A Tireless Crusader and Enchanted Tales

Ambassador Howard Dee, 2018 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee, is one of an increasingly rare breed of man whose life work is focused on seeking social justice and socio-political peace. Contributing writer M.H. Hizon profiles this outstanding Filipino in "The Many Crusades of Howard Dee."

A timely piece for this week of myths and superstitions is Sylvia Mayuga's review of Bicolano anthropologist Tito Valiente's newly released book, The Last Sacristan Mayor and The Most Expensive Mass for the Dead: Tales of Ticao. Ticao is in Masbate, the author's birthplace, where tales of enchantment abound.

In Fatima, the town of many Filipino pilgrimages, traveler Isabel Lovina got the surprise of her life when her group of pilgrims were billeted in Pinoy House Fatima, owned by Ritchiel from Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, and her Portuguese husband. Take note for when you do your own Marian pilgrimage.

The compleat actress Nora Aunor was once again bypassed for the National Artist award this year (the first time was during the term of President Noynoy Aquino), a move that has incensed her legions of fans worldwide. Read Again film critic Mauro Feria Tumbucon Jr.'s "The Timeless Nora Aunor" and you'll understand why. 

And in keeping with the season, here's another Read Again: Alex G. Paman's "The Vanishing Hitchhiker, the White Lady and Hauntings Across the Seas."

Our In The Know links this week:

'Only for white people': Filipino family endures racist rant in New Zealand
https://news.abs-cbn.com/trending/10/29/18/only-for-white-people-filipino-family-endures-racist-rant-in-new-zealand?fbclid=IwAR0Wz1JnXMUbyQ_mpY0QMvxohTJfAcQovOgGj8kTCTooG6CHizQw7lszL0s

Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong facing more expenses as new law forces them to make social security contributions back home
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/2169478/filipino-domestic-workers-hong-kong-facing-more-expenses-new?fbclid=IwAR2rPgZz74bQv6saW34zIib84vaq_Xe7Xx04JtScmUR3SkTf4ZRekuxt_ew

How Wealthy Was the Rizal Family?
https://www.townandcountry.ph/people/heritage/rizal-family-net-worth-a1957-20181020-lfrm?utm_source=Facebook-Esquire&utm_medium=Siteshare&utm_campaign=20181023-rizal&fbclid=IwAR3zIVtafDi6Jxnay6i3WUIMMQVPkrRZQYQSpA0-YvROfrrFxFFE1kj-mdE

Jay Ledford’s Journey as a Filipino American Transgender Ballerina
http://www.manilamail.us/?p=6844&fbclid=IwAR0QuYZiwVWx_6oR2rMYmSaxqtcL57NWQapXZQMazxKqBR22GbbtTcnOUIM

15 Essential Filipino Restaurants in the Bay Area
https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-filipino-restaurants-food-san-francisco-bay-area-daly-city-east-bay-oakland

Our Happy Home Cook recipe, Pork Kilawin from our resident foodie Elizabeth Ann Quirino.

For our video of week, San Diego's ABC 10 News featured a story on the awarding of Congressional Gold Medals on Filipino World War II veterans at the Jacobs Center.

What Indigenous Folk Arts Tell Us

When the Americans colonized the Philippines at the turn of the 20th century, they sought to portray Filipinos to the American public as "savages", requiring lessons in literacy and democracy. To stress their point, they brought "Igorottes" from northern Luzon to the US as human exhibits in such events as the St. Louis World Exposition of 1904. This massive, historic lie discounts the fact that among our indigenous tribes and mountain cultures, a sophisticated, homegrown culture has evolved since pre-Hispanic times. This culture manifests itself in folk arts and textile weaving, techniques handed down through the generations. Prof. Michael Gonzalez, a board member of The Hinabi Project, explains the history behind the beautiful ongoing "Cordillera Textiles and Folk Arts Exhibit" in San Francisco. Don't miss it if you're in the area.

