Train to D.C.

On what should have been a day of celebration, Filipino American civic leader Roswell Encina found himself alone, surrounded by masked members of a white nationalist group aboard a Washington, D.C., Metro train. His 25-minute ordeal was photographed by Getty photographer Finn Gomez, the only other "civilian" on that train. The now-viral image captured a chilling moment, but it tells only part of Encina's story. 

The son of Filipino immigrants, Encina has devoted his career to preserving America's history and strengthening its democracy, believing that patriotism is rooted not in blind pride but in an honest reckoning with the nation's past and an unwavering commitment to its ideals. His extraordinary journey—from Laguna to leading the U.S. Capitol Historical Society—reflects both the opportunities and contradictions that have shaped the immigrant experience across generations. In this moving conversation with PF contributing writer Trish Muyco-Tobin, Encina reflects on fear, courage, belonging, and why the American story, like that of the Filipino diaspora itself, is still being written—one generation, one voice, and one act of civic faith at a time.

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Those who came of age in the early 1960s in our homeland will remember the heartbreaking tragedy of the 24 Filipino Boy Scouts who set out with hope and pride to represent the Philippines at the World Scout Jamboree in Greece, only to lose their lives in a devastating plane crash 63 years ago this month.

Among them was Victor Oteyza de Guia Jr., a son of one of Baguio City's most distinguished families. (His mother served as mayor, and his older brother would later become the National Artist Kidlat Tahimik.) The nation has honored the fallen Scouts by naming streets in Quezon City after each of them. For PF contributing writer Rudy Liporada, however, the loss remains deeply personal. He remembers not just one of the 24 heroes, but the beloved older boy he knew simply as Kuya Vijoe.

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This week’s stories:

Alone Amid the Haters on the Fourth of July by Trish Muyco-Tobin

I Called Him Kuya Vijoe by Rudy D. Liporada

2026 In Memoriam (Second Quarter) by Mona Lisa Yuchengco

Loida Nicolas Lewis: How to Look Younger When You’re Older by Elizabeth Ann Quirino

[Read It Again]

“The Best Pig in the World” by Jennifer Celdran

The Bicycle of Tomorrow by Albert J. Lesaca

[Video of the Week] Sand Portrait of Alex Eala

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In The Know

Eala wins WTA ‘Star of the Swing’
https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/07/19/sports/eala-wins-wta-star-of-the-swing/2386946?

Philippine school for exorcists draws priests from Asia as cases ‘pile up’
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3361078/philippine-school-exorcists-draws-priests-asia-cases-pile?

Chocolates, rain-catchers, and mushrooms: Mindanao innovations featured in Climate Action Showcase in Makati
https://mindanews.com/business/2026/07/chocolates-rain-catchers-and-mushrooms-mindanao-innovations-featured-in-climate-action-showcase-in-makati/

LIST: International schools offering scholarships to Filipinos
https://philstarlife.com/self/948034-international-schools-offering-scholarships-filipinos?

There's finally an opening date for the long-awaited SF Jollibee
https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/jollibee-sf-opening-22353924.php?

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Another Way of Life

Flying in recently from the beautiful chaos of Manila to an America that feels increasingly unpredictable, I found myself reading Rene Astudillo's "What Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo Taught Me," one of our stories this week. It felt less like a travel story and more like a glimpse into another world.

"Traveling through Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo felt less like sightseeing and more like being gently instructed on how society could work," Rene writes. As he takes in Japan's vibrant colors, remarkable quiet, spotless streets, disciplined routines, and unforgettable food, he arrives at a realization that lingers long after the trip ends: "I realized what stayed with me wasn't just the landmarks. It was the way people behaved when no one was looking. The quiet discipline. The shared responsibility. Japan didn't try to impress me. It simply showed me—calmly, consistently—another way of being." If Japan has been on your travel wish list this summer, Rene's reflections might be the nudge you need.

Meanwhile, in Chicago, Fil-Am chef Mike Morales is putting Southeast Asian cuisine in the spotlight. As culinary director of Sunda New Asian, he draws on his Filipino heritage, his travels, and his formal culinary training to create dishes that celebrate the richness of the region. Founded by fellow Fil-Am entrepreneur and restaurateur Billy Dec, Sunda has grown from its Chicago roots to Nashville, Tampa, and Detroit. Morales proudly serves as the restaurant's punong abala—the head busy bee—a role that perfectly matches his boundless energy and passion. Read more in "Chicago Chef Exalts Southeast Asian Fare."

