Hello, Young Readers

A glorious and hopeful 2019 to all.

We just looked into our 2018 readership stats and we're very happy to note that we got a lot more readers from the millennial generation. In fact, the majority (54%) of our readers last year were from the 18-34 age group, which is both surprising and gratifying. Since most of our stories are about history and culture, we'd like to think that young people look to Positively Filipino as a source of information and guidance (from elders like us) in navigating their collective history and heritage.

If you want to read or re-read our most popular stories of 2018, here are the links.

One of the major progress that happened in the Philippines in recent years is the passage of the RH (for reproductive health) Law that came about after years of wrangling between the Catholic Church and legislators. Dr. Marilen J. Danguilan, who was at the forefront of the struggle, has come out with a book that detailed the process of awareness, negotiations and passage of the bill. The RH Bill Story: Contentions and Compromises and its valuable lessons are discussed by Rep. Edcel Lagman here. (Read "A True Chronicle of the Reproductive Health Law's Odyssey")

PF Correspondent Serina Aidasani profiles Esmie Gayo McLaren, a Vancouver-based artist who recently had exhibits in Ottawa and New York.

Our Happy Home Cook recipe comes from San Francisco-based foodie Voltaire Gungab who came up with the scrumptious Bibingka Cakes with Lambanog-Lemongrass Syrup and Coconut Cream. 

Links for stories you may have missed are here:

A Mother and Daughter’s Unlikely Journey as Migrant Workers
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/27/lens/xyza-bacani-migrant-workers.html?fbclid=IwAR08u3-E-8NJckDP0pl6JEjyzo-4VCHhqkA6rGqcOWia-jJY5uTVgE-IQSQ

A Comic Novel Asks Who Gets to Write the History of the Colonial Philippines
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/26/books/review/gina-apostol-insurrecto.html?fbclid=IwAR0uLa-UMLfOhU_FzhZsW0TOsBSlipBg_MhJLCALxP9uZVIS9fat1fZJnbU

In Albay, protecting the sea leads to bountiful tanigue
https://www.rappler.com/nation/219014-albay-fishermen-catch-tanigue?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3dtA-7Ap2btYMUFGaTi2IljkrWZe-_lbGttmBmgE1Drd2jOV3Bba9nju8#Echobox=1544962090

H.E.R. Has Been Writing Grammy Acceptance Speech Since She Was A Kid
https://start.att.net/news/read/category/news/article/rolling_stone-her_has_been_writing_grammy_acceptance_speech_sinc-rpenskemc?fbclid=IwAR132z4f1d_feBEO-GUCVhCxk29kWfxCe96KC_mZbNzzSlnOUbQ3RpUv9xs

This Netflix Anime Series could be a Game Changer for Philippine Mythology
https://www.vice.com/en_asia/article/xwj987/netflix-trese-anime-series-philippines-comics?utm_source=viceasiafb&fbclid=IwAR27AxlkfuQ2LLCCaaDk5lgxZnd4PEEIeCCKVPcxtEygnCnmUWFFsrXeEng

For video of the week, Food Insider features Manam, a new restaurant in Manila which presents a new twist on Pancit Palabok and other Filipino favorites.

Celebrating Icons

As we've been regularly doing for our last issue of the year, we have a story on Jose Rizal, our National Hero, whose execution day was December 30, 1896. This year we have a review of the latest book on everyone's favorite Filipino, titled Rizal +, an anthology edited by Alfred "Krip" Yuson which reviewer Francis Layf Custodio describes as "a one-stop shop for everything Rizal."

And for a touch of levity during the waning days of this eventful/awful 2018, PF Correspondent Cherie Querol Moreno tells us about her recent visit to Liverpool, England, where she re-lived her adolescence as a Beatles fan. Enjoy "'Just 17' Again in the Birthplace of the Beatles."

For your New Year celebration, here are some recipes from Elizabeth Ann Quirino for the Happy Home Cook.

