Manilamen Down Under

While over 300,000 Filipinos now reside in Australia, the history of Filipinos in the continent dates back to the mid- to late 19th century when "Manilamen" were recruited as pearl divers for the pearling industry. These Manilamen settled and married Aboriginal women in the Torres Strait area where their descendants still live. Sydney-based academic Dr. Deborah Ruiz Wall, who did an extensive oral history project of the descendants of Manilamen, writes this interesting, little-known story on "The Link Between Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and the Philippines," a Positively Filipino exclusive. 

Author/editor Cecilia Manguerra Brainard reviews The Betrayed, a recently published novel by Paris-based Filipino writer Reine Arcache Melvin and proclaims it as "one of the best Filipino novels I have read in a long time." ("Passion in the Time of Revolution")

For Filipinos in the US currently unsure about how to deal with the ICE during this government shutdown, here's some valuable advice from San Francisco immigration lawyer Lourdes Tancinco, who contributes our Partner Post this week. ("Effect of Shutdown on Immigration Related Programs and Applications")

 As a young man in New York, PF Correspondent Myles Garcia bought a "Salvador Dali print." For the next 44 years, he wondered whether the artwork was authentic or if he was conned. Finally, he decided to take action and consulted an auctioneer. Read about the strange, amusing odyssey of a Salvador Dali sketch in "Hello Dali: Salvador, Venus and Me."

For the Happy Home Cook, here's a recipe for Mami, a popular cold-weather treat, from Le Cordon Bleu alumna G. B. Korten.

For this week’s In The Know links:

Philippine bid to jail nine-year-olds is 'a great child violation', Unicef says
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/13/philippine-bid-to-jail-nine-year-olds-is-a-great-child-violation-unicef-says?fbclid=IwAR2LhWe0cBxZ6ccF41mthU1wvB73Fk1u2x_PVQ-cRcUpGGNbeNWGC1OWCZc

On Global Filipinos: Sheila Marcelo is 1st FilAm woman CEO on Wall Street
https://thefilam.net/archives/29145?fbclid=IwAR0AC7eDON1uaBFGIuRSqPuoKTRZOKxf4lMR054nYiKfucBkGf8Ubi5le50

Rhapsody in C: Ryan Cayabyab
https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/profiles/ryan-cayabyab-national-artist-profile-a1523-20190117-lfrm3?fbclid=IwAR28ZsAXFkv_dF02I4aOZIhAmXK31Svz3tZBOhCrXLLurbpCMgY9w0_YFGQ

Vincent Rodriguez III Is a Gay Actor Playing a Straight Heartthrob
https://www.advocate.com/television/2019/1/08/vincent-rodriguez-gay-actor-playing-straight-heartthrob?fbclid=IwAR2YYdgtvtdrXydc7ZIxbqHHwMkluOqUUYWV4avB1GhkdQ__X5sggCSVgg4

Pixar artist creates short film starring Filipino-American leads
http://cnnphilippines.com/entertainment/2019/01/14/Pixar-artist-short-film-Filipino-American-characters-Float.html#

For Video of the Week, we feature multi-award winning actor Darren Criss, singing “Proud of your Boy” from the Disney musical “Aladdin.”

Destinations

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.

Timeless Star of the Silver Screen

To fans of Filipino movies, Eddie Garcia is a towering institution, unmatched in the breadth and depth of his talent, his experience and in the variety of roles he has played in the 70 years he has been in the industry as actor and director. Author/poet and movie critic Marra PL. Lanot catches up with this quintessential actor and shares his views with us in "What Makes Eddie Run?'

A landmark victory that should be celebrated and pursued, not ignored. That's the maritime case that the Philippines filed against China before the International Court of Arbitration, a complex process that veteran journalist Marites Danguilan Vitug meticulously chronicles in her new book, Rock Solid: How the Philippines Won Its Maritime Case Against China. The book is reviewed for us by Dr. Patricio N. Abinales in "High Noon in the West Philippine Sea."

Bookending our lineup this week is "Lucky Charm," an essay by millennial writer Maia Boncan.

Starting with the above piece, we'd like to encourage our young readers to share their thoughts/views and their writing, for a series that we have tagged, "Our Turn."

If you're craving comfort food this cold season, how about trying out our Happy Home Cook recipe this week from PF Correspondent Rene Astudillo: Dinengdeng with Fried Bangus. 

And our links for stories you may have missed reading:

Where 518 Inmates Sleep in Space for 170, and Gangs Hold It Together
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/07/world/asia/philippines-manila-jail-overcrowding.html?fbclid=IwAR3xMdQXvsf3WhfVkDI_SJST2H3NWtdK1v9bqN85ONyiMn9cQN5uymxK1xs

Meet the Filipina Engineer Who Struggled in Math But Now Works at NASA 
https://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/newsfeatures-peopleparties/76495/josephine-santiago-bond-filipina-engineer-nasa-a833-20190106-lfrm?ref=home_feed_1%3Futm_source&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20190106-fbnp-newsfeatures-josephine-santiago-bond-filipina-engineer-nasa-a833-20190106-lfrm%3Fref&fbclid=IwAR0S6jjWV9oQ3oUOCviw04_mAvtvy1GjpvwJRghlK4zNL9kzkP6ELXVLOOg

“Stay a While Longer, Doc”
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/specials/content/40/stay-a-while-longer-doc/?fbclid=IwAR13clgfoZCLsr_gZwWE3UW0ry3wW8wZ9MGtYazawdyLJOGgaMIOaWWnMiA

New Saliva-based Test Detects Malaria Before Symptoms Appear
http://news.ufl.edu/articles/2019/01/new-saliva-based-test-detects-malaria-before-symptoms-appear.php?fbclid=IwAR23dLuSPkYuKejtuJmxUjnnrJw1H1RYD9478XGHTz6K3RxsBKB0UVdMmrI

Darren Criss Wins at Golden Globes
https://deadline.com/2019/01/golden-globes-darren-criss-the-assassination-of-gianni-versace-ryan-murphy-filipino-american-1202530126/

For Video of the Week, Grammy-nominated recording artist H.E.R. (aka Gabi Wilson) was interviewed on the Late, Late Show with James Corden, where she acknowledged her Filipino heritage.