If you're thinking of getting married in a Catholic church in the Philippines, here's a helpful eye-opener from PF Correspondent Rene Astudillo on the costs of having one. 

We continue to collect and post personal stories on martial law (and will keep on doing so until certain parties cease to attempt revising history, so Send Us Yours). This week, lawyer/academic Mariel Toni Jimenez writes about her recollections when she was a young girl in Manila and her aunt, Professor Dolores Feria, was arrested. 

It's been a year since the Marawi siege, a horrific year when the picturesque city in southern Philippines was reduced to rubble. Read Again journalist/author Criselda Yabes riveting account of a crucial military operation, "Escape Through Death's Door," after which read her "Marawi Update."

From Rene Astudillo, we have a recipe for Pork Quinoa Casserole for our Happy Home Cook. 

Here are links to stories you may have missed from other publications:

New Podcast Shares Uniquely Filipino-American Stories
https://www.colorlines.com/articles/new-podcast-shares-uniquely-filipino-american-stories?fbclid=IwAR1UX97glI9dqmZdhpGSDdXqwUgva1Ob08QDxShlN5EYgThXIoSwmt0Ga0s

From salted duck egg to sapin sapin: Filipino ingredients become ice cream flavors at Wanderlust Creamery
http://www.asianjournal.com/life-style/eat-drink/from-salted-duck-egg-to-sapin-sapin-filipino-ingredients-become-ice-cream-flavors-at-wanderlust-creamery/?fbclid=IwAR1bvutrX-fhMh1xTqWBdhaESfwQOAS6XfBOUTKnimyxwfaKzz-L3mPa-yQ

Duterte camp spent $200,000 for troll army, Oxford study finds
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/07/24/1721044/duterte-camp-spent-200000-troll-army-oxford-study-finds?fbclid=IwAR2-T9seV-XNWKzRl0djmVvBnQKyU8Bmy7n1Pw3GcsKhoVYSp4cxvIEr1U0

Philippines plastic pollution: why so much waste ends up in oceans
https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health/article/2168819/philippines-plastic-pollution-why-so-much-waste-ends-oceans?fbclid=IwAR2HPr30UnmCZ6VisdjZ9RvYLn7KPwqouUngIQS8qeSf2YoqLFPHAaR8ezE

And in celebration of Larry Itliong Day for the Filipino American History Month, we are featuring a clip from Marissa Aroy’s “Delano Manongs” as our Video of the Week.

War and Remembrance

How do you forgive wartime enemies that committed horrible atrocities and victimized your own family? Correspondent Elizabeth Ann Quirino tells how the late President Elpidio Quirino forgave the Japanese imperial forces who wreaked havoc in his country and killed members of his own family ("War and Forgiving"). "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away," declared the late Gen. Douglas MacArthur in his retirement/farewell address to cadets of West Point. Titchie Carandang-Tiongson writes about the memorial that makes sure the old soldier's legacy doesn't fade away ("A Visit to the MacArthur Memorial"). And In a different kind of war that Filipinos eventual won by peaceful means, a blog by the late Benjamin Maynigo gives an account of his family's escape from the clutches of the Marcos dictatorship, in "Martial Law Stories: Escape to Sabah."

In our [In the Know] links:

The Ruins Of Marawi: A year after liberation, Meranaws await rehabilitation
http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2018/10/the-ruins-of-marawi-a-year-after-liberation-meranaws-await-rehabilitation/

BBC: Philippines Democracy in Danger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSDEtZsqSj0&feature=share

The Facebook cleaners: 'I've seen hundreds of beheadings'
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-45833049/the-facebook-cleaners-i-ve-seen-hundreds-of-beheadings

For our Happy Home Cook, Elizabeth Ann Quirino shares with us her recipe for Adobong Kangkong (water spinach) with Talong (eggplant)

For our video of the week, Flyhigh Manila TV posts Cebu Pacific's Capt. Irizari's emotional farewell speech on his last flight before retirement.