And if you're craving more Rizal, Read Again John Silva's "Rizal's Cook Remembers a Good Man."

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

Duterte Opens Up The Philippines To Chinese Workers, As Filipinos Seek Jobs Overseas
https://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2018/12/23/duterte-opens-up-the-philippines-to-chinese-workers-as-filipinos-seek-jobs-overseas/?fbclid=IwAR1cSz2aGgC1pQvSjC6Bb9BAVCHGDMTeq5bCAy21xkwdgJuBSTDUPOFp9MU#30d4e4a24b28

How I Learned To Talk To My Filipino Mom About My Mental Health
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/11/22/669960524/how-i-learned-to-talk-to-my-filipino-mom-about-my-mental-health?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR05GIQQ7caK134gOehjD5lqvyCTE9Dk3uIq1BAMN_32bkDkSdkhJkGkuIU 

Cebuana Santa: the heiress who made her students' Christmas wishes come true
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/spotlight/12/25/18/cebuana-santa?fbclid=IwAR2Wvy6a51ECImKsuuj6D_zvvPVNwyUyqPyggP1csPPpTJVch68ED6ZyHYY

There’s a Room in the Inn for Scavengers and Pushcart Families
https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/318775/theres-a-room-in-the-inn-for-scavengers-and-pushcart-families/?fbclid=IwAR324KG74uflCAQP3DL4NfBhnx1Yr6ZFjemOlYhdzZBvLVOMgX_Oc3QfaM0

For our Video of the Week, we feature the trailer of Eric Liner and Neil Rettig’s film “Bird of Prey,” a documentary on the plight of the Philippine Eagle.

We wish all of you a happy and abundant Year of the Pig. 

Christmas Memories

What does noche buena mean to you? An essay by the late cultural and culinary historian Doreen G. Fernandez from her classic book, Tikim: Essays on Philippine Food and Culture defines this very cherished Filipino Christmas tradition from the memories of various people from different provinces. 

A young FilAm writer Leah K. Sikat reflects on making suman, her California-based family's Christmas ritual, and how the stories of home that accompany the making of this kakanin shape her own memories of the holiday season. ("Banana Leaves, Rice and Coconut")

And if you haven't planned out your Christmas meal yet, Read Again the suggestions and recipes of Chef Rolando Laudico, Elizabeth Ann Quirino and Goldilocks Bakeshop.

Here are the In The Know links this week:

Massacre or fight for freedom? Putting the Balangiga bells in context
https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/317599/massacre-or-fight-for-freedom-putting-the-balangiga-bells-in-context/?fbclid=IwAR1JnVSGmuj0P9TQt43KE_fmKoeMngYr9BHXyZd-KWw0tEtD5h97ZBSR1YA

Filipino teachers popular among Chinese English learners
https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d674d334d7a4e30457a6333566d54/share_p.html?fbclid=IwAR39KN63W44UvLmbz2EcWQBMSKbSKTUhYGc9lrFEsaZyLFzuXYCOiXEgXRs

Under a code name, George H.W. Bush sponsored Filipino child through Colorado Springs-based nonprofit
https://gazette.com/news/under-a-code-name-george-h-w-bush-sponsored-filipino/article_834568aa-f8e6-11e8-a94f-bbf2c209978c.html?fbclid=IwAR3GR5AkKU6B7FeqlkOpYlYbnWvsy2CDpMU5d-xyj0J4zQu9-YOGZnUYY2c

Cecile Licad in a daster: the pianist on smoking at 11, the Marcoses, and the love of her life
https://news.abs-cbn.com/ancx/culture/music/12/15/18/cecile-licad-in-a-daster-a-concerto-in-three-acts?fbclid=IwAR0qVxehJZ_6WyDQUAbCpyQW-0PABgAe_cgsPuW29_jcSO9sSwYyKr-_Apw

For Video of the Week, we feature newly-crowned Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray in a music video for Young Focus Philippines.