking (RCBC) and education (Mapua). He was also known for his philanthropy; he was a generous supporter of a wide variety of causes (among them, the Bayanihan Dance Company and the Bantayog ng mga Bayani, a foundation dedicated to memorializing victims of martial law). Moreover, as Lisa herself revealed (see "How I Knew My Father's Love"), A.Y. was a secret financier of "subversive" activities, particularly during the Marcos years. His most exalted title of course is Ambassador, a statesman's role he fulfilled with honor and dignity -- in Japan, China and as Permanent Representative to the UN. Ambassador Yuchengco passed away on Easter Sunday in Manila, at the age of 94.

We join the Yuchengco family in mourning his passing and celebrating his extraordinary life. We speak for a grateful nation in thanking the Ambassador for his distinguished service to the country and to the Filipino people.

No one can convey the man's greatness better than his daughter so we are re-posting our publisher Mona Lisa Yuchengco's tribute to her dad on his 90th birthday four years ago.

On other news, it's Earth Day once again and our climate specialist, LA-based journalist Dorian Merina, discusses the clear connection between climate change and food production in "Wanted: A New Agriculture to Face Climate Change."

And for a touch of levity, PF correspondent Rey E. de la Cruz writes about the troubles he would get with his name.

I'm sure the De la Cruzes out there can relate.

Here's our compilation of interesting stories from various publications in our In the Know section:

The Philippines faces a very serious security challenge in two fronts and how it plays out could critically affect the balance of power in the Asia Pacific Region and beyond
http://roilogolez.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-philippines-faces-very-serious.html?spref=tw&m=1

Where does the military stand with Duterte?
http://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/166768-military-stand-duterte-commander-in-chief

This legit Filipino eatery is hiding behind an unassuming name
https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/restaurants/a-legit-filipino-eatery-hides-behind-an-unassuming-name-at-matthews-grill/2017/04/06/71001fd4-1597-11e7-833c-503e1f6394c9_story.html?utm_term=.d607750ad346

Pinay Chef Snubs Ivanka Trump
https://politikalpinoy.wordpress.com/2017/04/14/pinay-chef-snubs-ivanka-trump/

For our Happy Home Cook, PF Correspondent and foodie Elizabeth Ann Quirino shares her Peach-Mango Pie, a handcrafted (therefore better) version of the one from the famous hamburger chain.

Our Video of the Week: BBC's Human Planet features the amazing yet dangerous trade of underwater reef fishing in the Philippines.