Back home, British Columbia-based writer Meyen Quigley reflects on the changing face of Iloilo City. Amid the rise of gleaming glass towers and modern developments stands Balay nga Bato, a 161-year-old house of stone and plaster that has quietly endured the passage of time. Today, the beloved landmark is more than a reminder of the past—it has become a culinary destination and a hub for preserving traditional arts, proving that heritage can thrive alongside progress. Read "House of Stone Keeps Past Alive in Modern Iloilo."

And as we do every month, we close by celebrating Filipinos around the world who continue to make us proud. Don't miss "Overseas Filipino Achievers, Part 6," our latest roundup of inspiring diaspora stories, curated by our publisher, Mona Lisa Yuchengco.

[Read It Again]

Bend it Like Paulino . . . and Friends by Myles A. Garcia

FIFA Gets a Kick Out of LeRoid David’s Poster Design by Wilfred Galila

Barotac Nuevo, Where Football Is King by Criselda Yabes

[Video of the Week]

The Golden Age of Traditional Filipino Music

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In The Know

'This is our victory:' Alex Eala receives hero's welcome at Malacañang
https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/49362985/alex-eala-receives-hero-welcome-malacanang-wimbledon

Slain marine scientist testified for PH in South China Sea arbitration
https://pressone.ph/slain-marine-scientist-testified-for-ph-in-south-china-sea-arbitration/?

National Academy of Sports in Clark City
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1348421216758494

Black Filipino American teen’s mysterious death sparks calls for answers
https://usa.inquirer.net/203503/black-filipino-american-teens-mysterious-death-sparks-calls-for-answers?

Manila Jones Bridge
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DatozGYiO7l/

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Tenacity and Defiance

At a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs are facing challenges across the country, San Francisco State University's College of Ethnic Studies reminds us that some hard-won victories are worth defending. The nation's first College of Ethnic Studies was born not in a boardroom but in the streets and classrooms—through the student movements of the late 1960s, a historic six-month strike, and years of determination by those who believed that our stories belonged in the curriculum.

Among those pioneers was Filipino American professor Daniel P. Gonzales, one of the college's most colorful and influential figures. As PF resident historian Alex Fabros writes, "Gonzales' importance lies in the bridge he forged among those worlds—student activism, Filipino American organizing, Asian American curriculum, and the long-term institutional survival of the field." In "A Pathbreaker for Ethnic Studies," Fabros brings to life a generation that fought to make sure future generations could see themselves reflected in America's classrooms.

From Filipino American history, we turn to Philippine history with Mga Daso: Stories of Martial Law in Bikol. This moving new collection revisits a difficult chapter in our nation's past through stories of resistance, sacrifice, resilience—and even the unexpected moments of hope and laughter that helped people endure.

This week's Hometown feature takes us back to Masbate through the eyes of retired Filipino diplomat Maria Antonia Bosa Van Espen-Boonen. Her recollections of the province, the city, and the everyday moments that shaped her youth remind us that home is as much about memory as it is about place.

And finally, for anyone longing for a slower pace—or remembering a time before notifications and endless scrolling—PF contributing writer Claire Mercado Obias invites us to rediscover the pleasures of the "Analog Bag." Sometimes the best way to reconnect is to step away from our screens and return to the simple joys that once filled our days. You may find that what feels like a new trend is really a homecoming.

[Read It Again]

A Childhood in Pila, Laguna by Maria Clarissa Palileo

Inside the Walled City of Intramuros by Renz Mae Ladroma

[Video of the Week] The Filipino Oscar Nominee Who Walked Away From Disney To Tell Filipino Stories

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In The Know

Wimbledon honors Alex Eala with Tagalog post after breakthrough win
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/content/993841/wimbledon-honors-alex-eala-with-tagalog-post-after-breakthrough-win/story/

Colorado Springs Commemorates Dr. Jose Rizal’s 165th Birth Anniversary at Rizal Monument
https://pcgsanfrancisco.org/colorado-springs-commemorates-dr-jose-rizals-165th-birth-anniversary-at-rizal-monument/

16 Michelin-recognized Filipino restaurants around the world
https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/food-travel/2026/7/4/16-michelin-recognized-filipino-restaurants-around-the-world-1616?

Fil-Am artist behind World Cup poster launches New York art project
https://usa.inquirer.net/202176/fil-am-artist-behind-world-cup-poster-launches-new-york-art-project

Bretman Rock 'waited 27 years' to tell Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson he was named after him
https://philstarlife.com/celebrity/254400-bretman-rock-tells-dwayne-the-rock-johnson-he-was-named-after-him?

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